The next couple of days passed as the day for the Science Fair was fast approaching reaching to the day before the event. Reed and Morgan were at home putting the finishing touches on their project, after taking a step back to look at the finished invention. Morgan was amazed and smiling as well as Reed
REED: Whaddaya think!?
MORGAN: Whoa! an actual robot, it looks dope bro
Reed then proceeded to insert a floopy disc drive to load the program into the robot as the machine suddenly came to life. The Body was a small old washing machine tub with a trendmill base for mobility and the head a dusty CRT Monitor with a mike protruding from the side. The front of the tub had a keyboard used for inputting instructions and two mechanical arms built from both wood and metal scraps. There was also light bulbs attached to the base of the tub to signal that it's working.
REED: I'd like to introduce my lab assistant H.E.R.B.I.E
MORGAN: HERBIE! What the hell kinda name is that?
REED: It's an acronym it stands for Humaniod Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics
MORGAN: Riiiiiiiiiigggghhhhtttttt, you were watchin your favorite movie Herbie the love bug and decided to give your robot that lame ass name huh!?
REED: What!?
MORGAN: C'mon bro I saw you watchin that crap last night after we finished puttin it together
REED: Well I kinda wanted to tie it in to my project, so sue me
MORGAN: how's it work?
REED: You have two inputs to give commands to HERBIE, the mike and the keyboard if you wish
MORGAN: So it's your lab assistant huh guess you don't need me again
REED: What!? C'mon bro you'll always be my lab partner man, HERBIE's just there to aid me in my mathematical equations and formulae, any calculations I've missed HERBIE's got it covered
MORGAN: Oh okay, show me how it works
Reed then walks up to his robot and speaks directly into the small protruding microphone to issue instructions.
REED: HERBIE give me the formulae for Pythagorus theorum and work out the angle of inference on a sphere
The Machine lights instantly flicker below and suddenly the screen lit up with the Pythagoreon theorum along with the answer to working out the angle for a sphere.
REED: Ta-da! It works
MORGAN: Can it speak!?
REED: Well not yet anyway but it peforms most mathematical calculations, I've uploaded all the formulae as well as
Quantum Physics theories and other scientific research data primarily in the fields of Bio-Chemistry and Geology and other scientific, historical data
MORGAN (looking slightly confused): Huh!?
REED (looks at Morgan sternly): Machine...very...smart, got it!?
MORGAN: Oh okay, got it
REED: Now we gotta move this back to the school, I have to connect it to my other project
MORGAN: Other project!? Man what are you buildin!?
REED: I've already mapped this other project out, HERBIE will aid me and if it works...well let's just say East New York is gonna be put on the map
MORGAN: Okay bro but we gotta get goin now cuz it's already after 6pm
REED: Yeah help me bag up HERBIE
The two brothers bagged up the robot and head off in the direction to school taking heed of the dangers that lurk on the streets
REED: This is a quick drop and then we leave alright
MORGAN: Yeah it's already gettin scary
The two arrived at school where the school gate was already locked and most of the buildings were locked as well,
REED: Damnit! They've closed up early
MORGAN: Really!? Guess we betta head back home
REED: Hold on bro, I remember the back entrance by the bleachers, that might be open...we could get in from that entrance, c'mon Morgan help me lift HERBIE over
MORGAN: Alright lemme climb over first
The two brothers begin to sneak into the school compound with Morgan hopping over the fence first and then Reed carefully lifting HERBIE over for Morgan to catch on the other end. In the midst of this a Security Guard now emerging from the side of the School grounds saw the two brothers attempt at getting in the compound and then shouted at them
SECURITY: Hey! What the hell's goin on here!?
MORGAN: Crap Security!
REED: Relax man...I'll explain everything
SECURITY: What the hell's goin on here!?
REED: Good Night sir, My brother & I were just here to drop off my invention for the Science Fair
SECURITY: Huh!? Oh yeah, from the looks of it you two were tryin ta sneak inside the school compound
REED: Yes but as you can see the object we're holding is what we're tryin to bring into the school
SECURITY: Lemme have a look, remove the cover
REED: It's for the Science Fair tomorrow
SECURITY: I'll be the judge of that pal, now let's have look
Morgan quickly removed the covered to reveal the robot HERBIE, the Security Officer looked a bit astonished at the contraption and covered it back up.
SECURITY: Alright Alright! You guys can go on ahead but be quick about it
REED & MORGAN: Thanks
SECURITY: I'll open up the front entrance c'mon follow me
The Securiy Guard took them to the front entrance and opened the lock for the boys to enter with their invention. The boys went inside an went to the school auditorium where the other inventions lay each covered up along with a sign of the inventor's name. Reed spotted his name along with a tall covered display to which Morgan now recognized as the next part of his experiment.
MORGAN: Wow bro you sure had time on your hands huh!?
REED: Well you could say that, HERBIE's just one part of the experiment, but this device is the true invention...too bad you won't be able to see it in action
MORGAN: Like I wanna, careful that thing doesn't blow up the school
REED: Tch! Shut up and help me set up HERBIE
At the same time at the back of the school grounds three hooded figures came through under the sewerage system and snuck in through a loose window to enter into the School Building. The three hooded figures ran all the way to the Science Classroom careful of ducking the Security guard who let Reed and Morgan in earlier. They arrived at the Science Lab and one of the three pulled out a small paper clip and bent it to become straight and then taking out a tweezers began to work on the door, a couple of seconds later the door unlocked and the three snuck in stealthly and began fishing around at the stash of chemical compounds secured in the Chemistry lab. Then one of the hooded figure started to speak
HOOD #1: Damnit! You guys ain't find anythin!?
HOOD #2: Hey dumbass we're tryin alright!
HOOD #3: Would you twos be quiet, geez...can't focus wit all that noise
HOOD #1: Look guys forget it, we ain't find any of the stuff on the list let's jus bail outta here before someone sees us
HOOD #2: Jesus Grimm, you scared or sumthin!?
HOOD #1: Listen I'm tryin ta stay on the good books alright, I'm jus doin this to help out my Uncle
HOOD #3: Hey girlies, I've found the chemicals, c'mon and get the bag
The two Hooded figures went over to where the other one was, pulled out a small bag and started grabbing the chemical compounds and placing them in the bag. In the meanwhile at the auditorium Reed and Morgan were finished with the setup of the science experiment and were making preparations to leave when the Guard showed up to check on them.
SECURITY: Hey you guys finished back there?
REED: Yes sir, we're done
SECURITY: Oh wuz wonderin, well I'm goin out back to the football field so jus be careful when headin out
REED & MORGAN: Okay
The Elderly Security Officer then departed for the football field leaving the two brothers alone in the auditorium to complete their setup of the contraption.
MORGAN: Well looks like your'e finished Reed
REED: Yeah everything's prepped and ready to go, c'mon bro let's get on outta here it's gettin late
MORGAN: Right
Just then they heard a crashing noise nearby which startled the brothers
MORGAN: What was that!?
REED: Dunno, I'm gonna go check it out, go an get the guard
MORGAN: Bro...what about you!?
REED: Jus go an get the guard Morgan, now!
MORGAN: Hmph Damn! Be careful bro
Reed then went to investigate the noise coming from the Science Block. At the same time the three hooded figures were in a state of confusion over the broken bottles of split chemicals on the floor.
HOOD #1: You asshole! Look what ya did!
HOOD #2: Hey it's your fault! you didn't watch where you were goin!?
HOOD #3: C'mon we ain't got time fer that, let's go!
The three heard footsteps approaching in their direction
HOOD #2: Shit! It's Security
Then they heard a voice calling out
REED: Ummm Hello! Anyone here!?
HOOD #1: Wait a minute I know that voice!?
HOOD #3: Yeah me too, it's that geek Richards, what's he doin here!?
HOOD #2: Damnit! We're wastin time, I'm gonna go kick his ass
HOOD #1: NO! Leave it to me, you two get out through the back
HOOD #3: Alright Grimm, deal with him...we outta here, meet us at the docks in 15
The hooded figure nodded and went to where Reed was calling out. Reed was close by the Science block and saw nobody there, the whole area was vacant and not a sound could be heard.
REED: Hmph, guess it's just my imagination
As Reed turned to head back he felt a sudden rush of wind and the next thing he knew he saw a hand reach out and grabbed his neck, hoisted him in the air and slammed his body against a nearby wall. Reed was immediately panic-stricken with fear that paralyzed his entire body, he was too stunned to speak to the hooded figure that was now present before his eyes, Reed wasn't even aware that his glasses fell off his face, so strong was the forceful impact.
HOOD #1: You, why am I always bumpin into you!?
REED: Ummmm huh...what!?
HOOD #1: Don't play dumb, whaddaya doin here!?
REED: Who...who...who...are you!?
Then Reed immediately deduced who his attacker was based on the same choke hold slam technique and lift earlier, only one person he met so far was capable of such brute force.
REED: BEN!?
BEN: Yeah that's right punk...yer really askin for a clobberin now are ya?
REED: What! Listen man...I'm jus here to set up my science project, what are you doin here anyways? part of the Science Fair as well?
BEN: Tch! Yeah as if I'll ever be apart of any Science Project
Just then Reed heard Morgan & the Security Guard voices not too far
MORGAN: My brother said he was goin to check on where the noise was comin from
SECURITY: Kid your brother is either brave or really stupid, what did I tell ya, call me first
MORGAN: Sorry
BEN: Great...you brought a search party, listen stay outta my way or else
Then a punch to the stomach sent Reed in unbearable pain as Ben then fled the scene and escaped from the back. Reed in spite of his immense pain managed to locate his glasses and put it back on in time to see his brother Morgan and the Security Guard with a bright flash light pointing at him.
SECURITY: You alright kid, you look like you got the wind knocked outta ya
REED: I'm fine sir, jus some stupid raccoon I saw
SECURITY: Probably knocked ya over didn't it
MORGAN: C'mon bro, let's get outta here before Moms comes home
REED: Right
Reed looked back to the empty hallways where not too long Ben made his quick escape.
