“Sprite, I’m not leaving you,” Helen said.

“You are not making me face your husband and explain to him why I’m there but you’re not. Now go!”

Helen continued to run, and Sprite turned to head toward Scotty, trying to make herself the more apparent threat to the machine’s commander.

Having one fleeting hope, Sprite scanned the ground in front of her as she ran, while still keeping an eye on the machine chasing her. It was following her and not Helen, so that was good. But with every step it was still gaining on her, so that was bad.