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You deliberately slip the knife into your uniform, she gives a weak cry of protest as you do so. The convenience of your 'body' comes into play, you slide it between two metallic ribs for safety. She'd have to literally split you apart to get to it.
You take a seat, leaving the door open to try and keep total darkness from taking the Pantry over again. JJ's eyes glow faintly.
<Inquiry>Are you programmed to eventually self-terminate?
This is enough to rattle JJ a bit out of her depressive fit. Her head tilts before answering slowly.
>"What, no. What kind of business model would that be?"
<Inquiry>Is the Night pre-set to be miserable and/or painful towards you?
>"I... If I'm locked in a dark room, it would, Sir... I tried to say that during the Day earlier but I didn't think it'd be so bad... I suppose this is why my prior selves were scrapped."
<statement>This Unit wasn't aware you were capable of such emotions, leaving you here was a poor idea.
>"No, it really isn't-logically it's the best...
>"... The best way to keep a Staff member alive, just..."
A loud slam covers the two of you in sawdust. It's hard to panic at this point, if the building falls now, there's not much you can do about it. JJ barely responds, and doesn't bother to wipe herself clean.
>"I think there might be some things worse than dying, it just didn't dawn on me until tonight...
>"Why would they let me be able to think that? I don't understand, why would anyone build something that can think this much?"
...
>"Why does it have to be so real?"
You hug JJ.
The biggest shock of all is the detection of moisture accumulating on your tattered uniform. She grips hard, and her shivering doesn't calm.
Something akin to sobbing struggles to escape her voice box, but despite the similarities, she isn't Human. Instead a rattled, tinny drone is the closest approximation she has.
