─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

FOLLOWING MONTY BACK TO THE CONTROL ROOM WHERE RAVEN WAITED FOR THEM, RILEY WORKED ON BUTTONING UP HER JEANS AS MONTY SLIPPED ON HIS JACKET. Her blonde hair was free of a braid, the twists coming out from her earlier activities. She tucked the strands between her ears as they rushed past the open doorway, to where Raven was in her typical spot in front of the screens, still clicking at her keyboard with wide eyes.

"What is it?" Monty questioned, pacing into the control room and announcing the presence of him and Riley.

"It's right here," Raven answered without looking away from the screen, and waving the pair over to her. "Look at all these layers of security." The words didn't mean much to Riley, but she observed the screen anyways. "More than anything else in the entire ALIE code."

Scanning what Raven was motioning to, Monty was drawn in. "Firewall?" He asked curiously.

"More like a fortress," Raven responded, determined. "She calls it the Citadel. It overlooks the entire city. It's separated by water, like a moat, so - "

"Hold up and slow down," Riley interrupted, holding up a hand before plopping in the open seat next to her. "We have a non-computer geek right here. What are you saying?"

"I'm saying she's hiding something," Raven explained, spinning the chair to the side to look back to Monty. "With Becca's password, I can edit the code. I'm sure of it," she said, grinning with a willing look. Riley was impressed, and ready to agree with her.

However, Monty didn't see it that way. He immediately began shaking his head, opposing Raven's determination to hack into ALIE. "No." The two letter word came out simple, yet firm.

"Monty!" Raven exclaimed desperately, slipping off her chair. "With Becca's password, I can edit the code, I'm sure of it!"

"We've covered this," Monty argued. "We map it from the outside, we don't go in. We tell the others when they come home, and we decide together."

"What if they don't come home?" Raven shot back straightaway, her question catching Riley off guard. She winced at the idea, knowing the group that had left had no idea what Luna had in store for them. It could be completely safe, or much more dangerous than they thought. If they didn't come back, then they were on their own, Riley realized. They'd be left to stop ALIE while carrying the weight of the death from their friends.

While Riley dwelled on the negative impacts of their journey, Monty chose to remain optimistic on their friend's fate. "They're coming home," he declared as if it was already decided. "And they're bringing back a supercomputer built for this. You may be freakishly good, Raven, but you're not an A.I."

Defeated, Raven huffed, plopping herself back into her chair and slamming closed fists onto the desk. "I hate this," she breathed out through gritted teeth. Riley knew Monty was right, though. It was a difficult decision to be made, and it should be with the entire group, not just the three of them.

Understanding, Monty looked guilty as he nodded. He knew how much this meant to Raven. "I know. Maybe some sleep would help," he suggested. It was easy to notice the dark circles caved underneath Raven's eyes from the way she was attempting to fight off sleep to keep her focus.

"You both need a nap," Riley mumbled, sliding the keyboard to Raven who began typing away with her eyes aimed towards the screen.

As Raven kept her gaze centered, she let a small murmur slip out sarcastically. "I'm sure you both had a great nap together." Riley felt her cheeks flare up in a bright red from the reminding embarrassment of being caught by both Harper and her, so she chose to bite her lower lip and hold back any shameful comment.

"Here, Monty. Take my seat," Riley finally spoke up, sliding off the chair and offering it to him. "You could keep her better company than me." She knew practically nothing about computers, not like they did. "I'll go see if the guards are alright." She knew the last time that the three were left behind, Emerson caught them and nearly killed them all, so Riley thought it'd be best to do check ins.

Monty smiled at the offer and took it up, finally allowing himself to relax. Riley paused, hesitating in wanting to leave, before she made her decision to wrap her arms tightly over his shoulders, leaning down and tilting her head to the side so she could plant a kiss on his cheek. She was glad to see him ease into her touch. "Be right back," Riley finally promised before releasing him and taking off, outside of the control room.

The, what was supposed to be quick scan and check in, took a bit longer than what Riley had originally thought. Arkadia was huge, and while the three went on short walks to all the exits, they were posted at the main ones in different areas. She made a fast pit spot to the medical provision to pick up more bandages for Raven so she wouldn't have to later. As Riley arrived back to the control room, a small smile appeared on her face when seeing Monty was fast asleep with his forehead on the desk. It didn't last long when she noticed Raven was furiously typing and whispering to herself.

"I'm coming for you."

"Raven?" Riley spoke up in confusion, rushing into the room and peering over her shoulder. She couldn't make up the letters and numbers being scrambled together, but Raven seemed so focused, it only meant one thing. "Are you - ?"

"Hell yes I am," Raven responded stubbornly. "I'll end her. I know I can."

"I'm not saying you can't," Riley argued, her voice coming out soft but firm, as to not wake up Monty but come off serious to Raven. She had complete faith that Raven could easily do so, with how intelligent she was, but it was too big of a decision to make. They needed everyone, not just the three of them to decide. "I'm saying we should wait for the others and know if they got Luna or not. Raven, stop."

The pleading Riley had given Raven was only ignored by the brilliant mechanic who remained steady. "Stop me," she dared her without taking her eyes off the screen. "If you know I can, you won't."

Pausing, Riley averted her gaze to the screens. Even if she wanted to stop Raven, she couldn't. She didn't have a brain or the level of brightness as Raven and Monty to redo whatever Raven has done. Now, Riley wasn't sure she wanted to even if she could have. She had faith that ALIE could be stopped, that she could be ended, right now and no one else would have to die fighting against her.

From the sound of their quarrel, Monty began stirring slowly. Riley felt guilty seeing him wake up, knowing that he needed more sleep, but it faded when he was brought to the real world and his eyes widened upon seeing what Raven was doing. "Raven, are you crazy?!" He exclaimed, grabbing her wrist in an attempt to stop her.

Pulling away, Raven warned him before he could touch the keyboard. "Don't! Don't. I'm in her Citadel." Monty hesitantly released her, and she began typing again. Riley watched as the screen split into four sections, that Raven began to scroll through. "So many doors. They're locked, but I can delete locks," she assured them. Riley stayed quiet, viewing the four sections that turned into one big bit once more, highlighted with a yellow. "I was right," Raven continued, confirming and proud of herself. "She's hiding something here. I just have to get past.." She suddenly stopped, hitting a key that wasn't working. "Someone's in the way."

"Someone?" Riley repeated, lost as to what she meant. "As in someone's hiding in the computer, or..?"

"Yeah," Raven answered quickly. "There's a person there. From the city of light. I can't get around them." She was growing frustrated again, as Monty asked who it was. Before Raven could respond, a voice filled the room, coming from the computer.

"Monty? Monty, can you hear me?"

A cold shiver went up Riley's spine when hearing the strange voice. It was slightly robotic and staticy, but familiar. It was Monty's mother, Hannah Green, calling out to her son. Monty's shoulders tensed up and his expression softened into one of hurt as he quietly whispered back, his voice breaking. "Mom?"

"Monty," Hannah's voice breathed out. "I wish I could see you. Maybe I will someday."

Remembering what Monty did to his mother, Riley rubbed the back of her hand on her forehead, feeling sick and uneasy. "That can't be her," she mumbled to Raven. How was it even possible, Hannah Green was dead.

"She sounds so real," Monty said quietly, sounding in a daze.

"ALIE processed it," Raven informed him. "But it's her mind. It's her."

At Raven's confirmation, Monty looked desperate. "Can she hear me?" He asked. When Raven explained he had to type, he hadn't hesitated in grabbing the keyboard. Riley could hear Hannah continue to speak, asking if he was still there. He was about to type, before Raven stopped him.

"ALIE wants us to stop. That's why she sent her. She doesn't want us to see what's on the other side." Raven looked apologetic, sorry to be the one to have to tell Monty so. But it was his mother, in a way.

Riley wanted nothing more than for Raven to take the reigns and get rid of Hannah, but she didn't want to see the crushing look on Monty's face. "What you did to me, I know it hurts," Hannah spoke, her voice calm and soothing.

Typing, Monty spoke aloud as he hit the keys. "I'm sorry."

"I know," Hannah responded. "I want to take that pain away. That's all any of us want. We can be together again. Don't you want that?"

Monty's head fell forward and Riley could see he was using all of his strength to fight back tears. Her heart hurt witnessing it, and she put her hand on his shoulder, pressing her thumb onto him. "Monty," she said gently. "You need to decide." It was his mother speaking, and it was up to him if he wanted to erase her. They didn't have a lot of time, Riley guessed, from what Raven had said.

Keeping his head down, Monty's hands froze over the keyboard. "What happens if we delete her code?" He asked, stiff.

Hesitating, Raven inhaled slowly before answering. "She'll be gone. Forever."

It was the hardest way to hear, but it was true, and Monty knew that. He shook his head, tears rolling down his cheeks as Hannah spoke again. "I love you, son." Riley knew she did, despite the mistakes she made, and even if she wasn't really there, she was still under ALIE's influence.

Breaking down, Monty slid the keyboard back to Raven. "Do it." She nodded back, beginning to type, as Riley brought her hand downwards, pressing it against Monty's back. She wanted to do more, to embrace him until he stopped crying and shaking, but she knew he didn't want it right now. Hearing Hannah again was hurting him too much, and she didn't blame him.

Sliding the board back to Monty, Raven indicated she was finished. "Hit enter."

At her words, Monty lifted his hand, holding his pointer finger over the 'enter' button. He was hesitating, grieving, as Hannah repeated his name in question before he caved with four, broken words. "I love you too." Finally, Monty pressed the button.

The screen began to flicker, showing the file was deleted. Monty let out a short cry, his head falling downwards again. Distressed, Riley felt nothing except pity. It wasn't fair for him to deal with so much. He shouldn't have to carry the loss of his mother twice. Monty stood, forcing himself away from the screen. Riley brought her hand further down, grasping his own hand tightly and rubbing her thumb over the top.

"I'm through the last door," Raven told them as the letters on the screen went red. "I see it. It's a kill switch!" Riley's eyes flickered up, slowly growing hopeful and even more upbeat. "All I have to do is.."

All of a sudden, the screens flickered off into nothing but a blank black. Angry, Raven pounded her fists on the desk. "No, no, no!" She shouted in rage, knowing she was defeated.

"Raven, what is it?! What happened?!" Riley exclaimed, alarmed.

Broken, Raven shook her head. "She must've pulled herself from the mainframe before I had time to hit the kill switch." Riley let out a quiet sigh, disappointed.

They were so close.

"This was all for nothing?!" Monty suddenly shouted, ripping his hand out of Riley's clasp to gesture around.

"No, Monty, no!" Raven desperately tried to sound convincing as she stood. Riley could see the tears streaming down her face, upset at herself for not pulling through and hurting Monty. "Now we know there's a kill switch!"

"A kill switch we can't use because the code is gone!" Monty shot back before spitefully jutting a finger in her direction. "This is your fault! We were supposed to wait for the others! You want to take the chip again?! Is that it?!"

As Monty stormed forward, Riley tearfully attempted to reach out for him. "Monty, wait - " Her voice cracked as he shoved her arm away with a heavy force before grabbing one of ALIE's chips on the desk and shoving it in Raven's face.

"Here," Monty offered as Raven cried. "Take it."

"I'm sorry," Raven apologized in a soft whimper. "I'm sorry."

At her apology, Monty backed away, forgetting about the chip. Riley didn't blame Raven for not being able to pull through quick enough, but she knew Monty needed her. She gave Raven an apologetic look before following him down the short hallway. "Monty, wait, come here," she requested, soft and tender.

Monty halted, slowly turning around. Riley finally saw how shattered and beaten he really was, his face wet with tears and red. She remembered each time he helped her when she struggled after Mount Weather, and hoped she was enough to help him as he was for her. Riley reached out, cupping his face and pulling him to her. Monty broke down, weakly pressing his face into her shoulder as she brought one hand to the back of his neck and the other around him.

"It's okay," Riley whispered, feeling his tears wet her skin. "It's going to get better. I promise."