Page 14 of Nolan
“Thank you,” he says quietly, “for saving my mama.”
Suddenly, nothing else matters.
“You’re welcome,” I tell him as he gets called away from me and scampers off to join the rest of his family.
I was programmed for this job, this life.
And occasionally, just like that, I’m reminded why it matters.
When we get back to the station, I spend a few hours in the early morning recharging my battery. At six a.m., I’m up and operative again. As though she senses I was thinking of her all night, I receive a text from Mia at 6:27.
Hi! I’m awake, and I just got out of the shower.
I try not to imagine her naked body soaking wet, but it happens anyway. Part of me wonders if that was her intention. I decide to play it safe and not focus too hard on it.
Good morning! Did you sleep well?
I slept like a rock. How’s the station?
Had a fire a few hours ago.
Oh my god, are you and Apollo okay?
I’m always okay. Apollo’s fine. There were some injuries but hopefully nothing serious. Everyone survived.
Thank god. Do you always get calls like that?
Sometimes it’s more like a medical emergency, if we’re the closest people to it. It’s not always a fire. But yeah, I’d say we get a few calls every weekend, at least.
That sounds really stressful. For people, anyway. I know sometimes it stresses Apollo. Does it stress you, too? In the same way, I mean. Sorry, I’ve never talked to a bionic before. I’m not sure how your programming works.
I wouldn’t say it stresses me in the same way, it’s what I was built for.
I’m intrigued. She’s worried about my stress levels. That’s the one thing nobody asks me. It takes something extremely serious to worry me, and it’s rare that happens. But since I’m a fire bionic, well, everyone just assumes I’m hunky fucking dory all the time.
I wish that were the case. But I’d rather not get deep into those feelings right now, or make Mia worry more.
It’s not bad. Don’t worry.
Do you prefer quiet, or do you like when things are busy?
Both have their merits, but I prefer when I’m not sent out on the job. It means nobody’s in danger, and that’s the best scenario. So being bored is a good thing.
I like that.
I try to think of how best to broach my dilemma. How she has my gratification drive so tangled up, I feel as though I could run from one side of the continent to the other on a single battery charge. But that might scare her. Best not to lead with that for now.
That being said, her brother—my best friend—is a real issue. And one I can’t ignore.
By the way, I should let you know the guys here have a rule about keeping our distance from each other’s families. If he finds out we’re talking, he might not appreciate it.
She responds quickly.
I’m not going to blab. But I don’t think I like that rule. I mean, I guess I get it—don’t eat where you shit, stuff like that—but what if you really feel a connection with someone?
She sends a follow-up thought.
He didn’t make it up just now, did he?
