[ Root glances up and gives Charles a sincere smile. It's not as effervescent as her usual cocky devil-may-care daring attitude; it's more reserved, private. How Root is when she's genuinely appreciative. ]

Thanks-- for caring about her. For trusting what I'm saying. But I don't think I'll ever see her again, or ever hear her voice.

[ She wants to sound calm and accepting, has come to this conclusion logically so many times that it's undeniable. But she can't. Her smile twists into a grimace and she laughs a little, hollowly, hand coming up to trace the edges of the implant behind her ear. ]

We're copies. It's what makes the most sense. We're digital beings and the consciousness I am here is not ever going to experience home again, not really. [ If they lose their memories when they go back, it's not them; and it implies that they're being updated. Of course the A.I. would think they could return if it was the explicit end state it was seeking for rehabilitation, and Root clung to that for a while, but...

It doesn't make sense. And she's always been a rational person, even hyper-rational. ]

But if I'm only good when she's around, what good am I really?