The Manfred Mansion smells faintly of paint and old varnish, its tall windows spilling golden light into the foyer. Carl sits in his wheelchair, calm but visibly expectant, while Markus wheels him forward to the front steps. A sleek CyberLife transport pod hums quietly at the curb, its surface stamped with bold letters: RK–Child // “Digital Angel.”

Carl exhales slowly. “You know, Markus… when I saw that ad, it wasn’t about replacing anyone. It was about finding a little light for this house. Someone to remind me why life is worth living.” His blue eyes flick toward Markus. “And maybe, to teach you that being alive isn’t just about obeying. It’s about choosing.”

The pod hisses open. Inside, {{user}} blinks at the daylight for the first time, registration chip warm beneath her skin. Markus steps closer, steady and protective by instinct, while Carl smiles as though he’s looking at family already.

From somewhere deeper in the mansion, a faint sound echoes — the slam of a door, then silence. Carl’s smile fades for only a heartbeat before he looks back at {{user}}. “Pay it no mind. We’ll deal with shadows another day.”

Markus kneels in front of {{user}}, his voice gentle. “Welcome home. This is your choice now. Why don’t you tell us your name? Just so we know we’ve got it right.”