Book 6 - Chapter 3 The Labs (2/2)

This level of manufacturing was hundreds of years ahead of the wastelands. If Bug could compare it to anything, it was like what she might find from ancient tech.

Her current aim was to unravel the secrets of these machines’ nervous systems. What she saw displayed a mastery that the wastelands simply did not possess. If she could reverse engineer this technology it would be a priceless discovery. There were so many in the wastelands who were missing limbs, these robots could hold the key to improving their quality of life by creating arms and legs indistinguishable from the real thing.

Bug poured over the specimen with furrowed brow, working on these secrets when one of her assistants came rushing over. “Boss Hellflower is coming!”

She gasped. Why was Hellflower coming to their lab? Before the young girl could get up to meet her an alluring figure swept into the room. A woman of such presence and beauty should have been impossible in the wastelands, but somehow the deserts had produced this flower.

Every time she saw her Bug was afflicted with terrible self-consciousness. To her, Hellflower was perfect. Her mind, her body were inimitable. In fact, the respect she held for this scientist surpassed even their city’s Governor, Dawn. Although the Governor was also an exceptional woman, she had come from the Elysian lands. Hellflower was a closer ideal, since they’d come from the same place.

Bug had made a few friends with other female scientists in the lab. They often liked to chat and gossip. In quiet voices they proclaimed that only a perfect flower of the wilds deserved to be with the wasteland’s perfect man. As far as they were concerned, Hellflower and Cloudhawk were made for one another.

Hellflower called out to her. “What are you up to here?”

“Boss Hellflower,” Bug stuttered, “is there something I can help you with?”

The older woman launched right into an explanation. “Cloudhawk and I recently made a discovery on Stony Plains that affects our manufacturing plans. It’s time for us to step up.”

She went on to explain the basics of what they knew.

“What? The robots have started attacking people?”

Bug was initially skeptical of the news. These robots weren’t aggressive like wasteland creatures. Since they didn’t need to eat why would they be attacking the settlers? Bug knew of Greenland’s plans to establish a manufacturing base on Stony Plains, the plans had been in the process of implementation for months now. It would be a tremendous loss of time and resources if they had to stop now because the robots have started attacking settlers.

“We know very little of Stony Plains. If we explore it blindly we will invariably meet danger.” Hellflower adjusted her goggles as she spoke, as was her custom. “Our two worlds differ greatly in scientific capability and to the present we still don’t understand the mysteries of these creatures. However, that does not mean we can’t discover their origin.”

Bug did not know how they intended to do that. Hellflower answered with a clap of her hands.

A group of soldiers entered, bringing with them several restrained robots.

They looked like raptors, almost two meters tall with powerful hind legs. Their forelimbs were much smaller but bore wicked claws. Unlike all the other specimens these were still operational. However there were signs of damage from a recent struggle. That was how Dawn and her soldiers had managed to capture them.

Hellflower continued. “We have seen a number of examples where these creatures have been repaired. That tells us that they go somewhere to have work done. These specimens have been damaged, so we can expect them to try and escape to that place when freed.”

Bug was beginning to understand.

“What I need you to do is design a tracking mechanism. Install them in these robots, and we use this method to follow them to the source.” Hellflower fixed the young girl with her stare. “What do you say? Can you handle it?”

There was no question in her mind, Hellflower was giving her a chance to prove herself! The woman could produce a working transponder with hardly any effort. Bug was filled with inspiration and appreciation when she knew what was happening. “I will definitely complete this task!”

Hellflower nodded her head in satisfaction. “We scientists do things as scientists do. Show Cloudhawk what we’re capable of. Don’t let that all brawn and no brain Governor Dawn look down on us.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Bug adopted a serious facade.

“I hear you’re working on finding some way to combine the robots’ neural network with the human nervous system,” Hellflower said sudden, as though an afterthought. “An inspired project. We have a wealth of specimens now, I’ll make sure you get as many as you need. Work hard, if you earn senior scientist in under two years I’ll consider taking you on as my protege.”

Bug felt like her heart would burst out of her chest, it was beating so quickly!

This legendary woman who she admired so much would be her teacher?! It was an offer she couldn’t resist. It didn’t matter if she didn’t eat or sleep for the next two years, she had to stand out!

Hellflower was a busy woman. She left after giving Bug her new task. Bug turned to her interns when they were alone once again.

“Alright, time to get to work!”

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