Momma used to say, ‘Love pronounced backwards is Evil’,”
Sheridon joked, responding to Samantha’s question about why he never married and why he didn’t have a girlfriend. Ariel and Russell were listening intently, until Treen walked over from her desk, ending her phone conversation with Finns.
“Garrison Blue just held a staff dinner at the Sea Crystallore,” said Treen, carrying the laptop. “He promoted someone to fill the head engineer position because Mr. Wellbay just resigned.”
“No way!”
“Yes way, Russell. Finns also overheard two rookie engineers bragging about their work at a secret lab in the Grevelton Hills.”
“What they hiding way up there?” asked Samantha.
Treen placed the laptop on the center table and displayed Mr. Wellbay’s designs. “They’re assembling these Ecnal-4 and Arast-0 androids for — ”
Treen’s lips stayed apart. She didn’t blink. She leaned closer to the screen, glaring at the names typed in bold letters above each droid. Then, she stared at everyone.
“Jazz, what’s wrong?”
Treen intersected her fingers then exhaled as she cupped her hands atop her head. “Love pronounced backwards is Evil,” she said, requoting Sheridon’s mother. Sam, loan me your pen.”
Everyone gathered around when she knelt by the table and began to write down the names of the androids — backwards. She started with Arast-0.
“T-s-a-r-a, and the zero spelled backwards is, orez; Tsara Orez!” said Treen, giving her forehead a quick smack. Next, she wrote out Ecnal-4. “L-a-n-c-e R-u-o-f — Lance Ruof!” Again, she smacked herself.
Russell stood shaking his head. “Oh man. Please tell me, you’re not sayin Tsara’s an android.”
“I think Tsara — and Lance, are both androids. Doris Blue heard her husband say he would name the new androids after the prototypes; looks like he simply used the names in reverse. However, this also explains Lance’s strength and why I heard him speaking backwards; Because of Internet viruses, Lance has been gradually malfunctioning for a while now.”
“I can’t believe it,” Russell whispered, I made out — with a robot.” He stepped over Sheridon’s feet, brushed by Treen, then slogged towards the little red refrigerator.
“Little sister’s an android? I need some air,” grumbled Sheridon who stormed out into the hallway. Samantha followed him.
“I don’t understand somthin’. If Lance and Tsara have all these mechanical issues why doesn’t Mr. Blue just send ‘em to the scrap yard?”
“Good question, Ariel. Apparently, Tsara’s problems were sorted out a while ago when Mera scrapped the Arast Internet capability. As far as Lance goes, even with the viruses, he’s still a highly intelligent droid. On a whim, he designed a new Space Shuttle after the Columbia burned up. He got rid of the heat resistant tiles that flew off and created a uni-bodied Shuttle made entirely of heat resistant material. Too bad the design is on that disk and not at NASA.”
Treen waited for Russell to finish his Pavaloo and for Sheridon and Samantha to come back into the office. Sheridon looked much calmer — especially with Samantha holding his hand. However, when Treen gathered everyone around the table to discuss the dangerous journey they were about to take, Samantha herself needed calming.
“With all these big cities in the world, why would Mr. Blue take Grevelton?” she asked. Why your parents?” I am so worried about all this.”
Treen removed her headband. “Criminal activity works best when kept low key — exactly why Mr. Blue let’s everyone think his drug selling droids are simply a street gang called the Awakers. It’s the perfect environment for corruption — an environment that will change when my father opens Bookvilla...”
Samantha sat next to Treen. “Girlfriend, you must be quick and find Mom, Dad, and Regina.”
“We will Sam,” she whispered. Treen put her headband on, then looked up at the others, who where all staring at her. “We’re leaving for the Grevelton Hills tonight. Are you guys ready?”
“I’m ready,” said Ariel. “Me too,” said Russell.
“Them hills are rough y’all — real rough — but I’m ready too,” said Sheridon. “Any idea where this lab is? The Grevelton Hills cover miles and miles…”
“As my mother would say, ‘I haven’t a clue.’ I searched the disk but there’s nothing there about the lab. Russell, do you remember your father ever mentioning the Grevelton Hills Lab?”
“No, but maybe there’s somthin’ about it on his computer at home. I still got a house key.”
“Great idea,” said Treen. Perhaps we can also find some information on Professor Mera...”
No one answered when Russell called home, so everyone put on their jacket and headed towards the door. Russell didn’t know where his father was, but he knew his mother had evening class until nine o’clock — less than an hour away.
“Treen, I know you get sick of me saying this, but please be careful.”
“I will Sam — and I don’t get sick of you saying that.” Treen patted Sheridon’s arm. “We’ll take care of him for you.”
With so many people strolling the streets beneath the sparkling black sky, Ariel cruised the Hummer carefully through downtown Mallyview, towards E. Kester Avenue where Russell lived. Treen gazed out at the collage of colorful lights illuminating the cozy stores along the sidewalk. As they moved closer to the town square, she gazed up at her father’s office window on the second floor of the bookstore.
As worried as she was about her parents, the glowing green Bookvilla sign above the entryway, quickly reminded her of their strength: Two failed bookstores, a bankruptcy, and several loan rejections. After all that, her parents had made it, and helped her make it as well. She’d find them — no matter what.
Ariel continued to drive down Mallyview Main, which eventually led into the intersection where Shainy was killed. The area couldn’t cause Treen to ponder the accident because the accident was always with her — a deep scar that she’d learned to live with. She’d been on Davagard Lane only twice since the accident, but the street connected to E. Kester Road and was the best place to park clear of Russell’s house.
After they’d parked on the hill, everyone jumped out and followed Russell home. They walked quickly instead of sprinting, so they wouldn’t draw any more attention than a wanna be rock star, teenage counselor, Missourian cowboy, and former Grevelton gangster, already had to the folks enjoying the nippy night air from their porches. When they’d reached the house a short time later, Russell noticed all the lights on and signaled everyone to hide behind the hedges. “Great. That’s my dad’s BMW in the driveway,” he whis-
pered. How we gonna check the computer now?”
“We’ll wait for bit, maybe he’ll leave,” said Treen.
“And if he doesn’t?”
Bap!
Bap Bap!
“Jazz, those were gunshots!”
“My dad!” Russell sprang up and sprinted across the lawn.
“Russell wait!” shouted Treen, she and the others chasing after him.
Russell shoved through the slightly open front door. He ran so fast he slipped on a throw rug, crashing into a display case full of crystal trinkets. He scurried through the living room, up the stairs — most of which he skipped as he scampered to the top.
Shortly after, Treen jogged up to the second floor and stopped in the hallway. No Russell. No sounds. Ariel and Sheridon hovered behind her, unarmed except for their loaded fists. After a short, uneventful search, they found Russell, cradling his father on the bloody floor of his computer room.
“Quickly, call Dr. Moresky,” said Treen, handing Ariel her phone. She and Sheridon then hurried to Russell’s side.
Treen wanted to examine Mr. Wellbay, but Russell wouldn’t let him go. However, she could see by the amount of blood soaking his shirt that he might not last very long.
“Mr. Wellbay? Mr. Wellbay, it’s Treen — can you hear me?” she said quietly.
“Yeah, I-I can hear.”
“Who shot you, Mr. Wellbay?”
When his father started to cough, Russell shifted to give him more air. Mr. Wellbay cleared his throat a few times before he answered, “Tsara — Tsara, shot me.”
“But, the Arast droids aren’t designed to attack...”
“No, they’re not,” he whispered. “It’s Lance. He — re-programmed her — like last time...”
“What happened last time?”
Suddenly, Mr. Wellbay’s slow blinking eyes shifted toward Sheridon. He stared at him for a moment then whispered, “She — your mother...”
Sheridon glared at Treen. Russell leaned closer to his father. “Dad, what are you tryin’ to say?”
“Lance, he sent Tsara...sent her to kill Sheridon, but she killed his mother instead.”
Sheridon pushed Treen’s hand away and launched from the floor.
He marched behind the computer desk, where he snatched down an elegant sword that hung on the wall. Gripping the weapon, he steamed towards the doorway; Treen and Ariel moved in his path.
“Sheridon, please stop,” said Treen.
“I’m goin’ to look for Tsara!”
“Then let me go with you,” said Ariel.
Treen grabbed Sheridon’s hand. “Look at me,” she said quietly. “I’m sorry about your mother. But you’re still alive, and we’d