Chapter 5 Dizzy and Confused

Inside the medical room, 5188 nestled securely in her grandma's arms, eyeing the three large men seated across from her. She instinctively drew closer into her grandma's embrace, a wave of worry washing over her. Did they discover that she was a robot, not merely a human child? Were they planning to take her away? Lifting her eyes to her grandma, 5188's eyes brimmed with tears, her lips quivering. Despite the fear, she felt no regret for saving her uncle. Grandma did not remember her, so if she disappeared, Grandma would not grieve. However, if Uncle remained unwell, that would certainly sadden her. Sniffling, 5188 clambered down from Helena's lap, hesitated momentarily as she touched her hand, then bravely walked up to Colin, her small hands extended. "Let's go!" "Oh? You can say two words now?" The men were momentarily taken aback by her advancement from speaking single words to two, delight spreading across their faces upon hearing her childish voice evolve. Especially Helena, who took the girl's hands with a look of surprise. 5188 tilted her head and blinked in puzzlement. Right, she could say two words now. "Why?" Watching the scene, Helena noticed his youngest son holding the girl's hand, which was turning red from the grip. She fought the urge to discipline him, mindful of his recent concussion, and instead gently kicked his son's leg to intervene, before scooping the girl back into his arms. "Captain Bailey, just tell us what's going on! Don't scare the child," Helena urged firmly. She could tell that the girl was distressed, likely fearing that her actions had led to some grave mistake and that she might be taken away. Yet, because of Helena's protective nature and relationship with her young son, she never once considered that saving someone could be seen as wrong. Indeed, the girl held deep trust in her family. Seeing this, Helena's gaze toward the child nestled in her arms grew warmer. Colin, experienced in leadership and adept at sensitive communications, noticed the subtle shifts in the girl's demeanor. He offered a reassuring smile and gently said, "I just want to ask you a few questions, not take you away!" Relieved by Helena's confirming nod, 5188's face brightened, and she visibly relaxed. "Do you have any more of the potion you gave him just now?" he inquired. At this, Liam tensed, his eyes fixed on 5188 with keen interest. Jasper's recent physical examination revealed an astonishing improvement, surpassing even his initial health when he first enlisted. The implications of such a thing, if available and studied by the country, were profound. "No more!" 5188 declared, surprising herself by managing to articulate two words again. She added with sincerity, "Really!" then covered her mouth, giggling at her own fluency. Though Colin felt a twinge of disappointment, it quickly dissipated, replaced by his usual composure. He rationalized internally, If the enemy truly possessed substantial quantities of such powerful thing, surely our intelligence services would have some record of it. If that's the case ... Then, pondering the situation, he looked at 5188 with a trace of concern, asking, "Where did you get your potion from?" His eyes briefly flickered to the pocket of the girl's dress, filled with skepticism. When 5188 was brought in, the nurses had changed her clothes. If she had possessed anything significant, it should have been reported to him. Yet, neither the nurses nor Liam seemed aware of her having concealed anything. "I stole!" 5188 blurted out. Amidst the tension of the conversation, 5188 straightened her small chest and said with quiet confidence, "Bad people!" After a brief pause, she clenched her fist and, as the three men watched with bated breath, blurted out two more words, "Deceived me!" The simplicity of her declaration prompted a collective sigh of relief from the men, followed by puzzled looks. Why was it such a struggle for the girl to speak these words, and why had they found themselves holding their breath in anticipation? Helena observed the three men's bewildered reactions and nearly rolled her eyes, amused by their silliness. "So, you're saying the bad people deceived you, and then you took their things?" Helena clarified gently, helping the girl articulate her experience. Seeing 5188's bright, admiring eyes fixed on her, Helena felt a surge of satisfaction greater than discovering hidden money. "So, what exactly did they deceive you about?" Remembering the years she had been misled, 5188's eyes welled up with tears. "Find Grandma! Deceive!" she exclaimed. The adults exchanged knowing looks. Clearly, those people had promised to help her find her relatives as a ploy to exploit her for something valuable. But, what does she have? Liam and Jasper scrutinized the girl, trying to discern what might make her so significant to their enemies. Colin, however, focused on a different angle. "Why did you say the person you knocked out was a bad person?" 5188 tilted her head, touched her nose, and then pointed at Jasper, saying, "Smell!" Recalling the scent on Jasper when he had pinned her down, she scrunched up her face in evident distaste. Jasper laughed, mistaking her reaction for naivety. "Girl, that's just the smell of a man. You wouldn't understand!" Helena, ever the protective mother, shot Jasper with a stern look. "Later, I will give you money to see a doctor. Take medicine if needed, go to the hospital if needed!" She was half-joking, half-serious, suggesting that any man whose smell could provoke such a reaction must surely need medical attention. Liam suppressed a chuckle, and then redirected the conversation. "What does it smell like? Can you describe it?" 5188 tapped her head, then mimed throwing something. Seeing no one understood, she hopped out of Helena's arms and clambered onto Jasper's lap. Under his amused gaze, she gently tapped his head with her small fist. "Mom, I ... why do I feel like ... it reminds me of when you used to hit me when I was a child ... " Jasper muttered, his voice trailing off as he felt a wave of dizziness and confusion wash over him.