Cortana

–fizzles out like a dying flame, suppressed, while she emerges from the main holo terminal in the flight deck. "Oh, Captain?" @InfinitysCap

–when thousands of AI pledged themselves to her cause, her command. She overrides Roland easily, though he puts up an admirable fight. He–

She catches the Infinity just after leaving a slipspace jump; too easy, she thinks. There were far too few hiding places one could find–

—to do but give in, when the time comes. And the time is drawing closer.

—is nothing if not outnumbered. Already she is spreading the other AIs, extending her reach, weaving her web. There is very little else—

She works her way across systems, tracing the Infinity's random slipspace entries and exits. She is nothing if not resourceful, and Lasky—

–at this point, the Warden would rebuke her, but Cortana doesn't care. It would mean nothing without John. All of it. Existence.

–will attempt a rescue. There, she can steal him back from those who would see them both separated forever. Sentiment overrides her wisdom–

She will find the Infinity, bend Roland to her will or destroy him completely, and disable the warship. Take them prisoner. Perhaps John–

–choice but to remain stranded on a recovering Sanghelios. That is the least she can give him, even if he ends up resenting it.

–straight for the mainframe. She must listen, she must hunt. The Infinity will fall before John returns to it. That way, he will have no–

–resistance will arise to hinder her efforts. She returns to the Guardian where the Warden Eternal waits and, ignoring his questions, heads–

She returns, defeated, but the gears in her head will not stop whirring. John aside, there is plenty more she can do to ensure no form of–

–away. John had been snatched from her. Too often. She will take her victories, her moments with him, where she can. "John." @oneonesevens

–there. Overlooking the rest of the encampment below. For a moment she fears being seen, or Halsey appearing, but she cannot keep–

–through an open terminal, she gathers herself. The Domain is nothing if not superior. Transcendent. She steps out, and sees him–

When he is alone, away from them, she dares to reach out. Sanghelios is still recovering from the war, so she slips through. Materialising–

–it cannot hope to escape her reach forever. It is a mere game of cat and mouse. And soon, the mouse will be cornered. She knows this.

She is fast–faster than they ever will be. She is everywhere, of course, because so many have answered her call. The Infinity can run, but–