Tom has found the best ever role playing game on the internet. It seems better than real life, although it has some strange similarities. Just who is Tom playing with ? I don't own any of the MI High characters. I'm just borrowing them.
"Why did you make robots for KORPS ?" asked Tom. "They're criminals you know."
"Does it matter ?" asked Nate, sounding surprised. "They paid me to make cool stuff. I like making things."
"But they hurt people," said Tom.
"I don't know them," said Nate simply.
Tom was shocked. It was as though Nate didn't feel anything for other people getting hurt. "They're still people though, even if you don't know them," said Tom. "They feel pain, just like you." He paused, thinking about what Nate had said to him. "Why do you like robots so much ?" asked Tom, thinking he might know the answer already.
"They're not as complicated as people. People get upset. I don't understand them. Robots just do what you tell them to do," explained Nate.
"You're really clever," said Tom, looking round at the amazing robotics working in Nate's building. "Have you ever been told you might be a bit, well, autistic ?" he asked.
"That's what people call it isn't it ?" said Nate. He didn't sound upset at what Tom was suggesting. "I think I meet the criteria."
Tom nodded. "I think so too. You would be brilliant working for MI9 you know. Would you like me to ask our bosses if you could do that ?" he asked. "You could carry on making robots."
Nate thought about this. "OK. I'll think about it."
"Could I see my friend Dan please ?" asked Tom
"OK. He's asleep," said Nate, turning towards the door.
Tom took a deep breath and crossed his fingers. Nate lead him to another room with a bed in it. Dan was in the bed, tucked up in the blankets, apparently fast asleep. Tom felt his pulse, but Dan didn't wake up. The pulse was slow and steady and Tom breathed a huge sigh of relief. "What did you do Nate ?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. "Why is he still asleep ?"
"Not sure why," said Nate, casually. "I used the truth drug that KORPS gave me and I added my own disorientation technique. I wanted him to tell me who he worked for and he wouldn't. He seemed a bit sad," he said, vaguely.
Tom realised that Dan must have been frightened and angry, but Nate would probably not have been able to tell this. "What kind of truth drug did you use Nate ?" asked Tom.
Nate shrugged. "No idea. KORPS gave it to me. I asked them for some in case I needed it. They wanted me to make robots for them, so they gave me anything I asked for," explained Nate.
"I think Dan needs to go to a hospital Nate. Can I call for an ambulance to get him please ?" asked Tom.
"No, I don't want anyone coming into my building," said Nate. He seemed to be getting agitated at the thought of people coming into his home.
"Oh, well, could we get Dan out of the building first then ?" asked Tom. "I don't want to mess up your home," he tried to reassure Nate. This seemed to work and Nate immediately calmed down.
"I like things the same," said Nate. "I'll get one of the robots to carry him out if you want," he offered.
"Yes, thanks, that would be great," said Tom, relieved. "I would like to have that game Nate, but maybe not just now. I need to help Dan."
"He's your friend isn't he ?" asked Nate, sounding a little wistful. "He told me you were his friend. He said you were clever and you liked to play games. I don't have a friend. Could you be my friend ?" he suddenly asked.
"Yeah, OK. That would be great," said Tom. "It would be better if you didn't work for KORPS though. They're really evil."
"Oh, alright. Maybe I can work for MI9 then," said Nate.
Nate used a control device on his wheelchair to call the most amazing robot Tom had ever seen. A tall humanoid machine walked into the room on long metal feet. It plodded slowly up to the bed, pulled off the blankets and very gently picked up Dan in its arms. Then it turned and carried the sleeping teen from the room, down the stairs and out of the building. Tom quickly grabbed Dan's jacket, tie and school bag from the floor.
Tom wasn't surprised to see an MI9 ambulance waiting outside the building when they came out of the door. Two paramedics stood waiting with a stretcher on the footpath. The robot walked slowly up to the stretcher and ever so gently placed Dan down on it. It then picked up a blanket and placed it over the sleeping boy's body. Tom watched and wondered if this was one of the robots Nate had built to look after him. The two paramedics were watching in wonderment.
The robot then turned to walk away. Nate's voice came from a speaker on its chest. "It was nice to meet you Tom. You can come again if you want," he said.
"I'd really like that Nate," said Tom. "I'll email OK ?"
"OK," said Nate's voice. Then the robot turned and walked slowly back inside the building.
Tom climbed into the ambulance with Dan and breathed out slowly. He was so glad that was over.
Frank and the others were waiting at the hospital when Dan and Tom reached there. Dan was taken away to be seen by the doctors. Zoe and Aneisha ran up to Tom and hugged him. "Thankyou Tom," said Zoe, with tears in her eyes.
"You were brilliant Tom," said Aneisha. "I don't think anyone else could have dealt with that as well as you did," she added.
Tom felt really touched, and couldn't speak for a moment. Frank stood smiling at him. "You did really well Tom. Well done," he said. Tom now felt fit to burst he was so proud. He'd completed a mission on his own ! "I've already been speaking to HQ. They are really keen to bring Nate into MI9. They want him to work on his robots and they want to keep him out of the reach of KORPS too !"
"Is he going to be in trouble ?" asked Tom, concerned. "He really doesn't understand you know."
"I know," Frank assured him. "He's not in any trouble. We just need to talk him into moving over to MI9. He might find it difficult to adjust to the change. Perhaps the prospect of having new friends would help ?" he suggested.
"Oh, I don't mind at all. He's alright," said Tom. "His stuff is fantastic !"
They had to wait an hour or so before someone called them in to see Dan. Dan had woken up, but was still drowsy. The doctor told them that the truth serum used by Nate hadn't caused any permanent damage, but would leave Dan groggy for the rest of the day. Dan lay in a hospital bed, looking round him bleary-eyed.
"Dan ? How are you feeling ?" Zoe asked him, taking his hand.
Dan looked at her, seeming to struggle to focus on her face. "Hm ? Um, OK," he mumbled. "What happened ?"
"Well, you were kidnapped by a robot and interrogated by the autistic genius who built all the robots in the KORPS factory," explained Tom.
Dan looked confused for a moment. "Oh," he said. "Did I tell them anything ?" he asked.
"No, not much," Frank assured him. "It's not going to be a problem. Don't worry about it Dan," he said kindly.
"OK," said Dan, and promptly fell asleep again.
Frank motioned the others out of the room. Once outside, Zoe turned to Frank in confusion. "Dan told Nate everything about MI High didn't he ?" she asked.
"Yes, but Dan doesn't need to know that," said Frank. "He'd just feel guilty about it, and he had no choice. Let him get some rest. If we are able to recruit Nate into MI9 there isn't going to be a problem with him knowing about MI High is there ?"