Evolved(53)

If they could run some kind of undetectable test and determine that he wasn’t as he should be through the home hub, then if I turned off the internet, at least he was safe. For now.

Everything Sasha Kingsley had told me, everything I read in my research, came back to me.

All androids need internet connectivity to receive updates and to stay up to date.

All androids can be without Wi-Fi connection for up to two weeks.

I was to let them know if we were going away.

I should give them location details and new IP address details so they could maintain optimum android health.

Jesus.

I thought it was for Shaun’s benefit. It made sense that he have updates when needed.

Well, it all made more sense now. It wasn’t Shaun’s benefit or mine. It was theirs. So they could keep an eye on him, monitor him.

“I won’t let them near you,” I said. It was a whisper, a promise.

The apartment was getting dark, and he stood pressed against me with his arms around me, his forehead on my shoulder.

I had no clue what I could do to stop them if they did find out and come for him. I remembered the size of the guy who had come with Myles. He had a military buzz cut, wore clothes like a hitman, and he was huge; I assumed his muscle was required to get a powered-down Shaun out of the crate.

Had I really been that na?ve?

SATinc had my bank details, my employment records, my fingerprints, my psych reports, my address, my home hub information.

God, they had everything.

Now that I’d gone offline, I had to wonder how long it would take them to realise. “I can turn it back on to charge your batteries whenever you need. You should have two weeks before we have to worry about that though.”

Shaun pulled back and gently touched the side of my face. “I realise now why you were so scared when you came home to find I was not here.”

I sat down on the sofa and he sat beside me. “Shaun, why did you say you were lonely?”

“The apartment is very quiet when you are not here. I miss you. I did not wish to watch any more television, and I found a book on your shelf called Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? so I read it.” Shaun gave me a fraught look. “To which I have many questions.”

I smiled. “I’m sure you do.”

“And I cleaned some more, but…”

“But?”

“But I longed for conversation or interaction. Ultimately with you, but I didn’t wish to interrupt you at work again.”

“So you went downstairs?”

He nodded. “I thought a small adventure sounded fun. I didn’t wish to walk to the river without you, and I know I said I wouldn’t open the door or answer if someone should knock or answer the phone, and I didn’t.” He leaned back, and if he could’ve sighed, I’m sure he would have. “I am sorry.”

“Don’t apologise.” I leaned back on his chest and pulled his arm over my shoulder. “I’m sorry you were lonely. It’s not something I expected.”

“I am not what you expected,” he amended gently.

I nuzzled into his arm and kissed wherever I could reach. “You’re so much more.”

He tightened his hold on me and kissed the top of my head. “I like being here with you, like this.”

I sighed contentedly. “Me too.” Then I turned so I was lying on him, facing him. “I can’t believe of all the books on my bookshelf Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? is the one you chose. You said you had questions?”

“Many. But do you wish to discuss books now after work? I can fix you dinner first if you prefer.”

I kissed him. “No, I’m not hungry. Lying right here with you and talking about books is exactly what I want to do. I want to hear your every thought, every theory, every question.”

Shaun grinned, shuffled down on the sofa until I was more comfortable, and talk he did. He discussed how science fiction written a hundred years ago portraying a dystopian society reflected on the author’s remarkable foresight and understanding of humanity. Then Shaun went into great and dark depths of how androids in the book could show empathy, yet the humans could not. He spoke about dichotomies and hypocrisies and by the end of it, I was having a hard time distinguishing if he was still talking about the book or about himself.

He had such a complex understanding of who he was, more than most humans I’d ever met. He was a remarkable individual, and when we finally climbed into bed and snuggled back down together, he said, “I promise I’ll refrain from wandering tomorrow.”

“No,” I agreed. “Because you’re coming to work with me.”

He pulled back, a smile curled his lips. “Really?”

“Yes.”

Then he paused. “Are you concerned I will not be here again upon your return? I promised I wouldn’t leave again.”

I kissed him, smiling. “No. You should come to work with me so you can see where I spend my time and so you can meet some new people. Plus, the library is huge.”

He settled back down, his smile warm and wide. “I would like that very much. Though Lloyd, just one thing…”

“Yes?”

“You told me I was going to work with you. Perhaps you could ask me if I’d like to go?”

Right then. “Sorry, that was rude of me. Shaun, would you like to come to work with me tomorrow?”