Elias sat down on the cold pantry floor next to her. They stayed there for an hour, saying nothing. The cans stayed unorganized.

Elias tried to treat her like a roommate. "Please" and "thank you." He asked about her hobbies. She blinked, confused. "I don't have hobbies, sir. I have duties." He made them both dinner. She stood watching him cook, her hands twitching, as if every instinct told her to take the spatula away. When he handed her a plate, she dropped to her knees. He nearly choked.

"Try."

"Kessa is my service name, sir."

"They'll come now," she said, voice hollow. "They'll reset me. You'll get a compliant one. You won't even notice the difference."