Machine Man (serial)

“We have a problem,” I said.

“What?” said Lola. “Let’s go. Pick me up, so you can run real fast.” She held out her arms.

“I’m not good on stairs.”

“What?”

“The Contours. They don’t handle stairs well.”

“What does that mean?”

“A bug, I guess. I haven’t had a chance to go through the software—”

“What does that mean for us?”

“Oh. It means we can’t take the stairs.”

“Who’s talking about stairs?” Lola said. “Pick me up and let’s jump out of here.”

“I won’t be able to hold you.”

“Sure you can.” She spread her hands. “I’m little.”

“Lola, at 12Gs, you’ll weigh as much as a small car.” She looked a little insulted, so I added, “That’s not me. That’s physics.”

“Maybe we can sneak down an elevator.”

“I just heard the elevator. Between it and us are people who want to kill us.”

“Did you say kill?”

“Yes! Look at this.” I showed her my bicep.

“Oh, no!”

“Exactly. I’m damaged.”

“Injured.”

“What?”

“Injured,” Lola said. “You’re injured.”

“That’s what I said.”

“You said…” She shook her head. “They shot you?”

“Yes.”

“Why would they do that?”

I hesitated. “I kind of killed the CEO.” Lola’s eyebrows leapt. “By accident.”

“Oh, no.”

“There are extenuating circumstances. Trust me.”

“I do,” she said. Outside, I heard approaching footsteps.

“The thing that really irritates me is ten floors down, I have a set of drill legs just sitting there.”

“Can you stomp through the floor?”

“It’s reinforced concrete.”

“That’s a no?”

“Obviously it’s a no! It’s not going to collapse if it’s—”

“Don’t get snippy.”

I breathed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I strongly believe our lives are in danger unless we figure a way out of this room in the next ten seconds.”

Someone thumped on the door. Lola and I fell silent. She snaked one hand into mine. I felt that strange attractive force stir once more, trying to pull my fingers into her chest.

“Get us out of here, Charlie,” Lola whispered.

I decided I would kick anyone who came through that door. It was not a great plan, and would probably end badly for some combination of me, Lola, and the guards outside, but it was all I had. I took a step forward, moving Lola behind me.

The door banged open. And I just stood there, my plan already forgotten, because the person in the doorway was not who I expected. It was a security guard. I was right about that, at least. It was Carl.

98.