A/N: NOW the story really begins. R&R
Jack and Sahara had snuck out to the yards, despite the fact that it was the middle of the night. She picked her way through the machinery carefully, confused. "Why are we here?"
"To search for DVDs."
Sahara frowned. She had known Jack for only three weeks, but she already could tell when he was lying. "What's the actual reason?"
He hesitated. "Do you trust me, Sahara?"
She considered the question; "Yes."
Jack took a deep breath, turned, and called, "Hey, SABIR!"
There was a moment of silence, and then the bot appeared, trotting towards them.
Sahara screeched, falling back and trying to scramble away. Jack took her hand gently but forcefully, saying, "It's okay. He's not one of them."
"What?" Sahara stared as SABIR approached, and soon he was standing behind Jack.
"What in the name of goodness made you think this was a good idea?" SABIR scolded. Jack glared at him.
"Sahara, calm down. He won't hurt you."
"What are you talking about! He's a bot, Jack! They're all the same!"
"I beg your pardon-" SABIR started, but Jack raised his hand, eyes pleading. SABIR paused, and then said, "I mean no harm, Miss."
Jack slowly eased Sahara to her feet, helping her to approach the bot. She watched SABIR warily.
The bot hesitated, and then bowed. "Good evening; my name is SABIR." He offered his hand.
Sahara wavered, and then took the hand, shivering at the cold metal. "My name's... Sahara Eves."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure's all mine." Sahara leaned back, whispering, "I'm shaking hands with a bot."
"Yes, you are."
"And he's British."
"Yeah, still foggy on that."
Suddenly, a boom echoed. The three looked up, alarmed to see a squadron of bots descending upon them. A beam of light shot from one palm, hitting the area beside Sahara.
Jack pressed his hand to SABIR's reactor, sealing himself inside and in the same movement, leaping off the ground.
"Hide! We'll distract them!" Sahara stared at them in horror, but obeyed.
An explosion echoed behind them. "SABIR! Can you contact them?"
"They said to bring the humans."
"Do they know I'm-"
"No."
"What if we attack them?"
"Technically, I shouldn't exist, so they can't pin it on me."
Jack raised his hand, firing at one. "Element of surprise, bitch!"
"You are so human."
The bots scrambled in alarm, confused. Jack continued firing, diving towards the furnace. "How close can we get without overheating, SABIR?"
" 2 meters."
Jack swooped low, diving into one of the openings. Inside, the floor was made of fire in a dome shaped room. Jack winced. "It's like a sauna."
"You think you're suffering."
"Just hold on, buddy."
Three of the five bots flew after them; Jack glanced up at the wall.
Above them, three sets of gates, barely wide enough for a man, chopped the metal; SABIR realized the plan. "Jack..."
"Kick up the speed!"
The rockets in his feet boosted, and Jack sped up as the bots gained behind them. "Come on," he muttered between his teeth.
A hand grabbed their ankle; Jack cursed, yelling, "Faster!"
One burst of speed sent them through as the gates came down on the bot behind them. Jack cheered, soaring upwards.
"One out of five; a hollow victory."
"Why are you so cynical?" Jack asked, diving towards the control tower.
"Now what are you doing?"
They smashed through the window, and Jack pressed his hand to the computer. "Hack, SABIR."
A minute later, the duo burst through the glass. Jack fired at three more of the bots, who sped after them. Again, they entered the furnace, soaring around the top of the dome. "Go!"
The bot suddenly shot out through a gate, which shut behind them. The bot following hesitated to let the gate chop once more, but the gates never opened again.
"Cooked like Thanksgiving turkeys," Jack laughed.
"Um, Jack?"
"What?"
"We have a problem."
Jack turned to see the last bot retreating.
"How is that a problem?"
"That particular AIR has a heartbeat."
It took Jack a second before he realized. "Sahara!"