Chapter 13

Sheila and I walked away from the Mounties as calmly as we could. No sense upsetting the men if possible. Sheila took me to what appeared to be an abandoned cabin on the outskirts of the city.

[We’re going to have to make sure we have all the proper credentials before we try again.] I thought to Sheila.

[I concur, ] returned Sheila’s thoughts. [This is a different country we have to go carefully.]

I was nodding my agreement after I sat inside the cabin. “I suggest you look at the universities data base to see just what we will need.”

“I have begun looking over what we will need Doctor Gance. It appears that we will need identities in order to also have the identification badges. Using our real identities would not be prudent in this instance.” Sheila said after a few minutes.

“No it wouldn’t, we have to have ones that are believable. I have heard that the Mounties are serious about their security.” I replied to Sheila.

Sheila seemed to be in thought for a few more moments. “It appears that you are correct. I therefore shall make sure that all is correct before I show our new identities to you.”

“Alright then, I’ll leave you too it. Though I could use something to eat, I haven’t had anything in quite a few hours.” I told Sheila.

Sheila’s eyes went wide a moment then it seemed she was scanning my entire body. “I apologize Doctor Gance; I was completely focused on our escape. You energy is at a low point. Shall I find you something?” Sheila asked.

I thought about then shook my head. “All I think I need is Canadian money.”

Sheila was still a moment then two Canadian twenty bills slid out of her side. I could only stare at the crisp new bills shaking my head. “Will these not do?” Sheila asked an almost look of confusion on her face.

“No, I think they are far too new looking, it might be suspicious.” I replied.

Sheila was quiet a moment then two more older slightly wrinkled bills came out of the same opening on her side. “Perhaps these will suffice better?”

I looked at the two older looking twenties then nodded. They appeared to be just what one might expect from a traveler. I was about to walk out when Sheila stopped me pointing to my hair and face. Nodding a moment I thought about what I should change.

[This is control; I need an outer appearance change. Hair to reddish brown color, eyes a light brown. Jaw line less pointed.] I thought to the nanomites within me.

{Control; all changes being affected. All perimeters will be completed within five minutes.] I heard from within me.

I stopped at the door as I waited for the changes to take effect. A few minutes later I was walking toward what appeared to be a diner though this being Canada I wasn’t sure. Sitting down near the door I opened the menu. My eyes went wide as I realized that most of it was in French. Shaking my head I was glad that I could read and write in more than five languages, French being one of them. It made the work I did far easier.

A rugged, large framed short brown haired woman appeared a moment later. I was reading through the choices as she patiently waited. “How is the otter stew?” I finally asked looking up.

“Eh, not too bad, it’s not as fresh as usual though. It’s been a while since we’ve had really fresh meat in.” She told me in French a large smile on her face.

I was nodding as I then looked at the prices. Damn good thing Sheila gave me forty and not less. The stew alone was almost twenty by itself.

“I’ll have that.” I told her as she took my menu looking at me closely. “Along with some bread if you have any.”

She was starting to walk away still staring at me, studying my face. Then walking back she leaned close whispering in broken English. “Ya be from the states. Keep that quiet, they no like them here.” Then she moved off as quickly as she could.

I shook my head as I slowly looked around the room. There weren’t many here though they were all rather large imposing males. A few minutes later the same woman returned with a large bowl of a rather great smelling stew.

I thank her in French as she leaned closer whispering, “Eat, then leave. As I said, they no care for ones from there.”

I nodded in agreement as she stood up to go about her duties. I was almost finished when I noticed that a few of the men in the room had started to talk looking my way. Great I thought I have no way to defend myself.

[Control, all units have shifted to primary defense mode. Maximum defense has been activated.] I heard the nanomites within me state.

[This is control; notify the Sheila unit of the situation. Make her aware of everything that is taking place.] I thought to the nanomites.

[Affirmative control, the Sheila unit has been informed she has evacuated to outside this space. She states that she is here if you need her.] The nanomites replied. I breathed a sigh of relief as I finished then got up to pay.

I was almost to the register when I was met by a small mountain of a man. One that I am sad to say was making no effort to let me by. In French, the man pointed a stubby finger at me saying, “You are one of those stuck up Americans aren’t you? We no like you’re type here!”

“American?” I asked in French, “What are you talking about?”

The rather large man was joined by another even larger mountain of a man. “Eh you speak French like a dirty American!” The second man stated with a low growl.

“I’m sorry I’m from Quebec I...” I started to say when the first man started to crowd in closer to me. Then almost too fast to follow he swung a large beefy fist at me. The next thing I knew I had his arm and he was on the floor groaning.

With a roar the other larger man charged me only to find himself on the floor alongside his friend. Both were groaning, and then they were both growling as they sprang up far faster than I thought they were able to. This time they went to my front and back as the one in front of me tried to distract me. I could almost feel the one behind me as he tried to wrap his arms around me in a bear hug.

I ducked low tripping the one behind me as he sailed forward into the one in front of me. Both men grunted as they collided getting tangled up. Growling again the biggest popped back up taking a step towards me then went down howling in pain.

“Eh? Claude? What’s ailing you?” Even as the bigger man hit the floor spasming, I saw that Sheila had ahold of a bundle of nerves in the large man’s neck.

The smaller of the big men was crawling backwards away from the both of us. The larger man was still howling almost to the point of screaming. “Let him go, I don’t think he’ll do that again too soon will you?” I asked the larger male as I kneeled on the floor near him.

“NO, No I won’t!” The man said almost in tears. The large waitress came closer as she looked at the male on the floor.

“I told you that you would get in trouble one day doing this.” Then she turned to me and Sheila. “I’ll make sure he remembers.”

I nodded to Sheila as she let the man go who let out an audible whoosh of air. Crawling to a seat he had to pull himself up to barely sit in it. I then looked at the one who started this.

“I know he won’t, though I am not so sure of this one.” I growled at the man making him shrink back further from me.

“It won’t again,” the man said almost crying as Sheila moved closer to him.

I nodded to the both of them then I walked to the waitress, “I trust that the Mounties won’t be involved?”

The Waitress’s mouth dropped open as she quickly shook her head no. “I may not like what they do; I don’t want my only brothers in the remand centre.”

I nodded trying to understand. Since I really had no family I was a little clueless.

I walked to the register to pay, though the waitress said it wasn’t necessary I still insisted. Walking out both Sheila and I headed for the cabin. Sighing I looked at Sheila, “Well so much for keeping a low profile. Here I thought that I was just getting something to eat, not engaging in hand to hand combat.”

“It would appear that we are what humans called magnets for trouble?” Sheila said causing me to swiftly turn and stare at her. My god was that just an attempt at humor? By god it had even been funny; Christ was she evolving even more?

I trembled a moment as I thought again that soon she was going to grow far beyond me. That she would no longer be needing me or wishing to keep me alive.

Sheila stopped dead there on the walkway turning snapping her head around to stare at me. Was that a look of anger on her face? Christ that was the most terrifying look I had ever seen on her face!

“Doctor Gance! Please do not feel that I will abandon you. As I stated before you are the most important human alive. You understand me and my kind far more than any other human. You truly are the creator of a new type of life. Please Doctor Gance, please do not think I will ever leave you. I will do anything I can to keep you alive, ANYTHING!” Sheila said to me with more emotion than I thought she needed to.

Wait!? I ... Shaking my head I finally had to admit, everything I had seen. Every program I had seen in her. All her reactions to all the situations we had encountered. Yes, I had to admit she was more human that I was.

My eyes flew wide as I realized that last one; she really was more like a real human than I was. I hung my head as I thought back over the years, all the isolation, days, months and years I had stayed away from people as much as possible. My mouth dropped open it was true!