By now the houses and grassy areas were starting to disappear. They were being replaced by larger buildings, concrete and lights, and there were getting to be fewer and fewer places to hide on ground level because of it. The ‘ride’ was a lot smoother by then and I took a look at my assimilation level. It was upwards of 45% now so I checked Samson’s remaining power level. It was hovering around 27%.

     “Hey, Samson… how do you feel about climbing a building and going roof top to roof top?” I asked. He had us pause to look up at the roof line of the three story building we were going pass.

     “It would be a more direct route and would provide better cover but it would require more power to use and I would risk damaging the buildings with our passage.” He assessed.

     “How much more power?” I asked.

     “Uncertain. I would need to compare possible routes before providing an accurate estimate.” Samson replied.

     “Alright. Why don’t you climb this building so we can get a better point of view.” I told him.

     “Understood.” The A.I. replied as it scanned the side of the building for the best way to go up it. It fairly simple as it was made of brick but there was no fire escape on this side so the only hand and foot holds were the window ledges. It was still fairly easy for Samson and I to scale and we were up on the roof in the matter of moments.

     “What is our destination, Tomas?” Samson asked.

     “To the lake,” I told him as I first directing him to the dark and glistering surface a few blocks away beyond the buildings and then a little ways along the shore to a group of lights in the distance. “And then the compound that’s a bit further along its shore.”