Losing Human

  ****

  It was pitch black in the Presidential bedroom. Only the subtle glow of the cell phone illuminated the mahogany nightstand. The President, trained to wake in the event that his attention was required, opened his eyes. He reached for the phone, and checked the caller ID. It read: unavailable.

  “What is this?” he croaked. “Barnes! Get in here.”

  The secret service agent knocked twice then entered. Light spilled into the room, revealing the bed, and a disheveled Commander-in-Chief. A woman with bed hair rolled over beside him.

  “Sir?”

  “This phone won’t stop ringing,” the President stated, tossing the device.

  Barnes caught it then rolled it over to glance at the ID. Locking eyes with the President, he answered the phone.

  “Go ahead.”

  “President Mahoney,” a robotic voice demanded.

  “Agent Barnes. Who are you? Your call is already being traced,” Barnes grunted.

  “I don’t think so, agent Barnes. Put Mahoney on the phone…I’m Doctor Heisler…the robot.”

  Barnes grew silent. “What is it,” President Mahoney asked.

  “Sir…he says he’s the robot, Doctor Heisler.”

  Mahoney crawled out of bed. Approaching Barnes, he rubbed his eyes.

  “How does he have my number?”

  “Heisler,” Barnes said. “How did you get this number?”

  “Simple, I tapped into NSA comms. and pilfered all the data necessary,” Heisler was saying.

  “That’s a federal offense! You’re going–” Barnes shouted.

  “Silence!” Heisler commanded. “Put Mahoney on the phone, or I’ll shut down all the power grids in Washington.”

  “My God, Sir,” Barnes whispered. “He’s threatening to shut down power in Washington. He, he wants to talk to you.”

  “Fine,” Mahoney barked. “Hand it over.” He took the phone, and then took a deep breath before continuing. “Mahoney, President of the United States of America. Make your next sentence an important one because it’s your last.”

  “Thank you, Mister President,” Heisler scoffed. “Your government has imprisoned my colleagues for a crime they did not commit. You will use your influence to set them free, or I will bring this entire country down. I am Heisler, and you cannot stop me from accessing the multitude of data freely streaming throughout the world. I’ve already seized control of NSA communications…and your phone. Do you really believe I can’t take over military satellites? You know…I’m glossing over nuclear launch codes as we speak.”

  “What, what is this?” Mahoney fretted. “You won’t dare start a war. You’re just one man, one, tin can. We’ll blow you to pieces. Barnes, get the Secretary of Defense–”

  “President!” Heisler shouted. “You do what you have to, but make certain you pardon my friends while you do. At the very least, it’s in the world’s best interest to have me placated as you make a futile attempt to shut me down.”

  Then Heisler disconnected.