THE PLAN (1)

“WHAT...? WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID...?” HE SAID LOOKING STRAIGHT INTO HER EYES.

SHE BEND AHEAD ON HIS DESK AND SMILED. “I SAID THEY ALL ARE DEAD.” SHE SAT BACK ON HER SEAT LOOKING IN HIS EYES. HE CLEARED HIS THROAT AND SAT BACK LAZILY IN HIS SEAT.

“BUT...” SHE CONTINUED TAKING A BLANK PAPER AND PEN IN HER HAND. “I’M VERY DISAPPONTED WITH YOUR INFORMER. HE SAID THAT THERE WILL BE FIVE OF THEM BUT WHEN I REACHED THRER, ONLY THEE WERE THERE.” SHE STARTED TO SCRIBBLE ON THE PAPER WITH THE PEN. AURTHER WAS STILL LOOKING AT HER AS IF IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE. THERE WAS SILENCE IN THE ROOM. ONLY SCRIBBLING ON THE PARER WITH THE PEN THAT SHE WAS HANDLING CAN BE HEARD.

FINALLY SHE STOP SCRIBBLING AND LOOK AT HIM.

“WHAT...?” SHE SAID HANDLING HIM PAPER AND PUTTING THE PEN AT ITS ORIGINAL PLACE.

“NOTHING! YOU ARE GETTING BETTER WITH WORK.” HE SAID LOOKING AT THE PARER.

“I KNOW IT WAS NOT AN ASSIGNMENT. BUT YOU WERE TESTING ME.” THE SCRIBBLED LETTERS READ. HE LOOKED AT HER AND SMILED.

“WELL. IF YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT THEN YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY ALL WERE CLONES.” HE SAID TEARING THE PAGE INTO PIECES AND THROWING THEM IN GARBAGE MACHINE. SHE WAS SILENT FOR SOME MOMENTS. SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND SMILED. HIS EXPRESSIONS WENT BLANK.

SHE STOOD UP FROM HER SEAT AND MOVED TOWARD THE BIG WINDOW AGAIN. HE WAS WATCHING HER AND WAITING FOR HER REPLY. SWEAT BEADS WERE FORMING ON HIS FORHEAD, THAT’S WHEN SHE NODDED.

“I KNOW.” SHE CHUKLED. “I KNOW THAT. AND, THEY WERE FROM YOUR LABORATORY.”

“HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT...?” HE ASKED HER.

“I WAS THE ONE DESIGNED THE CIRCUIT OF THE H- BOT. AND YOU USED SAME FOR CLONES.” SHE REPLIED STILL WATCHING THE SKY THAT WAS GETTING DARK NOW. HE NODDEDE AND KEEP ON THINKING ABOUT HER OBSERVATIONAL SKILLS.

“THAT WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA.” SHE SAID MOVING BACK TOWARD THE CHAIR.

“WHAT...?” HE ASKED HER.

“TO MADE HALF HUMAN AND HALF ROBOTS. THEY ARE DUMB.” SHE SAID SILENTLY.

“YOU CAN’T INSULT MY CREATION LIKE THIS. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH MONEY AND EFFORTS HAVE GIVEN TO THIS PROJECT.” HE SAID AGRESSIVELY.

SHE TURNED TOWARD HIM. LOOKING AT HIM FOR FEW SECONDS SHE PULL OUT HER HAND AND PUT HER PALM ON HIS HAND.

“CALM DOWN OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE IN BIG TROUBLE.” SHE SAID PULLING BACK HER HAND FROM HIS.

“WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY...?” HE JUMPING OUT OF HIS SEAT AND STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TABLE.

“OH! I WAS JUST SAYING THAT YOUR HEART IS NOT CAPABLE OF HANDLING OF SO MUCH PRESSURE.” SAYING THIS SHE STARTED TO COLLECT THE PARERS ON THE TABLE AND PUTTING THEM IN ORDER.

“YOU ARE WAY TOO DRAMETIC.” HE WHINED SNETCHING PAPERS FROM HER HANDS. SHE LOOKED AT HIM WITH A SWIFT GLARE.

“YOU SHOLD GO ON. I CAN DO IT MYSELF.” HE YELLED IGNORING HER SHARP GLARE.

“OKAY.” SHE SAID BLANKLY. WITHOUT WASTING ANOTHER MINUTE SHE TURNED TOWARD THE DOOR AND GET OUT OF THE ROOM. SHE PICKED HER FAST PACE AND IGNORING EVERY GREETING ON THE WAY TO THE MAIN ENTRENCE, SHE GOT TO THE PAKING AREA, HOP INTO HER Z BLACK CAR AND DRIVE OFF TO HER NEXT DESTINATION.

AURTHER WAS STILL BUSY IN COLLECTING AND ARRANGING ALL PAPERS WHILE HE HEARD A BUZZING SOUND IN HIS CLOSET. HE LEFT THE PAPERS AND MOVE TOWARD THE CLOSET AND OPENED IT. A GREEN LIGHT WAS BLINKING IN THE CLOSET. HE PRESSED THE BUTTON NEXT TO THE LIGHT AND THE WHOLE CLOSET START TO MOVE MAKING A WAY TO MOVE INSIDE, BEHIND IT. HE SLIPPED INTO THE VESTIBULE TAKING A FINAL LOOK IN HIS ROOM. INSIDE WAS A BIG SCREEN WITH SEVERAL CONTROL PENELS. HE SAT ONTHE SEAT AND ADJUST HIS GLASSES. AGAIN A BEEPING SOUND WAS THERE AND A THE SCREEN FLEASHED WITH APPEARENCE OF A MAN IN HIS SIXTIES, WHITE HAIRS, SHARP EYES AND A BLANK FACE LIKE HE HAVE FACIAL NERVE PARALYSIS.

“GOOD EVENING MASTER.” AURTHER SAID WIPING SWEAT OFF HIS FOREHEAD.

“SO, HOW IT WENT WITH HER...?” HIS MASTER ASKED.

“SHE PASSED MASTER. SHE KILLED THEM ALL.” AURTHER SAID WITHOUT MAKING EYE CONTACT. “BUT...” HE PAUSED.

“BUT WHAT AURTHER...?” HIS MASTER GOT ANGRY.

“BUT SHE WAS NOT IN CONTROL. THE MICRO CHIP THAT WE HAVE ATTACHED TO HER IS LOSING CONTROL WITH HEREVERYTIME SHE GETS INTO A FIGHT. WE ARE UNABLE TO COLLECT DATA ABOUT HER DURING FIGHT.” AURTHER UTTERED.

“SO...?” HIS MASTER INQUIRED.

“I THINK WE ARE READY FOR NEW IMPLANTATION.” AURTHER FINALLY MADE EYE CONTAC WITH HIS MASTER. HIS MASTER SMILED AND NODDEDE.

“OKAY. I HOPE FOR BETTER RESULTS.” AND WITH THESE FINAL WORDS HIS MASTER WNET OUT OF THE SCREEN. HE LET OUT A DEEP SIGH OF RELIEF. HE STOOD UP AND CAME BACK TO HIS ROOM. HE LOOKED AT THE DARK SKY OUT OF THE WINDOW. HE TOOK HIS PHONE AND DIALED SOME NUMBERS.

“GET MY LAB READY FOR THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.” AND HE HUNG UP THE CALL.

WITH A SCREECHING OF TIRES SHE PULLED BREAKS OF HER CAR.

“THAT WAS SOMETHING EXCITING IN THE WHOLE DAY.” SHE SAID WITH EXCITEMENT. SHE WAS IN FRONT OF A GREY AND DARK BUILDING. A SHUTTER FOLD UP GIVING HER WAY ENTER INSIDE. SHE PARKED HER VEHICLE AND GET ON HER WAY TO THE HALL.

AS USUAL, SHE WAS LATE FOR HER DINNER. SHE TOOK A LOOK AT THE TIME AND ROCKETED TOWARD THE DINNING AREA. WITHOUT WASHING HER HANDS HER SAT ON HER SEAT DESPITE OF SENSING THE PRESENCE OF SOMEONE ELSE AT THE TABLE.

“MY GOODNESS! I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU BROKE ROAD SAFETY RULES AGAIN.” A SWEET YET BOLD FEMALE VOICE SAID.

“OH. I’M SORRY SOL.” AND SAYING THIS SHE STARTED TAKING BITES OUT OF HER SERVED FOOD.

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU...” SOL WAS SAYING SOMETHING WHEN THEY HEARD A THUD FROM THE HALLWAY. THEY BOTH RUSHED TOWARD THE HALLWAY. IT WAS KETTY, A WHITE FEMALE CAT, WHO WAS NEW IN THE HOUSE.

“SHE MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO HANG ON THE TABLE.” SHE SAID PICKING UP THE PORCILIN VASE AND PUTTING IT BACK TO ITS PLACE.

“I DON’T LIKE THIS CAT.” SOL SAID WITH HATEFUL EXPRESSIONS.

SHE LOOKED AT SOL FOR A FEW MOMENTS AND NODDED. AND THEY BOTH AGAIN LANDED ON THE DINING TABLE. THEY RESUME THE SUPPER. BEFORE THEY COULD TAKE ANOTHER BITE A ROBOTIC VOICE ALARMED THE WHOLE HOUSE.

“AELLA! YOU SHOULD SEE THIS.” A BOY IN HIS TEEN YEARS YELLED.

SHE MOVED SWIFTLY TOWARD SOURCE OF THE VOICE. SOL FOLLOWED HER FROM BEHIND. SHE LOOKED AT HIM AND RAN TO HUG HIM. HE HUGGED HIM BACK. SOL WAS STANDING NEAR THEM WATCHING THE WHOLE SCENE WITH HER FLAT EXPRESSIONLESS FACE.

“I’M SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE BACK.” THE BOY CHEERED.

“NO. I’M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE OKAY. BUT YOUR VOICE...?” SHE SAID LOOKING AT SOL.

“WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THE NEW MODEL OF ELECTO-LARYNX. IT WILL BE DONE IN TWO DAYS. TTILL THEN WE HAVE PEOVIDED HIM WITH OLD VERSION OF THE DEVICE.” SOL REPLIED SMILING EYE TO EYE TOWARD HER.

“OKAY.” SHE TURNED HER GAZE TOWARD THE BOY. “HOW ARE YOU FEELING AX...?” SHE ASKED THE BOY TAKING HIS HAND SIN HER AND LOOKING AT THEM WITH EXTRA CARE.

“I’M FEELING GOOD NOW AELLA. THANK YOU.” AX REAPLIED SHOWING HIS TEETHING TO HER.

“WHAT WAS THAT YOU YELLED SO LOUD AX...?” SOL ASKED AX.

“OH. YES. COME. I HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.” AX SAID TAKING A HAND OF AELLA AND LEADING HER TO THE BASEMENT.

IT WAS NOT A BASEMENT BUT A BASE WITH DIFFERENT KIND OF ELECTRONIC EQUPMENTS. SEVERAL KINDS OF SCREENS WITH DIFFERENT LANGUAGES AND NUMARCALS, SEVERAL CONTROL PANELS AND KEYPADS ALONG WITH NUMEROUS GLOWING LIGHTS AND NON STOP BEEPING SOUNDS. AX SAT ON THE CHAIR AND RAN HIS FINGERS ON THE KEYBOARD. SUDENLY A SCREEN APPER IN THE THIN SCREEN WITH A LIST.

“WHAT IS THIS AX...?” AELLA ASKED HIM LOOKING AT THE SCREEN.

“HE GOT A CALL FROM HIS MASTER TODAY.” SAYING THIS AX CLICKED ON AN ICON ON THE THIN SCREEN IN AIR AND AN AUDIO STARTED TO PLAY. IT WAS THE WHOLE CONVERSATION OF AURTHER AND HIS MASTER. AFTER LISTENING TO THE AUDIO AELLA SAT DOEN ON THE CHAIR NEXT TO AX. SOL WAS STANDING BRHIND BOTH OF THEM LOST IN HER OWN THOUGHTS. THERE WAS TOTAL SILENCE IN THE BASEMENT.

“WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW...?” AELLA ASKED LOOKING AT AX WHO WAS ALREADY GAZING AT HER.

“WE STILL HAVE TIME.” SOL SAID LOOKING AT AELLA.

“HOW...?” AX ASKED.

“HE SAID DAY AFTER TOMORROW.” SOL REPLIED LOOKING AT AX.

“THAT’S HOW WE WILL GET TIME TO REPLACE THE CHIP.” AELLA EYES SPARKLED WITH FINAL COMMENT.

SUDDENLY, A RED LIGHT FLASHED ON THE SCREEN. AX FLASHED HIS FINGERS ON THE KEYS OF BOARD AND A THIN SCREEN APPERED WITH A MESSAGE.

“GET MY LAB READY TOMORROW. WE WILL BE OPERATING TOMORROW.”