The Long Night

Xanthiana was huddled near a fire. It wasn't the optimal tactical position, it messed with her sight and highlighted her in the night, but she was cold and so by the fire she remained. She hadn't seen any mutants since arriving, EGO had made an attempt to scan the area and didn't come up with any radio signals or Ark hunter communications, she was alone in the night.

"All scans are coming back negative, perhaps the mutants were defeated?" Well alone with a voice in her head. Xanthiana at least welcomed the company, even if it was some weird AI that didn't seem to understand basic social graces.

"Doubtful, not enough bodies and the ereps would still be here, no most likely a tactical retreat they are incommunication because of the bunkers blocking signals, hopefully they did not go to the bunker full of Hellbugs." Xanthiana had cleared some of those things out, but they were persistent bastards, and just when you think you've crushed a nest you wake up to something eating your liver.

"We could go looking for them right now, I can augment your vision Operator Roeyka."

"I'm tired EGO, we've been going a hundred percent since land fall and I just can't keep it up ok, give me till morning we'll find the ereps, and then Von Bach and then I don't know actually do what we were hired to do." It seemed like years since she'd been on the hover carrier, but it had only been a couple days at most.

"Understood Operator Roeyka, I'll keep my scans running while you sleep." The voice almost sounded resigned, Xanthiana pondered the idea that the EGO device could feel emotions.

"EGO is so formal, do you have another name?"

"I have a longer name Operator Roeyka, but no I was not programmed with a first name like a living being, it was deemed a superficial comfort for the Operator."

"Well would you like a new name?"

"I don't honestly know Operator Roeyka, other AI's I've intereacted with since landfall have been granted additional names by their operators, but they do not seem like polite monikers." Xanthiana smirked, she could only guess what the impolite monikers were.

"How about Ellie? You seem like an Ellie to me." Xanthiana knew a little girl named Ellie once, things did not go well for young Ellie.

"Ellie? Ellie, sure Operator Roeyka this will moniker will work."

"Ok and this Operator Roeyka shit has got to go, my friends call me Xan."

"Are we friends Xan?"

"We are a lot closer than any of my other friends Ellie, I mean most of them just think they got into my head, you are actually there." Xanthiana could have sworn she heard Ellie laugh.

"Point taken Xan, I'll update my code files, I do have to say in formal communications you will still be listed as Operator Roeyka."

"That's fine." Xanthiana leaned backward, she hadn't realized how tightly she'd been clutchering her rifle until she released the grip and her hand ached. "Ok Ellie wake me up at daylight if I'm not already up."

"Understood Xan, sleep well." And so Xanthiana slept with her AI companion watching over her. And the long night passed into the morning of battle.