Gemini Electric, page 27
part #2 of The Aurora Chronicles Series
“How much like you is he?” Christina sounded cautious in the way she phrased her question.
“He’s very much like me, except that he’s not.” Aurora assumed she made complete sense as she gave the brief explanation. Her answer seemed entirely self-evident.
“I’m sorry. What?” Christina turned around and looked straight at Aurora.
“We’re getting way ahead of ourselves,” Shane said. “Let’s get back to my question. Why are we headed to Lake Mead?”
“Because that’s where Aurora told us we needed to go,” Christina said as the truck pulled into the Las Vegan Burger drive-thru and up to the large touchscreen menu. “Now what would you like to eat?”
Aurora would have gladly offered Shane a more in-depth explanation, but she determined it best to let Christina have the last word.
“How about an order of V chicken wings, a V bacon classic, and V curly fries?” Shane licked his lips. “I hope this Lake Mead thing makes more sense after I eat.”
“That’s all you’re getting?” Christina didn’t wait for a response, but instead began ordering. She pushed tabs for multiple orders of not only what Shane requested, but for two double deluxe V burgers, V onion rings, two V cherry tarts, and a V chocolate shake. “I’m starving, and whatever I don’t eat, I’ll put in the girls’ lunches tomorrow. Anything for you, Aurora?”
“I don’t have much of an appetite right now.” Aurora laughed, knowing she’d succeeded in at least somewhat enlivening a somber mood. “But thank you for asking.”
The truck crested a hill, and in the distance Aurora saw Lake Mead shimmering like a blanket of pearls underneath a sliver of moonlight. “Stop the truck. This is where we get off the road.”
“Off the road?” Christina sounded both tentative and puzzled. “I don't think I’ve ever done that before. I’m not sure I even know where to begin.”
“Just stop the truck,” Shane said. “If you pull over to the side of the road, we can get the truck to go where we need it to go.”
“Stop at shoulder,” Christina said into the dashboard microphone, which brought the vehicle to an abrupt halt. “Now what do I do?” She turned to Shane.
“Let Aurora sit in the front seat.” Shane tossed a French fry in his mouth. “She’ll do the rest.
Christina hesitated a second, took a deep breath, and then exited the vehicle to trade places with Aurora. “You’re a very special girl, Aurora. Whatever you do, please don’t get us stuck.”
“Not to worry. I know the way well.” She buckled herself in and stared at the control panel in front of her. “Turn left and head to the mountain at one o’clock.”
“I don’t think the navigational system works that way,” Christina said from the back seat.
“You’re right,” said Aurora. “It doesn’t at all. I only said that so you two would have the benefit of knowing where we’re headed. I’m controlling the path of the vehicle with my internal processor.”
The truck’s turning signal blinked as the vehicle slowly crossed over the empty lane. It headed straight across a rocky expanse toward a shadowy mountain in the distance.
“I can’t believe it.” Christina took a sip of her V shake through its extra wide straw. “We’re actually offroading.”
“What’s there not to believe?” Shane asked. “We’re driving on hard dirt. It’s not like we’re floating across quicksand.”
Christina nearly spit out her milkshake as she reached her hand to playfully smack Shane on the shoulder. “This is a first for me, okay? Maybe if what we were doing was actually legal, I’d have a bit more experience.”
“Since when do you play by the rules, my black operations queen?” Shane turned around in his seat and flicked a French fry at Christina’s head.
“Don’t waste food like that.” Christina pulled the potato remnant out of her hair and threw it out the open window. “You could have at least aimed for my mouth.”
“I should have. In order to shut you up.”
Christina drew her fist in the air.
“I was just kidding.” Shane cowered in his seat. “Kidding! It was a joke!”
The truck slowed down as it reached the bottom of a towering cliffside.
“This is it,” Aurora said, feeling a sense of satisfaction at having made it safely to her destination. “We have to wait here for Sai and Shafeen before we head in. I imagine they’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Look at all the stars,” Christina said as she stepped out of the truck. “Are we even close to Vegas?”
“We’re seven miles outside the city limits.” Aurora got out of the vehicle and stood near Christina beside a lone Joshua tree. “It’s a lot closer than it seems. The hills block out most of the city’s lights. If you look up there a little to your right, you’ll see Gemini.”
“I’ve never been much good at spotting that one. Where is it exactly?” Christina crouched down, getting closer to Aurora’s perspective.
“Do you see that bright star, there?” Aurora pointed nearly straight above their heads near the apex of the sky. “That’s Castor. It’s part of Gemini. Now you can see it, can’t you?”
“The twins?” Christina smiled. “You know how much I love astrology!”
Twins. Aurora liked the sound of that word. Something about its meaning felt invincible. If she had someone like her to back her up whenever things got particularly challenging, she couldn’t possibly fail. “Yes, the twins. That’s it exactly.”
“I think we have company,” Shane said, making his way out of the vehicle and toward the two stargazers. “Look up the hill. Is that who we’ve been waiting for? I certainly hope so, because it’s getting really chilly.”
“That’s them,” Aurora said. “They know we’re here. I told them we’d be outside waiting for their arrival. Just give me a minute with them if that’s all right.” Aurora took off running for the bright headlights of the oncoming motorcycles. She’d gotten permission to bring Shane and Christina to the cliff entrance before they’d left the facility in Bullhead City. Now she wanted to get them additional privileges to venture inside The Gloaming if at all possible.
“You made it safely, I see.” Sai turned off his motorcycle, having stopped a few feet from where Aurora stood by herself.
“We’re all okay.” Aurora smiled. “Except, of course, for Apollo. He’s still wrapped in a tarp and secured in the back of the truck. We’ll get him out of there and to his room, if that’s okay.”
“I’m not sure who you mean by we,” Shafeen said, having pulled her bike right alongside Sai’s. “If you’re referring to your human friends, I’m afraid the answer is no.” A stern look appeared across her darkened face. “You know the rules. Absolutely no humans allowed within The Gloaming.”
“I just want them to know that I’m safe and well cared for. They’re on our side.”
“It doesn’t matter whose side they’re on.” Sai placed his helmet in the box on the back of the bike. “It’s dangerous enough that you’ve managed to bring them this close to our home. It’s best that you send them on their way so that we can continue on with ours.”
“But they can help us.” Aurora hated being separated from the people she trusted most on earth. It hardly seemed justified that they couldn’t come see where she lived. If only she knew who made the rules, she’d make her appeal. Surely they’d understand her point of view on the matter. Shane and Christina couldn’t be any more of a threat than the water flowing through their sanctuary. If anything, getting them involved might actually benefit everyone.
“Foolish girl,” Shafeen shook her long black hair as she removed her helmet. “I don’t think you comprehend any of the things we’ve already been through with the humans. They fear us. They will destroy us. Maybe not your humans. But they know other humans who would love for nothing more than to dismantle every last nut, bolt, and screw that holds us together.”
Aurora realized she couldn’t change anybody’s mind, not in the cold darkness of a November desert night. She knew her priority—getting Apollo back in working order, which would take quite a bit of ingenuity on her part. “I understand completely. Give me five minutes, and I’ll send them on their way. I need a few things from them first.”
“Take your time,” said Sai. “We aren’t going anywhere while they’re still around.”
“Thank you. I won’t take long.” She walked toward the truck, seeing that both Shane and Christina had gotten back inside it, most likely due to the uncomfortable chill in the air.
“Are we going to see your new home, or aren’t we?” Shane asked impatiently from the open window.
“I wish it were that simple.” Aurora stood outside in the dark. “They said that you aren’t allowed. I tried to change their minds, but I couldn’t. They’ve just now asked that you leave.”
“That settles that.” Christina climbed out of the Yosemite. “I’ll help you take Apollo from the back of the truck. Then Shane and I will continue on our merry little way. Not a problem.”
“I can’t fix him without you.” Aurora said the words unexpectedly, hoping they’d catch Christina’s attention.
“I don’t understand,” Christina sounded both bothered and worried at the same time.
“His motherboard is damaged. He can’t function without a replacement. I was going to sneak into Durango Electric and get it myself, but I think it might be better if you did instead and brought it back to me.”
Christina let out an uncomfortable laugh. “You’re partly right. You have no business heading back there whatsoever. Unfortunately, I don’t think I do either at this point. I want nothing to do with that company.”
Aurora refused to let up. She didn’t panic or sound desperate. She just kept focus on what she needed. “David built me to succeed. If you can’t help me, I will help myself.”
“If you head back to Durango Electric, I guarantee you that helping anyone will be the furthest thing from your future. They’ll remove your processor and then scrap the rest of you. There must be another way.”
“There is.” Aurora remained firm in her stance. She knew that Christina could provide her with everything she needed in order to get her mission back on track. “Apollo’s motherboard can only be printed from Durango Electric within Sector K. I absolutely need it in order to get him working again. He and I are meant to bridge the gap between human and artificial intelligence. It’s what David wanted. It’s why David built me to begin with. I need Apollo.”
“I want to help,” Christina said. “You both helped me tremendously today. But I don’t have access to Sector K. And even if I did, I wouldn’t know the first thing to do once I got inside it. It’s the most complicated room ever built. David made sure that nobody could ever dare sneak inside it.”
“I have access. I can get in.”
Christina huffed. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me one bit. I’m sure you know the code or can modify your voice in whatever way required in order to open that door. But I can’t in good conscience let you get anywhere near that campus. You’ll be history if you return. You do understand, don’t you?”
Aurora took a step closer and spoke in a soft but firm voice. “I need you to take my arm.”
Christina warily reached for her hand. “Okay. And…?”
“Not my hand. I’m going to give you my arm. Can you fit it inside your purse, or perhaps a briefcase?”
“Okay. This is officially the creepiest conversation I’ve ever had, which is saying a lot since my daughters are two very strange individuals.”
“I’m sorry.” Aurora wished to dispel any discomfort regarding the prospect of handing Christina one of her limbs. “My elbow is the key to Sector K. There is a panel with a small impression on the wall just outside the secured entrance. Put my elbow in that indentation, and the door will open. Shane will give you the password required to access the file that holds the blueprints for the motherboard. I’ll text it to him so that he can then give it to you. You’ll be in and out of there in fifteen minutes. It’s a very quick process.”
“Are you sure there isn’t another way?” Christina sounded hesitant, but not totally unwilling.
“The only other way is for me to do it myself. And you’ve already ruled that option out. So no, there is no other way.”
Christina erupted into laughter, like she’d just realized everything was a giant prank. “So—you’re just going to give me your arm?” She laughed some more. “Just like that? Pop! Off it goes.”
Aurora didn’t intend to make light of her request. She’d been sincere about everything. However, to avoid rubbing anyone the wrong way, she laughed as well.
“What in Kentucky’s name is taking you two so long?” Shane yelled out the passenger window.
“Just a minute, Shane.” Christina chuckled some more. “Aurora’s about to hand me something.”
Aurora couldn’t tell if Christina actually believed her or not, but that wasn’t going to stop her from doing what she needed to do in order to ensure Apollo’s recovery. Without further delay, Aurora removed the cap from over the secret blade hidden in her ring finger, and then she cut into the PelaDerm around her left shoulder.
“Oh my God! What are you doing?” Christina had a look of terror and panic in her eyes.
“It doesn’t hurt me at all, I promise.” Aurora finished making the incision before replacing the cap on her finger, and then she yanked her left arm out of its socket, handing it to Christina.
“You were serious?” Christina shrieked in horror and began crying.
Shane jumped out of the truck and ran toward them. “What the hell is going on? Why is she upset?” He sounded almost as frazzled as Christina.
“I’m trying to give her my arm. She needs to take it.”
“This makes no sense.” Shane stared at Aurora’s open socket. “This makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.”
“My elbow is a key. Christina needs it to unlock the door to the lab where she can then produce the part needed to repair Apollo. There isn’t a better way to explain it than that.”
Shane came nearer to a very disturbed but now somewhat quieter Christina. “I think it’s best you take her arm. She’s not going to let us leave without it.”
“Don’t make me hold onto it right now.” Christina stood and walked back to the truck.
“I guess that means that I get to take it from you.” Shane walked toward Aurora and held out his hand.
“It’s not as cumbersome as it looks. It bends.” She knew it wasn’t customary for people to give their body parts to others, but she assumed Shane would understand that this was different. No blood. No loose tendons. Only some exposed wires. “You’ll see what I mean. It’ll be fine. Try not to get any dirt in the socket.”
Cautiously, Shane took the arm from her. “My life cannot get any freakier than this. No way.”
Christina held her head high as she walked into Durango Electric for what she hoped would be the last time. Before leaving the house, she’d chosen the biggest bag she could find, ignoring how hideous it looked. Within its marigold-patterned confines, she’d placed a deliberately concise letter of resignation. Other than the cream-colored envelope, her DimensionTab, and a carefully wrapped appendage, the bag remained empty enough to provide space for the few remaining belongings she’d kept at the office: miscellaneous jewelry, framed pictures of her daughters, a mug, and a small make-up kit.
“Good morning!” she said to Melinda Bisbee, walking to the new admin’s desk. “I’ve come to meet with Bill and then collect my things. You don’t know where they’ve moved to by chance, do you?”
Melinda looked up from her workspace and smiled superficially, looking a bit on edge. “Bill said to let you know that they’ve been moved to his office for safekeeping. Security's been tightened recently.”
No surprise there. Certainly not after last night's incident in Bullhead City. “Thank you.” Christina felt tempted to ask why Bill had them instead of security or human resources. Was he intending to personally apologize for not heeding her warning regarding the shipment? He owed her at least that! “I guess I’ll visit Bill now then if he’s available.”
“Could you wait right here, ma’am? I’ll notify Bill that you’ve come to see him.”
Ma’am? One word, and suddenly she felt like a complete stranger. Five years with the company washed down the drain. Did it bother her? She couldn’t let it. Nobody was forcing her to quit. Quite the opposite. Christina had made the decision to leave on her own, and she’d walk out the door now if it weren’t for the favor she owed Aurora. “I’ll be on the sofa waiting.”
Seated on a row of red veather cushions, she pulled out her DimensionTab and linked to the company’s network. She hadn’t handed in her resignation yet, so she technically could still log in, unless they’d disabled her access unbeknownst to her. Thankfully, they hadn’t. In a few seconds, she brought up the log for today’s lab usage. Sector K appeared to be available until one PM. That would allow her ample time to get what she needed and get out. If the surveillance cameras noticed her, and she knew they would, she’d make herself long gone before anyone could even question her presence in a restricted area. They’d likely be busy scratching their heads trying to figure out how she managed to breach the secured entry to begin with.
“He’ll be here to see you in a moment, Ms. Daily.” Melinda’s tone sounded detached and devoid of any personality.
At least the girl remembered her name.
Either way, Christina couldn’t be happier at the thought of never having to step foot inside these callous walls again. She had come here with dreams of technological achievement, but she’d unfortunately withdraw with nothing more than a cold dose of corporate reality and a truer understanding of how the world actually worked. “Thank you again. I’ll wait right here for him.” She hated the idea of coming across as worn and jaded. For whatever it meant, she wanted to at least leave them with the impression that she’d been a warm and friendly addition to the office. “If you want my honest opinion, the cucumber salad is the only thing worth getting from the vending machine. Everything else is stale, so I usually just bring my own lunch.”
