Malfunction

Chapter Four

Jae searched the room frantically, her eyes darting over the shelves filled with dismembered androids. It seemed like every dark corner was going to jump out at her. She was too scared to move, too scared to breathe. Her back was pressed tightly against the door and she switched her gaze over to an empty shelf where she saw a flash of clothing. A crash quickly ensued and the Android fell out across the cold cement floor, coughing. Clear oil splattered onto the ground from his mouth. Jae took the moment to her advantage and turned back to the wires, her fingers trembling as she unclipped the main power to the door. She tried to connect it to the main junction. If she could just fry it, the door would open automatically. A burst of electricity shot through her fingers and she jerked her arm away, clenching her hand against her burning nerves. She glanced over her shoulder to look at the Android, now hoisting himself up by holding onto a shelf.

"No. No. No. No." Jae turned back to the ID scanner, her breath coming out fast and shallow. "C'mon, c'mon." Her teeth chattered with fear as she clipped the wire onto the small shiny box. This time, she pulled her arm away fast enough so it couldn't electrocute her, and then there was a burst of bright sparkles as it exploded with the sudden rush of power. Jae could hear the door click as the lock slid out of place and she fumbled with the knob, but the Android body-slammed her against the wall before she could open it. She felt the air in her lungs rush from her mouth with the impact and she gasped, breathless.

"Don't move," he demanded and Jae could feel something sharp prick the side of her neck. "Don't move or I'll kill you."

Please," she panted, her voice garbled by the weapon. "Please, let me go." She felt a warm trickle down the side of her neck and then squeezed her eyes shut.

His breath rattled against her ear and there was a moment of silence before the tension on her neck from the weapon loosened. The Android gripped the sharp bolt hard before dropping it to the ground. It clattered to the floor and Jae turned around, too shocked to do anything else. Oil from his mouth was running down his chin and onto his shirt as he groped for the wall, coughing and sputtering.

Jae turned from the incapacitated android and bolted for the door.  

"Silo," he whispered. 

Silo reappeared just as Jae reached the elevator.  January frantically slammed the button. 

"Stop her," he commanded.  

Silo nodded and turned to look at her. With a blink, she cut off the power to the elevator, stopping it in its tracks. 

_________________________________________________________________

Jae frantically looked around in the dark, her breath coming in jagged pants as she fumbled around before pressing each individual button for each floor. 

She couldn't do anything until the backup generator of the building turned on, but she was frantic, trying to pry open the doors of the elevator and bang on the walls. Then she had a sudden thought, What if he could climb walls? 

At that moment, there was metallic scrabbling coming from below her and her breath quickened  as the elevator swayed. Old oil filled her nose and she backed up against the cold wall, her hands trembling. 

There was nothing she could do, nothing she could use as a weapon.

Jae would just have to wait for the android to come to her.