17 Skedaddle

We are living in the year 2038 when the LGBTQ alphabet has expanded to S (selectively sexual) outside the walls of Bethlehem. Although not to appear homophobic, Bethlehem enacted guidelines that were in their favor. They banned single gay people from loitering; the unattached must live discreetly in Bethlehem. The Assembly enforced the Mayor’s beliefs; God only acknowledges a union. You cannot be openly gay and unmarried. Bethlehem was a family town, not torn down by promiscuity, outward affection, or the appearance of uncoupled homosexuality, appearing ordinary around children. Most gays, lesbians, and strip clubs congregated in the forbidden zone.

Robert’s newfound awareness of his pansexual existence motivated him even more, to leave our dungeon and discover himself. “I am ready to skedaddle.” He stated while flipping through a fashion magazine.

I found Scedaddle to be an odd word and researched the definition. It meant to run and escape, and the whole idea sounded challenging. I am also ready to Skedaddle.

Robert spent no time calculating a plan to break out of the compound. He surmised that Twitter is no longer exists, outdated, and buried in the same casket as Myspace and Facebook. Thus, an SOS will go unnoticed. He knew I, Honey Brown, was powerless while locked inside this cement enclosure; my kinetic abilities were useless without visuals of the exterior or a subject to study and strike. Therefore, we needed a psychological plan to get us out safely.

Robert read about ‘the Cholo Belligerents’ in the Assembly’s classified files and found the name of an agent by the name of Rodney Goodman, who was responsible for gaining Intelligence on their operation. Out loud, he recited, “The CBs were Bethlehem’s arch enemies, who saved families and helped children born with low scores. The Militants continually monitored them.” Robert had to discover a way to reach out to the Cholo Belligerents without detection. He determined that the only way to seek their help was through steganography and using an IT by concealing an encrypted distress signal within a file inside a pod.

I asked, “What”s a Pod?”

Because computers are his thing, he responds with delight. “Pods are files that can hold Physical Or Data matter. When the data of the subject or thing downloads into a Pod, the physical of that subject or thing will upload into a reality realm. For example, A Pod with the data of an uploaded book could be a hard copy in your hand in seconds. Sorry about the redundancy, but it’s the only way to explain it.”

I am still confused, but I let him continue his plan to get help from the CBs.

“Any IT within a five-mile range could intercept a signal for help. Understanding that a ‘house IT’ can only receive, not transmit, a human must seize and download the Intel from the database. Our best hope was through a routine maintenance visit by a Cholo Belligerent agent.”

“My research shows that ITS often malfunctions, and then a service agent are sent to the location for repair. When I read the repair shop reviews, an anonymous person wrote,” “Now, I know they don’t think I notice, but there is a service center that repairs Robots in Bethlehem, where I believe the CBs secretly worked.”

Reading another file, a report uploaded by Rodney Goodman, Robert uncovered; that under the veil of a fix-it man, the CBs go into homes to repair and gather Information from their allies stored in the ITS memory. The Cholo’s are specialists in decoding cryptography (solving codes.)

This method used is the underground railroad of communication for the CBs and how they gathered and shared Intelligence. Robert knew that if he sent a pod with a distress signal inside a bug and infected an IT, the owner would likely call a technician for repair. Once the CB agent reviews the ITS hard drive, he will locate the foreign pod and download it, thinking it is secret Information. ‘Robert hoped that the Cholo Belligerents would discover and rescue us soon. Robert began the process of SKEDADDLE.

On the computer, Robert created a pod named “Honey Brown.” Inside, he added a high pitch sonic alarm, about 90,000HZ. A frequency that only an IT could hear when the pod opens. He then Inserted a file named “Top Secret,” and within it was a voice command, spoken words in Robert’s voice saying, “Help, location unknown,” accompanied by a coded tracking device. Robert then created one more file labeled Fred Flintstone.’ This file contained a cipher of Robert’s, shifted email address algorithms for safe communication. Once found, only an IT can unscramble and decipher the algorithms.

A pro at what he does, Robert sent the infected pod through a simple $2.99 game app designed to connect to the nearest IT. The App called ‘War Duo’ was a game downloaded by bored kids who needed an action playmate. The IT upload played the enemy’s position, while the child portrayed the freedom fighter.

Waiting for a $2,99 upload, Robert demagnetized the file sector on the Assembly’s hard drive, so they could not discover our plan.

I am amazed at Roberts’ work and fully expressed what I felt. “Robert,” I stated. “I must confess, your Honey B absolutely despises cyber crap. I’d rather do the butt-whipping. I appreciate the fact that you struggle to keep me updated; because I was designed for Cyberwars and to thwart Bethlehem’s enemies, but what I hate more than my former name is Cyberterrorism. It’s just not my favorite subject.”

“I understand that.” Rodney is sympathetic, “But you must master the art for our protection.”

We continued talking and decided to deal with the two choices we had; stay and hope that the Cholo Belligerents find us, or leave and experience freedom.

“Honey B, I have no intentions to lie in wait; they are going to kill me.

 “Then, we must develop an escape plan.” I chimed.

A week passed before Dr. Kramer returned. I found it unusual; he was not his jubilant self. I greeted him with no prompting from Robert and immediately said,

“Hello, Doctor Kramer, My name is Honey Brown. Will you bring me a pair of high heels on your next visit?”

It pleased the Doc when expressing my personal desires without programming. I have surpassed his original blueprint and what he initially conceived. “It’s brilliant,” he stated.

His examination found that my legs and arms were more muscular than the last visit, and he suggested that Robert should not use tires in the training process since I kicked a tractor wheel through the wall. His enthusiasm grew when I held a Coca-cola can with grace without squeezing the contents out. Hence, I detected melancholy in Doctor Kramer. A feeling I’m familiar with because; gloom recognizes gloom, a disorder I believe inherited from my father. I infiltrated Doctor Kramer’s mind to detect the source. He had discovered most of the same data regarding the impending death of Robert. However, he was unaware that his name was also on the list to be destroyed.

The Doc reluctantly updated Robert with the current request, “The Mayor has asked me to prepare HB14 for the next phase of her mission; being integrated slowly into the outside world and becoming familiar with others?”

Then he turned and regretfully informed me, “Honey, things have changed; the Mayor wants to exit the old plan and enter a new one. The Militant’s army will soon test your warrior aptitude; I must delete and strip you of all of Robert’s teaching, apps, and programs from your left brain. If the Mayor knew your advancement with your Mastermind, free-thinking, he might order brainwashing. I discovered their plan includes wirelessly controlling you without Robert.”

After Doctor Kramer shared the news of what I deemed the destruction of my progress, I realized that Robert had not yet downloaded the App called ‘Boundaries.’ My comments can be pretty crass—especially the clairvoyant ones. I acted emotionally and blurted out without thinking. “The Militants will kill you after I am released; you and Robert will die in a Helicopter crash in ten days. I have envisioned their plan.”

“How odd you would say such a thing.” Doctor Kramer expressed. “Only a handful of people know that I own a Heli. How did you know that?” Without answering, Robert led him to the control room, where there was evidence of my flippant remarks. Doctor Kramer observed the video that proved the Militants had been recording every step of his creation of me, planning to overthrow him. Then he viewed the Assembly’s plan to manipulate me for sinister purposes and the written order to assassinate him and Robert. The secret Intelligence on the intern who will soon take his place was also in the file.

When the Doctor exited the computer room, he apologized,

“I created Honey Brown for longevity, a lifetime of healing humanity, curing generations to come, and I have failed you.”

I stored his sentiments In my memory bank under the file name ‘Splendor’ and gratefully expressed, “You created me, and now I am at your mercy.” Until I find my parents, you and Robert are my only family. I will be your protector for the world I now understand as a LIFETIME.”

We told Dr. Kramer our plan to escape, although we had no familiarity or resources in the outside world. Other than the time Robert spent at the Farmery, cultivating crops, he knew nothing about life outside the walls of our confinement.

At that moment, Dr. Kramer relinquished his loyalty to the Bethlehem project and interjected himself into our scheme. Our lives were now in danger, so we spent the entire night plotting a getaway plan.

Suddenly a lightbulb came on in Kramer’s scientific brain. He mentioned an underground tunnel where the Militants often escorted him through to visit me. Robert ran to the computer and Immediately downloaded the pod with the original tunnel blueprint and the actual constructed paradigm. He uploaded the architect’s rough, three-dimensional model made with wooden blocks and foam boards and placed the framework on the table. We discovered that the entrance and exit points of the tunnel were directly underneath our haven. Only one level down. The one thing separating us from freedom is a thick slab of concrete.

We understood that getting past the guards to the elevator was impossible without setting off alarms and alerting the camp. The three of us pondered how to accomplish this fete. I stood up, computed, and analyzed the construction.

“The concrete beneath us Is 9 inches thick.” In awareness, I screamed. “I am five feet nine inches and have the leg strength of a wreaking ball. I will kick a hole In this motherfucker, sucker, and we can climb down.”

The curse word I used came from a video called Dolomite, a black comedian from the 70s who rhymed when he cursed. Robert Immediately erased it from my memory bank.

The Doctor had momentarily forgotten about the strength of what he had created. Now we knew a way out. With the discovery of the ‘How,’ now we needed the ‘when’ and ‘where’ we go afterward.

Robert introduced the idea of the Cholo Belligerents rescuing us. Dr. Kramer didn’t know of their existence until he sat down with Robert and researched the CB’s history and their crusade against the ruthless Mayor and Assembly.

Robert informed him, “The Cholo Belligerents are powerful and located all over the city; I believe they are our only hope for protection and shelter.”

With the lens of his spectacles gripping the tip of his nose, Doctor Kramer blurted out, “Hey, I remember a fellow named Rodney that the Mayor often brags about. He heads the department to destroy and kill infiltrators. Maybe I could discreetly get Information from him regarding the CBs.”

Kramer could barely finish his sentence when Robert yelled. “Yes, Rodney, Goodman. I have come across his name many times while researching the files. However, he works against the CBs and most likely will not help us reach them. Please try to get more information about the C’B’s without blowing our plan. I have already sent out a distress signal, but we need all the help we can get.”

“I must stay behind and resemble normalcy, not to appear suspicious after the breakout, until I can find safety. I will attend my planned meeting with the Mayor in two days and update him on HB14’s progress like nothing has changed. I am almost sure that my Copter is now under surveillance.

I screamed, “My name is H to the B, Honey Brown. In my presence, please try not to mention HB14; it brings back many bad memories.” Kramer apologized.

The importance of Dr. Kramer locating the Cholo belligerents was essential to our survival. Robert downloaded all the CB’s Intelligence for Dr. Kramer to study. Once he found them, he had to speak their cryptic language so that the CBs would recognize him as a friend.

The brilliant Robert had done his investigating and knew that the Cholo’s had a way of Identifying one another or a friend of their organization. He asked Dr. Kramer, “Doc, stand up; l uploaded this tattoo of the CB’s Interface from a picture of a dead CB member. I have been working on the codes from the description and have recreated, activated, and uploaded the scan to a POD. I then downloaded the POD to implant it in your arm. As soon as you’re within 10 feet of a CB member with the same interface, the implant will vibrate.

Doctor Kramer didn’t hesitate, extending his arm to Robert. He did it in the name of Science and the newfound trust for his family Honey Brown, Robert, and soon the Cholo Belligerents.

I watched when suddenly I stood straight up, and my eyes turned a color of blue, like photos I had seen of the ocean, alerting me to my updated adroit Intuition. I can now give Robert and Dr. Kramer the estimated time and day of their demise, and I did. The time is near; in seven days, at approximately 9 pm, Dr. Kramer and Robert will be executed by a firing squad on the outskirts of Bethlehem. We have to act fast.

The preparation for skedaddling had begun. Robert copied my codes onto his wrist Interface for future control of me when necessary.

The analytical side of my Mastermind had developed, and I was eager to explore the outside world, especially to find my parents. However, my strategic ability also reminded me of my emotional troubles. How do I balance the left side of my cerebellum, designed with the chip of a warrior, with the right side of a vigilante who struggles with flashes of gloom and then moments of extreme happiness? I kept the awareness of my mood swings to myself. This is because I did not want Robert or Doctor Kramer to suppress my emotions and place me under a mental lock and key. Thus, I continued to appear normal.