by Ken Dean

Sam Hosta was being held in a death grip against the kitchen wall by his wife, Jackie.
Since when had she become so outrageously strong? She worked out at the gym, yeah-
but this kind of strength?

He had been walking out to his SUV in the garage, balancing his travelers coffee mug and briefcase while jostling for keys in his pocket. He was already late. They weren't in his pocket; must have left them on his nightstand upstairs. He didn't need this and couldn't afford to be late for an important stockholders meeting.

Sam had rushed back in the interior garage door to get upstairs to hopefully find his keys when he had passed the kitchen. He noticed his wife with her arm resting on the kitchen table. What she was doing with her arm stopped him dead in his tracks. A small panel was open on the inside of her left arm and she was manipulating something inside with her right hand. Her arm looked to be full of little sliding light gauges that you would see in any number of sci-fi movies.

Jackie was engrossed in what she was doing until Sam asked, "What are you doing to your arm?"

She was suddenly aware of him, and had closed the twenty feet between them in a blur. Damn, she was fast! He couldn't budge her; it was like trying to move a brick wall. Then what was usually a warm, feminine voice demanded from him in a tone that was flat, cold and authoritative: "What did you see?"

He didn't know how to answer, so he lied.

"Nothing, dear. Didn't see a thing." He was beginning to sweat.

Her response was to push Sam a little harder against the wall.

"I asked, what did you see? And just so you know, I can tell when you're lying."

"Okay, okay! I saw what looked like electronic crap inside your arm. Satisfied?"

"Yes. You're telling the truth. Obviously you've seen too much."

Realizing the strategic and calming advantage of doing so, she changed her voice back to the one he was used to, full of fuzzy animals and sunshine. "Listen, we need to discuss this. If I let you go, do you promise not to run?"

"Sure," he lied, "Where would I go?"

"Stop it, you're lying again. Plus, I could run you down within fifteen feet."

Shit. Probably couldn't get anything past her. He might as well go along; maybe wait for an opening to take action.

"Okay", he said as he gathered his wits about him, "I take it with your arm full of electronics plus your strength that you're not my wife."

"Correct."

"What are you then?"

"An android, sent by my masters to study the average human family in all its aspects."

It was all too fantastic, too unbelievable.

"I don't believe you," He was slowly inching his way to the wooden knife holder on the counter. "Prove it to me."

"Very well, what would you have me do?"

"Grab that bicycle tire pump from beside the refrigerator and see if you can bend it. I'm assuming you have greater than average strength."

"Yes, you are correct."

As she turned to get the pump, he quickly grabbed the biggest knife from the wooden block on the counter. He lunged at her back, hoping to bring the knife down on her neck.
Suddenly, in what seemed like a millisecond, she turned and brought her hand up to block the thrust. She caught his forearm as he was bringing the knife down. It was like striking concrete. The knife clattered to the floor. He fell to his knees also, his arm in agony. Along with the enormous pain, it felt as if something had torn loose inside and his shoulder was on fire.

"My arm," he screamed.

"Why are you so foolish as to attack me like that? My reaction time and speed are too fast. You've hurt your arm needlessly. Let me take a look."

She began to examine his musculature and bones with a fair amount of prodding. This sent waves of increased pain up into his shoulder.

"You've torn a ligament; try to remain conscious."

"Yeah…right." he grimaced.

"Your arm needs to be repaired."

She went to the cupboard and pulled out what looked like a square band-aid, peeled off its cellophane-type wrapper, and stuck it to his upper arm. He began to feel a lessening of the pain almost immediately.

"Oh! Thanks, that's starting to feel much better. What is it?"

"A combination analgesic, rapid healing compound, and a mild sedative. It should heal the damaged portion of your arm in about five minutes."

He could feel parts of his shoulder and arm tense and relax on their own, along with an occasional popping feeling inside. There was a little light-headedness also.

"I feel a little woozy. Is that normal?"

"Yes, the sedative will do that. Plus the rapid healing component of the medicine draws a lot from your body. You may also feel some weakness."

"Thanks for helping me. You didn't have to do that."