Love in the Robot Dawn

by C. W. Crowe

  So she wasn't mad at me specifically, just at a world that would let this happen. We got into bed and she slid over beside me. That was a good sign.

  "Leo, you told me about Nick Presser, about the day the robots bombed your house. Why does Parker think he didn't save you? Even if he was a traitor and left Area 51, he could have just gone home and been there when the attacks started."

  She was right; it was possible. "I don't know, Lucy, but I think we'll learn more tomorrow. They don't seem hostile - they were even kind of friendly when we showed up."

  Her noises were somewhat scattered, but she was warm and soft. Through the wall I heard the noises of Karen and Cory. He sounded like he might be crying.

  *.*.*

  Falling asleep had always been easy for me. Unless something was bothering me in an immediate way, I'd drop off quickly and easily.

  That night was like many others; I waited until I heard that Lucy was asleep and then I dropped off myself.

  I don't normally dream or at least I don't remember them. But sometime during the night I realized I was dreaming.

  It was about Nick Presser.

  He was standing over me, his face looking downward at mine. I realized I must have been lying down.

  He started to speak to me in a hushed voice. "Leo, this is Nick. The fact you are hearing this means you have been at Area 51 for more than twelve hours - inside the area robots can't go - that's what has triggered it. If you are not already in the underground facility, you will soon feel the need to get there. This is important, Leo, there are things you need to know. You have got to keep control and not . . ."

  I sat bolt upright in bed. "What?" said Lucy, instantly awake.

  I think I was shaking. I lay back down and reached for the comfort of her hand. "My God, Leo," she said. "Are you all right?" She could feel my tremors.

  "It's . . . it was a dream. That's all. Just a dream."

  She pulled me to her. "Tell me about it," she said, her voice a whisper.

  I remembered the dream perfectly. Not with some kind of fuzzy, almost-reality, but with crystal clarity, like Nick had been here in this room with us. I told Lucy all about it.

  *.*.*

  The next morning, some soldiers delivered a breakfast of eggs, bacon and toast - three things we hadn't seen in a long time. Before we could eat, there was another knock of the door. It was Karen, "Mind if we come in and have breakfast with you? Cory has been whining to see his 'Mama Lucy.' If it's a problem, just say so."

  I glanced at Lucy and knew it was okay. "Sure, come on in."

  The adults were all at least concerned at what had happened to us, but Cory smiled through the whole meal. "Good!" he said as Lucy gave him a piece of her bacon. Neither Lucy nor I mentioned my dream from the night before.

  Karen insisted on cleaning up the dishes. As she was finishing up, there was yet another knock. This time it was Riley. "Ah, morning folks. Mr. Parker would like to see you all now, if you don't mind. I'll lead you to him."

  It sounded like an invitation, but the two armed Sergeants waiting behind him made it clear that cooperation was our only alternative.

  We left as a group, Cory holding Lucy's hand and skipping as we walked.

  *.*.*

  Parker was seated behind a desk in a large building on the edge of the runway. This would have been where the planes that took my Dad from Vegas to his work would have landed. A large airliner was sitting beside the runway, but it was obvious from the dirt and dust that covered it that it hadn't been used in a long time - probably since the instant the lights went out.

  He wasted no time when he saw us enter. "I hope you had a good night's sleep and a good breakfast. Much of this part of Area 51 dates from World War II and is dated but serviceable. But in 1955 something happened that caused the government to build a new facility. It's below ground and I plan on taking you there today."

  I felt something stir in me. In my dream Nick Presser said that I'd need to get to the underground facility and now it looked like that would actually happen. How could a dream know such things?

  Parker continued, "It's a very modern research facility - state of the art actually. Once the robots came and we realized there was something here that didn't allow them to function, we poured billions into it. The question I hope to answer down there is how you knew about things that are beyond top secret - how you managed to show up here just now - and how you knew Nick Presser."

  I heard Lucy's noises change and knew what she wanted. "And then? What happens with us? Will we live here, happily ever after?"

  Parker answered me, but he was staring at Karen, "First things first, Mr. Smith. Nick Presser is reviled around here, so people are understandably . . . concerned about you and your little group just showing up one day - seemingly out of the blue. Once we answer those questions, we'll see."

  His answer didn't make any of us feel more secure. Karen's noises sounded like fear.

  Chapter Forty-Two: Questioning

  For some reason, I expected that we'd take some kind of giant elevator down to the lower level, but Parker simply led us through a strong looking door and down some stairs to a tunnel.

  It was long, but I couldn't tell how long because it curved in the distance so that no end was visible. The tunnel looked to be at least twenty feet wide and, on its floor, were four sets of what looked like small railroad tracks. Two "trains" were on them, each with open cars and seating for a dozen or so people sitting singly, front to back.

  Parker took the rearmost seat and spoke to us. "Go ahead, be seated. We'll be there in about six minutes."

  The train started off slow, but picked up speed until it was probably going at twice walking speed. It swayed slowly side to side. I felt myself grow sleepy.

  "Leo, it's Nick. You should be hearing me when you are asleep or quiet. You can cut me off at any time if you are not able to listen to what I have to say. I will start again where I left off the next time."

  I could see Lucy in front of me. I felt relaxed.

  "If he’s still alive, you probably met Parker. He’s a legend, Leo. He was here in 1955 when the aliens actually arrived. That stuff about Roswell was all just crap that no one paid attention to for years. But there were things going on here - like testing the U2. The aliens saw the test and thought this was the scientific center of our world. They landed here, right on Groom Lake on a pitch black night on October 7, 1955.

  "Their ship was silent and only the size of a small house, so almost no one actually saw it. Parker was out for a walk and used a few of the guards to build a large tent around it. Signs were added that warned everyone that the area was top secret and not to be approached. That’s when the government decided to build the underground facility and move the whole thing down there. It took a couple of years, but people were used to areas being off limits and used to not asking questions about things that didn't concern them directly. Most of them, I’m sure, thought there was some type of advanced aircraft under that tent. They didn’t know how right they were, but the secret of the alien's arrival was mostly contained.

  “Anyway, Parker was a whiz at math and they had access to a lot of science and engineering brainpower. They started to study the ship only to find it was manned - or perhaps ‘crewed’ is a better word. There were six little aliens - as ugly as big hairy spiders, with their eight legs holding up a head about the size of a human’s. It had one large eye in the middle.

  “Parker put together a team to . . .”

  “Okay folks, follow Lt. Riley and I’ll be along shortly. We were in the top secret area underneath Area 51 and my “dream” was over. For the moment, at least.

  *.*.*

  We only saw a little of the place, but it was mind blowing. The walls seemed to be made of some sort of polished material and there was a large set of thick doors in the distance, now wide open. I wondered if the alien ship was beyond those doors. People in lab coats seemed to be busily going in and out, tapping at tablet computers.


  We were taken to yet another room to wait while Parker spoke with some people outside. I could tell Lucy was getting fed up. “Why bring us down here if they’re not ready to talk to us? I’ve about had enough.”

  I hoped she didn’t blow her top with Parker, but I was close enough to pinch her if I had to. Karen looked at me, “What are they going to do with us, Leo?” Her voice indicated she was worried. I realized I could also tell that from her noises.

  “I don’t know. Hopefully just ask us questions.”

  She nodded and tried a brave smile while Lucy watched us like a hawk.

  In truth, I barely saw and heard anything - I was too upset. Last night, I'd had a dream of Nick Presser. Fine . . . people have dreams and they are often strange. But last night’s dream of Nick Presser talking to me was a bit stranger than normal, even though both Lucy and I had dismissed it. But just now, on the little people mover, I hadn't been asleep so how could I have been dreaming?

  And it was Nick, talking to me in his normal voice just like I remembered. Nick Presser, the traitor to humanity if Parker was to be believed, was somehow still alive and had found a way to send me messages. Could it be something with this place, some effect of the alien ship being so close?

  Or could it be . . . I didn't even want to think about it. It made no sense. But try as I might the thought would not go away. Or could it be me?

  I felt myself shiver slightly as I had a mental image of being in bed with Lucy with the covers pulled over our heads. I wanted to tell her what had happened and, more than anything in the world, I wanted her to explain it to me.

  But that would have to wait because Parker stepped inside the room and addressed us. "Today, we want to understand what led you to appear at our gate. We will want some information on your early life, but most of our time will be spent on the period after the robots arrived. For that, we will want as much detail as we can get - how the robot's arrival affected you and your families, how you met each other, what happened on your travels that led you here. It may be a long day, perhaps tedious at times, but I will very much appreciate your cooperation. You probably do not know this but, until yesterday, we were of the belief that only our people here and, of course, the robots, knew that they could not approach this place - that it was a safe zone for humans. That fact made this facility important to the relative handful of human survivors that toil here. But also to the robots, who would like to see it destroyed.

  "You see, among other things, our work here is dedicated to studying alien artifacts, including one which blocks robots from getting power and communications from their mother ship. We are studying other things too, like if that blocking artifact can be duplicated and used to force the robots to leave the earth for good.

  "So, my friends, the stakes are high, and your cooperation is required. To make the most of our time, we will have individual sessions. Mr. And Mrs. Smith will be taken to a room as will Ms. Mcmillan." He looked directly at Karen, "You may keep your brother with you if you wish."

  Karen turned to look at me, but there was nothing for me to say or do. "Okay," she said, weakly.

  Smith turned to the open doorway and signaled. Two men and a woman came in, all wearing lab coats and carrying tablets. Lucy put her arm around my waist, "Wait a minute; I want to talk to my husband."

  Parker seemed to frown, but his noises barely changed. "Go ahead, but keep it short please."

  Lucy moved so that her lips barely brushed my ear as she spoke in her quietest whisper, "He told us too much, Leo. Regardless of anything else that happens, they won't let us leave."

  I turned to her so that my nose was tickled by her still short hair. "Yeah, but if we can do anything to help kill the robots, I think that would be okay."

  She understood. It made perfect sense for them to be wary. And I hated the robots and I knew Lucy did too. She nodded and whispered, "So we'll both tell them the truth. I love you," as she went to a man who motioned her to follow him.

  *.*.*

  It turned out to be just like Parker had said - a long day. I was taken by the woman to a small room that looked like it could be used for some type of medical work. There were two chairs, an examination table and a portable light. "Would you like to sit or lie down?" she asked. I took a chair and so did she.

  The three people with the tablets took turns interrogating us. It wasn't any kind of forced interrogation - they just asked questions designed to allow us to speak at length. If they thought we might have left anything out, they asked another question about that.

  Every hour or so they'd swap with each other and I had a little break. There was always food and water available. When the next questioner would come in, he would often go back to some earlier point and ask me to explain it again. It wasn't exciting, but I didn't feel any malice or danger signals in any of their noises - if anything I thought I could pick up signs of thankfulness - maybe that people still existed in the outside world and that the place was still there, waiting for them to figure out how to kill each and every robot.

  Things got a bit more intense when we got to the point where the robots arrived. Parker joined in the questioning then so it was mostly two on one. They wanted to know every possible detail - what my dad said about the robots, how Nick Presser got to be my friend. I told them everything I could, but it had been years ago and I'd only been barely fifteen so there were fuzzy areas.

  Later in the day, Parker showed me a picture and asked if I recognized it. It was Nick Presser.

  I confirmed it was a picture of Nick as Parker stared at it for a moment. "Nick Presser was close to the robots - he was our leading expert on alien biology, had been here studying for years until the robots arrived. Once we realized that something here made it impossible for the robots to come here or even fly over this place, Nick set up his own lab in Vegas to study them. He ran his own show until he refused an order and then disappeared. We've always been sure he was a traitor - helped them kill almost all of humanity. You can see why we're so interested in him, Mr. Smith."

  I could. I could see a lot of things, all of which made me queasy with worry. I felt a strong urge to tell Parker about Nick, about how he was talking to me, how he had done it this very morning.

  But instead, I just said, "Please call me Leo."

  *.*.*

  There were clocks all over the place probably because science and civilization required some way to tell time and no daylight was visible down here.

  It was four o'clock and I was getting tired. For the last two hours, there had been three of them in there at once asking questions and taking notes - they told me that Karen and Cory were in their quarters "up top" since they were done with them. I asked and they said that Lucy was fine.

  Their questions ranged from "Whose idea was it to run away from Ft. Smith?" to "Why do you think the robots bombed Lucky just after you left?" The female interrogator had sniffed and dabbed at her eyes when I told them the story of Lucky and how Lucy and I had married using his rings.

  I had been worried how they would take the story of our escape from Las Alamos since it resulted in the killing of nineteen humans. But they had been collaborators and the people here, and especially Parker, seemed to think they got exactly what they deserved.

  When I told them about Lucy's plan, Parker even said, “Your wife is a remarkable woman, Leo.”

  I nodded my head at that and missed her so much it hurt. "Can we stop now?" I asked.

  "Yes, that is quite enough for today." The other two questioners took their tablets and left. "They will get your wife and you will meet her at the transport. We decided to house you on the surface at least for the moment."

  There must have been a questioning look on my face because he said, "Oh, I see. For us, Leo, being able to be outside, even in the desert, is a treat. The entire staff here rotates so that we all get to spend some time there. Trust me, once you move down here, a night topside will be a good thing. It is our way of welcoming you as guests."

  That wa
s fine with me. I just wanted to see Lucy. I had so much to tell her - needed her advice about when to tell them about Nick talking to me. I stood and Parker smiled though it looked like it may have been painful on his ages old face, "All right then, follow me."

  *.*.*

  Lucy felt so good when we embraced at the transport. Parker gave us a few seconds and then said, "Lieutenant Riley will escort you back top side. I don't know what we will do tomorrow, but I'll send word in the morning."

  I wanted to kiss her, but could tell it wasn't the right time with these people standing around, watching us. Lucy stared at me. "Are you okay?" she asked.

  I wasn't okay, not by a long shot, but now was not the time to tell her that. I had to decide how to tell her so that I didn't sound like I'd gone insane, but first I had to take another six minute trip on this tram.

  This morning, Nick had spoken to me practically the entire time of the trip. "I'm fine, Lucy. Just tired. Let's go home," I said.

  She smiled and nodded.

  Chapter Forty-Three: Sick at Sea

  We'd barely started to move when Nick Presser said, "Leo, when they first arrived, Parker was in charge of studying the alien technology, but soon he was also put in charge of a team of people who studied the aliens themselves. He became the world's top expert on anything alien."

  It was happening again! STOP! I yelled. In front of me, Lucy swayed slowly back and forth in her seat. Obviously, I'd not yelled out loud. Nick's voice was instantly silent. I think I moaned and it must have been for real because Lucy turned around and frowned at me for a second.