Hooke's Lab

It took me a while, but I had finally found the place where the keycard went.  I was outside a large factory.  It was a giant three-story complex.  The building had a white brick foundation and a large glass dome that I couldn't see through on the outside.  It was likely though that you could see the outside from inside the building.  Yes, there was definitely something hidden inside the building.  There were three A.I. security robots patrolling the outside of the complex.  The keycard would definitely let me inside the complex, but I doubted that the security robots would just let me stroll inside.

Lead Pipe Larry was next to me with his signature weapon.

"Do you think you can do anything about those security robots?"

The man looked down at his pipe and shook his head.  "I ain't got a death with.  Those are heavily armored security bots.  This pipe can kill a person, but it ain't going to do anything against a bot."

"See, this is where the jetpack would have been useful."

"I told you already, sir, I ain't letting you fly around in a jetpack."

I thought for a while.  What was a way I could get the robots to leave their post.

"They are likely programmed to defend someone from harm.  So, they might leave their post if there's a threat to someone's life."

"Sounds like you're cooing up a real scheme, my Lord."

I smiled.  I did have a plan, but I wasn't sure if it was going to work.

"So, this is what we're going to do...."

********************

I ran through the gates.  I was in a real panic.  The three security robots immediately came to attention and made a line to block access to the entrance.

"This is a secure facility.  Please turn back."

A stopped and dropped down on the ground.

"Help!  Please help me!  There's a madman outside the complex with a giant lead pipe.  He bashing it against the ground.  He said he's going to kill me."

Just as I said these words, Larry ran through the fence with his lead pipe in hand.  He was banging it against the ground and making a real nuisance.

"Think you can outrun me.  No one gets away from Lead Pipe Larry.  I'll show you yet."

Two of the robots left their stations to go after Larry.  While they were robots, they were also very heavy due to all the metal that was on their body.  Larry did his part perfectly.  He teased the two robots and got them to chase them outside the perimeter.

But there was still one remaining.  "Aren't you going to help your friends."

"I must never leave this facility.  I have been programmed with the express directive to guard this location."

This robot sounded less robotic in its voice commands.  More advance A.I. likely.

"That's okay, I have a plan for that, too."

"Ouch, my shoulder hurts.  I think that man hit me real good.  Can you help me?  Maybe you have some medical supplies."

The metal robot stomped over to men and helped life me up.

"I can call for medical assistance from outside, but I cannot allow you to go inside."

"That's okay.  I think you've helped me plenty."

I put my hand into the small opening that was near the metal breastplate and pulled out the electronical cord that kept the robot powered.  The robot froze in place, a look of artificial shock all over its face.

"See, it pays off to be a scientist as smart as me."  I giggled and pressed the keycard to the door.

"I hope Larry can lead those two on a nice long chase."  I also hoped that Larry wouldn't be stupid enough to get caught either.

The inside was a bright white room.  There were large glass tubes, that almost served as columns to support the building's structure.  On the far side of the room was a hand-drawn diagram pasted to the wall.  Even from so far away, I immediately recognized some of the designs on it.

I ran through all the peculating glass columns over to the drawing.  There was no mistaking the design.  This was the drawing of the metal wings that Athena had been wearing in the future.

Hooke was the scientist that had made Athena into a God.  There was no other conclusion to draw.  But the designs were still incomplete.  I pictured Athena in my head and could tell that these plans were still years in the making.

As I was studying the plans, a small body ran into my.  I fell to the ground.  I wasn't hurt, but I was caught off guard.

On top of me was a child.

Not a small child, a small girl that looked like she couldn't be older than twelve.  She was wearing a white gown, and her face looked oddly familiar.  But I didn't get much of a chance to think about it anymore.

"Hey, daddy, you're back.  I'm so happy to see you."

I was so shocked by her words that I couldn't muster any words.

"I have been locked up so long in this. place, I almost lost my mind.  I'm just so happy to see you again.  Though, I must say that you look like you got much younger."

I managed to sit up and push the girl off me.  "What do you think you're doing?  You can't just knock someone over like that."

The girl twirled around and giggled.  "Don't be like that?  I would never hurt you.  You are my daddy after all."

Was this girl, Hooke's daughter?  It was hard to imagine.  I was having a hard time thinking for some reason.

"Do you want to play?  It's been forever since we played together.....  I know what we can do.  I'll hide somewhere in this room, and you come find me."

"I don't want to."

The girl didn't listen to me.  She stuck out her tongue and ran off to who knows where.

"Should I look for the girl?"  Not worth the time.  I took down the drawing on the wall and rolled it up.  "I need to see if there's anything else interesting in this lab."

As I was about to investigate further, I heard the sound of metal footsteps.

"Stop there!  You are trespassing inside a private facility."  The two robots that had been chasing Larry were already back.  I tried to get away, but they both managed to grab me by the arm.

"Let go of my father right now!"  The little girl that had gone into hiding came out of her hiding place.

"This man is an intruder.  He must be disposed of."

Disposed of!  I didn't like the sound of that.  

"No, I won't allow it.  You will unhand him right this instance."

I looked at both of the A.I. guard's faces.  And to me at that moment, they looked like they had genuine fear.

"That's not possible.  A robot like this shouldn't be afraid."

"We are programmed to guard this facility.  We cannot let this intruder..."

That was all the robot ever got to say.  The small girl, with her tiny arm, picked up the robot and threw him like he was nothing.  The robot went flying and smashed a hole through to the outside of the complex.

The other robot let go of my arm instantly.  He tried to run away...  But it was no use.  The small twelve-year-old girl smashed him to pieces.

I looked at the little girl.  I instantly knew who this was now.

"Athena."

"Hi, daddy.  Those two wouldn't let us play together.  But they won't bother us anymore."  She smiled her cute smile and ran away again.