Human

Chapter 2

The drive to the Institute of technology is uneventful. At least, that is the way it usually is. I couldn't help but notice Firefox constantly looking to our rearview. A few days prior, there was a black van following us for a good fifteen minutes. It was strange to say the least but I didn't think anything of it.

"Something wrong Foxy? You seem rather anxious."

She shook her head. "I am not quite certain if we are being followed or not. I suggest that you remain cautious however. Other than that, I believe I am being paranoid."

I shrugged and kept driving. Not much longer, just a few miles more. It's finally beginning to be light outside and traffic is slowly picking up and will eventually climax into the morning rush. I keep driving the last mile and as I look forward there is a traffic signal. And you wouldn't believe what car was waiting for the green light. That same black van. Tinted windows so dark you can't see squat inside.

"Hey Foxy? Do a memory recall and see if that is the same vehicle or not will ya?"

"Very well. Optical object scan initiated… Strange. I have concluded that it is the same vehicle as before. Except now we are following them."

I think a bit harder as we catch up and stop just mere feet from the back of the van.

"Evan, I have a very bad feeling about this" Firefox has a concerned yet unreadable expression on her face. The moment she says this, the unthinkable happens. The van's passenger door opens and a man with a mask. Upon closer inspection it looked to be some sort of gas mask and he pulled out a pistol.

"Evan, I am detecting an immediate threat. Would you like me to terminate the aforementioned threat?"

"That would be great…" The man fires and the bullet hits Foxy right in the face yet ricochets and she seems more unfazed. Pissed would be a better way to put it.

"Proceeding with directive 86. Protect the user in the event of a life threatening situation." She immediately shoves open the door and the man suddenly looks shocked. As soon as she gets out, the mysterious man gets back into the van and they drive off. I grab my phone and call Sam. It rings and she picks up after a brief moment.

"Yo Sam."

"Hey what's up?"

"Um, how do I put this?" I just realized that my heart was beating out of my chest. "Uh...I was almost shot."

"Wait what?! Where are you?!" Oh I pitied the people who started this crap. No one messed with me and avoided Sam's wrath. I am slowly but surely calming down. I find myself still stopped at the traffic light. The Institute in sight just to the right off the next street. Luckily no one is around or else there would have been a scene.

"I am fine Sammy. Just quite a bit shook up is all. I am at the Institute. If anything it's Foxy you should be worried about." Now that I think of it, why in the hell is she bulletproof? Strange.

"Should I tell the professor Sam?" I am unsure of what I should do, quite frankly at all. This is an awkward situation that I am in.

"I don't know dude. I would but that is just me. After that I'd look for them and kick their sorry arses." Yep. Classic Sam.

"I won't. I am still alive. That's the important thing. The bullet was nowhere close to hitting me. But I will be taking a few days off. I'll just say I'm sick or something." I hear a sigh from the other end.

"Alright Evan. Just drop by our place after class. I'll be more calm after I see you. Laura is probably the same way."

"I will. I promise." I say a final goodbye and hang up. The reason I am not more shaken up than I am is the fact that Stockton isn't the safest place to live. Crime is at an all time high anyways. Just exacerbates the problem. We pull off the right shoulder and into the Institute's parking lot where we then find a parking space. Granted, not many cars since it's 5 AM. Late. Again.

"You ok Fire?" I look to my right as we get out of the car and make my way to the front door. She seems calm. As usual. I am not surprised to be honest.

"Structurally yes. Mentally not so much. Even I was startled. What were those people? Hitmen? Assassins? I suppose that I myself being a browser don't know the answer. I have run facial recognition and nothing. I believe I am feeling what you humans call frustration?"

I smile just a little bit. I walk over to her and kneel down to her level. Which is really shoulder height for me. God I hate being short. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you Foxy. I can't say I fully understand what you are feeling and all." She seems rather apathetic and smirks. Huh.

"It is rather fine. Now whoever did that or sent those people, if I get my hooves on them, I am afraid the same can't be said for them."

"That's my Foxy." I playfully ruffle her mane and we make our way to the front door and head inside. To say the Institute was extravagant would be a pretty good way of describing it. It looks almost strange at first but makes sense being in the much more developed city of Lodi. The walls are made of marble and furnished with comfortable looking chairs for studying. Almost like a library rather than a college. However the much bigger library is towards the back of the facility. As I have done for a year now, I make my way to the desk towards the left where a woman is reading a book. How ironic. Her name was Jenny. We don't get along all the time, no bad blood mind you. Just the occasional disagreement. She looks up as me and Firefox approach.

"Hi Evan. Nice to see you as usual." Her own Opera browser construct appears from behind Jenny and smiles at me and Foxy. Just a little bit. Opera constructs tend to be more professional and reserved.

"The feeling is mutual Jen. Here for the 4:45 lecture in computer science with Professor Jackson." Jenny seems confused.

"Really? May I ask what has made you so late?"

"Just personal matters." Jen's Opera looks at me incredulously.

"Is that so Evan? You are twenty three minutes late compared to your usual twelve." I really don't want to get into this right now. I'm just glad Professor Jackson is so lenient with me. I am always late but also one of his brightest students.

"It is. I just want to head in." Jenny looks at me with a neutral expression and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out what looks like a coin along with my typical lanyard from her desk's bottom compartment.

"What is this?" I take both items and study the coin. It seems to be made of chrome and has an "M" engraved on it.

"Let's just say it will be useful later." Jenny simply looks at me as if she has done this hundreds of times before.

"Um...thanks I guess. A literal strange I'll admit." She giggles a bit. "Trust me Evan. It isn't anything illegal or something like that."

That would be easier said than done. The oppressive government has been cracking down hard on illegal activities of all kinds. Longer prison sentences, as if they weren't long enough, harsher laws though that is the lesser of two evils. You get the point.

"I'll see ya later?" I ask Jenny. She gives a simple yes and I head up the shiny marble stairs past her desk and make my way to lecture room 11A. You see there are two sides to the Institute. A rooms and B rooms. A on the left and B on the right. Easy. I sigh and with Firefox next to me, I open the door and make our way inside.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You'll be fine son."

"How? I have never seen a world so corrupt and keen on ruining itself. I don't even think that we are capable of saving it."

"But you are capable of protecting Evan, Laura and Sam. You are more than strong enough. Now spread your wings and fly."

"I will. Goodbye mother."

"Goodbye my son…"