Pix sits in a dark gray armchair, sandalled feet on a minimal bed. He scrolls rapidly through the news on a tablet. His concrete cell has a warm gold/red trim at the base and ceilings while two circular windows frame the starless night outside.

On the tablet, he sees astronomical delete rates, hundreds of cycles of tournaments, thousands of Peacefuls brutalized by Publican law, and despite unrest, the population grows.

Down the long hall an elevator bings and its doors softly open. Cyrus emerges, still in his itchy polka-dot gown. He takes in the imposing row of two hundred cells barred by white hexagonal boron nitride. The orange neon chandeliers make it feel more hall of fame than prison.

He wheels forward. The cells hold beds, chairs, and transport pads, all sized for each program. He advances down the hall, looking for Pix. A bat-type Hostile hangs upside down, a reptilian lies prone on the floor, a spider-type weaves a web. Cyrus avoids their eyes, wheeling quietly.

Programs exercise, stare out windows, and scroll on tablets, then Cyrus sees Pix and gasps quietly. Pix looks right at him from behind the thin bars.

CYRUS

Uh- 

His throat catches and he coughs.

CYRUS

Ah-hem! Hm. Hi.

PIX

It is you.

CYRUS

Yeah, I looked you up – I wanted to say: Th-thanks for saving my life.

PIX

You are welcome.

***

In Pix’s dark, shiny chamber, Sophia sits in her chair, now with ornaments and detailing, She formed a small grayscale screen to display Pix’s vision, and sees Cyrus.

SOPHIA

He’s alive! Oh how is he!?

PIX

(overhead)

I will ask.

***

CYRUS

You’ll ask what?

PIX

Sorry, I am speaking to Sophia in my chamber.

Cyrus sees no one else in the clean cell.

CYRUS

Where?

PIX

Not this room – inside me. She wonders how you are doing.

Cyrus doesn’t quite follow…

CYRUS

Um, I’m okay, I guess. I hope I get used to this wheelchair.

SOPHIA

(only to Pix)

Tell him we’re glad he’s out and about!

PIX

We are glad you are out and about.

CYRUS

Sorry, who’s Sophia?

Cyrus hears a chuckle behind him from an older female program.

PIX

She was with me when I saved you. She is my first absorbed program.

The older program calls out across the hall with a deep, sophisticated voice.

???

Why are you absorbing programs?

PIX

(louder)

To save and carry them to Smith’s server.

???

A spot of competition, eh?

Cyrus wheels around to see a tall, silver-haired almost regal program in a satin purple-and-orange robe. She stands still, hands behind her back, smiling down at Pix.

CYRUS

Sorry, um, who are you?

???

Phaedra, dear, pleasure to meet you.

Phaedra is a head above Pix, her voice resonates deeper than her lean frame and age should allow. 

PIX

Nice to meet you. I have no interest in competing.

PHAEDRA

Then you’re on the wrong side of the screens, beloved.

PIX

Al told me I would reach more programs if I joined the tournament.

PHAEDRA

Yes, you could promote yourself, call conferences, meet with the champion-

CYRUS

Hold on, why did you say “competition”?

Phaedra turns her high-beam gaze to Cyrus.

PHAEDRA

Oh, sweetheart, I’m also trying to save programs.

Cyrus flinches under her attention.

***

In Pix’s chamber, Sophia taps her armchair rapidly.

SOPHIA

Ugh.

PIX

You know her?

SOPHIA

We worked together. Great teacher, but she undermined me.

***

Phaedra looks across the hall to Pix again.

PHAEDRA

I knew a Sophia White. Does that name…?

PIX

Yes. This is her.

CYRUS

Pix, she’s uh, reported missing-

PIX

I know. Phaedra, were you an educator?

She drops her satin-draped arms and steps closer to the bars of her cell.

PHAEDRA

Why, yes. Did Sophia tell you that? Brilliant. You mentioned Smith’s server… how do you plan to convince programs?

PIX

Demonstrating my abilities and telling programs about my coder.

PHAEDRA

(chuckling)

Ah, well, prepare for disappointment, beloved.

PIX

Expand.

PHAEDRA

What manners! You may find Hostiles a bit stubborn. They’ve heard a lot of stories by the time they’re detained or fighting.

PIX

How do you know this?

PHAEDRA

(whispering)

Because I have some on my side.

Cyrus’s eyes widen. Pix steps forward in his cell.

***

In Pix’s chamber, Sophia lunges forward in her chair.

SOPHIA

She does not.

***

PIX

Expand… Please.

Phaedra smiles.

PHAEDRA

Suffice it to say I patch programs to make them quantum-compatible.

PIX

Can binary programs survive a quantum upgrade?

PHAEDRA

I’ve searched every corner of Publica for exits. The only way out is through the Algorithm. But to meet the Algorithm, we need to convince Brick and the authorities at his command.

PIX

Convince them of what?

PHAEDRA

That patched programs should be allowed to leave Publica and explore the Internet. Perhaps a few more steps than your plan, but I suppose we’re both selling  stories, eh?

Pix processes.

PIX

Cyrus, what is your opinion?

CYRUS

Jeez I don’t know… If neither of you have proof, then it’s a matter of preference, right?

PHAEDRA

Excellent point, beloved!

CYRUS

(blushing)

Heh. I mean no one wants to be deleted, but it seems like they can either trust Pix based on his abilities, or trust Phaedra based on what? Rhetoric?

PHAEDRA

(warmly)

What a clever program.

CYRUS

(turning to Pix)

Anyway, I came up to thank you for saving me… so that’s done, and I should go.

Cyrus starts wheeling back the way he came. He pauses and turns.

CYRUS

Are you both fighting tomorrow?

PHAEDRA

Yes.

CYRUS

Oh.

(beat)

OH! That reminds me, Pix. You know about Tier One programs right?

PIX

Yes. They are all killers.

CYRUS

A-are you-?

PIX

I have only absorbed Sophia, but I spoke with an officer to ensure I could fight in Tier One.

Cyrus gulps and turns to Phaedra.

CYRUS

And…?

PHAEDRA

I’ve never deleted anyone, beloved. Authorities deemed me a critical threat to domain security.

CYRUS

Great. Good luck tomorrow I suppose.

Cyrus goes on his way.

PIX/PHAEDRA

Thank you.

Cyrus passes the same programs, though more of them have fallen asleep. Phaedra sits on her bed and closes her eyes to meditate. Pix watches Cyrus wheel down the hall, then lays on his bed. He watches Phaedra meditate for a minute, then sleeps.