Summer Blockbuster Pt Two

You've seen this movie.

PREVIOUS EPISODE

Part Two

Light, aggressive footsteps slapped across the polished concrete floor of the command center floor of an expansive, black, open concept corporate office. Illumined only by the lights of dozens of transparent high tech screens and the harsh blue reflections cast on every glass, acrylic, and chrome surface.

Heads turned as Becky Beckins jogged past, ineffectively clutching an armful of notebooks, papers, and her slim purple laptop, her glasses sliding down her nose with the effort.

She made the mistake of using one hand to push them up, and dropped the entire load sending papers flying, notebooks flapping, and her laptop clattering to the floor. It slid across the surface as she tumbled onto her face, and stopped against someone's shoe.

A hand reached down to pick up the laptop and another reached down to help her up. She took it and was lifted to her feet by a tall, slim man that would have been handsome if he didn't have the stone faced gaze of a serial killer.

“Sorry, Mr. Falco.”

“You aren't supposed to be up here, Becky. This floor is off limits to interns.”

“Yes, I know but—”

“You need to leave before I have you escorted.”

Two big dudes in snappy suits and sunglasses appeared at Falco’s side. One of them roughly collected Becky's documents and shoved them together before handing them to Falco to inspect. He rifled through them, the look of contempt and shock barely concealed on his terse, angular face.

“How did you get access to this information?”

“Well…” Becky pushed her glasses up, even though they didn't need it, and fixed some of the hair that was still askew from her fall. “That's… it's not important. I have my ways. But … I think I solved your problem…”

Falco passed the papers to another lackey behind him. And angry looking older woman, powerful and sleek. She had half moon glasses and a stare that could curdle cottage cheese. “I'll get these to the shredder,” she said.

Falco held out the laptop. “Take this, too.”

“My computer!” Becky dived forward, but was taken by the elbow by one of the big Dwayne Johnson guys.

“I'm afraid I can't let anything you've looked into escape this lab. You said something about a problem I have?”

Becky yanked her arm away from the big guy and fixed herself yet again. “Yeah. I know how you can contain your leak.”

Falco leaned down with his face so close his nose almost touched hers. “Be very careful how you proceed, Becky. What leak?”

She swallowed and pushed her glasses halfway through her skull. “Your … artificial… um … I know a couple of your androids got loose. And. They're replicating.”

One moment Falco’s eyes narrowed in what could have been fear, but then he stood back up and spread his arms. An uncanny jovial laugh escaped him and he patted Becky on the head and shook it back and forth beneath his enormous palm and giant spider fingers, shaking her pigtails back and forth. She ducked away and moved to slap his hand, but it was caught by one of the goons. He pushed it back into her so rough, she almost fell down.

“My dear. What is the name of our company?”

Becky took a big breath and sighed. Not going to answer and give him the satisfaction. She'd been afraid of this. That they would blow her off by hiding behind what she knew from the start was just a cover for their illegal developments.

Falco scoffed and peaked his fingertips. “I see you've realized your mistake on your own. We don't have a problem, or a containment leak.” He laughed that contemptuous laugh again. “What you think you've stumbled upon, is simply the latest trial run of our newest —”

“I saw the files, if you don't let me help, there could be —”

“Miss Beckins. Don't meddle in things you don't understand. Here at Osprey VR, our only goal is to provide the premier in action packed immersive gaming experiences. In any case. What can an intern do that my entire team of highly educated staff of elite programmers couldn't? It's really arrogant of you. Now if you'll excuse me. I have a business to run.”

He turned on his heel and his entourage followed.

“Mz. Foster, see that Becky makes it safely off premises. I'll deal with this data.”

The mean lady gave a curt nod and stalked toward Becky to walk beside her.

“You should have minded your own business, little girl. Perry is a very dangerous man.”

“Wow. It's just a gaming company but I have to watch my back?”

“Yes.” Mz. Foster escorted Becky through a gauntlet of doors, elevators, and checkpoints until they were in the subfloor parking garage.

“I'm sure you can find your way to the street from here,” she said with a sharp nod, and left.

Becky bustled as fast as she could for the way out and laughed to herself when she got to the street.

Nobody thought to check her pockets at all. She pulled out her USB transmitter and hit the button. “Gertie, you there?”

A smooth yet chipper robotic male voice answered from the speaker on her device. “Yes, Rebecca darling. Of course I am. Do you need me to remotely retrieve your files before they erase your laptop.”

“You just get me, Gertie, yes. Initiate meltdown.”

“With pleasure, luv. I'll have it done in just a tic.”

A waiting light flashed in a steady line across the LED panel on the side.of the stick, the blinked solid for three flashes and turned off.

“Shall I self destruct the laptop as well, my dear?”

“Absolutely. They don't need to know, what I know. And Gertie?”

“Yes, pet?”

“Don't call me ‘dear’ anymore.”

“Of course pigeon, I've erased it from my vocabulary.”

NEXT EPISODE