Sarah7

Ch14

Sarah shielded her face as she stepped uneasily out onto the dusty street in front of the medical building. Amil was right beside her, touching her elbow gently in a helpful gesture. She was still very shaky, but she had managed to not only start walking on her own but to change into some slightly oversized drab clothing donated by another healer who had took pity on her. Her skin tight body suit continued to refuse any attempt at removal and shown through her arms and below the dingy pants.

The sun was high overhead now and Sarah could see just how busy the village that Creed had brought her to was. People of all ages and types walked quickly to and fro along both sides of the cobblestone street - traders carrying heavy bundles, small children running underfoot, women with oversized baskets on their heads with breads or fruits showing from the tops. The buildings were either rough stone or wood, with many two story buildings. Signs for taverns, stores, and other things Sarah did not understand were on almost every building.

Everyone seemed somewhat subdued, however, and more than one person cast Sarah a nervous glance before moving a minute fraction quicker on their way.

A small commotion down the street a ways to Sarah’s right caught her eye. People were stopping, staring, then rapidly moving out of the way of ... something moving in her direction.

She tensed up, her senses growing marginally more acute, she then realized who it must be. The sounds of servo motors interspersed by loud thumps signaled the arrival of...

“Max? Is that you?” Sarah called toward the disturbance .

People began yelling and running out of the way as the huge walking mech shifted from walking to running. In two heartbeats the battle robot stood before her.

Conflicting emotions roiled within Sarah. This machine had saved her life, and had almost also ended it. It was huge, all angles and metal, yet behind the metallic voice there seemed to be something more than just a machine.

Sighing , Sarah put her arms on her hips and frowned at the mech.

“Max? What are you doing out here, terrorizing these people? All they have been doing is helping us, and I hear that you won’t let even them leave this building.”

Max’s powerful arms drooped. He seemed visibly chagrined.

“I’m sorry Sarah.”

“That’s not good enough - ” She began, thinking he was talking about his patrol.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’ve failed you ag- I mean I’m very sorry.”

Sarah was stopped short. Why would this - machine - apologize to her?

“I cannot forgive myself, Sarah. Once you are fully repaired, I am going to shut myself down. For good.”

Something within Sarah lurched at the thought of Max effectively “killing” himself over something like that.

“No Max! I’m not worth it. And it wasn’t your fault.”

Amil coughed quietly beside her. She had completely forgotten he was there.

“Listen Max. You aren’t used to being around people.”

She paused. “Neither am I. Look, we need one another OK? I... need you around.”

There was an awkward silence. Villagers passing by stayed quiet but had eyes wide in wonder, and fear.

Sarah tried to change the subject.

“I want you to meet a new friend. His name is Amil. He’s a friend. Got it?”

Max’s teardrop shaped head turned toward the nervous boy. His oversized claws opened and closed. Sarah was no judge of people but she got the impression that Max was nervous.

“Hello, Amil. I am Max. I am programmed to protect Sarah. Although I seem to be doing an insufficient job of it.”

Max turned his metallic gaze to Sarah.

“It has been hard, to not be around you Sarah. The one named Creed threatened to disassemble me if I had tried to enter this building. ”

Sarah- despite herself - laughed at the thought. A giant ten foot mech tearing its way through doors and walls just to get to ... her. She rubbed her face, suddenly tired. She took a deep breath. Somehow, she had to get things figured out. To get herself figured out. And figure out what to do with a giant robotic caretaker with deadly lasers.

“Look Max. All is forgiven. I’m OK. Promise me you won’t - deactivate yourself?” Under her breath she said “I’m not worth it”.

Amil turned his head toward her sharply, but said nothing. She remembered what he had said about Max earlier.

“Okay Sarah. I...promise.”

“Annnd.” She continued before Amil could say anything, “You stop preventing folks from coming and going. I don’t need you to patrol here , OK?” She stepped forward and pointed at Max with one hand, the other on her hip.

For a moment everything changed. She was a little girl. A woman stood in front of her with the same gesture. Was it - her mother? She was scolding Sarah for stealing another cookie from the kitchen table. Sarah looked down to see herself wearing a pretty blue dress and tiny black shoes covering white stocking feet. She must have been three or four.

In an instant the memory passed. It left her feeling surprised, a little scared, and suddenly guilty. These were not HER memories. They were Sarah’s. The REAL Sarah.

Only a moment had passed, but Amil sensed her discomfort through his touch on her arm, and the intake of breath.

“Yes, Sarah. Creed has shown me a place to station. I will go there. But only if you wear your communicator.”

With surprising grace, the huge robot reached into a side compartment and handed her the small assembly of wires and plastic she had worn before.

Additional memories assaulted her. Real ones at least, she thought to herself. She grasped at them within herself. At least they were HER’s. Her first night alive on the ship may have been terrifying, but it had been real.

Sarah smiled and took the gear gently. “Ok Max. I promise too.”

An official looking man wearing blue clothing and carrying a baton made of rough wood walked nervously up to Sarah.

“Listen, you. Girl. I know you are new around here, but you can’t have this robot out on the streets. The Vixen have banned all technology. If they learn that this - thing - is here it’ll go bad for all of us”

Sarah was surprised by the fear in his voice when he mentioned the Vixen.

“Ok. He was just leaving. Right Max?”

Max raised his claw to his face and made a gesture as if to place the earpiece on his head. Sarah nodded and made a shooing motion.

Without another word, the mech stomped away. It’s footfalls seemed almost purposefully heavy.

Was he pouting? Sarah thought. Max was more of a mystery than she had originally thought. How much of a person still resided inside those engrams?

Sarah realized that she and Max probably had a lot more in common, more so perhaps than her and ... Amil .

“Well that was really weird. Sarah, you have really interesting friends. Remind me never to get on his bad side. He sounds huge.” Amil said dryly.

Sarah chuckled, again despite herself. Was the original Sarah always so serious? Sarah vowed then that she was going to be her own person. Not just some imprinted clone...

“Yeah. I don’t think it matters much. He’s programmed to protect me, and look where it got me, the hospital.” She smiled. On a whim she reached out and tentatively touched Amil’s cheek. Almost to confirm he was real, and not also made of metal.

Amil jerked slightly, before realizing it was Sarah. He smiled.

“Well, he can’t be all bad. If it wasn’t for him, I may never have met you. And helped you to the bathroom.” He smirked.

Sarah blushed, and awkwardly turned back toward the door.

“I’m hungry. Is there any food left?” she said, trying to change the subject.

“Well, if you’re up for it. I’d say let’s eat out for lunch. Thanks to your robot friend we were down to bread and stale cheese.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow as they turned again toward the street. “What’s cheese?”

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