The Search For WondLa

by DiTerlizzi, Tony

  “And?” Eva pulled a handful of nutriment pellets out of her satchel and began eating.

  “The computer is running diagnostics on me right now,” Muthr said. She was surrounded by a dazzling array of holo-charts and menus that were projected at a dizzying rate. The entire display flickered, and Eva realized that the Sanctuary’s main computer had been somehow affected by Besteel’s raid.

  “So tell me about this stranger you have brought back with you,” Muthr said, reading the statistical data.

  “Oh, Rovee?” Eva said. “His full name is Rovender Kitt, and he’s great. He helped me escape from—”

  “Eva Nine?” Rovender’s head popped in through the doorway. “Are these what you need?” On his backward-bending legs he brought a new pair of sneakboots and socks to her.

  “Yes! Thanks so much for doing that for me,” she said. Eva took the shoes and set them next to her discarded soiled socks. “I didn’t want to go in there and see how destroyed my bedroom was.”

  “There is not much left to see,” Rovender said, pointing at the shoes. “I could only find one in gray and one in white.”

  “That’s okay,” Eva said. “They’ll both get so dirty up there that they’ll match. As long as I’m not barefoot again.”

  “Good,” Rovender said. After glancing up at Muthr’s hanging body, he returned to the doorway. “I am going to check for Besteel. If the area is clear, we best get moving.”

  “We?” Eva asked, smiling.

  “Yes,” Rovender replied flatly. “I need to get on my way and so do you. Do you understand?”

  Eva nodded in agreement. She saw Muthr watch Rovender slip out of the room and go up the stairs in the main entryway. Eva also noticed that the Sanctuary was running Identicapture, in an attempt to identify her lanky companion. Muthr turned her gaze back to Eva and asked, “How is it that you understand the language of this stranger, Eva?”

  “I told you, he’s not a stranger. He’s a friend,” Eva said as she fished around in her satchel. “And I can understand what he is saying because he gave me this.” She held up the vocal transcoder.

  “Interesting.” Muthr extended one of her many arms. “May I?”

  “Um, sure,” Eva said, handing the transcoder over. “Just be careful. We are going to need it.”

  “Of course. Oh, and Eva?” Muthr spoke in that old-timey movie voice. “Can you please wash your hands? They are filthy.”

  “Are you serious?” Eva jumped out of the empty tub. “You’re asking me to wash my hands after what I’ve just been through?” She stomped over to a small basin. Water trickled down over her grime-covered fingers.

  Muthr held the transcoder up while the Sanctuary computer scanned it with a red laser. “Do not be dramatic, Eva. I know you have had some setbacks with your surface exercises, but otherwise you have handled yourself quite well. Besides, I trained you for worst-case scenarios. It’s not like there are species of venomous snakes waiting for you in every clearing.” Muthr examined the transcoder, bringing it close to her many eyes. “I was just preparing you to be ready for any dangers that you may encounter.”

  “Dangers?” Eva shook her hands dry. “Muthr, do you have any idea how scary it is out there?”

  “Of course I do. With the aid of the Sanctuary I am the one preparing your exercises,” Muthr replied in a matter-of-fact tone. She turned to the door. “Well, hello, Mr. Kitt.”

  Rovender stood in the doorway, holding a half-empty bottle. “The area is clear, as far as I can tell,” he reported. “Besteel is still gone for the time being. But he will likely circle back here within one or two days. You do not want to be here when he does.”

  Muthr faced him. “What is he saying?”

  Rovender disregarded Muthr. “You should leave now, Eva Nine. You need to put as much distance as you can between yourselves and Besteel.”

  “I don’t understand.” Eva’s brow furrowed. “Why do you think he’ll come back after me?”

  “As I told you, I do not know.” Rovender swallowed his drink. “But, obviously, he is collecting as much quarry as he can capture.”

  “Will you please tell me what is going on, Eva?” Muthr’s voice was higher in pitch. “What is he saying?”

  Eva took the transcoder back from her and put it into her satchel along with her food and drink. “He’s says it’s time to go. Are you ready?”

  “Why is it that we need to leave in such a rush?” Muthr addressed Eva, yet still faced Rovender.

  “Because Besteel, the intruder, the monster who demolished the Sanctuary, will be back,” Eva answered. She unrolled her socks. “And for some insane reason, he is hunting after me.”

  “Besteel?” Muthr repeated while yet more holo-charts and graphs fluttered around her head. “Tell me this, then, why is it that there is no record of a ‘Besteel’ in the main computer? Or, for that matter, an animal such as Mr. Kitt?”

  “Exactly—welcome to my world.” Eva snorted under her breath.

  “Enough, Eva!” Muthr snapped. With her crablike body the robot closed in on Rovender. “It is not that I am accusing Mr. Kitt of being in company with the intruder who attacked us. However, when my omniscient computer system cannot identify this stranger, or his devices, well, then—I grow concerned for the safety and well-being of my child.”

  “I am not a child!” Eva snapped. “I—”

  Rovender interrupted. “What is it that has your mother robot so aggravated?”

  “She can’t identify you on the Sanctuary’s omniscient computer,” Eva replied. “Therefore, she doesn’t know if she can trust you.”

  Rovender snorted. “Your answer is obvious, Eva Nine.” He took another swig from his bottle. “Your ‘omniscient computer’ is wrong.” He stepped out of the room and went back up the stairs.

  “What did he say?” Muthr kept her gaze on the empty doorway where Rovender had stood.

  Eva sat down on the edge of the tub and pulled her clean socks on. “He says the computer is wrong. And I would say that he’s right.”

  “Nonsense,” Muthr said in a haughty tone. “The expansive library in this system is state of the art. It has every organism known to—”

  “Muthr! We need to leave,” Eva said. “You’ve seen what Besteel can do, so get yourself back together and let’s go!” She pulled her sneakboots on.

  “Distance traveled: zero kilometers,” the shoes announced. Eva bent over and activated the odometer in the sneakboot’s heel. She looked back up at Muthr. “Come on,” Eva said. “We have to hurry!”

  “Muthr zero-six cannot leave the premises,” said the Sanctuary.

  Eva paused for a moment, looking up at the intercom speakers.

  “I am sorry, Eva, but I cannot go up there. I was not designed for such things,” Muthr added. She reached a hand out to the girl. “My place is here, in this Sanctuary.”

  “What?” Eva said, grabbing her jackvest. “I came back for you! You’re coming with me.”

  “I cannot… . I wish I could.” Muthr moved closer. “Now, what I need—”

  “No!” Eva backed away, pointing to the robot’s suspended body. “You have to come! What I need is you.”

  “Again, I apologize, dear, but my programming prohibits me from doing so. I would if I could … but I cannot.” Muthr looked down.

  Eva reached for her satchel while her jackvest tightened itself snugly around her body. “I can’t believe you’re saying this,” she said. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “Sanctuary,” Muthr said aloud, “this is Muthr zero-six. Have you assessed domicile damage yet?”

  “Sanctuary five-seven-three has received 84.53 percent damage, 76.8 percent of which is irreparable. Emergency transmission for immediate retrieval has been sent,” the report came over the intercom. Even with the static, Eva hated how calm the Sanctuary sounded while spouting off how ruined her home was.

  “Based on the absence of return transmissions from sibling Sanctuaries, what do you suggest?” M
uthr asked while looking at holograms of charts and maps floating in front of her.

  “Remain in Sanctuary for thirty days. If retrieval does not occur, then begin shutdown process and send ward to the nearest settlement, HRP underground facility fifty-one.”

  “Remain?” Eva yelled. She fastened her satchel straps to her jackvest. “That’s ridiculous, Muthr. I will not do that. You will not do that. Rovee and I will get you out of here.”

  Muthr was silent. Unmoving.

  Eva pulled her hair up in a wad and wrapped it tightly with one of her braids. “Come on. I will help you up the stairs, and we’ll go to Sanctuary number whatever together … okay?”

  Muthr spoke. “Eva, listen to me—listen!”

  Eva stopped and looked at Muthr’s face, hoping for a sign of real emotion in the silicone rubber and circuits. She blinked back the tears that burned her eyes. Muthr was just a robot, but she had also taken care of Eva since birth. Trained her. Protected her.

  “Eva.” Muthr’s voice was low. “I cannot come with you because I am not supposed to. My programming prevents it. You see, I am only meant to live here to instruct you on how to survive and prosper on the surface. Once you are ready, and of age, then you no longer need me. That’s the way the program works.”

  “But I’m not ready.” Eva sniffed. “I need you.”

  “But you are ready, dear. Look—you exited prematurely and you survived.” Muthr brushed away Eva’s bangs. “Do as the Sanctuary instructs and you will be fine. I wish I could be there with you, but my place is here.”

  “Here? In this mess?” Eva wiped her eyes with her sleeve. Once again the Sanctuary—her Sanctuary—was not cooperating.

  It was puzzling.

  Eva pulled out her Omnipod and handed it to Muthr.

  “Why are you giving me this?” Muthr asked, taking the device. “You will certainly need it where you are going.”

  “Omnipod,” commanded Eva, “please open Identicapture and show Muthr, and the Sanctuary, the life-forms living on the surface.”

  An array of holograms flickered in front of the robot’s glowing orbs. Many-winged birds. Wandering trees. Weeping bird-catchers. Giant water bears. Sand-snipers. The Dorcean huntsman.

  Eva addressed both Muthr and the Sanctuary: “Please identify these organisms and advise on how I should interact with them.”

  There was a long pause. Finally the Sanctuary spoke. “All said organisms are classified as unidentifiable because of insufficient data. Interaction cannot be deduced at this point. Proceed with caution.”

  “Now do you think I am ready?” Eva asked, taking the Omnipod back.

  “I—I do not know,” Muthr replied. For the first time ever Eva heard hesitation in the robot’s voice.

  “Then you have to accompany me. The Sanctuary is unsafe, and the surface is unsafe. I am not yet ready for life on the surface alone.” Eva fixed her gaze directly on Muthr and said, “Sanctuary, this is C-P-zero-one. Based on new information, please analyze whether Muthr zero-six should accompany Eva Nine to the nearest settlement.”

  “Analyzing. Please wait,” the Sanctuary said.

  “C-P-zero-one?” Muthr asked. Eva shushed her.

  The Sanctuary announced, “Cadmus zero-one, Multi-Utility Task Help Robot zero-six is relinquished from her Sanctuary duties. She would be best suited accompanying Eva Nine to neighboring HRP underground facility fifty-one.” As the Sanctuary finished speaking, Muthr’s refurbished body descended to the floor and was released from the ceiling hoist that held it. All of the maintenance equipment retracted back into its hidden compartments within the walls.

  The old body rolled over to Muthr’s temporary body. As the crablike form sank back into the paneled flooring, the robot’s original body grabbed the head and placed it back onto its torso. Muthr was whole again.

  “Yes!” Eva hugged Muthr, holding her tightly. Rovender reentered the room, and she smiled at him. He nodded back to her.

  “I—I can leave?” Muthr sounded genuinely shocked.

  “You can leave! You’re coming with us!” Eva squealed, squeezing her tighter.

  “Thank you, Eva,” Muthr said. “Though, I am still perplexed that there are no records in our exhaustive data library for organisms like these.”

  “Weird, right?” Eva looked around at the holograms floating in the room. “I guess there is still much to learn about all of Earth’s inhabitants.”

  “Eorthe?” Rovender mispronounced the word. A look of confusion grew on his whiskered face. “Is this a place?”

  “Yes. Of course,” Eva replied. “Here. Where we are. This planet is called Earth.”

  The lanky creature laughed out loud. “This makes much more sense to me now,” he said.

  “What’s so funny?” Eva asked.

  Rovender’s smile disappeared. “You are not on this planet you call ‘Earth,’ Eva Nine. You are on a planet named Orbona.”

  CHAPTER 17: DOORS

  On planet Orbona? What?” Eva exclaimed.

  “Orbona?” Muthr repeated. “There is no planet in the Milky Way galaxy by that name. Though there are numerous planets yet to be identified, Mr. Kitt, you must surely be mistaken.”

  “Shh! Hold on. Muthr, be quiet for a sec,” Eva said, closing her eyes. Something vague and distant wafted into her thoughts.

  “What?” Muthr asked, alarmed. “What is happening, Eva?”

  Rovender knelt close. “What is it?”

  “I think it’s Otto,” Eva answered, her eyes still shut. “But he’s so far away that I can barely hear him.”

  “Concentrate,” Rovender said, his voice soft. “Open yourself to his call.”

  “What is Otto?” Muthr asked. “Can you please tell me what is going on here?”

  The hunter. You. Home.

  Eva opened her eyes wide. “It’s Besteel. He’s here!”

  “Sheesa!” Rovender lifted an ear toward the staircase.

  Even Eva could hear the hum of the glider’s engine shut off. “We can’t go out the main entryway,” she said.

  “How did you escape before?” Rovender asked.

  “Back to the kitchen exhaust vent,” Muthr said, taking Eva by the hand. The robot led them out of the generator room. “Let us go!”

  As they dashed through the robot’s control room, Eva glanced up and saw a shadow darken the top of the stairwell.

  “Come! Come! Come!” Rovender hopped behind them, shoving Eva and Muthr into the main hub. “We must hurry!”

  “Hold on!” Eva yelled, halting in front of the scorched kitchen doorway. “This way won’t work. Muthr can’t go up the shaft.”

  “Eva, dear,” Muthr said. “It is all right. I—”

  “It’s not all right,” Eva barked. “We came back for you, and you’re leaving with us!”

  “Whichever path we choose, we need to choose it in a hurry.” Rovender’s tone was antsy as he looked over his shoulder into the control room. Dark gray claws grabbed the half-open door of the room. With tremendous strength they pried it open, revealing the sinister, predatory face of Besteel.

  “Ruzender Keet,” he hissed in a heavy accent. “You has something that beelongz to me!”

  “This way!” Eva yanked Muthr into the storage room. “Into the next Sanctuary!”

  “Wait, do you need more provisions before exiting?” Muthr asked as she was pulled through the maze of overturned shelves and spilled supplies. Rovender followed, limping fast with his walking stick.

  Eva turned to see Besteel bound across the main hub.

  “Rovee! Hit the red button!” she yelled, standing in the doorway of the secret hallway. Rovender banged the door’s manual pad with the bottom of his stick as he hopped by. The damaged doors creaked as they attempted to shut, but they could not close all the way. Once more Besteel wriggled his clawed hands into the gap between the doors and began wrenching them apart.

  “Come on!” Eva ushered Muthr through the back door hatch while Rovender hobbled closer. Behind him,
Besteel’s immense arm groped about for the control panel of the half-open doors. Then he withdrew his arm and replaced it with the bulbous muzzle of his rifle. The distinct hum of the charging weapon vibrated in Eva’s ears.

  “Let’s go!” She pushed Rovender inside the secret hallway.

  “Sanctuary, please lock down sibling corridor hatch,” Muthr commanded. Her amber eyes glowed in the dark hallway. The door slid shut behind them and locked into place. Beyond it Eva could hear the hum of Besteel’s rifle rising higher and higher in pitch.

  “Go! Go! Go!” Rovender pushed them down the hallway.

  Besteel fired his rifle. The intense sonic wave battered the back wall of the supply room. Dust and rubble pelted Eva, followed by a low, straining creak.

  “What’s that?” She looked up from her cowering position in the darkness.

  “It is the support structures,” Muthr’s voice echoed through the hall. “They have been damaged.”

  “Move!” Rovender yelled.

  A loud rending sound erupted as the ceiling over the trio gave way. Rovender and Eva scrambled forward, toppling over Muthr. Behind them a deluge of rock and rubble poured into the hallway, blocking the path.

  “Are you all right?” Muthr asked.

  Clearing her throat, Eva pulled herself up to sitting position. “I’m fine, thanks,” she answered. Eva tried brushing the dirt and dust off her clothing, but all she managed to do was smudge it around. “How are you?” She could see that one of Muthr’s extended arms was bent at an odd angle.

  “I tried to brace my fall with arm three,” Muthr said, holding up the bent metal rods that had been her forearm. “Though the arm sustained permanent damage, I believe all else is intact.” She retracted the remaining wires from the damaged arm into her torso.

  There was a coughing behind them. “Rovee!” Eva cried, kneeling down next to her companion. “Are you okay?”

  Rovender dragged himself out of the rubble with a groan. “I will be okay, Eva Nine. Many gratitudes,” he said, slumping against the wall. “That cursed boomrod rifle of his does more damage than an angry male grall in a bayrie’s crystal nest.” He sneered as he lit his lantern and pulled out a bottle. “Where are we?”