Author's Note: Thanks to all who reviewed the last chapter, they are greatly appreciated. Here's Chapter 11.
Disclaimer: Refer to prologue
Story Title: Corrupted Programming
Chapter Title: A Plan
Stealth Wasp, somewhere in Irken territory
"Did you enjoy yourself?" Dr. Wakeman asked dryly as ADAX came back to the cockpit.
ADAX raised a nonexistent eyebrow as he took a seat beside his creator. "Yeah, I did. Until you ruined it."
Mrs. Wakeman didn't reply as she fumbled for a tool. She reached inside a panel and started to resolder some loose connections. As she was doing so she accidentally brushed the soldering tool against her fingers. The doctor gave out a yelp of surprise and pain and pulled back her fingers reflexively. ADAX saw that and snickered.
"Looks like the onlu thing you've gotten over the past twelve years are shaky hands." ADAX sneered. "Well hurry it up, Wakeman. I'm getting bored sitting here, watching you tinker with the dang ship's systems."
"If you're that bored then why don't you at least lend me a hand with this." Dr. Wakeman answered testily.
"Hey, I already did my half." ADAX said as he nonchalantly put his hands behind his head. "I got the cloaking thing fixed by myself, now you fix the navigational systems by yourself."
Mrs. Wakeman shook her head in disgust. "And you wonder why I shut you down in the first place."
ADAX's head snapped up. "I don't have to wonder why you shut me down, Wakeman. I know it was because you're a perfectionist who can't stand anything less than perfect in her creations. Heck, I just have a few minor screw-ups and you toss me into the can!"
"A few minor screw-ups?!" Dr. Wakeman snorted. "You refused to restrain your aggressiveness and consequently caused a great deal of property damage and injuries. Why, I was lucky I wasn't incarcerated because of your antics."
ADAX spun on the doctor. "And do you know why I even have these aggressive tendencies, Wakeman? It was because you made me this way in the first place! Don't you dare go and blame for not being able to control something you installed in me."
"Installed in you?! I never meant to have that simian aggressiveness assimilated into your core programming. It was an oversight that I—"
"So what you're saying is you locked me up for a mistake that you made!" ADAX yelled. "A mistake that you couldn't correct. A mistake that I never had control over."
"No control?!" the doctor countered. "Then why did you stop firing at the aliens when I ordered you to do so? Was that not a form of control?"
"Oh this is just unbelievable!" ADAX threw his arms up. "First you say you locked me up because I couldn't control myself, now you're saying that I do have control over myself?! Make up your mind, Wakeman!"
"I did not say that you couldn't, I said that you refused to control yourself." Mrs. Wakeman said. "When I found that I couldn't reprogram you I examined the recordings of your brainwave patterns during your one and only assignment. When I did I found that it was within your capability to control your aggressiveness, but you chose not to because you enjoyed it. That is why I put you in storage."
"I could've learned to control myself, Wakeman! Just like I did moments ago." ADAX said. The anger in his voice suddenly and unexpectedly disappeared. "But you never gave me a chance."
Dr. Wakeman opened her mouth to say something, but she closed them again. Finally, she said: "Well, I'm giving you the chance now."
ADAX grunted. When he spoke his voice was filled with bitterness. "Yeah, a chance that's twelve freakin' years too late!"
Mrs. Wakeman sighed. She was wasting time arguing with ADAX. She had to concentrate on repairing the navigational systems so that she could go and retrieve XJ-9. Besides, it was clear that ADAX would never understand nor forgive her for keeping him in storage. She turned her attention back to the navigational systems.
But as she started to reach for the navigational systems' circuit board, ADAX's left hand reached into the open panel. It converted to a multi-tool and started to repair the systems rapidly. Surprised, Dr. Wakeman turned to ADAX. The green robot merely gave her a blank look and a nonchalant shrug.
"You were takin' to dang long." He muttered simply as he pulled his hand back out.
The diminutive scientist looked at the navigations panel. It was completely repaired and functioning perfectly. She turned to look again at ADAX, but the robot just stared ahead and said nothing.
Grand Marshal Yomex's Command Ship
Brad looked around nervously as he followed the blue mantis robot known as Fixit. He winced as his head suddenly throbbed in pain. Through the pain he saw flashes of images. Such as images of him agreeing to come with Jenny to the Cluster, images of him convincing his parents to let him go, and other images of things that he knew never happened. He knew that Fixit had probably tried to implant those images in his memories, but he had been lucky that his brain had somehow refused to accept the new data.
He knew the smart thing for him to do was to play along and convince Fixit and the other Cluster robots that what they did to him had worked. He knew that if he didn't play along he'd most likely be gotten rid of in a way he didn't even want to consider thinking about. If he played his cards right he might be able to earn enough trust to gain access to something that could help him and Jenny escape.
Brad observed his surroundings as he and Fixit walked by. All around him he saw several roach and ant drones bustling a bout the ship. Not one of them acknowledged his and Fixit's presence. They just went about their business with a mindlessly purposeful element to their actions. Brad shuddered, the drones' seemingly mindless actions reminded him of Jenny under Viruz's control.
Speaking of Jenny, what had they done to her? Was she now some mindless drone serving Yomex? Had she become a sort of a Vexus clone? Did she have anything left of her real self in her mind at all? Whatever they had done to her, he would soon find out.
Fixit stopped in front of a door and turned to Brad. "In there, hu—I mean, Brad."
Brad nodded and, forcing a smile on his face, thanked Fixit. He took a deep breath before he pushed a button that opened the door. Taking another deep breath, he stepped in. What he heard and saw upon doing so surprised him.
"I can't say this tripe!" a very familiar voice said. "I'd sound like some dork running for class president or something!"
Brad turned his head to the source of the voice. And, sure enough, it was Jenny, but not the same Jenny that he was used to seeing. Her ponytails were connected to some sort of headpiece with antennae growing out of it. Her body was also more stylized and trimmed with what looked like gold. Brad's mouth dropped. If he hadn't known better he could've sworn that it was Vexus with a new look.
"J-Jenny?!" he blurted out before he could stop himself.
Jenny turned at the sound of Brad's voice. The two robots she was talking to, a short, orange-gold one and a tall, purple one also turned to regard Brad. Jenny flashed him a smile while the two robots she had been talking to exchanged a quick, unsure glance. Jenny came over to Brad.
"Hey, Brad, glad you're finally over your jet-lag." Jenny greeted. She then seemed slightly embarrassed. "Heh heh, you're wondering 'bout the outfit, right? Believe me, it was all Yomex's and Viruz's idea."
Brad was taken aback. Jenny seemed to act like her old self, the only difference was that she seemed to think that she had willingly decided to come here. Brad remembered the images in his mind and forced himself to play along.
"Uh, hey, Jenny." Bard said. "Um, that outfit looks a little too flashy for you."
Brad mentally hit himself for the sheer stupidity that comment had sounded to him.
"I know." Jenny said, rolling her eyes. "But you haven't seen flashy and flamboyant 'til you've heard what these guys want me to say."
"Greetings, Bradley." Yomex said, looking at Brad as if to make sure he was really under his control.
"Hey, uh, Yomex. Wassup?" Brad said nervously and trying not to show it.
Fortunately for him, Yomex seemed to buy into his act. The Cluster robot spoke to him. "I was just giving Queen Jennifer her speech."
"Queen Jennifer?" Brad said, raising an eyebrow.
"It's just some dorky title they gave me." Jenny said, shrugging it off. She turned to Yomex. "Look, I am not gonna spout out this hooey you wrote. If you want me to do a speech then I'm makin' my own. You wanna make this stupid declaration of secession thing, you say it yourself."
'Declaration of secession?' Brad's mind echoed, realizing what it meant. It meant that Jenny was going to be the figurehead of a rebellious faction within the Cluster, and the last thing he needed was to have his best friend piss off Vexus by leading a revolution. He had to prevent Jenny from getting even more committed into this than she already was, but how? As Jenny argued with Yomex and Viruz, Brad desperately looked around for some way out. Although deep down he knew that he most likely wouldn't find a way out of this predicament.
Then, his eyes caught sight of the back of an ant drone, a green one this time. Its off switch was exposed. He remembered how Tuck had temporarily joined with and controlled a body of an ant drone. If he could do the same he just might be able to force his way out of here. Now all he needed was a way to get him and the drone alone.
A part of his mind screamed out against the crazy plan that had just formed in his mind. Brad ignored that part. His plan might be crazy, even suicidal. But it was the only plan he got.
Author's Note: Well, that's Chapter 11. I promise to try and get the next one out as soon as possible. Though it might be somewhat delayed since school here in the Philippines starts this June 14. Anyway, please review.