Page 167 of Stars At Dusk

The glowing being nodded and smiled. ‘Naam, that’s my core. This is where I connect to the rest of the planet through strands, threading my nodes and filaments throughout the rock. The strand art you see on my walls are my node strings leading off to the rest of Eden II.’

Kage looked up from his device. ‘She has tentacles throughout the rock, some so long they extend even beyond the lunar plains and moon rim.’

‘So, in essence, Eden II is Mirage?’ Harlow asked.

Kage pursed his lips. ‘Close. Most of the lunar sphere under the metro and some outlying plains are under Mirage’s control.’

The AI wandered over and handed Harlow her drink. ‘More to the southern, populated regions. But they’re still sections of the rock I haven’t reached. I’m still currently working on penetrating the north.’

‘So, to be exact, Eden II is wrapped up in your essence,’ Harlow said with a smile.

‘And vice versa. To some extent.’

‘Wow. When will Eden II become you, and when will you embody the lunar sphere?’

‘That’s too philosophical for me right now,’ Mirage said with a smile. ‘All I want to do right now is show off my new wardrobe! Want to see what I’ve been working on?’

Harlow grinned and nodded. ‘I’d love to!’

She sat back and watched as the AI’s modded exterior morphed into a series of stunning gowns and heavily beaded jackets, silk shirts, bejewelled leggings, impossibly frothy satin skirts, dramatic ruffled trains, embroidered suits complete with capes plus a plethora of wild hats and accent headpieces.

Kage glanced over with one eyebrow arched, shaking his head. ‘What have I helped unleash?’

‘A stunning, sartorial beauty, no less,’ Mirage shot back.

He grinned and let the pair continue their fashion bonding moment until Mirage was satisfied.

‘That’s enough,’ the AI called. ‘I’m over myself already. Now for the real reason you’re here.’

Harlow sat up expectantly as Kage strolled back towards them.

‘Kara, remember you thought we may have lost your research?’ he said.

Harlow sobered up immediately. ‘Tell me you’ve good news.’

‘We do, or rather, Mirage does.’

Harlow turned expectantly to the AI.

‘I’ve got a gift for you.’ Mirage reached into her crystal core and withdrew one single data crystal, placing it into a clear plex box and handing it to Harlow.

‘Here it all is—your research. Unfortunately, when the lab exploded, we lost all your testing instruments and tools, but I managed to rescue all the input data and salvage at least 99% of your lab’s network servers. So you can continue with your work uninterrupted.’

Harlow impulsively threw her arms around the AI’s new body. ‘Mirage, you’ve no idea what this means to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. How will I ever repay you?’

Mirage hugged her back, smiling. ‘By continuing your fascinating work, loving Kage and being my sidekick when I go out and show off my fabulous self some night soon on the surface!’

‘You’re on! It’ll be my pleasure,’ Harlow promised with a smile. She looked down at the data crystal, and for a moment, her eyes clouded over.

‘Meanwhile, my work to retrieve whatever we can of Skylab continues,’ Mirage said quietly.

‘What else did we lose?’

Kage sighed. ‘The corvette we used as a test ship, plus the orbital pad, terminal and two shuttles, but we can always rebuild.’

‘We will rebuild,’ Mirage said fiercely. ‘It’s a wild life out here in the stars, but we Riders know that while our existence isn’t always forgiving, we grow stronger and more resilient together.

Harlow

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