back over to Ebony, who stared at her with wide eyes before scooting away. She opened her mouth to comfort her but Ebony began to shiver visibly.
“Maria,” someone called as she looked back to see Mr. Johnson standing by the doorway. She got up slowly then walked over to him. He reached for her hand then, as if he thought better of it, he stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“Um I need for you to follow me,” he stated then led her down the hall to the elevator. She entered as he pressed himself against the wall, eyeing her suspiciously.
When the doors open Mr. Johnson rushed out before turning back to check that she was still following. He opened a door down the hall then gestured for her to enter. The room was quite empty with just a single table and a pair of chairs facing each other. Mr. Johnson took his seat then waited for Maria to do the same.
“What happened with Omar?” he asked her as she nervously fidgeted with Snicker’s collar.
“I am sorry. I just wanted my toy back. It means a lot to me.” she whispered as he leaned back as an expression akin to fear flashed across his face.
“You caused Omar… what did you do?” he asked as she squeezed Snickers a little tighter.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him that bad. I just wanted him to give Snickers back to me. That was all.” she muttered ashamed of herself, hating the way the other children looked at her.
“Have you always been able to do that?” Mr. Johnson asked curiously.
“Yeah but my daddy told me not to. I should have listened to him but I needed Snickers back. It’s all that I have left from my home.” she explained wondering if she had permanently altered the way the other children saw her.
“So you can override androids” programmed responses as well?” Mr. Johnson asked as she looked up with glossy eyes.
“I am sorry. I just could not lose Snickers. I didn’t mean to scare anyone. You understand right?” Maria asked him desperately, wishing that she had thought of another way to get Snickers back, a covert way that would not have upset the other children.
“Um yeah but you need to be um… punished for what you did,” he stated as she nodded slowly.
“Well then follow me.” he said getting up and walking around the table as she slowly followed him still holding onto Snickers. He led her to a back of room to an empty office.
“You should um think about what you did.” he told her as she stepped into the room. She turned around to face him as he closed the door. The lock clicked as she sat on the floor with Snickers in her lap as she waited for Mr. Johnson to allow her to return to the playroom.
Time slipped away silently but soon her mind lost track of its meaning. Minutes lengthened into hours, whether it was an illusion caused by boredom or the true passage of time was unclear for the room revealed very little about the outside world.
Finally, after she was sure that her time in the room was approaching infinity, the door opened. She quickly got to her feet promising never to question her father’s wisdom again, unless she had a great need to. Mr. Johnson entered then handed her a sandwich wrapped in plastic. She thanked him pleased, when two others entered behind him. They were dressed in lab coats like her father when he gets off work. She looked up at them curiously.
“Um they would like to ask you a few questions” Mr. Johnson explained but she shook her head, frustrated.
“But I have already been punished. I want to go back with the others in the playroom.” she stated angrily.
“Well it will be brief. They only have a few questions.” Mr. Johnson said stooping down to her level.
“I don’t want to stay here any longer.” she yelled annoyed backing away from him.
“It won’t be long.” he promised.
“Then can I go back to the playroom?” she asked as he looked away, unable to meet her eyes.
“Um I am not sure that is a good idea.” he admitted as she shook her head, tears gathering within her eyes.
“But I said that I was sorry.” she reminded him as he nodded getting to his feet.
“You may hurt the other children. I am sorry but I can’t allow you to go back with the others. You are too dangerous.” he told her as she clutched Snickers, backing away from him.
“I promise I won’t do it again.” she pleaded as he turned away.
“Just talk with them,” he muttered as he closed the door.
“So you were able to give that boy a migraine?” ask one of the scientists as she stared at the door longingly.
“If I can’t go back with the others then where am I going to stay?” she asked rounding on the scientists.
“Please just answer the question.” another stated as she shook her head backing away.
“I just want to go home. I wish none of this ever happened.” she muttered to herself as she sat on the floor.
“I was friends with your father. We used to work together but I need for you to answer our questions. They are very important.” one of the scientists told her as he kneeled down beside her.
“It was an accident. I just want to go home. Will you take me home?” she asked as he nodded.
“Yes but I have to take you somewhere else first.” he admitted as she nodded as he helped her to her feet.
“Ok but then I want to go home.” she agreed as he led her out of the room, where Mr. Johnson was waiting for them.
“We may need to bring her to the lab to look for any abnormalities within her brain.” the scientist whispered.
“I will come with you since she is still officially under my care. Ms. Pearson and Molly will have to watch over the children until I return.” Mr. Johnson announced dutifully.
“Wait, are we going to my father’s job?” Maria asked excitedly.
“Um yeah we need to give you a check-up to make sure that you are healthy.” he explained as she smiled.
“My father used to give me check-ups all the time.” she stated happily as the scientist turned to each other.
“I heard his wife had a genetic illness, he was probably worried that his daughter inherited it.” another whispered as Mr. Johnson took Maria’s hand the led her out the room as the scientists followed at a slower pace.
“Oh I heard that he spent years looking for a cure.” another answered in an undertone.
“Yeah it is sad the poor girl lost her mother at such a young age.” the first commented before they piled into the elevator. They fell silent when they saw Maria standing beside them then a few began to sway as they hummed feeling uncomfortable within her presence.
The door opened as they rushed out across the parking area, the scientists leading the way to a large auto-flyer. One opened the doors as Mr. Johnson led Maria inside of the craft.
The spacious cabin was organized differently than most personal auto-flyers. It had large bench seats along the walls of the craft with another set in the middle facing outward forming two distinct compartments. The interior lighting was brighter than usual and the craft could be manually steered within a small cabin in the front.
Maria sat by the window as Mr. Johnson sat beside her and, the one who claimed to be her father’s friend, sat across from them. The rest were seated in the other compartment. The craft rose as Maria clung onto Snickers, relishing in the feel of its push body against her cheek.
The scientists in the other compartment whispered in hushed voices as Maria glanced at the bench separating them. She leaned close to the window as she watched the shadows move in and out of view as they shifted closer to each other.
“How could this girl have given another child a migraine? Why are we taking her to the lab?” one asked barely over a whisper.
“They think that she tampered with his Artificial Cerebral Processing Chip.” answered another in a whispery undertone.
“But that is impossible. Everyone ‘s ACPC is protected by a complex unique encryption.” the first stated stunned, forgetting his fear of being overheard.
“Mr. Johnson doesn’t think so. He thinks this girl is abnormal, po
ssibly even dangerous.” another answered in a muted voice when the scientist in her compartment turned to her.
“Maria I would like to ask you a question about your ability to control machines.” he stated as she turned back to face him. She nodded slightly though she remain silent, waiting for him to proceed.
“Many machines are programmed to respond to mental commands but Mr. Johnson believes that you can alter the machine’s programmed response with nothing more than your thoughts, is that true?” he asked as she tightened her hold around Snickers.
“But I won’t do it again if you don’t want me to. I will be good.” she promised as he looked at Mr. Johnson for guidance.
“Um that is good,” Mr. Johnson finally answered as Maria turned away pleased, looking out the window.
The auto-flyer landed by a large building. It glided through a guarded gate then parked itself between two similar crafts. Mr. Johnson opened the door then climbed out as Maria followed him. The others gathered around the craft then led the way to the building.
The glass door slid open as they entered a large room with the company’s logo fashioned in the polished floors, that gleamed with the same brilliance of the light given off by the powerful lights overhead. A large classy desk was stationed at the back of the lavish room. Scientists rushed about in their lab coats as businessmen conversed in the corner with briefcases in hand.
“Maria, it is this way.” Mr. Johnson said taking her hand as they hurried to catch up with the rest. She rushed down the hall as Mr. Johnson guided her pass closed doors
The Paradoxical Nature of Knowledge Page 6
