vN The First Machine Dynasty(72)

Dr. Sarton smiled ruefully. "Your shell has always possessed a very devoted fandom. It was only a matter of time until one of us successfully remixed the code. If I go through Portia's memories, maybe I'll find out who it was." He looked a little shy, now. "And then I'll ask them how they did it."



Javier's fingers touched Amy's back lightly. His voice was in her ear. "I'll wait outside."



The door shut behind him.





Dr Sarton stood a little taller as he watched Javier leave. For the first time, Amy realized that Sarton might have been a bit intimidated by Javier. Not because Javier would ever hurt him, but because he was just so much better looking.



"You're very human, Amy." Sarton nodded to himself. "That must be why he stays with you."



"What?"

"It makes sense. You've spent more time with a wider variety of humans than most other vN. You learned human behaviour from children, who are far less guarded than adults. Naturally you're more human-seeming to other vN." He resumed his seat and crossed his legs. His top foot wiggled back and forth. "You're probably triggering his failsafe. That's why he hasn't left you behind. He can't, even though he should. You're a great danger to him, you know. Javier was already a wanted man before, but now…" He shrugged.



He was right. Maybe not about what motivated Javier – Amy had no way of knowing that – but about the danger she'd put him and his boys into. She had to make it right. Amy leaned down to his eye level. "How many visas did you arrange?"



"Just the one–"



"That's not good enough. In fact, this whole exchange hasn't been good enough. I came to you for help and you gave me the choice between selling my story and selling my body. That's your idea of me getting my life back, and it's absurd." She licked her lips and made sure Sarton saw it. "Since I absorbed Portia, I've done my best not to hurt any humans. I've fought her every second and I haven't always won. And I am very, very tired."



Look at those pupils. Look at that blush. Look at those beads of sweat. He wants this moment so bad he can taste it. Pathetic.



Dr Sarton's damp face trembled. Suddenly Amy saw her mother there, saw Portia holding her face. Slowly, she stood up – but not all the way.



"I need at least two more visas."



He nodded. "OK. I'll see what I can do." He tried to smile. "If it helps any, I've found you a safe place to stay while you decide. Or rather, Rory found it for you. A car will come and pick you up, once you're on the surface."



Amy instantly felt sorry for intimidating him. "Thank you. That's very kind of you."



"I really do want to help you, Amy. I know that must be hard to believe, coming from a human, but…" His lips thinned. "I know what it's like to have a family curse."





ONE



Tourist Trap™





Back in the Rover, Amy said nothing. There was nothing much to say, and she doubted Javier wanted to listen to her complaints. Even if he did, it was probably because his programming told him to and not because of any individual desire on his part. Not that he felt any desire for her in the first place – he was just caught in some weird code loop that saw her as both too human to leave alone and not human enough to love. As with everything else, it came down to the failsafe. Until now, she had wanted to fix hers so that she could get rid of Portia, or at least protect people from Portia's madness. But if fixing the failsafe meant never having to feel this again – this empty hopeless ache for the impossible – she couldn't wait to find the next roboticist.



I've been telling you all along that you can't get rid of me. You refused to believe me, and look where it's gotten you.



Amy rested her head on her folded knees. She shut her eyes.



Your mother tried to run away from what she was, too. But we all know how that turned out.



Softly, Amy shook her head. She could handle most of Portia's taunts. But she drew the line at mocking her mother.



There is no line, Portia continued. We are one flesh. Everything about you that is strong or special or in any way unique is really just a hand-me-down from me. Before I came along you were just a carbon lattice of wasted potential. Why do you think I came for you that night?



Amy sat up a little straighter. Beside her, Javier frowned at her. She shook her head and held up a hand, so she could listen better.



Your mother was raising you to be something you were not, Portia said. She was pretending, hiding in plain sight, lying to your father and to you. She was always going to hold you back. I came to rescue you. I came to make you free.



"Then why did you have to murder someone?" Amy couldn't help asking aloud.