Chapter 7: Back at the stadium and relevations
A short while later, the gang were seated on the Mystery Machine with Fred behind the wheel as usual.
"So where are we heading, Fred?" Velma asked as they drove down the highway.
"We're heading back to the scene of last night's attack, where we're gonna see if we can find any clues." Fred answered.
"Hopefully, whatever we're looking for could be the key for us to clear Scooby's name." Daphne said.
"Yeah." Shaggy nodded. "I really don't wanna fancy the thought of Scoob spending a night in that creepy old mansion."
"And speaking of which, do you guys really believe what Professor Pericles just said to us?" Velma asked.
"I honestly don't know if we should believe a single word that comes out of that parrot's mouth." Daphne shook her head. "And don't forget that he managed to Taser Fred and Officer Johnson during our visit."
"Don't remind me." Fred remarked. "But anyways, it will be helpful if we can find clues that can help us clear Scooby's name."
"And the sooner we do so, the better." Velma said as everyone else nodded in agreement.
A short while later, the gang were back in the Terror Dome Stadium and were making their way through the hallways with Marcie leading the way.
"Yes, I heard about your dog being blamed for this mess." Marcie was saying before shaking her head and added, "Honestly, I'm no expert in animals, but even I can tell that the damage in the storage room last night was not caused by a dog going berserk."
"You're telling us." Fred said before adding, "But anyways, by any chance, can you tell us more about the going-ons between Wyatt Technologies and Staples Technologies, Marcie?"
"All I know is that Dr. Wyatt used to be business partners with Dr. Staples." Marcie turned to him. "The two used to work frequently together in designing robots and other form of smart technology and machinery."
"Dr. Wyatt?" Daphne raised an eyebrow.
"Mrs. Wyatt has a doctorate degree in robotics and mechanical engineering." Marcie explained. "For a while, she had a promising career in the Corps of Engineers as their top robotics designer before she lost a leg during deployment to Bosnia, at which point she was discharged from the Army."
"I take it that she's wearing a prosthetic leg, is she?" Velma asked.
"That's right." Marcie nodded. "It has been upgraded with robot parts to help her function well and get around. Anyways, after she left the Army, Mrs. Wyatt started working for a private engineering firm who has been a major contractor with the Pentagon."
"Which is when she met Dr. Staples?" Shaggy asked.
"Exactly." Marcie nodded. "The two of them hit it off well as partners, which came at a time when Jason Wyatt was mourning the death of his father, who was killed while on deployment overseas."
"Jinkies." Velma remarked. "And Dr. Staples helped her cope with the loss as they were partnered together?"
"That's right." Marcie replied. "Dr. Staples himself is a widower, having had lost his wife in a car accident years ago, and his experience helped Dr. Wyatt in moving forward. Eventually, the two of them decided to form their own robotics firm together, initially named as Wyatt & Staples Partners. However, the two founders had a falling-out couple years ago and parted ways in bitter terms."
"What caused the falling out that led to the dissolution of their partnership?" Daphne asked.
"I don't know." Marcie shrugged. "From what I heard, it was something of a private nature, perhaps creative differences, that caused the falling out. Either way, the two hasn't been at best of terms lately as they become competitors in the robotics industry."
"We can see that." Fred nodded before noting the time and added, "Anyways, we should split up, gang. Velms and I will check with Dr. Staples while Shag, you and Daph go and check with Dr. Wyatt."
"Okay." Shaggy nodded, feeling a little awkward about Scooby's absence.
"Come on, let's go." Daphne said as she led the way and towed Shaggy's hand, forcing him to jump to his feet to try to catch up with her.
(Fred and Velma)
"You both know as well as I do that the very idea that someone in my firm will sabotage the Wyatt Robot Hound is ridiculous." Dr. Staples was saying as he was interviewed by Fred and Velma a few minutes later.
Both Fred and Velma had neutral looks on their faces, and Velma was fiddling with a pen as she and Fred looked at Dr. Staples.
"Dr. Staples, your firm has been competing for contracts in the robotics industry for quite some time, has it not?" Fred asked.
"Yes." Staples nodded as his daughter Melanie and a handful of support crew members examined their Mecha Mutt nearby. "Our firm has secured contracts with various defense contractors and governments, including with NASA for exploration projects."
"You founded Staples Technologies with Dr. Wyatt initially, did you not?" Velma asked.
"Uh...yes." Staples replied. "We met while working for Blackgate Incorporated, a major defense contractor in the country, and our successful partnership in various projects led to our decision to form our own company."
"And you guys were successful in the robotics industry, becoming a major subcontractor to Blackgate, have you not?" Velma raised an eyebrow.
"That's right." Staples nodded. "Our firm was growing rapidly as we continue to be awarded contracts for robot and mechanical designs by various stakeholders."
"But you guys later dissolved your partnership." Fred said. "Was there any particular reason that resulted in you guys having a fallout with each other and led to Dr. Wyatt leaving your firm and founding her own firm?"
"Well...to be honest, it's a long story." Staples sighed as he scratched his head. "You see...Dr. Wyatt and I had...a difference of opinion after we were awarded a contract to build...a robot dog."
"A robot dog?" Velma raised an eyebrow.
"That is correct." Staples nodded. "Our firm was contracted to build an advanced robot dog, complete with artificial intelligence and with the ability to explore new terrain and assist in construction projects for potential plans to build lunar stations on the Moon."
"But Dr. Wyatt had other plans in mind for the robot dog." Fred interjected.
"Yes." Staples nodded again. "Dr. Wyatt was interested in building the robot dog for the interests of defense, the type that can replace an attack dog and be deployed into war zones and help our troops and allies secure territory without endangering the lives of troops."
"And you didn't agree with her proposal." Velma said.
"Only as the robot was in the course of development." Staples said. "As the robot's design began to take shape, I also started to notice that some of the robot's programming apparatus contains problematic algorithms that deals with a robot making ethical choices."
"Ethical choices that could become a slippery slope should such programming becomes the norm for killer robots?" Velma asked.
"Exactly." Staples replied. "I tried to outline my concerns to Dr. Wyatt, also warning that the loopholes in the programming could also leave the robot vulnerable to outside influence, like hackers for instance, but she was more concerned about us winning the contract, which is worth millions, and would hear none of it."
"She would like to enter your new design into consideration for the contract, even if the design itself was flawed." Fred interjected.
"That's right." Staples nodded. "We had a heated argument in the late stages, and it was then that she decided that she can't work with me again, saying that I'm becoming too much of the type of pushover that's not willing to take necessary risks."
"And so she quit the firm and formed her own firm as a result." Velma said.
"Yes." Staples said. "Now, regarding last night's attacks, I won't be surprised if someone managed to exploit the loopholes in the programming of the Wyatt Robot Hound and took control of it, which is exactly the scenario I was warning Dr. Wyatts about early on when the robot hound was in development."
Fred and Velma both narrowed their eyes and shared looks with each other at the remark.
As they tried to think of something else to say, Melanie called him over, and after having a brief conversation, the scientist returned to Fred and Velma.
"You kids will have to excuse me." Dr. Staples said. "My daughter and team are working on a repair that requires my expertise in robotics."
With that, the scientist went to join his team once more, leaving Fred and Velma behind to share looks with each other as they digested his remarks.
"I hope Shag and Daph are having a better luck than us." Velma remarked.
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