The nice bright sun bleached my face with a godly glow. Magnitudes better than any other planet. An ice cold glass of orange juice and pancakes layed on the table before me.
My beautiful daughter sat across from me smiling, "Dad, why's the star so big?" she said with gleeful innocents
"Well that Mary, is a good question. You see we are on the planet Mercury. The closest planet to the sun."
"How are we so close without burning up?"
"Well you see, your dad's invention allowed for artificial rotation of planets, isn't that right Dr.Dam?" My wife said sitting next to me.
"Why yes, you are quite right darling." I said kissing her and my daughter on the head before I left to go to the laboratory.
As I walked into the laboratory a giant sphere called the Gyroptics posed in front of me, "Good morning, Dr.Dam. The Earth president is here to see you sir.", my assistant said with a notepad in hand
"Tell him I will be right with him. Also get the old chap a coffee why don't you."
"Yes sir.", she said running to the elevator behind the sphere.
I went up to the second floor with the stairs. My workers were building a brand new project. A long magnetic pole with dust around every inch, "Ladies and gentleman, why is this covered in dust have you not touched it at all yesterday?"
"On the contrary sir. We turned 'er on. If you know what I mean." The supervisor of the construction team yelled from the balcony up top.
"Your taking the piss, right Dr. Maxwell?"
"No, for your information I am not taking the piss, watch. Jerry turn 'er off."
As the power shut down in the device. A pile of dust fell below,"Told ya', sir. Not taking the piss mate."
"That's absolutely marvelous, gents. Good thing too, he's here."
"Well bring him down Doctor."
"I will my friend. Be right back."
I ran into the elevator. I hit the button to my office so fast and so much. I was so excited and full of joy. I was like a girl with her first prom date. I was ecstatic to be a dad for a moment.
I walked into my office to see the sun setting through the windows for the first time today, "What a beautiful view, Dr.Dam." The president said from the chair behind my desk.
"It's ok, it happens 365 times a day, watch the sun's gonna rise again in about 15."
"Well obviously I didn't come to see the view."
"Obviously my old friend, but the question lies, what are you here for?"
"Why, the nuclear dust collector of course. You haven't forgotten old chap, have you?"
Of course not, it's working right now actually. If you wanna go check it, its on the second floor." I said pouring two drinks.
He shoved the shot away and said, "I want to see it working before I celebrate."
"Why of course." I said slowly and solemnly putting the drinks on my desk.
We took the elevator down we tried doing some small talk, but failed miserably.We finally got to the second floor. He had the exact same reaction I did, "You said it was working Dam. It has literally just collect-"the machine turned off and he continued, "Dr. Dam, you are a genius. How did you get a magnetic pull large enough to pull in uranium atoms."
"That sir is a trade secret"
"I need 200, if possible, but take your time. Enjoy the 3 billion Earth dollars worth of research donations friend.", he looked at me and continued, "Do you possibly have a way to take care of a robot uprising?", he said with a half smile.
"I can get started on research for that Lanse." I said and he gave a full smile and a laugh, I continued, "Now how 'bout that drink my old friend?"
"I have a world to run, Calem. I would any other day friend, see you again old chap."
"Of course anytime, Mr.President." We both laughed and he was on his way.
I sat in my office with some new draft papers and 40 pencils to get started on some schematics. Hour after hour designing a device that'll go through the fail safes newer robots have. I sat there for a day or two.
Finally, I finished. I went down to the manufacturing floor. I built the device myself. With all the components and everything. I finally finished everything and it was ready for testing. I used one of my own robots for testing and set it off. It was magnificent. The robot exploded into millions upon billions of parts.
I immediately called Lanse, "Hello old chap, it's been 24 hours, miss me already eh?"
"Cut the jokes mate, I have a solution to your problem!" I said with panic and anxiety in my voice.
"You can't be serious, already?"
"Are you daft, yes already and it bloody works."
"Send it over my friend.", he paused, "With you and some booze. I may need it.", he laughed and hung up.
I smiled a bit before running to a shuttle and getting on. I rode the shuttle all the way to Earth leaving my home. For the last time. I got to Earth to find a cold world. Desolate and devoid of humans oddly enough. An escort robot wait with the limo, "You may proceed M-Human 34005. Please enter LIMOUSINE."
I got into the limo. It was quite a bumpy ride to Lanse's office. Dead corpses from hunger and radiation have lined the roads here. The robot rebellion is not a surprise.
Once I got to his office I barged in., "What the hell has happened to this goddamn planet Lanse? What did you do with my goddamn devices?", I said angered at the level of genocide occuring outside the doors.
"The robots destroyed them Calem, there was nothing I could do to stop them, I'm so sorry Calem. I wish I could've stopped them.", he said tearing up a bit.
"Well here's the device, Lanse."
"Use it right now. Come on Calem go to the top balcony and use it."
I was angered and flustered with his lack of care for me and all the people on Earth, "You are such a selfish arsehole mate. You only want to use it because the armies at your gates. You can use it yourself, I will not be part of this bull shit. I'm going home so I can see my family."
"Fine, you were always quick to abandon me in times need Calem."
"Goodbye, old chap."
"Your an arsehole you know that, right?", he kept yelling as I walked out the door.
I walked past the robots and their rebellion. They gave me dirty unfeeling looks, "Get'em"
They charged the gate as I walked the other direction. Not realizing, I didn't test the device in an irradiated environment. An explosion came from behind me, along with an emp shutting down my only way home. This was the end of poor old Dr.Dam.
YOU ARE READING
The Dam Universe
Short StoryA collection of short stories that take place in different parts of history, past, future, and present. Come see what the Dam Universe is like...