Chapter 4: The Cuboid Factory
Previously, Hopsalot and his friends acquired the first piece of armour and tricked Dr O thus securing it. What happens next? Find out throughout the chapter!
The next day, Frankie, CJ and Edison went see Hopsalot. When they arrived at his lab, he can be seen studying the Iron Armour Helmet. "Hey Hopsalot. What are you doing?"
"Doing a scan and this helmet is unique."
"How unique?" asked CJ. "Well, to start off, it provides head protection, enhances vision and has a data chip which provides data when wearing the helmet inside."
"Sounds technological." said Edison. "So, what's the plan?"
"Now that you mentioned it..." Hopsalot went to the computer and showed the group a picture on the large screen. "This, is the Cuboid Factory and it's where we'll find the next piece of armour."
"And it's shaped like a cuboid." said Frankie. "Yeah. All the locations are unique based on how they are shaped like yesterday, the research tower is shaped like a cylinder." Hopsalot briefed them. "Good point. Now shall we head out?" asked Frankie.
And so...
At the Hopcopter, "The factory is somewhere located in Virginia and in the countryside." Hopsalot briefed them. "Oh look. There it is!" Frankie exclaimed as around the forest is a large factory and without hesitation, the Hopcopter landed in front of the front entrance and the group headed their way.
When they arrived, they went to the front entrance to see a lock. "Sounds mathematical." Hopsalot exclaimed as the lock is a 5 bar lock sealing the entrance to the factory. "If only we could find something that..." Then CJ stepped onto something and a square hole opened up and rising up and out is, "Well look at that! A control station!" Hopsalot went to it and saw 5 math problems on the screen.
1. 8^3
2. 4^2+2^3
3. 6^3-5^2
4. 10^2x7^3
5. 9^3/3^2
("^" represents the root of the number or something(Not so sure if I can still recall the math). Eg. ^2 means square of the number and ^3 means the cube of the number)
"All it takes is calculations." said Hopsalot as he began keying in the calculations. "Does he need a calculator?" asked Edison. "Trust him Edison. He can handle that." CJ assured to him as Hopsalot began the keying and after a minute, the answers are typed out.
1. 512
2. 24
3. 191
4. 34300
5. 81
Once it's confirmed, Hopsalot pressed, 'enter' and instantly, the 5 bars began to slide aside as 3 slid to the left and 2 slid to the right. "Perfect!" CJ exclaimed as he opened the doors. Before entering, Hopsalot put his copter in cloak mode and all entered the factory.
Inside, "It's dark."
"Not for long!" Soon enough, Edison lighted up a bit. "See if you can find a switch." Hopsalot told him. "You got it!" Edison flew around but near the group and then, "I found it!" Pulling the switch down which is also on their right, the lights were turned on row by row and all gasped at the sight of the factory.
Inside the factory are many machines consisting of conveyers formed in an assembly line, working cranes, forklifts parked on a certain zone and manufacturing types that do the productions. On their left are stacks and stacks of caches and on the right are the workshops and design stations. "Now that is one huge factory!" CJ exclaimed. "Hmmm...I wonder what is the factory producing?" Edison wondered as he flew to a small cache and opened it. Inside are 50 armour piercing bullets and, "This factory is a ordinance factory!"
"What is that Hopsalot?"
"Well to make it simpler, an ammunition factory." Hopsalot explained. Then, CJ took out a telescope and viewed the area. "Hey guys. I spy with my little eyes that start with the letter, 'O'
"Hmmm...is it straight ahead?" asked Frankie. "Nope. It's on the left side of the corner." CJ replied. "That, is an office." answered Edison. "Okay then, let's hop to the place and whatever you do, don't touch anything!" Hopsalot warned them. "Uh...why?" asked CJ. "This factory may be dusty and deserted but the machinery is still operative so one touch on a mechanism may activate the entire factory!" Hopsalot explained seriously. "Well that can be dangerous." said CJ with understanding as they proceed to the office.
During their walk, Edison flew around to see the machines and asked. "Why would a factory make those kind of stuff?"
"Don't know but this location is also where the second piece of armour is." said Hopsalot as they walked through the large factory seeing more machinery and ordinance. "I not only saw bullets but also grenades, rockets, missiles, torpedoes, C4 explosives, bombs, mines and shells of all kinds."
"Are you referring to the ones on the beach Frankie?'
"No CJ. Artillery shells like howitzers, mortars, field gun or cannons used for bombardment. I read about it somewhere in a book thus knowing the stuff." Frankie explained clearly. "Wow." CJ exclaimed silently as they continued walking.
Soon enough, "There's the office!" CJ stated as all looked up. "It appears we have to climb up 3 flights of stairs." said Edison. So they climbed all the way up and there, Hopsalot tried to open it but, "It's locked." Frankie then sniffed around and then, "Try looking under the carpet." Hopsalot looked under there was a key lying on the ground. Taking it, he unlocked the door and all entered. "Well that's a quite a mess if you ask me." CJ exclaimed as inside the office is topsy-turvy as there are papers lying around, dust and cobweb in every nook and cranny and files that are disorganized in some cabinet. "So...now what?" asked Edison. "Don't know. Maybe we can find some clue or something that can lead us to the piece of armour." CJ suggested. "Good idea! Let's hop to it!" Hopsalot cheered in agreement as they began searching the office. Hopsalot searched the desk, Frankie checked the drawers and cabinets and CJ and Edison went to check the files.
20 minutes later...
"Well, no clue." Frankie reported. "Same result. What about you guys?" Hopsalot called out to CJ and Edison who are looking at the last file. "Hey guys. This file contains a pop quiz." CJ called out. All gathered to read it.
1. All plastics are recyclable (True/False)
2. The Qin Dynasty only has 3 emperors (True/False)
3. The first World War started in 1910 and ended in 1918 (True/False)
4. Luxembourg is part of Europe (True/False)
5. Lemons and Limes are part of the citrus fruits (True/False)
6. Tomatoes are vegetables (True/False)
7. The first president of USA is George Washington (True/False)
8. India gained independence in 1947 (True/False)
9. The body parts of an insect usually consists of the head and the thorax only (True/False)
10. Bats are classified as birds (True/False)
"A question with mixed subjects." Frankie studied through as he went to take a pen from the desk he was sniffing about just now. "Uh, you guys are going to attempt the quiz?" asked Hopsalot. "Of course." said CJ as he and Frankie got to work.
10 minutes later...
"Okay, done!" CJ exclaimed as he finished writing the last answer. Hopsalot then checked the answers
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. False
"Not bad at all. All correct." He complimented as he took the paper out off the file when Edison noticed something. "Hey guys! There's something behind the paper!" CJ flipped it over and there was a note.
Upon completion, scan it on the scanner at one of the supporting posts
"Supporting posts...it must be the ones that support the office!" Frankie deduced. So they climbed down the stairs and checked the posts. "Here's one!" Edison called out as they went to it and Hopsalot scanned the quiz. A green light appeared and all heard something. "It's coming from the office!" Frankie exclaimed. "And I can't believe we have to climb down and now, back up." CJ sighed. "Ah partner, less complaining, more walking!" Edison urged as they climbed back up and there, "An elevator!" Hopsalot exclaimed. "Ha! Just like a secret passage when exploring ruins and temples!" CJ exclaimed as all but Edison entered. "You coming Edison?"
"Well, I'll stay here and wait for you guys. Besides, who knows? Dr O may show up and make desperate attempts to find the armour in this factory."
"The probability of his presence could be high. Alright then Edison, keep watch until we return." Hopsalot told him as the elevator closed and headed down.
Inside the elevator, all wait until it stopped and opened up. Then in front of them, lights were turned on one by one. And then, doors slid open and right in front of them is...
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"The Active Body Armour!" Hopsalot exclaimed as they headed to it. It was a blue body armour consisting of a high-tech chest plate and wth some pieces of metallic armour sticking out on the upper sides for the shoulders and on the lower sides for the legs for extra defence. "Wow. It looks pretty heavy. As heavy as samurai armour." Frankie exclaimed. "Then all 3 of us will have to carry it then." said Hopsalot. So the trio carried the armour and headed back to the lift to be taken back up.
When the trio reached the office, Edison immediately flew to them with a report. "Look below." He whispered. All looked behind and gasped.
Below, Dr O's henchmen are going through a thorough search all over the factory. "Not good. How are we going to get out of this factory without alerting them?" CJ asked. "Simple. We can sneak out by using the crates as our hiding place and as a distraction to lure them away from us. In doing so, they'll focus on the diversion and that is the time we move swiftly and silently." said Hopsalot. "Smart idea! Okay, follow the plan." said Frankie in agreement. As quiet as church mice, they headed down. There, they sneaked behind some crates and CJ took a cache and threw it to some crates causing them to fall off. "Hey, Stanton you hear something."
"Yeah Spencer. Over there!" The 2 henchmen of Dr O followed the direction of where CJ threw the cache and then, "Coast clear. Move!" They silently passed by more henchmen and came across another 2 henchmen which are Stefano and Shenton. Frankie then noticed a stone and threw it at a machine. "THONK!"
"What was that?" Shenton asked as he and Stefano left their positions to check it out. With that, they moved on until, "We're near the exit but it's also guarded." Hopsalot exclaimed as guarding it is Shannon and Sanford. "Hmmm...how about we play with one of these machines." Edison suggested as he's pointing at one of the forklifts. All looked at each and smiled.
At the entrance, "Boy this is boring. I wish something exciting would happen." complained Shannon. "Yeah man. Our job needs some action and-wait, what was that sound?" Sanford turned to see, "Yikes! Clear the way!" They jumped out of the way and it crashed onto some crates. Nearby, Dr O and Stanley are seen checking some of the ammunition when they heard the crash. "What's going on?" He demanded. "Uh boss?" Stanley pointed at the entrance and Dr O saw everything. "THERE! Get them! They're escaping with our treasure!" All the henchmen were alerted and already, the group just got us. "Well, it cleared the way but drew their attention!" Frankie exclaimed as Hopsalot activated the ride as the Hopcopter reappeared and all boarded it as it hovered up by the time Dr O and his henchmen showed up. Seeing this, Sanchez and Sheldon jumped gripping onto the landing supports and climbed on board shocking Hopsalot and co. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Surprised huh?" Sanchez laughed. "Now give us that armour or we'll bring this rotor craft down!" Sheldon warned them. "Did you say, 'down;?" Hopsalot asked them as he pressed a button and, "CLICK!"
"AAAHHHHHHH!" The henchmen yelled as they fell down and, "THUD!" crashed onto Sneedly and Seymour. "FOOLS! You let them escape!" Dr O shouted in rage but stopped. "However, this trip wasn't wasted." He said evilly as he gazed upon the munitions still inside the factory as, "What are you all waiting for? Load them in the airship at once!" He ordered as his henchmen scattered into the factory hastily.
Back at the Hopcopter, "That was surprising. You have a trapdoor mechanism in your ride?" asked CJ. "Yup. Just in case it gets hijacked." Hopsalot replied as they flew back home thus accomplishing the acquirement of the second piece of armour.
It seems like things get more interesting as Hopsalot continues collecting pieces of armour and it gets more dangerous as Dr O continues his pursuit. Will Hopsalot keep up the acquirement? Find out in the next chapter!