Chapter Three – The Holo-Communicator
Raven opened the next layer, to find a large, black disc, which was about 3cms thick. There was a small button in the centre, with the symbol of a cog interlocking with a 'T' and an 'E' – the symbol of Technos Enterprise. The label was small, with only one sentence on it: 'Press the button, and when I goes green, drop me.'
Raven looked at it, and then read the instructions aloud. She glanced at Nero, who shrugged. She pressed the button, and when it was green, held it at arm's length, and dropped it. There was a whir of motors, and it levelled out horizontally, and hung about 20cms in the air.
"Holo-Communicator ready." A mechanical voice read. "Establishing a connection with C-E-O Malpenese." A column of blue light shot up from the perforations on it. Nero stared at the device, then at Raven. Normal holograms needed an outlet above and below, but this one clearly did not need it.
A fair-haired man with sharp blue eyes, wearing a business suit came in, and appeared in the hologram. "It took you a while!" He said, folding his arms. For a hologram, he was extremely well formed.
Nero did not see any problems that usually occurred with holograms. "Good Morning Mr. Malpenese."
Otto shook his head. "It's after-noon here, in good old Washington DC. You had to pull me out in the middle of a meeting." He noticed Raven. "D'you like the gadgets?" He asked, grinning.
Raven nodded. "They are very good. You have to press the button down hard, though."
"Thanks. I had to do that with the button, otherwise, press the third one lightly, and boom..." He waved his hands "You're dead."
Raven nodded again.
"How's the school going, Professor Nero?"
"Umm... Very well, thank you."
Otto grinned again. "I've something to show you. I want their names put down, you know. Please wait a second." He said, and he left.
"Communications suspended." The mechanical voice said.
Dr. Nero and Raven glanced at each other.
"What do you think he means, 'names put down'?" Raven asked.
Dr. Nero shrugged. "For the school, I assume."
"Communications reacquired." The mechanical voice said (again).
Two small girls had appeared. The first had long red hair and striking blue eyes. The second was an albino blonde with shining green eyes. They both looked about six or seven. Then Otto reappeared. He beamed proudly at the girls. "These are my daughters." He said. "They are both six." He touched the red headed one on the shoulder. "This is Lucy. The extrovert." The girl beamed up at him. "And this," he touched the shoulders of the other girl, who was looking at Nero and Raven with wide eyes, "Is Nattie. Short for Natalie. The Introvert."
"Who's this dad?" Asked Lucy, pointing at Nero, and then Raven.
Otto opened his mouth, but Nattie butted in. "I think they're dad's friends." She looked up at her father for approval.
Otto nodded, looking proud. "They were my mentors and teachers, years ago. You'll meet them more as you grow up. Here." He leaned forward and whispered something in Lucy's ear.
She looked up at him, and then folded her arms. "You're trying to get rid of us, daddy."
Otto grinned guiltily.
"Come on," Nattie tugged her sister's hand. "That's daddy's way of showing off AND of trying to get rid of us, so he can have grown-up talk with them." She gestured to Nero and Raven, and then she pulled her sister out of the hologram, and followed Lucy after one searching glance at all of them.
