Worth A Trillion Stars

The FLARE lab was quiet, Leia sat alone at her desk, her eyes glued to the screen as files from the failed experiment scrolled by while at the same time took a glance at the same report from a hardcopy document given by Dr. Wallace a month ago. The sterile blue light of the monitor illuminated her face, highlighting the furrow in her brow and the weariness in her eyes.

Each line of data, each video clip, each note scribbled by her own hand, it all brought back memories she couldn’t escape. The potential of the project had been immense, groundbreaking even, but the cost...
Leia clenched her fists, her mind filled with doubt.

Was it worth it?

The door to her office slid open with a soft hiss, she turned at it but nothing was there but as she back to look at the monitor screen, Leia got jump scared by Zero sudden appearance on the screen "You’re here again, it's late," the AI remarked, his tone sounding half-concerned. "Do you even remember what going home mean?"
Leia pulled Zero that is on the screen to the trash bin in the monitor. "I'm busy."

Zero continue to be with Leia, this time appear on her watch. "Ah, the failed experiment. Or as I like to call it, the best decision you’ve ever made?"

Leia’s lips tightened into a thin line. "Was it?" She whispered feeling guilty. "I lied to my colleagues, sabotaged their hard work. I might have destroyed something revolutionary because I… I couldn’t let her go."
"Oh? You started to feeling guilty now?" He rolled his eyes.

"Did I do the right thing, Zero? What if I ruined her chance at something better?"

"Eve could’ve been a lab specimen," Zero interrupted sharply. "A tool, a thing, stripped of any chance to be herself. Is that your definition of better?"

Leia looked down, unable to answer.

"You people are not some god to create humans just to avoid your species extinction. Even a brand new programmed AI knew that." Zero sighed, his tone softening. "I gonna admitted that you look more alive since you brought her home."

Leia confused. "Alive?"

Zero continued, his voice tinged with fondness. "You remember what you told me that night? She deserves to live like human. That’s what you said. After I called you crazy. And you’ve given her that chance to live like human. Look at her now. She’s happy, she’s thriving. Isn’t that enough?"

Leia’s eyes glistened, but she blinked the tears away. "She is happy," She admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to protect her but what if I can't forever?"

A silence between them until Zero break it with a simple respond.

"Eve are now peacefully asleep."

Leia let out a soft laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing. She closed the files on her screen, the data fading into darkness. "Let’s go home," She said, standing and grabbing her coat.

Doing the right thing wasn’t about logic, it was about the heart. And Eve worth every doubt, every sacrifice. She worth a trillion stars in the skies.

As Leia and Zero walked toward the car park, the conversation shifted into a comfortable quiet. The city still bright with light. She drive her way home as Zero now transfer from her watch to be on her car radio screen.

Out of the blue, Zero’s voice come out, softer than usual from the radio. "Do you remember your first attempted on cooking back when you 15?"

Leia glanced at him, surprised by the sudden nostalgia in his tone. "Yeah," She laughed. "I was pretty bad at it from the start."

Zero continue. "Back then, you were different. Serious. Always in your head, always working, always chasing something. You were brilliant, sure, but…" He hesitated.
Leia tilted her head. "But?"
"You weren’t happy," Zero said bluntly, "Not until her."
Leia’s heart tightened.
"The first time you brought her home, I thought, here we go, another experiment. But then you started to smiled more. You laughed. You had someone to come home to, someone to care for. And honestly? That made me happy, too."

They arrived home and Leia parked her car but stay in the car and face the small on her car. "Zero…"

"You don’t have to say anything," Zero said quickly, glancing his eyes away. "I mean, don’t get sappy on me or anything. It’s just... I’ve always wanted to tell you. Seeing you happy, seeing Eve grow." He added. "I bet if not because of Eve, you wouldn't be all bashful to our neighbor, right?"

Zero eyes keep glancing to Leia and away, he never express himself like this and always keep his pride as an Artificial Intelligence but in the end, he was created by a lonely child that needed a company.

"Zero, out." He said before disappear from the radio screen.

Feeling determine, she get off the car and open the door of her now quite home, Leia’s eyes softened seeing Zero on the wall in the big screen trying to act nonchalant, and before Zero could react, she stepped closer and wide open her arms hugging the screen, her embrace warm and heartfelt. Of course, Zero was only a screen, but the gesture was real enough.

"Thank you, Zero," She whispered. "For always being with me. For everything."

Zero’s hologram flickered wildly, the pixels shifting as if he were flustered which he is. "Of course, it's not like I can run away if I wanted to, I stuck in your house."
Leia chuckled, holding the embrace a second longer before stepping back.

The AI trying to act aloof, though the faint shimmer on his screen betrayed his embarrassment. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Don’t get all emotional on me now. I don’t do tears."
Leia smiled, her heart lighter than it had been all day. "Fine, no tears. But I meant what I said."

Zero tilted his head, his usual sass returning. "I’ll allow it. Just don’t make this a habit. Hugs are overrated anyway."

Leia tiptoed down the hallway, her footsteps barely making a sound on the cool floor. She held a blanket in her arms, intending to check on Eve one last time before heading to her own room.
When she reached Eve’s door, she peeked inside. Eve lay on her bed, her tiny figure curled up beneath her blanket, her breathing slow and steady, almost too steady.

To think that this room use to be hers and her current room is her parents room. She glad that it wouldn't be left to dust because Eve is here.

Leia stepped closer, placing the extra blanket on a chair by the bed. She watched the child serene face, a small smile tugging at her lips. Eve looked so peaceful. But just as Leia turned to leave, she caught the faintest flutter of movement.

Eve’s eyes cracked open ever very slightly, just enough for her to steal a quick glance at Leia. The moment their gazes almost met, Eve’s eyes snapped shut, her face tilting slightly as though nothing had happened.

Leia’s heart softened, and she let out the quietest of chuckles, shaking her head. "You little faker," She whispered under her breath.

Leia was once a child, with mother and father that always checked on her when sleeping, that was an old tricked.
Instead of leaving, Leia sat down on the edge of the bed. She gently smoothed Eve’s hair, her fingers brushing lightly against her cheek. Eve didn’t stir, still pretending to be fast asleep.
Leia then slipped off her slippers and carefully climbed into the bed, pulling the blanket over both of them.

Eve’s body tensed, surprised, but Leia pretended not to notice. She wrapped an arm around the girl, pulling her close.

"Goodnight, Eve," Leia whispered softly. "You don’t have to fake anything with me, you know."
Eve remained still, her breathing steady again, though Leia could feel her warmth, her small frame relaxing into the embrace.

Leia closed her eyes, feeling the quiet comfort of the moment. She knew Eve would probably tease her about this in the morning, but for now, it was enough just to hold her close.

Leia lay beside Eve, the soft sounds of the night filling the room as she settled into the bed. She was about to drift off when a quiet voice broke the silence.
"Leia?" Eve’s voice was barely a whisper, but Leia could tell she was awake.
Leia turned toward the girl, "Are you asleep?" She asked gently, her tone soft, as if trying not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere.
Eve hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don’t want to sleep yet."

Leia smiled, her heart melting. She thought for a moment, then shifted closer, gently resting her head on the pillow beside Eve, her body now facing her.
"I'll sleep with you then we both can fell asleep, how about that?" Leia suggested in a warm, comforting tone.

Eve’s eyes lit up instantly, her excitement almost palpable. She quickly scooted closer, her small hands tugging at the blanket as she wiggled into position beside Leia. "Yeah!" Her voice bubbled with joy.
Leia chuckled softly and nodded. She pulled Eve gently toward her, wrapping an arm around her as Eve snuggled in close.

her tiny form nestling into the warmth of Leia's embrace and tucked her head against Leia’s chest.

"I like this..." Eve said, feeling cozy. "Thank you so much, for giving me this chance."

Leia doesn't sure if she's mean a chance to sleep together or a chance of living as a normal human, either way, Leia does not regret any of it.