Where the wheels of poetry and prose spin ...

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

3 - a short story

3

“Three.”

“Are you certain?”

“The adverse conditions of this planet do not seem to be as extensive as previously recorded,” QR-15 responded to L3-DR, “three humanoids confirmed." QR continued, “Negative active industry. Negative global communication systems. Vegetation present but limited. Unlike the rest of the planet, a valley contains geothermal activity. Surrounding topography is mountainous”

“Landing site,” L3 instructed. “44.0327° N, 116.4121° W.”

According to QR’s readings, one of the three humanoids was a safe distance away from their landing point. The other two were a bit further away. “Activate the ship’s cloak, L3 instructed. “This discovery will delay our original mission parameters.”

By dusk the humanoids were gathered around a fire. Two males. One female. There were two structures nearby – worn and aged. Soon, two entered one structure, while the third entered the adjacent structure.

The next morning L3 ordered, “Engage holographic camouflage,” and the robots appeared like the humanoids.

They positioned themselves on the southwest corner of their settlement just inside the tree line on the eastside on the stream.

~

Manny cast his line into the river. Nothing. He made the attempt again. Finally, a large trout sprung from the surface. Minutes later he had his prize.

“What was that?” Manny heard a rustle. He swiveled quickly to his right. A bear. As if instinct pushed him into the river, he fell backwards, and the current carried him downstream. He bobbed up and down as the beast charged down the riverbank. Disbelief. Not at the beast. But at the two strangers. Manny shouted. “Look out!” The beast charged toward their position. They dodged the bear, but it managed to knock the woman down. Manny struggled to reach the riverbank as he pulled out his hunting knife. He leaped toward the beast to thrust the knife into the back of its shoulder. The beast growled and swiveled. Manny managed to thrust his knife into the beast’s heart. It crushed Manny as it fell upon him. The sun above him faded as his eyes closed.

The woman rushed toward Manny, “He has a pulse, QR stated.

The two robots looked at the other.

He needs medical attention.

Place the human on your back, L3 ordered.

They ran northbound toward the humans’ settlement. On the way, QR captured an image of the following a rusted sign: WELC-M, SWE-T, ID-H. Upon arrival they attended to his injuries. QR looked around the weathered house and spotted a bookshelf. Are you able to identify these pages? Above the bookshelf were three framed torn pages. 

We need to leave. L3 urged.

Images captured for later evaluation.

With his ribs bound, Manny began to wake. Holly busted through the front door. “He’s home!” The house came to life again as Holly embraced and kissed him. “What happened?” She examined his bandages. “We don’t have this kind of first aid.”

“You okay son?” Adon’s grizzled voice lowered with care.

“Been worse,” Manny chuckled.

“What’s that?” Adon leaned his body around the corner toward the hallway. Faint shadows caught his eye. “Stop!”

The robots froze.

“People!”

“Greetings.” QR stated.

“Greetings,” Adon repeated with trepidation.

“Adon? – People!” She paused in disbelief.

“Where are you from?” Adon asked.

QR broke the silence. “We saw your settlement.”

“A large creature attacked—” L3 reported.

“And you rescued Manny?” Holly exclaimed.

QR corrected her. “He destroyed the creature but was injured in the process.”

“Thank you!” She stopped to catch her breath. “Well, I’m Holly and I guess you gathered this is Adon, and Manny. And what are your names?”

Searching database for relevant names. “My name is – Varick, and this is – Amalea.”

“Welcome to our little valley and our home, Varick and Amalea,” Adon said with open arms.

Amalea asked, “Why would you risk your life?”

Adon responded. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

The two robots looked at the framed pages on the wall.

“From the middle page,” Manny pointed.

“You’ve had a chance to read it,” Holly said.

QR responded, “Just before you returned. What does it mean?”

“These two found me,” Adon smiled with a reminiscent sigh. “I hadn’t seen a soul in ages,” he paused. “I forgot what it meant to love,” his voice trembled momentarily.

“Hate preceded?” QR inquired.

“No. I just stopped caring,” he recalled. “Then, I found these pages years ago, in an abandoned church. The statement, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’ is Manny’s favorite. And I rediscovered hope – ‘one hope’, from the third page.”

“And then we saw him,” Manny’s strength begun to grow.

“They were children,” Adon said.

“It was all heart,” Manny interjected with affection. “The last people we encountered tried to kill us. We haven’t seen them since—”

“‘Greater love’ – it’s a daily sacrifice,” Adon stated with conviction.

“Please elaborate,” Amelia asked.

“No other book teaches what we’ve learned from these three pages.”

“Who is the author?” QR asked.

“We believe it’s God,” Holly answered.

Varick’s expression barely changed since they all first met. The holo-matrix of QR painted a Mona Lisa smile on Amalea’s face.

“It is late. Amalea, we need to exit,” L3 stated with cold authority.

“You don’t mean to leave?” Holly exclaimed.

Manny added. “After all you’ve done for me.”

QR looked to his leader for direction. L3 nodded affirmation.

Holly asked them, “Will you need separate rooms?”

“One will suffice,” Varick responded.

“I’ll show you to your room.”

~

The next morning L3 reactivated its holo-form. L3, we have a problem. My holo-matrix will not activate.

We need to leave. L3 opened the window. All clear. L3 made its exit out the window first. It jumped from the roof and landed without incident. QR followed.

Suddenly they heard a scream.

“Adon!” Holly shouted. She darted down the hallway and ran out the front door. “Adon!”

Adon skidded to a stop, “Where’s Amelia? Varick?”

Options limited. Varick deactivated its holo-emitter, “You are looking at her?” he pointed at QR.

Manny wandered downstairs and outside, “Robots! There were hundreds of them in that old warehouse Holly and I found years ago – all deactivated. But you’re different and much more advanced,” he circled QR. “Are you programmed with the Three Laws?”

“Affirmative,” QR responded.

“Then we have no worries,” Manny assured Holly. He redirected his attention to QR.

“Where did you come from?” Holly asked.

QR launched its finger toward the sky, “I am QR-15. This is L3-DR.”

 “Wait. If they are programmed with the Three Laws and they speak English—” he gulped. “— and they are not from here, do you know what that means?”

Adon had the answer on the tip of his tongue, and Holly was right behind him. “It means that humans created them.” He looked toward the sky once again. “There are humans out there?”

“This is fascinating,” QR stated.

“How so?” Manny asked.

“Our society and culture is in a constant state of war,” QR stated. “Nothing closely resembles the interaction of you – your unity. The message of your pages.”

“The suggestion of a complete societal paradigm shift, if that is indeed what you suggest, is unlikely,” L3 stopped and turned to the humans, “Do you have disagreements? Arguments? Offensives?

Adon spoke up, “Of course we do. But we’ve learned to love, which results in peace.”

“Learned?”

“Yes,” they answered in near unison.

QR indicated to L3, “I have a recording of the pages, but no one will listen to robots.”

L3 explained, “We did not anticipate your presence on this planet. In fact, our scans indicate you are the last surviving humans.”

Holly gasped.

L3 continued, “This planet was dying and at war. It was a long time ago – but at some point a select group of your species sought out a new planet. L3 and I are here to assess if it is safe to return. However, it is determined terraforming is highly improbable; and this valley is the only habitable area.”

Adon asked. “You came to assess whether it was safe to return?”

“Affirmative. Humanity is in harm’s way – of itself. We must prevent its destruction.”

Adon asked solemnly. “No God?”

L3 took a moment to answer, “No.”

Manny added. “There is more to these pages than a code of living,” he emphasized.

“Please expand,” QR asked.

“On the back of the third page we learn to be imitators of God, who is also Jesus and Spirit. Perfect unity in three. We believe God wants to share this unity with us.”

Manny smiled at Adon and Holly and asked. “When do we leave?”

L3 interjected, “Leave?”

“To join the others,” Manny replied as Adon and Holly nodded in agreement.

“If that is your intent, but our ship is designed for three.

“I will go!” Manny blurted.

QR summoned the ship by remote.

 ~

The next morning Manny embraced and kissed Holly; and Adon prayed, “Speak hope.”

Before the door of the ship closed Manny said, “Time to go fishing.”