Singularity

Archive Log: 09

"I don't know." Walter finally replied, she laughed and shook her head. Patting him on the shoulder, she leaned forwards and put her glass on the coffee table. It hadn't been drunk from really, yet another full glass to find when clearing up. Looking over her shoulder at him she stood slowly, Walter looked up at her and watched her stretch and yawn quietly. "You're going to bed?" He asked, she should. She looked tired, not that he would voice this. Not exactly something anyone would want to hear.

"No."

"No?" Walter frowned and tilted his head.

"No." Onora turned and crossed her arms, "Unlike everyone else, I am not half drunk and falling about. Tired, yes, I am. I'm tired of the same bloody walls, Walter."

"And what are you suggesting?" Walter by this point stood and looked down at her. He tucked his hands into the pockets of his hooded jumper and watched as she seemed to roll her eyes in thought. Onora's eyes widened and she clicked her fingers, Walter frowned and walked after her. "Onora, come back." He could only follow and call out to her, seeing where her path was leading to.

"No."

"You cannot leave." Walter said while watching as she pushed open a door and walked along the corridor. She had explored enough of this base now to know her way around, more specifically ways out. People who worked here came and went, so how did they get out? Onora had watched and noted where the exits were.

Onora looked over her shoulder and just smirked at him. "Are you going to stop me, Walter?" She pushed the button on the panel to the side and opened the door, sure, going out was stupid. She had just been cleared to be okay, and work on this project. If she got ill, by some weird coincidence then she was likely to not only be put in quarantine but maybe even asked to leave altogether. But, being either in her room, or the main living space was just murderous. Honestly, she was surprised no one else had thought to do this. But then, how did she know they hadn't?

Walter reached forwards and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You cannot leave."

"Is this you stopping me?"

"No."

"No?"

"This would be considered a warning." Walter said while the door to the side swung shut again, blocking the outside world off again. Though they had both felt the cold breeze of the evening. It made Onora shudder a little, she had grown so used to the stale air in the base. She had forgotten the feel of actual air. Fresh air. The night air, cold and calming and chilling; a night sky, littered with pinprick stars and a full moon. Sure, soon she'll be out there surrounded by it all. But she would like to be standing outside, underneath them at least one last time.

Onora looked confused, "So...stopping me would be?" She half dreaded to ask. Walter's hand was still present on her shoulder, this was stopping her, in her eyes. She reached up and picked his hand up and let go, it went back to his side as she shuffled back to the door. She pushed the lock button, she placed a hand on the handle, and went to pull. She couldn't help but jump at the speed in which Walter moved with. Easily enough he slammed the door shut, well, he didn't slam he just pushed against it and Onora wasn't strong enough to oppose his strength, so the door shut.

"That would be stopping you."

"But that's not fair!"

"Think of the implications of going outside." Walter looked at her with a frown. "It isn't just the likelihood of you getting ill, or you bringing something in here; it's if you do, you are not the only person who's going to get infected. Sure, nothing could happen. You could go out, come back, and no one would be the wiser. But is it a risk you really want to take? Everyone being discharged, is it something you want to take lightly?" Walter just remained against the door, Onora looked at him, listening to everything he said. Honestly, she had to admit this was perhaps the most he had ever said to her, other than when he was trying to read to her. And she was just realising, truly, how different Walter was. Insightful, smart and kind, he was very unlike any synthetic Onora could ever think of. Not to be biased, but she couldn't help but dwell on bad robot depictions. Walter seemed to look alert suddenly, like he had just thought or remembered something. "There is, perhaps, somewhere here which will ease your restless spirit."