SHEILA 9

Looking back even as we were moving away, I saw a fully outfitted assault team. Swiftly they entered the building even as we went through the back wall accelerating rapidly. ‘Damn it,’ I thought, ‘what had happened that they had found us this fast?’ Then as the building receded in the distance I realized that we had been there for over a day.

“I am scanning for another location as we move Doctor Gance. I regret that they found us quickly. Obviously my encoding needs further work. If I am to protect us further you will have to adjust these more.” Sheila threw over her shoulder to me.

I knew better than to try and speak as at our current speed. I’d have not been able to speak let alone breathe well the last few times I had tried.

Suddenly breaking into the open Sheila accelerated even more. “I am detecting electronic tracking.” Sheila said over her shoulder again. Attempting to run shut down commands. Triangulating now with available satellites, now sending shut down.”

Nodding I suddenly remembered that Sheila had stated that we were in some way now linked through the nanomites that she had implanted in me.

[Are they still tracking us through your frequencies?] I asked Sheila.

[I am uncertain Doctor Gance, as I stated before I am in need of more updates. In order to better integrate into the systems that are tracking me and you.] Sheila replied to me.

I was nodding my head as I tried to think of ways that she could further complicate their search for us. Suddenly a smile crossed my lips as I remembered a program that I hadn’t used in years. Yes, I thought that would surely piss most of them off. Then with a smirk I thought especially father.

[We need to secure another location as soon as possible. I may have a solution that will help you. Will I be able to access the data crystal? Or is the use of a computer still needed?] I thought.

[At present you are still in the building stage of the nanomites inside you, I’m afraid it will take quite some time before you can access the data crystal.] Sheila replied.

Though I was a little disappointed I also realized that it might be dangerous. As I was unfamiliar with the process I might inadvertently save my mind in the crystal as well.

[Yes Doctor Gance, there is a danger of that. I will have to show you the safest way for you to access it without the loss of you own data.] Came Sheila’s thoughts.

[You mean my mind don’t you?] I asked.

[Basically your mind as you said is a living memory bank. As with all machines if they access a crystal incorrectly there can be data loss.] Sheila tried to explain. [I expect that the same would be the same with the storage of human data.]

Ok I was starting to feel a little paranoid about the whole thing. My mind was all I had, to lose even a little of that might as well be a death sentence to me. Looking around I saw that Sheila was once again slowing as we approached another large building.

“Is this what I think it is?” I asked Sheila when she stopped.

“I am uncertain as to exactly what you are thinking at the moment Doctor Gance. I can tell you that this edifice is called the University of Alaska Anchorage. I believe we will have far better chances of remaining hidden than most of the places we were.” Sheila said matter of factly.

I was shocked this place had highly touted engineering and computer labs. The far flung place that this was made them get the best as it was far harder to replace things here. “Will you be able to conceal us better?” I asked.

“I am hoping after you are able to update my hacking abilities, I will be far better equipped to deal with any more intrusions. I am sorry that I didn’t detect the last attack sooner. I could have gotten you killed. I cannot allow this Doctor Gance; I WILL NOT allow this to happen as long as I am functional. Let’s get in, the sooner you can upgrade me the better I can protect you.”

I could only stare at her with my mouth open. If what I had seen in the last look in was true she was definitely starting to feel love, but for me? Why was she fixated on me? Now I really needed to look as close at the emotion program as i could.

“I think for now Sheila we need to get under cover. Being out in the open this much I feel makes us an easier target.” I told Sheila.

“I concur Doctor Gance; we should be there in less than a minute.” She said as we made our way inside the large computer building. As we made our way deeper into the building I noticed that the floor was tilting slightly downward. With a smile I realized that they had a part underground. Good I thought detection of the both of us would truly be more difficult.