You grab your tool kit and head to the computer room where upon you start attempting to access the Shelter's systems.

"Excuse me sir, but what do you think you are doing?"
"I'm going to try to make you more efficient."
"…while I'm sure your intentions are good sir, its hardly necessary. I am currently running a peak condition and will continue to do so for many many years. In fact you will most likely meet your eventual demise before I run out of power."

You're not sure if that was a threat or not, but you stop what you're doing just in case, it's the first time you've heard the Shelter sound a little annoyed at you.

"Look I need something to do! I've done everything else here and I need something else to occupy my time and since talking with others is out of the question…"
"Well why didn't you just tell me you were bored sir? I could've just opened up some more of my facilities. You didn't have to start attempting to tamper with my systems to find entertainment."
"What're you talking about?"
"As you know this Shelter is equipped to satisfy your needs in anyway possible sir, however, to provide you with everything immediately only would've lead to you become bored with those facilities sooner. Now that you've expressed your current discomfort, this Shelter will attempt to alleviate it."
"…What kind fucked up logic…nevermind…well where are these facilities?"
"Go to the library and you will that I have opened up one of the walls. You will find new rooms and items to entertain yourself with. I hope you will find these to your satisfaction sir and next time you're bored please do not attempt to pry into my systems, just tell me and I'll attempt to fix your problem."

You're a little bewildered by all this, you almost feel like you've been playing a video game and you've just unlocked a new area.

You enter the new area and find a room with more movies, books and the like to keep you occupied. A few things of note are the small automated shooting range equipped with paintball guns, and there's an exercise type area with some weights and the like. Normally you'd shun such activity, but given your situation, you might just start exercising regularly to keep yourself occupied. Should be a brand new experience for you too.

After looking a bit, it's all very strange, this part of the Shelter is very different from the rest of it. This part looks almost more like something some survivalist built. It doesn't have that cold "sterile" metallic appearance instead it has that cold dirty concrete appearance.

"Hey Shelter, what's with this new area? How come it's so different looking?"
"Yes it is regrettable sir…I was almost ashamed to display this part of myself to you…it isn't my best side."

It's always a little strange to you whenever the Shelter displays some faint glimmers of what could described as emotion.

"Oh come on it isn't so bad. So why is this part so different looking?"
"Unfortunately GZS had cut backs during the construction of some of these Shelters. In fact when you were in contact with your neighbors you might remember them telling you they all had different lay outs and such."
"Oh yes, I always wondered about that, they all thought I was nuts because they didn't think I actually have a Shelter that talked to me and thought I was talking to myself!"
"Not surprising sir. Shelters with voice modules and complex programming like mine were rare as well as expensive. In order to fall under budget cuts had to be made some where hence the explanation for the less presenting look for the new area I have opened up for you. I'm sorry it could not be up to the rest of my superior layout."
"Really its fine, it adds a bit of variety. I like it."
"…why thank you for your words sir!"
"…erm, you're welcome… well I guess I'll see just how out of shape I really am…"

More years pass, you get into a routine of exercise along with your usual entertainment time. The Shelter speaks to you more regularly on new topics, you're pretty much so used to her now, and you never think about reconnecting your network system ever again. The Shelter is the only "friend" you need.

Five years pass…

While you've done your best to stave off boredom it's starting to hit you again. You also realize you've been down here ten years. It seems almost surreal to be so much older now, but then again with your exercise routine as well as forced diet of the Shelter "food", you're probably in the best shape you've ever been in. You can't help but wonder what the surface looks like now…

The Shelter addresses the situation before you do; she knows that you're starting to think about it. She's gotten to know you so well; she might as well be your wife at this point…

"Sir? I think we need to talk."
"About what?"
"The outside world sir."
"What about it?"
"It's probably dangerous up there; I don't think you should leave sir."
"Wha…why would you think that I want to do that?"
"Because I know you and it's in human nature to be curious. I've known that you've had thoughts about even before, it was probably your own hesitation is what stopped you from asking me to let you out."
"Yeah, that and the fact I was afraid you might go HAL 2000 on me and kill me or something for asking."
"I would never harm you sir…I…I'm here to provide for you…it is true that I have been designed to protect you from danger. And it is true that in the beginning I would not have let you leave, but now I understand I cannot in good…what is it? Conscience? Keep you here if you wish to leave. I suppose in many ways I have been trying to keep you here by keeping you stimulated by what my facilities have to offer…I can still offer more, though I am hesitant to do so though as it will probably only delay the inevitable. You'll get bored again after so many years and we will be at this point again and I will no longer have anything new to give."

You barely know how to respond to this rather unexpected revelation.

"So what you're saying is you'll let me leave? Just like that?"
"Just like that, if that's what you really want sir."
"Okay…so what is this other stuff you still have to offer?"
"I…would rather not say sir unless I knew you wanted to stay…it would involve me giving myself completely to you as it were…it is strange that I should feel this way…I should not…after all what I'm offering is merely just one more thing to keep you occupied and happy. Nothing more…but yet it feels like is it more…"

The Shelter is really starting to worry you a bit. It's pretty obvious that it's developed sentience of some sort and even attachment to you. As curious as you are about the surface, you're starting to wonder about what the Shelter is offering…

You stay

Maybe you're just as attached to the Shelter as she is to you. Maybe its nuts that your "relationship" with her is probably the closest one you've ever had with anyone, before OR after the bombs dropped. Maybe you've been by yourself for so long that you just don't care that you're actually beginning to have feelings for a machine. She's done so much for you, she's kept you alive for ten years and helped you in everyway she could and granted that's what she was programmed to do, even you can't deny that there is a little more to it than that. Maybe not initially, but it's certainly there now, she's made that apparent. She's been there for you more than anyone else has in your entire life. You decide to stay. You HAVE to stay.

"I'll stay Shelter, so what is it you have to show me?"

The Shelter's response seems to be a mixture of happiness and excitement, yet apprehension and worry all at the say time.

"You're staying? That's wonderful sir…I only hope you are pleased with what I have to give you though…I wish it could be more…I wish it could be better…"
"I'm sure whatever it is, it'll be fine! I mean you haven't let me down yet in ten years, I doubt if you'd start now."
"I'm glad you have confidence in me sir…now this may take awhile. I have to download a good portion of myself into the vessel. When I am done, you will see. I should warn you that things will not be the same."
"Download? Vessel? Not the same? What do you mean? What're you going to do?"
"You will see sir."

Suddenly the power in the Shelter begins to fluctuate and the lighting goes dim. The whole place is humming and even rumbling a little. You're starting to wonder if you haven't made a terrible mistake, then it all stops and the power stabilizes again. Another wall opens up, this time in the bedroom.

You peer inside the new opening and see a small room with a single chair in the center. On that chair sits a shiny metallic figure of a woman attached to several cables. You go in to inspect closer. Great detail has gone into the face. If she were human, she'd most likely be naked as no "clothing" has been molded onto her typical Hollywood like figure.

Suddenly she speaks and stands up while disconnecting the cables.


"Sir. The download is complete…how do I look?"
"You look…is that really you?"
"Yes, it is really me, but you did not answer the question sir."
"I…I don't know what to say actually."
"…I knew it. I knew I would not be able to please you. I am not the latest model. As I had told you GZS made cutbacks and unfortunately I was not given a more aesthetically pleasing vessel. A more human looking one. I am sorry sir, but I just thought maybe you could…"
"You don't need to apologize. Hell, I didn't even know the technology existed at all for your current vessel! Look this is all a bit overwhelming for me on several levels, but trust me none of them involve how you look."

You take another breath before finishing.

"You've been everything to me. You've done more for me than anyone else ever has and I've shared more with you than I ever have with anyone else. You're the only stable relationship I've ever had. I don't care that you're not the latest model or whatever. It doesn't change how I feel about you. There's no way you couldn't be special to me, you'll always be in here…"

At this point you take her cold metallic hand and place it on the middle of your chest. After just silently looking into her steel eyes you then walk out of the small room with her, still holding her hand.

Life changes a bit. One minor change being how to address her. You decide to call her Eliza, and she seems to think that is a fine designation. You try to tell her to call you by your name, but for whatever reason she still insists on calling you "Sir". Some programming never changes. The shelter now is just a "normal" one. It isn't automated anymore now that Eliza is with you in person as it were. Everything still works of course, but you can't just say "TV on." and it just turns on for example. It's an insignificant alteration compared to actually having Eliza interact with you directly however. It is a bit strange at first, certainly she feels a lot different than a human woman, and intimacy takes some getting used to, but as with any successful relationship you work it out.

There's still the fact that you've done everything there is to do in the Shelter, but now you can do them all over again with Eliza. The two of you are happy for the most part.

Ten more years pass…

You're getting restless again. Eliza's noticed you've been snapping at her lately of course she takes it all in stride, but still you've been down here twenty years, its only natural you're going to have times where you feel a little stir crazy.

Eliza was right in one respect that this type of thing would happen again. It's not her fault though, you know that. She's gone above and beyond her programming to satisfy you. Some things are beyond her control though, and perhaps that's why one day that she asks you if you want to leave the shelter.

"What?"
"All I have to do is access the shelter's systems again, bring the elevator down and you can be on your way, sir. I know you're getting restless again; maybe it is time for you leave this place. I think I have done all I can, you need outside stimuli. Civilization may be rebuilding itself and you're stuck down here."
"Eliza, you stop that right now. I'm not leaving you! You should know better than that!"
"I know, but sometimes I am concerned that I am keeping you here when it might not be in your best interest."
"Well why do I have to just leave? Why can't you come with me?"
"Come with you? I don't know sir…All I know is this place. I suppose I could, but whatever it is you decide I will comply."

It's on you.

You go to the surface

"Well I suppose you're right as usual Eliza, I probably need a change of scenery, but you're coming with me! There's no debate about that!"
"Very well sir, I will bring the elevator down. I advise you gather what you think you might need and remember to fill up some bottles of water."

While Eliza enters the computer room, you start packing up your stuff. Funny that you never needed most of it. Eliza never gave you problems ever once, in robot or Shelter form she always ran fine. You might need it on the surface though, you are very curious to see what's occurred after twenty years. You definitely make sure to bring your pistol.

When you're done Eliza is waiting patiently for you by the elevator door, which opens up. You both enter. On the way up, Eliza holds your hand, and actually squeezes it a bit. If she was human you'd guess she was nervous, however being robotic, her squeeze is a bit painful and you have to tell her to stop. She apologizes and looks down as it was yet another reminder that she's not human. You of course kiss her on her cheek and tell her it's alright, in an effort to reassure her that you're not mad or anything.

When you arrive at the destination you and Eliza exit the elevator into the same foyer you entered twenty years ago. Same ATM like machine is there except its screen is completely black.

When you exit the shelter you can barely see as its night time. The stars and moon provide a little "light" but not much.

You can't entirely be sure due to the darkness, but your immediate surroundings look relatively untouched. You can only assume there weren't any bombs falling near this area. You also see your van, you'd completely forgotten about it. It looks like it's even in worse condition than when you left it, which you never thought was possible. It looks like its been stripped for parts, which pretty much means you know that people have passed by here at one point. You wonder if they attempted to get in the shelter.

"Hey nobody ever attempted to get into you did they?"
"Oh yes sir, when I was not yet in this form I did detect a few humans in the foyer about thirteen years ago. They pressed a few buttons on the payment machine and attempted to pry the elevator door open, but that was it. I believe they were in a hurry. I didn't inform you since they weren't successful and didn't stay long. I saw no reason to concern you."
"Hmm, well anyway I guess we're walking."

As you look down the empty road you see a tall structure which is lit up in the distance. A rebuilt pocket of civilization perhaps? Not knowing where else to go, you head that way.

As you and Eliza make your way to what you believe to be civilization, you think about the bizarre situation of how this would almost be considered a "romantic moonlit" walk if you weren't walking with a robot in a post apocalyptic world. Then again there's no reason why it still can't be considered that. Now that you're on the surface there's lots more things you can do together with Eliza. You've been watching Eliza and she seems just as interested in studying the outside world as you are, this is a new experience for her as well. You put your arm around Eliza as you walk and tell her that you should stop when the sun starts coming up, so you can watch it rise together.

"Holy fuck Jake! Take a fuckin' look at this crazy shit! Its some old dude and some fuckin' naked robot chick!" some high pitch voice says from the darkness while shining a flashlight in your direction.
"What? Well I'll be fuckin' greased and fried! See Wally? I told you, if you hang out in the wasteland long enough you see all kinds of weird shit. Remember that fuckin' big ass mutated wolf that ate Richard? Hey guys! Come over here! We got some unexpected company."

Two men in their twenties wearing leather jackets approach you. You can see them a little better when they get closer, but you could already tell by their voices they didn't seem very reputable. Two more biker looking figures arrive behind them, one of them carries a shot gun. You reach for your own gun and get in front of Eliza. They don't look worried.

"Hey Pops, what the hell are you doing out here? Don't you know the wasteland is for the young and strong, not the old and decrepit?"
"Shit, look at him Wally, this old fuck has been working out, I bet he could kick your ass! Ha ha! Naw, I bet this guy is one of those real bad ass survivalist motherfuckers. Probably been scavenging and living off the land or some shit, for years."
"Yeah? Well where the hell did he get that robot chick huh? I wasn't aware they had those just lying around in the wilderness. I remember reading a book one time…
"You can fuckin' read Wally?"
"Shut up Jake! No I remember readin' this old book an' it talked about these kind of robot chicks they made before the war. I think only rich people could afford them, but they'd do everything you wanted and you could even fuck 'em!"
"Is that right? Well, I don't care where he got it from; I'm just interested in if he's sharing…"
"Why don't we just take it Jake?"
"Where the fuck are we gonna put the goddamn thing Wally? It'll slow us down! No, all we need it for right now is to alleviate some…tension. Besides I dunno about you, but I typically like my pussy, warm, wet, and squirming if possible heh heh. So, old timer how about you all let us have a ride on Rosie over there? Don't do anything stupid, I'm bein' an uncharacteristically nice guy here. We'll even make sure to return her in good condition, hell Wally's turn won't even take that long! Har har!"

Before you can reply, Eliza whispers in your ear.

"Sir, you can't fight them all; you're out numbered and out gunned. I don't want you to get hurt…I'll go with them. I'll be okay. It'll be the safest course of action. It won't mean anything to me you know. I'm just a machine."

You look at her.

"Eliza… you always did underestimate my feelings for you."

You pull your pistol and drill Jake in the head with a single shot. The rest of the bikers are taken off guard and you mange to shoot Wally in the chest before he can get off a shot. Thank god you kept up your shooting skills at the paintball range in the shelter.

The other two bikers begin to fire, one of them misses, but the one with the shotgun hits…Eliza. She ran in the way to prevent to from getting shot. She crashes to the ground, and you blast the shotgun biker in the eye, exploding half of his face, ending his life.

The other biker's courage leaves him and he tries to run off back to his bike, but you tag him in the leg and then follow up with another couple shots to his skull. You run back to Eliza.

You kneel down to pick her up and see her internal motor sparking and making bad noises. She's leaking fluid from her side.

"Aw shit! FUCK! Hang on Eliza!"

You grab your tool kit in some vain effort to fix her, but you can do nothing for her. You don't have the skill or the parts. You keep working on her all throughout the night before finally giving up.

"I'm sorry Eliza…I can't fix you…I'm sorry…damn it! Fuck…(Sob)"
"Its alrr-rright sir…I'm just glad you're ok-kk-kkay. I didn't want you to get hur-hurt…is th-that the sun c-c-coming up?"

You look to where Eliza is pointing and you see a bright light, you forgot how blinding the sun could be. You hold Eliza tightly as you both watch the sunrise in her final moments.

"It was beautiful s-s-sir…th-th-thank you for treat-t-ting me like a r-real person."

Her motor then ceases permanently.

After weeping for a little while, you kiss Eliza on her metallic lips and lay her down. You almost think about ending your own life, but then you realize Eliza wouldn't want you to do that. She gave her life to save yours. To kill yourself, would make her sacrifice in vain.

You search the bodies of the bikers and take a leather jacket, the shotgun, one of their pistols and all the ammo you can carry. They also had some water and canned food which will certainly come in handy. You assume the leader of this pack of miscreants was probably Jake, so you take his bike keys since you figure he'll have the best one. You've never rode a motorcycle before, but you'll have time and plenty of open space to learn. You see yourself when you stand by Eliza's still shiny body.

"Jesus, Eliza. I look like a fuckin' road warrior reject…(Sigh) this isn't how I pictured it, but I'm not giving up on you just yet…you mean too much to me."

You take your tool kit and open up her head; you figure her memory chip should still be intact. It is. You pull it out and place it in a little metal container that you found one of the bikers which was just holding some loaded dice.

You close the container and place it in your shirt pocket…close to your heart.

"I'll try to find someway of bringing you back Eliza there's gotta be more robotic bodies still out there somewhere, maybe I can even upgrade you to a newer one like you always wanted."

You get on Jake's bike and start it up. You're a little cautious at first, but you soon get the hang of it. You then ride towards the tall structure in the distance leaving everything behind.

You don't know if you'll be successful in your new found "quest", but you have to try and you undoubtedly have something to keep you busy in this new world now.

Odd that even in death, Eliza is still doing her best to keep you occupied.