HK-15

Eva heard her husband calling her and hurried up to his home cabinet.
– Eva, I did it! I did! – exclaimed Jeff. He showed the wife his new invention – a biomechanical robot.
Jeff was a scholar. He worked for scientific research institute where he was a member of a group of scholars developing nanotechnologies. Despite his job was connected with them, nanotechnologies weren't Jeff's main interest. Since childhood he had been addicted to robots. He considered them to be the first tool to help people around in the nearest future. In Jeff's opinion, robots were very likely to become more widespread than pets.
His wife Eva didn't share his optimistic viewpoint concerning robots' role in future though she didn't mind his research and invention work. Jeff had already made several robots himself. They made Eva completely free from housework. Robots in their house cooked, cleaned, washed, checked if their son Caleb did his homework, charged their cell phones when it was necessary, took care of the cars and home equipment, helped Eva make manicure and hair style, checked up their heath conditions and did many more things. All Eva had to do when she came home after work was to rest and to enjoy time with her family. That's why she was never angry with Jeff and his inventions.
While Eva was pretty satisfied with the robots and their work Jeff didn't adore them. He clearly realized his inventions were nothing else but just machines. They performed only the tasks saved in their memory, they couldn't change own specialization and didn't identify themselves. Then Jeff decided to work in a new direction where no one had sufficiently succeeded before. He chose biomechanics.
Eva worked as an autopsist, and Jeff knew he was very lucky to have his wife working at morgue. Firstly, when he asked her to bring him some parts of human body she immediately refused. But Jeff asked her again and again explaining it would be the greatest work in his life if he succeeded, and Eva gave in. Jeff usually asked her to bring small parts of human bodies such as aortas, parts of different organs and tissues. He used them not for creation of a new robot but for his researches. Jeff was finding out how these parts reacted to current, chemicals, water, fire, coercion, pressure and the like.
Jeff had worked in this direction for almost three years until he finally got the optimum combination of all factors in order to ensure interaction between biological and mechanical components and at the same time not to kill or harm neither of them. Having the necessary formula Jeff asked his wife to bring home a whole human brain. Eva was terrified by such a request. She replied she would never do that. But when there appeared a suitable body she took out the brain and gave it to Jeff. In two months he had constructed his first biomechanical robot.
– Is it him? – asked Eva entering the room.
Jeff nodded. There was a robot standing next to him. The robot was about 4 feet high and looked like a small metallic man. He had two arms, two legs and a head with small ears, round eyes and a mouth. His head was disproportionally big, and Jeff explained Eva:
– It involves several systems to power up the brain and make it protected that's why the head is of such size.
– I got it. What tasks he can perform? – asked the woman.
– In best variant he'll be able to perform any task that a man can perform.
– What do you mean 'in best variant'? You didn't turn him on yet?
– I was waiting for you. It will be an important moment for the history of all mankind that's why I didn't want you to miss it.
– What if he doesn't work at all?
– I'm sure he works. I've checked up everything attentively for many times. I don't have any doubts. You gotta see his birth. This robot will be turned on only once. Then he'll never turn off, he will charge much energy from his movements so that he will never run out of it. Are you ready?
– Yeah. I'd like to see what you've made.
Jeff opened a cover on the back of the robot and put there two electric cables.
– His eyes lighted up, – noticed Eva.
– Which color?
– Green.
– Tell me when they'll be blue.
In a couple of minutes Eva told:
– The eyes' color changed to blue.
– Good.
Jeff pulled away the cables and came closer to Eva looking at his creation. The robot slowly turned his head on the left, then on the right. It was obvious he didn't realize what was going on around.
– Hi, – said Jeff.
– Hi, – answered the robot in a mechanical voice.
– My name is Jeff, and this is my wife Eva.
– Hi, Eva, – said the robot.
– Hi, – replied Eva.
– Where am I? What am I doing here? Wait, who am I? – asked the robot looking at the room and the people.
– You are the first successful biomechanical robot in the world. I have created you. You'll leave here with us and help with everything we may need help with while home. You'll be a so-called house keeper in our family.
– Ok, – answered the robot and showed 'ok' gesture using his right hand.
Eva and Jeff smiled. It was so similar to a real man's gesture.
– Your name will be HK-15, – said Jeff.
Eva turned her head to the husband.
– 'HK' is short for 'house keeper', right? But why '15'?
– It's been 15 years since we married. I didn't forget it this time. HK-15 is my gift to you for our fifteenth anniversary.
– Thank you, – smiled Eva and hugged Jeff.
Surely, Eva didn't expect such a gift for the anniversary, but she was happy Jeff remembered what special date was today because in previous three years he totally forgot it.
– Congratulations, – said HK-15.
– Thanks, HK! – replied Eva.
– I supposed my name was HK-15, – said the robot.
– It is. 'HK' will be a short form. It will be easier for me to call you like this, – explained Eva.
– Ok. Is there anything I can do for you now?
– Yeah. I'd like to celebrate our anniversary. If it's not too difficult for you I want you to cook large pizza, fried chicken and brownie. There is the cook robot in the kitchen, you'll only have to put in the necessary ingredients and turn it on.
– You have other robots in the house?
– Yes, lots of them.
– Are they similar to me?
– No, absolutely not, – smiled Jeff. – They don't have a brain like you do. You can think. You are unique. There are no other robots in the world which could be compared with you.
HK-15 left the room and went to the kitchen. Jeff asked Eva:
– Isn't he a miracle?
– He is, – answered Eva. – It's still unbelievable for me you did it. I wonder why no one else has ever succeeded in this sphere.
– You know, most scholars don't admire simple solutions. They like to complicate everything. But I think that simple solutions do work, and HK-15 is the best proof I'm right. The secret is in blocking some parts of his brain which contain personal memories. These parts are separated from life supporting systems unlike the rest of the brain. As a result we get a brain of a man who kinda just came to himself after coma with partial amnesia. He remembers everything about the world, the country, the way people live, he can use all furniture, tools and electronic devices, but he doesn't know anything about himself.
– Theoretically, if the blocked parts suddenly began working and he remembered he used to be a man, how would he react?
– His reaction would be unpredictable if it were possible, but it's not, don't worry. Told you, these parts aren't connected to life supporting systems. They will be slowly dying while the robot will be working for us.
– Ok. Who are we going to invite in the evening? The neighbors, yeah? Your colleagues, maybe?
– No. Today only the neighbors. What concerns my colleagues I'd like to impress them at the symposium on Wednesday when everyone will come.
Eva phoned their neighbors and invited them to dinner. A bit later Jeff and Eva's 12 year old son Caleb returned home from the football section he attended on Saturdays. Jeff immediately showed Caleb the new robot. Unlike his parents Caleb didn't like robots. Earlier he even used to destroy some of them, but then understood he was punished every time he did harm to dad's robots. Caleb didn't touch the robots any more though he hated them a lot and had a plan of revenge.
Parents explained Caleb that HK-15 wasn't just a machine. Caleb pretended he got it but actually he didn't care much. He looked at the robot and felt he hated him even more than other ones 'cause HK-15 was smarter.
In the evening house of Jeff and Eva was noisy and joyful. Their neighbors on the left side, the Dickens, came with both of their children, 17 year old Annie and 11 year old Harry. The neighbor on the right, Mr. Davis, took his 14 year old grandson Charles who stayed with him for the weekend. All of these people weren't close friends of Jeff, but they were good and polite neighbors. When Jeff showed HK-15 to the guests no one seriously believed there was a real human brain involved. But then HK-15 began talking to people, and everyone was totally surprised. Annie even asked Jeff a couple of questions concerning the robot's functioning, and Jeff was happy to tell how he found such a great solution as blocking some parts of the brain.
After the neighbors had left Eva said:
– Only when I saw their reaction I got how impressive this robot is.
– So did I. I think the institute's staff will be shocked on Wednesday. Who knows, maybe, I'll get Nobel prize for my invention, – smiled Jeff.
During next three days HK-15 became a significant part of their family. He could be called kinda a pet, but he was much smarter and did everything a man could do. As a matter of fact, he was a slave. And he was a very comfortable one as he didn't need to sleep, to eat and to rest.
On Wednesday evening Jeff came home angry. Eva wondered what had happened.
– The symposium! – roared Jeff. – Imagine they didn't believe me! I thought of taking HK with me but then I changed my mind. Now I see I should have taken him. They didn't believe in my formula! They said it's impossible to block a part of a brain!
– Bring HK tomorrow and show them.
– Easy to say! Tomorrow I need to go to the laboratory, and it's urgent.
– Then take him with you on Friday.
– Surely I will! How dare they doubt in my talents?
Eva wanted to say something, but at this time they heard Caleb shouting:
– What have you done? Stupid, stupid robot!
Jeff and Eva hurried up to Caleb's room. Their son was shouting at HK-15.
– Caleb, what's wrong? – asked Eva.
– Mom, this robot threw away my collection of cards with football players.
– And this is the reason to shout at him?
– Yes! And he threw many other things from my room. Stupid robot!
– Wait a minute! Didn't I tell you to do something with the mess in your room? – frowned Eva. – I told you many times. In the end, I had to ask HK-15 to get this work done.
Eva left the room. Jeff looked at his son and said:
– Don't call him stupid. HK-15 is smarter than you. HK, come with me now.
Jeff and the robot also went away. Caleb stayed alone in his room realizing how much he hated HK-15 and cherishing a revenge plan in his mind.
On the nest day Caleb disappeared from classes and came home earlier than his parents. He was going to break down HK-15 and decided to use electroshock for this. He found the robot in the bathroom and told him everything he thought of him:
– You are nothing! You're just a machine! A slave my dad created to do all the work!
HK-15 didn't manage to reply 'cause Caleb touched him with electroshock and pushed the button. The boy held it on until there appeared sparks. Then he got electroshock away. HK-15 fell down. Caleb supposed the robot was broken and left for his room. The boy planned to go somewhere and return in the evening to make his parents think he didn't do anything to HK-15. Caleb hid electroshock in his bedside-table and suddenly heard some noise. He raised his head and saw HK-15 at the entrance.
– You said I'm a slave. You said I'm nothing, – stated the robot. – Bloody Drake will never be a slave!
HK-15 stretched his right hand and fired an electric ball to the boy. Caleb fell down dead.
Came home after work Eva decided to check the bathroom 'cause in the morning she asked HK to rearrange everything that was possible to give a fresh look to the room. But when she entered she saw all things being on the same old places.
– HK! – called Eva and turned her head. The robot was already there.
– Oh, you're here. Why didn't you do what I've asked?
– Why didn't you do what I've asked? – repeated HK-15.
– Is anything wrong with you?
–Is anything wrong with you? It is wrong with you. It was wrong to think I'd do whatever you want!
HK fired an electric ball and killed Eva. Then he went to the hall and waited for Jeff. When the door was opened HK-15 tripped up and pushed so that Jeff fell on the floor. The robot kept him down and asked:
– What did you do to me, Jeff? Where's my body?
– You were dead, and I used your brain to create a robot, – whispered Jeff. – But you weren't supposed to remember anything.
– But I do. I do remember after your son hit me with electroshock. Now tell me, is my brain safe inside of it?
– Yes, it's absolutely safe.
– Another question, when the energy of this body will run out?
– Never. It's… You get energy every time you move.
– Great. Means, I don't need you anymore.
HK-15 killed Jeff and came out. He got in Jeff's car, moved the seat closer to pedals and drove away.
At this time Frank Mitchell, an ex-thief and ex-member of a large criminal gang, sat home and watched football with a bottle of beer. He almost dropped this bottle when he heard a strange voice saying:
– Hello, Frank.
Frank was very surprised to see a robot in his house, and the fact this robot knew his name surprised him even more.
– You don't recognize me, Frank, do you? – smiled HK-15. – Right, you thought I was dead. You were the only one who didn't go with us on that night. And you are the only member of the gang who's still alive excepting me.
– D… D… Drake? – mumbled Frank standing up from his couch. – What happened to you?
– Shut up! It's only I who can ask questions here. I thought you were my partner. I trusted you. But you've changed recently. I felt there was something fishy when you told you couldn't go with us but I didn't have a choice. I couldn't just give in.
– Drake, listen, I…
– Shut up! When I saw the cops I got it was you. You worked with police hoping to bury me. But you buried yourself instead!
The robot fired, and Frank's body stayed on the couch. HK-15 left for the central police office. He entered and began killing every officer he saw at the same time laughing and screaming:
– Bloody Drake is alive! He lives! I live! This time you won't get me! Bloody Drake don't need a gang! He'll do everything alone! This is the beginning of the end!
Many officers tried to shoot the robot but didn't succeed: bullets only scratched his body. When HK killed everyone inside of the office he said aloud:
– Thank you, Jeff. You gave me a second birth. I would probably call you a mom if I hadn't killed you.
After that HK-15 decided to walk. He walked among buildings in the downtown of the city and shot people and cars in the streets. In a couple of minutes a panic began. People ran away or tried and found some places to hide.
Annie, the daughter of Jeff and Eva's neighbors, was in the downtown with her boyfriend Mike. Noticed running and screaming people Mike tried to lead away Annie, but she was too curious. She came back, hid behind a corner of a building and took a short look. Annie instantly recognized the robot she had seen at their neighbors'.
– Mike, I know this robot! This is HK-15, I saw him before!
Mike pulled Annie's arm.
– Please, let's get out of here now. You'll tell me later.
– But he didn't seem to be dangerous when I met him…
Suddenly Annie saw the robot killing another man and turned her head to Mike.
– Let's get out!
They ran away from there. When they were already far from the downtown Annie offered to sit at a bench and have some rest. She told Mike about her neighbor Jeff, his inventions and the evening when Jeff showed HK-15.
– He was a smart and nice home robot. It's strange that he is so terrifying now. Although I might know why. There is a real man's brain inside of this robot. Jeff told he turned off his memories and it was impossible for HK to remember anything, but now he obviously remembers his human life. He must have been a criminal when he wasn't a robot.
– I hope police will handle it. Let's go, I'll see you off, – said Mike.
They got up and went.
A week later the situation in the city was sophisticated. HK-15 came out to the center every day at a different time. He shot buildings, cars and people if there were any. Many city dwellers left for their relatives living in other areas, some people just left and stayed in hotels in other places. Annie and Mike looked through a pile of old newspapers in the library and found the one who matched their guesses. It was a notorious criminal, the head of a gang of thieves and murderers Bloody Drake. Police also knew about that but it didn't help them. They already tried all kinds of weapons they had and involved armed forces, but nothing could kill HK-15. Shots and explosions deformed his body, especially his face so he looked very scary. The house of Jeff was encircled. All of his robots were completely destroyed, and people's bodies were taken away.
Annie called Mike and asked him to come. When Mike appeared in her house Annie said:
– I need your help. I'm going to get in the neighbors' house. I bet there is something important concerning HK-15.
– That's a weird idea. Police already turned everything there upside down but didn't find anything useful.
– Yes! Because it were police. They looked but they didn't know what to look for. Now, look at the window. Do you see an officer? You should draw away his attention so I can get in.
– Wouldn't it be easier to climb over the hedge from your backyard to theirs?
– It could be, but their back door is opened only from the inside. You'll divert the officer, I'll go through the front door and open the back one, and then you'll come again to my yard and get to the neighbors' house just the way you offered.
– You've made a good plan. But how are you going to pass through the front door?
Annie showed Mike a key and explained:
– Eva used to often lose the house key that's why she always gave another key to my mom.
Mike smiled. They came out to the street.
– How can I draw away the officer's attention? – asked Mike.
– I don't know. Invent something. Scream, or fall down, or pretend you're dying, whatever. Try to get him far from the house. Annie returned to her place and waited behind the door. Mike walked a bit and stood in the street thinking. He noticed a lamppost and got what to do. He screamed, then hit the post and fell down. The officer heard someone screaming, and then saw a boy hitting a post and falling down. It wasn't allowed for the officer to leave his place, but the street was empty, and he ran to a boy.
At this moment Annie came out, ran to the neighbors' and got in. Then she opened the back door and waited for Mike. He came in several minutes with a red spot on his forehead.
– What happened? – asked Annie.
– I hit a lamppost, – said Mike and laughed. – The officer must have thought I was crazy.
– Thank you for help. Come on, we shouldn't waste time.
Annie brought Mike to Jeff's cabinet. There were a lot of papers and books scattered around. Annie and Mike picked up all of them, put in one pile, then divided it in half and began to look through.
In some time Annie read aloud:
– Ten days. I wonder what it means.
– Let me see, – said Mike and took the paper Annie held. This is the end of a math equation, and he got ten days in result. I guess I saw something similar.
Mike searched among the papers he had already looked through and suddenly exclaimed:
–Here it is!
Annie looked at the paper.
– If he doesn't move for ten days he won't get energy and will stop functioning.
Mike and Annie looked at each other smiling. They took the necessary papers and immediately left for the central police office despite it was dangerous to appear in that part of the city. The policemen didn't want to take seriously two teenagers and tried to turn them out, but Captain Nicolson invited them to his cabinet.
Captain Nicolson was the officer who shot Bloody Drake during the robbery. When the robot made a skirmish at the police office Nicolson was lucky not to be there as he was on leave. Captain carefully listened to Annie and Mike but didn't seem glad.
– We've already tried not to let him move. We used metal ropes, cables and nets. It didn't work; he freed himself with the help of electricity and killed the people who were involved in this operation.
– Use bitumen, – advised Mike.
– Bitumen? What is it? – asked Captain Nicolson.
– It's a black viscous substance which is impossible to get out of. Firstly, it's liquid and sticky, but then it hardens. It's used in building.
They continued talking, and then Nicolson said he had several thoughts on how to do it. He saw the teenagers off the street and promised to let them know if his ideas were a success.
On the way home Annie asked Mike:
– How do you know about bitumen?
– My dad works in building business, I learned a lot from him. What do you think of the captain? Will he stop HK-15?
– Yeah, I think he will, – answered Annie.
She was right. Captain Nicolson organized the meeting of the necessary experts, and together they created a perfect trap for the robot. When HK-15 came out to the city center again Nicolson talked to him from the ambush using megaphone. He confessed he shot Bloody Drake. Being furious and willing to revenge the robot didn't care where to go. Captain Nicolson lured him to the trap where HK-15 fell in a hole dug before. There was a big metal barrel of bitumen in this hole, and the robot got right in there. The barrel was heavily closed and taken away from the city.
On the next day the city was as alive as it had never been before. The central streets were crowded by people and cars. Captain Nicolson invited Annie and Mike to the office and thanked them in front of all his colleagues. While he was speaking his phone rang. He picked it up, listened and told everyone:
– It's a pleasure for me to inform you that the barrel with the robot was transported far from the city and dug in the middle of a dessert!
Everyone but for Annie applauded.
When they came out Mike asked Annie why she didn't look excited about that.
– I just thought… Mike, what can destroy bitumen? – asked Annie.
– Well, sun rays, as far as I remember. And also heat. Bitumen melts at high temperatures.
– Now remind me where they dug the barrel.
– In a dessert, – whispered Mike understanding what Annie was thinking of at that moment.
They walked away and kept silence for a while until Annie said:
– HK-15 might come back.

July 31 2014