The two women made their progress across the rocky terrain, slow as snails, but it was movement and that was all that mattered. Despite the remote location and barren environment, they both knew there had to be other humans in the area. How to find them was the first challenge and hoping they would be sympathetic and helpful was the second. Meri's type wasn't welcome in many places.

Even in the desert in the middle of the night, despite the stillness, there were signs of life. One had to be quiet and move slowly to find them, and they had that in their favor. Meri could smell water from a long way off, and when they had chosen to start moving, it was in the direction of an oasis she detected. Just the promise of water was enough to keep her going.

They walked for what felt like an eternity. The stars wheeled in the sky as the planet moved on its axis. They put their feet one in front of the other and leaned on each other, resting when Meri was too tired to move, but only for a breath or two. They dared not to rest longer, for fear of sinking into the fatigue and never coming out of it. The desert stretched on and on and on. And still they kept walking. The horizon stayed dark. Meri thought the night would never end. She felt like she was walking under water and wondered why she bothered. The mechanical body had taken over and the body wanted to survive. Thriving could happen later. She wished she could kill the traitor inside her that kept her moving.