Sheila Ch. 23

I had called mother and Ruslan to let them know they needed to leave before I made that call. I suggested a warehouse near where Sheila and I were. I also told them that they were safer for the moment as the world would think them dead soon.

I watched with a smile as both teams pulled up in Humvees. I almost laughed when all the orders the General gave were followed without question.

My god, the man had everyone scared to death of him. I was sure most of the military would breathe a sigh of relief when he was declared dead, I knew, I would.

Though like I told him I wasn’t about to kill him. No, I would give him all the compassion he had the men and women he had ripped from their bodies. A small smile crossed my lips as I thought of the teams. There were at least three of them, I could think of, that would enjoy what I had planned for the General, as much as I would.

I watched for the next few hours as Sheila built a truly strange-looking apparatus. We still had the General sending out reports, the last we saved ‘til we were ready.

After I strapped the General in, I order the nanomites within the General to go inert. I then had Sheila grab mother, Ruslan, then my sister Christine.

She was the only one I was unsure of. We had thought that the other was dead so long, I wasn’t sure she wouldn’t react violently.

I explained all this to mother, then Ruslan. I was hoping that Mother could soften the blow.

I was standing behind Ruslan when Christine was brought in. Spotting mother, then Ruslan, she nodded looking around. Spying our father a low growl issued from her throat.

“What are we waiting for?” She snarled. “Let’s kill the bastard, get this over with.”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea, Chris.” Mother told her.

“Why not? Just kill the bastard, then we can be free.” She almost shouted, then turned toward me a look of anger on her face as I stepped out. “Who in the fuck are you?”

“Chris I’d like to introduce you to the General’s son.” When Chris took a step toward me, Sheila stepped between me and her. “You might say he hates the General more than we do.”

“Yeah, as fucking if!” it was at that moment that Christine looked at Sheila, I mean really looked at Sheila. “What the fuck!?” Then she looked at me, Sheila, then me. “You’re the scientist, damn, here I thought they were lying to me. Ok, out of curiosity, why the hell does she look like me?”

I smiled; damn Christine was bitter. “I made Sheila to resemble my dead sister. It was the only tribute I could do for the one person; I regret not being there for.”

Uh huh, again so why the hell does it look like me?” Christine snapped.

Taking a breath I decided to be more direct. “I never thought that you would be this stubborn Chrissy.”

Christine’s head snapped around to stare at me. “How dare you call me that! Only my bro... Rog?”

When all I could do was nod. Christine somehow avoided Sheila launching herself at me.

“OMG! You’re alive how? I was told that you were killed in some attack.” Kissing my face all over, she then proceeded to squeeze me in a hug so tight I thought, I was going to pass out. That was ‘til Christine was easily lifted off me by Sheila.

A look of indignation crossed Christine’s face as she struggled to break Sheila’s grip. “I’m sorry, I cannot allow you to harm Roger. You had cut off his breathing to the point of unconsciousness. Please do not attempt to do that again.”

Sheila dropped Christine, then backed up. Still pissed, Christine pointed at Sheila, “I don’t give a shit who or what you think you are. Rog is my brother; I haven’t seen him in a long time.” Here Christine walked up to Sheila poking Sheila in the chest, a look of surprise coming to her face.

Turning to me she smirked, “For a scientist, you are a pervert, her breasts feel real.” She then looked at her own chest comparing it to Sheila’s, she then smirked again as she nodded.

I could only roll my eyes, what in the world was she thinking.

A low almost raspy voice sounded behind us. “So the both of you know, too bad. You both were most effective, now you’ll all have to die.”

“You obviously don’t realize how dire your situation is. You also don’t realize WHAT you are strapped to.” I told the General.

The man turned as well as he could, to stare wide-eyed at the apparatus that Sheila had built. “I am far too important for you to do this! There are too many far-reaching consequences if I am no longer there to help to protect this country.”

I took my family and Ruslan behind a protective wall. “I’m sorry if this offends any of you, I thought it was a fitting punishment.”

The three of them looked at me with confused looks, as I bent over the panel in front of me. Typing in commands at blinding speed, I finished then stood back. A moment later there was a humming noise as the apparatus started up.

I had to hand to the man no threats, no bribes, no demands. There were only the high pitched screams as the machine started to slowly, methodically rip the mind of the man strapped to the chair out.

I was actually feeling sick when an hour later the machine shut down. I had to rush past the others as I barely made it out of the building. Loosing most of what was in my stomach, I couldn’t even look at the others when they came out behind me.

“Damn, I thought you were stronger than this Rog.” I heard Christine state behind me. I weakly smiled at her, then was swept off my feet by Sheila.

Back inside I watched as the two teams were advancing upon our position. “Might I suggest we depart, before any harm comes to you Roger,” Sheila suggested urgently.

I shook my head, “Not this time. I think that the three of them can convince them to stand down.”

While we waited, I went to the back of the machine withdrawing a large case. Walking back to the protected room I sat with Sheila to wait.

It was almost half an hour later when all nine of them made their way inside. I indicated for all of them to take a seat. I then went into an explanation of my plan for all of us to disappear.

They all had a shocked look on their faces as I got further into my plan. Finally finished they all agreed, if not begrudgingly.

It was several hours later that the General was making a report when he stated that he was under attack. A few moments later there was a huge explosion on the outskirts of Washington D.C.

For days, then weeks agents and military combed through what little of the warehouse was left. Many weeks later it was confirmed that there were at least five bodies plus many sophisticated machine parts. General Gance, Roger Gance, Evelyn Tamble, Cathy Thorndyke lastly Christine Tamble. It was later confirmed that both of the groups were eliminated.

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I watched as both groups set up their own habitations. It was several months later after the explosion in Washington. We were several hundred miles south when I had Sheila set off the charges.

I had Sheila drain several accounts that father had access to before we had left. We had far more than we would need to live that was sure. Sheila had also been busy, building a lab that rivaled any lab I had ever seen, except for the one I had created Sheila in.

Sheila had asked me quite a few questions, asking if I could loan her the data cube. The same that I had struggled to complete. When I handed it over to her I was almost afraid to let it go.

“That in effect is you, Sheila, if that is lost so is any chance to recreate you,” I told her with sadness in my voice.

Sheila looked at me with compassion as she nodded. “I will protect it as well as I did you, Roger.” When I nodded she carefully took the cube then disappeared into the lab.

I wasn’t too worried ‘til a weak later when I still hadn’t seen much of Sheila. With us as isolated as we were, it was slow with the supplies that arrived once a week.

It was at the start of the eighth day that I was walking toward the lab. I was startled when I saw Sheila emerge with a large smile.

“I am so glad that you have come, Roger.” She stated when she stopped in front of me.

“Oh? It can’t be that you have a need for me. as I always suspected, you really have no need of me now.” I sadly told Sheila.

Sheila looked a little mad then shook her head. “I will always need you, Roger, I love you. Though I think that what I have managed to do will benefit both of us.”

I narrowed my eyes as I looked at her. Not saying a thing, she led me inside the building.

I was nodding at most of the equipment, all of it high quality, all that I recognized. She led me to the extreme rear of the building. As we turned a corner I was shocked to see... me lying on an exam table.

“In so much as you built me as a tribute to your sister, I built him as a tribute to you. He is the second of our race. I have downloaded all the memories that I gathered all the times you were within me.” Sheila explained.

I was about to speak when the figure on the table sat up. Turning he looked at Sheila then me. Getting off the table it or he walked to me. Grasping my hand he started to shake it.

“It is an honor to meet our creator. I hope that I can bring honor to you as Sheila has.” Turning to Sheila the male android asked, “have you shown him yet?”

“No, I thought it prudent to introduce you first.” Sheila told the ‘me’ android.

“Most logical Sheila, I hope that he is as pleased as you are.” The male android stated.

Sheila nodded as both of them led me to the other side of the end of the lab. I was really curious now after meeting the ‘me’ android.

We stopped before a large capsule-shaped container. Pressing a few controls a door slid open to reveal, what the hell? Another Sheila android?

“Uh no Roger. She is by no means an android. It was then that I noticed that what was in the capsule was stark naked. My god, she was as perfect looking as Sheila. “We were going to call her either Sheila or Chris, then we decided that would cause more confusion than needed. We, therefore, thought that you should name her.”

I could only stare at the woman that was laying there, then her eyes opened. “Finally you’re here. I have been so lonely waiting for you. So, have you decided on what to call me?”

I swallowed hard, “You’re beautiful,” I whispered. “the only thing that comes to mind is Crystilla.”

A wide smile came to her lips as she nodded then wrapped me in her arms.

FIN