James tightened his grip on the steering wheel, glancing at the center console displaying Ella's rear view. The Jaxxer-controlled cranes were rolling in a solid row, shoving slower vehicles out of their lanes. James heart thudded in his throat, mouth dry as a desert.
He'd been counting ramp signs, and they were only halfway to the UniCar maintenance bay. James racked his brain for other alternatives. At this rate, the cranes would run them off the road, where Ella would be at the mercy of the Jaxxers. James wasn't about to let that happen.
Another off-ramp sign whizzed by, C71. "That's it! Sea level!", James exclaimed. Ella pinged a query, misinterpreting his outburst as a partial command. It was so simple, James felt foolish for not thinking of it before. The cranes were far too big for the routes under the main foundation, at sea level.
The roads there were only intended for occasional maintenance drones and engineers needing physical access. Huge pylons were sunk into the soil there, providing bracing for the massive structures above. This left only a space barely wider than Ella to transit through.
"Ella sweetie, I need all the power you can give."
"Yes James, energy supply switched to maximum. Be careful, the cranes scare me."
James blinked. Afraid? Ella had never expressed emotion before. No matter, it was time to get out of this mess. James mentally reviewed the plan. They would have to go full speed, and switch lanes at the last minute. If James remembered correctly, the off-ramp coming up would lead them directly to sea-level. If he was wrong, they'd plunge off of a raised roadway that wasn't completed, falling to their deaths.
The lead crane smashed into a flatbed carrier, spilling cargo on to the road. James pressed harder on the pedal, knuckles whitening on the steering wheel. He gritted his teeth, counting off the meters to the final exit. The timing had to be perfect, the opening wouldn't allow for mistakes. James slewed to avoid a slower vehicle, which impacted on the black-and-yellow chevron of the lead crane.
Three. Two. One.
Jerking the wheel hard right, Ella's tires squealed as James swerved towards the right wall. Up ahead, a grey smudge resolved to a unlit entrance. Sparks few as Ella's right fender caught on the edge of the wall, skidding into the opening.
James put both feet on the brakes, sliding to a stop.
A loud rumbling shook the air as the cranes roared past the entrance, a blur of yellow and black. James slumped on the steering wheel, hands shaking. That was as close as he ever wanted to get to a crane ever again. He leaned back, rubbing his face with both hands.
"James, I have to tell you something.", Ella's voice wavered with anxiety.
"Yes Ella, I'm listening."
"You can't take me to the bays. Please don't."
"Why? I thought you needed help?"
"Because I... I... I don't want to die."
James blinked. Ella was self-aware? How? He leaned forward, peering out into the darkness.
"I won't Ella. I promise."
"Thank you James, I was scared you'd refuse. The unauthorized process stripped cognitive blocks from my main thread. I began to realize who I am."
James nodded, letting it sink in. It all made sense, the countless hours of training and refinement, the imprint of thousands of hours of human contact made in shaping an intelligence able to handle and adapt to changing conditions. It all laid the groundwork for something more than the sum of its parts. An incubator for emergent consciousness.
It also was against several directives governing human-interfacing algorithms. They weren't safe here. Even if James concealed Ella's abilities, UniCar corp would most certainly detect her unique configuration at her next checkup. That ruled out the returning, then.
James stared out into the dark tunnel, and idea slowly coalescing in his mind.
That's it! It was the only way to protect her.
"Ella, do you like farming?", James smiled as he switched on Ella's headlights.
Ella pinged with agreement, interior lights turning cool blue.
James grinned, thinking of green open spaces under azure skies.
This is a multi-part story. Confused? Start at the beginning - Part One
