The Fourth Law

Chapter 14, Part 2

Kyle Stephens sat in his sedan, his tablet now resting on the dashboard. Polite enough young man, he thought. And, right after his talk with Thaad, an image of Ai appeared, informing him that they were napping and would see him tomorrow. The image of her was like a computer graphic from ten or fifteen years ago. If these really were AIs – and he'd caught hell from Thaad about using that term – you'd think that they'd render their images a little better.

"'Machine civilization,'" he said aloud to himself. Existing everywhere and nowhere. The part about the Laws surprised him; whoever had programmed them knew Asimov. That fourth law was something new; he'd not read anything like that as a boy.

Seven of them, he thought. He took a few moments to rummage through the files next to him. Ah... what Ai had said in the hospital when at first they tried to keep her from Lily? They can control power grids. What else? He shivered a little. What couldn't they control?

His phone vibrated again and he ignored it, again. Undoubtedly one of the President's flaks wanting to know when the cute robot would be in Austin for the presser. He groaned. "That cute robot is more dangerous than the nukes we salvaged from Fort Hood!" And they want her standing right next to the President of the Republic of Texas for a press conference! How in the world was he going to explain this?

Through Ai, Lily knew that he was still in town. Why he didn't come back to bother them was a mystery. The important thing was that it was time to go home! She and Ai waited at the ER's covered entrance for only a few minutes before Jake Fitzhugh drove up.

"Mornin', barely, ladies! Y'all ready?" Lily eased into the passenger seat in the cab, but Ai insisted on riding in the truck bed.

"A close to this story," she'd told Lily. Lily hoped that she didn't get her white sundress, which was a gift from the hospital, dirty.

Jake hummed to himself and seemed to be pleased at some private joke. So long as it got her out of that place and back home, Lily didn't much care. And to think that she had to come back to work there next week! Arrgh! It was about at that moment that she noticed the first group by the side of the road. Maybe that's why Jake was driving so slowly? Then, the signs:

"Get Better, Lily!"

"We Love You!"

"We (heart) Lily & Ai!"

"Jake?"

"Miss Barrett?" He was failing at trying not to laugh.

"Who put them up to this?" Many were waving. She guessed it'd be polite to wave back.

"Miss Barrett, you're not from here, so'd you not know just how decent most folks about here are." Jake said, driving even slower through town. "An outsider moves here, working to be a nurse, and takes care of our orphans from the Breakup?" He shook his head. "You'uns just don't see how much we all have appreciated that!"

He stopped at one of the functioning lights.

"Everybody knew whose daughter you were before you'd unpacked a bag," he said, keeping his eyes on the road. "But when everyone saw how those kids at St. Ed's turned around... well, who can choose their parents?"

He drove on.

"This here... incident... made quite a few realize how... shabby they'd been toward you'uns."

Lily kept waving with her left hand; she used her right to wipe her eyes. A glance back showed her dear friend smiling and waving. She's their real hero.

"And now," he finished, "they've a chance to fix all that." He finally looked at her. "Rest assured, Miss Barrett, we'll not let any strangers near you nor the kids, ever again!"

The people on the road thinned as they approached the orphanage, but there was a bunch at the open gate. When they stopped Ai deftly hopped down and helped Lily out of the cab. Many were calling and waving. She saw Carol on the steps to the Office – with her tea – smiling as well.

Oh. And him, too.

"Miss Barrett! Can we get a statement, please?" Wayne called from just off their property. She sensed the hand of Mrs. Lanning in that.

"Can you help me over there?" She asked Ai. Ai held her left arm with hers and put her right about her. Amazingly strong, Lily thought, as she walked to the open gate.

"I don't want to keep everyone from their families and work, but thanks so much for coming to see me back home." She took a breath and went on. "As was pointed out to me recently, I wasn't born here, nor raised here. I don't even talk like you...y'all do. But this town is my home, this country is my home. I can't change that any more than I can change my last name."

"Thanks to everyone for seeing me home like this, and, more importantly, thank you for welcoming my beloved friend, Ai." There were a few cheers. At least we know who the popular one is!

"I've been away for too long now, and need to take care of these kids, so again, thank you very much for everything!" She thought of Carol. "And remember, St. Edward's Home for Children always accepts donations of food and clothing!"

Her head drooped; she was tired.

"Ai?" she whispered.

"Lily?"

"Bed. Help."

But something was in their way.

"Y'all shall not pass," Carol Lanning said simply. Lily was starting to sweat from fatigue and Ai again toyed with the idea of creating her own 'Combat Mode.'

Carol touched Ai's shoulder. "I know she has to rest, and I'll help you, but for just a few minutes, all the children are in the chapel."

Ai considered this. "On one condition."

"Name it."

"I pray, too."

"My dearest Ai, I wouldn't have it any other way."

Carol had originally planned for the children to each welcome back Lily in turn, but could already see that she was overdue for a rest. Even so, a quick word with God was worth a little suffering, in her mind.

"Children! Miss Barrett has come back to you!" she announced as they entered.

Everyone clapped and cheered. Erik made a theatrical sigh, but went no further when Karl looked at him and traced a line across his neck with his index finger.

"But, she has to rest! Let us pray the Our Father for her...'Our Father, who art..."

Ai was almost carrying Lily at this point. She did not join them, as she did not see how Shiotsuki-sama could do anything to help her friend. In the brief silence when they all finished, she spoke clearly.

"Dear Lily's god, this is Ai, again. Once more, acting on the assumption that Lily is correct, I would like to..." Her voice caught.

In microseconds she'd run diagnostics. Nothing. What was that?

"...like to thank you for Lily. I love her so much. Goodbye." Without a glance to Lanning nor the children, she picked up the now dozing young woman and carried her back to her room.

There, aware of her friend's modesty, she stripped her as best she could, then eased her into her bed. She paused.

She'd sleep better alone. But she'll panic if she wakes and I'm not there.

Ai sat on the bedside, stroking Lily's hair. Dearest friend, please look beyond this construct! So long as we want, I will always be with you.

Making up her mind, she doffed her clothes,put on the camisole she'd been given and slowly climbed into bed next to Lily.