The incessant rain hammered the windows of the laboratory, a thousand eavesdroppers privy to the secrets within. The stars, not the snooping type, slept behind the screen of smog blanketing the sleeping city.
"The best there ever was."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
The scientist picked up his blueprints. "It'll work this time. I've struck gold once already." He tapped his temple.
The enigmatic lady sat down on his desk and crossed her legs. "Oh? Are you talking about your robot that –"
"D-Don't remind me!" he sputtered. "I still have its schematics. With these, I can iron out the last of the bugs. It's guaranteed to work!" He enthusiastically pumped up his fists.
She smirked, lowering his left fist with a deft palm. "I don't doubt it. Alright; it's a deal. I'll give you your grant."
The ecstatic scientist vehemently shook her hand. With the amount of blood rushing to his head, she half-expected him to kiss her cheek from sheer relief. "Thank you, thank you! I promise you won't regret it!" He scooped up his designs and bolted out the door, no doubt for another sleepless night of tinkering.
The door slammed, leaving naught but the din of thunder to permeate the room. The dark woman let out a faint smile. Everything was going as planned.
"The fool doesn't know what he's thinking," she chuckled. "Imagine, a fleet of killer robots – under my control!"
A hundred grasping fingers of lightning rippled across the horizon in protest.