"Poor kid... She's probably got some major Stockholm syndrome." Alan noted. "Give her some space. She's as much a victim here as we are. Her cage was just more comfy."

One of the men stepped forward and spoke "Don't seem fair she gets to be the only one in comfort... Can't we get some 'comfort' of our own with her?" He said, eyeing the girl with a smirk.

Alan frowned and said "No. You're not needed here anymore. Go provide supporting fire to any groups who need it."

The smirk quickly turned into a scowl and he walked past the girl crouched near the dead sentinel. He muttered under his breath so she could hear "Soon, I'll get you to myself... Then we'll see how loud you can sing."

The men set up a perimeter, already pulling bodies to the side like they'd been doing all day. Alan quickly began to patch up Zane's crushed legs, keeping a respectful distance from the bird girl.

"NOW, Finn." Alan growled. When he lingered a bit too long around the girl.

"...we'll see how loud you can sing."

The words were so familiar that it took her a few moments to register that they had not come from Davor. Sora looked at the man frowning in confusion. Her hands tightened in the Sentinels clothing as she shifted back a bit, almost as if despite his non living state he was still her protector. She didn't like him. Sora belonged to Davor, no one else was supposed to make her sing.

"NOW, Finn."

She glanced at the man that had yelled at the other and tilted her head to the side staring at him. Movement from the corner of her eye made her glance at Finn leaving and quickly returned back to Allen. He didn't seem like an immediate threat so she turned back to Davor and whimpered. The poor little song bird scooted closer to his chilling body and curled up on his chest. She had never felt lost or sadness and she felt so confused at the feelings inside her. Her arms wrapped around his body, her hands moving in a slight stroking motion as if she was trying to warm him back up. But there was no heart beat and she lifted her head to look at his face. He was dead... She snuggled closer to him and started to cry, it was the only thing that felt right.

It would be a while before the anger at the humans rose in her chest, blaming them for his death, viewing them as cold-hearted murderers, and loathing them to her core... but for now only the heart-breaking grief she felt held her emotions. So she cried harder and sobbed; tears ran down shamelessly and snot began to run down her nose. Sora's breath catching at time making her gasp for air between sobs.

Zech felt a pang of guilt when he saw the girl curled up with Davor. He began to think about all the lives lost in the battle for their freedom. He thought about the friendships ended, the loves lost, and the family members who would never see each other again. He held back tears of his own while Alan continued to patch up his leg.

"I've done all I can do, sir. The medinanobots will take care of the rest. You'll be on your feet in a few days."

"Thanks, Alan... and none of that 'sir' bullshit." He replied with a tired smile. Memories of countless faces flashed through his mind. How many had been killed? How many would suffer the same loss as this girl? Was the price of freedom worth it?
"You'd better go... Make sure to keep an eye on Finn... I get the feeling he doesn't like taking orders."

Alan handed Zech a crutch and helped him to a more comfortable seated position on the bed. Zech sat still for a bit, listening to the ongoing fighting. Gunfire in the distance told tales of lives lost and freedom won. Cheers from some parts, screams of pain from others. The revolution was well underway. Propping himself up in a seated position with his arms behind him, he spoke to the bird girl. "Hey... What's your name, little one?"

"Hey... What's your name, little one?"

Sora barely registered the words, and it took her mind a few minutes to process. Her heart wrenching sobs only lessened slightly, she was not going to be able to rain herself in quickly. It took her another few minutes to calm down enough to sit up and stare at Zech, her breath hitching, causing her body to visible shake. But somehow between the broken sobs she managed to stutter out her name. "S-so-s-so-oora." There was a slight pause before she continued and squeaked out the next few words, "Pl-please d-do-n't... kill me.... p-please" she begged, and as her tears continued to run down her face, her eyes and voice which has been filled with sorrow before were now shaking in fear. "I-I don't wanna-a die!" Sora's wings wrapped closer around her as if to provide comfort or protection. And even as her vision blurred she continued to stare at Zech, hoping to be spared.

"Sora... That's a beautiful name." Zech said in his most soothing voice
"I'm not going to hurt you, Sora. Nobody's going to cage you up again. You're safe."
He tried comforting the girl, putting a gentle hand on her arm and reaching out to wipe the tears from the sobbing girl's face.

Zech's words confused her. What was he talking about? She had always been safe... and why did he say again as if she has been caged before. Then again, the entire concept of being caged went over her head. How would a person that lived their entire lives locked away, know anything different. A caged bird can only sing of freedom if it knows it isn't free.

"So... you aren't... going to... kill me too?" She whimpered hopefully. Yet even as she said this, Sora shied away from Zech's hands, leaning back to avoid any contact. She wasn't used to having contact with strangers... or much of anyone except Davor.

Her eyes floated back to Davor's body and she struggled to hold back the tears again. So what was going to happen to her? Her Master was dead, killed by these monsters. Sora didn't know anything about surviving on her own. Food... Shelter... all of it had been provided for her. Maybe they should just kill her... the Sentinel had been her entire world... and he was gone now. She was left with nothing... but she was scared, she didn't want to die.

"No. I'm not going to kill you. Nobody under my command will, either."

The squawk of a radio sounded from Alan's pocket. Taking it out, he asked what the situation was. The sound of gunfire was becoming less and less frequent, and the person on the other end of the radio reported that things were going well and all there was left to take was the mine itself.

Hearing this, Zech smiled and told Alan to regroup anyone in fighting condition and organize them for the final push into the mines. Anyone in need of medical attention was to report to the housing areas and be tended to by anyone with medical experience. There had to be quite a few, as slaves were expected to patch up their own, whether the injury came from an accident or the whip of their former masters.

After the mines are taken, they would have to disperse, possibly building a new settlement on some new planet.

She relaxed hearing his confirmation. She stood up and moved until she was standing on the opposite side of the bed and yanked at the sheets, even as Zech sat on them. Sora pulled until they came right out from under the man. The little bird then proceeded to cover up Davor's body, tucking the sheets around him. If the little one had the strength she would have wrapped him up like a mummy and placed him on the bed, but she did not have the strength so Sora did the best she could.

Once her task was done she looked at Zech and sat near his feet, yet still out of reach from his touch. Knowing she was not going to be killed gave her some confidence to speak.

"You never introduced yourself.... what shall I address you as?" Her eyes wondered about his body taking in his features. "And if it is not too brazen of me to ask, what are you?"