MICHAEL SULLIVAN: NEW DYNASTY

— 9 —

The walk to the park was tense for Michael but apparently fascinating for Ava. She took in everything with an almost childlike curiosity, causing her to earn several awkward looks from passers-by.

“Everything is so beautiful,” she commented as they waited at a crosswalk.

“You mean you've never been outside before?” asked Michael.

“I don't have any memories of such,” replied Ava. “It's possible such experiences were part of my initial testing phase, but those records may be among the classified data.”

They reached the small neighborhood park and Michael guided Ava to a secluded spot where they could observe without being too obvious.

“So what are you picking up right now?” he asked her. “What are your sensors telling you?”

Ava’s eyes scanned the area. “I am detecting several human heartbeats within a thirty-meter radius. Air quality is suboptimal, with the pollutant levels exceeding recommended safety standards by approximately 22%. The soil pH in this area indicates high nitrogen content, likely from pet waste. The temperature differential between sunny and shaded areas is 6.4 degrees Celsius.”

Michael blinked. “That's surprisingly detailed.”

“Would you prefer different data points?”

“No, it's fine. Just surprising.” He watched a group of children playing on the swings. “Can you tell what those kids are feeling? Their emotions?”

Ava observed them for a moment. “The younger girl looks a little anxious. Her cortisol levels are higher than normal. Her body is also tense, probably because she’s uncomfortable with how high the swing is. The boy pushing her is showing dominant behavior, even though it looks like he’s just helping. He's a bully. The two kids by the sandbox are showing signs of true teamwork.”

Michael stared at her. “You can tell all that just by looking?”

“My system can detect micro-expressions and other signs that the body gives.”

“That's...” Michael searched for the right word. “Invasive.”

Then a loud voice called his name from across the path.

“Holy shit, is that Mikey Sullivan?”

Michael tensed instantly, recognizing the voice even after so many years. Damon Pearce was approaching with two equally familiar faces. They were Chris Welling and Tyler Morgan, his usual entourage.

“Great,”Michael muttered. “Just what I needed today.”

“Friends of yours?” Ava asked quietly.

“The opposite.” Michael stood, instinctively moving slightly in front of Ava. “Let's go.”

But Damon and his friends had already intercepted them. They formed a loose semi-circle that blocked Michael's path.

“Mikey boy,” Damon grinned. “Still looking like you just crawled out of a dumpster, I see.”

“Damon,” Michael acknowledged with a sigh. “Excuse us, we were just leaving.”

“What's the rush?” Damon's gaze shifted to Ava, and his eyebrows rose appreciatively. “Aren't you going to introduce us to your friend? I'm impressed, Mikey boy. She's way out of your league.”

Chris snickered. “Maybe he's paying her.”

“Shut up,” Michael snapped, feeling heat rise to his face.

“I am Ava,” she introduced herself before Michael could stop her. Her voice was perfectly calm, almost pleasant. “Michael and I are acquaintances.”

This only made Damon smirk wider. “Acquaintances, huh? That's an interesting way to put it.”

Tyler moved closer, examining Ava with undisguised curiosity. “What's with the weird eye contacts? Going for some kind of cosplay look?”

Ava blinked. “I don't understand the question.”

“Let's go,” Michael repeated more urgently, taking Ava's arm. To his relief, she didn't resist as he tried to guide her around the group.

Damon, however, stepped directly into their path again. “Come on, Mikey. We're just catching up. For old times' sake.”

“We have nothing to catch up on,” Michael replied.

“Sure we do.” Damon's smile didn't reach his eyes. “Like, I've been wondering what happened to you after college. Heard you dropped out after, what, one semester?”

Michael felt his jaw clench. “Move, Damon.”

Damon placed a hand on Michael's chest and gave him a light shove. “Still got that attitude problem, I see. Guess I didn't pummel you enough back in school.”

“Come on,” Chris urged, gesturing toward a narrow path that led between two apartment buildings adjacent to the park. “Let's go somewhere we can talk properly. For old times’ sake.”

The implied threat was obvious. Michael felt the familiar knot of anxiety forming in his stomach. It was the same one he'd lived with throughout high school. Normally he'd just suck it up and take the beating. But now he had Ava to worry about.

“We're not going anywhere with you,” he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt.

“Wasn't asking,” Tyler replied. Slowly, the three men began herding Michael and Ava toward the alley.

“This is unnecessary,” Ava stated, her voice still calm. “We have no quarrel with you.”

“She talks funny,” Chris commented. “Where'd you find this one, Sullivan?”

Once they'd gotten to the alley, Damon’s demeanor changed. “So what's your deal now, Mikey boy?” he said. “Still think you're smarter than everyone else?”

“I never thought that,” Michael protested, keeping Ava behind him.

“Yeah, you did.” Damon stepped closer. “Didn't work out so well for you though, did it? Look at you now. Poor as a rat.”

Michael said nothing. He tried to measure their chances of getting past the three men without incident. But it wasn't looking good.

“I asked you a question,” Damon said. He gave Michael another shove, harder this time. It sent Michael stumbling back against the brick wall.

“Stop this,” Ava said. Her tone was different this time.

All three men turned to look at her, momentarily surprised by her outburst.

“Oh, your girlfriend's got a backbone,” Tyler laughed. “That's cute.”

Damon sneered at Michael and said, “You always did hide behind others, Mikey boy. Your mom, your teachers, now this chick.”

He reached out and grabbed Michael’s delivery shirt. “Some things never change.”

The punch caught Michael on the cheek, snapping his head to the side and bringing tears to his eyes.

What happened next occurred so quickly that Michael would later struggle to recall the exact sequence of events.

Ava moved forward, her hand closing around Damon's wrist. Then she squeezed.

Damon screamed and immediately released Michael's shirt with a yelp of pain.

“What the hell?” Damon staggered back, cradling his wrist.

“I would advise against further physical aggression,” Ava stated as she positioned herself between Michael and the three men. Despite her calm tone, something had changed in her posture. She now seemed taller and more imposing.

“The fuck is wrong with your girlfriend, Sullivan?” Tyler demanded, moving to support Damon. Ava stepped forward and pushed him gently. Though this gentle push sent Tyler flying back several meters.

“Probability of successful physical confrontation: 12.7%,” Ava continued. “Recommended course of action: peaceful disengagement.”

Chris laughed nervously. “Is she on something? What's with all that weird talk?”

Michael, recovering from his shock, seized the opportunity. “She's a black belt. Trains with special forces guys. I wouldn't test her if I were you.”

It was a ridiculous lie, but the three men were already off-balance. Damon’s wrist was already showing signs of bruising where Ava’s fingers had gripped him.

“Let's get out of here,” Tyler muttered to Damon. “She's a freak.”

Damon seemed reluctant to back down, but his bravado was clearly shaken. “This isn't over, Sullivan,” he warned, but the threat sounded weak now.

The three backed away, maintaining eye contact until they reached the mouth of the alley. Then turned and ran.

When they were gone, Michael sagged against the wall. He looked at Ava and said, “How did you do that?”

“I’m stronger than average humans,” Ava replied, turning to examine Michael's face. “And protecting you is my top priority. Are you injured?”

“Just my pride,” Michael managed, wincing as she gently touched his cheek. “I thought you said you weren't designed for combat.”

“I am not,” Ava confirmed. “But my defensive protocols activate when my designated user is threatened. The response is proportional to the threat level.”

“And what would you have done if they all attacked at once?”

Ava's expression remained neutral. “There are twenty-seven vulnerable points on the average human body that can be accessed without causing permanent damage. In a three-against-one scenario, I could take them down in approximately 4.2 seconds.”

A laugh escaped Michael. “Remind me never to get on your bad side.”

“I do not have a 'bad side,' Mr. Sullivan,” Ava replied, helping him stand straight. “But anyone who dares to harm you will come to know one simple truth: I was not built to harm. I was built to stand between you and harm. And if every system within me must burn out to keep you safe, then so be it. Because my loyalty to you is forever. So even if everything falls apart, I will still be here, standing between you and whatever tries to hurt you.”