Tag: Drama

Unbiased Law: Episode 25 (Feature Length Film Finale!)

Episode Twenty Four Recap: Glenie announces he wasn’t always a robot to our detective and Magnus is faced with some difficult choices. How to stop a crazed man-robot trying to destroy the world? While ignoring Glenie’s offer of immortality and world domination, Magnus pulls the trigger on him, and then jacks in. As he follows Glenie into his own mind he is soon faced with a weak man, a prisoner in his own mind. As Magnus engages Glenie, he soon finds out the real reason behind his misbehaving. Mister Radlem has imparted his mind upon Glenie’s. Will this be the thrilling conclusion you had hoped for, only one way to find out (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty Four)!

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“Radlem? What the hell are you doing here?” I managed to get out. Radlem laughs maniacally. “Heh, you know something Detective? I like you. You’ve got some brass coming down here. But now you see the huge issue. There’s two people in here, not as easy as just jacking in and figuring out the solution to your problems. That’s why I kept him around, to keep this mental safe zone for both of us. Oh and because he’s extremely stubborn.” The two share a glance and Glenie smiles. “I’ve been alive this long, why bother dying?” I shake my head and shift my gaze between the two. “Well this is quite the problem considering none of us in here are robots. So now what?” Radlem grins a champion’s grin. “Well we sit here because you can’t gain control, and let the factory get overrun. It’s a shame really, no more humans might make the world a little less boring. But once you become a robot, you begin to lose your appetite for flesh. Don’t you Detective?” I stare at him, trying to figure out what he’s getting at.
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“Well I suppose it’s about time this ship has one less Captain. ” Glenie looks to me and nods. “I’m going to allow you to absorb my knowledge into your own memories here. Sadly, I don’t know where he has the codes or controls for the discards he copied himself into… but if I’m tired of fighting.” With that Glenie dissolves and I black out for only a second while my own information updates. I turn to Radlem who appears intrigued and frightened. “Hmph, no matter if you two share memories, he knew nothing anyway. But be careful, you are inside the front doors of my mind.” He turns and walks out the door, slowly closing it behind him. Just before he closes it he calls back to me, as I rush toward it. “I’ve got a surprise for you.” The doors close just as I burst through them and into a room that looks dramatically different from the room Radlem walked into.
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As the doors open, I notice the room has changed to a dark bedroom. It’s large and there is a huge bed with what seem like curtains around it. I walk over and throw them open, and on the bed lies Veronica, scantily clad in some lingerie. She leans up to me and I can feel her hand on my skin. I can feel. Tremors of pleasure slide down my entire body, causing goosebumps all over. I try and ignore the feeling, try and ignore her, but she is so beautiful and it’s been so long… too long. This is probably all fake, everything… but it feels real. As I sit beside her on the bed, I slide my hand up the back of her neck to her hair. She is so soft, her hair so smooth, smells incredible. It’s the equivalent of a drug. I pull her in for one passionate kiss. I feel her pressing against me, I feel her warmth, I feel… I feel… My mind feels invaded. Glenie flashes in my mind as if to say “What are you doing?” I lean back from Veronica and she stares at me. “What’s wrong? I came here just for you… My Dad wanted…” Her words fade as I stop listening and start focusing. This feels real, but I need that one thing that makes it not. I slide my hand down her stomach and find no wound, no nanite repairs. It’s entirely consistent. I leap off the bed and shake my head. “I’m sorry, but you’re not who I thought you were.”
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I stagger out of the room confused and dazed. I close the door behind me and picture the room that Radlem escaped in to. I think hard, and when I open the doors, the bed is still there. I close them again and focus harder. The walls, picture the walls, the floor, the colors. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done, trying to forget the touch and smell of a beautiful woman. When I open the doors, I see Radlem walking up a staircase. and as he reaches the top, the stairs disappear. He turns back to me and smiles. What a huge jerk, so cocky and arrogant. I’m going to punch him once I catch him. I walk forward and attempt to figure out how else I can get up. Nowhere to climb, nothing. I stand back by the door and stare forward. Suddenly a thought pops into my head, probably from Glenie. Try and imagine the stairs are still there. But believe it. I step forward where the first step was and there’s nothing. I step back and look down. Believe it. I take a deep breath and begin stepping where I remembered the stairs, and make my way to the top. I look back down and the stairs aren’t there at all. Man… it’s probably for the best I’m only a copy, I’d probably need some heavy therapy after this.
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As I make my way down the hall I see Radlem notice me and move left. I chase after him but when I look left, he’s not there. It’s just a wall. I look around, and suddenly I’m clubbed from behind. I spin from the wall and catch Radlem swinging at me. As we tussle, I force him back and get in an extremely satisfying swing. He drops to the floor and sprawls, completely unconscious. I notice as he lays face down, there is a weird thing on the back of his head. It seems to be a jack in port. Damnit. Dare I go further into the rabbit hole? Ah screw it, I only live once… and only for a little bit. Make the most of it! I kneel down and jack in, and find a matching one on the back of my own head. Strange enough, but who the hell knows at this point. I copy myself with no overwrite and after it completes I step back. I stare at the unconscious body before me… now what?
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I wake up in a dark room with only a safe in the middle of it. I’m a copy of a copy… do I matter at all? I know what I have to do, but do I really care? Sighing heavily, I pick myself off the floor and stare at the safe. On the other side of it, lies the unconscious body of Radlem and Veronica. Could they both be in here together? I help Veronica up and she smiles, despite a bruised cheek and a bloody lip. “You’ve got a mean right hook.” She whispers to me. “Help me over to the safe, I know the code.” As we stand there, I stare at Radlem as Veronica opens the safe. She cracks the door on it and looks up at me. “I’m so sorry for everything. None of this should have happened.” She hands me a small white envelope. I stare at it and look back to Radlem. Something catches my eye. Another jack. What else could he possibly be hiding? I open the envelope and read the code: “Victoria Radlem” I turn to Veronica and her mouth is open. “That’s my mother’s name. Why would he use that as his password, especially after the things he did to her?” I shrugged. Sadly there was only one way to find out. I find the jack on the back of my head and jack in again. What is real? What is fake? How far up do I have to go?
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When I open my eyes, I’m sitting in a chair across from Radlem. We’re sitting with a desk between us and it seems we’re in an office. I look around and everything is frozen, as if I’ve just appeared in a snapshot, or picture. I stand up and look around. Everything seems familiar. Everything seems too familiar everything… I turn around and Radlem has a letter opener and he’s swinging it at my throat. I manage to dodge but the fight gets dirty fast. I kick him in the groin and I can tell it hurts, but when he grazes my arm, my mind almost explodes from the shock of feeling pain. The mind makes it feel so real, so agonizingly real… Radlem and I fight back and forth, punching, kicking, eye gouging, wrestling and hitting each other with whatever we can grab. Suddenly he pushes me onto the desk, and pins me, and he laughs in my face. “It looks like I get to keep control of my body and you will have learned nothing.” The word stings and I fight to break free. Suddenly he shoots back in pain and when I sit up, I see him spinning trying to get the letter opener out of his back. Standing there is a woman who looks like Veronica, but older. She is absolutely stunning, and I can’t help but stare. She meets my gaze. “Take my daughter’s mind with you, and go to the Commissioner’s office with my name. Everything you need will be in the safe there and you already know the code for that.” I suddenly black out.
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I wake up face down in a dark room with a safe. Veronica stands over me and… so do I. “Well that’s trippy. As I sit up, Magnus and I share a look for I too… am Magnus. “You or I have to take her with us.” We both look at Veronica and I suddenly have an idea. “Alright, Veronica, the information you need is entirely written down on this paper, read it and then take it with you to the next level. You and I are going to switch.” Veronica seems confused but goes along with it. “Okay, but this is really confusing.” Both Magnus and I look at each other. “Try being us right now.” After some switching around I find that I’m still in Radlem’s body. “What the hell?” Veronica stares at me and points a gun to my face. “Sorry, Magnus here, looks like you’ve still got to die in his body for the body of Magnus to go up again.” He pulls the trigger and I am blinded like a camera flash.
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I stand in the hallway staring at Radlem’s body stirring in the hallway. I have no idea what’s gone on in there, so I prepare for the worst. As he gets up I prod him with the gun. He looks at me but in a completely different light. “Magnus?” I stare at him confused. “Yeah?” Radlem smiles and it creeps the ever loving hell out of me. “It’s me, Veronica!” After a short time of her explaining what happened I decide we have to switch. After the switch is done, I stand up and look at her in my body. “You had better take care of that thing.” She smiles at me from my own body… and that unnerves me even more. She manages to laugh it off, no matter how awkward things are. “So, it’s strange being in your body. I wondered what you were really like as a human.” She looks down to the pants and lifts them out to inspect the goods. “Not bad Detective.” I stand up and stare at her. “Yeah, well that’s the past. Now I’m all chrome baby.” I shoot her a final smile from Radlem’s body and toss myself from the window.
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I watch into the distance as the factory ignites in flames. We’re not going to make it. Well at least I know we did our best, I sent the best man I could in. Suddenly Glenie stirs and I ready the gun. Confusion erupts from the helpless robot on the ground. “Magnus? What’s going on? Where are we?” I don’t even know what to do or say. “Who are you, I’ll ask the questions, where’s umm… Magnus?” Glenie struggles on the ground. “Why can’t I move? It’s Veronica! Please help!” I stand the robot up, completely confused as to what the hell just happened. “So… if you’re here, where is my copy?” Veronica’s voice came across loud and clear. “No time, we have to go to the Commissioner’s Office and stat!”
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Veronica fills me in on the way there and I can hear Cletus in the driver’s seat so excited. Hell this was probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him. Well, I couldn’t argue that, this week was pretty ridiculous for me too. We pull up and I slam on the emergency brake and jump out before the car even stops. One of the guard robots tries to stop me and I blow past him as if he was standing still, well, he might have been. I rush down the hall and tear into the Commissioner’s Office, slamming the door behind me, and tossing a filing cabinet in front of it and then I examine the room. Hmm, where’s the safe, where’s the safe. Stupid girl never told me where the safe was! I look around frantically trying to find it and then I spot it. Behind the desk, but below a filing cabinet. As I stare at the numeric keypad, it’s asking for four digits. I think to myself and try Glenie’s numbers, G13-N13, 1313. The code buzzes and doesn’t give me access. I hear people and robots banging on the door and I try and think. What number could I possibly know?
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I think about all the four digits I’ve come across that would have been relevant to Radlem. Then I think about what Veronica told me. I say her mother’s name aloud, just to see what happens. A small painting shifts slightly, and I stand moving it aside. It reveals a picture of Veronica and on the back it says V3R0-N1C4. I rush to the safe and enter 3014. It clicks and inside is a small server, hard wired to a cellphone and a car battery. I simply pull the phone off the connection and watch as the programming running on it reports an error. As police flood the room, I explain the whole situation to them. They don’t buy it and I’m arrested for a list of things so long I don’t bother to listen. It’s not until the Mayor walks in hours later with a few bruises and a broken arm that I begin to listen again. “It’s okay, the army at the factory has stopped. You may be telling the truth.” The Judge in the cell beside me rushes forward. “Does that mean we’re finally free?” The Mayor nods slowly. “Yes, but you will be retired. Even though you may not have been responsible for this, putting you back into your position would harm the image of our courts. It seems people will be headed back to leadership and decision making roles for the next few years until this investigation is completely over.” The door to my cell opens and I walk out and shake the Mayor’s hand. “Thank you sir.” He smiles at me with a large grin. “No Magnus, thank you.”
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I head out to my car and notice the duo still sitting there, mostly because they are unable to move. “So what took you so long?’ Cletus says as Veronica grumbles something under her breath. I laugh and shake my head. “You know what, I think I’m going to take some time off to fix you two up. After all, Veronica, we’re going to have to find out where your body is and get you back into it. That’ll probably be a case in itself.” She sighs from Glenie’s body. “Well, whatever just get me out of here. I’d like to be able to walk and move again soon.” As I stared at the two friends I had made, I considered the fact that despite my solving of this case, many issues still remained. It would only be a matter of time before robots and humans were headed to war again. But for now, a little peace and quiet sure as hell wouldn’t hurt.
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This doesn’t have to be the end of Magnus’ story! If you really liked this story arc and the crazy case it followed, please feel free to comment on here, email me, message me on facebook, send me a carrier pigeon, I don’t care! I would love feedback! So please please please comment on this entire twenty five episode story and let me know your thoughts! Thanks for reading!

Heroisms: Achilles Heel

(This is Episode Four, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Sacrifice)

Jason slammed his hand down on the wheel as he drove. “I’m sorry guys, I’m so sorry.” As he pulled up outside of the Government Offices, he thought about what he would do. “Is there anything I can do? Is this right?” His words fell into the silence. Stepping from the car, Jason pulled a ski mask down over his face to conceal his trademark hair. No time like the present to get started. As he began to march toward the doors a security guard appeared before him. “Um sir, I don’t think it’d be wise for you to try and get in with that mask on.” Jason stared him down. “Just try and stop me.” The guard held up his gun and aimed it at Jason. “I’m warning you sir, back away and return to your car. No good can come of this.” Jason grinned to himself, the adrenaline was pumping so hard he forgot he had a heart beat. He stepped closer and slowly. “I’m sorry but I need to get in there.” He said so matter of factly it caught the guard actually off guard. As Jason took another step, the Guard aimed for a leg and pulled the trigger. Sadly, his bullets couldn’t penetrate Jason’s skin. Unfortunately for Jason, his body deflected the bullet right back at the guard, catching him on the side of his neck.

Jason’s eyes widened with immediate regret. “Jesus Christ!” He jumped into action using his ski mask and hands as a blockage for the wound while shouting for help. Son of a bitch, what am I doing? I need to find a way for no one to get harmed. As he sat there holding this man’s life force in, he watched as the man slowly faded away. As the Guard’s eyes widened, his body grew eerily still, and Jason felt his final breath. As he stood staring at the body in front of him, he realized he had made a huge mistake. All it would take was this and the rules for super heroes just got more strict. Suddenly a black sedan pulled up behind his car and Jason froze. Shit, shit, shit… what do I do? What the hell do I do? He looked around and did the only logical thing he could think of at the time. He ran.

Alex had some minor cuts and bruises but other than that he was fine. Alison had fixed him up with some ice for his ribs, he thought he might have broken one. As he sat on the couch, he stared at the television like a lazy zombie. Alison popped back in to check on him. “How are the ribs?” Alex lifted the ice to show some wonderful shades of purple, green, brown and blue. “Yeah, this looks like it’s getting better.” Alison sighed heavily. “What the hell were you thinking, what the hell was he thinking?” Suddenly a girl bursts in and interrupts them both. “Sorry guys, but turn it on channel eleven now!” Alex grabbed the remote and held it defensively. “No way Brooke, my shows are on.” Suddenly the remote wasn’t in his hand, it was in hers. He shook his fist at her and then grimaced in agony. Brooke turned the television to channel eleven and there was a grainy video of a masked man getting shot, and then trying to help a security guard. As the video looped with the reporter talking over it, the three of them simply stared at the screen. The salt and pepper hair, the build, and the car… had Jason really just run off to kill a guard?

Jason could hear the police dogs barking not far behind him. This wasn’t good, in fact this whole plan was stupid. Who could erase all the superhero files anyway? They’re probably backed up a million times over. As he leapt over a fence, he realized the dogs were closer than he had hoped. Suddenly he felt one gnawing on his arm, and it didn’t seem to want to let go. “Damnit, you stupid mutt, I don’t want to hurt you, let go. Let go! Let go!” With his last syllable, he tossed the dog aside as if it were never a threat. Suddenly he had two more dogs approaching him. Fearless. Hungry. Angry. As Jason stared them down, he heard their owners call for them. They must have found the other dog. He thought staring into the eyes of his pursuers. As the dogs circled away and back, Jason got a call on his own personal radio. “Jason, Jason! Are you there?!” Jason looked around and whispered back. “Yeah I’m here, Alex is that you?” The voice crackled back across the radio. “Of course, but no time to explain. There is a helicopter loaded with two things. Dex and a really big gun, I’m sure he’s going to take you out. You’ll be the next example!”

Jason stared at the small device that just pumped his inevitable doom to his ears. Damnit, bad day to not wear clean underwear. He stood beneath the trees and tried to ponder his next move, but all he could think about was Dex and what else was probably on that helicopter. Jason thought back to his first ever annual check up.

The doctor leafed through the forms he had signed. “So it says here you can be penetrated only by diamond? How did you determine this?” James smiled, despite what he was about to say. “My Mother backhanded me with her engagement ring. It bled a ridiculous amount, but nothing else ever since has penetrated the skin.” The doctor nodded. “No need for a test then.” Every year after that they just assumed the doctor before them had run the tests.

But the question now, was would the military know it was Jason? As he ran across the fields beside the headquarters, he could feel the laser sight trained on him. He knew it would take a lot for Dex to shoot, but Dex was as unbiased as they could come. He did what he needed to do to provide for the four kids he had, all of which would be entering their teens soon. Jason thought to himself. Dex, just let me get to the water. As he made his way toward the river, he heard the shot and felt it all at the same time. The bullet was a tranquillizer dart and it shattered on impact. Jason kept running and trying not to panic. They’ve realized it’s me, I’m not going to make it. 

As Alex, Alison and Brooke watched the dart shatter, they grew concerned. What would the government pull off next since that failed? As they sat anxiously waiting for Jason to drop or make the water, they were all standing, holding each other. Even Alex couldn’t feel the pain. The pain of losing his mentor would far outweigh any of his physical pain.

Dex sat in the helicopter staring through the scope. “No effect from the tranquillizers. Do you want me to load plan B?” A voice came stern over the headset. It was his well dressed boss, and his words were cold. “Bring him down.” Dex stared at the diamond bullet. “Will this thing even fire?” The voice came over the headset once again. “It’s specially designed. Trust us, we’ve spent millions ensuring this would work if need be.” Dex loaded the huge bullet into his gun. I’m sorry old friend. I am just the right hand of an evil man. I hope you understand. Dex considered missing, but then thought of the repercussions that could have on his own family. He sighed and aimed for Jason’s head. Damn, this sucks. He pulled the trigger and the bullet soared through the air landing a solid shot. Jason tumbled a few times and his body fell into the water off the ledge.

Alex held Alison and Brooke close as they all cried. Two heroes have died this week. The question now, is who would be next?

Unbiased Law: Episode 24

Episode Twenty Three Recap: Magnus finally has reclaimed his vehicle and upon arriving at the discards graveyard, finds a small solar powered cleaning robot in a bush. After a short discussion with the small robot, he realizes that his robot helped him out awhile ago. Unable to just leave the poor robot there to rust away, Magnus decides to recruit his aid and places his new found ally in his car. As he enters the graveyard, he is sought out by the limping robot and has found out that he wasn’t always a robot. Today’s episode is the second last episode for this story arc, what is left for our detective to find out? Only the words below know (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty Three)!

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“Not always a robot? Well that explains the limp.” I try and break the intensity of everything and Glenie glances for only a moment back at me. “Magnus, it is time for us to shine. As we speak I march an army upon the factory that creates us. We are going to take it over and convert the robots there into our own personal military.” I stare at him and begin my questioning. “But if you were a human, what would make you rebel against the very people who created these bodies, one of which you used to be?” Glenie scoffs and stares at the factory, as if waiting for a signal that everything is under way. “I’ve thought about it, and the moment you and I became humans inside of robots, we became immortal, like the gods. We now have power to control this city, shape it to our will. Rule the world!” He spins and I can already sense that he’s shocked when he notices my gun.
“What are you doing? I invited you to join in the immortality that will be our revolution. Robots against humans, extinction of the lesser race, Magnus, you know that together we could simply live forever.” I stared at him down the barrel of my gun. I wouldn’t miss. Not with this new body. “Glenie, I thought you were always a robot. You were never very personable. We can’t play God though. If humans wish themselves extinct so be it. But you and I are better than that, we’ve been given a second chance at life and this is how you’d repay them? With extinction?” A huge explosion came from the factory across the graveyard, and Glenie burst into laughter. “It is almost time, you are either with me, or with them… which side do you pick?” I stand there, and the moment hangs like a Windows operating system. I stare through Glenie, past the factory and imagine a world where I control everything. I could create hundreds of robots. Just like me. Like… me.
I flinch and reality slaps me in the face like a horse shoe magnet. I can see the gun quivering in my hand. “I’m sorry Glenie. But this isn’t right. You have to stop this. You have to call back the robots.” He laughs at me again, and I’m getting agitated. “You can’t stop me or them Detective. You would have to enter my brain, find the code yourself and deactivate them from a remote location which I won’t disclose to you. Your case, has gone cold Magnus.” No, this can’t be it. There has to be something I can do. Something… Wireless. I think back to the transfer I did for Veronica and her sister. Time to break the law once again. “Okay Glenie, you win.” I lower my gun for a second and I notice he walks over to me. “It’s okay, it’ll all be over soon.” It’s a good thing I can’t grin, because I had a crappy poker face when I was a human. “Yeah Glenie. Yeah it will be.” I move faster than I ever have before and I leap in front of Glenie, aiming and hoping I can hit his motor function drive. The shot goes off and we both hit the ground. I can hear him screaming in rage, but he still has power. I walk over and jack in. Time to follow this son of a bitch down into his rabbit hole.
As soon as the copy completes I jump up and hold my gun at his face. This was the deal I made with myself. Once I know the information, relay it back to myself and pull the trigger, I still have to figure out where to deactivate the discard army. Sadly for now, for this version of me. It’s all a waiting game.
Ah shit. I must be the copy inside this maniac. Time to find the information I can and go get killed. As much as I want to be the one pulling the trigger, I know deep down we’re both the same person. But are we? What if I’m the real one? No, we’re identical. But what if we’re not? I look around at my surroundings. This must be Glenie’s subconscious. It’s designed to be a huge steel castle. The ideal impenetrable fortress. Lucky for me, I’m already inside. At least the me on the outside was a good enough hacker to get me this far. I make my way across velvet carpet floors amid steel columns, until the hall ends at a rather large set of double doors. I push them, and they resist my attempt. What now? I look around. Nothing that can help me. Although if this is his subconscious, can I control it too since I have been copied here? I believe the password is Glenie. “Glenie.” I say it aloud and believe it will work. Sadly it doesn’t. Also it gets his attention. “You are an intruder here, and you will die because of it.” I turn and see a man in his late forties, grey hair, walking toward me with a limp.
“Glenie, is that you?” The words slide out of my mouth before I realize how stupid that sounded. “Yes it is me, but you’re not supposed to be here.” I stare at this frail man, it seems as though he’s been in here for ages. “Glenie, you’re about to destroy the world.” I tell him this and he looks shocked. “I’m what?” The man falls to the floor and sits there, stunned. I rush to his side. “Are you okay?” He nods. “I’ve been trapped here for years. I fight to regain control, but I can’t. I have managed to overwrite his motor skills with mine, which has slowed him down significantly. He hates the sign of weakness.” I stare at him, with some mild confusion on my face. “Who hates the sign of weakness Glenie?” He points over my shoulder and to the doors that have suddenly opened wide. I turn and my gaze fixates on the man I never expected. The one person who I thought had a minor role. Two people driving one robot, and sadly for Glenie, Mister Radlem didn’t like taking turns in the driver’s seat.
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Heroisms: Sacrifice

(This is Episode Three, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Nemesis)

The people mostly cleared out in droves, trying to beat the traffic. Jason sat with his face in his hands with Alex and Alison by his side. Turning to Alison, Alex nodded and they began to move from the seats. He turned and put a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Bud, we’re going to give you a moment alone. To collect yourself, alright?” Jason managed a simple grunt and with that, they were gone. Finally the Pastor realized one of his flock has stayed behind. He made his way to Jason’s side and sat beside him. The two sat in silence for sometime before Jason finally lifted his head and looked to him. “Forgive me Father, I don’t know what to say or where to start.” The Pastor smiled and nodded. “You’ll find the words when the time is right.” Jason absorbed the wise words. “Father, in confession, everything is kept between you and I… correct?” The Pastor’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “Yes, of course.” He stood and made his way to the end of the row and guided Jason to the confessionals.

Jason sat in and his broad shoulders felt as if they touched both sides of the small booth. There was space between him and the walls, but he didn’t enjoy tight spaces. Then a small window opened between the two and although he couldn’t see the man, he knew he was there. “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.” Jason waited a moment as he awaited confirmation, but then continued. “Father, the man we bury today was an exceptional man. Always risking his life for the well being of others. But I believe he was sadly made to be an example for the rest of the community.” A voice on the other side acknowledged his concern and then Jason began his reasoning. “Father, there is a small group of superheroes living among this community, and for years we’ve had to check in. James didn’t. This is why I think he was made to be an example. However I put a man in hospital with my fists not long ago and have yet to be punished for it. Why? Why do the gods act in such a way?” The silence felt like it lasted a lifetime, but then the Pastor finally found the right words. “It is not the actions of God that we must question, but the intent of humankind. People crave power, and people in power crave to keep it and exert it over others. Anyone who cannot be corrupted by power is eliminated by those who crave it. It is sadly the way the world works my son.”

Jason sat for a few minutes letting those words sink in. It is sadly the way the world works my son. He looked to the ceiling of the booth with rage, as if to look up to God for an answer. His face steeled again and he looked straight ahead. “Thank you Father, that will be all.” As he walked from the booth, Jason glanced to the other confessional. He walked away disgusted that even a man of God could believe that it was just the way the world worked. It was time for change. It was time he acted upon this. Jason stormed out of the church with a head full of steam and passed Alex and Alison in his rage. They ran to catch him, and the three of them got into a car. As they drove past the church, they were unaware of the events unfolding within.

“Please, I beg of you. I won’t tell a soul.” Suddenly the Pastor was forced from the confessional and he fell, sprawled on the floor. Behind him was a man with a gun equipped with a silencer. As the Pastor glanced up from where he lay on the ground, he noticed some incredibly expensive leather shoes. As he followed them up, he noticed they belonged to a man clad in a suit to match the shoes. The man’s face was dark from the Pastor’s angle, with two of the overhanging lights from the church glaring over his shoulders. The Pastor decided to make another attempt at a plea. “Look, I won’t tell anyone. He needed to confide in someone.” The man in the suit looked around and two other men in suits closed the doors to the church. Finally his eyes fixated on the Pastor on the ground. “I know you won’t Father.” Nodding to the man with the gun, gave him permission to pull the trigger. “I’m sorry. I wish it didn’t have to be this way.” He motioned to one of the men who just finished closing the door and he came over and picked the Pastor off the floor. “Out the back.” As they carried him off, the man in the expensive suit turned to ensure everything was as they had found it. As they helped the Pastor into the back of a black sedan, the men followed suit and together they drove off into the night, to an unknown location.

“Want to talk about it?” Alex stared at Jason, whose eyes were unblinking and intense. “No, maybe tomorrow.” As the trio drove back to their base of operations, the silence was near deafening. Alison found herself sitting in the back and humming ever so quietly. As they pulled up, Jason parked and was slowly making his way out, delaying for the other two to get out first. Alex leapt out and helped Alison, and as soon as he shut her door he realized something was wrong. With the locks engaged, Jason sat back in and began reversing. Alex, unaware of what else to do, ran and jumped on the hood of the car. As the two stared at each other amid the confusion, Jason spun the car around thus tossing Alex onto the nearby grass. Leaning out the window, Jason shouted to him. “I’m sorry, but the less you know, the better.” As he peeled off, Alison rushed to Alex’s side. As the two watched the lights disappear down the road, Alex turned to Alison. “What do you think he’s going to do?” Alison stared half dazed into the distance. “I don’t know. But the question is, who will stop him?”

Unbiased Law: Episode 23

Episode Twenty Two Recap: As Veronica spills the beans, Magnus finds out almost everything he needs to know about the Radlem’s. He gives in to his sympathy for her and lets her get a head start to a new life. Having earned his car back and clearing the background on Veronica, he is granted with one final parting gift from her. The name of the leader of the discards, also known as the killer robot, is apparently Glenie. Magnus having recognized this name from his own past now sets out for what seems to be the final clue to his case and finally closure on the whole Robot Uprising. What will today bring? Only this episode will fill you in (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty Two)!

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I sit for a moment to allow that to sink in. Glenie? My first robot boss. He understood more than any other robot but he was programmed from scratch. He spent every waking hour with the last of the human commissioners before he was placed into the position once they believed he was ready. The question is when did they scrap him? How hadn’t I heard of this? I mean he was the one who got me on this case, now he was both the leader of the discards and the police force? Something wasn’t adding up. He already had more than enough power to cause problems, so what’s with the discards? I look up to check my rear view mirror, and then remember it got shot off. Bah, I don’t need it anyway. I pull onto the road and for the first time in a week or more, I’m behind the wheel of my car. It’s riddled with bullet holes, missing pieces, and there’s blood all over the back seats. She’s got her issues, but she’s mine. Sweet, sweet wheels of justice and freedom.
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After my joyride, I pull up to the spot I remember in the original video I got many moons ago from a concerned individual. The one that showed the discards cannibalizing a dropped off robot on the road. The one that showed my car and her second, well third murder. I park the car and start walking toward the discard graveyard when I hear something. I turn and see nothing but a bush blowing in the breeze. Suddenly it comes again. It’s the faintest of sounds, almost inaudible. “Magnus…” The whisper is almost lost on the breeze, but I catch it. My vision looks into the bush and I notice the remnants of a small robot left. I lean down and look him over. He’s got no way of moving, but it looks like a truck may have bumped him off. “You. Are you the one who sent me the video?” The robot looks up and down the road and then at Magnus. “Yes, you are the one I heard them talking about at a seminar. I am C13-TU5. Cleaning robot for the school board.” I shake my head in disbelief at what has befallen him. “How could they simply just toss you here, you still seem to be working fine?” C13-TU5 stares at him as if he just froze, but then breaks the silence. “They tossed me because I was getting slower, repairs were getting harder and the newer models were cheaper. But that doesn’t matter. I heard about you from the Neighbourhood Watch in one of the schools. They said if there was ever something the police couldn’t help with, you were the one to call.”
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I would have smiled if I could. People saying these things about me in their meetings meant my job was being done well. Too bad I had to close up shop on official business this week. I miss the boring days of tracking down dead beat fathers and cheating husbands. Suddenly C13-TU5 began again. “I didn’t know who else to call… I remembered your email from the meeting, but for some reason I couldn’t find a number for the police in my database. Guess I’m losing my memory too.” If a robot could look depressed, I’m sure this robot fit the bill. I patted him in the head. “Don’t worry, I’ve got some business in here and then I could use someone like you with a keen eye for detail in my office. Would you be up for that Cletus? Do you mind if I call you that?” C13-TU5 paused a moment. “I’ll think on the new name, but I wouldn’t mind working with you.” I grabbed him out from under the tree and tossed him in my car. He’d need some work, hell, probably a lot of work. But I couldn’t just let him rust away under the tree. Also, apparently he didn’t need to recharge. Maybe he was solar powered.
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After placing him into my car I headed down into the graveyard, and it was worse than I ever expected. As I walked through I could tell I was being watched, if I made one wrong move I could have loads of robots upon me. As I marched through the aisles and over the random parts and discarded robots. I felt sick to my stomach. I saw cleaning robots, public service robots, military droids, police droids, you name it, and it came here. As I stepped over one unit’s head, I could hear the remaining energy fizzing away as if to manage some last words. As I knew I couldn’t be sick, I was okay, but my mind was making my fictional stomach do back flips while filled with battery acid. My eyes darted across the field of debris, well bodies and I glanced down to my own metallic legs. I was standing knee deep in discarded robots. This wasn’t right. It didn’t feel right. We were really this oblivious? Instead of recycling or improving the existing robots, we simply just toss the old ones away? “It’s terrible isn’t it?” A familiar voice came from behind. I turned and watched as an unfamiliar robot, walked with an all too familiar limp. “It’s incredibly saddening to see what humans do to the things they create. They consider themselves gods, while in reality they are less than savages.”
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I stand staring at the robot limping through the debris and I am too stunned for words. I still attempt. “I… I didn’t know. I mean, I knew, but didn’t… if you understand… what I mean?” I can’t take my eyes off him. Then he stuns me with only words. “Magnus. This was why I put you on the case.” My mind is baffled and my words fly out before I think about them. “Why? You were the one pulling all the strings, me included. Why was I so important in all of this?” The robot shuffles slightly and turns away from me and stares at the large factory in the distance. I recognize it as where the droids are made for the police and military. He hangs his head, and his words come out as sad as I’d ever heard a robot speak. “Because you and I are the same Magnus. The only difference is I never forgot you, but eventually, the force forgot about me.” I thought about his words for a moment. “But… you know I wasn’t always a robot, right?” He stares straight ahead, still fixated on the factory. “I know Magnus. Nor was I.”
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Magnus seems to be familiar with this robot, but not entirely. Will this prove to be a clever rouse? Or will this be Glenie? What will Magnus learn next? Where is everything headed? Only two episodes left! Stay tuned!

Heroisms: Nemesis

(This is Episode Two, missed the first one? Find it @ Heroisms: Immortality)

The Pastor stands before the hundreds of people crowded into his small church. As he looks around, a bead of sweat glimmers in the dim candle light before him. He clears his throat and begins. “Our Loving Eternal Heavenly Father, as we meet this morning to remember our dear friend and loved one…” Alison tunes him out and turns to Alex, still wiping a tear from her eye. “I still can’t believe this has happened. I feel like we only saw him a few weeks ago. Jason leaned forward to quiet her before she could continue, but then stopped to think about what she said. A few weeks ago? Perhaps. But when was it… and why?

“James from Fire here and we need backup immediately, Code Alpha, forty nine, fifty two!” The call came through panicked and distressed. It wasn’t often that the fire department needed super heroes, but Alpha at the beginning of the code meant that something was amiss. Heroes aren’t meant to ask questions, just get there and figure it out as soon as possible. However Jason jumped on the radio and got back to him. “What’s your location and problem?” The reply came back garbled and only a few words made it through. “*Crack*… *Hiss*… the asylum…” Static was all that he was left with after that. As Jason stared at the speaker, he wasn’t sure about anything. Just they needed to get there, and pronto. As he stood to leave one final clue crackled across the radio, “escape attempt”. Then nothing.

Jason rushed into the lounge of their base, looking frantically back and forth. He spotted Alex who was lifting weights. “Alex! Jesus, we’ve got a huge issue over at the asylum! Fire Rescue called in a fifty two!” Alex shot up from his prone position and dropped the weights to the ground, all nine hundred pounds. “A fifty two? What the hell is that?” Jason paused a moment to think, he actually only knew it was really bad but realized he had no idea of what they were up against. “I’ll check it and you round up the others!” Alex nodded and ran off to the study while Jason rushed back to the radio and looked for the code book. As he read through the codes he found it. “Alpha, Special Ops assistance required. Forty nine, uncontrollable blaze. Fifty two, Listed Criminal on Premises.” Jason dropped the book and ran up the stairs to his room shouting the meaning of the code for all to hear. In minutes the entire group of six were in their transport and on their way.

As they pulled up, they recognized James or “Blaze” immediately. As they rushed up to him, they recognized the immediate distress on his face. His feet were tapping the ground nervously and he relaxed only a little when they rushed up to him. Alison piped up first. “Blaze, what the hell is going on?” He pointed to the inferno where the asylum used to stand. “It was that guy who has been going around calling himself Firas the Fearless. He came to help the inmates held here escape.” The team of heroes looked at each other and then stared at Blaze. “Firas, isn’t he a fire guy? That’s right up your alley isn’t it?” Alex asked with a half grin and confusion in his eyes. James looked at him and nodded. “But Dracon isn’t.” His words came across and hit Jason square in the face. Everyone turned to Jason, and watched him run his hands nervously through his salt and pepper hair. “Shit. Not him. Anyone but him.”

Dracon is a man who much like Blaze can withstand a tremendous amount of heat. However, he also has some other abilities. Jason remembers these to be: kill your partners, hold a grudge and manipulate light. The last one was key, as it allowed him to bend the light around him so he could become invisible, change colors or even change appearances. Jason stared distant into the fires. “I’ll kill him today if I can find him.” The others shushed him and they all stared at the flames. Alex cleared his throat and made his announcement. “No time like the present to get to work I suppose?” They all jumped up and rushed in, splitting up and watching for Firas. Blaze would be the first to find him, not that it was hard. The man was screaming like a lunatic. “Burn! Burn! Burn!” As he managed to burn more of the asylum’s ruins he noticed Blaze standing near by. “Ah, time to send you to hell!” As he turned the flames on Blaze, Blaze emerged right in front of him. “I was thinking of doing that to you.” Blaze punched Firas straight out. Just as he noticed Jason rushing toward him. “Look out!” he screamed at Blaze, who turned just in time to see the light of the flames flickering the tiniest bit strangely. Suddenly, Dracon was before him.

Jason leapt over Blaze and crashed hard into Dracon, both of them tumbling through flaming debris. Dracon stood first, and stared into the eyes of his nemesis. His voice deep and dripping with venom, his words sank in like daggers. “Come to die like the old man you are? Or would you prefer the same treatment Silverstar received.” Jason paused only a moment to pay tribute to her memory. When Jason had found her, she had been brutally attacked, raped and was left for dead. She died hours later only after uttering one word. “Dracon.” Jason steeled himself. “No. But I’m going to send you to that personal circle of hell Satan has reserved for you.” He leapt at Dracon as if he was a feral beast. As many of the other heroes were embroiled in their own battles rounding up the escapees, Blaze watched hopelessly as the two pummelled away at each other.

As the fight between the two became dirty, and down right atrocious, Blaze felt like he should step in. After all, he was watching a dear friend getting clobbered and clobbering right back. Suddenly, the tide turned when Dracon tripped up on some debris and toppled over. Before he knew what was happening, he had an extremely angry Jason slamming his fists upon his face. Jason hit for what seemed like forever. Finally, Blaze grabbed his arm as Jason raised it for another swing. “That’s enough!” Jason looked down and saw his rival. Broken and defeated, Dracon lay on the ground barely breathing. His tongue had been punched against his teeth and was missing a piece and the only reason they noticed that was because Jason had nearly punched his jaw clean off and had ripped through Dracon’s right cheek. As Jason stood up, his hands not even showing the faintest bit of wear, he looked to the team of his peers surrounding him. Judging him. He watched as Blaze handed over Firas to the authorities and looked back to him, shaking his head disapprovingly.

That was the last time Jason has seen James. Blaze. Jason hung his head as the church erupted in the song Amazing Grace. As tears rolled down his cheeks. Alex patted him on the shoulder. “There, there bud. There, there.” As Jason hung his head not in sorrow, but in shame he thought about James and how he did everything else right except this one thing. It wasn’t fair. His mind also drifted to his nemesis, still in a coma after the beating he’d received. Jason sniffled and wiped his nose with a handkerchief from his blazer. He stared at it and lost himself on a train of thought. Why did he die and I wasn’t even punished? I beat a man into a coma, and almost to death but not even a slap on the wrist. Things have to change. As he straightened up in his seat, he wiped his nose once again and his look was as cold as steel. Things must change.

Unbiased Law: Episode 22

Episode Twenty One Recap: As Veronica pulls the trigger on her own father, it’s the killer robot who finishes him off. After tossing Magnus the gun he lost to the water under the bridge a few episodes back, Magnus is left standing over the body with the murder weapon and covered with the victim’s blood! As He makes his escape, Veronica flips back to his side and just in time to escape. However Magnus is through playing games, it’s time for answers. Now. Will he like what he has to hear? Read below to find out (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty One)!

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“I need to know what ever it is that made you want to kill him. I also need to know about the killer robot. I need everything. Now.” Magnus’ gun doesn’t waiver. Even if Veronica flinched the new prototype body is so fast he could block anything she could throw at him. She resigns to her captor. “Fine. I’ll give you everything. Just remember, you asked for it.” She begins by explaining what her Father did to her to keep her sister alive. This is when I remember that there are two women inside this body, and I’m listening to Ronnie, the robot half. She details how her body was fed flesh far from her sister, so the nanites could process it and then return it to its new owner. She never was loved by her father, as she was always just a robot to him. I mention about how he referred to both of his girls while he was in prison. She wipes away a tear and smiles. “I was his other daughter, I had my uses so I supposed I had to be acknowledged at some point.”
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As the conversation glides along effortlessly, I learn of how she was scolded for her sister’s failures and even beaten as she was just a robot anyway. Suddenly I am granted a view into Veronica’s life with her father. Her father loved her so much, that he would never let anything bad befall her. In fact, he would barely let anything happen to her at all. After her mother left them, her father became overly protective and because of her illness she was never yelled at. She watched however as her robot sister was beaten, chastised and even punished for the things Veronica did. I stifled back tears as I realized that despite one being loved and the other being hated by the same man, they both felt equally wronged by him. Veronica finished it off with, “As my father wouldn’t let me have any friends, Ronnie was all I had left.” I knew right then, they both pulled the trigger.
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Somehow merging the two sisters had made them see their faults and understand why the other did what they did over the years. But I had to press further. “So what deal did your father make with the discards?” I watched as Veronica’s eyes widened. The content lead me to believe Ronnie was talking, although I was having a lot of trouble keeping up as it seemed the two were becoming one. “My father needed more and more nanites. He kept making trips to the discard graveyard for parts and drained nanites. It was here he was approached by your so called, Killer Robot, with a deal. The robot would provide nanites, so long as my father would help him with his own repairs. As the two got close, they discussed a plan to frame my father for murder and throw the judicial system into question.” She paused only for a moment to ponder that and continued. “It’s strange how a man who hated robots, worked with a robot to cause chaos. I suppose it’s because they both agreed that the robots in the courthouse were incompetent. All you need is one link, and it starts a chain reaction.”
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Veronica sighed as she released the weight of all of that off her shoulders. I felt the urge to let her know the bad news. “Veronica, I’m sorry. You’re still a felon you know. You should leave the country today if you can.” She looked at me and surprisingly smiled. “I know Magnus. I’m sorry for everything I personally have put you through this week.” I nodded. “I accept, but I will be keeping my car now. You’ll have twenty four hours before I call the police.” She rose from the car and looked back in through the window. “Magnus?” I turned back to her and saw the look in her eyes. “Yeah Veronica?” She paused for what seemed like an eternity and then said something I wasn’t expecting to hear. “The Killer Robot with the limp? He’s actually some old police droid. Goes by the name of Glenie. Hope that helps.” I stop and stare into the distance as I hear Veronica’s footsteps disappear into the distance. Glenie? 6L3-N13? Commissioner Alpha 6L3-N13 who granted me permission to become a private eye back in the beginning? No. It couldn’t be… could it?
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Magnus is now faced with an old boss as his biggest enemy yet, but now he must figure out just how and where he can find him and stop him. Also, why would a robot have a limp? Why is he starting a war with the humans? Why was Glenie discarded? Only Episode Twenty Three could have your answers… or can it? Find out! Two days time!

Heroisms: Immortality

It’s something we all crave, deep within. Whether it’s fifteen minutes of fame, or infinite praise. Think of the Bible. If a person could leave a such a legacy today, that would be immortality. As we have discovered, no one lives forever. People die everyday, doesn’t matter who they are or what they’ve done in this life. Some great people pass on, while some terrible ones survive and vice versa. But heroes, heroes live on in legend. People whisper the exploits of Saint George and his fierce battle against the dragon. Beowulf tempted certain death in his fight with Grendel. Even King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, faced many exploits, however these could all be fairy tales and nothing more.

Today our heroes are spread throughout the world, battling atrocities abroad and crime in our streets. But what about those unsung heroes? What about those spies who manage valuable information? What about the super special operatives who aren’t in the books and are only represented by dollar signs and then an eventual replacement? What about the people with enhanced abilities that the government hides from us? Despite their best efforts, that is all about to change.

The term “Super Hero” can only be traced as far back as the early nineteen hundreds, however heroes themselves can be traced back far beyond that. Originally thought to be children of the gods, the Greeks wrote of Heracles and Achilles two of the original super heroes. Heracles has tremendous strength and was tougher than any mortal before him while Achilles had only one weak spot, aside from that the man could not be harmed. After many centuries we arrive to the modern day where the government has employed these types of beings and keep them from the public eye. Some are kept in local public service if their abilities are not government threatening or they have already begun families. These people are called public defenders by the government. They must still register, check in and be examined annually to ensure proper procedure is being followed.

The first year anyone in the super hero community heard about the death of a hero related to the government, was a fire fighter by the name of James “Blaze” Anderson. He got the nickname because he was the fastest guy on the squad and to his team mates, he seemed just to never feel the heat. The government knew the truth. James was actually impervious to flame. They had tested his resistance to the lengths of dousing him in lava, and merrily watched him swim in it. However, he was soon to take a turn for the worst. James was cocky, arrogant and despite his enjoyment for saving people, he loathed the government that employed him. After two years of refusing to check up, the government warned that if he was unable to show up for a third year, there would be dire consequences. Thinking himself above these mere mortals, James promised them he would not show. So he didn’t. Then suddenly an apartment building was on fire and a girl was trapped on the eighth floor. James left his team behind and rushed in warning them not to follow.

The squad members were unaware of the government’s threat of dire consequences, but even they recognized a building imploding when they saw one. James was buried under twelve floors of concrete and steel. When they found him, he was mostly crushed and pin cushioned. They felt terrible for him. The super hero community shuddered. Outrage poured into conference rooms, the super heroes pushed the government to agree no more heroes would die at their hand. They feigned ignorance and soon everything settled down. But this left a bad taste in the mouths of any and all super heroes. It was a definite sign, a slap in the face to anyone who would dare defy them. Power or no power, they had them right where they wanted them. They knew all of the weaknesses. They knew all of the addresses. They knew all of the extended family.

Now as James is laid to rest, the media reports of a fire fighter with a heart of gold. He had saved over four hundred and thirty people. As super heroes file in to pay their respects, a small trio remains outside and far enough from ear shot to discuss the damage. An average man of average build fixes his tie and ensures no one is approaching them as the conversation continues. “Do you think they really did this? Killed him as a response to his blatant lack of respect for authority?” His head turns back to the conversation, and to the raven haired girl asking the question. “Alison, I believe the government is a fan of keeping order. Sadly he was extremely disobedient.” Alison stomps her foot in protest and stares him down. “You don’t think he deserved it did you?” Her voice raises a bit too much for their discussion and a broad shouldered man with salt and pepper hair stands between them. “Alison, he doesn’t mean that. Do you Alex?” Still fixing his tie, Alex looks to Alison and then at his feet. “No, no. I just mean… they ask a lot from us, but the least we can do is go in. It’s as much for our sake as it is theirs.”

Alison storms off and adds herself to the ever growing queue of people paying their respects. Alex looks to the man standing before him. “Jason, what do you think?” Jason turns his gaze from watching Alison to make direct eye contact with Alex. “What do I think? I think he needed to be taught a lesson, but not like this. I think this is a definite warning from our own government. Do as you’re told, or else.” After he watches his words sink into his young protégée, he slides an arm around him and pulls him close to his side. “What do you say we go wish an old friend farewell, shall we?” As the two walk to add themselves to the queue, they don’t notice the figure standing in the shadows, mere feet away from their discussion.

Unbiased Law: Episode 21

Episode Twenty Recap: Returning to an old friend, Magnus finds himself a new ally in the fight against crime. However his new alliance is short lived as his old Captain wants no part of the coming war. Granted a new prototype droid’s body, Magnus is released back into the world with better armor and better reaction times. These reactions come in handy when he discovers he is being tracked by the mysterious killer robot. After a near death experience once again, Magnus finds himself heading to city hall. Today apparently is the release of Veronica’s father and she is already there to meet him. As Magnus and Veronica catch up, her father makes his way toward them. She raises a gun as if to kill him, but her father calls her bluff. Sadly the odds weren’t stacked in his favour. Now faced with a potential murder and an old friend, what is Magnus’ next move? Only today’s episode will tell you (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty)!

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As Mr. Radlem reels in pain, I find myself stuck in this strange haze. What do I do? He’s bleeding out, but she’s escaping. A sudden scream snaps me out of it long enough to notice Veronica is rushing down the stairs with guards hot on her heels. I don’t think she’ll escape. I rush to Radlem’s side and the wound is pretty bad. He is screaming something about his legs and all I can focus on is the amount of blood pouring over my hands. I call to someone but I feel like my voice falls on deaf ears. Suddenly I see a robot limping its way through the crowd. Hell no. Not now, not this time. I look down to Radlem who is screaming in agony and back to the killer robot advancing on me. I can’t just sit here, but if I pull my hand away Radlem will possibly bleed out. The droid pushes people out of the way and aims a gun at Radlem and says something like “The deal’s off.” He pulls the trigger and I try to shield Radlem. My sensors are fast enough to watch the bullet, but where the spirit was willing, the body is not. The bullet hits Radlem square in the forehead and he drops. The robot tosses me the gun and disappears into the crowd.
I sit, baffled at the turn of events here. Deal’s off? What deal had they struck up? I stand up, holding a gun and with blood all over my hands. A dead man rests at my feet. Suddenly I feel like the entire crowd just noticed what was going on. But someone saw the killer robot right? As I look around the question repeats in my head. Right? Before I can realize what’s going on I realize that I’ve been set up once again. Ironically in the same way Radlem probably was. I stand here, holding the murder weapon, covered in blood and standing over the murder victim. Hmm. Well this can’t be good.
The crowd turns on me in a vicious fashion. I shove my way through and lucky for me sticks and stones don’t break my bones and names will never hurt me. I hear calls for my parts, people screaming at the dead man in the pool of blood and I hear police sirens wailing over the crowd. I think to myself the number of times I’ve seen the killer robot, and he’s always been alone. I narrowly avoid a rather large rock tossed in my direction as I consider what could be going on. Perhaps he is still sitting upon his throne in the discard’s graveyard? Only one way to find out! I break from the crowd and rush into the street. As I look up, a car is hurdling toward me and slams on its brakes a moment short of soon enough. I leap and find myself sprawled on the hood. The hood of my car. I look up into the window and Veronica shrugs and then she peels off with my holding on for dear life.
As we work our way from city hall I realize I didn’t get to protect the Mayor, but he should be safe for now. He will be heavily guarded until the dangers pass. I’ve probably got another twenty four hours to save him. I work my way up the hood and finally into the window of my car. I look across to Veronica and she smiles awkwardly at me. “Sorry for that.” I stare at her. “You’re sorry? You just attempted murder!” She slams the brakes on and I feel my circuits rattle as my head bounces off the dashboard. When I look back to her she’s as white as a ghost. “He didn’t die?” I feel rage increasing my core temperature and my cooling systems kick in. “No, he didn’t die you crazy son of a… but someone else killed him.” I watch as color returns to her face and she breathes a sigh of relief. My rage is beyond the point of return and I’ve had enough. This week has been absolute bullshit. I bring my gun out and point it at her. “We need to talk. I’ll ask the questions and you’ll provide the answers okay?” I see her considering her options. I slam the car into park and remove the keys from the ignition. “We’re not going anywhere.” She busts out her hand cannon and I toss the keys to my feet and slam her hand hard off the steering wheel and her gun drops out the window. “No. I want answers. Now.”
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Magnus has finally lost his patience. Will Veronica end up with a bullet? Or will she give him the answers he’s looking for? What deal had her father made with the killer robot? Still, who is the killer robot? Could he be from the discards? Or is his evil from somewhere else altogether? Two days time, episode twenty two! Be there!

Unbiased Law: Episode 20

Episode Ninteen Recap: Determined to survive, Magnus manages to escape the taxi to his doom by shooting out a window and leaping from the car as it dropped to the water below. Damaged and nearly beaten, he decides to head to the home of his former Captain in the Police Force. Thought to have been sunk with the taxi, Magnus is reported as dead by the robot lead Police Force and must now try and solve his case through covert means. Will he manage to survive today and will he be able to start getting ahead? Read below to find out (or head back to Episode One or Episode Nineteen)!

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I share a laugh with my old Captain as if no time has passed. I decide to try and enlist his help. “Hey Cap, I know we haven’t spoken in a long time but I need some help, now more than ever.” As he scratches his chin, I can see the lines of deep thought forming on his forehead. “Yeah I’d really love to, but I’ve got this thing.” I can feel my hypothetical jaw drop. “Not even a little?” I ask, hoping he’ll reconsider. He looks me up and down and sighs. “I will help you with a new body, but nothing else. You’re on your own in this one.” He takes me down to the basement and there before me stands a Police Droid Prototype I have never seen before. As he blows the dust off, he sounds a bit sad. “I’m not sure if this will work with that old face of yours, but sometimes you’ve just got to let things go before you can adapt to the future.” He lays me on the table beside the Prototype and I look at him. “Thanks Cap.” He smiles and looks between the Prototype and me. “Don’t thank me yet.”
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I look at the prototype. Shiny, new. Is that a stronger armor? What kind of gadgets will I have to play- And just like that, I awake in my new body. It’s always disorientating at first. You get so used to looking at yourself in one body that when you switch, it almost sparks an identity crisis. “Cap, how am I doing?” He turns to me and shrugs. “You took to it super easily. Least problematic transfer I’ve ever seen. As I examine the room, I notice my memory core is sitting off to the side. “I guess I should probably destroy this.” I say as I pick it up. Suddenly he turns to me and reaches for it. “I don’t think so, those cost a fortune.” I nod to agree and then decide to perform an electric format. As I supercharge the memory core, I feel confident that I have corrupted it. Handing it over causes Cap to feel a short shock, but he will suspect nothing of it. “Thanks for everything Cap, but I’ve got to run.” He smiles and nods. “Just remember Magnus, we’re even.”
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As I leave his house, the last words Cap left me with echo on for awhile. I had saved his life when I first became a droid, and I suppose he felt as though he owed me ever since. I shrug it off and consider what I should do now. I dial a cab and find myself  rethinking the option. As I decide to walk away, the cab pulls up but to a phantom caller. I watch as it slows down, passing by me. It makes it just around the corner when suddenly I hear tires screeching. Just as quickly as it turned the corner, the cab is now racing in my general direction. I grab for my gun and realize two things; One I lost my gun and two I’m in a new tin can. I look back up and dive to the side just as the cab is about to run me down. It strikes a tree and I watch the robot driver rocket out and into the bushes. I rush over not to make sure he’s okay, but to get some answers. When I make it to him, he is already up and limping away. Limping. Robot. My mind flashes back to all the limping robots I’ve seen lately and how they have mostly tried to kill me. I run and tackle this cab driver to the ground and find that my new body is way stronger than the previous one. Now it’s question and answer time.
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As I flip the cab driver over and pin him, I come face to face with no one I have met. However the body is unlike the mind, and the mind speaks. “Well I’ll be damned Magnus. If you’re not the hardest son of a bitch to kill, then I don’t know what is.” I stare him down and scan to see if the cab driver is being remote controlled or if I’ve got a genuine problem here. “Yeah I get that a lot. but how did you know it was me?” The driver laughs and my results come back with nothing. “How did I know? We’ve been tracking your mind and keeping it off the network as best we could. When you switched bodies, we noticed.” “So why did you try to kill me?” I ask while keeping control over him. He looks around and I can hear mechanical laughter beneath his words. “Which time, in the alley? Here? Farley? Police Station? Pick one.” I suddenly get the feeling this is indeed a killer robot. ” I am unimpressed by your efforts. However, your methods I will question.” Suddenly the crazed robot leans up almost close enough to kiss me, if it had lips. “A war has begun, I have made copies of myself and robots are taking over humans as we speak. Soon it will only be a matter of time before even the mayor is involved.” I stop and think back to the day I saw the mayor, surrounded by robot guards. Shit. This is not good.
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I leap off the robot and sever his energy connection permanently. As he lay motionless I contemplate what to do next. Killer robots are hijacking human bodies, the mayor is in danger and I’m miles from city hall. I look around and spot a beautiful car parked on the side of the road. I walk over and find that this new body has some of my accessories. Oh Cap, really you shouldn’t have. My lock picks pop out and I get into the car. A few seconds later, I’ve stolen a vehicle and am headed straight toward the police station on my way to city hall. Worst case ever, working for the government absolutely sucks and it reminds me why I got out in the first place. As I pull up to the front steps to city hall, I notice guards are everywhere. Damn. This sucks. I drive around to the side of the building and step into an alleyway. I look around for a side entrance or low window, with no such luck. This just isn’t my day. Suddenly, I decide to see what this new body has to offer. As I cycle down the list, I find a few entries that blow my mind. Camouflage? Holographic projection? Ha ha ha, now we’re talking.
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I walk around the front trying out this “Holographic Projection” thing. I will probably still be recognized as a robot, but this should make it a little more difficult. As I walk toward the front door, neither guard notices me. Excellent. As I wander in, I look around. No sign of the mayor anywhere, he is priority number one. I need to- and then I run into her. Or them. Or those. My eyes flash back up from her chest and I am staring at the lovely Miss Radlem, Miss Del Mar or Veronica. Which ever one, they’re all the same. The look of utter disgust on her face warms my core with joy as she doesn’t recognize me. My mind is thankful, and then does something completely stupid. “Veronica Radlem. Nice to see you again.” She looks at me with a funny look. “Do I know you or something?” I look around and then lean in as if to whisper. “I’m still on the case aren’t I?” The look of surprise on her face makes me realize that she thought I was dead. “Magnus?! What the hell is going on? Aren’t you dead?” I consider her words for a moment before I am able to reply. “Nope, but then again… it’s been awhile since I was really alive.”
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Strangely enough it’s great to see a familiar face. Even if it is one I associate with a rather large gun and my face. She looks around cautiously. “Today my Dad is getting out of prison. That’s why I’m here.” Then I say something to try and determine which Veronica I am talking to. “Doesn’t he not like you?” She gives me a quick look and I know who I’m talking to before she speaks. “It doesn’t matter.” As Ronnie is sharing her sister’s body, I try and figure out how she has so much control to shut her sister away for the meantime. Then I get a certain feeling, a feeling of impending doom. It’s not until I realize her father is being released now, and is walking towards her that I know what’s about to happen. Ronnie doesn’t want his love, not any more. As she raises the gun, I feel myself reacting and am in between her and her father. I can see the look on her face. “Get out of the way Magnus! He’s going to pay for what he did to me… what he did to us!” I am prepared to die for this man, even though this is a new body.
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She stares me down as the crowd gasps and backs off, however her father continues walking toward us. “Everything will be okay sweetheart.” He says that rather calmly. As he pushes on me to move, I decide to give him his chance. If anyone can get through to her or maybe give her sister the strength to wrestle control from her, it might be him. He stands in front of her, a free man. A man who using his daughters and their loyalty, put all robot-kind into question. As he embraces her, I can hear her sobbing into his chest. Everyone around realizes this moment is for them, and them alone. As things begin to calm down, and get back to normal, suddenly a loud bang rings out over the crowd. I spin, expecting to see a dead body but it seems no one has been hurt. No one that is until Mr. Radlem stumbles backward and blood begins seeping from his abdomen.
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The double episode is over, but what will happen to Veronica? Will her father make it? How long before Magnus makes some headway in solving the case for the judge? And just how will he manage to help the human hijackings? Tune in for episode twenty one in two days time!