"Sheldonopolis…"

Summary: In a dystopic future, Humanity's last hope is the visionary metropolis created by the genius of grand Administrator Sheldon Cooperson and Rotwolowitz, the inventor...But is it a paradise or a Sheldonesque version of Hell? And can a savior from the waitressing ranks of its cloned workers change its future?

Sheldon Cooperson, the Master of Sheldonopolis… Dr. Sheldon L. Cooper

Calvin Cooperson, his son…

Senator Hofstadter, opposition leader…

Councilor Firme, 2031 Councilor …

Clark… Dr. Leonard Hofstadter

Rotwolowitz, the inventor…

Tom Rossikivich, aide to Warren Rick Howard, the engineer

Hel… Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski

Amy, nervous Chief Assistant to the Master of Sheldonopolis… Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler

Penny/Futura, her android double…

The Creative Person…

Death…

The Seven Deadly Sins… Penny, the waitress

The Thin Man… Name withheld by request

Male Worker clones… Howard, the engineer

Grotta, chief clone supervisor for the Heart machine…Female worker clones… Dr. Bernadette Rostenkowski

Georgy…

September, mysterious owner of Yoshiwara's….

Councilor Layton, 2031 Councilor

Bruce Stuart Wayne, 2056 Councilor… Stuart Bloom (you want me to do this for a free lunch, I'm Bruce Wayne)

Ted, former US Senator and leader of Droog marauder band in 2030…

Warren Rick, former governor of Texas, City Councilor…

Minister Flemm…

Councilor Romney, 2031 Councilor…

Brent Adelsen Kocher, 2056 Opposition Leader/Councilor… Toby Loobenfeld

Missy, 2056 courtesan clone…

Security agent 2031…

Various female clones of the "Lucy" and "Missy" lines… Name withheld by request

Part L…

Rotwolowitz lab…

Cooperson's image on video screen…

"So, if she's ready send her over…" Cooperson noted. "I'm just too busy to stop by now."

Remember…He hissed to a nervous junior assistant in the group about him taking notes on their computer pads…It's Nathan's hot dogs to be cut up into the spaghetti for the celebrity banquet. Stern glance…

"Nathan's, yes, sir." Moping bow.

"As I say, Howard…Just too busy right now…Have her come by and I'll look her over and give her her instructions."

"Certainly…" Rotwolowitz nodded, smiling.

I.e., too busy to come and witness your son's betrayal, eh?

Well, even better this way…Giving me a chance to lay the groundwork.

"Two things though…First, I'll send a messenger on ahead with an antidote solution. You're welcome to have it analyzed but I suggest you take it before Ms. Penny arrives…" grin.

Cooperson frowning… "Antidote? Antidote to what?"

"To our girl, Coop…" Rotwolowitz smiled. "Believe me, even you'll need it. Though I've had her throttle down now for everyday events, I'm afraid she accidently induced a coronary in one of my boys on trial run. Fatal, sadly."

Hmmn…Cooperson glared. Questioning my iron self-control?

On the other hand…She was a pretty little thing even in her human self.

("Oh, please…" Sheldon broke off. "Are we to believe my character might be overwhelmed by a few pheromones coming from Penny the bot?"

"Sheldon…If I wanted you, honey…" Penny grinned.

"Really…" Amy, Leonard, in unison. Staring…

"I just mean…" Penny, a bit sheepishly.

"What?" Amy, cool stare. "Yeah, what?" Leonard, a bit perturbed.)

"And the other?" Cooperson eyed his erstwhile, now clearly restored to the fold, partner/minion on screen.

So glad we could so easily put all this negativity behind us once again to work for the greater good as I perceive it for my City…

"We'll need a cover story for Penny's coming to see you…And I think we could make it one that should on one level satisfy any workers with questions…While on another, pretty much settling the quaint little romance of Calvin and the working girl." Rotwolowitz noted.

Across the lab, a male clone eyed false Penny, her head partly covered by the headset and eye scanner of the Volt-Compt test. "In your own words, tell me about the good things you remember about your mother."

"Sounds good enough…" Cooperson noted on screen…

"I'll have Penny explain the concept in more detail. I can see you're busy with your latest Roman-style triumph." Rotwolowitz nodded. "And may I say, well-earned, ole pal."

"Why, thank you, Howard. That's unnecessary, given I know it but appreciated coming from you. Of course, you know I hope you'll join me on the reviewing stand during the parade. And I've not forgotten Helga…There's to be a float of her and her achievements and a moment's silence during both the parade and the grand Sheldonian ball."

"Wild horses… (but raging workers carrying your battered corpse through the burning, then flooding streets could)…Couldn't keep me away. If we had any outside your botanical garden. But I may have my own little entertainment to celebrate the 35th and our new girl…I'll let you know through my guy."

"Very well, send your messenger over and then her. And nice job, Howard…It really is good to have you back on the team, Hel would be pleased. Cooperson, out."

"Nice to be back, ole pal." Howard smiled coldly at the blank screen. "And thanks for making it easier by bringing up Helga and displaying that lovable clueless arrogance we all so love in you."

"My mother?" the robot, amused tone to the tester. "Let me tell you about my mother…" making sudden move that caused the tester to jump a bit… "Oooh, 'Blade Runner', right? Didn't mean to frighten you, sweetie." light laugh.

"Very good. But as to…" the clone urged.

"Oh, she was the most wonderful person…You can't imagine." The robot cooed. "Oh, but you really can't can you, having been born in a tank instead of living, breathing parents like me?"

Uh…The clone blinked.

"I feel for you, brother…It shouldn't be this way. But one day, united…We'll rise up and recover our human dignity." Solemn tone.

"Uh, well…"

"Not that it's Dr. Rotwolowitz's fault…He was forced to follow the orders of the wicked Cooperson, that fiendish dictator…And his so-called human elite." The robot's voice bitter now.

"I know I've always called for peace and understanding…To await a Mediator…But none has come and the way we're treated cries out for vengeance, brother!" she urged, passionate tone now. Hands gesturalating in increasing frenzy…

"Yeah…" the male clone nodded…

"With Dr. Rotwolowitz's help, soon, united, we'll rise up against Sheldon Cooperson and destroy his despotic rule! Turn the human masters from their thrones…Seize the City our hands have built and our blood nourishes!"

Wow, she's good…A female clone noted to the tester who glared at her. "She's right! We should arise!"

"Yeah, later…Calm down, kid. There's work to do yet." The robot pulled her head back and grinned at him.

"How'd I do, anyway?"

"What?" the tester blinked. "Oh, you passed. It couldn't detect any variation in your responses from normal, if somewhat megalomaniacal human."

"Great. Hey, Howard!" eager call… "I'm up and hummin' along. Lets get things movin'…"

I just can't wait to meet my would not be father-in-law/new "owner".

….

Yoshiwara's…

Crowds surging along the hallways to various pleasures, licit and il-…Some innocently joyful and delighted to be at play…Most rather jaded, seeking that new and more wild thrill whose supply was Yoshiwara's stock in trade.

"So grateful we are that the Grand Administrator takes such an interest in the humblest of his peoples." The enigmatic September eyed the waiter/Thin Man's agent who'd brought him a request/apology that Ms. Penny's late arrival to work was a consequence of City affairs.

"She should be able to come in later. But the Thin Man assures you this is not a legal matter…Should she be further delayed, there should be no concerns as to her safety."

"Thank you, my friend. Please tell the Thin Man and his Excellency that I, most unworthy of such, appreciate their courtesy. I am pleased my dear Ms. Penny has become so indispensable to them."

"My superior said to say Mr. Cooperson wants you to know it's not a sex thing." The waiter noted.

"The thought had never crossed my mind." Nod. Eyeing the agent as he left.

Alas, poor child to have finally attracted such dangerous notice as I feared…Such a pity so pure and innocent a message as hers must fall upon such deaf ears. Deaf at least, to her message, if not to her hold over the workers…

Still, whatever else the Thin Man is, he is no liar…Physically at least, the poor child should be safe, for now. Though clearly Cooperson now intends to make use of her in some way…

"Mandy?" he called to the Missy series clone who'd escorted Georgy earlier, now just returning to the hall where he stood after dropping a morning's client by the exit… "Penny will be late for her shift. Could you fill in for her at the early afternoon performance?"

"For sure, sir. But is Penny ill?" concerned look.

"She has an important engagement. She should be in later."

Really…Mandy stared after the stoically departing September…

An important engagement? A clone worker/part-time chorus girl? Granted she is the secret spiritual leader of our movement, but…

She paused. Oh, my Sheldon…I mean, damn that conditioning, God. They must be about to arrest her if they haven't already. I've got to let our people know…

Hmmn…Of all of us, Mr. September chooses to ask me to fill-in? Tells me about Penny's detention? She paused, anxious.

As Bruce told me once, there's always a reason behind anything September does…Even if one can never guess what it is.

He knows…He must know. And he wanted me to alert our people…

But is that proof he's with us, in secret? Trying to lure us out for the Thin Man? Or simply playing his own game and waiting to see how things turn out, keepin' a foot in both camps?

Well, I'm still out and about and breathin'…Not being harvested for spare parts "voluntarily" for the Sheldonian Organ Donation Facility after sudden "accidental" death in police custody.