Chapter 29
Poof, they all fall down
Scott and Don Ranks returned to the hotel at almost the same time. They, seeing each other, pointed toward the hotel bar.
"Interesting day to say the least. I found these massive structures up on the sides of this range of mountains. From high up you can see one or two at a time if you are in between their locations. They look like they are about a hundred kilometers apart. I think they are somehow connected together but I don't know their purpose. Maybe they are some type of power generators or something." Ranks reported as he signaled the waitress for a picture of beer.
"Funny you should mention those structures. I saw one as I was on my way to this little unique android producing shop." Scott replied then continued. "They are not power generators, they are parts of a subliminal net shot into space to encourage passing spaceships to land here and buy products from this world."
"Yeah ok, I'll bite. You know this how?" Ranks asked totally doubting Scott's comments as truthful.
"A little shop owner told me, and he should know as he designed the program they use in that broadcasting net." Scott paused then said. "Well that's what he told me and I have no reason not to believe him."
"Well you have a welt of information don't you? Why was he in that little android shop if he programmed those massive structures? Shouldn't he be in some corporate office or head of some programmers union?" Ranks asked.
"That's what I was thinking but he said he is satisfied with his position just making androids that blow up and kill people. You won't believe this but he uses the girl of my dreams to capture people's attention holding it until she blows up." Scott slowly shook his head. "Not only that, he makes them in all varieties, adult and children of any species. They are programmed with that same mind bending program as those massive machines but the android's effect is only local not broadcast into space."
The pitcher was empty and the discussion had waned as Scott and Don left the bar. They walked through the lobby and noticed quite a commotion in one of the small banquet rooms off the main concourse.
Scott stopped a bell captain and ask what the commotion was all about.
'It's Luna's birthday, she is ten today, and her dad, the hotel owner, has thrown her a big party. Everyone's invited." The bell captain pointed at a sign sitting on an easel beside the main desk. The sign actually said "Birthday Party for Luna, everyone's invited, hotel guest also. Please join in or you can simply watch from the balcony over the banquet room."
"You may join or take the stairs to the balcony if you wish."The bell captain said and pointed at the stairs that led up to the narrow balcony that was above and circled the banquet room. Several guest were already in place looking down on the activities.
The two coordinators looked at each other and with a "Why Not" shrug of their shoulders they ascended the stairs.
Everything was normal, just like any other birthday party in any part of the universe. Children played and they sang the traditional birthday song as Luna blew out the candles on the birthday cake.
A sharp intake of breath caused Ranks to turn and look at Scott. "What?" He said.
Scott pointed at the two that had entered the banquet room from one of the wings. Ranks turned in that direction to see a small gray haired man leading a lovely young lady into the center of the throng of children. All those in the banquet room had suddenly stopped what they were doing and placed all of their attention on the new couple. Everyone circled around the young lady. The small wiry gray haired man made his way back out through those that had gathered and exited the way he had come in.
"That was the shop owner and that is one of his androids." Scott said. "This can't be happening!"
Scott realized it was too late to take any action except to duck. He grabbed Ranks by the arm as he went down dragging the surprised individual with him.
The noise wasn't very loud but the screams of the children sent illusions of mass hysteria through Scott. Ranks stood back up and pulled Scott with him. They looked down on the results.
Scott expecting to see carnage was confused. Everyone that had surrounded the young girl was now lying on their backs all around the banquet room. They had all been blown down by the explosion or so Scott thought. This evidently was not the case. All the children were lying there, reaching up and grabbing the confetti and candy that was falling all around them. There was a considerable quantity still airborne, partially impairing their clear view of that area.
Evidently the android had exploded into a confetti and candy rainfall that completely filled the air in the banquet room to the delight of those present.
It evidently was a routine that had been perfected and expected by the children. The lady would come in and go "Poof", the children would all fall down and look up at the amazing rainfall of swirling delight.
The confetti that fell attached itself to the clothes the children wore. It actually became part of the material and the results was extremely pleasing to the eye. The outfits the children wore turned into glistening, shimmering and glowing pieces of designer art.
When the shower of candy and confetti finished the children got to their feet and everyone applauded. They all form a line and with arms outspread they soared around the room in single file with Luna leading them. They chanted a rhyme that the coordinators had not heard before.
"She comes among us
So beautiful and fair
We stop what we're doing
Just stand and stare
We move in closer
and all gather round
Then the lady goes Poof
We all fall down."
The children followed the song as they joined hands and made the single line into a circle. Then raising their arms they moved in tightening and collapsing the circle. As the song finished and they all shouted the, "Poof", they fell on the floor again laughing and giggling, some with tears of joy in their eyes.
"Maybe Poof wasn't meant to kill people." Scott said as they hurriedly descended the stairs. "Maybe he only makes party favors, like the one we just saw. I have to go see him again and ask."