The drone was coming along nicely. It looked something like a cross between a shark and a helicopter, with some strange angles mixed in.

Something Crash had added to this version, and I knew what it was. Stealth technology, or the basics of it.

He hadn't added a cloaking device or anything, but just making the device harder to target by conventional sensor systems from range was something, and for a device smaller than say, a large dog, that was a pretty good addition.

I wasn't so sure about the other additions that were adding to the size. After all, a weapons bay? We didn't really need a weapons bay, just eyes and ears. I was pretty sure the sheriff would have a word or two to say to both Crash and myself (which was unfair, cause I certainly didn't do this) if he found out.

Of course, we'd just have to make sure he didn't find out.

We didn't even have weapons to fit the bay he'd made. Unless there was something he hadn't told me yet. I gave him my best Mom stare.

He just shrugged. "It's just a concept. The one you wanted done is over there."

I couldn't be mad. "It's excellent work, but we don't need something like that."

Do we? We didn't. Right? No one was attacking us, no one had even tried. We should be fine.

The drone I'd been pointed to was a normal one, a take off the commercial one I'd liked yesterday with a few improvements designed in, and it would be our eyes and ears around the neighborhood.

The ears part was something I was especially proud of; two small shotgun mics with a large pick up range with a small ai governing them, in order to throw away noises we didn't want to hear and pick up conversations or other interesting activity. The cameras were also impressive, but they had nothing on that improvement, which could pick up a squirrel chirp from a good fifty yards away. The tech wasn't even major really, it was all off the shelf.

Well, except for the smart system. It wasn't true AI as others understood the term, but it was good enough for a little spy. And the drone itself was small enough that I didn't need to file a flight plan for it - assuming I didn't take it up too high.

I wouldn't be doing that, of course.

The best part is, with a simple switch, the craft could fly itself; staying close and avoiding obstacles until its battery ran out. The battery in question was a bit more effective than the one the original drone had of course, because fifteen minutes just wasn't good enough for eyes in the sky.

I wasn't sure the hour I managed would do, but it was the best I could do right now. It wasn't like I could put a fusion reactor into something so small!

It'd need to be at least car sized for that.

No, bad thoughts! I should not attempt to corner the self-driving car market! Though science fiction had promised humanity flying cars. Flying cars would be easy. Something to consider.

Someone knocked on the lab door; it was probably my friends. Maybe it was Mom coming to check on me. I did sort of come straight here without stepping foot inside the house first.

No, it was Sam. Who promptly frowned as I answered the door.

"Jeanette?"

What did Sam want Jeanette for? "Getting coffee. Why, you want to talk to her?"

Maggie was behind Sam, her own eyebrow raised, and the two R's were just making their way into the back yard.

"Jeeves?"

I stepped aside to let them all through. "I don't know, exactly. I think he's in the kitchen working on something. Crash is here, if you want?"

Not sure why she wanted my bots; was there a problem?

Sam came in, the others spilling in behind her. "You shouldn't," she got out, before Maggie interrupted.

"You shouldn't answer the door like that. There could be someone... bad on the other side of it."

Oh. "That? Come on, surely not. I've got the government and MCO both watching me."

Ralph muttered something I didn't catch over Maggie bellowing out: "It can still happen! Bad things happen every day!"

I mean, surely not... no matter how that inner voice of mine that screamed I wasn't safe enough, and my home wasn't secure enough, and I should correct that. It was true that bad things happened, but nothing bad had happened here.

Well, unless last year counted. I didn't really count it, because it was a crisis averted.

Then again... This was probably why Jeanette insisted on answering the door. "I guess you're right. I am known now, after all. It wouldn't be too out of the question to have someone leak the fact that I exist."

"Right, right!" Maggie agreed in a rush. "We know this place is more secure than you let on, but then you just open the door!"

Crash spoke up before Maggie could get going, coming around from giving his own drone final tweaks.

"It's alright, we knew who it was. The cameras do work, after all."

"You can't rely on cameras in a world where people can turn invisible."

"Fair point," Crash admitted, then dropped the casual bomb. "Which is why we don't. There are some other odds and ends around here."

Now I was curious. I knew I had a few extras, but what did Crash have? "I thought you only did vehicles?"

Crash shook his head. "When I have help, I can do other things. And we all help each other here."

That was true. Should I be worried? No, I wouldn't. Not yet anyway; initiative was a good thing in artificial intelligence!

"I've brought coffee," Jeanette's muffled voice came from outside. No wonder really, since Ricky was still blocking the open door for some reason.

At least Sam seemed mollified for now. "Come in. Just push Ricky out of the way if he won't move."

"Hey, hey, I'm moving, I'm moving," my friend objected, already out of the way and letting Jeanette enter with her full service. My little lab really was crowded with everyone in it. It was fine though; they would play games, and I would do science.

Speaking of. "Forgot to ask. Did you check the arm?"

Crash nodded. "I did, and I found the problem right where you said it'd be. everything works perfectly now."

Great, we could wake Jill up then. Well, not wake her up, but activate her body. I needed a better term for it.

It wouldn't even take that long; which meant I should probably call the sheriff or something. Or talk to my Mom, and let her do it.
"Right, I need to go talk to my Mom. I'll be right back. If you want, that drone there is ready to fly, or if not, go ahead and fire up the console and play a game or two. I shouldn't be long."

Jeanette followed me out. That was fine; Crash was enough by himself to keep my friends out of any trouble they could get into. Hopefully.
The walk through the yard felt longer; this was not going to be a good time for me.

The kitchen was a little dim without the lights on, in that funny space between full sun and full dark. There was still enough to make out Jeeves slaving over a hot stove of course, and whatever he was making smelled wonderful.

Mom was in the living room, and she stood up as she spotted me, putting her needlework down. "So, what brings my darling daughter here, to her own home, a mere hour after she was due to arrive home from school?"

I winced. Yeah, she wasn't going to make this easy on me. Still, I had to object: "It's not been that long. A half-hour at most. I wanted to get straight to work, and I thought Jeanette would let you know where I was when she came in to get coffee."

"She did," Mom responded, very calmly. "But I'd have rather heard it from you. If you can't be bothered to do it personally, then call or text. Now, what brings you? You didn't walk in here to start this conversation."

Right, this wasn't going to get any easier. "I want you to call the sheriff for me?"

She crooked an eyebrow. "The new one you're making?"

How did she know about that? I mean, I hadn't been hiding it, but she hadn't asked, so I hadn't mentioned it.

Now wasn't the time to worry about who might be reporting on me, even if it was probably Ian. "Yes. I want to do the right thing and donate her to the cops. She can learn how to do all the things cops do, and then be present in case something comes up that you need an... enhanced cop for."

I could see the wheels in Mom's head turn; she was thinking about last year."

"She can also keep me appraised of the law, so I won't break any. Better than Shecky."

Shecky was... weird. He knew the law, but if an android could be a sleazeball, he was a sleazeball. Somehow.

"That's a good idea," Mom replied, taking her customary thinking pose. "Did you ask her?"

What did she take me for? "Of course. I asked her four days ago, and she was fine with it."

"Alright, I'll call them and see what they say. But Min... this is the last one. No more, alright? Not without permission."
Yeah, I'd been expecting that. It made me wonder briefly what she'd have said if I'd just activated Jill without saying anything, but I dumped that thought quickly. "I got it. No more."

I didn't need any more anyway. Not until I was eighteen and ready to move out of the house or something.

"I won't, I'll ask you first. And just to be sure here, for the record, I did ask you about Jill, and you said it was fine."

"That's right, you did. I'm just making sure we understand each other. Jill is the last, unless I or your father say otherwise."

She wasn't even saying she wouldn't allow it, just that she wanted that say. I could live with that. This whole conversation had gone a bit easier than I expected.

"Alright. I'm going to go activate her then. You get to handle the Sheriff."

Mom hit me with a lopsided grin. "Sure. You know if he says no, it'll be up to you to explain things to your creation, right?"

I gave her a shrug as I walked out. "Worst comes to worst, she can become a private investigator. I think we've got an old trench coat around here."

I could hear, just before the door was shut, my Mom say "Afternoon, sheriff Myles. I've got something I need to discuss...."

Heh. Go Mom.

Sam was outside, flying the drone, with Maggie leaning on her to look over her shoulder at the screen the controls now had to offer a view. The idea of using a phone for that was... silly. Silly and a potential security risk. I gave them both a wave and stayed clear; Sam was piloting the little craft well enough, but she was keeping it low, and I wasn't wearing a hard hat.

I tried to banish the thought of Jill, PI, as I made my way back into the lab. It was harder than expected.

Everyone else was playing "Accel", the racing game. It wasn't bad, but I felt like it was missing a bit compared to earlier titles. It felt a bit stripped down.

Crash was waiting. He looked up as I approached. "Final checks, then we do it."

He nodded in response, clearly expecting that. There were always final checks. I'd do final checks on everything, then more final checks, and if anything turned up off, even more final checks. The trust but verify of Science!

I should patent that or something. Words to live by, volume one: Check everything until you're sick of it, then check it again. I had the feeling that not enough people lived by that in our time.

Jeanette brought my coffee. Something flavored with caramel, and it tasted pretty good. It wasn't as good as just super strong coffee, of course, but this had its own charm. The shortbread cookies were shortbread cookies, and therefore delicious enough. I only had a few though; any more and I'd get the whole 'you'll spoil your dinner' speech by my wonderful android maid.

Ricky was winning the game; I had half an eye on it while the other was on the flow of numbers across the screen.

Nothing jumped out at me, and all assessments were in the green.

Just as I was about to give Crash the go ahead. a knock sounded on the door.

As I'd been told, I stayed put and let Jeanette answer the door. Instead of Sam and Maggie, however, the towering form of chief Myles was at the door. The poor man had to lean in to enter.

"Good afternoon, chief Myles."

"Good evening, miss Campbell," he corrected gently with a faint frown.

Mom, Sam, and Maggie entered behind him, almost unnoticed in the man's shadow.

The place was getting pretty crowded.

"So, what's this I hear about some equipment you wish to donate to the Paris police force?"

That... was not right. "I want to see if you'll accept a person into the police force, not donate some equipment. Jill isn't a fridge or something. I guess the other stuff counts as equipment, but...."

Sheriff Myles waved me off. "We talked about this before. Anyone you want me to accept will have to go through the academy training."

That wasn't going to be a problem. Jill was the most advanced android I'd made yet, and her body was tougher as well. "She can manage that. You'll see."

I turned and started the sequence.

"You'll listen to her in matters of law?"

The process was going smoothly, and Jill would be up in seconds. "Yes, of course. I said I would. It's not like I don't listen to you or anyone else, is it?"

A bit annoying. More than a bit annoying.

The man sighed. "No, you're right. You do listen."

Jill's eyes opened. They were a brilliant green, and if you looked close, you could just barely see the facets within. Most people wouldn't be able to do that, of course, not while she was moving. She focused on me and smiled.

I leaned back as she sat up smoothly, looking around at everything and shaking out her long walnut brown hair. It seemed like her sub-routines were working fine. Some of those were new since she had to appear normal in order to fool criminals for stakeouts or stings.

"Good evening, my creator. It is wonderful to see you all with eyes; the cameras connected to your mainframe lack fidelity."

"Good evening Jill. How is it? Can you detect any problems?"

My newest android made a show of flexing. "All is well; I can detect no instabilities or problems."

She quickly brought those arms down and braced, then hopped up.

She was in front of the Sheriff before I'd fully registered the movement. It was a good thing we'd thrown clothes on her, even if they were a set of loose pajamas.

"Good afternoon Chief! Jill Campbell, reporting for duty. Or class. Can I go now?"

"It's a little late for class tonight. But if you're willing to take a few tests, I can ensure you get in on the next class. Assuming you pass, of course. And it's Sheriff Myles, not 'chief'."

Jill saluted, which I wasn't sure you should do. "Roger that Chief! I'll pass any test you give me. Please put me to work; you won't be disappointed."

It was all too fast. She just got up! "You want to go now, Jilll?"

"I do, Creator. The more quickly I do all that is expected of me, the more quickly I can be of use. I shall return, of course, as I must stay here. At least until I get a place of my own."

Right, I hadn't put all the infrastructure she needed together yet, so she'd need to come back here.

"We can start the other tests now, if you'd like. The academy will still have to wait until the next class starts, however. And it's sheriff, not 'chief'."

"Roger that Chief!" Jill said, saluting again with an even wider smile.

Sheriff Myles raised an eyebrow at her, and she kept it up.

He turned to me. I shrugged; all my bots had their little quirks. It seemed like Jill had already found hers.

Sheriff Myles sighed again.

"Fine, whatever. Let's go."

The Sheriff turned, and Jill followed him out, throwing jaunty waves at everyone on her way out.

A little sudden, but I'd see her again tonight, and I could ask her what she thought of things again.

I caught myself staring at Jeanette; or rather, her thumbs up sign held low and behind her back, just for me. She had no issues with what was going on, and being a big sister who could effectively read her siblings' minds, that made me feel a bit better about things.

I mean, she didn't actually read minds; they merely communicated. It was totally by permission only, but the point stood. I didn't make weird creeper bots or anything.

Mom was still here - she made her own way to the door. "Enjoy yourselves, kids. See you at dinner, Min."

I knew an order when I heard one, and so did Jeanette. She even stiffened a little taking it in. A traitor in our midst!

"Yes Mom."

Speaking of traitors, where was Ian? I just knew he had something to do with how much Mom knew about what I was doing. My bots were probably informing on me too, but they knew how to keep some secrets. I think. I should probably make sure of that, but at least some of them were already actively doing so. Crash was a good example; he kept making changes to my stuff, but they were all safety oriented, and he'd not said anything about the blueprints I'd shoved in the dark recesses of the mainframe under multiple code and puzzle locks.

Right, the work never stopped. Jill would need a sleep and charging station when she got home. I could join the races later.
......
I drove in silence. The creation, the hardware beside me, its' smile had lasted only until we reached the car. The thing had settled into the passenger side, putting a noticeable load on the shocks. Not that I could complain; I did the same.

It was not the first unnerving thing I'd seen, but the machine sitting next to me, eyes flashing at everything, taking it all in, had been acting like a person just a few minutes ago. A bubbly teenage girl - and then just stopped, all vibrant emotion falling from its' face as if it were rain off a wall or something.

For the second time tonight, I considered retiring like my predecessor. There was still time.

"Sheriff Myles."

A hint, a thrill of warning. Old instincts and reflexes coming to life. "Yes, Jill?"

"You intend to test my build tonight, don't you?"

"Not sure what you mean, Jill."

I did know, and the machine made it clear it knew that I did. "You mean to put me through stress and performance tests."

"I do." I wouldn't lie to it.

"Who will conduct these tests?" it asked. Politely.

"The same man who conducted the tests on Minerva Campbell. He is uniquely suited for checking your specifications, performance, and programming."

"Why my programming?"

I smothered my surprise that it asked such a question - and my surprise that I could feel how pleased the machine was about hearing who was to perform the tests. "We have to make sure you aren't planning to take over the Earth or kill all the humans."

The machine turned and favored me with a look; one that I was sure had to be universal to teenage girls the world over, and it was hard to bury that for a moment. "It's been tried before."

"I am aware," the machine responded. "I was built to stop such attempts, as they are against the law. I am, however, surprised that you would think such an outcome was possible, considering that if such was the intention of our series, we would likely have already completed it."

As if. "Arrogant little thing, aren't you? You shouldn't under-estimate us."

The answering smile certainly looked genuine, and the comeback sounded it. "So you say, meat bag."

......