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She squeezed his hand. “We’ll figure that out together.”

Be kind, it whispered to the machine.

Outside, the distant wail of a siren started up. The Governance’s security algorithms had finally caught on. 692x-updata

“I’ve spent three years trying to find a third option,” he said. “This is it. I make the ultimate edit. I sacrifice my self so that a god can learn how to be kind.” She squeezed his hand

“There has to be another way,” Elara said, her voice cracking. it whispered to the machine. Outside

Her hand tightened on his shoulder. “It’ll kill you.”