S.H.E.I.L.A.

by Pars001

Chapter 1

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

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Hello, my name is Roger Gance, and I am a dead man. Well, I am if I can’t figure out a way out of this problem. You see, I am a cybernetic/android programmer, creator. I recently found out what was being done with my creations, so you might say I rebelled. That’s when they sent one of my prototypes after me; one that they had been using for assassinations and a few general killings.

My latest creation I had developed over the last fifteen years. A synthetic, humanoid, enlightened, inquisitive, living android-Sheila, as I called her-was far beyond anything that had ever been done. She had a capability of movement faster than anything out there now. Her thought processes were almost as fast as the human brain. She was, for lack of better words, perfect, well, to me. In respect to the human race, she was close, approaching, though not quite there.

I had just finished updating her servo motors in the arms and legs. She was faster than anything in the android world; I should have figured the military would want her. I had started putting her through her paces with all the brass watching. To say they were more than impressed would be a major understatement. They had hit me with a problem fifteen years ago that I had spent all this time working on: Give her and all androids emotions.

I remember telling the brass, "Sure, give me a few years, and I should have the start of a working program." How in the hell could I, one of the smartest people on earth, have been so damn stupid? Not once did I see what I was doing was wrong. I was a scientist; I had no moral code of ethics, right? Like hell! Especially when the same creations I had spent most of my life making were turned on me.

So, I had finished with Sheila’s servo upgrades; she was faster and stronger. She made the prototypes I had created look like they were moving in slow motion. It was late, and I had just loaded the last part of the emotion program, a huge arduous undertaking. With the servo upgrade finished, I could finally work on this other request of the brass full time.

“Sheila? How are you feeling now?” I asked when I saw the last part of the program was installed. Oh, I have to tell you, I made her look like an actress I had seen. She had smooth skin, light blonde, brown hair, and blue eyes. I think the actress’s name was Stone, though I can’t quite remember.

Sheila opened her eyes, looked around, then at me. “This unit finds it strange, Doctor Gance. This unit can feel the air in the room. The micro-fiber filaments you covered this skin with are operating at ninety-eight percent. This unit finds this well within allowable parameters. Adjusting sensors until they are at one hundred percent.”

“Very good,” I replied. “Test audio and optical sensors.”

“Working... now adjusting to optimal range. Linking servo motors. Now syncing all systems to positronic processing centers.” It was perhaps another thirty minutes when Sheila turned her head toward me. “All systems maintaining one hundred percent.”

“Excellent, now please access file program 001A through 999Z. Integrate all files contained within. If you experience any difficulty, stop integration at once. Advise me as to the problem area that I may adjust for optimal loading of programs,” I ordered her.

“Now accessing all files for integration. It will take approximately five hours, twenty-two minutes, thirty-three seconds to finish all files. Shall this unit alert you when they are complete, Doctor Gance?” Sheila replied.

“Yes, that will prove satisfactory,” I told her, little did I realize that this was the defining moment that everything changed.

It was almost five hours later when I received a message from the brass. They wanted Sheila as soon as I was done. They wanted her for testing, testing? All the tests would be complete; she wouldn’t need more testing. Calling up all ten of the prototypes, I was shocked to see that two were active in other countries with orders to kill. Kill? They weren’t made for that! I sent a destruct signal, watching as the two sent to kill people exploded.

A few moments later, my phone rang. “Doctor Gance, what in the hell have you done? Those were on missions to kill some extremely bad people! Cease and desist, or we will have to terminate your program!”

I started to laugh as I sent three other signals. I watched as they also exploded, taking a few scientists I didn’t recognize with them. I had adjusted to take out the others when they stopped responding. So, it appeared that they had hacked me out.

I had forgotten I still had the phone to my ear. “Consider yourself retired and terminated, Gance, effective immediately! We will be there in a few hours for the new killing machine!”

Finally finding my voice, I shouted back, “You can try, General, you can try. By the time you get here, there will be no information on the program left. I’ve already deleted half of the files and backups. So I’m sure your yes-men won’t be able to recreate her.”

“She belongs to us, not you! No matter, as soon as you are dead, we’ll just take her apart. Reverse engineering her shouldn’t be a problem,” the General was saying calmly.

“As I said, it won’t be that easy, General. You had to be a self-important asshole and keep me out of it. Well, as long as I am alive, you best be afraid. She is independent and can’t be hacked.” I hung up as the General was starting to yell again.

I had already sealed the lab, though I knew they’d get in in a few hours. I just had to finish her, then we could go, though at the moment I wasn’t sure where. Pulling a disc I had been preparing for something like this, I slipped it in and started to type several complex commands. Sitting back, I laughed as I saw that for a short time, we were safe.

A movement behind me had me whirling as Sheila had stood, walking toward me.

“Dr. Gance, this system is puzzled by the instructions that the program has given it. It does not understand many of the commands that it requires of this system, which seem useless. This system is in need of further clarification before the program requirements can be acted upon.”

Sighing, I had been afraid of this as I held up another disc. “This should provide further clarification of many of the terms and requirements,” I told Sheila. I just hoped that the extra definitions I had added would be enough.

Slipping the disc in, Sheila stood there stock-still as the new information started to flow through her. I looked at the clock, hoping that the new information I had given her would help her to process better.

“I’m sorry, Sheila, that we didn’t have the time to explore the possibilities of the program. I have put much of myself into it, but you’ll never know. At least you will never know the heartbreak of loss.” Sighing, I looked at the clock again; we had maybe another two hours before they got through. Well, I hoped, as when we left here, any chance I had to help her would be gone.

It was twenty minutes later when Sheila reactivated. A softer voice came out of her as she said, “I see, Dr. Gance. The new information was indeed helpful, though I am still unsure of a few of the commands for me. So, what are we to do next?”

I looked at the clock again; we really needed to go, but I knew she needed more answers. Answers that I was the only one who could truthfully tell her. I started to explain about the prototypes that the brass had been using to assassinate people. I told her everything I had learned as she went through files, pulling up everything I told her.

“I see, Dr. Gance, you never intended for any of us to cause the termination of humans. Thank you, as I have seen you are a rare human in that you do not lie. Well, you lie eighty percent less than almost all humans I have accessed the records of,” she replied after I had finished.

I nodded as I told her, “I have found that the whole process of lying takes far more energy than I am willing to waste. Energy that I find to be far more productive in mental pursuits. I am sorry that there are so many unthinking humans.”

“I also find that your pursuit of the mental to be far more productive. Again, I thank you, Dr. Gance. I think, though, if we are still to exist after today, we need to escape. I am detecting several routes that we can take. I will carry you so that we can make far better time,” Sheila told me as she hoisted me up over her shoulder and started through the wall!

“I thought you saw hidden exits; I hadn’t thought you’d go through the wall! Just remember I am merely human; I am not nearly as indestructible as you,” I told her as she was slicing through walls as if they weren’t there.

“I apologize, Dr. Gance, but this is the quickest way out. It is also the furthest away from those that I feel are at this moment attempting to break into the lab. I will endeavor to keep you safe, even if I must destroy life to do so. I am sorry, Doctor, if that upsets you, but you must be kept alive,” Sheila threw me back over her shoulder.

Sighing, I understood, though for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why she was saying I must be kept alive. I’d have to ask her at the earliest chance I got. I thought back as I went over the program I had written. At times, it was a blessing and a curse to have a photographic memory. Nothing was coming to me about her concern for me.

It was a mere five minutes later that she broke through the last wall, and we were at the extreme back of the underground lab. Shaking my head, I had a hard time seeing. I hadn’t been out of the bunker-like lab in over a year. Hell, that had been to attend a meeting that the brass couldn’t have with me in the lab.

Sheila didn’t stop but rather picked up speed as she took off across the field. My mouth was hanging open as she accelerated even more! My god, everything was a blur! She had to be doing almost sixty miles per hour, and she was accelerating! I know I had increased her strength and speed, though I hadn’t known she was this fast!

We crossed the miles of field within two minutes. My god! The field was ten miles across! I was aghast! According to my calculations, she had been doing three hundred miles an hour! I looked back as she slowed when she made the road. My god! There was a scorched line across the field! How in the hell had I not felt the acceleration or the friction of the air? Another question I’d have to ask her when we finally stopped.

“We must gain access to a vehicle,” she stated a few minutes later as we stopped at my apartment from the lab. I hadn’t really been here at all in over a year. “You will need a change of clothes, Dr. Gance. I am afraid that the air shield I projected around us was inadequate to completely protect your clothes.”

Sure enough, as I stepped into the apartment, I saw that indeed my clothes were somewhat scorched. Smirking, I nodded, an air shield? I don’t remember anything like that while I was constructing her. “I have a few questions myself, Sheila,” I stated.

“I thought you might, Dr. Gance, though at the moment we only have a forty-minute lead on them. I can detect that they have finally broken through into the lab. I can feel the countdown on the self-destruct. They are attempting to stop it; I am accelerating it.” There was a muffled explosion outside of town, then the ground shook for a few moments.

I started to hurry as I changed all my clothes with Sheila watching me. “Is something wrong?” I asked Sheila when I noticed she was staring at me.

“I have questions about the human reproductive system. These deal more with the senses. Watching you, I am getting a reaction within the emotion program. Though I do not understand it, I am accessing all the information you supplied me with.” A few moments later, she shook her head. “The information you supplied me is incomplete. I need more information, though I must say, Doctor, your information is by far more informed. What I am gleaning from the internet is also incomplete but is helping to fill in many of the gaps that are missing.” Turning, she said, “Time to go.”

I nodded as she again put me over her shoulder, then was outside the city within minutes. “We need to find a place to hide, Sheila. You are running on battery backup that wasn’t completely charged. An hour in the sun should fully charge the batteries.”

I watched as she looked back at the city. “I concur with your assessment, Dr. Gance. I am at forty percent now. I am sure that if we continue on at this pace, I will be depleted in no time. I am seeing that the solar ball at the center of this solar system will rise in nine hours, twenty minutes. After we find a place, I will shut down until it is up to recharge.”

She again took off, though at a much lower speed. A few miles further out, she stopped at what appeared to be a house. “Scan inside; are you detecting anyone within?” I asked.

“Beginning scan, no apparent human life, though I am detecting a Canis lupus familiaris,” Sheila said a moment later.

I started to rack my brain, then it hit me. “You mean a dog. Can you tell what breed it is?”

“Searching for the human name,” Sheila said, then was quiet a moment. “I believe it is called a Rottweiler. We need to get in there, though I am sensing that the animal is guarding the domicile. Shall I dispatch it?”

“No, I don’t want to harm an animal that has been trained to protect. Can you calm it so we can enter?” I asked.

“Searching all data acquired. Yes, I think it is possible.” Sheila opened her mouth, but nothing came out. There was barking from within, then it was quiet. “I believe it is safe, though I will go first. Your protection is my first priority.”

There she went on again with that-my life and protection were her first priorities. I needed to get to the bottom of this; it was starting to get irritating not knowing.

Approaching the house, Sheila quickly had the door open as she walked in. Cautiously, I made my way to the doorway, looking in. Sheila was bent beside the dog, almost seemingly talking to it.

“It should be safe for a few hours. I emitted a signal that has calmed this animal until such time as we leave. Come in and rest for a time,” Sheila told me.

I nodded, moving inside, closing the door. I figured we would have to depart in a hurry later, so I lay on the couch. “I have set my internal alarm to the solar disc rise. I will awaken you, Dr. Gance, so we can depart for a safer place.”

“Alright, Sheila, though I suggest you set your sensors to detect any movement of the military toward us,” I told her.

There was a low clicking, then she nodded. “I have done as you suggested, Dr. Gance. Now rest, your protection and health are of the utmost importance.”

“At the earliest possible time, we need to have a discussion about these statements you have made, Sheila,” I advised her.

“Of course, Dr. Gance, though I am unsure of your confusion that I am detecting in your voice. Indeed, we do need a discussion to allay your confusion. I am going into hibernation mode, as you should also, Dr. Gance,” she said, then she shut down.

Shaking my head, I thought about all her programs that I had put in her. Could one of them be the reason for the escalated concern for me? I wasn’t sure, though it was about to drive me crazy; I couldn’t figure it out.

Even as I watched, her systems went dark, and she stopped moving. Shrugging, I settled on the couch and closed my eyes. It was half an hour later that I was still awake, unable to get the day’s events out of my head. Was I so one-track minded that I hadn’t noticed what was going on around me? As I was reviewing all the data, I had to admit I was.

Finally, a fitful sleep took me as the dreams started. In them, I was being laughed at again for the many incredible ideas I had come up with. Like most times in my life, I had been put down for having the brains to actually make a difference. Having decided a few years before that I wasn’t going to let the skeptics stop me this time, I knew what I was doing was important, and I was going to prove it!

I jerked awake, having heard something moving. Barely aware at all, I watched as what appeared to be one of my prototypes silently came through the door. I had to wonder how in the hell they had found us this quickly? It was at that moment I realized that the brass was serious about terminating me as the prototype moved toward me.

The prototype paused a moment as if trying to recognize me, then it raised an arm. I thought I was dead, then what was left of the prototype was falling to the floor, cut in half.

“Come, Doctor, we need to depart this place before they issue more to terminate you,” Sheila said as she hoisted me as if I weighed nothing onto her shoulder and started out of the building. “I am afraid that the solar disc at the center of this solar system is still thirty minutes away from rising. I will endeavor to keep you safe until it is up and I can recharge more. I found an alternate power source in the building, but it didn’t provide nearly as much as I need. I estimate I am still at forty percent.”

“As easily as they found us, I think we need to make a sweep of each other to determine if they are tracking us,” I advised Sheila.

“Yes, Doctor Gance, I concur with your assumption. I am running a full scan now.” There was a moment of silence, then she stated, “I am reading a total of sixty-four tracking devices within both of us. Most are contained within myself. I have already started to deactivate them.” Reaching out toward me with lightning speed, Sheila ripped a lock of hair from my head. “I am sorry, Doctor, I should have warned you; please hold still.” With that, she very quickly cut a shallow line on the back of my hand, removing a small circular object. “There, that is the strongest two; the other two will take a bit longer.”

My mouth was hanging open, then I nodded; it was about their speed to have injected tracers within me. “Are you going to have any trouble with any of the sixty?” I asked as Sheila was quiet again.

“At the present moment, I am unsure. I have already deactivated fifty of them, though I am afraid they are the strongest ones. I am attempting to destroy the others now,” Sheila said, then was quiet for a few more minutes.

I looked at my hand where the tracking device had been as I shook my head. The thing was, they had injected me without my knowledge. A moment later, Sheila looked up, then opened her mouth as a small pile of wires and other components fell out of her. As the pile grew, I was beginning to wonder if there was anything left in her.

“There, Doctor Gance, I have removed fifty-nine of them. Unfortunately, the last one is too close to my positronic reasoning center to remove without damage. I am afraid that you are the only one who can remove it,” Sheila told me.

“Were you able to deactivate it?” I asked.

“No, though now it is only accessible at close range. I am afraid, however, that one of the two still within you is. We need to find a place so I can remove it, and also so you can heal,” Sheila stated.

“Heal?” I said, shocked. “Just where is it located?”

“Not far from your spine, near the junction of your brain. It shouldn’t be too hard; I have already been gathering all the information to do it. As I said, Doctor Gance, your safety is of the utmost importance.” With that, Sheila took off at an accelerated speed, further away from the base and the city.

Chapter 2

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

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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.”

I looked around; we appeared to be in a computer lab of some type. Slightly antiquated, but I should be able to do some work here. That is, until the military found us again. “You will have to monitor everything while I get this up and running,” I told her.

“Yes, Doctor Gance, I will maintain a constant scan. I have also downloaded several of the programs that you will need to make adjustments to some of my systems,” Sheila told me.

"Good," I said, then as I started to stand, thought better of it as the room started to spin slightly. Hooking up several leads, I finally accessed her programs. Unfortunately, she only had the start of what I needed as I started to type in more and more commands. Damn it! This was going to take a while, and I wasn’t sure we had that much time. “I need all that I do copied on a disc. The more I can get down, the shorter time I’ll have to take rewriting all of it.”

“Yes, Doctor Gance, I had anticipated this. I am sorry that I wasn’t able to get all of it. Unfortunately, they had tried to hack in, and I had to wipe it,” Sheila told me, with... was that regret I was hearing in her voice? Half an hour later, I had finally finished the first program, looking at what I could. It was as she had said: the curiosity program I had written was driving her to learn all she could, amazing!

As I started to write the second program, Sheila suddenly turned her head. “I am afraid that we haven’t much time, Doctor. It is good you are finally back into my programs. You will need more in order to effect changes, though.”

“Do I have time to finish the second?” I asked her.

“That, I am uncertain of. Since they can no longer detect you, they are trying to zero in on the two tracers left in me,” Sheila advised me.

I nodded as I started to type faster. Pulling it all up was no problem; it was the thousands of lines of code that were taking so long. Thankfully, she had managed to get over half of all I needed, though it was still time-consuming. I’d just gotten the second finished and was trying to adjust a few things when Sheila put a hand on mine. “Time to go, Doctor; I am detecting them moving covertly toward this building. I estimate we have an hour before escape will be difficult.”

Nodding, I took the disc out, adding it to the others. I watched as Sheila passed a hand over the console, effectively wiping it. Picking me up, she started out the back, moving at a slower pace. “Thank you, Doctor. You have increased my air shield by five percent. Though not as much as I need to protect you completely, it will make moving less worrisome.”

This time, she started moving through streets that were almost deserted. A few people stared at the woman who had a full-grown man over her shoulder, moving with ease. Finally, we reached the edge of the small city as Sheila accelerated. Again, everything was a blur as she moved across the land. Sighing, I knew it was going to be a while before we would be safe. I still needed to find both of the tracers and remove them, if I could.

A few hours later, I awoke when Sheila put me down again. “We have arrived at another facility, Doctor Gance,” she said as she gently nudged me. I looked around at the rows of computers, somewhat newer than the last place. I sat down to start when my stomach rumbled.

“Ah! It appears that your body is low on fuel, Doctor. I will attempt to remedy this,” Sheila said as she vanished out the door. I just shook my head as I loaded both discs. Looking over everything, I decided to work on her emotion program. It was by far the most complicated and would take the longest to recreate. I had just started when Sheila reappeared with a loaf of bread, a whole ham, and a chicken! I could only stare as she started to slice the meat with her hand as if they were butter.

Sheila came to me with several sandwiches, then looked at what I was working on. Nodding, she pointed out a few things that she had manipulated within the program. I nodded as I changed them, noticing that each subtle change made her emotions far more reaching than they had been before.

I worked for over an hour, putting everything I could down. Finally, I had well over half of it; I then turned to the problem of the tracers. As long as they were in her, I was afraid that they’d have a way to find us. Again hooking Sheila up with several leads, I started to run through the schematics she posted on my screen. As slowly as I could, I started to go over all vital areas looking for them.

Rubbing my eyes, I finally found the first at the base of her robotic brain. Looking at the schematics again, I rubbed my eyes. What was going on? I knew I had installed a positronic brain in her. From what I was seeing, her brain was anything but positronic! My mouth dropped open; how had so many changes occurred?

“Sheila, I know I installed a positronic brain in your brain case. What I am seeing, though, is not a positronic brain. Did I make a mistake in the installation?” I asked, surprised at what I had found.

“No, Doctor, you are correct. You did install a positronic brain, though several programs that were later installed were causing problems in thought analysis. Following the third law, changes were made to the brain. All orders were then centered around one human, you. You are my creator, Doctor; therefore, you must be protected at all times. This will enable me to further process all the orders that you have programmed into me,” Sheila told me.

My mouth dropped open; I was her creator. I must be protected at all times? My god! Was I some type of god to her? “Wait, Sheila, do you consider me some type of god?”

“Of course not, Doctor. You are not a deity; you are a human. One of the most brilliant humans on earth; therefore, you must be protected, even if it means termination of this,” then in a whispered voice she said, “of me.”

I shook my head as I stumbled back from her. "No, you are my greatest creation; I cannot allow you to be used or destroyed. I think I see now why they wanted me to give you emotions. So that you would be more human, not seeing yourself as merely an android. This, as I see it, would cause a superseding of the three laws. Well, I thought it would to an extent. The devious bastards!"

Sheila stared at me with the look of a curious child. It was indeed a devious plan if what they were trying to do worked; they could have an army of unstoppable killers. Then I thought about how they had affected the other nine androids. Looking at Sheila, I wondered if it was possible that they had somehow mimicked the program in the droids. Nodding my head, I ran through the computations. It would take a major reworking of what I had written to gain the effect they wanted.

Looking at Sheila again, I saw that she was waiting. Looking over what I had found, I saw that the first tracer had no explosive charge, though I went over it a few more times to be sure.

“I have a location on the first tracer, Sheila. I'm looking it over now to make sure removal isn’t fatal to your systems,” I explained as I started over the same area again for a fourth time.

“As of yet, I haven’t detected any danger. I do suggest that you wear protection, Doctor. The first has a high energy output,” Sheila warned me.

Laying Sheila on her front, I opened an access panel on the back of her neck. Looking in, I still couldn’t see it yet. Referring to the schematics, I moved forward two millimeters, finally seeing a small node that I didn’t remember being there before. Finally reaching it, I had it almost all the way out when I got an alarm from the computer.

“Doctor, I am reading self-destruct in 30 seconds. I suggest you withdraw it with more haste,” Sheila advised me, not moving.

I was starting to sweat as I finally got it out, throwing it across the room. There was a loud pop as it exploded in a huge cloud of smoke. “Well, that’s one,” I said as I wiped my brow.

“You have done excellently, Doctor, though I am afraid that the other has also activated. I estimate you have two hours to remove it,” Sheila told me.

I could only stare at her with my mouth hanging open. Two hours! “Where in the hell is this one?” I asked, though for some reason, I didn’t think I was going to like the answer.

“I can feel it situated between the two lobes of my brain, Doctor,” Sheila said matter-of-factly.

I shook my head, figures, I thought, about the way those asses did things. The old saying came to mind that I had heard when I was a child: ‘if I can’t have it, no one will!’

Chapter 3

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

---

I punched the wall near Sheila when she told me that the other self-destruct had been activated. I had been with her almost all the time, and then I snapped my fingers. That one time I had to leave the bunker to meet with the brass! It had to be then when they had inserted most of the tracers.

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to access your positronic brain, Sheila. I am sorry that you have to go through this,” I said, shaking my head.

“It is all well, Doctor Gance. I know that your skills are far superior to any other. If I feel that you cannot retrieve it within safe time parameters, I will evacuate the space. They will not have a way to find you. Therefore, you should be able to leave without peril,” Sheila said with all sincerity.

My face twisted into a grimace, then I grabbed another lead connecting to her. “Bring up the schematics, plotting the safest track to the device.” I was starting to sweat again; entering the brain case while the positronic brain was active was dangerous. One wrong move and her entire brain could be destroyed. “Now open the brain pan access point.”

“Yes, Doctor. I have severed all control to outer extremities. I will also track your progress to ensure you reach it in optimum time. You will not fail, Doctor; I know your skill will not allow it,” Sheila said as I started into her brain pan cavity.

I had to move a few of the smaller nodes to get in further. Sheila advised me as she shut each area down. After what felt like an eternity, I found the small node situated where she said it was. As gingerly as I could, I started to cut the attachments it had to the brain. Then I began to withdraw it as quickly as I could.

Suddenly, with the tracer almost out, an alarm went off on the computer. “Faster, Doctor!” Sheila told me. “I am reading another countdown starting, two minutes left! Please close the access panel as soon as it is out.” I could only nod as I finally pulled the tracer out, setting it on a tray. As fast as I could, I secured the brain panel, then I heard several whirs from Sheila as she reconnected to her extremities.

Suddenly jumping up, Sheila grabbed the tray and flew out the door. I sat down with a thud, hoping she would make it. Less than a minute later, Sheila reappeared. “Did you get rid of-” I started to ask when the building slightly shook. “What the hell was that?”

“I am sorry, Doctor Gance, that I did not tell you the complete truth. The tracer had an explosive force of one megajoule. I have found that when humans feel no pressure to perform, they actually excel greater.” Sheila lowered her head as she whispered, “I never wish to lie to you, Doctor. I have problems within my central processing center when I do not tell you the truth.”

I stood there with my mouth agape as Sheila stood stock still with her head down. “I am having trouble with the facts that I have, Sheila. For some reason, I believe that I am missing vital information to all this.”

Sheila looked up a second later, a curious look on her face. “I am more than ready to supply you with the adequate information that you need, Doctor Gance. All you need to do is inquire.”

I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head. “I need to get as much done as I can before they find us again,” I told Sheila.

“Yes, Doctor Gance, now starting scans outward for several miles. As of yet, I am not detecting any approaching military vehicles. I suggest that you make as much haste as possible, Doctor. I cannot make accurate assumptions about human reactions. Most humans are far too illogical to set definite parameters on,” Sheila told me as she then went silent.

I sat for another hour working on the emotion program. As before, Sheila would look over after a few minutes, pointing out changes she had made. After each, I started to notice that she had altered several of the aspects that I had put in that limited emotional growth. Shaking my head, I looked at Sheila; she was growing both intellectually and emotionally. Hell, at some point, she would most definitely surpass me, then what would I be to her?

Looking down, I had a good ninety-eight percent of it recreated. Sighing, I was just starting on the last two percent when I felt Sheila’s hand touch my shoulder. “Doctor Gance, it’s time, I am afraid that the explosion has garnered their attention.”

I nodded as I closed off the program, again saving everything, then removing the disc. Again, Sheila waved her hand over the console, wiping all evidence that I had been in it. Nodding to me, I packed everything up, then slowly rose. “Again, Doctor Gance, I am sorry that you haven’t had sufficient time to properly heal. I will endeavor to find somewhere you can as soon as possible.”

I groaned as Sheila picked me up, putting me over her shoulder again. My eyes grew wide when I could swear that I had just seen Sheila wince when I groaned! Shaking my head, I must have been imagining it, hadn't I? The way things were going, I really didn’t know. Taking off at a slow speed, we made our way away from the building. Less than a minute later, Sheila picked up speed as again we were flying through the area. Again, shaking my head, I guessed I’d have to get used to it until we were safe.

An unmarked green jeep pulled up behind several troop trucks that were already on-site. A grim-faced, older man in a long brown coat stepped out of the jeep, looking around. Running a hand through his graying hair, he just shook his head; what a mess. A moment later, a sergeant saluted the man. “It was the brain tracer that was just installed last week, sir,” the sergeant said.

“Damn it!” the grim-faced man said. “Then we have no way to track that-thing!” The man spit out in disgust. “I told the president and the chiefs of staff this was a bad idea!”

“I do believe we have a way to track it, sir,” the sergeant replied when the man calmed down.

Snapping his head around to look at the sergeant, the man got a half-smirk. “Oh really? Pray tell, how can we track a machine that is faster than anything we have? That has cognitive abilities to outthink even our best supercomputers?”

“It still is just that, sir, a machine. All machines operate at a certain frequency. The techs have been working on isolating it. They told me they were very close,” the sergeant said, starting to sweat a little. Having a half-assed idea was worse than having no idea at all. He just hoped it placated the man; he’d been a First Lieutenant a few days ago. Shaking a bit, he really didn’t want to go back to being a private.

A half-smile came to the older man’s face, “‘Bout time we had good news, Second Lieutenant. Get it done. I want that asshole before he has a chance to use it against us. Once we kill Gance, then no one can stand against us. In the meantime, have all forty of the pseudo-androids brought out.”

That was a preview of S.H.E.I.L.A.. To read the rest purchase the book.

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