𝚒‎ ‎ ‎ 𝚊𝚖 ‎ ‎ ‎‎ 𝚖𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚎

𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝‎ ‎ 𝚊‎ ‎ 𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚝

Axis shot his eyes open as he reactivated. He glances over to Ariel as she slept peacefully, the morning sunlight filling the motel room. He then glances across the room and sees Roman as he sat in the recliner with the suitcase of money on his lap, counting the bills of the stacks of cash. Axis then slowly sits forward in his place, seeing as how the television set was tuned into the local news station. Roman notices as Axis sat forward in his place on the bed and shoots his glance over to the android. 

"Axis, we need to talk." Roman then said, looking back to the stack of bills and places it back inside the case. 

Axis shot his attention over to Roman. "Oh, good morning, Roman." Axis said as he slowly got out of the bed. "I would like to talk to you as well." 

Roman lets out a sigh through his nostrils and closes the case of money. "It's about the girl." 

"Yes." Axis said before walking around the bed. "I had already inferred that to be the point of contention." 

"I am under the impression that the girl wants to come along with us, right?" Roman said, placing the case of money onto the table of the room. 

"Yes, Roman." Axis then said. "She has even asked me to teach her how to use a weapon and use it to defend herself." 

Roman then purses his lips and lets out a deep exhale through his nostrils before standing up in his place. "Axis, the girl coming with us is a terrible idea." 

"I do not believe this to be the case, Roman." Axis then said, watching as Roman stood up. "Ariel seems to be more than capable and is willing to learn to defend herself." 

"Axis, wake the fuck up." He then said, crossing his arms. "Even if we take her with us, people are still going to be looking for her." 

Ariel gently groans out as she arose from her slumber, the sound of the two arguing causes her to open her eyes. 

"I believe that to be irrelevant." Axis then said. 

Roman then lets out a groan as he places his forehead into his hand. "Axis, do you honestly believe that we can just drag this girl along and teach her the ways of Machina Mortis?" 

"Not to that extent." Axis replied. "But taking her out of this city and giving her a new chance to live without the threat of being a political target is better than abandoning her." 

Roman then lets out another soft groan as he places his hands upon his hips. "Axis, the girl's life should not be our responsibility. It's bad enough we already have targets on our backs. Do you want even more heat by taking this girl with us?" 

Ariel then slowly lifted her head and turned her attention over to the two as they argued. 

"If it means protecting her, then affirmative." Axis replied. 

"Axis, even if you teach her to shoot, she is still a liability. She is not cut out for what we do." Roman said, crossing his arms again as he then glanced over to Ariel, seeing as she looked upon him with her ears pinned back. 

"You do not know that for certain." Axis then said, glancing upon Roman. 

"Yes, I do." Roman then said, glancing back over to Axis. "The girl needs to go back home where she belongs." 

Ariel then sits up in her place on the bed, bringing the blankets up to her chest as her ears continued to pin back. 

"Roman, it is her best interest to come with us." Axis said. 

"Bullshit, Axis." Roman snarled. "I am not going to let her drag us down because you grew an attachment to this girl." Roman then said. "As of this moment, I am issuing a prime directive. We are taking this girl back to her family." Roman then said, taking a step towards Ariel.