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Chapter 20

I had already contemplated triggering the explosive myself, using the detonator that Asimov had given me. It was tucked away in one of the small storage compartments at my waist which is why Rachel had not been aware of it. All I needed was a brief moment where I had control of the arms, less than ten seconds if I rushed it.

There had been those passing chances yet I had not taken them. Not because I was afraid, as I was certain there was no Heaven or Hell waiting for me in death. That only mattered to the humans and their souls, not to a machine like me.

My reason for hesitating had been far simpler. While I was still functional, there was a chance I could save the people I cared about. If I blew out my core, there was no chance at all.

Beside the airlock, an intercom unit buzzed. The male picked up the old style handset, listened for a few moments and gave a terse reply before disconnecting.

"They're here" he said dispassionately.

I was out of time.

=====

The hatch cycled open, giving a glimpse into the airlock chamber beyond. Sami had already hustled her small party inside and sealed the outer door, her hands clenched tightly around the grip of a matt black machine pistol.

There was something off about the chamber but I didn't have time to ponder it as Sami pushed through the inner hatch, glaring at me and the two Burrowers with an intensity that could have melted my inner chassis.

"Hello David" she greeted me tersely, eyes roving past me to the fields and structures beyond. "Why isn't Matron King here to welcome us?"

"THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER INCIDENT, MAYOR" Unit Seventy-Three stated flatly, which made Sami snap her eyes back to him with a frown darkening her features. "SHE IS HANDLING THE MATTER PERSONALLY AND HAS ASKED FOR YOU TO WAIT IN THE MAIN HALL FOR NOW"

A look I couldn't read flashed across her face, erasing the frown until her features settled into something cold and flat.

"Very well" she conceded. "Please lead the way, David"

Unit Seventy-Three rotated smartly and began walking towards the dormitory, the rear sensors still focused on Sami and her entourage. My heart lifted as I spied Eleanor walking behind Sami, with Vinny and Earl at her side. Both men were armed with rifles and wearing vests, eyes roaming professionally over our party and the surrounding fields.

"Nobody working the fields today?" Vinny asked casually. I could see in the sensor display he was carrying the rifle in his hands, using the same 'ready' position as Guards and Sentinels employed. Earl held his rifle more casually, yet I could sense his unease as his eyes flickered constantly to me and the two Burrow dwellers at his back.

"THERE HAS BEEN ANOTHER INCIDENT" Unit Seventy-Three repeated and there was no mistaking the looks that flashed across the faces of my friends.

"That's the other David" Eleanor said loudly and stopped walking. "The bad one"

And from there everything descended into chaos.

=====

Brilliant white light flared across my sensors, blinding Unit Seventy-Three as the lenses shut down instantly to protect the optics. I realised Sami had lashed out at the Sentinel with a focused ball of light, distracting the unit while she did what?

I tensed inside my prison, expecting the cores to be blasted apart at any moment when she triggered the explosives yet nothing happened. Sight and sound returned in a rush as the sensors came back online and I saw one of the Mole people go down, taken out by a burst of fire from Earl.