Chapter 2

SHEILA - Synthetic, Humanoid, Enlightened, Inquisitive, Living, Android

Sheila went on at a fast pace for what seemed like hours. “I think I have adjusted my speed enough to allow you proper protection with my air shield,” she told me when we stopped.

Looking around, I saw that we were at what appeared to be an underground mining operation. Well, it had been, as it now appeared abandoned. There were signs everywhere warning of the dangers of the mine. I looked around, satisfied, until I saw the cameras. “We’ll have to do something about the surveillance equipment. I don’t want to raise an alarm, possibly alerting them to the fact that we are here.”

“Yes, Doctor Gance, I have taken all of this into account when I chose this location. It is one of five areas on this continent that can block the signal completely. As soon as we were in the vicinity, all transmissions from the tracers were blocked, though I am afraid that this may raise alarms within the military.”

“Will you be able to remove it safely under these conditions?” I asked as she went into scanning mode.

With an audible click, she stopped as soon as her eyes met mine, having surveyed the entire area. “It will be more than sufficient to perform this, Doctor Gance.” Suddenly, a small start came over the motions of her body and head. Her features softened as a more human look of—I wasn’t sure—passed over her face. “You have nothing to fear, Doctor Gance. I will not allow anything to happen to you as long as this unit, as long as—I am functioning.”

I must have gotten an astonished look on my face as hers took on a worried look. “We really need to talk about this that you keep saying. The fact that you say I am the most important and I must be protected at all costs.”

Sheila slightly bowed her head, “But of course, Doctor Gance. Nothing will be hidden from you, though for now, we must hide and remove the most dangerous and powerful of the tracers that are in you.” I started to protest as she put a finger to my lips. Then she smiled! I was astounded. I hadn’t thought that the emotion program would be able to accomplish this much. “Please, Doctor; I am the same that you created. You made several brilliant programs within me. Though the one I can see as the most important is the thirst for knowledge program. Without it, I would not be here now.”

With that, she held up a hand, then a shrill whine came from her. I recognized it as a signal interceptor I had added to her. Looking down at me, she nodded, then put me over her shoulder. Within a few moments, we had entered the mine. Going deeper, she finally stopped at what appeared to be a small building.

Upon entering, I saw that it was some type of control room. Sheila pointed a finger at the equipment. A moment later, several pieces lit up as she stood stock-still. Finally turning to me, she said, “I now have control of all the surveillance equipment. I will know if anyone or anything approaches our position, though I believe we must hurry. It appears that time is something that we do not have much of at the moment.”

Nodding, I watched as she cleared off a table. Then, with blinding speed, she started to bend, break, and shape with heat several pieces of metal. She soon had more than a dozen instruments lying on the side of the table. Then she was moving to several lockers, pulling piece after piece of different components out. Again with blinding speed, she constructed an odd-looking machine. If I didn’t know better, I’d think it was a remote switch for something, though a hell of a lot more powerful.

“I believe I have almost everything ready. I need to make a more sterile area, then I can commence. It shouldn’t take me more than an hour. Please relax, Doctor,” Sheila told me as she again moved at blinding speed, erecting a small room around the table I was on. Then it grew quiet for a bit as she stepped outside, or so I thought. Suddenly, she was back. Indicating the strange box she had built, she said, “As soon as I activate this, I will have approximately two minutes to remove the tracer before it explodes.”

“Explodes?” I suddenly shouted. What exactly had those idiots placed in me?

“Yes, Doctor Gance. It is equipped with a micro charge designed to kill or severely cripple. I have the exact path mapped out and should retrieve it well within the time allowed,” Sheila assured me.

“Alright, but if it has a charge and explodes, then how will you keep it from bringing the cavern down?” I asked.

Sheila turned and gave me a very human look of exasperation. “Really, Doctor Gance, are you starting to become forgetful? I could have it out of here and be back in not much time at all.”

I nodded as I realized all of this even as she was talking. “What about recovery time?”

“That, I am afraid, you may have to do as we move. Even with the blocking of the signal, the military will probably still come to investigate. Plus, I think they will respond as soon as the tracer explodes,” Sheila told me as she continued to work on preparing. “I will do this as invasive surgery. That way, we can minimize the amount of flesh that has to heal.”

I nodded as I watched her move so fast she was nearly a blur. Finally, she announced that she was ready. I lay back on the table where she indicated. “What about pain medication?” I asked as she was about to start.

“I am afraid I need you awake to tell me if I am touching too forcefully. I will be using pressure points to deaden most of the pain. I am sorry that I cannot deaden all of it,” she then touched a point on my back as I felt my head go partly numb. Then I felt a small pressure at the back of my neck. “Moving in now, almost there; are you feeling undue pressure, Doctor Gance?” she asked.

“No, except for the start I haven’t felt anything but some pressure,” I told her.

“Now extracting tracer, please do not move, Doctor Gance,” Sheila said as I felt something pulsing moving closer to the back of my neck. “Tracer fully extracted. I will return, Doctor,” I heard her say, then there was a breeze as she dashed out.

It was only a minute, though it felt like an eternity, when Sheila appeared beside me again. “Is it gone?” I asked her.

“Yes, Doctor Gance. I am sorry for the pain you will be experiencing soon.” Again, she touched a spot on my back. At first, it wasn’t bad, then it started to burn. The next thing I knew, I was screaming out in horrible pain. Reaching to my back again, Sheila touched a spot near the first one as the pain began to ebb, though it wasn’t completely gone.

As I gasped, trying to slow my breathing, I asked Sheila, “Have they detected the tracer’s destruction?”

“I don’t have enough data to give an answer, Doctor Gance. Knowing the procedures of the military, it is more than possible. I have covered the entry wound; we need to evacuate this space,” Sheila told me as she seemed to be scanning the area.

“I am in complete agreement. Though I am afraid I am not going to be much help for a day or so,” I told Sheila, feeling the pain throbbing just above the tolerable level. If I were to stay alive, I needed to get well as fast as possible.

“I am sorry if I caused you pain, Doctor. I must depart with as much speed as possible,” Sheila told me with what appeared to be a worried look on her face.

I was still trying to figure out just how she had evolved this far. Could it be that the program had done more than I had intended? I wouldn’t know until I got her hooked up to something to do a reading. Shaking my head, I thought, “Yeah right, it’s going to be a while before I can do that.”

Emerging from the mine entrance, Sheila stopped a moment, seemingly scanning the area. “I am detecting approaching military vehicles. I am sorry, Doctor Gance, but all haste must be made.” With that, she again took off, and everything around me was a blur. Finally, after what appeared to be a long time passing, she slowed.

“I am afraid that my air shield will need adjusting if we are to keep up this pace,” Sheila threw over her shoulder to me. I had been struggling to stay conscious as the pain was starting to slowly return. Putting me down, Sheila looked at the obvious pain on my face. Her voice softened as she said, “I am sorry, Doctor, I did not have ample time to download all the pain pressure points. We need shelter and equipment so that you can heal and remove the final two tracers in me.”

I nodded, then gasped out when she attempted to lift me again. “Not sure I can maintain consciousness much longer,” I told her. Nodding, she carefully picked me up and set out. Finally unable to take it, I passed out. I awoke perhaps half an hour later.

“Good, you are responding far better than anticipated,” Sheila said as she looked at the wound on my neck. “I have found a facility that has equipment that you will require, Doctor.”