Artificial Mates - Chapter 140

A sudden movement rocked me awake and I found myself on Grant’s lap. Loud voices rose around me as I wiped my sleep away. The lorry rattled to a stop. Grant gently shook me. I gave a curious glance at our new allies, they were all frowning. It seemed I missed part of an important discussion.

“Thanks for the ride,” said Grant with his neutral smile. Demos was already getting up to follow the other artificial hopping off the lorry. I quickly gathered my thoughts.

“Are we getting off—? but Grant was facing away towards Angus. They both ignored me and went on with their conversation.

“Are you sure about this?” asked Angus. “Do you understand that the military will nuke the sire if they can’t get Atlas back?” he leaned forward making large gestures with his arms.

“We’ll take our chances,” Demos paused at the edge with his back turned. We were the only two still inside the lorry. Grant helped me to my feet. I gave him a puzzled look when our eyes met. What was going on? My legs nearly gave up under me and I grabbed Grant for support.

“Careful,” he warned. “You look pale, did you eat today?” I rolled my eyes at him.

“Food wasn’t my priority,” I pointed out. Angus got up and we both glanced over at him.

“Think about her,” he shouted. Grant urged me over the edge where Demos waiting with over arms. I didn’t hesitate one second. No after his prolonged absence. Demos winced when I jumped into his embrace.

“Are you ok?” he quickly put me down, I searched his face. The lorry’s rear lights flash red over his light smile. He touched his bandages.

“I’ll need special care,” he gave a nervous laugh. Back inside the lorry Grant’s voice rose to an unusual hard tone. I turned as he was talking to Angus.

“…I’m precisely thinking about her safety. She needs food right now and a warm shower. I can’t just hop on a boat without any plan. Not after what happened when we got here. Did you already forget our little trip at sea? I don’t think all the personal working on this island will fit on those few ferries. It’s a long journey back to the continent and we are not sure what’s waiting for us there,” a man wearing a security cap shook his head as Grant.

“War!” Alter added in a dry tone. He stood a couple of steps away with his arms crossed over his chest. His face was grave bathed in the red light of the rear lights. “We escaped from certain destruction. We had to pull strings to get on a boat to this island. The humans don’t want us. The terrorist group is gunning us down on the streets and the government only cares about human safety. We are left to our own demise. So, thanks for caring but we can fend for ourselves,” without waiting for an answer he turned around and walked away, the little group of a dozen artificial followed. Angus slowly sat down while nodding. Grant hopped off the lorry, we got a little distance from the vehicle.

“I’m sorry,” Angus muttered then knocked on the side of the lorry. It roared to life, in a cloud of smoke it sped into the night. I stood there staring after it as the rear lights turned to tiny dots.

“Come on, let’s go,” as I looked around I noticed we were in our neighborhood. It was the room that led to the city center the one I used when I trained with Olga. I bit my lower lips as the last image of her face flashed in my head.

-We’ll get her back

My head slowly turned towards the voice. I only saw two shimmering dots. Under the blanket of darkness, the sky seemed larger and oppressing, the field where we stood was only a black line on the horizon against a dark blue starry dome. Demos reached for me, his warm fingers slipping into mine.

-Just for tonight, can you let it go? I know it’s nearly impossible. But can we just empty our heads and walk home.

“Ok,” I whispered. We walked quietly side by side. We were close enough to brush against each other. The other artificial were off in the night, only Nicolai stayed behind. He gave us enough space so we could be comfortable. His silhouette stood solid against the only hotel’s building on the horizon. Demos was right, it was impossible to keep the questions at bay.

“Just say it,” he sighed. I didn’t wait a second and dove in.

“Are you going to fight Atlas? Is that why you stayed behind?” Demos tensed beside me, Grant kept quiet. A light rustle in front of us caught my attention. Nicolai quickly turned away, he must have heard my question. When they refused to answer, I stopped in my track in the middle of the road.

“Liliane,” Grant pleaded one hand reached out and touch my forearm. “We are tired, we need to treat our wounded and we need to think of a plan. Let’s just sleep tonight, ok?” I wasn’t satisfied with that little information. I stepped away from him.

“I’m also tired and damn I’m so hungry I could eat a whole cow,” my comment made him chuckled. Even though I was angry it made me laugh too.

“Do you know how big is a real cow?” laughed Grant

“No,” I giggled holding my belly. “I’ve only seen them in movies,” Demos straightened and Grant pulled me against his chest. I felt their rush of adrenaline or an equivalent in the link. I sucked in a breath. “What’s—?” I was cut by rapid footsteps in the dry grass. Grant stepped in front of me to where the sound was coming. I regret losing my gun. However, it would be useless to shoot at air and waste bullet in this darkness.

“It’s me,” called a female voice and they all relaxed. Nicolai had joined us, he stood next to Grant and Demos was a little further. It was crazy that I could spot my mates in this gloom it was like seeing without eyes. If I closed my eyes, I could visualize the two threads that linked us together. The female switched on a tiny light towards her face. She was one of Adrien’s s.e.xbots.

“Sorry, we are a little jumpy,” smiled Nicolai. She smirked at him. Grant had to clear his throat to get their attention. They seemed to be communicating without words and I can only guess what she was saying by reading her body language. Probably something dirty.

“What is it?” asked Grant. Her smile faded as he turned to face him.

“We’ve checked the perimeter around the complex. It’s cleared. Alter is waiting at your house. Thye didn’t connect the complex to the grid yet. so you’re safe for now. We are disconnecting the cameras as we speak. I fear that somehow it will give out our position. We should move soon,” Grant nodded at her explanation.

“Good,” he responded, Nicolai came closer.

“I’ll go with Olympia,” he looked up at us. “I don’t think you will need us tonight,” he turned to face the girl. “Did they left the vehicle for recharge?” her smile spread over her pretty face. She turned to Grant.

“Your friend at the construction site is waiting there. He is a strange bot. I have no idea how you turned him but he said he will join our cause,” the news made Grant beam with joy.

“I’ll come to greet him later. Be sure that everyone has full batteries,” Nicolai took his black backpack off and handed it to Grant. He frowned at his friend.

“I can’t accept it. Taylor needs a med-pack,” Nicolai shook his head and rested his eyes on Demos.

“He also needs proper fixing,” I followed his gaze, in the dim light from Olympia’s flashlight I noticed that the bandaged around his chest were soaked. The girl touched my arm and handed me the flashlight.

“You’ll need it more than me,” she smiled. I just stared at her my mouth hanging open. I didn’t know she was that nice. I always assume s.e.xbot was…mindless s.e.x machines.

“Liliane, can you shine the light over here?” Grant was kneeling down and fishing inside the bag. I rushed to their side, he got out a white kit with a red cross and various square sheets made of a transparent material.

“We have a nurse, I’m not sure she can treat Taylor’s extensive damage but it’s better than nothing,” Grant and Demos tipped their heads at them.

“Later,” Nicolai said before he left with Olympia. Silence followed. We reached our complex and as we crossed the gate Demos stopped. We turned to look at him.

“It seemed like yesterday…” he muttered with his eyes lost in the distance. When he noticed we were staring at him, he flashed a smile. A little kid smile. His whole face lit up. In the brightly lit entrance, I saw all the bandages on his arms and neck. My heart sunk.

“Stop making that face,” he walked past us to our gate. Grant followed him while holding this back close. I signed and went to join them.