Chapter 9
Scott, Daisy and Skye continued on down the road in the truck, having found a sandwich and some water for Daisy in a lunch bag under the seat. She had swapped spots with Skye and was currently asleep against the door.
“Do you have any idea where you’re going?”
“Only where Evolt tells me.”
“Why are you listening to that thing?” she asked.
“Maybe because since he’s in my head, he can’t lie to me. We can hear each other think.”
“I guess that makes sense.” She said “What’s he thinking about now.”
“I’ve distracted him. Thought of having sex with Daisy and he just curled up in the corner, so to speak.”
“OK… gross…”
“What, you haven’t thought about Jas at all in the past week.”
She sneered at him.
“We’ll get out of this.
After a few more miles, Scott pulled off the road and stopped.
“What’s up?” Daisy asked as she woke up.
“We’re just about there?”
“Where?”
“Relocation Center 201.”
“Why’d you drive us here?” Skye asked, “This seems like a really dumb idea.”
“Because there’s something here we need.” Evolt said as he climbed out of the truck.
The three walked over a small hill, seeing a long row of towers in the distance
“Did they fortify an entire town?” Skye asked.
“Seems like it.” Daisy said.
“Daisy you wait with the truck.” Scott said.
“Look, I’m getting tired of you treating me like this.”
“Daisy…” Evolt interrupted “If they catch you and find out what you are, they will immediately terminate your pregnancy. No question. No tests. Scott is looking out for you and the baby.”
Daisy angrily stomped back to the truck and sat down in the back.
Scott followed her back there.
“Look, if you want to yell at me…” He said “Go ahead. Let me have it.”
“I’ve spent my entire life looking out for myself. I’m not used to having someone constantly looking after me. Let alone constantly telling me to ‘wait here, let me handle this. You can’t do it. Don’t eat that. Don’t touch that. Stay where I can see you...”
“Daisy… OK, first off, half of that I’ve never said.”
“Well, you know what I mean.”
“I do, and I also know what my mom said, about when I was born.”
Daisy looked down at her feet.
“I know this pregnancy is a serious risk.” Scott continued “I also know how badly you want this. How much having a family of your own means to you. That’s why I had them put you on medical leave. That’s why I told you to stay home. That’s why I throw myself in front of you. That’s why I let ET share my head. Daisy… I only want one thing, and that’s for you and the baby to be OK. I’m not doing this because I’m a man.
“I’m doing this because I love you, and if something happened to you,” He started to cry “I’d end up loosing both of you and I don’t know how I would be able to deal with that… especially in my case.
He sat down next to her
“I need you to keep me in check.” He said. “It’s the worst feeling in the world sometimes.”
“What is?”
“It’s hard to describe… you remember that stupid Eddie Murphy movie where he played a person sized space ship with tiny people inside?”
“Vaguely…”
“Imagine… Imagine for a second you were such a tiny person in a human sized suit. And if you wanted to do anything, you had to command the robot suit to do it and the suit didn’t always get it exactly right. That’s how I feel sometimes. Like I know what I’m saying sounds stupid and wrong and I should keep my mouth shut. They always called it a ‘Social deficit”
Daisy shuffled in her seat a little.
“I… I’m sorry I got mad at you.” She said, giving him a peck on the cheek.
‘I hate to interrupt…” Skye said, climbing up to join them, “But I think I heard something.”
The group suddenly heard shouting, followed by a thud of an object landing at their feet.
“God damn it… again?” Scott muttered as the flashbang went off.