---
The operator for the first time, formed herself from light, in front of him. He never saw her appear like that before.
Her smile wasn't present, the only worry was visible on her face.
"You came." He grinned.
She didn't have the hoverboard, she walked her way to him in hesitant steps
Zachary made his way to her.
"Zack, you shouldn't be-" he interrupted her with a strong embrace.
"You're here." He spoke gently "Thank you."
"Is this why you still bare everything here?" she asked.
"Yes, every time I feel the world-beating me to the ground, a small voice speaks in my head, saying I'll be alright. Cause you'll come soon. You always do." he didn't let go of her, the operator didn't move.
"Then, when I finally hear your voice, I feel everything calming down." He held her tighter.
She hoped this would be the end of it, no more emotional strikes to her heart, but he had one more thing to say.
"Operator."
she hesitated before replying, "yes?"
"Promise me you'll keep on being there for me."
"..."
Few long moments of silence passed as he held her, he gently pulled away, looking straight into her blue eyes "Please. I- I feel I can take on anything as long as you're here."
Luna froze in her place, her perspective shifts to the eyes of the operator once the image is activated, she could see his face up close, and it hid nothing.
"Operator?" He called for her, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. Luna has lost her voice at that moment, unable to express the rock that hit her chest harder than before.
"Say something..." he begged. "Am I being too forward?" He asked, worried that he might have messed things up.
"I'm sorry." Was the only thing that came out, and it carried the weight of all the regrets that resided within her.
She could see his expression slowly withering into a look of the rejected. That wasn't her intention, it wasn't what she meant.
"I see, sorry for creeping you out. That must be it." He spoke almost to himself.
"I'm gonna go, sorry again." He turned around as quickly as he could but she grabbed on his arm.
"Wait!" She spoke, "I- I was just caught off guard!"
He turned back at her, with signs of hope shimmering in his eyes.
"Of course I'll be here for you, it's my job to keep you safe!"
"Your... job?"
She realized she spoke without thinking, she cursed herself under her breath and reassured him "Yes! As a part of your world, I will always stay by your side, Zachary." She gave him her sweetest grin he ever set his eyes on.
Luna didn't notice it at first, but she saw tears welling in his eyes. He started to laugh and hugged the operator tightly repeating thank you many, many times.
In the end, he went away and Luna shut down the program, leaving a void in her chest, she knew she wasn't going to rest easy ever again. How could she? and history is repeating itself ever so cruelly.
Another individual relying on her, only to be fooled and dragged into despair.
---
The next morning, another day of work has started. Cid, Gregory, and Luna were at their positions.
each sipped on their coffee except for Luna.
"it's gonna get cold," said Gregory.
But she didn't respond, she stared at the screen where Zachary was, he stood in the open with a bored expression on his face.
"Earth to Luna, hello hello!" spoke Cid.
"Huh?" She replied so dully, looking at them with sleepy eyes.
"Damn, you look like crap." Said Cid.
"Didn't you get enough sleep? How long did that conversation last?" Asked Gregory.
She gave out a long sigh shaking her head.
Both of her colleagues looked at each other raising their eyebrows.
"Just watch the footage." She replied.
"Okaaay." Gregory fetched up the recorded video footage of what happened yesterday and their faces turned from confused to shocked to confused again.
"God damn, he lost it. You think these are the program's side effects?"
"I... I'm not sure." Replied Gregory.
"Is this the Stockholm syndrome everyone is talking about?" Laughed Cid.
Gregory spoke up in a semi-upset manner "First, that's pseudoscience. Second, no. I don't think so, he thinks of her as his savior, instead of a captor." He explained then turned to face him "I think he's just... holding on to a reason to live?"
"Doesn't that mean we can harvest more energy out of him?"
"Yes, it does," replied Luna bitterly.
"Good then! They'll be so happy when they know we got some spare energy! What are you waiting for? Get on that mic and I don't know, seduce him or whatever."
Luna rolled her eyes at him, sighing.
"What did I say?" Asked Cid confused. Gregory shot him a glance to keep quiet.
"Give me a few moments to think of something to say."
"Take your time," said Gregory, turning back to the screen.
---
The operator formed in the world standing in the mid of a cliff, only to see the world pale and washed out of its vibrant colors. The light of day was here, but the sun was absent. Grey clouds covered the world with dimness and furious wind.
She noticed Zachary sitting at the top of the cliff, staring at the violent waves of the sea, fighting each other, as if the sea was fighting itself.
Before she could announce her presence, he spoke. "Good morning operator."
---
Cid was staring at the screen looking anxious.
"Something is wrong."
"No shit, his brain isn't responding to the programming anymore"
"What?! How is that possible?"
"He's remembering..." said Gregory.
---
"M-Morning Zachary. How are you today?" She tried to sound cheerful but she was clearly off. Everything was off, Zachary was behaving weirdly.
"I'm fine. If that's what you want to hear." His voice was monotoned, more monotoned than anytime she heard before.
"what do you mean? What's wrong?" He didn't reply to her. She slowly hovered to him and he suddenly asked.
"Do you remember what you said yesterday?"
She froze in her place.
"How you said this was your job?"
---
"Oh, shit..." Cid out down his coffee and looked at Gregory.
"I'm preparing the memory wipe script," said Gregory.
---
"Yes?"
"I remember... being on the job when I was looking for a lead with Marshall... we wanted to find...find... fi-" he cut off.
The operator breathed a sigh of relief and hugged him from behind.
Zachary stood still, staring at not nothing.
"Good morning Zachary." She smiled.
"The road... raining..." his voice turned into whispering and faded completely. He blinked a few times and looked at his side only to smile innocently "Morning Operator!" he spoke cheerfully hugging her back with a grin.
-The End.
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