Back in Jim's living area, Veronica went straight to the tablet on the wall and made herself a glass of sparkling grape juice.  Jim walked over to the couch and sat down.  Veronica joined him with two beverages.  They both took a long, refreshing gulp.  She turned to Jim.

"So, he's got us all figured out, I guess." Veronica sounded concerned.

"I'm not so sure it's that, I just think he's a very intelligent individual, and clearly has a mind for abstract thought, problem solving." Jim continued sipping his drink.

"Jim, he said what everyone was thinking and expanded those thoughts.  Either he's a certified genius, or he knows more about us than he's letting on." Veronica, also drinking.

"Why can't it be both?" Jim suggested.

"Jim, I don't know if you've thought about this yet, but, if he already knows what we're thinking and where our thoughts are going, why does he need us?  Are we here just to keep the machines running and entertain him?  He clearly doesn't need our critical thought, he's already got that.  What is our purpose here? It can't simply be for 'repopulation' purposes, the shelter may be big, but, from what I've seen, it's not large enough to restart the human race."

Jim nodded in approval at Veronica's thought process. She made very valid points.

"Our mission according to the statement was pretty straight forward and it stated almost verbatim that 'repopulation' was a goal. So, I don't know exactly what to think." Jim said emphatically.

"How do we know what we saw wasn't just manufactured by the tech whiz, Simon himself?" Veronica asked, almost accusatory.

"How do you mean?" asked Jim almost immediately.

"I mean, the four of us were clearly suffering from amnesia initially, and I know that I personally held my memories secret until I knew more about what was happening, and away from the eavesdropping of Simon.  He's the only one that didn't have amnesia like we did, if at all!" Veronica was clearly serious.

Jim stopped and processed what she said very carefully before responding.

"Are you implying that he planned everything? How would he do that, for what purpose would he do that?" Jim asked very genuinely.

"I haven't figured out the ‘why’ yet.  but I can absolutely see him capable of programming things.  Creating artificial content meant to tell a narrative that he controls.  I don't know as much as I'd like to know yet, but I do know that I don't have very much trust for Simon at this moment.  There are too many questions that still haven't been answered, and Lydia agrees." Veronica stopped drinking

"Is this what your conversation was with Lydia this morning?" Jim took another sip.

"Sort of, but everything that I'm saying to you, every concern I have, I also told her.  Call us cynical if you want, but she agrees.  Until some very key answers are given, or certain conditions are met, We don't trust Simon."

Jim just looked at her.

"We've decided that we're just gonna fake it, and act like we have no suspicions about anything.  We're going to lull him into a false sense of security and figure out ways to get the answers we need to begin trusting him, unless of course those answers confirm our lack of trust to be wise.  I just don't know anymore Jim." Veronica sounded defeated.

Jim, seeing this, opened his arms.  Veronica saw this gesture and gave a faint smile.  Veronica placed her glass on the coffee table in front of them and found her way into Jim's welcoming arms, her head lying sideways on his chest.

"How did we get into this situation? This whole thing.  I may remember the various trials, but I don't recall what possessed me to do this in the first place.  I don't even recall how I heard about this in the first place.  My memory, it only goes back so far." Veronica's frustration was palpable.

Not knowing what to say, Jim simply held her.  He knew he didn't have all the answers.  He wasn't sure anyone knew all the answers.  Simon knew more than anyone and even he may not have all the answers, but, him knowing as much as he does makes everything appear as though they are all at his whim.  It was a scary concept.  Someone knowing more than you do, someone knowing more about yourself than even you do. The concept that you have no choice to trust someone whom you can barely trust because you have no other options.

Veronica was very much correct in her concerns, but Jim wasn't sure just how much to outwardly agree with her.  He knew he wanted to tell her that she wasn't crazy, that he fully agreed with her to the degree that he did.  He was concerned how reactive she might be.  Perhaps he was overthinking things, but he didn't want to risk a premature reaction.  He knew that everyone needed to be on the same page before any potential action was taken.  

What if they were wrong, committed 'mutiny' and it turned out that Simon was just as innocent as the rest of them.  He supposed nothing much could come of it besides Simon viewing them all in a different light.  After all, what would Simon do, kick them out.  Even Simon didn't seem like the type to completely disregard the 'mission parameters' out of spite.  Simon didn't seem the type to be willing to destroy the only apparent remnants of humanity.

Jim sat on the couch with Veronica, holding her tightly in his arms.  He could feel her heart beating beneath her chest.  Her pulse was elevated from the stress of the unknown.  The stress of the question, 'Can we trust Simon?'

There's gotta be a way to gather intel on Simon without him being aware.  He's a very intelligent man, but he's not perfect.  If there is anything to find, no matter how small, any trace of evidence that either contradicts a claim of his, or adds to the story that he's told them, that can't be easily explained, they would have to work as a team to find it.  Perhaps at the end of the investigation efforts, he comes out clean, that would be the best case scenario.  The worst case scenario is that he's lying to some degree.  But what would they do then after uncovering such a scenario?  What can you really do to punish a man in a place where that man knows everything about that place.

Jim could feel a headache developing.  He leaned his head around Veronica's and gently kissed her cheek.  She turned her head to partially meet his face and smiled, very withdrawn.  She leaned up and kissed him on the lips.  Her smile grew a little larger.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Jim asked softly

"Yeah, there's just too much to think about anymore, so I'm gonna try and take my mind off of things." Veronica replied.

"That's fair, what do you propose we do?" Jim picked up the remote. "I'm sure there's something on here we can watch, maybe a good comedy to make us laugh, perhaps?"

"I have something else in mind." Veronica stated with flat conviction, her smile still present.

"Oh?" Jim asked curiously.

Veronica took the remote from Jim's hand and placed it on the coffee table beside them.  Jim watched the remote be removed from the scene.  He looked back at Veronica, this time, she didn't just have a smile on her face, her eyes had a glint in them, one that Jim hadn't seen before.  Although, admittedly, he felt good about the possible meaning behind the glint. 

"Wait here for a moment." Veronica told him.

He continued to sit on the couch as she stood up and went to the bathroom.  He waited there for a moment, pondering the possibilities. 

"Jim, can you come in here and help me with this shower, I can't figure it out." Veronica could be heard from behind the bathroom door.

Jim walked over to the door and opened it.  Veronica had removed her nano-suit and stood there in her plain white pajamas.  The clothing was in a bit of disarray which revealed more of her than he was expecting.  He wasn't sure if she was aware, but he didn't want to say something and cause her embarrassment on top of her already existing stress.

"Take your nano-suit off, Jim, get more comfortable." Veronica said, very nonchalantly.

Jim did so and his suit left his body and disappeared into the vent above again.  Jim looked over at Veronica who had his back to him, facing the shower.

"Jim, my arms are tired, and we both need a shower.  Can you help me with these sleep garments?" 

Jim stood there in silence for a moment, did she really just ask him that?  He slowly approached her and pulled her top from the bottom slowly but decisively.  He turned his head out of respect for her dignity while doing so.  Veronica noticed this and smiled.

"It's okay, You wouldn't be in here with me if I didn't want you to see me like this." Veronica said reassuringly.

Jim turned his head back to her slowly, and pulled her own bottoms down, bending over in the process.  Jim couldn't help but look down and gaze upon her very visible buttocks.  Feelings began stirring inside him.

"Well, I'm ready for a shower, are you?" Veronica said as she turned around without warning.

Jim stood there frozen at the unexpected reveal of Veronica and her full frontal reveal.  She had a playful, yet seductive smile, although she was very much playing it off as she noticed Jim's attempt to hide the fact that he had become aroused seeing the rest of her.  Jim attempted to speak, but his words were trapped in his throat.  She chuckled at this and smiled.

"It's okay, Jim, their just boobs." Veronica stated, very much noticing Jim's heightened state of arousal. "Let's get you ready for a shower as well, hm?"

Jim still stood there frozen, as though he had forgotten entirely how to undress himself, or even remembering what clothing was.  He was lucky to even remember his own name in this moment.  Veronica reached out and pulled Jim's shirt up, Jim simply reacting, lifted his arms up to allow the removal of his shirt.  His bare chest exposed, He wasn't muscularly ripped or anything, but there was definitely some tone.

"Are you ready?" Veronica asked.

"For what?" Jim responded.

Without further warning, Veronica removed Jim's shorts revealing the obvious state of arousal Jim was in.  Veronica didn't even acknowledge it.

"For a shower of course." Veronica took Jim's hand.

Jim followed her in as she turned on the water, it seemed warmer than normal.  She gave Jim the soap he needed for himself and she dispensed her own round of soap.  Jim began scrubbing himself in the mostly aimlessly confused way possible and he watched her clean and scrub her own body.  Her hair gently whipping around as she contorts her own body to clean. 

She turned around and began applying soap to his body.  scrubbed every square inch, still not acknowledging the state of arousal Jim was in.  She rinsed herself off and switched places with Jim so he could do the same.  They both left the shower.

"All clean, now..." Veronica began. "Follow me."

Veronica turned back and looked at Jim.

"Shouldn't we put on clean clothes before heading to bed?" Jim asked innocently enough.

"No need." Veronica simply smiled and walked Jim out of the bathroom.  Veronica guided Jim by hand in both of their nakedness and into the bedroom. 

"I need you to give me a hand with something." She smiled and entered the bedroom.

Jim, not taking very long to decide, followed her in.  The bedroom door closed behind them.  The rest of the events of the night between Jim and Veronica were exactly that, between Jim and Veronica.  The only thing that can be certain was the passion that existed between the two lovers, the forever partners.