The person who had had my life in her hands ever since Sigi had hacked my nanochip had an ego the size of a skyscraper on fire at that moment. Agape's rage was burning more vividly than her bright red blouse. I gulped.

"You've defied me, Daphne!" Agape yelled at me. Her office felt incredibly small then, and I felt trapped in it with a dragon with fire between its large teeth and a piercing stare.

"What?!" I felt the rosy colour of life leave my cheeks. Agape couldn't be serious about wanting to kill me. "But the virus was yours to make, Agape. I had nothing to do with it! Just the idea of developing it."

Defending myself like that only triggered harsher non-verbal communication from her. She raised her hands awkwardly, which were trembling with badly contained ire. Sigi took a couple of steps forward, partially shielding me from her. His biceps were tense under his black T-shirt.

"Agape, please," he said carefully. "Calm down. Why are you so angry at her?"

Then, she refrained from doing what she was going to do apparently, and let both her shaky hands rest on either side of her.

"Sigi, step aside. This has got nothing to do with you," Agape replied, ignoring Sigi's comment. When her face was once again facing me completely, I felt her fiery indignation from both her words and her pose scorching my whole body inside-out when she said: "Daphne, I'm not buying this sheepish and docile act of yours right now! I know what you've done! You messed with my virus to fulfil your pacifist needs. You did it to retrieve your mother and your brother!"

"What?! I have not done such a thing! Besides, I've got no IT training like you." I tried to defend myself further, but Agape's mind seemed already set.

"Don't lie to me, Daphne! You could've gotten K8's help. I know both of you have become close, haven't you?" Agape asked with a nasty, smart-ass kind of voice which made the hairs on my nape stand on end. She then turned to K8, who was wearing a dark yellow T-shirt and skin-tight, black jeans as much as a panic-stricken expression on her face. "Tell me, K8, have you helped her to modify my virus?!"

"No, of course not, ma Agape!" K8 exclaimed and frowned. "None of us would ever do that behind your back. Someone else must've messed with it."

"K8, you saw me working on the mosquitoes and the virus. You know how they work in detail. I also know that Daphne has appealed to your desperate need to feel acknowledged as a human-like entity. You've bonded. You're besties now. You told me so yourself! At first, I was happy to see you happy. But I assume you haven't hesitated even for a second when she's asked you to modify the virus! That way, more non-fully human entities like you can claim to be treated as humans, which is what you've always wanted! You even offered to spread the mosquitoes yourself, all on your own, so that I wouldn't notice you had done something to them! Do I find that behaviour suspicious now? Well, yes, you idiots! You've betrayed me!"

"No, I didn't do such a thing, ma Agape," K8 complained quite calmly. "Besides I don't think Daphne would ever betray you. She might not agree 100% with you, but she likes and respects you." I loved the way she had emphasised that last bit.

I heard snorting from different people in the room, and then, I even heard a soft but defiant whisper saying thus:

"Fucking, needy tin doll."

I saw K8's glowing pink irises go slightly duller then. It broke my heart.

But it made my pride burn, too. Not only did they feel disdain towards K8 because of what she is, but also towards how I felt about Agape. Sigi, Gabi, and Cian made long faces. They looked uncomfortable due to their colleagues' reactions. They were not on board.

"Look, ma," K8 went on, noticeably trying hard to ignore their rude snorting. "Your virus maybe had this collateral effect on the androids from the start. You've been working a lot, under stress too, and sleeping very little, ma Agape." Her worry didn't go unnoticed. Her neon pink eyes stared at Agape with warmth and sadness. Agape sighed with exhaustion.

"To be honest, I thought you wanted to weaponise the androids, Agape," I said then. "It suits you and your aims. Since I've seen Daniel murder the President, I haven't found the androids' aggressiveness suspicious at all. I wanted to talk about this with you. I think..."

"Don't push me, Daphne," Agape replied, cutting my last sentence. Her rage was back on track. "Because right now, I already want to kill you. You had both the motive and the means to do it with K8's help. Don't deny it's convenient for you! You wanted your brother and your mother back."

"I do deny it." I wasn't willing to submit to her insane accusations. "Not only didn't I do it, but also I don't find it convenient at all. Why? Because I hate what this virus has done to my brother!"

I made a brief pause to assess how my words were sinking in.

"Awakening androids, making them feel human again only to be disposed of by clones a second time? That's not me," I added. "Someone else must've done it. If I had to pick a way to get you mad at me, Agape, I would've waited for a private moment to awaken the androids who used to be people we loved. That would've made you really mad, wouldn't it? But I would've never chosen a public event to do that!"

I didn't have a power-thirsty ego like Agape, but we were clashing anyway. I felt her hesitate for a moment.

"Besides, I didn't even know you were planning to thwart Apollo's press conference," I went on. "I thought I was a vital part of the group, but I guess I was wrong. Maybe that was what you wanted me to believe, Agape."

"I didn't tell you because you would've never agreed to it."

"You bet I wouldn't."

"Then what's the point in telling you?" Her defiance and coldness were hurting me and the trust I had built between us so far. "I owe you no explanation, Daphne. I'm boss here, remember?"

An awkward silence ensued.

I didn't recognise her anymore. That wasn't the woman who had confessed me her personal story of abuse, who had begged me not to tell anyone -especially Gabi- about how badly the past was haunting her, about how she felt for that clownish guy and his flirting. No, she was an iceberg.

"You can't be serious about blaming me for this, Agape," I insisted. My voice was breaking. "If neither you nor I created a virus which awakens the androids' true self, then who did?! Who wanted to make them turn against their new masters and weaponise them but you, Agape?"

"I don't know who might benefit from that – yet." She seemed a bit calmer, but a storm was still raging inside her. "But at least the mission didn't go completely wrong. Thanks to Momo."

What?! Why was she congratulating her? What had she done?

"Last night, she persuaded me to let snipers go to Hotel Poseidon and shoot indiscriminately if anything went wrong today, like some sort of contingency plan. I'm glad I listened to her for once."

Momo was smirking at me with defiance at that moment. I didn't read thoughts, but I was sure she was keeping score in that war we had between us.

"That's why I've sent you a text to proceed with the mass shooting," Agape went on. "I thank you all for your cooperation and undivided loyalty."

She made a pause only to look harshly at me from over the rim of her mirror sunglasses. Momo was enjoying the moment to the core.

"Especially Momo, who's been capable of containing her feelings like the professional rebel she is when her brother has been murdered onstage. She didn't lose it, and waited for my orders patiently."

What?! Her brother had been murdered onstage too?! That was when I recalled a red-haired young man, the one who had been ordered to sew a shirt by Apollo. It must've been him!

Momo's facial expression went sour. Her eyes went duller, as dull as the skin-tight, dark olive green dress she was wearing. Both Vera and Nemesis got closer to her and hugged her lovingly then. Her eyes went cloudy, but no tears were shed. She was holding them as much as she could out of pride. However, I saw how hurt she was, and I realised I could relate to her loss as much as she could relate to mine. Despite that, she had chosen to hate me regardless, while I realised that I shouldn't hold a grudge against her. It didn't feel right, and I hoped she would realise that fact someday.

"Daphne, I'm letting this slide this time," Agape went on then, softening up but still in a tough attitude. "On account of your dead brother, and what's happened to your father today. At the end of the day, I still want you to willingly collaborate with us. You've got good ideas, and I could put them to good use."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Besides, I didn't trust her idea of good use anyway.

"I guess I should've expected such defiance from you, Daphne." She sat down on her chair and sighed deeply. "We're so similar. I was as defiant as you are in my early years."

"You know what, Agape? I'm nothing like you," I replied whispering with disapproval and disappointment. "You once told me that, when you looked at me, you saw a mirror. Well, I don't think I reflect your image at you. I'm my own person, and when I'm the one looking at you, do you know what I see? I don't see my future self in a mirror. No, I see the twisted reflection of how evil clones can be – not a person who leads a revolution to change the world for the better. You're exactly like them!"

"OK, now you're angry at me. I get it," she replied nonchalantly as if I was merely a teenager throwing a tantrum. I saw her lips drawing a brief smile for a moment. "It'll pass."

"No, it won't. I just realised I have been trusting you a lot more than I was willing to admit, but if you don't really trust me, just say it. Why should you use my ideas, or trust any intel I bring you if you don't believe in my loyalty towards you?"

She sighed deeply. I could tell she was in no mood to deal with me then.

"We'll talk later, in private. I've got urgent things to do now."

"More urgent than the one and only solution to the large-scale, organ-decaying virus that has been affecting humanity for more than forty years?" I asked as if I was shooting her with those words.

"What?!" Agape exclaimed. I had the full attention of everybody in the room then. I felt all their amazed stares like a heavy weight on me.

"What I've found out this morning right before Apollo's conference will drive you nuts, Agape," I added. "A lot more than my allegedly divided loyalty."

"What is it?" she asked, standing up with worry written all over her face.

"Eros has become Apollo's errand boy," I began to explain with a much more collected attitude. My feelings could and should not cloud my judgement. The world was in enough pain as it was. Besides, Eros' worries and hopes were at stake, so I needed to be the better person and deliver the news as calmly as I could. "He thought he'd be doing biological research of some kind with him, but it turns out that Apollo is more in need of a secretary than a scientist.

"So, yesterday, Eros opened and read an urgent email from a research team in Siberia. The mail and its enclosed documents proved that climate change is quickening the melting of the permafrost, which is the ice that's been there for thousands of years. Apparently, the scientists there are appalled to confirm that, once the permafrost started receding, and the more it does so, it releases old viruses from prehistoric times. Palaeoviruses, they call them.

"The start of the permafrost's melting and the onset of the unknown virus that affects us, humans, suspiciously match, Agape. Eros has examined all the data he's got access to, and run some tests on his own last night. He's confirmed it. It's not just one virus we're up against, but several palaeoviruses from prehistoric times to which present-day humans are not immune.

"The problem is that, when he told Apollo about this issue and compelled him to do something about it, he turned him down and despised him and his talents. He even ordered him not to look into it anymore, to let it go – or else. Both of them are having a meeting as we speak about it. Eros suspects he's gonna get fired on account of his act of defiance.

"He's confided the truth to me, though. He's got a fully-functioning nanochip, so the GSNS knows he's spilt the beans to me – but that's it. I played dumb, obviously, and told him not to worry about Apollo. That he might get scolded, but not killed. Sacked – maybe.

"The truth is... I want to help him help us, Agape. He even suggested gathering a team of scientists to obtain more info and develop a vaccine. However, he shall never be allowed to do that. Apollo disapproves. If Eros even tried, Apollo would know thanks to the GSNS and stop him – or any people who might help him.

"So, I want..." I took a deep breath and said the words that had been plaguing my mind. "I want to hack Eros' nanochip and get him what he wants – what he needs. What all of us need. A chance to do good. A chance to save the world."

I saw Agape's face making a defiant, wry face.

"Denied," she replied in a harsh whisper.

"But..."

"He's a clone, Daphne! Are you out of your mind?!"

"He's a good clone! He's got the key to saving the world! He needs your support, Agape. He needs you – as much as you need him. Admit it."

"No. I don't need him. Curing this illness isn't my priority. I shall dethrone clones first, and get rid of this curse later."

"But..."

"NO BUTS!!!" she yelled. "Now, get out of here. Got urgent work to do."

I couldn't believe it. Allegiance was far more valuable to Agape than Eros' ideas and their worth – or his worth as a person, even.

I was the first to leave Agape's office and Amanita.

The golden hues of that afternoon sun blinded me for a moment when I came out the door. I rushed to the railing, facing the beach down below and the Neon Sea, and took a few deep breaths. The sea breeze sounded like a soothing melody in my ears, but the roaring waves seemed to sing an anger-driven song. I felt suddenly exhausted.

"Your attachment to Eros is getting detrimental," I heard a familiar voice behind me with genuine concern. It was Sigi's. He was coming closer to me while the rest of the gang were headed to their home. "You should stop seeing him. I'll tell Agape myself if you want. I'll tell her that you're turning down the assignment to befriend him to get intel from the Sappho Residence. Besides, now that the Secretary of State is dead, I don't think that..."

"No. You're not telling her anything. I'm not letting it go – and if you don't like what I suggested to Agape a moment ago, then I think we've got nothing to discuss now."

He sighed and made a stern face, but when he was about to reply, K8 came from behind him and said:

"Let me talk to her, Sigi. In private, please." Her metallic voice was gentle.

"I don't think I should leave the two of you alone after what Agape's said," he replied seriously.

"You don't trust Daphne either?" K8 simply asked, knowing she was hitting a sore spot. "You don't like me. I get it. I'm just a fucking, needy tin doll to all of you, aren't I? But do you really believe Daphne did it, messing with Agape's mosquitoes and virus with my help?" she eventually asked in disbelief.

He stared back at me. His eyes were afraid to check on my reaction.

"No, I... I j-just..." Sigi was stumbling with words. "I'm just worried about her, that's all. This war is taking a huge toll on her. It would be better if she just... s-stepped aside. I can handle this."

"Oh, good. In that case, she'll call you if she needs a prince charming on a white steed, Sigi. Now, go away and let me talk to her. In private, please." I loved the fact that she was being both bold and polite towards someone who had never been amicable to her.

I nodded at him then. He pressed his lips together, and I could tell that he was mildly hurt.

"We should leave our meditation session for tomorrow night, then," he whispered a bit curtly.

Then, he turned around and left us alone.

K8 leaned on the railing with both her forearms on it, right beside me. The sun was nice and warm on my slightly tanned skin, like the sea breeze. It felt like feathery kisses. I saw her smile gently at me then, and I sighed hopelessly.

"Being denied what you want is hard, especially when it's something vital to you – or to the whole world, in this case. It burns like a red-hot iron inside you, doesn't it?"

"It does."

"Ma Agape's being unethical about this. Then again, the lenses through which she assesses the world and the people in it are broken. But I don't think she cares much."

"Her focus and mine are different, I guess."

"I believe you, Daphne. If this Eros is right, he needs you. His nanochip is worth hacking. Apollo is a bigger dickhead than I thought he was if he's not willing to help him. I would've expected him to listen to Eros, actually. He's the clone prodigy, isn't he? It doesn't make sense – rejecting his idea of developing a vaccine, I mean."

"You've got a soft spot for the misunderstood, haven't you?" I asked her with a nice smile.

Then, a bee passed by in front of us, flying in a nice, large s-shaped course.

"Oh, look!" K8 exclaimed in a joyful whisper. "A bee just crossed in front of us when in distress. That's a sign of good luck!"

I giggled briefly. I loved that kind of cute, popular belief. The bee was headed towards the woods in Angel Rock, standing mightily behind us.

"I don't think a bee's gonna solve any of my problems," I admitted with sadness. "Or yours."

"Ma Agape's anger will subside and, when it does, she'll realise how stupid her theory to blame us really is."

"And when are those idiots gonna let their prejudices about you go, K8? Are those gonna subside any time soon?" I asked her, referring to the rest of the rebels.

"I... I don't know," she said with a cool shrug of her shoulders, pretending that she hadn't put much thought into it or that she didn't care as much as she actually did.

"I'll support you. Call me whenever you need me, OK?" I told her gently. "Whenever they are mean to you. I'll lend you my ears. How long have you been enduring their mocking anyway?"

All of a sudden, she averted her eyes and stared at a distant point on the horizon. She also pressed her silicone-based lips together in a sudden admission that that situation might've been extended for too long.

I took her by surprise when I hugged her then. I could tell by her rising eyebrows and a brief gasp she had inadvertently let out.

"I don't care what they say, K8," I whispered. "You're cool."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she replied naively. "My skin is faux leather. Synthetic polyurethane leather, to be more precise. But I'm all steel beneath it."

"That's not the meaning of cool I was thinking of, K8," I corrected her with a joyful kind of pride.

"Oh..."

Her nice smile grew bit by bit, and it drew an even more bewitching picture of herself than when she smiled while dancing in the club at night. Her irises glowed brighter as she looked back at me, to the brim with joy.

Her dark brown skin, her lovely pink curls, her magnetic pink eyes, her dark yellow T-shirt and her black jeans. Her emotions, her kind, empathy-driven soul. She was a sight to see, and a marvel of technology.

At that moment, I didn't know whether it was the gold hue of the sun rays on her that fitted her colour palette so divinely -or was it our friendship- that had made her so beautiful and amazing at the same time?

Hello, sugar cubes!

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I just love writing about K8 and her issues.

So, what's gonna happen now? Will Agape take her accusation back? Will she realise Eros' worth? Will Daphne's father be okay?

Stay tuned for more! 😊

XOXO

MS