This is a sequel to "Not Knowing". The team are starting to form relationships while the everyday business of saving the world goes on as usual. My robot and I.
Tom clenched his fists victoriously. "Yes, Moby !" he hissed happily.
The others all turned and stared at him. "You are kidding aren't you ?" asked Aneisha. "He's got to be kidding right ?" she whispered, turning to the other two. They all looked at Tom.
"What ?" he whispered. "What's wrong with that ?" he demanded.
"Tom, let's get this straight. You are thinking of bringing Moby in to school," said Dan carefully.
"Well, maybe through school and into the base," said Tom. He looked at the others' faces and he wasn't happy with what he was seeing.
"Tom, seriously ? You are planning to bring a KORPS killing machine into school ?" Keri demanded.
"He's not like that !" Tom protested.
"Tom, from where I was dangling, in mid-air, a couple of days ago, it felt very much like that !" hissed Dan furiously.
"No, I've changed him ! He's got the three laws of robotics now," said Tom. "Always obey Tom, always protect MI9 agents and look after yourself," he explained.
Aneisha looked at him curiously. "Tom, why didn't you tell it to obey MI9 agents ?" she asked.
"Well, because it's too complicated. He can't always know who is an MI9 agent and who isn't," said Tom. "He can always know who I am though," he said confidently, "So he can always do what I tell him to do." There was another pause.
"Tom, you don't get it do you ?" said Dan quietly. He sighed and chose his words carefully. "You said it yourself. Moby doesn't know for himself who is and who is not an MI9 agent. You've programmed him to protect MI9 agents. What about kids ? What about Mr. Flatley ? Is he going to protect them ? What if Lady J bumps into him in the corridor ? Will he protect her, or protect himself ?"
"Ha ! You said 'him'," said Tom triumphantly.
"Tom !" shouted Dan angrily, before looking round hastily to check who might have heard. Satisfied that the coast was clear, since everyone else had left the hall, he continued. "Tom, you're missing the point. This robot has been built and programmed by KORPS, who don't care who gets hurt. You've changed a few lines of code, haven't you ?" he asked. Tom reluctantly nodded. "Do you really think that is going to be enough to make that machine entirely safe ?" asked Dan. "Look, this is what Moby did when he wasn't trying to hurt someone," he said, reluctantly lifting his shirt loose from his trousers. The others winced at the sight of the now yellowing bruises around Dan's waist and stomach. He hurriedly shoved his shirt back inside his waist band.
Tom leant back in his chair. He hadn't really thought it through like that. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. "Okay, you've got a point," he agreed thoughtfully. "The thing is, I really want to see what I can do with Moby. I think I can make a useful robot for MI9. It might make missions safer. We could send a robot in where we wouldn't send an agent. I get your point about it not being safe to bring him into school. Okay, so how about I keep him in the base and work on him there ? It's more controlled conditions there and he knows who you all are. How about it ?" he asked.
The others looked at one another and sighed. Dan nodded, as did Keri. Finally, Aneisha turned to Tom. "Okay Tom, we'll agree to you working on Moby in the base, but not forever. We've all had bad experiences with those robots and we're not going to find it easy. Do you understand ?" she asked seriously.
"Yes, I understand," said Tom. He now felt a bit guilty that he would make his friends spend time with something which had hurt them all in the past. "I'll do my best," he promised. "I won't let him get out of control, I promise," he said quietly. Then he brightened. "It would have been so cool to see the look on Mr. Flatley's face if I brought Moby in as my project though wouldn't it ?" he giggled.
The others smiled. "That's true, but in the circumstances, one experience I'm prepared to miss," said Keri, before getting up and hauling her bag on to her shoulder. "Geography I believe !" she said. The others groaned and followed her out of the hall.
The day passed uneventfully for the spies. Frank let Tom know he had permission to work on the robot within the confines of their base. MI9's technical department would deliver it to the base the next day. After the call, Tom noticed Aneisha watching him closely. "I promise I'm going to be careful Neish, honest," he promised her. "I don't want Moby to hurt anyone," he added.
Aneisha smiled and hugged him. "I know you'll do your best," she said gently. "Come on, last lesson !"
At the end of the day Dan shoved his books away in his bag and went to the lockers to get rid of what he didn't need. As he left the classroom he heard soft footsteps behind him. Startled he jumped back, spinning round with his hands coming up into a defensive position. He found an equally startled Mrs. King standing behind him. "Daniel ?" she asked in shock. "I didn't mean to surprise you," she reassured him.
"Oh, sorry Mrs. King. I'm a bit jumpy," Dan admitted. "Sorry," he repeated, before rushing out of the room in embarrassment.
"Dan ? You Okay ?" asked Keri from behind him.
Dan turned, looking sheepish. "Yeah. I'm fine," he said. "It makes me nervous when people creep up behind me," he explained.
"To be fair, she wasn't sneaking up behind you. She was just walking across the room," said Keri.
"Okay, well I over-reacted," said Dan. They had reached the lockers and he was angrily stuffing unwanted books inside.
"Dan, it's Okay to admit you're not feeling great," said Keri gently. "We're here for you." She glanced around but most students were now leaving. Nobody appeared to be taking any notice of them. "How was it at home last night ?" she asked.
"Oh, I got hugged nearly to death," said Dan, sounding exasperated. Then his head dropped and Keri could see that he wanted to say something, but couldn't. He looked away. Keri reached out and took his hands, pulling him closer. Abruptly Dan wrapped his arms around her, clinging on tightly. Keri wrapped her arms around him, stroking his back gently. She felt water trickle down the side of her neck. He was crying. She hugged him tighter and waited for him to get the words out. At last she heard his whisper. "It's just that I never really thought about what it would be like for them, you know, when something happened to me," he murmured. "I'll never forget the look on Sam's face," he said, his voice breaking. "I had to tell her what I do. It wouldn't make sense otherwise."
"She sounds like a smart girl," said Keri, stroking Dan's hair.
He laughed and gulped. "Yes, she is," he agreed.
"And they all love you," added Keri. Dan nodded into her shoulder. "Could be worse," said Keri.
Dan laughed slightly and lifted his head, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. "Sorry, I've cried on your shoulder. It's wet," he apologised.
Keri glanced at her damp shoulder and shrugged. "Oh is that what it is. I thought you'd dribbled," she said. Dan stood back in shock, before bursting into giggles. Keri grinned back at him.
Dan looked at her fondly. "You really know how to make things better don't you ?" he said, pulling Keri close and kissing her on the lips. "Thanks Keri !" he said, hugging her tightly.
"It's my job," said Keri fondly. "You doing anything tonight ?" she asked.
Dan looked guilty. "Oh, well, I thought I'd better be at home tonight, you know ..." he trailed off.
"Of course, I understand," Keri assured him.
"Oh ! Wait, you could come for tea maybe ?" suggested Dan. "I'll ask if it's Okay," he said, hurriedly pulling out his phone. After a brief phone call Dan smiled at her. "Mum says it's fine. Do you want to come ?" he asked. "I'll introduce you to Sam," he promised.
Keri smiled at him. "Yes, I would like that very much," she said. "I'll call my Mum and let her know."
Minutes later the two strolled out of the school gate together, hand in hand. "Now," said Keri. "You can tell me what happened while you were with KORPS." She looked across at Dan's unhappy face. "You need to tell me Dan. You've got to get it off your chest," she told him. He nodded, took a deep breath and started talking.
