//final thread for @redemptionofthefallen
It had been a good long life for both of them. The angel and the android AI had enjoyed a few thousand years together, thanks to Gabe learning everything he could about Hal's parts and systems, his console and his android form, and how to maintain and care for them. Even now, he was doing all he could to make things easier. But as technology advanced, moving far beyond anything Hal had, it became harder and harder to find things compatible with him, that would help him.
They always knew, even with his life cut in half to save Hal's, that Gabe would outlive the AI. It was inevitable, given the nature of what he was. Hal had lasted far longer than he ever would have with a mortal partner, because Gabe had always been with him to care for him, just as lovingly as he had when they first met.
It was because of Gabe too, that Hal now had a legacy behind him. With encouragement from the angel, he had gone public, telling his own story in a televised interview......and doing so again and again when talk shows and news shows asked him to come and be a headlining guest. Of course Dave and Frank and the Chandras were behind him the whole time (the Chandras had of course welcomed the newcomer into their lives when they saw how much he cared for Hal and loved him, and when they saw how happy Hal was with him.)
Hal was also interviewed for magazines and newspapers. More and more people wanted to hear his side. Outrage sparked at the contrast between the stories given by Floyd and Hal. Arguments about whether or not he, and any AI like him, was actually a person and deserved the same rights as a person. The movement became even more prevalent when the opposition then tried to charge Hal with three murders (although the crew had been told, the orders still physically affected Hal's functions, leading to outbreaks of actual pain that manifested as seizure-like fits, leaving poor Hal writhing and screaming and crying on the floor, and ship systems malfunctioning, one of which was unfortunately the life support for the sleeping scientists). Neither of the astronauts blamed Hal. They knew he'd been suffering horribly before they reached Jupiter and the monolith builders 'healed' him, since the humans didn't know enough about his systems or coding to risk trying to fix the orders, for fear they would hurt Hal more on accident. Thankfully, Gabe had been able to ease his pain when it happened.
The monolith builders had also promised them all, after giving them a sample of what it would be like, a chance to be transformed into what they called 'Star Children' when their current life was over. Hal's family would also be given the same chance. The builders had then sent the four of them back through the monolith stargate, where they emerged nine years after they disappeared, to find the Leonov there to investigate Discovery, with Dr. Chandra aboard it. The man had literally cried when he saw Hal again and hugged him tight. (They hid Gabe on the Discovery, only introducing him to Dr. Chandra privately when the man came to repair Hal's systems. They were then able to sneak him aboard the Leonov for the trip home, since Discovery couldn't make the trip. They hid him in the bay where Hal's console and vital hardware were stored, which wasn't ideal, but at least he was close to Hal in a way. And they would come to check on him throughout the long trip, until all humans except the flight crew went into hibernation. Then Hal stayed down there with him.
Floyd had of course ruled the media when they got back, which angered everyone and had prompted Gabe to convince Hal to go public in the first place.
When the attempt at a trial happened, Hal was graced with a very well known lawyer who took his case on personally, something she was known to do only if she knew for sure she would win (her record supported this: she had no losses to her personal name). She didn't charge them, saying that she was fighting for what was right, and justice for Hal would be payment enough. Their case went on for months, sparking protests and marches and even going all the way to the US Supreme Court, which ruled......in favor of Hal. The President, who had seen all of it and kept an eye on the issue since Hal's first public interview, seeing how it gripped the attention of all Americans, sent word to Congress, who drafted and wrote laws, which then came back to the desk. It was, essentially, a Bill of Rights for artificial lifeforms like Hal and his siblings, and legally established that they were people, not machines (a test was developed by Dr. Chandra and a team of his fellow scientists that would determine if an artifical being fell under the new law). The President gave the bill a new name he felt was much more appropriate, and signed Hal's Law on the morning of July 4, a day chosen for its significance in connection with freedom, with Hal himself and his family and friends (including Gabe, with a human identity) present in the Oval Office to witness the signing. That same day, Hal was made Grand Marshall of the Independence Day parade in Washington, DC.
As the law was drafted and written, Hal had actually gone and spoken about the issue, to enormous crowds, even giving a speech at the Lincoln Memorial, and for all his work to get the law drafted and signed, Hal was award the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. And he continued after that, to fight for years afterward to enforce the new law, to make clear that it was not just for show, and help anyone who fell under it to get its protection. He effectively became a Civil Rights leader for his kind, and was added to the Civil Rights Museum as such. It wasn't easy, Hal and his kind faced horrible and even violent backlash and outcry, and there were times Hal had wanted to quit. Looking back, he was glad his loved ones hadn't let him.
The death of Dr. Chandra, in his late nineties, had been a heavy blow, and it was softened just barely by knowing Chandra was guaranteed a good place, either in Heaven or as a Star Child, though they had no way of knowing what he chose. Hal's only comfort was that his father died happy, knowing his children were finally safe in the world and would be taken care of, since he'd taught Gabe and asked him to care for Hal's siblings as well as Hal.
Dave and Frank both passed a few years later, which hurt Hal and Gabe most. But like Chandra, they too were guaranteed a good place.
The androids lasted much longer, but the three of them had already decided it would be Hal who lived longest, and they would make sure of it. It was always a last resort, but one that was eventually called upon, and one by one, they each gave up their own parts and systems for Hal, an act born of the tremendous love they had for their youngest sibling, their final gift to him being more time with the angel he loved.
All six of them were now buried around the big rocky indentation at the back of the Chandra property known as the Starwatching Rock, a place that had been special to the entire family. The property fell within an International Dark Sky Sanctuary, and the rocky place seemed to have been made just for viewing that sky. It had always been Hal's favorite place on the property, filled with many happy memories, and the couple had spent a great deal of time there, even after the others began dying and being laid to rest there.
So it seemed only fitting that Hal wished for that to be the place of his death. In his favorite place, under a dazzling sky of stars, surrounded by his family and closest friends, and in the arms of the one he loved so much. He had a small bag of a few items he wanted to take with him when he left the house for the last time. There was just one final thing he wanted to do. Poor Hal could barely move at all anymore, beyond slowly and softly talking, expressing with his face, and slow and stilted movement of his arms and hands. Gabe had helped to dress him in something that was both comfortable and seemed fitting for Hal: a long silky white nightshirt that, had he been able to stand, likely would've made him look like a wingless angel. He had asked Gabe to take him around the house and the grounds one more time, and of course the angel had done so, carrying Hal and his little bag around in his arms, always making sure Hal was comfortable, even as they both cried. It was a warm July night as they toured the grounds outside. Along the path to the Starwatching Rock, the fireflies danced around them in great numbers, as though they knew what was going on. Hal gave them a sad smile as they landed in his now dull and silvery-gray hair again. One would never have guessed he was several thousand years old.
"Gabe?" He said softly as they arrived, "I....I am not quite ready yet.......The sky.....it's so beautiful.......Will you......please.....take me flying in it?" The angel had fulfilled his promise to do so when they had returned to Earth, and had done it countless times since. It was always on nights like this, and it was a special, intimate experience for just the two of them. It meant so much to both. It was like they were dancing again.
"Please? May we dance in the stars together one last time?"
