Waking up next to Chas the next morning was incredibly difficult, but I still had a role to play and I was dedicated to playing it out until the end.
He was up first as usual. “I have to go to the lab for awhile,” he said as soon as my sleep pod opened, already heading toward the door.
“How long will you be?” I asked, only slightly nervous about him going to the lab so soon after my break-in. However, I was confident about Noella’s skills and sure that Chas would not notice anything different.
I was also grateful that he would be out of the house, giving me an opportunity to further investigate the contents of his computer. I inserted the data key, transferring everything to my computer.
I spent some time going through more of his emails and lab notes.
There was a lot of information, but all of it added more detail to what I had already found out. His lab notes described more about how he infected our systems and his plans to spread the virus to most of the other bots in Lunar Lakes. There was also more information on his human mind control experiments.
Realizing that going through all of his notes would take a lot longer than I had, I decided to turn my attention toward the internet instead.
Just as I thought, Chas’ computer was able to access the full internet; easily connecting to the Earth’s international computer network. But how could I best use it?
In a split second, I decided what I should so. I needed to connect with the humans on Earth and let them know what has been going on in Lunar Lakes. I would write everything; our whole story in a blog.
Perhaps if Earth humans were aware of the plight of their fellow humans here, then they would find a way to help…maybe even save them, save all of us from ourselves.
I began to tell our story…”My name is Ardis Bot 176. Several years ago, along with many other bots, I was sent to a small section of the moon called Lunar Lakes to determine whether this area of the moon could be inhabited by humans…”
I went on and on for hours, typing everything that I already knew of Lunar Lakes,
…and finally adding the things I had just learned.
“If help is not sent soon, I am afraid for the safety of your fellow humans. Chas is preparing for a major attack and I do not think that I can stop him alone. Almost all of the other bots feel the same way he does…” I added, hoping that the humans would see the urgency of the situation.
I continued writing, breaking everything up into chapters.
By the time I was filling in the last few words, I had 33 chapters. The humans would know everything.
I tapped one key and the whole thing was published; there in black and white on a public domain for all to see.
Finally, I went into Chas’ email and sent the blog link to our creator, Doctor LB. After years of being deceived he would finally know the truth…
…that Chas had not only refused to upgrade any of the bots, but had been using Damien Su’s name to keep the Earth scientists ignorant of the fact.
Just as I hit send, successfully sending the link to our creator, Chas walked into the room.
I turned off the computer and stood up.
“What were you doing?” Chas asked suspiciously.
A fear response crept up, but I had to hide it, “I was working on my presidential speech.”
“Oh good! I can help you with that. In fact, that is partially what I was doing at the lab,” Chas said.
“Well…I can use all the help I could get,” I said, but I am sure that my face did not hide the lie very well.
If Chas noticed, he ignored it. “Have you given any thought on who will be your new vice president?”
“Uh, no. I am not sure who I would want to work that closely with.”
“I think I found the perfect person,” Chas said.
“Well…there are not many bots here in Lunar Lakes. Who is it?” I asked wondering why Chas was being so mysterious about it.
“I would like to show you, rather than tell you. In fact, the bot is waiting right outside.”
“Well let us go and see who it is,” I said, faking my enthusiasm although I knew that whoever he suggested would not work out.
I walked outside, but did not see anyone. “Where are they Chas?”
“I told them to wait here. I do not know where they could have possibly gone.”
We walked around our property looking around. Against my better judgment, I started toward the swimming pool.
I was angered at Chas’ little game. “Chas what is this? Who is this bot that you insist that I meet?”
I could hear Chas stepping up closely behind me and my eyes went straight to the water in front of me…
But I reacted too late…and before I knew it I could feel Chas’ push on my back and I was falling toward the water.
I began shorting out before I was fully submerged.
All of the water overwhelmed my system…
…leaving me unresponsive as I slowly began to sink. My system completely shut down.
