Automatic Heritage

Chapter 8: Miracle

"I don't even know what to say to her, Guard. Honestly, I was not expecting this."

Whitney was slumped on the ground with his head and hands between his knees. The Guardian stood over him, choosing a relaxed posture on his staff this time rather than keeping his skills in check as a habit. The meditation circle ignored the two as Guardian started the conversation with him. "She has been through a lot in two days my friend, it could be all of her emotions have come to a head."

Whitney lifted his head and placed them in his hands, slumping forwards to rest them. "Have I not been paying attention to her? I... I feel..."

Guardian patted the top of the pastor's head and gave him a teasing biz. "I didn't see it coming either, give her time, she will come back with a clear head."

The two sat in silence for a while. It had been so quiet that Whitney thought he heard the inner workings of the companions in the meditation circle singing together. The Guardian sat down, placing his staff in front of him. "So... Do you have any names planned?"

As soon as he asked this, multiple heads popped up. The meditation circle quickly became a gossip circle.

"Oh please do tell! I am dying to know!"

"Are you two planning an old human name? Maybe a natural name?"

"I know this is probably too soon to ask, but can I babysit sometime?"

"Please!" Whitney interjected with an exasperated bleep. "We don't even know if my wife has made a decision yet. Can we just wait on her until then?

Triple beeps announced behind the circle, and the whirls of flight motors puttered closer. The pastor knew the sentinels guarding the elevator shaft by sound alone. Leaning back he swatted empty air at them. "And I have heard enough from you two, you no good bucket of bolts."

As soon as he said this, both sentinels' lights turned from green to yellow, causing the group of companions to scatter away from them. Guardian and Whitney brandished their weapons, but the sentinels did not move closer. The rest of the mediation group huddled behind the brave companions, not daring to move closer and trigger a red glare from the elevator guards.

"They are not firing." Guardian pointed out as he glanced down at the sentinels scanning beams on their bodies.

Whitney grimaced as he looked at the Guardian. "Let's keep it that way." Using his stick to defend the group the pastor began to guide the slum's residents away from the elevator shaft, but a big clang from above drew his attention away.

The Guardian did not shift his gaze on the floating drones. "Whitney, what is going on?"

Whitney saw something moving from the top of the wall downwards. Down the shaft. "The elevator is coming down."

"What?" The Guardian almost dropped his staff as he swivels to the group then to the elevator. His eyes became wide, but his orders stayed calm. "Everyone prepare! Be on guard, but don't attack! This is a yellow situation!" As everyone scrambled to prepare, the Guardian turned to see Whitney looking the other way, unmoving. "Whitney?"

"Cyans back!" He bolted, not looking back to the elevator.

"So, what do you know about pregnancy?"

Beryl shook in her seat next to Gwap. The robot always had an intimidating face, much like Seamus', but she was used to his kind of apathy. Gwap, on the other hand, just wasn't a bot she hung out with much, so being in this close proximity to a practical stranger was sensor-wracking.