Stealth 2 - Flight to home

Through my soul

34. Island smell

Keith was diving in the world of his own mind. He wasn't noticing cold walls around him, with even colder air to breath. He wasn't looking at anything, or anyone. He was just leaning on the wall, with his head hidden by his hands, and put on his knuckles. He didn't want to cry, even when he had an urge for it. He hadn't to. He couldn't show his pain now. He will cry when he will see EDI, but not until then.

He didn't raise his head even when door opened and there were footsteps. He just ignored it. And he hoped so much his child is all right. He couldn't let him get hurt anymore. He was his father. He had to protect him. He saw his smile, his bright eyes...

"Keith you are still just sitting here?" He heard this voice again. And he didn't even move. He didn't know what happened with Jacen, but until he will act like this, he won't give him any look. "I have news about your little one. We didn't capture him. He escaped, because Shane screwed it up again." This made Keith look up, and with content grin.

"What did you expect? I told you he isn't stupid."

"No he isn't. And he is a great fighter. You really did a good job raising him. I must admit there is one thing what I like about your creations."

Keith blinked and looked at Jacen. He didn't have in mind talk too much, he just listened.

"Everything what you ever made had your life in it. It felt like every of your creation has your smile. I saw that smile on his face, when I saw videos with him from the ship. He is like you. And that makes me even more want to capture him."

Keith was silent for a while. "Do you even remember when we were friends?"

Jacen didn't thought about it so long, but he just nodded. "Yes."

"So why?"

"Because you created too good form of life to not use it."

"He isn't the only AI on this world."

"Yes. But he could be one of the best." Jacen then looked into his memory, and asked. "Did you really use that mechanical heart system for him?"

Keith's eyes widened, when he got he meant by that. "You can't do this to him-" Keith had to catch the breath in that moment and with painful hissing curled and held his stomach.

"Well looks like poison already began to work. I must tell this to Eddie, when we will finally get a chance to it."

"Don't dare to touch him!" Keith got through his teeth and glared at Jacen.

"Keith you should rather worry about you. You are the one with a poison inside your blood. But now I know what I wanted. That, he has a heart."

\ - \

"Ben wake up. Wake up." Kara was trying to wake her friend, but when he didn't react on her words, or shaking it was making her a little mad. He was just grumbling or content whimpering in his sleep. Something in her mind told her it was nice and cute to see him like that. But she rather threw it away and got ready her hand. This will wake him up. She stretched hand and with one swift movement she slapped his face.

"OOOOUUUCCHH! Why did you do this?"

"Because we need you to wake up." Kara answered and Ben was looking at her with a raised eyebrow. She was checking him with a look and nodded. "You look all right now." She added and Ben blinked. "What did hurt you anyway?"

"I don't know. It came from Eddie."

"You mean he can feel pain and you can feel it too?"

"I think I do. I'm not sure how it's possible, but I can. I will explain it to you later. What will we do next?"

"Elora says she has a plan for us."

Ben blinked with his bright eyes and slowly looked around. Tim with Henry was talking about something. But by Tim's expressions it looked like once again Henry began to talk about erotic stuff. Then he found EDI sitting near the place where Elora had for sure a CPU. And they were talking. Ben never saw EDI talk with another AI. Actually he never saw two AIs together until now. And it seemed they like each other. After all Elora was... female AI. Ben for now didn't know if there is in sphere and essence some difference between male and female AI. But he rather didn't thought about it, when he looked at EDI. And he didn't want to know what they are talking about. Everything deeper about computers made him very often headache. He wasn't good in these things.

"Elora can you now tell us, what have you prepared?" Kara asked the female AI, and immediately got an answer.

"Sure. I am going to leave you on the hidden place, and then I will go in opposite direction. So they will hunt me. I'll borrow Eddie your DNA for a while."

Other AI nodded a bit unsure. "Sure. But how?"

"Wait AIs have a DNA?" Asked Henry shocked and EDI nodded.

"It's not biological like yours, but we have. It's in our essences."

These words made everyone, except Ben raise and eyebrow.

"Essence?"

"I'll explain it too Kara." Ben said and Henry glared at him with sinister grin. "Erm... Same with you Henry." Other man nodded content.

"Eddie let me copy your DNA."

"Do we have to touch each other's essences?" EDI asked a bit hesitating. For some reason he had a little thought Ben was thinking about it too. After all essence was a personal thing for AI, and the most important.

"No. I just need your sphere, and allow me copy it."

EDI looked into his sphere and near the frontier he saw foreign essence of the other AI. Elora seemed she isn't older than him. She looked younger. He got near to the frontier of sphere and touched it. Elora then did the same thing and EDI felt how she is taking a little piece of his DNA. He hissed a little because of that. He was never doing it. And it kind of hurt him. He knew he used a lot of energy yesterday. And he still felt kind weak. But this could get them time and safety. When the process was complete he removed his wing from the sphere wall and lay down.

Elora absorbed all data and checked them. When she was sure they are all acceptable, she nodded.

"Fine. For a day I will have your DNA, so I can get their attention. And I will leave you on the place where you should be safe."

As Elora said they reached a small island. She got them to the edge of the forest, or rather jungle and let them to get out. She knew and saw people were hesitating a little. After all, with her they were safer more than alone. And she was too thinking and hesitating about her plan. Was she really doing a good thing? She will lead them all away, but not for too long. If she won't be really careful they will find them here, even when this was really good place to hide. She must contact the army, anyone to get help to them. She didn't know what happened with the ships, what were supposed to surround their carrier. They just disappeared. And that for sure wasn't random in this moment. But she had to protect them as best, as she could. Captain was counting on her, and she didn't have in mind to fail him. She always had warm feelings to this man.

When they got out Henry looked with unsure look back at her. "Are you sure you will be all right?"

"Yes. Or I'll try my best. I'll get us help."

"So we'll see again." Kara smiled. And when Elora agreed she even smirked. "I'm glad I this time met a female AI."

Ben smiled too, and clapped her on the shell. "Thanks for everything and be careful."

"I will. But you take care about yourself. See ya for now. And good luck." She called and began to sail away again. They were waving with hands and then headed into the jungle. But before EDI could join them, he noticed Elora returned. "Eddie I forgot to tell you something."

"Yes?"

"You have the same DNA, like your creator. I didn't want to wait to tell you this." She said him and EDI's eyes widened, but before he could say something she was faster. "See ya, maybe we will a date one day, when we will meet again."

"But wait-"

Before he managed to reply, she again disappeared. And he was just again confused about everything. Why did he have...

"Date... Hmm I have more important things to do." He said to himself, like there was someone who should listen to him. "But..." He stopped when he realized her words. He had his creator's DNA, but why? Main matter was how? He stopped on these thought, but he was brought back to reality by Henry.

"Come on Tin Man."

Elora made her direction and she was lucky they immediately found her signal and EDI's DNA on her. Actually she did herself more visible for them. And all ships and planes got after her. So the plan was working. But not everyone trusted one way. And Shane didn't. He looked around the sea in the warm light of sun and then headed in opposite direction, than others.

Just as Elora said they were safe there, they hided in the jungle. But it still wasn't the best thing. They all were thinking if Elora will make it, and if they won't really find them. It was some unpleasant waiting. But while that Kara didn't want to just sit down and do nothing. She found her way through the jungle. And then she discovered a very beautiful place. The island had a small place where jungle didn't reach. There was a tall grass, and it was a cliff. And when she entered that place she had on eyes a beautiful sunset. But she had in mind; it wasn't safe to keep out of jungle. So she wanted to go back. This was crazy. She discovered so beautiful place and she even couldn't enjoy it.

"So here you are." She was quite surprised when she saw Ben coming out of jungle too.

Kara was watching him come close and then shook her head. "Where are others?"

Ben smiled with warm smile. What was in the last time very common on his face. "Henry is looking for some fruit."

"Fruit?"

"Oh my, I almost had you stupid banana!" There came a loud sound from the jungle and Kara now nodded.

"I see."

"Oh this is ridiculous. I can't get even a small banana without getting myself into lianas, leaves and..." Henry grumbled when he was upside down and wrapped in the lianas. "Hey Tim, come and help me."

Mechanic came on Henry's call. And he rolled eyes a little when he saw how his friend is hanging down on the tree. But he rather didn't ask. After all it wasn't his business; he just had to get Henry out of the tree.

"Just cut it out Tim." Henry pleaded and Tim took out his little knife and did so. Henry fell down on the ground and rubbed his head. "Ouch. Nothing like this happened to me in the Brazil. And I was there for two years."

"You should be glad we are alive now." Tim replied and blinked confused on Henry's curious look. "What is it?" He asked and Henry grinned. This wasn't gonna be good.

"Tim do you like snakes?"

"Not so much..." Tim swallowed hard. He knew where this was going. And when he turned the head, he was together with Henry facing the big snake with opened mouth. Tim with pounded eyes sneaked and hided behind is friend, and Henry slowly gave a signal to move back.

"Maybe this one isn't poison." He whispered, but it didn't calm Tim down. After all being wrapped and squished wasn't too best choice. So they were slowly disappearing. When snake suddenly began to like them more and it began to follow them, after that loud scream was heard and they raced back to their place. It even made EDI raise a head up to see what's happening, and when he saw two humans and snake coming around, he just blinked.

"You forgot not to move when you are near wild animal?" He asked.

"Sorta!" Henry yelled, when they ran on other side.

"This one isn't poison." EDI said calm and both Henry and Tim stopped on the place. "You humans are so strange."

"This place is so amazing."

"Yeah. But you forgot about something." Ben was together with Kara sitting in the grass and watching the sunset. They were near the trees, so they weren't showing them selves too much. And she now turned to him.

"What?"

"You forgot to be mad at Eddie and me."

"Ben you are acting like we are on holiday. But we aren't, remember that. We are just waiting for help. And if army will find your little AI friend, then you should be more worried about it. I just wanna help Keith and our carrier. We can't forget why we are here Ben. And I would be glad to know where we exactly are."

He was looking at her with a simple nod and remembered on Keith. Hoping he is all right.

In the sunset light appeared a white flash. Shane finally got to the island, and was very confused when all his sensors on the ships didn't get anything. But he sensed there is something. So he took the binoculus and looked on the island. Something in his head didn't get the thought there was something to look at, so he zoomed his vision and his jaw dropped.

He found them! Now he was thinking about if they are really that stupid, or that AI what brought them here wasn't just enough experienced. But it didn't matter. He handed out his gun and aimed it on the cliff. After all he was always good sniper. He aimed and saw Ben with Kara sitting there. They were hided good, no one should notice them. But Shane was sometimes paranoid, so it didn't go well for him. And he chose Kara to go first. He began to pull the trigger.

EDI suddenly began to move. His eyes flashed open; he stood up and began to rush through the jungle. He felt it, felt it coming. He had to save them! He was using all his strength to move faster. Then he finally reached the end of jungle, and jumped right in front of Kara. Both humans looked at him with shock, and through Ben's mind flashed and images. He saw it too!

"Lay down!" He dragged Kara down to the ground in one moment. Then he heard a sound of a bullet touching EDI's metal body. It jumped off, and EDI just glared and then came closer to the edge of cliff. He immediately noticed Shane. And he glared on him with a curious look. Shane put the gun down and looked better at AI standing on the cliff. Now he finally saw him clear, his prey.

He knew it's a beautiful look, and beautiful machine. And now they finally met. Face to face. Even with this distance. He wanted to grab his little computer, to contact others. When there was a woman call.

"Eddie he mustn't contact anyone! Do something!" Kara called and EDI looked at her shocked. She never wanted help from him. And now she was commanding him to do it. "We are here because of you! So take care about it if you can!" He took it like the order. And before Shane could contact someone his little computer collapsed under EDI's stronger mind. It shut down, and didn't want to turn on again.

"Damn it. I hate when AIs are doing something like this. This is my seventh computer what ended like this! Do you even know what it is for me to still get new ones! Do you?" Shane was screaming on all of them, and now they felt a little ashamed.

"Well now you did something right." Admitted Kara and when Ben saw EDI is about to jump down from the cliff, he stopped him.

"I wanna go with you." He told his AI and EDI after while nodded. He let Ben to grab him around neck and then they both together jumped down from the cliff.

"No Ben, Eddie!" Kara called after them and got to the edge of cliff. When she saw them again they were already in the water. EDI took them up on water table again and pulled Ben closer to him, and then they headed to the boat. "Go on boys. Go on." Kara whispered and watched them both.

Shane smirked, when he saw it. They were making it so easy for him.

"Eddie let me take him down by myself. This is one who attacked you." AI's eyes widened and then again got tight, with angry growl.

"We'll do it both." EDI said and then they had to dodge one of next bullets. EDI took them underwater and continued. When they got to the boat, he accelerated and jumped from the water together with Ben and they landed on the boat.

EDI immediately jumped on Shane and pulled him down with his weight, glaring into his cold eyes. "Where do you keep my creator?" He asked with harsh voice, and he wanted answer.

Shane just breathed out, and smirked. "Oh I know where, but do you recognize this?" With one hand, he managed to get EDI into electric pulsing lasso, and trap him by his neck into it. He used that, EDI was looking into his face wasn't noticing anything around. Now he was screaming in pain. "Yes this is the same electricity, what I used on you last time. Enjoy it. Feel it hit your CPU." Shane grinned. But then he realized something. Where was that pilot? There wasn't anyone on the boat. He began to look around, and he began to have unpleasant feelings of this. He tightened his grip around lasso and EDI screamed again.

In one moment the tight grip around his neck stopped, when Shane was suddenly dragged down into the water. EDI lay down, feeling dizzy, and waited for his vision to become normal again. And while that he got rid of that lasso around his neck. Then he lay down again, feeling sore and looked on water. "Ben... Be careful."

"Man you really are jerk! Didn't you see I was just having fun!"

"Torturing my friend isn't any fun! You sadistic bitch!" Ben screamed back at Shane, and other man in one moment stopped and just stared with a dumb look.

"I'm not sadistic, I just do my work. And my boss will not be very pleased if I won't get this AI to him."

"You know where Keith is. What is this all about?" Ben asked in calmer tone and Shane just snorted.

"I don't have any reason to tell it to you." Right in that moment he got hard punch into his face. Ben gripped his arms around Shane's neck and tightened his grip.

"Where is my friend? Tell me you fucker!" Ben's voice was cold and ruthless. EDI felt it. He was looking at them, he felt Ben's anger.

"Don't worry you'll join him." Shane got out of himself and he decided to take out his last ace. He knew he can't capture EDI again. He will need help once again, so he will return to the base. But he had a thing to do here. He took out the small gun, and with grin shoot Ben's left arm.

EDI's eyes widened. He felt and saw the red blood coming out. Kara with Tim and Henry were shocked when they heard a shoot. And they immediately wanted to know what is happening. And Ben screamed in pain.

That was exactly what Shane needed. Ben now tasted new intensive pain his arm and that made him let go Shane. But then he heard a splash when EDI got into the water. He hadn't with him any electric weapons, so he just wanted to get to his boat and escape. With that he will for sure return. EDI wanted to attack him, but he pointed his gun again on Ben. Actually he could kill him now. But he wanted more fun from the battle.

"If you will touch me, I will hurt him even more, and you don't want it." He heard EDI's low growling. But that was a good idea; he could now make EDI to do anything he wanted. "Get in the boat and be nice, and he will live and be ok. So be nice little AI."

EDI's glare didn't change.

"I said get in." He repeated his command and he didn't like where AI's acting was going. He began to feel something strange. AIs were smart, almost genius. And he didn't like that glare, what EDI had. "I said-"

Suddenly without any warning he was thrown back on his boat by strong wave of blue light. He coughed when he fell down on the boat and his eyes widened open. "No. no, no, no. You can't use energy way yet." He turned back to EDI and yelled. "You are too young for it!"

Shane was quite annoyed by that, EDI didn't notice him anymore. Rather he was ignoring him. "Why won't you kill me? Others would do it! Remember I attacked you then and now too! Why won't you kill me?"

"I don't care about what happens with you. You're not important for me. Now leave" EDI answered and he was swimming back to Ben.

Shane felt touched by this and he aimed his gun again. While that EDI got to his injured friend and pulled him close with wings, helping him to lean on him. Ben was hissing, and shivering because of the pain and cold water in his injured arm. He clung to EDI, like he was his way from a pain. Shane was watching it with pissed look and aimed gun. But he didn't shoot, and after while he was rather watching it.

"How do you feel?" EDI asked concern and Ben hissed.

"Cold..."

"I must take you back on the island before you will lose too much blood. Or even attract sharks with it."

Ben chuckled weakly. "No shark is match for you Eddie."

Now Shane blinked, when he was watching and listening to it. They were... really friends. He heard about this bond between human and AI, but he never saw it so close, and after while he snorted and gave the gun down.

"I'll leave this time. But next time we meet, I won't let you live." He told them and them both glared at him. When boat began to disappear in the sunset, EDI began to swim back.

He was trying to swim fast, but he was still watching Ben if he is hanging on him. He was helping him to hold onto him, and he always pulled pilot close again. He had to hurry.

"Eddie..."

"Just hold on Ben. We're almost there. Just hold on." AI said and Ben looked at him. When pain again hit him, he felt EDI twitch too, but it didn't take long. Ben was a solider; he was used to get hurt. But this wasn't really pleasant. And he couldn't swim like this. And holding up on EDI wasn't too very easy for him. But he knew he will do it. But when he closed eyes, he felt like all he wants is to sleep. And he stopped to hold on to EDI.

AI saw it and he immediately pulled Ben close again, slapping his face. "Wake up Ben! You mustn't sleep now! I need you to stay awake!" Ben opened eyes again and nodded.

"I will..."

EDI again took him close and continued in the way. He felt Ben's pain, and too how much this is making him tired. And he began to feel it on himself too. But then something appeared on the water in front of them. And EDI almost thought it's some illusion.

"Ben! Eddie! Here! Come here boys!" Henry was swimming to them, and when he finally got close, he helped Ben to hold on and they were faster nearing to the island. EDI was very thankful Henry for this, because this gave them more time. He was really happy when they got to the place where Elora left them. There was waiting Kara with Tim.

They got out of water, and Kara gasped when she saw Ben's bloody arm.

"Get him to our place."

She said and EDI asked again. "Can I help with something?"

This time Kara nodded. "Yes this time you can."

EDI felt relief he can finally help and he tiredly lay down to his friend, covering him with a wing.

Well, they are on island. Time to get started the Last survivor thing XD lol just joking.