Scavenging A KARR- Chapter 3: Brain Scans and Memory Games
The gathering crowd is actually stone silent while eavesdropping on your situation. To them, you must have been one of the best street performers out there.
"I will perform a light show." The car rumbled. "You will identify the sequence."
"Well, that seems easy enough." You say to yourself as you slide off of the hood.
"Memory Brain Scan Program Activated." The baritone voice began. "Awaiting patient's go ahead."
You decide that this is going to be a lot more fun. You plop down on the ground about 2 feet back from the front of the black super car. You pull out a half-drunk bottle of water from your handy dandy hip pouch. Theatrically, you take a long sip. Holding your crumpled bottle up to your lips for what seems like forever.
The unforgiving hot sun is burning down on you, the hot car, and the silent audience. So, you play it up. You just hold that bottle to your lips letting time pass.
"Seriously?!" An impatient guy from the audience whines. "Come on already!"
Slowly, you re-cap your lukewarm water and return it to your fanny pack. "Ok," you agree as you zip it back up. "Can I write down the stuff you are about to do?"
"No." The grumpy car alarm guy huffs. "May I begin?"
You lean forward more focused. "Go ahead."
In a flash, the car alarm flashes one headlight. "Respond?"
"Headlight!" You yell too loud. This is fun.
"Incorrect." The sexy voice scoffs.
"What?" You whine as you jump to your feet. "You turned one headlight on, on the right."
"Identify the correct location."
"Driver's side headlight." The whiney guy from the audience yelled.
"Hey!" You yell at the intruder.
"Identity Unknown." The muscle car replied irritably. "Restate response."
"I don't mind the help," you forcefully address the audience. "But please, do tell me. Not him."
Everyone nodded.
"Driver's side headlight." You perfectly mimic the intruder.
"Correct." The deep voice agrees. "Ready for Sequence #2"
"Ready..." you agree after you square up your stance. You don't know if it will help. But it's gotta look good from behind.
The same headlight flashes and then the opposite turn signal.
The whole crowd behind you whispered, "Driver's side headlight and passenger side turn signal."
But not in unison. It was whispered static. It made no sense to you. So you tried to tune it out.
"Driver's side headlight and Passenger's side turn signal." You belt out clearly.
"Sequence Correct." The deep car alarm voice confirms emotionless. "The random pattern is going to get progressively more difficult. Ready for Sequence #3."
"Try me, Big Boy!" You taunt with a casual flick of your wrist.
Before you have a second to get ready, a wild pattern of lights flash. Your jaw drops for a second.
The thick crowd behind you instantly begins predicting the wild pattern while whispering, arguing, and even yelling. It is so raucous, you can't think. You start to doubt yourself.
"Ok!" "Ok!" You start yelling over the din. "My Turn!"
"Driver's side headlight, Passenger's side turn signal, Driver's side turn signal, and lastly the Driver's side head light." You carefully offer while crossing your fingers. Here's hoping.
"Sequence correct." The car confirms instantly. "Sequence #3 is complete. Please prepare for Sequence #4."
You are definitely sure that this next one is going to be really hard. "May I ask someone from the audience to help?" You ask hopefully. You know just who to call.
"No." Is your only simple curt reply.
You sigh. This time, you sit down for real and mentally log your previous test pattern in your head.
"Ready." You finally whisper after a couple more seconds of memorizing.
Without a sound, the lights all over the front of the beautiful black sports car began flashing one by one. At the end, it even flashed two different lights.
You are transfixed. You point at everything as it is happening and say it out loud. But you're not the only one. It almost sounds like a choir practice behind you.
All too soon it comes to an abrupt end with, "Identify Sequence."
Jokingly, you ask, "Can I see it again."
"Identify Sequence." The deep voice growls.
"Only because you asked so nicely." You chuckle.
"Driver's side headlight, Passenger's side turn signal, Passenger's side headlight, Driver's side spotlight-"
"Brain Scan complete." The deep car alarm voice suddenly interrupted you without a care. "Processing."
"Hey!" You exclaim in shock and a little tingle of grumpiness. "I worked really hard to remember your little game. Allow me the right to 'Identify the Sequence'."
"Brain Scan Protocol is Completed." The evil car alarm vibrated with a chuckle. But it didn't last long. In a more serious tone, it rumbled, "You have been allowed tentative access to a single portal."
Once again, you hear that sweet sound of success. A clear, mechanical click. But you won't be fooled this time.
"Which door did you open?" You ask with a skeptical tilt of your eyebrow.