I grab Eight's wrist and pull him off the street towards some dark alley. He doesn't resist and just follows me obediently. I take my jacket off and put over Eight's shoulders, so that his suit is less noticeable in the dark. I don't know why I did that... I wanted him to feel more comfortable, I guess?

He stares at me with a puzzled look. He's rather expressive... it's like he's evolving by the hour. Too bad he can't develop speech though.

About that...

"Since you can't talk, use this."

I pick a smartphone from my pocket, open a text editor and put it in Eight's hands.

"Just type your answers."

The doll takes it in both hands, the screen switches to horizontal view. He looks up at me.

"Now, tell me..."

I pause for a moment. I have so many questions in my head, I can't decide which one to ask first. But before I make up my mind, Eight already starts to type something. I blink and curiously lean forward. I quickly move backwards as the android raises the smartphone in front of my face, almost smacking me with it.

"CANT TALK BEING WATCHED"

I read the message on the display.

"Wait, what? How?"

I instinctively look around the alley, as if trying to spot any cameras or spies. The doll types again.

"THEY SEE WHAT I SEE HEAR TOO"

I read again and I realize what Eight means.

He's bugged.

From what he says, I assume his eyes must act like cameras, and his ears like microphones, in which the video and audio recording is streamed real time to a third party... his company most likely.

"Holy shit!"

I rub my forehead and lean against the wall.

If he was like that from the start, then the android company could have easy access to all of our security data. I grind my teeth. The fuck are they thinking? Is that the real purpose of the dolls? Being perfect spies in disguise? What the hell?

Eight just looks at the ground, as if ashamed of what he is. Well, I can't squeeze more info out of him like that. I might get into some deep shit if his company realizes I'm on to something. I need to get rid of the bugs first. And luckily I know exactly who can help me with this. But first I need to find a way how to communicate with Eight without the spies realizing what I want to do. Or at least something that won't make them realize my intentions right away.

I take the smartphone from his hands.

"Listen-"

I'm not able to finish my sentence when Eight reacts to something and pushes me against the wall... or more like he slams me into it. He leans against me, burying his face in my chest. I'm out of breath for a second, due to the impact and the tight embrace. As I inhale sharply, I can hear a car approaching. I glance at the street and I can catch a glimpse of the van from before. It passes the alley we were at, but it stops somewhere nearby. We crouch, hiding behind some crates.

Fuck, they've probably tracked the video recording to find Eight. Maybe the android has some GPS thrown in there as well. Which means that there's no point in hiding, as they may find us no matter where we go.

"Do you know Morse code?"

I lean in and whisper to Eight. He nods without looking at me. Good, that makes it much easier. I hold my smartphone close to his ear, and tap with my finger on the back of it. The robot listens and understands the code right away. It confirms it with a nod, and we set our plan in motion.

I scream, as the doll charges at me, ready to throw a punch.

We stage a fight.

I want the guys from the van to notice us, and by the way making sure that the spies who follow the audio/video stream will think that Eight went nuts again. At least before they can decipher the code.

I have no weapons, so I just focus on avoiding Eight's kicks and punches. After making enough ruckus, I exit the alley and bump into the two guys from the van that I saw earlier. Eight hides in the dark. He closes his eyes and covers his ears, like I wanted him to.

"It's you!"

Me and the nerds say the words simultaneously. I pretend to be surprised as if I didn't expect to run into the scientists. Their surprise however is genuine. I don't give them any time to ask questions.

"The hell are you thinking, letting that thing run rampant?! I was on my way home, when it came out of nowhere!"

With guilty looks on their faces, they ask where did it go. I point at the alley.

"In there... somewhere. Now go and clean up your mess. I ain't fighting it again without my gear."

I rush them and they both gulp, but they decide to take action. Just now I can see that they have a bruise on their heads, one of them has a stain of blood on the shirt, the other has his glasses bent slightly. Eight must've give them some beating before he escaped. As they pass me by, I notice that one of them has a map of the street displayed on his tablet, the other talks through his phone. He confirms that Eight must be close as there's no audio/video readings right now, meaning that he's stuck at one spot. The phone guy takes out a small device from a pocket inside his white coat. It looks like a car remote to me, but I realize it may be some sort of panic button to instantly shut the dolls off. As if to confirm my suspicion, the dude mumbles:

"If he's close enough, this should take him out."

He makes a few steps forward, the tablet guy following him, and that's as far as I can let them go. I approach one of them from behind and perform a rear naked choke on him. He passes out instantly, dropping his tablet. Alarmed by the noise, the other guy looks around, only to be taken out by my quick hand chop to the side of the throat. He falls like a puppet with their strings cut. His phone falls and I can hear someone's distressed voice through the speaker, so I just crush it with a single stomp. Lastly I pick the guys up one at a time, and sit them down against a wall.

I go over to Eight. He sits there like a child playing hide and seek, my jacket draped over his shoulders. Or rather, the way he keeps his eyes and ears shut, it's more like a child afraid of a thunderstorm.

I take his hand off his ear and use the same technique as before to tap a Morse code message to him. He opens his eyes briefly then listens carefully and nods. I told him that I'll bring him to my trusty techie friend, so to avoid possible audio/video tracking, I want him to keep his eyes and ears shut until we're there.

I intend to carry the android all the way there in my arms... but that task appears to be harder than I thought. As soon as I pick him up, my knees bend and I groan. That little guy weighs a ton!

No ok, this won't work, change of plans.

I put Eight on the ground and he peeks at me with one eye. I shake my head and raise my arms.

"You're too heavy. We'll have to walk."

I say as he uncovers his ears. Oh well, I guess we can't avoid being tracked, what a pain. Maybe I can reduce the risk a little, if I ask him to just stare at the ground while I'll lead him there.

I grab his hand and we exit the alley. I feel resistance as the doll stops. I turn around to ask what's the matter, and I see Eight pointing at the van. What, you want me to steal it and drive us there?

"Well, that would do... if I had a driver's license, that is."

I say with a note of bitterness in my voice. Why else do you think I go to work by bus? My failed efforts to pass the driving test flash through my mind, but I quickly snap out of it as Eight tugs at my arm and drags me to the van. He then enters the cockpit and sits in front of the wheel.

"What, YOU want to drive!?"

I ask surprised as the doll looks at me, and pats the passenger's seat in an inviting way.

"This is the opposite of my plan. We were supposed to avoid being tracked. With you as a driver they'll see the whole damn route!"

I say out loud, not caring anymore about them listening.

"You... you don't intend to drive with your eyes closed, do you...?"

I'm about to break out in a cold sweat, but luckily the android shakes it's head. He points at me and makes a hand gesture as if playing with a game controller, what with the button mashing with the thumbs, but then I realize he meant typing on a smartphone.

I pass my device to him and he writes a message.

"DRIVE CLOSE ENOUGH THEN CARRY ME THERE"

Oh, I get it. I click with my tongue and scratch the back of my head, pondering. Well okay. This might work too I guess. The risk is higher, but it seems that no matter how hard we try to cover up our tracks, we will be found out eventually. I ain't a car thief and I'm not that fond of dragging my friend into this mess with us, but we need all the help we can.

"Fine."

I sigh and go around the front of the van, to get to my seat.