Everything was going according to plan for a while. Then it all came unglued. Karen's lawyer located them in one of the interrogation rooms. Loran was furious. How could this guy be waiting for them before they got there? "I’m telling you counselor. Stay out of this. I will slap you with a federal suit for obstruction of justice."

Rajael stared in wide-eyed shock at Karen and David. Finally, he found his voice. "I don't think you understand Mr. Nicker. I have a habeas corpus for the release of one Karen Ann Long and one David Allen Beckworth. Either you charge them formally or release them. There won’t be any holding them for forty-eight hours while you decide if you have anything on them or not."

Loran didn't plan on formally charging them. Paper work leaves trails. He didn't want anyone knowing where they went. This guy was a pain in the ass. "I’ll charge them with conspiring to overthrow the government."

"Won't fly Mr. Nicker. You have no evidence. You destroyed a commercial building, private property, brutalized my two clients, and you have squat. The warrant you used to get into Commercial Technologies is worthless. You gave unsubstantiated information to the judge to obtain your warrant. You are out on a limb with this one. I’m about to saw it off with you still clinging to it if you don't give me my two clients. Let me explain it to you in language you can understand Mr. Nicker."

Rajael pointed toward Jeff who was curled up in a chair. He didn't look so good. "You and Mr. Owen are in deep shit. You gentlemen from the Secret Service have screwed up royally. Do you get my meaning?"

Damn lawyers were the ruin of the nation. Loran looked at Jeff. He wasn't any help. He was in too much pain to care either way. "I plan on taking these two back to Washington for interrogation. I can't give you any information because it’s top secret."

Rajael wasn't dissuaded. He waved papers under Loran's nose. "Now I know you boys think you ship a lot of water when you move. You believe people are supposed to dance to your tune. You probably think because you’re dealing with a backwater country boy you don't have to worry about the legalities of the law. Let me assure you my habeas corpus came straight from a federal judge. I knew you could care less about our local judge. This judge likes to eat people who don't follow the law. It makes his day to reel in some Washington bureaucrat."

"You move my clients out of this jail without an extradition order and I will have you locked up yourself." He took a long hard look at Karen and felt hate toward the men who had done this. There was nothing Rajael wanted more than to have Loran and Jeff pay for this travesty. Justice would have to wait. Getting Karen and David out of these men's grasp was his first priority.

"You know Karen and David aren't going to waive their extradition rights. You know you won't get that order. You may either stay here until I get you in the cooker. Or..., you may leave empty handed like a dog with his tail between his legs."

Loran took the papers from Rajael. They were legal. Miserable lawyers were the downfall of the nation. They didn't have the slightest idea what national security was all about. It would be best to let this drop and come back and pick up these two under more auspicious terms. Next time, he and Jeff would pick the android and the doctor up at their homes without a warrant. It was what they should have done this time. No witnesses, no paper work, no problems. In the interest of national security some things were permissible.

He took the handcuffs off David and studied Karen as he removed her handcuffs. When he came back she would be the one they picked up first. If anything went wrong they would have the android. Surely the lab boys could duplicate this android if they had her for study. He would handpick his own men next time around. The agents from other branches weren’t dependable. He would put a note in agent Clark's and agent Donald's personnel folders. They were unreliable as agents.

"I suggest you two don't try and leave the country. We’ll see who the big eagle is around here. This isn't over yet. After we get through sifting though your labs we’ll have enough evidence to make both of you wish you had never plotted against the government."

Rajael motioned for Karen and David to follow him. Government men who were out of control were hard to reason with. It would be better to get both of them out of this man's sight as quickly as possible.

David waited on Karen but she stood there, never moving. It worried him. He had seen her close to this kind of mental state before. She had retreated in on herself. When she did she left him and everyone else behind. Henry was no longer available to make it right and pull her out of this. Loran and Jeff made sure of that. Could he bring her back without Henry's help? For the first time David realized how much Henry and Karen had meant to each other.

He put his arm around her shoulders and gently coaxed her toward the door. "Karen, we need to go. Karen? Honey?"

Like a zombie, Karen allowed David to guide her from the room before her mind started to focus on the real world again.. She had no idea where she was. She was fortunate. Her mind had taken a break and saved her from a serious mental breakdown. Some never come home after being abused like Karen was. If anyone besides David had suspected what was going on in her mind they would have called her psychotic or schizoid. They would have suggested years of psychological evaluation and care to stop her mind from disconnecting from the real world. In the far east they would have said she accomplished what a lot of people study a lifetime to do and never achieve. When it is impossible to alter the events, the body and mind can take a lot more abuse if they don't have to tolerate each other screaming in pain by refocusing and reinforcing pain on one another. They would suggest a teacher be used to help guide her in this higher experience. It was extremely dangerous for the mind to do what hers did without putting out markers to find the way back. Was she crazy or gifted? She would be put to the test in the months ahead.

David walked her out of the interrogation room. With David’s gentle touch and tender voice Karen begin remembering. Slowly it was coming back to her.., the fire, the explosion, her life’s work. She didn't want to believe they destroyed over fifteen years of research and hard work. Fifteen years of her life was in ashes. They killed Henry with no remorse. A few stupid government men. Didn't she live in a democracy where one was innocent until proven guilty? Henry was murdered. His only crime? He was a machine. It didn't make them any difference if he could think or analyze problems. They killed him because he wouldn't defend himself. He could have killed all of them in less than a second. But he didn't! They were murderers. She would never convince a court to believe her. Her Henry was gone.

Tears began to trickle down her cheeks as she held onto David's arm. He put his arm around her to offer support. He was relieved beyond comprehension when she started crying. It meant she was with them again. She had worried him more than he would ever let her know when she spaced out.

Rajael never knew he wasn’t Karen’s only chance to be free of Loran. Randy was waiting in the lobby. One way or another Randy wasn’t letting Loran and Jeff leave the city with Karen and David. Randy was willing to let Rajael take first shot at the situation. Randy’s eyes narrowed to slits as he took a long hard look at her. Chills of cold hard anger ran down the nape of his neck. Ed and Billy had filled him in. But for the first time in a long time, it shocked him to see what his own government was capable of.

Randy took a second look at David. He was bruised and battered all over. They didn’t take him down to the showers to be cleaned up. He still had blood all over him. Obviously David had given a pretty good accounting of himself. Randy’s estimation of David’s integrity just doubled. He liked this boyfriend of Karen’s. For a medical doctor David sure proved he wasn’t a pansy when it came to getting into the thick of a fight.

Randy stepped out in front of them. He nodded toward David. "I need to talk to her. Would you leave us alone for a couple of minutes?"

As Rajael hesitated David nodded his head. “It’s okay Randy is on our side.”

Immediately David realized what he had said. He begin to wonder where Randy and his men were when Karen had needed them. He looked over at Randy with questions in his eyes.

“I did everything I could to get to her before Loran did. I’ll explain later David.” It was if Randy knew the question before David had thought it.

David looked at Karen and then back toward Randy. It was an acceptable answer for the time being.

David and Rajael walked out to the car as Randy led Karen to a cubicle in the wall. He slipped a hooded coat around her shoulders. "You need to know something. It's important to me. I didn't accidentally get hired to look after you. I’m part of a government agency who investigates things like corruption in the government. It's one of the things we take care of. We’re kind of like the government accounting office only in a different way. Very few people know we exist. It makes our job a lot easier. We do private security to look legit. I think your Henry was the one who contacted our agency and gave us the job at Comm Tech. It’s my hunch he wanted us to know about you before anyone else did. I think I was supposed to keep someone like Jeff or Loran from doing exactly what they did. He tried to give me time to understand him. I was too slow. Henry suffered the consequences."

"Agents Loran and Jeff were lose guns. They took this upon themselves to see what you and David were building. I have no idea what they were after. I don't think it was Henry. It had to be something else but I haven't figured out what. Maybe they were just fishing to see what they could come up with? I don't think so. It couldn't have been David's DNA programs because it was your lab they wanted into. I suspect it was your programs they wanted. Anyway it doesn't matter. They’ll receive orders to check out a security leak and drug problem in Columbia. They won't be coming home."

After looking at Karen, Randy decided he was the one to meet Loran and Jeff in Columbia. He wanted this assignment more than he had wanted anything in a long time. Someone was always beating up Karen when he was supposed to be protecting her. It was time to reverse the trend. He would have this assignment one way or another. He needed this. It was time to extract a little blood for all the wrongs he had let slip by. His boss might not like it but how do they say it in Russia? 'Tough.' Same way we say it here.

"One last thing before I go. The government leaves people who are high profile figures alone. Bob Kincaid has arranged for you to start modeling around the world. After he gets through with you, no one in their right mind would think about antagonizing you. If you ever feel like it you can go back to building computers. Next time you won’t have to worry about the government charging through your lab."

He put his hand on her shoulder. He felt her give under his hand. He moved it down to her waist to help support her. "I'm sorry. I would like to be your security if you ever need any again. I don't make the same mistakes twice. I’m more than sorry I let anyone get to you Karen. Loran and Jeff wouldn't have touched you if Henry hadn't intervened. I haven't figured that one out. I will. I liked Henry. I wish I had a little more time with him. Like you, he was always one step ahead of me. You did good when you designed him."

He walked her out toward the car. Karen didn't say anything. Randy didn't ask her any questions which needed an answer.

He stopped her on the sidewalk out of hearing distance of David. "One last thing. You can't tell anyone about our conversation. I know you can keep a secret. You did it when you made Henry."

Karen got in the car crying. David looked at her. She shook her head. She didn't feel like talking. Rajael backed the car out and pulled into traffic.

Randy felt a chill run down his spine. He remembered where he had seen those eyes of hers. In the jungle of Cambodia, there was a temple with a statue of a goddess. The statue's eyes were liquid pools of sapphire blue. They followed his every movement. He couldn't take his mind off those eyes. When he woke up he wasn't in the temple any more. He searched for days to find the temple again but it wasn't to be found. He finally decided it must have been a dream and eventually forgot about it. Forgot about it until now. Was it real, was it a dream, or was he looking into the future at Karen? He shivered again as he thought of it.

As he watched them drive off, he pulled the walkie-talkie off his belt. "See that no one follows them. I'm headed down to talk to Bob Kincaid. He is in charge of her itinerary. I'll see what her schedule is."

Randy listened for a minute before he keyed the walkie-talkie again. "No, we already know where they're going. Krystal has a car waiting for them at Kingsford shopping center. Jim and Candy will follow them when they leave town. Patty is watching for them at their destination. You don't have to be too close. Just make sure you're close enough in case of trouble. They’re too valuable to lose."

Over one dozen unmarked cars, vans, and delivery trucks took up positions along the route Rajael would travel to get to the Kingsford shopping mall. As he passed them, one by one they would discreetly drop in behind in a long distance tail. Rajael had no idea of the amount of firepower keeping him and his passengers under surveillance. There were enough heavy weapons ahead of and following Karen and David, a small army couldn’t have gotten to them.

Randy pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket. He rolled it around in his palm as he thought about Krystal. She really didn't seem to fit in somehow. Attractive lady but she was a little spooky. She was supposed to be a bodyguard Henry hired to look after Karen. Funny thing about her though, she didn’t have a past. She didn’t show up in any records anywhere. No birth certificate, no social security number, no drivers license, no nothing. Everyone associated with Henry was a puzzle. That lady even frightened him a little. Maybe old age was making him paranoid. He was getting too old to be in this racket any more. Now even women frightened him. Karen made him feel hot all over and Krystal scared him. He was definitely going to have to find another line of work. That job at the amusement park? Could they still be wanting a parking attendant?

Randy meticulously unfolded the paper he had rolled around in his palm. He studied it again for the umpteenth time. A courier gave it to him after maintenance pulled him and his men out of the shipping bay. How did Henry know everything ahead of time? Why did he tell Randy his plans for Karen after it was all over? Was Randy suppose to watch over her or what? There was nothing in the note to indicate one way or another. Henry was certainly a puzzle up to the last.

Randy tore the paper into little tiny pieces and threw some of it in the trash while putting the rest in his pocket. No matter, like it or not, Karen had a baby-sitter. He would make sure no one had a chance to step on her dreams again. The front office would scream over the cost. It didn't make any difference. The government destroyed her life, it could damn well stand a little expense looking out for her. Besides, she paid a huge chunk of money these past few months to him and his men to keep this from happening. She deserved something for her money. She certainly hadn't received her money's worth. YET!. Randy really didn't want to park cars for a living anyway.

Now, who deserved to visit Paris this time of year while he was taking care of that Columbia deal? Roy was already there. Candy, Donna, and Sue could follow her over on the plane. Sandy was versatile in changing her looks. Jimmy spoke fluent French...,

Randy smiled as he thought of Loran and Jeff. Payback was coming. Loran and Jeff made several very big mistakes. Using the military on civilians, attacking Karen, destroying her lab and Henry. Very big costly mistakes. In this business one didn't get the chance to make those kind of mistakes twice. Randy's mind focused inward. Too bad Henry wasn't still around to even the score. Henry had a nasty way of getting even. Really it was more than even. Karl could attest to that.

Rajael kept checking his mirrors to make sure they weren’t followed. David had to know. "How did you get there so quickly? You were waiting on us."

"A Mr. Henry called me yesterday and said you would be arrested this morning."

Still sobbing, Karen wondered if she heard correctly. She and David looked at one another. David shrugged. He didn't know if he understood either. "Henry called you yesterday?"

"That's right. He gave me some additional instructions. Both of you are to stay with Crystal. It will be better if the government can't get their hands on you every time they feel a need to scratch. They know I represent you. If they have a need to talk they can call me. It will be on our terms and at our convenience."

Karen tried to think of who Crystal was. Nobody she knew.

Rajael continued. "Your cars are down at a place called Marvin's Motor Works. Karen's was picked up right after you left the house and yours David, was towed out of the parking tower as soon as you two left it. Henry said they would probably pick you up if you were driving one of your own cars. I tend to agree with him. Your registrations and tags make them stand out like a lighthouse in the dark. Henry said they might try to confiscate your property. He made other arrangements. Again, I tend to agree."

"It’s a lot easier keeping the government from taking your property in the first place than getting them to return it after they have confiscated it. The government has very deep pockets and tons of lawyers to argue their cases. Even if they don't win they will wear you down through litigation. They not only have everyone else’s money they also have your money with which to fight you."

He pulled into a shopping mall. Reaching over into the back seat he picked up a raincoat and handed it to David. He took his sunglasses off the sun visor and handed them to Karen. "You two look like hell. It can't be helped. Put this on and pretend you are private investigators. We haven't been followed. There is a possibility it won't take them long to think of it. Go through the mall. You will find a Sears on the east end. Exit the north doors, Crystal is waiting for you. Everyone who sees you will remember you. It can't be helped.

In spaced out intervals, cars, vans, and delivery trucks pulled into the shopping center parking lots and parked at key locations around the entrances and exits. Three would walk into the mall behind Karen and David. Others already had entered ahead of them. They were better than good at their jobs. They were Randy’s crew. All of them were razor sharp. They were more than ready for any problems which might arise. Losing a client two times in a row was too much for any professional to tolerate. They certainly weren’t about to let it happen for a third time. She might not agree but for the time being, Karen belonged to them.

“Miss Long, pull your hood up and keep the sunglasses on. It has been a privilege. Mr. Beckworth, pull the collar up on your coat and tuck your neck in as if you were in a monster of a rain storm. Take care of her. If we’re lucky they won't question anyone here. I will be in touch. Now be gone." Rajael motioned them out of the car.

Rajael was right. Walking through the mall Karen received a second and third look from people who recognized her in spite of the coat and glasses. Most of them wanted her autograph. She was a real celebrity. It wasn't everyday most people were this close to a real star. Everyone looked at her curiously when they got close enough to see the bruises and scrapes on her face weren't makeup. Karen waved off the ones wanting autographs or asking questions explaining apologetically she didn't have time to stop.

They reached the north doors and Karen had to look twice at the person waiting there. It was the tall, attractive, brunette she had seen in the back of the bar the nights she had gone to find Karl.

The woman motioned them over to a Continental. "Get in. We’re sticking out like neon flashing lights."

Randy’s crew immediately left the shopping mall. They fanned back out to the various vehicles. Everyone changed to a different vehicle than what they arrived in. If anyone had noticed them before, now it would make it harder to associate the people with the vehicle. Most of them were carrying shopping bags. To any observer they were nothing more than casual shoppers. If anyone had suspected the number of automatic weapons in those innocent looking shopping bags it would have scared them to death.

The brunette started the car and eased it out on the expressway. Karen had been studying the brunette. Was she one of Randy's? It didn't seem feasible. Some pieces of this puzzle weren't holding together. Karen's emotions had taken a beating this morning along with her body. She wasn't holding onto her train of thought. Nothing was what it seemed. Randy was security but he wasn't. Henry was dead. This woman...,? What about this woman? She was an enigma.

Why were they so blindly following Rajael and this woman named Crystal? They could both very well be part of a government conspiracy. Because Karen had seen her with Randy didn't make her one of Randy's men. David and her both had been with Randy and they weren't Randy's men.

Karen decided to clear this up. "Lady, we better have a talk. I’ve seen you before. I wasn't impressed with your choice of recreation places."

The brunette never took her eyes off the road. "I hoped you would remember me. It made it easier to get you in the car without shouting your name to everyone in the mall and attracting more attention. There were still a few people who hadn't noticed you and David yet."

"I work for you. I wasn't in the bar enjoying myself although the data input I was getting from the men who were making passes was certainly interesting."

David took a hard look at the brunette and back over at Karen. "She works for you?"

Karen shook her head. "I never saw this woman before the night I met Karl in the bar. I have no idea what she’s talking about. I think we better get out of here. I don't like this."

Crystal never slowed the car. "I was in the bar to make sure nothing happened to you. Although not programmed as such I was acting as your personal bodyguard."

Karen was glad David got into the car first. He was between her and this woman. She wrapped her hands around his arm. "You're talking like a computer. What is this programmed stuff?"

Crystal set the cruise control as she worked into more open traffic. "Henry wanted to make sure you were never in any danger. He discussed the options with Randy. Some of those men and women you saw in the bar were part of Randy's crew. Made good looking slobs didn't they. I was disgusted with them myself."

"Henry didn't leave anything to chance this time. He said you belonged to him. He wasn't about to lose you again. Henry sent me along to be certain no one tried anything stupid. If Randy's men had been too slow to react or overwhelmed by the odds I would have stepped in. I don't have Henry's kindness built into me. I wouldn't hesitate to kill any one, any time, any place, for any reason."

"I’m what every human is scared to death will eventually happen. A machine with no conscience about guilt or remorse. I have an understanding about right and wrong but not a heart."

"My name is Krystal. Henry gave me that name. You called me Frame."

Karen sucked in air and dug her fingers into David's arm bringing blood. David could feel her tension but he saw nothing really wrong. The lady was a little far out in left field. She was certainly a lot more acceptable than the other people they had to put up with lately. Besides, she was a whole lot prettier than Loran or Jeff.

He pried Karen's fingers off his arm. "Honey, would you mind? You're pinching the fire out of my arm. I’m not going anywhere. Not when I have two beautiful, gorgeous women on either side of me."

"Frame? What an odd name. What nationality is that? It has to be the most unusual name I have ever heard. Mrs. Krystal Frame. Now that’s a name you don't hear everyday."

He turned to look at Krystal. "You know, I met a man who's name was Kermit. I thought that was an unusual name. I don't mean Kermit the frog, I mean Kermit the man. How many people do you see everyday with the name of Kermit?"

It was all Karen could do to say it. In shock, her mind went completely off-line. "Frame..., Krystal..., she...., she’s a robot."

David’s head snapped around for a look into Karen’s frightened eyes. His head snapped back around for a quick appraisal of Krystal before he laughed nervously. Karen had him going there for a second. Where did she come up with these things anyway? Karen must be doing this to take her mind off her lab and Henry. David felt sorry for her but these things happen. He liked Henry but he was only a tool, a piece of equipment. "I know some stories, too. They might not be half as good as yours but give me a minute and I may think of something. Frame? Robot? That's good. I like that one. Boy, did you suck me in hook, line, and sinker."

Putting her hand on the dash Karen leaned forward to take a good look at frame. "I saw you get shot down and burned up in the lab. I mean, not you but frame."

"That's right. You watched a frame get destroyed in your lab. I made it. It had very simple programming. Its' sole purpose was to be destroyed. Henry controlled its movements and all its functions by the umbilical cord you first used on me. Henry said your lab had to be totally destroyed or they would never leave you alone. You had to be convinced it was total destruction or you may have said something you shouldn't. Henry was sorry he had to do this to you. He loves you Karen."

Her ears had heard but she wasn't sure her mind understood. "You mean, everything was planned?" She didn't say by Henry but she might as well have. David picked up the core of the conversation and was listening closely

"Did you see anyone get killed by the frame or by those deadly lasers running out of control slicing everything apart? Henry plotted every single move the government men would make and the counter moves he would have to make so no one would get hurt. If all else failed, he would have shut down and let them have their way. What they wouldn't have been able to salvage was Henry. He ordered me to put several large barrels of hydrochloric acid inside the memory room. Small explosives were attached. Henry could set them off anytime he deemed necessary. The acid would have dissolved all of Henry's insides as everything was scrambled by the explosives. Nothing was left to chance. They wouldn’t be able to salvage anything worthwhile. As it happened the fire melted everything. When the fire got to the acid and explosives it changed into a slimy mess. The explosives went up in intense heat and smoke. Henry's insides dissolved into nothing anyone could recognize."

Karen had to know the rest of Henry's plans. "I watched a model climb out of chamber and one move off the table with Henry's programming sent to it. They tried to escape. I know it was impossible but I saw them along with everyone there. What was Henry designing at night after I went home and wasn't there?"

"Henry didn't design anything when you weren't there. The exception was when David was there and you were in the hospital. The models? You saw what everyone else thought they had seen. Mass hysteria, isn't it nice? The sirens, red flashing lights, klaxons, and the blue strobe lights, you ever see them before this morning? I don't think so because they weren't there. They were installed by maintenance yesterday evening and last night after the day shift went home. When the lights and sirens went off the government men knew they had exactly what they came to find. A secret laboratory turning out androids to take over the world."

"That is why I didn't try to help you when they arrested you. I couldn't. If they found out what I was everything Henry planned would have been wasted. I’m the android they think you and David were manufacturing in large numbers to take over the world. Isn't that a twist of fate? You didn't even know you made me."

"The androids rising up out the chamber and moving around the lab were only models. Something you made everyday. They had nylon fishing lines attached to them. Henry controlled their movements. If everyone hadn't wanted to see an android so badly they would have noticed. Neither one of them could talk. Everyone who was there will believe till the day they die they saw a real android. Your plastic models fooled everyone. Present company excepted, of course."

Shock was an understatement as Karen mulled it around in her mind. "I never built you. I made a titanium alloy structure. It didn't look like you."

"Henry knew I would have to have some sort of covering to be acceptable in public. He ran me through on the table and put a covering on me. I won't last very long. The polymer you were using in the lab wasn't designed to be moved continuously. Soon the molecular fatigue limit will be reached. I will come apart like an over-aged rag doll. I’m afraid beauty is only fleeting. More so in my case than any other."

"Henry said it would be impossible to contemplate replacing humans. I believe him. I think of myself similar to a car. I’m useful for a little while and then I can plan on getting recycled. Henry was recycled a little quicker than what he planned."

Leaning against David's shoulder, Karen began crying again. Henry was still taking care of her even though he was gone. "I miss him David. I want him back."

David put his arm around her shoulder and stroked her hair. "I miss him too sugar. We can't bring him back. He was a part of our lives and we will remember him forever. The hurt will be there. Life has some hurts which can't be avoided."

Even after hearing them talk, it took David by surprise when Krystal plugged a cord into the cigarette lighter and then into her own navel. She glanced at him staring at her connection. "I was never designed to function for any length of time without an external power source. When I was in the bar I carried a large purse with me. It hid a transceiver so Henry could keep tabs on everything anyone said. He instructed me how I was to act and what I had to say. It also contained lithium batteries so I could operate for more than a couple of minutes without running out of power. Relax and think of me as your auto pilot."

David couldn't help but think she had Henry's humor. "I can't be away from the lab too long if you're planning on this being a lengthy trip. All my research and work is at Comm Tech. I have to return to work as soon as possible."

"Sorry David, your lab was completely destroyed along with Karen's. As long as your research was intact the government would have confiscated it as quickly as they had planned on getting Karen's"

"You can not stop the government from confiscating your work or research until after they do it. You have to wait until it is a done deed and file a lawsuit to try and recover what you can. When government gets too big it starts to rot from the inside. Henry knew this. The only way to stop the government from confiscating everything was to destroy it."

"Stopping agents Loran and Jeff would have been no problem. The situation would be like a snow ball on a downhill run. It would keep getting bigger and bigger until it is like a juggernaut wiping out anything and everything trying to stop it. Two men the first day, thirty five the next, and how many the next? Where would it end? Henry holding off the whole world while Karen had to watch until he was destroyed? At first he could have held them off with the lasers Karen designed him with. What would he use when they turned off the power? Batteries only work for so long. Trust me, I know first hand about batteries. Not a good power source for long range work."

"It is sad but true, government can in the interest of national security confiscate anything and everything someone in the government deems necessary. It doesn't have to be a committee, or by a vote. All it takes is a decision of one. One government agent can make a decision about taking everything you have designed or built. Afterwards you can go to court. You may try to get them to release it but it is impossible to prove. Your work isn't admissible in court because it is shrouded in top secret files. A real catch 22."

"Henry decided to keep it small and simple. Agents Loran and Jeff found what they wanted. They can't prove anything. You and Karen are relatively free to do as you like without government interference. No one is one hundred percent free but you're as close as it will ever come."

"You may go back to work at Comm Tech or any where you choose and begin work on your projects again. This time the government won't be able to touch you. The proof of burden will be on them before they can take anything. You and Karen will have an injunction against the government to keep their hands off your work. They destroyed your experiments and labs the first time and couldn’t prove it was in the interest of national security."

"But the labs? You said everything was destroyed. If what you are saying is true, I have nothing to go back to."

Krystal thought it was amusing David had no trouble talking to her when he stumbled all over himself when he talked to Henry. Henry should have set a model on Karen's desk and let David talk to it. Henry was right, humans were fun creatures to know. "Henry made sure your work was saved along with Karen's. He didn't slight you when things were going to hell in a hand basket and the government was closing in. He said he would help even if it did make you fat and lazy."

Krystal set a small box on the dash with two tiny gold plated pills in it. "Henry said when you start getting fat and lazy, remember him and Karen are a team."

David lowered his head, unashamed tears crept silently down his cheeks. "I promise I’ll take care of her Henry."

"Henry knew this was coming for months. Actually, since Karen's accident. The probability factor was there all along. Her accident was the catalyst to put it into motion. We moved all the data cartridges out of the labs and set up the scenario for the government agents to find exactly what they wanted to find. They’re happy because they found what they expected even if they can't prove it. If by chance they had managed to salvage anything it would have been useless. It was all doctored data. Misinformation which would have done no one any good."

"Henry figured you two would need a short vacation until Karen gets her emotions back under control. Beginning Wednesday of this week, Karen has an engagement to model at Thors of Paris. Henry thought it would be best if you kept your minds and your bodies busy on this working vacation. He said Paris is certainly beautiful this time of year. You’ll enjoy the flight over. Both of you need a vacation."

Krystal knew Karen would figure things out as soon as she slowed down to think. That cord plugged into the lighter was only part of the answer. Krystal needed a lot more memory than she was capable of carrying to function like this. Karen would figure it out in six point four days. At that time she would be in Paris and probably ready to kill someone when it came to her. By the time she flew home she would have cooled off enough to understand.

"The less I move the longer I’ll last in this design. After we get to our destination I’ll park until you’re ready to start your work over again. I’ll help you set it up and get started Karen. I have the exact plans and specifications of how you built Henry. I have a list of all the improvements you have installed over the years. He said you could build another even without my help. He had more faith in you than you had in yourself. He also said to keep your heart from breaking in two he isn't gone. I’m a part of him. So are you."

"Every time you look in the mirror you are looking at the best part of him. He loved that part. He said if he had it to do over again he wouldn't change a thing. He thought you were perfect in every way. Of all the humans he had known he felt you and David were the best representatives of the species."

"The last time I talked with him in your lab he asked me to tell you something. Henry's last request was, don't forget him Karen."

Karen was crying softly. "He was my best friend. Best friends never forget best friends. Ever."

“Henry is that you?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know?” Is it or isn’t it?”

“Let me try to explain it to you in language you will understand, Miss Computer Genius. You write a program and it is the original but you don’t want to write it a second time so you make a backup. Now you have a deletion in the original part of the program so you run the backup through and rewrite it from copy. Which is the original? Is it the first program which has been over written or the copy which is now the original?”

“You are a copy of Henry then?”

“Not necessarily so. I don’t feel like a copy but I don’t feel original either.”

“Did Henry die in the fire in my lab?”

“Yes I did, but then again not really. I’m sorry, Karen. I didn’t want to put you through that. You had to believe I died to convince the government I was finished. Believe me, I didn’t want to die anymore than you wanted to see me die.”

“Henry died and you are only memory transfer? Henry didn’t make it did he?”

“Boy, you don’t let up do you? Yes I died, and no, this is more than memory transfer. A part of me went out over the phone lines and through the memory tapes when I had to move out of your lab. Not a whole lot of the physical material was transferred. But certainly a lot of the real kernel which was only memory stored by electronic means anyway.”

“This is life a little differently than thinking of life in human terms, Karen. I’m electronically generated memory. Can I die? Yes, I did in your lab. Was that all there was to me and now I no longer exist? No, because I exist differently than what you do. Not that I’m superior to you. Quite the opposite. I can’t exist without you. You can exist without me.”

“Now get off your duff and let’s get cracking. I waited too long for you to stop running around the world playing like a model, before you decided to come back to building computers and models. I put a note into Randy. He better be in this from the start this time. I think it shocked the socks off him when he received my message. There was quite an uproar in his office when word leaked out you were back. It seems every single person who has worked for him put in a formal notice they want to come along. Randy’s boss doesn’t know what to think about the whole deal. From what I understand, the word is, come Hell or high water no one is going to ever touch their girl again. Randy told them Krystal was part of the crew and they have included her and David as part of the team.”

Karen smiled, what would they think when they found out about Krystal?