Future's End

By Adrian Wong

Dedicated to Howard Leeds and the rest of the Small Wonder cast and crew,
especially Tiffany Brissette.

Chapter 1

Within the Stephen Hawking's Institute of Applied Physics somewhere in the not too distant future.

"Eureka! James come in here. I finally figured out the problem of molecular displacement within the tachyon field," shouted a white-haired grizzled old man in his late forties.

He continued to clap his hands in excitement as a young dark haired man in his middle twenties entered the room.

"You called Dr. Hawkins?" he replied.

"Get over here and check this out," Dr. Hawkins beckoned to the young man. "I finally figured out a way for biological material to enter a tachyon field without disintegrating itself.

"Terrific Doctor! This discovery will definitely help Dr. Lawson along with the TTP project we've been working on," the young scientist replied with as much excitement in his voice as his older colleague.

"After a few more tests we should be able to proceed to phase two. I'll send the latest developments to Dr. Lawson's lab," Dr. Hawkins remarked as he proceeded to punch up a few simple commands on his computer console, sending the data about his discovery on its way.

"Phase two Doctor?" the young scientist asked scratching his head.

"I'm not really sure what it's all about either. All I know is phase two has something to do with the VICI project Dr. Lawson has been working on. The rest are all vague details," the older colleague answered.

"I really dislike it when the top brass keeps us in the dark about important details."

"I do too but it's for our own safety. Ever since the disappearance of Dr. Sugasawa and Dr. Peterson two weeks ago the pentagon has kept a tight lid on any information about these projects we've been working on. They suspect Kasparov's behind this but haven't been able to confirm anything.

"Kasparov? You mean Boris Kasparov. The head of the international terrorist organization ARM?" Dr. James asked in shocked disbelief.

"The same. We had better watch our backs. ARM has ears all over the world including scientific facilities like this."

"Is that why we've been stepping up security at all our facilities?"

Just as Dr. Hawkins was about to answer the young man's question, the red light on his vid-com started flashing followed by a faint buzzing sound as the image of a young blonde-haired man in a security uniform appeared on the screen.

"Yes Charlie. What is it?" Dr. Hawkins asked the image.

 "Dr. Hawkins, we've got a man here claiming that he's got an important package for you," the security guard replied.

"Package? What package? I didn't order for anything specific to be brought to the lab. Charlie? Charlie, are you there?"

The old scientist was answered by static, followed by a faraway faint explosion.

"I don't like the feeling of this," Dr. James remarked hinting his nervousness.

"Neither do I. Grab your coat James and let's get to the bottom of this," Dr. Hawkins ordered as he proceeded to put on his own coat and head for the main exit.

Before Dr. Hawkins or Dr. James could react, the main door blew open with a force that sent them flying before they slammed into a nearby lab wall. After recovering from the initial shock of the impact, Dr. Hawkins peered around anxiously for his younger colleague while calling out his name. After a quick search he found the young man lying nearby unconscious suffering from a slight head wound.

"Thank goodness he's still alive," Dr. Hawkins sighed with relief as he noticed a dark foreboding shadow outlining what used to be the main exit. "What is the meaning of this!" Dr. Hawkins demanded.

"Dr. Hawkins," the shadow replied with a heavy Russian accent. "You're coming with us!"

"Over my dead body" Dr. Hawkins shouted back before he was overcome by the effects of a sleeping gas spray.

As darkness swelled around him, Dr. Hawkins tried to cry out but was only answered by faint laughter in the distance before finally losing consciousness.

Chapter 2

One month later.

Location - Wahington D.C.

Somewhere inside the pentagon office of General Shepherd.

"Commander David Stephens reporting for duty sir!" a smart looking young man of 29 shouted as he saluted the stocky older general in front of him.

"At ease Commander," the general replied. "Do you know why you've been recalled for duty?"

"All I know sir is that it has something to do with new orders I just received this morning."

"Precisely Commander. What I am about to brief you on is top secret and not a word of this conversation shall leave this room. Understood commander!"

"Completely sir!" the young commander replied as the general placed a photograph of two men on the table in front of him.

"Do you recognize these men?" the general asked.

"Should I sir?"

"They are Dr. Hawkins and Dr. James Porter formerly of the Stephen Hawking's Institute of Applied Physics."

"Formerly sir?"

"They were kidnapped a month ago right under our noses. We suspect Kasparov's behind this but we aren't sure yet."

"Kasparov sir? Wasn't he supposedly killed six months ago after his foiled attempt to start a terrorist uprising?" the commander asked.

"Unfortunately he's still alive and very much at large and has gone into hiding," the general answered. "Interpol has been trying to track him but with not much success. Our current intelligence suggests that he's hiding somewhere in Arizona."

"What has Kasparov got to do with my new orders sir?"

"Everything Commander! Everything!" the general answered. "Your current assignment is to baby-sit a scientist and his daughter who live in the area."

"Guard duty sir?" the commander asked with a slight trace of uneasiness in his voice.

"Do you have a problem with that Commander?"

"None whatsoever sir!" the commander replied quickly stiffening his stance. "It's just that I thought they would have assigned someone from the FBI to handle this. Bodyguard duty is more their department."

"If my information serves me correctly you were handpicked for the job."

"By who sir?"

"His daughter."

"Huh?!" the commander replied with a puzzled look in his eyes.

"Cheer up. The brass have approved your promotion to captain along with all the privileges and perks the rank carries."

"Swell sir," the young man remarked. "Fat lot of good that's going to do for me if I'm stuck on guard duty," he thought to himself.

"What was that Captain?"

"Uh, very well sir! I will carry out my orders to the best of my abilities," the newly promoted captain answered.

"Very good Captain Stephens. Dismissed!"

**********

In a hidden secret base somewhere in the Colorado Highlands near the Grand Canyon.

"I don't want excuses! I want results!" a vicious-looking man in his fifties shouted at a quivering younger man standing nearby.

"But Mr. Kasparov sir, the man is impossible. He refuses to give us any information regarding the TTP project," the young man stammered.

"I don't care! Put him in the Iron Maiden again! Cut his food supply in half! I don't care but that man will talk!" Kasparov replied angrily. "Bring him here!"

"But sir, the man is on the verge of collapse. He hasn't eaten for three days and refuses to talk. I doubt interrogating him again will yield any results."

"Now Durkoth! Or it will be your neck I stretch next!"

"Yes sir," the young Russian bowed and ordered the nearby guard to bring the prisoner in.

The two burly Russian guards brought in a disheveled looking old man who's appearance negated the strong fiery will within him. His clothes were dirty and torn and stained with blood but his eyes reflected the defiance he held towards his captor.

"Well Dr. Hawkins. I hope my men haven't been treating you too badly," Kasparov asked with mocking concern.

"Where's Dr. Porter, Sugasawa and Peterson! I demand to see them!"

"They are currently indisposed at the moment. You will see them again shortly but only after you tell me about the TTP project.

"Never! I'll never aid a merciless and vicious fiend like you to carry out your mad plans!" shouted Dr. Hawkins.

"Flattery will get you nowhere Doctor. Now talk or your colleagues will suffer the consequences."

Dr. Hawkins hesitated for a minute but before he could give an answer another young Russian at a computer console signaled for Kasparov's attention.

"Sir! We've finally decoded the encrypted transmission Dr. Hawkins sent from his lab before he was apprehended."

"Excellent!" Kasparov answered rubbing is hands together in delight. "Guards! Take Dr. Hawkins back to his cell. A few more days in solitary confinement will soon loosen his tongue."

The two burly Russian guards bowed and carried the barely conscious scientist away.

"Now! Vladimir. The transmission!"

"Yes sir. It seems that Dr. Hawkins finally managed to solve the final problem he had been facing in regards to the TTP project prior to his apprehension."

"Very good. Send the details to the techs and order them to begin construction immediately."

"Yes sir!"

"And signal Hashim, Yamoto and General Lynch that we will soon be prepared to proceed to the final phase of my plan."

"I managed to triangulate the signal and find out who it was intended for," the young Russian interrupted nervously.

"Well! Who is it then?" Kasparov asked stamping his foot in impatience.

"A Dr. Ted Lawson sir formerly of United Robotronics but was drafted by the pentagon for reasons unknown."

"Dr. Lawson eh! He may prove to be a useful source of information. Give me a quick bio!"

"Yes sir," the young Russian communications officer answered as he scanned a hacked pentagon computer database finally displaying the results of his search as the image of a smart looking light brown-haired man in his forties filled the main video screen in front of him.

"Dr. Theodore Lawson," a monotonous synthesized computer voice answered.

"Date of birth -- March 2, 1970."

"Place of birth -- Long Beach, California."

"Current living relatives -- One daughter -- Victoria Ann Smith Lawson -- adopted February 27, 2010."

"Current place of residence -- Los Angeles, California."

"Current whereabouts -- unknown."

"That's all I could get sir. The rest of the information has been encrypted," Vladimir answered.

"Hmmmm," Kasparov mumbled. "What about his daughter?"

"Nothing much on her either sir but I'll bring up her bio."

The Russian officer punched a few commands on his computer console and the image of Dr. Lawson was replaced by the image of an attractive young coffee-eyed brunette of about 12 years of age.

"Victoria Ann Smith Lawson," the displaced computer voice answered.

"Date of birth -- September 9, 1997."

"Place of birth -- Victoria, Mahe."

"Current living relatives -- Parents killed in a plane collision with a train on December 5, 1999. Officially adopted by Dr. Theodore Lawson -- February 27, 2010."

Current place of residence -- Los Angeles, California."

"Current whereabouts -- unknown."

"That's all sir."

"Pretty little thing, isn't she," Kasparov murmured. "Do you know the destination of the signal?"

"Unfortunately sir the signal was partially scrambled and it will take at least another seven hours to find out."

"Get to it then Vladimir! I want to know the exact location of Dr. Lawson as soon as possible."

"Right away sir!" the communications officer replied and proceeded to carry out the long task of tracing the signal.

"Everything is falling into place," Kasparov chuckled to himself. "Soon Dr. Lawson and his daughter will be within my grasp and we will be able to usher in a new era. One of which I will hold the supreme reins of power."

Chapter 3

Three hours later.

Location - Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles International Airport.

"Flight 4110 to Chicago, Illinois will be departing in fifteen minutes. All passengers please proceed to Gate 21 and have a nice day."

"Whew, I thought that plane would never get to the ground," a weary Captain Stephens thought to himself as the voice of the female airport announcer slowly faded away.

He proceeded to gather his luggage and head to the main gate exit where he was greeted by a young blacked-haired Jamaican in his twenties wearing a typical tropical T-shirt and shorts.

"Hey man, you must be Captain Stephens. Pleased to meet you," the young Jamaican greeted as he shook Captain Stephens hand vigorously.

"Uh, likewise. Are you Hulio?"

"The one and only Cap. My wheels are over there. We'd better get a move on. The Doc's been expecting you."

"Gee no limo?" Captain Stephens asked sarcastically when he spotted the beat-up, second hand army jeep Hulio had been pointing at.

"Hey Cap. Don't put old Ruby-Mae here down. She's as reliable as a P-5."

"More like a P-5 on it's last legs no doubt."

"Come on Cap. Let's get going before..." Hulio's voice trailed off as they were suddenly interrupted by a woman's scream nearby.

"Thief! Thief! That man stole my purse! Stop him!"

Hulio and Captain Stephens watched as a man wearing a black hood carrying a woman's purse ran by while being pursued by two P-5 law enforcement droids behind him.

"Halt! Or we will open fire!" one of the P-5 droids ordered in a menacing monotonous tone but the masked man paid no heed to it's warnings.

"Wait here!" Captain Stephens ordered Hulio before jumping out of the jeep in pursuit of the masked perpetrator.

"No argument here man," Hulio answered.

The P-5 droids finally aimed their right-hand stun pellet guns and proceeded to fire with careful aim and precision at the masked man.

"Not so easy, robot!" the masked man shouted as he pressed a button hidden under his belt which causes four multiple holographic images of himself to appear behind him as he ducks around a corner."

"Multiple targets sighted," one of the P-5 droids shouted. "Commence firing!"

A shower of blue pellets bombard the four smug looking images but with no effect.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! What fools they are replacing their usual security forces with a bunch of metal idiots," the masked man laughed and heads for a nearby maintenance exit before suddenly stopping dead in his tracks.

"I believe you have something that doesn't belong to you," replies a smug Captain Stephens blocking his escape path.

"Meddlesome fool! You will regret interfering with my plans."

"Why don't you come over here and make me," answered Captain Stephens while beckoning the masked man with his left hand.

The black hooded man suddenly brandishes a knife hidden under his belt and begins charging at Captain Stephens with a menacing look. Captain Stephens easily dodges the assailants first strike with a quick sidestep.

"Is that the best you can do?" asked Captain Stephens with a laugh.

"You will pay for your insolence!" shouted the masked man and attempts to charge him a second time.

Captain Stephens parries the knife attack with his left hand which causes the assailant to drop the menacing weapon, and continues with a quick elbow strike to his ribs followed by a numbing blow to the back of his head and finishes him off with a somersault throw which causes the masked assailant to lose consciousness.

"Thanks for the workout chum," said Captain Stephens while dusting off his slightly ruffled uniform.

Hulio suddenly appears around the corner and starts whistling after noticing the unconscious man.

"Whoa, you sure dealt with him good. Is he alive?"

"Of course he's alive. He'll eventually wake up with a whopping headache that's all," replied Captain Stephens and removes the black hood the unconscious man had been wearing.

"Hey! I know this guy. It's Alexander Ari. Interpol's been looking for him."

"What would an international Russian terrorist be doing here in Los Angeles ripping off the handbags of old ladies."

"Don't know but he's got some pretty high-tech equipment on him," replied Captain Stephens before removing a strange item from the unconscious mans belt no bigger than his fist. "Wow, a Sony S-25 holographic projector. Haven't seen on of these in a while. Hey Hulio! Catch!" shouted Captain Stephens before tossing the Jamaican a handbag

"I believe this belongs to the nice lady over there," remarked Captain Stephens while indicating a concerned looking elderly lady nearby with his head.

"No problem man," replied Hulio and walks off to return the handbag.

"Ah, here come the authorities," muttered Captain Stephens as the two P-5 droids suddenly appear.

"Target sighted," said one of the P-5 droids. "Status -- unconscious. Proceed with arrest mode."

"Come on Cap! Let's get going! We're already running late. The P-5's can handle it from here," shouted Hulio from the army jeep.

"Just a minute," replied Captain Stephens before pocketing his newly acquired holographic projector and jumping into the car seat next to Hulio.

"There's something you should know about that lady you helped out," remarked Hulio.

"Yeah, what about her?"

"She's a cyberneticist from the Daystrom Institute here for a local robotics convention they hold every year."

"I see. Ari must have thought that she had something important in her purse."

"Not thought -- knew. She was keeping important documents regarding a new design of robots her division had been working on."

Captain Stephens looks back at Hulio and suddenly starts shaking his head.

"When are they going to learn that there's no replacement for good old human intuition," said Captain Stephens with a sigh. "Robots! What a dumb breed they turned out to be. You saw how Ari easily tricked those two P-5's."

"Yeah, but I think you'll change your mind soon enough," answered Hulio.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll see," replied Hulio before starting the jeep engine and resuming their delayed journey to Dr. Lawson's lab.

Chapter 4

Location - Downtown Los Angeles

"Here we are Cap -- research central!" said Hulio before parking the jeep in front of an odd-looking bookstore.

"Looks more like an antique bookstore to me," replied Captain Stephens.

"That's the beauty of it. Everybody thinks it's just a bookstore. Come on, let's go inside."

"OK," shrugs Captain Stephens.

The inside of the dilapidated building looked no better than the exterior. The room was filled with books of every sort and smelt of aging paper. At a nearby counter sat a wise-looking old man reading a book but puts it down when he notices the new arrivals.

"Well, what can I do for you gentleman?" the old man asked with a smile.

"We're looking for a book titled 'The Universal Dilemma of Applied Robotics'. Publishing date 2002. Registration number 1-7443286-03-9," Hulio replied in a somewhat mild tone.

"Fifth bookshelf, second column on your left," the old man answered pointing in the direction of a set of bookshelves lining the wall and exchanges oddly familiar winks with Hulio.

"What's this all about?" asked Captain Stephens with a puzzled look.

"You'll see soon enough," answered Hulio.

Hulio finally steps in front of a normal looking bookshelf and beckons Captain Stephens to stand beside him.

"Better brace yourself Cap," warned Hulio.

"Brace myself for what?" asked Captain Stephens but stopped short when Hulio pulls a book in front of him.

The bookshelf suddenly spins around, enveloping Captain Stephens and Hulio in darkness. The floor beneath them suddenly plunges down at a speed that causes Captain Stephens to lose his footing and fall on his back. The floor eventually stops moving and both of them are suddenly overwhelmed by a bright light as an elevator door opens in front of them.

"Told you to brace yourself," laughed Hulio. "Are you hurt?"

"Only my pride," answered Captain Stephens with a laugh and gets back on his feet.

"Glad to see the both of you have been getting better acquainted," said a stern voice.

"Sorry Doc, but we got held up due to unforeseen circumstances. Soldier-boy here had to dispatch one of Kasparov's men."

"Kasparov eh. Well, never mind then. If you haven't recognized me yet allow me to introduce myself. I'm Dr. Theodore Lawson but everyone calls me Doc for short. This is Hulio, my rather over-enthusiastic assistant who you've already met," replied Dr. Lawson indicating Hulio who suddenly takes a bow.

"Pleased to meet you Dr. Lawson," greeted Captain Stephens before giving the elderly scientist a handshake. "By the way, what was that contraption we were riding in just now?"

"Just a little something the techs put together. They call it a 'turbo-lift'. Goes frightfully fast doesn't it?"

"Sure does," answered Captain Stephens rubbing his back.

"How much did General Shepherd brief you on?" asked Dr. Lawson.

"He didn't mention very much sir. He told me I had been assigned as you and your daughter's bodyguard."

"Speaking of which. You haven't met my daughter yet have you?"

"No sir."

"Then it's about time you did," Dr. Lawson replied with a slight chuckle. "Follow me please."

"I don't get it," whispered Captain Stephens to Hulio. "What does he find so funny?"

"You'll see soon enough."

Dr. Lawson led them past corridors and observation windows that showed dozens of technicians and scientists donned in white static proof suits in the rooms below.

"What exactly goes on around here?" Captain Stephens inquired.

"This my friend is the most advanced scientific research facility on the planet," replied the doctor.

"How come I've never heard of it?"

"I'm not surprised. This facility is top secret. Not even the CIA knows it's exact location."

"Why all the secrecy, Doctor?" asked Captain Stephens.

"Some of the technology developed here would be devastating if it fell into the wrong hands. Those bureaucrats at the UN finally decided to fund the construction of a secret research facility where thousands of scientists and engineers all over the world can work together in developing technology that could benefit everyone in light of Kasparov's attempted uprising and the increasing terrorist threat."

"I see," replied Captain Stephens. "But why am I being told about this?"

"You Captain are about to carry out a mission on which the entire fate of humanity could rest."

"That serious eh. But why me? I mean, there must be hundreds of other people more qualified than me to handle this mission."

"Believe me Captain. You're the most qualified. You were handpicked among thousands of entries. The decision of the person who chose you is infallible."

"I'll do my best then sir," replied Captain Stephens.

"You'd better. The fate of the world probably rests on the success of your mission. Ah, here we are," answered Dr. Lawson opening a door that led into a small observation platform overlooking a huge, padded bare room below.

"Please take a seat Captain. We will be beginning shortly," said Dr. Lawson pointing to a row of seats in front of them.

"Uh, yes sir. But for what?" asked Captain Stephens.

"Patience Captain, Patience," answered Dr. Lawson before pressing an intercom button on the wall. "Jim, is she ready? Very good, you may begin at your discretion.

The room fills with silent anticipation as the lights of the observation room suddenly dim. Captain Stephens looks on as a young attractive brunette of about 12 suddenly enters the padded room with her long hair tied up in a neat bun wearing a colourful leotard and carrying a gymnastics ribbon. The silence is suddenly broken by a familiar music tune as the little girl begins her gymnastics routine performing as gracefully as a swan in perfect unison with the music. Captain Stephens stares in amazement at the child's grace and endurance.

"She must have been practicing since she was four," whispered Captain Stephens to Hulio who was sitting next to him.

"Shhh... the best part is about to come," Dr. Lawson whispered with a nudge.

The gymnast finally ends her routine by tossing the ribbon into the air before executing three perfect backflips and catching the ribbon again before finishing with a grand finale by kneeling as if in a silent prayer as the music dies down and gets back up to bask in the applause of her phantom audience.

"Fantastic Doctor! Worthy of an Olympic medal but what has this demonstration go to do with all this?" asked Captain Stephens while clapping his hands.

"You'll see," answered the doctor as Captain Stephens finally lies back in his seat, realizing that any further attempts to extract information from Dr. Lawson would be futile.

The silence is suddenly broken again as a knock on the observation door catches everyone's attention.

"Come in," said Dr. Lawson.

The door finally opens revealing who their mysterious visitor was. An attractive brown-eyed, long-haired brunette somewhere in her mid-thirties wearing a white lab coat over a neat plain dark blue dress with a beautiful but simple silver necklace around her neck entered the room with a hinted look of excitement on her face.

"She was fantastic, wasn't she Dr. Lawson?" asked the lady.

"She certainly was. As fantastic as her mother ever was," replied Dr. Lawson. "Oh -- how forgetful of me. Hulio, can you see whether Vicki is ready to meet our important guest."

"Right away Doc," the Jamaican replied before jumping out of his seat and leaving out the door.

"Captain Stephens. I'd like you to meet Dr. Brissette," said Dr. Lawson indicating the young attractive lady standing shyly near the door. "She is head pediatrician and child psychologist of one of the best children hospitals in the country founded in her name, surrogate mother to Vicki and one of the most charming, beautiful and brilliant ladies I have had the pleasure of meeting."

"You flatter too much Dr. Lawson," answered the young lady. "Pleased to meet you Captain."

"On the contrary, the pleasure is all mine," replied Captain Stephens before shaking hands. "Brissette? That name sounds vaguely familiar. Have we met before?"

"I don't think so but I have a feeling that I've met you somewhere before," answered Dr. Brissette with a sly grin.

The voice of a man over the intercom suddenly interrupts the short but pleasant meeting.

"Dr. Lawson, we're ready to proceed with the next test."

"Thank you Jim. Please wait for us. We'll be down in a minute," replied Dr. Lawson and turned to face everyone in the room. "Well, shall we get going?"

Everyone in the room nodded their heads in agreement and followed Dr. Lawson through the exit of the observation platform and down a short flight of stairs that led into the padded room which they had been looking at only moments before. The child Captain Stephens had seen during her gymnastics routine was now dressed in lacy red pinafore, red- ribboned bobbed ponytail, knee socks and Mary Janes giving her the look of a well-mannered, lovely and quaint Norman Rockwell child.

Captain Stephens looked on in amusement as Hulio tried playing the infamous three nutshell game on a table in front of her and was apparently losing.

"OK, Vicki," said Hulio. "One more time and you'd better not cheat with those special eyes of yours. Got it."

"Got it. I will keep my eyes closed this time," the little girl replied in a strange monotone with a wink and shut her eyes much to the astonishment of Captain Stephens.

"Alright then, but you're making this too easy for me," replied Hulio. "Round and round the nutshell goes, where it stops nobody knows," he chanted before finally bringing the nutshells to a stop. "Now dearie. Where is it?"

"There," answered the little girl while pointing to the middle shell with her eyes still closed.

"I'll be doggone. You did it again -- with your eyes closed even," laughed Hulio in surprise as he lifted the middle nutshell revealing the tiny nut hidden beneath it

"How'd she do that?" whispered Captain Stephens to Dr. Lawson

"I'll explain later. You could say that Vicki is not like any other 12 year old girl you've met before."

"Look Doctor, no more riddles and puzzles. I want a straight answer. What has all this got to do with the fate of the world?" snapped Captain Stephens impatiently.

(Sigh) "Very well Captain. You see, Vicki is a..." answered Dr. Lawson but is suddenly interrupted by a stern voice behind them.

"Alright! Everyone freeze and I don't want to see any sudden movements," threatened a blackhooded man carrying a crossbow.

"How did you get past security!" demanded Dr. Lawson.

"None of your business and keep your hands where I can see them," snapped the masked man.

"Danger! Emergency priority one!" retorted Vicki before stepping in between the line of fire of the crossbow to protect the people behind her.

"Vicki don't! Step away!" implored Dr. Brissette.

"Vicki! Come here!" ordered Dr. Lawson.

Vicki paid no heed to her foster parents' warnings and continued advancing towards the masked man who was threatening them.

"Alright miss. Step back and I won't have to use this," warned the masked man nervously.

"If only I could get to my pellet gun without him noticing," thought Captain Stephens.

"Vicki! For goodness sake step back!" shouted Hulio.

By now the man carrying the crossbow was shaking nervously and stuttering.

"S-S-Step back b-b-before..." the man stammered.

Before he could finish his sentence, the metallic spring on the crossbow accidentally releases its deadly ammo heading straight towards Vicki.

"Now!" thought Captain Stephens a split-second before executing a quick roll, grabbing his pellet gun from his back pocket and shouting for the masked man to give up.

"D-Don't s-s-shoot. I-I-I surrender," stuttered the masked man before dropping the crossbow he had been carrying.

"Vicki! -- Darn, I was too slow," swore Captain Stephens punching his fist into the ground.

"What should I do with this?" queried a strange familiar female voice.

"Vicki?" Captain Stephens asked turning his head towards the spot where she was standing. "But I thought you had been hit. You were only 30 feet in front of him with a crossbow pointed at your chest."

"I caught it," replied Vicki in an expressionless tone displaying a rigid steel crossbow bolt in her right hand.

"That's impossible! No human being has reflexes that fast!"

"Maybe it's because she isn't human Captain," replied Dr. Lawson putting his hands on Vicki's shoulders.

"I don't understand," a puzzled Captain Stephens queried.

"Vicki is short for V.I.C.I. Captain," replied Dr. Brissette. "Voice Input Child Identicant. In other words -- she's an android. The most advanced of its kind."

"I don't believe it," answered Captain Stephens. "Not even the Honda P-6 has the same capabilities that she has."

"She's way ahead of all that Captain Stephens. We've had access to the best cyberneticists and computer engineers in the world and most of them work in this very facility. We've had the capabilities to build a fully functional Vicki for years but lacked the manpower, funding and cooperation to do so," said Dr. Lawson. "It wasn't until recently that the UN finally gave us access to the facilities and people we needed,"

"What about him?" Captain Stephens asked fingering the blackhooded man who had already begun to calm down.

"Jim, you can stop the charade now," ordered Dr. Lawson.

"Yes sir," replied the man and removed the black hood he had been wearing.

"Captain Stephens. I'd like you to meet Mr. Jim Greenwich who is the head technical consultant for the VICI project."

"Pleased to meet you Captain," greeted Greenwich before shaking the Captain's hand. "Boy, you sure gave me a real scare there Captain."

"Uh, likewise Mr. Greenwich," answered Captain Stephens. "You knew who he really was all along, didn't you?" he accused Dr. Lawson.

"My apologies Captain but it was the only way to fully convince you about Vicki's true identity and capabilities. If we had told you from the start that she was an android, you probably wouldn't have believed it.

"You're probably right," affirmed Captain Stephens, replacing his pellet gun back in his back pocket. "But I don't appreciate being tricked and misled. From now on, you give me the facts straight. No more riddles or puzzles -- agreed."

"Agreed Captain," replied Dr. Lawson. "Let's go to my office so that I can give everyone a full briefing on the latest developments."

"Good idea," said Captain Stephens as everyone in the room nodded their heads in unanimous agreement and follow Dr. Lawson back up the short flight of stairs to his office.

"We must hurry though. Time is of the essence. If we don't act fast it will be too late to save," said Dr. Lawson.

"Too late to save what?" asked Captain Stephens.

"The future Captain. The future," replied Dr. Brissette in a solemn tone.

To Be Continued (pending reader response, thank you.)