Ch 3 Analytics (1)

I woke up in a dark room alone and naked again. If I am not careful I might get a complex over this. I know I sleep soundly most of the time but really? The sheet was arranged with care to cover me again. I stretched and found I was sore in new places. It was not a bad feeling, just new. With a contented sigh I sat up, I could understand why some people fell in love with sex. It would be hard for me to believe it would be as good with a different partner, or a machine.

The light came all the way on. I must have slept later than last time. I could smell the bacon and eggs and looked at the desk. Definitely slept in later. I found the clothes carefully folded on the foot locker and I checked them for damage before putting them back on. Goliath had a good understanding of how strong he was because there wasn't even a pulled thread as far as I could tell anyway. Once I was dressed I ate. It was still warm so I must not have overslept that much.

After eating I used the restroom again. There wasn't a mirror so I just tried my best with my hair without being able to see it. After running water through it and wringing it out I laid back down on the bed and picked up the book I had been reading yesterday. I could have finished the book in just a few hours if I had wanted to but I took my time really reading it. It was only to kill time anyway. It wasn't a bad story.

I had gotten through ten more chapters before I got restless again. Stretching I started to stand up but froze as the door opened. It could be lunch time but I didn't think Goliath would be back for lunch. I finished standing at a measured pace and turned to face the doorway. I was right it was not Goliath.

It was hard not to take a step back as a short blonde man entered the room looking around. He had on glasses, but they didn't look like an aug model. That was strange, I thought eyesight problems were fixed generations ago. The man just stood in the doorway and tilted his head.

"Can I help you?" I didn't like the way he was watching me and it took willpower not to yank the sheet off the bed and cover myself. I wasn't sure he was seeing a woman when he looked at me. It felt more like he saw a problem that he didn't understand and wanted to take apart. Somehow that was scarier than if he had been ogling me.

"2-bit, what are you doing?" The voice came from the hallway and made me feel much better. Goliath wasn't going to let anyone dissect me.

"Change." 2-bit said that like it was the only thing that needed to be said. When Goliath didn't respond, he looked back at me. 2-bit paused as it became clear I didn't understand either. "Plan changed. Ravid cleared leave. Leave now."

Guess that might be why he is called 2-bit. Goliath sighed, "Ok, is that all you are taking, 2-bit?"

2-bit looked down at himself. He had on similar clothes to Goliath but much smaller and no jacket. If he had weapons I didn't see them. "Yes, why?" 2-bit looked back at me like I might know the answer.

"Great I get to guard two non-fighters. Well if we are going to go let's get going. Move 2-bit."

2-bit backed out of the doorway and Goliath looked in at me. His voice stayed hard and his body was tense but his eyes were soft. "Come on, girl."

I moved quickly like I was afraid he might hit me, if I didn't move quick enough. When I got out into the hallway I stayed just out of his easy arm reach. My goal was to keep clear if he wanted his weapons but it also had the effect of making me look cowed by him. I was more careful to keep 2-bit out of reach, but Goliath had said he wouldn't be worried about leaving me with 2-bit.

2-bit just gave me the creeps. Yet he gave Goliath a frown when he saw how I choose to behave before turning and leading the way. I made a metal map of the hallways we used. It was my first time moving through the base while awake. It was hard not to look around but I got a feeling that wouldn't be appreciated so I kept my head down and my eyes on 2-bit's heals as we walked.

It wasn't long before we were in a hanger and then on one of the old air cars. It was a model with manual operation overrides. Goliath ordered me to sit in the back and he tied me to the chair but not tightly. If I struggled hard enough I could pull free but it would take time. Goliath took up a chair facing mine and put on a seat belt. Then he looked over his shoulder and called to 2-bit. "Secured back here."

"Secured back, check." 2-bit replied as he started going through preflight checks. The engines came to life and filled the cab with a loud humming. It would be hard to hear anything over it unless it was right next to you.

Goliath looked at me and then looked up at a spot above the door to my right. I looked at the spot turning it into stretching my neck. Still on camera, don't do anything dumb. That was fine with me, I was getting what I wanted anyway. As 2-bit started the car moving I looked down keeping Goliath in my peripheral but not looking right at him. Which should be what anyone would expect to see.

I focused on what I wanted to do and coming up with ways I might be able to do it. With 2-bit onsite and not monitoring from somewhere else this might be hard, if he was even half as good as Goliath seemed to think he is anyway.