Project Voltron 2.0 Part Three – Strategy and Knowledge
The next day Dr. Strasburg found himself in his lab slumped over his work table. Another late night had landed him a bed on a stiff metal chair with not much padding and no reclining ability and another wrenching backache. All of that, the pain, the fatigue, soon dissipated with the discovery of a moderate sized metal crate in the center of the lab. All sorts of warnings were inscribed, labeled, posted on each and every surface of the crate. Dr. Strasburg got up and carefully approached the box, as if some monster were to pop out of it. He could only assume what was inside. With a delicate hand he touched the side of the crate where the opening latch was and gently pulled open that latch. When the box was opened, Dr. Strasburg's demeanor went from caution to elation in seconds. He suddenly felt like he had received a favorite toy for Christmas. This was going to be the thing that would give his research the much needed lift he so desired. He would now be able to beat Dr. Loran at the new discoveries he could make with the contents inside. Dr. Strasburg beheld the sight of many clear gold crystals within the open box shining bright enough to light up the dim lab.
"Enhanced lazon…" Dr. Strasburg identified the rocks to himself as if he had never heard about it before. "Never before had I thought I would see this." The crystals seemed to make his eyes widen as they shimmered with a hypnotic quality only felt by the doctor.
"With this as the energy source for my robot, I can finally get it operational… All I need is a way to harness it." Dr. Strasburg quickly got up and rushed to his workbench, suddenly inspired. Upon reaching the bench, be began to quickly jot down equation after equation. He drew picture after picture, and kept at it for hours. "Truly," Dr. Strasburg thought to himself, "This is my finest hour!"
Four hours went by non-stop for Dr. Strasburg when he finally pushed himself away from the workbench a bit and looked on with admiration at the work he had just done.
"Dr. Strasburg…" Dr. Strasburg said to no one. "… You are a master genius!" For once Dr. Strasburg had the upper hand. While Dr. Loran toyed with conventional energy and storybook fairy tales, he had something tangible and dare he say it, something that works. Although what his plans required would be illegal, the discoveries the plans held would out weigh the consequences. Dr. Strasburg had many self-egotistical scenarios as to what would happen to him after his discoveries were revealed to everyone in the scientific and military community. He would be world renown and filthy rich. At the end of that thought, Dr. Strasburg snatched up the plans that lay before him on the table, and went to work on getting on available resources that were legal. Resources he would need to build his greatest invention that he would install into an even greater invention. The robot was almost ready; he could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and a victory in his grasp.
That same morning Dr. Loran was already awake and also working at his work bench. Hours of analyzing graphs, charts, schematics, equations and other scribbles and gobbledygook lying before him were beginning to make his eyes cross. Taking of his glasses Dr. Loran's head drooped when he began rubbing his temples. This whole robot creation was going to be more difficult than he had thought. Taking into consideration that he had not had much sleep since he laid his eyes on the book that he recently took from the library, Dr. Loran looked a sorry state. To change his view, he looked up and to his right at a large robot of his creation. It's mostly blue silver and black metal gleamed in the artificial lighting in the lab. The robot had a theme to it, or three of them, so to speak. Air, water, and land, were three of the basic forces in nature. Dr. Loran prided the fact that he had based using the themes from the legend he heard. The legend that also was retold in a more tangible fashion by the storybook that also lay on his workbench. The book told about a giant robot made of five lions and created out of a mixture of modern technology and magic. The book went into great detail about where the magic came from, but the technology seemed to be more of a puzzle to the original writer of the book. Dr. Loran could only wish that his robot could be created in the same way, but the world he lived on, as far as he knew, possessed no magical quality. Again, Dr, Loran looked up at his creation with pride and sorrow. He was almost there. The only thing stopping him was the power source and the artificial intelligence system. No form of energy was capable of maintaining power for the robot… even nuclear fission only made it possible for five minutes. Something wasn't right… He knew it and it felt like it was right in front of him. He just couldn't see it, but he knew it was there.
"There has to be a way!" Dr. Loran grumbled with frustration. "There has to!" Every time he said those words though, nothing would inspire him to move on. So he continued to look at the robot as if it were a life hanging in the balance of consciousness. All he needed to do is get the robot to wake up. He wanted to name it "Voltron" after the legend in the storybook. But such a robot would not be worthy of that name if it didn't work at all.
Fatigue started to set in as Dr. Loran looked at his watch. He had been up for over 20 hours straight. "May as well call it a night…" Dr. Loran said looking at the robot as if it were going to respond. The silence only brought the reality of the situation back to him. When he was nearly finished, there was a beep coming from the lab door indicating someone was outside waiting to be let in.
"What do you want…?" Dr. Loran replied to the beep not really caring who was out there at the time.
"Dr. Loran?" a familiar voice came from the speaker. "It's Debbie, your new intern." Dr. Loran rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath.
"Am I ever going to get any rest?" Dr Loran said to himself.
"What?" Debbie asked through the speaker, noting that the doctor said something, just not understandable.
"Release door locks." Dr Loran said to the air and a lower tone beep emanated from the same speaker that Debbie was talking through. "Come in Debbie." Dr Loran replied. The doors swooshed open to reveal Debbie bight eyes and bushy tailed, ready to begin a day of learning. That compared to Dr. Loran who wanted to do anything but begin the day.
"Are you alright?" Debbie said with her cockney accent as she walked in, the doors swooshing shut and locking behind her.
"Yes, I'm okay… just a little tired." Dr. Loran said with a yawn. Debbie looked up at the towering robot next to him.
"Is that the top secret project you are working on?" Debbie asked with mild elation.
"Yes, that's it." The doctor replied neutrally.
"It looks quite impressive." Debbie said noting the doctor's tone.
"It looks impressive, but at this time, it doesn't do anything impressive." Dr. Loran muttered. "It just sits there."
Debbie continued to notice the doctor's emotions go a little more erratic as the issue of the robot seemed to resurface. It is obvious that Dr. Loran had a long day.
"Maybe I should come back tomorrow." Debbie said and began to walk toward the exit.
"No, Debbie…" Dr. Loran sighed. "Stay… you won't be any trouble."
"Are you sure, you look pale." Debbie replied with concern.
"No, I just had a long night…" Dr. Loran replied back with a smirk. "Heck, it was so long I didn't even know it was morning."
They both couldn't help a chuckle. But then Debbie turned a concerned look toward the robot. "So what's the problem with it."
"I don't know… I know there is something wrong, I just can't put my finger on it." Dr. Loran replied dejectedly. "I bet when I find out I am going to kick myself for not thinking it earlier."
"Don't we all, in that situation?" Debbie agreed.
"Can't argue with that…" Dr. Loran replied feeling a little better. "Come on, let me show you around a bit."
Dr. Loran got up from his chair and proceeded to show Debbie the amazing lab that he cooped himself in almost everyday. Debbie noted that everything that was shown to her had some connection to the robot.
"All of this has to do with this one project that you are working on?" Debbie inquired halfway through the tour.
"You could say so… although a lot of stuff can be a discovery on its own, all of it was inspired by this robot here." Dr. Loran said pointing over his shoulder at the robot.
"This project must really mean something to you." Debbie surmised noting the more constant references to the robot the doctor had just pointed to.
"Ever since I was a boy, I loved robots. Robots were my life, my studies, even in the TV shows I watched. I loved watching this one cartoon where this robot goes throughout the universe saving planets and civilizations from evil… much like what is in that book on my workbench. I guess you can say I am trying to build my own superhero robot." Dr. Loran confessed with a chuckle.
"But I thought this robot was for exploration and the like?" Debbie asked inquisitively.
Dr. Loran put his hand up to the side of his mouth as if to shield what he was about to say from everyone else, which was no one, except Debbie. "Superheroes have to have a secret identity."
"I see…" Debbie nodded. "So this is a military machine disguised as a research robot.
"You could say that, only this robot DOES the research part too." Dr. Loran added. "I'm not a war monger, honest… but I do know that there is some nasty stuff out in the cosmos."
"Nasty stuff…?" Debbie inquired.
"Well, rumor has it that the Drule Empire is on the verge of a civil war." Dr. Loran disclosed. "There are many kingdoms within the Drule Empire, but there are those that claim to be Drules and those that ARE the Drules."
"I don't understand." Debbie replied puzzled.
"One of those groups is under the other's thumb so to speak… slaves." Dr. Loran continued, "No one knows which is which except the few colonies on that side of the near universe."
"And you believe that the civil war will rise out of the one group claiming independence over the other?" Debbie guessed.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure there will be a civil war, in my opinion." Dr. Loran's opinion drew a serious tone.
"Why?" Debbie inquired.
"Both sides are in an escalating arms race against each other." Dr. Loran replied grimly. "Those arms come in the form of solar weaponry… lazon."
"Lazon… Are you sure?" Debbie gasped.
"I'm afraid so." Dr Loran confirmed.
"But that stuff is illegal here. We can't possibly be involved in all of this." Debbie replied. But the doctor remained quiet, closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Doctor Loran?" Debbie said waiting for a reply.
"If they continue to research and enhance lazon, we may see a war like no other… someone will be completely obliterated by the impact of such a weapon." Dr. Loran continued.
"Do you think it will be us?" Debbie asked.
"If we stay out of the fray, we may survive if they don't come asking for assistance from us." Dr. Loran continued. "But there are others who believe in the 'us before them' thought."
"You can't blame them." Debbie said quietly.
"No, you can't…" Dr. Loran replied still grim. "I am building this robot not only in defense of this planet, but also so we may be able to discover another livable world… just in case…" Dr. Loran's words trailed off.
"Do you really think it will come to that?" Debbie asked.
"I'm surprised it hasn't already come to it." Dr. Loran continued. "We certainly seem prepared for it."
"You mean?" Debbie guessed he thoughts going back to the central garrison building, the one that looked like a space ship.
"That's right." Dr. Loran confirmed knowing that Debbie put two and two together in her head.
"You know they are experimenting with lazon, don't you." Debbie quizzed feeling as if she was being deceived.
"Much to the discretion of Garrison Central Intelligence… they are not telling the command." Dr Loran guessed. "You and I both know the Space Marshall is completely against lazon research… and because of our naivety, we will only be a pawn for either side.
"So you agree on lazon research even though it puts us at risk of complete annihilation?" Debbie asked befuddled and frustrated.
"At this time, I don't think we have a choice in the matter." Dr. Loran concluded. "All I know is what I can do is build this robot and maybe people won't fool around with us."
Dr. Loran and Debbie were silent for a good minute as they let the gravity of that exchange sink into their thoughts. Debbie looked off to her left to see two huge doors.
"May I ask what is in there?" Debbie asked the doctor, trying to loosen the constricting atmosphere.
"Weapons..." Dr. Loran replied absent mindedly. "…weapons for the robot that is."
"Weapons…?" Debbie re-asked as if she didn't believe him.
"Come see for yourself." Dr. Loran said as he walked towards the double doors. Debbie just stood there until Dr. Loran motioned for her to come with him again.
"You may as well see everything, since you will be hanging around for a while." Dr. Loran added as he pulled out a card key and swiped it across a small back panel on the wall next to the doors. With a loud clack and a whoosh, the doors slowly opened to reveal gleaming metal weapons. But these weren't the typical guns and the like. The weapons were a sword, two circular blades (that reminded Debbie of a deadly set of frisbees), and a small tube like object. For what purpose it served no one knew except Dr. Loran. In a dark corner of the room were many pieces of armor. All of them had a Greek letter of alpha, beta, or gamma labeled on them. Most likely corresponding to each of the three processors Dr. Loran had made.
"Gosh!" Debbie said amazed at the sight of all the large weaponry and armor. "It must have taken years to make all of this."
"Actually it took two weeks." Dr. Loran replied.
"Two weeks…!" Debbie responded more dumbfounded than before. "But how…?" Dr. Loran replied silently by walking to a tank full of what looked like a silvery liquid substance.
"What's that?" Debbie asked.
"Nannites…" The doctor said proudly.
"Nannites…?" Debbie responded now amazed.
"Yes, nannites, all of them come together to make an object." Dr Loran continued with pride.
"That's amazing!" Debbie exclaimed. "How do they know what to make?"
"I program it into them." Dr Loran replied, now becoming crestfallen.
"I see." Debbie surmised. "…and they don't work without their instructions."
"That leaves me with a robot that can't function without a command from its user." Dr. Loran continued. "Just like the ordinary, everyday computer." Debbie could see the anguish on the doctor's face as he continued.
"All I need is to figure out how to get the nannites to think for themselves, much like our brain cells make us intelligent." The doctor's face lit up as the sudden idea popped into his head. "And that is where I need someone like you… with a background in Biology." Dr, Loran said looking straight at her.
For Debbie this was a crowning moment. That statement could only mean that she was not a burden to the doctor anymore. "How could I possibly help? This is all robotics."
"Didn't you just hear what I said?" the doctor replied quickly with some frustration. "I need someone who can help me make a brain out of these nannites."
"But the brain is a complex part of the human body. With all our technology of today, we still don't know all its capabilities." Debbie replied back, really wanting to help out but the task at hand seemed impossible.