This posting concludes episode 11.
It has been renamed from its working title "Smoke and Mirrors" (since I didn't manage to get
to the events that will carry that title
) to its new title:
Expansions and Miniatures.
"Expansions" refers to three mentioned incidents: the "Expansion Feedback Loop" the
transduction field in the generator might have undergone, the expansion of Operation
Homestead's inner circle, and the expansion Darwin's list by "Automato sapiens".
"Miniatures" of course refers to the four cute "mini-EVEs".
The episode introduced three characters that are "modelled" after forum users. Wayne Tannon
is "Wayne", Keith G. Sageman is "Level_Head", and Christine Shore is "Cri86".
The episode's page on my Wiki where I develop the story has now been opened for public
read/write access:
http://uplift.tiasoft.de/ShelbysArk11If you wish to contribute to the story by proofreading the episode before I publish it on
fanfiction.net, feel free to fix any errors in spelling, grammar or similar you might find,
by simply editing the page.
* * *
Richard Wells was brooding over some paperwork in his office when his intercom
announced an incoming voice transmission. He looked up and pressed a button.
"Wells here, hello Mr. Peterson."
"Good day Sir, please excuse the interruption. I just received a message from
Mr. Derring. There has been a certain development concerning the plant
evaluation robot that the CASE engineers are building."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Sir, I suggest a personal meeting with the Operation Homestead managers. It is
possible that we have a situation on our hands."
* * *
A noisy commotion at her apartment door woke Kimberly from her sleep, albeit not
right away. With drowsy eyes she got up, only half-aware of where she was, and
stumbled towards the door.
"Kim, quickly, freshen up, pack your things and come on down. We need to get to
the L.A. CASE base right away!"
"Trevis, what the heck? I'm dead tired here, what's all this about?"
"You remember the white probe robot you did that fascinating interview with? The
one that made you play hide-and-seek?"
"Of course, how could I forget her. Such an adorable thing."
"Yeah, that's exactly the point. According to a CASE technician I've gotten off
the phone with just ten minutes ago, she's not a
thing anymore."
Kim's eyes widened. From one moment to the next, all of her sleepiness had
vanished. "What do you mean? Are you saying that..."
Trevis moved his hand through the air in a half-circle, as if presenting an
imaginary headline that was printed there. "Robot attains sentience. Is science
allowed to tamper with nature?"
Ten seconds later, Kim had disappeared in the bathroom.
* * *
"Aww, poor sweetie," Chris smiled and carefully tickled the little robot's arms
with a fingertip, earning a joyous trill in reply.
"If I recall correctly, there's an old model airplane field at Site 39. Maybe
Daryl came from your colleagues who just indulged in some boyish hobby after
all?"
The scientist giggled. "I wouldn't put it past them. They can still be boys
alright, just their toys have become way more expensive."
"Okay, little girl, hop on. We'll see if we can find whoever it is that needs a
lesson in orientation and navigation."
Alyx held out her arm in a pose one might use to invite a trained bird to land.
The robot smiled happily and hovered forward, then clinged onto the arm with her
tiny fins.
As they set off along the path to the monorail stop, Chris wondered why Daryl
had been the only one of the four robots that had come back to them to ask for
help.
END OF EPISODE 11
