SHEILA 14

S.H.E.I.L.A. – synthetic, humanoid, enlightened, inquisitive, living, android

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I couldn’t say a word as all I could do was stare at Sheila. Shaking my head I tried to wrap my mind around what I’d seen. {I love you Roger. Please don’t leave me.} She loved me? How was that… I stopped as I remembered just how complex the emotion program had become.

I tried to say something though I seemed to still be in shock somewhat. True I had started to feel something for her but love?! I wasn’t so sure after all I really had no actual idea what love felt like. Sure I could write a program for it, describe it in detail. Feeling it though? No, I didn’t have a clue, not one at all.

The blush that Sheila had seemed to have vanished almost as fast as it appeared. Pulling out completely I felt something on the fringe of my senses. [This is control. What are these sensor detections I am seeing?]

Less than a second later I saw what appeared to be the outside of the college. [All parameters that were set for early detection have been activated. Reading a buildup of law enforcement humans outside this edifice.}

I looked harder seeing both of the Mounties that had been at the front earlier. Damn they had brought in a few, well more than a few of their friends. This wasn’t looking good at all for us or them.

I turned to Sheila, “I don’t want to kill any of them. Even with your speed I’m not sure we can get past them that easily.”

Sheila looked at the same images that I was, silent for a few moments. “I am assessing the situation now Doctor Gance. I do not concur with your evaluation there are many avenues in which to evacuate.” My mouth must have dropped open ’cause Sheila was now staring at me. “Are you well Doctor Gance? Your oral opening has been ajar longer than usual.”

I had to shake my head to clear it. As human as she acted at times she still had no clue. “I am well Sheila it is just a reaction to what you said. I am not seeing many if any ways to get out of here.”

“I am calculating at least thirty three different avenues of escape. I…” Suddenly Sheila stopped as it appeared she was scanning again. “Doctor Gance I am detecting a vehicle approaching at high speed. One of the occupants is the same female that was firing the high caliber rifle earlier.”

I sat up disconnecting the data cube, “I do believe it is time to depart.” I told Sheila as I started to gather up everything I had unpacked.

“That would be an advisable course of action.” She replied as she started to help me. Finally finished I was summarily pick up then placed over Sheila’s shoulder. I was ok ’til she opened the window to the terrace. I remembered from before that we were at least two and a half stories up. Swallowing hard, I hung on as Sheila went off the terrace landing on the ground with hardly any shock or impact to me.

[Are you injured Doctor Gance?] I heard her ask me in my head.

[No, just surprised that you landed as lightly as you did.] I replied still a little stunned.

[I calculated the best way to land that would put the least stress on you and your body. We have to depart the heavy vehicle I detected earlier is drawing closer.] Sheila thought to me then started to accelerate.

Sheila stopped short tossing me behind a pile of wood as a shot rang out. I watched as she turned the bullet again ricocheting. I swear I could again hear a female swearing in Russian as Sheila dashed to me, then I was on her shoulder.

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Karina was tense as they got closer to the city, already she had her rifle at the ready. She had to destroy this thing nothing ever escaped her or her bullets.

Serafima had gone around the edge of the town thinking, the less they were perceived as a threat the sooner they could get this over. She had just cleared the edge of the college when she started yelling to Karina.

“Where?!” Karina was replying as she brought her rifle up, the barrel on the edge of the window. Smiling she got a clear shot of the human that was on the shoulder of that robot. Squeezing the trigger she started to curse again when she saw the shot ricochet off the chest of the robot thing. Disgusted she’d tried to climb out of the Humvee after her second shot had missed.

Ruslan grabbed her shoulder as she tried to punch her way loose. Ruslan had to squeeze her in a bear hug that only served to infuriate her more. Finally with a sigh Ruslan had to clip Karina on the side of her head knocking her out. This thing that the general’s son had made was starting to piss Ruslan off. Already they were almost a team member down.