ECHO Data Recollection Files
NAME: Watson Oppenheimer
PASSCODE: *****
(A lot of weird things have been happening lately. After the power went out in the lab, I found myself to be twelve years old again, a by-product of Chronometrix's raid on O Techlabs. After the Sonic Five used their Macrodroid programs to defeat Chronometrix, I was returned to my age, but not before I played several games of Satn's Bitchfest and purchased a Power People T-Shirt. As we speak now, Rob is on his way to Ottawa to take care of business for me.)
(Samuel Hillard High School. Inside one of the halls, Sydney begins putting some of her books into her new locker. The bell rings, and the hall semi-empties.)
Sydney: Just great. I'm gonna be late. (stops a varsity-jacket wearer) Excuse me, can you tell me where room 303-B is?
V-J Wearer: That's where I'm headed; I'll take you there.
Sydney: Great! Thanks. I'm Sydney.
V-J Wearer: Guy Jones. Pleased to meet you.
(The two walk off. In the shadows, a Lexicon has seen all this.)
----------
Rob: My nasal sensors indicate semi-pure air supply.
(There is an unusual clamour from behind. He turns around and a girl runs into him.)
Um, salutations.
Girl: Hey... Sorry about that.
(The girl is dressed in watermelon red shorts and sleeveless crop-top, both of which which look strangely metallic, like plastarmour. Her hair is dark orange and comes down in two long braided ponytails, except for one strand in front of her face.)
Rob: Can I help you?
Voice: Hey.
(They turn to see a squad of punks standing there, with odd facial tattoos.)
Punk #1: Time's up, Pixel.
Punk #2: You want to turn her over?
Rob: May I ask the occurance for this exchange?
Punk #1: What?
Rob: What do you want from her?
Punk #2: She's a hybrid. She's a dirty Galtean.
Rob: So?
Pixel: You'll have to forgive them. They're Canadians.
Rob: Oh. I'm sorry.
Punk #3: Just hand Pix over and get out of here, jerkwad.
Pixel: You're not going to do this, will you?
Rob: Negative. Racial prejudice is against my moral isostack.
Pixel: Um, great...
Punk #4: You wanna get out here, hip-boy?
Rob: An attempted insult? I believe that your cerebral ability is clouded by your parodical muscular build.
Punk #3: What did he say?
Punk #2: I dunno. Let's get him.
(Rob shifts into a karate stance. One punk tries to grab him, but he kicks it off, then slugs the second oncoming punk in the chest, sending him back onto the third, who was behind him.)
Punk #1: Whoa baby!
Rob (pointing his fingers like a gun): Lay off.
Punk #1: Why? You gonna shoot me?
(Two-sided blasts fire off and knock the punk down.)
Rob: As a matter of fact, yes.
Pixel (after the punk has rushed off): Thanks... um...
Rob: My designation is SV005. My biological friends call me Rob Edge.
Pixel: Rob... are you a Galtean too?
Rob: Negative. I'm an AI biodroid.
Pixel: You're a robot?
Rob: In a sense...
Pixel: Well, thanks a lot. (kisses him on the cheek)
Rob: Curious. I am disturbingly enticed.
Pixel: OK, we need to do something about the way you talk.
Rob: Is there a cognizant problem in my speech patterns?
Pixel: Don't worry, we'll work on that.
(The two walk off.)
----------
Sydney: I'm home.
Carter: Where were you anyways? We were supposed to collect manual datastacks from Dr. O.
Dr. O: Sydney already got hers.
Sydney: That's right. Dr. O says I have to blend in with biological lifeforms in the city, so he enrolled me in the local high school.
Kevin: Why does she need to go to school? She was programmed with a 168 IQ. At least.
Dr. O: It's simple. She is configured to a seventeen-year-old girl. If she is to protect society from the threat of the Galteans, she has to first fit in with society. I suggest you three do the same.
Kevin: What can we do? We were just programmed two weeks ago, and, unlike Syd, we don't have age going for us.
Dr. O: You all are intelligent. I'm sure you'll find something. But not the lab assistant job. Rob already has that job. (videophone rings) And speaking of which... Oppenheimer Labs.
Rob: Father, I have a dilemma concerning a human emotion that is foreign to me.
Dr. O: Care to talk about it?
Rob: Well, it started when I was escorting a female life unit away from the company of rather unpleasant vagrants, when she performed an affectionate gesture of pleasure.
Dr. O: She kissed you, didn't she.
Sydney: (to the tune of "pitcher's-got-a-big-butt") Robbie's got a girl-friend!
Dr. O: Sydney, please. (to Rob) So how is she now?
Rob: She is safe within the confines of her living unit, but one thing bothers my neural circuits. One of the vagrats said that she was "a dirty Galtean."
(Neil drops his energy drink, which is really nothing but a mixture of electrolytes set to keep his "biological" functions in check.)
Neil: That can't be good.
Dr. O: Remember that the Galteans are a threat to humankind. Be careful.
Rob: She didn't seem dangerous. She was actually quite... what is the term...
Sydney: You thought she was cute?
Rob: Affir- yeah.
Kevin: 'Yeah'? Who taught you to talk like that?
Carter: Apparantly our hybrid friend has some influence over Robbie here.
Rob: I don't understand it. Pixel is unlike anyone I've ever met...
Neil: Meaning she doesn't live, work, or eat here?
Rob: Well yeah. I mean, after three years cooped up in this lab I think I've gotten to know everyone here well. But Pix's different... she's like a miscreant of some sorts.
Dr. O: Let me tell you something. I don't think your circuits are ready to handle this. Heck, you won't even have disturbing masculine thoughts until your next upgrade.
Rob: But father, I felt something different when I saw her.
Dr. O: What was that?
Rob: I believe it was arousal.
(Now Carter drops his electrolytes.)
Carter: Don't tell me you're going to go through with this feeling! You're not even ready for it yet! And... and... and... SHE'S HALF GALTEAN!
Rob: Don't worry! If (strangling w/ words) worse comes to worse, I always have my Sonic Charger.
Carter: That's not enough! Dr O, when's the next hypertrain to Ottawa?
Dr. O: In an hour.
Carter: Sounds cool to me. Anyone else want to come?
Sydney: Sorry, homework.
Neil: I'll come.
Kevin: Golden boy can save his own ass.
Neil: Where did you get that phrase from?
TV in the background: Tell you what, golden boy can save his own ass.
----------
Pixel: What do you think?
Rob: My syrotube was better than this.
Pixel: OK, now I know you're a robot. Sorry, biodroid.
Rob: You can call me "robot" if you want. It actually sounds quaint.
Pixel: Experiencing nostalgia?
Rob: Started last year watching TV.
Pixel: (sighs) Normally I wouldn't let anyone in here, but you may have saved my life, so... Do you want something to eat? Oh, robots probably don't eat.
Rob: Nega... no, we actually do consume nutrients. I normally eat once a day for my combustional engine.
Pixel: Um, good. (heads to what would be the refrigerator.) Damn. Nothing but this three-week old casserole.
Rob: It's a little warm in here. May I take off my shirt?
Pixel: Yeah, go ahead. The enviromental systems aren't really good in this building.
(Rob removes his shirt and sits on the bed, the only real piece of sitting furniture in there.)
Oh, boy.
Rob: Did I do something wrong?
Pixel: No, no. You don't understand...
Rob: Sex? On the contrary, I know all the mechanics and emotional settings. I'm just unable to initiate the act.
Pixel: You're sterile, you mean.
Rob: Not until next Tuesday, if all goes well.
Pixel: Well, I just wanted to thank you for saving me back there. Where do you live?
Rob: Manhattan.
Pixel: OK, do you need to stay here overnight? It's a long way to New York.
Rob: The last thing I would want to do is impose.
Pixel: No problem. In fact (puts her arms around him), I insist.
(Rob has a blank stare, then puts his arms around her.)
There, you're getting it.
Rob: I can't believe anybody would be prejudiced against you.
Pixel: Well, people are dumb, I guess. It's just unfair.
(There's a knock on the door.)
Voice: Open up in there.
(The door opens, to reveal a small number of cops.)
Cop #1: Are you former Ramona L. Steyman, currently codenamed Pixel?
Pixel: Yes?
Cop #1: We have a warrant for your arrest.
Pixel: Arrest? What for?
Cop #2: Holding Galtean blood and impersonating a full human.
Rob: What's going on?
Cop #1 (showing ID): I'm Detective Russel Stone. Put your shirt on kid, we're taking the both of you to the county jailhouse.
----------
Sydney: This is so basic! Look, the melting point of Hydrorinium is exactly twice that of Miniscindium. Doesn't anyone know that? (The videophone rings.) Who could that be? Oppenheimer Labs.
Rob: Syd. Where's dad?
Sydney: Approaching Ottawa. Why?
Rob: Great. Are the others there?
Sydney: No. It took Kevin a little coaxing, but they're all with Dr. O now.
Rob: Whoop dee doo, Carter's never going to let me hear the end of this.
Sydney: End of what?
Rob: I'm kind of in custody.
Sydney: I'll be right there.
----------
Rob: Oh great, everyone's here.
Carter: What's happening, man?
Rob: The cops just came to the building and arrested her.
Dr. O: What did she do?
Rob: They said she was an illegal hybrid.
Neil: They arrested her just for being a Galtean?
Rob: Pretty much.
Neil: That's crazy!
Carter: No it's not. All the Galteans are bad.
(Rob growls and knicks Carter against a wall.)
What was that for?
Rob (holding him by his jacket): Listen BUDDY. We've been designed to protect the innocent, and she IS innocent of all charges. I'm going to fight this as hard as I can!
Neil: I side with Rob on this one. Kevin: Me too.
Carter: But I'm the superior officer here, and I say we don't bother with this.
Rob: I can't believe you, man. (lets him go) Pixel's going to go to jail for the rest of her life for NOTHING! Don't you have any kind of conscious programming database?
Carter: I know I'm right. She's a potential threat to the human settlement here. I think you're overstepping your authority.
Rob: So you're gonna stand back. I'm sorry I ever built you.
(Rob removes his Sonic Charger and Pentium card hands them to Dr. O.)
Dr. O: Robin...
Rob: I'm outta here, dad. Maybe you'll make a better member than him.
(Rob storms out. They all look at Carter angrily.)
Carter: What?
----------
Raybin: Yes I did. We tried to catch her and bring her to you, but I have one question. Why would you want her?
Arachness: It is simple. As half of her is from Galta -- like myself -- the other half is from Earth -- like yourself. As long as she is at least one-one thousandth human, I cannot have her loose to fight the system in her little preadolescent way. Humans are not as strong as us, you know.
Raybin: Maybe not, but at least we're smarter.
Arachness: No. A human is smart; humans in general are dumb. (Zenos rushes in.)
Zenos: Sister! Human! I just received word that there is a falling-out between two members of Sonic Five.
Arachness: I see an opportunity. Divit, bring me Mothrax to find the two members. Given their "human" nature, I believe he will serve us well... with the proper coercing.
Divit: He is almost ready.
----------
Carter: Oh. Hey, pop.
Dr. O: I just want you to know that I paid Pixel's bail.
Carter: Is that so?
Dr. O: Yes.
Carter: Why? I mean, she's a Galtean! She could destroy us with both hands tied behind her back.
Dr. O: Carter Shawn Knight, if I knew you were going to do this, I wouldn't have programmed the resistance to the Galteans into your moral datastack. I gave that emotion to you because you needed it to fight your enemies, not your friends.
Carter: She's half Galtean. Galteans ARE my enemies.
Dr. O: She's also half-human, you're forgetting. She may have the powers and abilities of a monster, but she has the heart and conscience of a human. (Carter pretends not to hear.) Just like you...
Carter: What do you mean, "just like me?"
Dr. O: Think about it. You're not exactly human either. (alarms go off as people start running in the opposite direction as Dr. O and Carter are walking.)
Carter: What's going on?
Bystander: Big... ugly... winged... RUN!!!!
Carter: It's Pixel. I just know it!
Dr. O: I don't know, but as long as this thing threatens innocent people, it's up to you to take care of it.
Carter: I'm 'bout that. Sonic Pentium Charge Blue!
(Carter meets up with Kevin and Neil in the centre of the street, where Mothrax starts blasting things with his stinger blast.)
SonicBlack: OK guys, let's take this creep.
Others: Right!
(Mothrax fires a stingshot at the team, who roll out of the way. Then SonicYellow pulls out his Bioblaster and blasts one of Mothrax's six wings.)
Mothrax: (insectoid yell)
SonicBlue: Good move, but check this out!
(SonicBlue tosses his SonicDaggers at Mothrax, who screams and fires a spread of stingshots, which pull the team to the ground. Then Sydney, who just got off the hypertrain a few minutes ago, appears on the battle scene on White Speeder as SonicWhite.)
SonicWhite: Guys, I'm here. Where's Rob?
SonicYellow: I don't know, but he's got to have better luck than us right now.
----------
Pixel: How did they know we were here?
Rob: I don't know, but we gotta lose them.
(The two duck into an alleyway and the Lexicons rush by, not seeing them.)
That was close. (Suddenly recieves a page. He checks his V-Pager.) Dad?
Dr. O: The others are in trouble. You've got to hurry. (out)
Rob: Man, I wish I hadn't given up my Sonic Charger.
Pixel: Come on, we gotta help your family. Even Carter.
Rob: But... he was... y'know...
Pixel: Let's face it Rob. Robots can be stupid. But we're not stupid enough to deny him the right to live.
Rob: Hey.. you're right. I've GOT to help.
Pixel (murmering): That was easy.
Rob: Let's go.
(The two hurry to the site of the battle.)
Pix, you better find somewhere to hide.
Pixel: Alright. Go find... umm... what was his name?
Dr. O (from behind): It's Watson. Dr. Watson Oppenheimer.
Rob: Where were you?
Dr. O: That's not important now. What is important now is defeating Mothrax.
Rob: Another Galtoid... But how... (Dr. O reveals his Sonic Charger to Rob)
Dr. O: Now hurry.
Rob: ...(remembering his original program) Affirmative, doctor. (takes his Sonic Charger) Sonic Charge, Red!
(Rob slams his Sonic Charger on his belt and transforms into SonicRed. Instantly, the red-clad warrior enters the scene flipping, Tomahatch in hand and ready to slash the wings of Mothrax.)
SonicWhite: Rob?
SonicBlue: Look who decided to show up.
SonicBlack: Will you can it for a while, Carter? You're really beginning to piss me off with your intolerant complaining.
SonicBlue: And why should I stop? I mean, it's probably his "friend's" fault that we're in this mess to begin with.
SonicYellow: As much as I'd like to join in this random screamfest, WE WERE FIGHTING A MONSTER HERE!
SonicRed: Neil's right. We have to keep fighting Mothrax, not each other.
SonicBlue: Why should I listen to you..
SonicRed: Don't make me force an order, SonicBlue.
(In the midst of all this arguing, Mothrax seizes the opportunity to imprison the Sonic Five in a titanium cocoon.)
Dr. O: No!
Pixel: That's it... I have to do something.
(Pixel runs onto the street just as Mothrax begins to seize the cocoon and take it back to the Galtean Earthbase.)
Mothrax! (Mothrax turns around to look at Pixel as her eyes begin to glow a deep violet.)
(telepathically) Put the cocoon down...
(Against his will, Mothrax begins to fall to the ground and the cocoon slowly escapes his grasp. Pixel goes close to the cocoon.)
Dr. O: Pixel! Don't!
Pixel: I have to. In less than thirty seconds, highly acidic enzymes will secrete from the inner shell of the cocoon and the Sonic Five will be... killed.
(Her eyes begin to glow again. This time, her hands also glow and begin shooting a powered beam at the cocoon. The beam cuts the cocoon open, as the Sonics begin to escape.)
Are you alright?
SonicWhite: Yeah. Thanks, Pixel. We were almost goners.
SonicYellow: And besides that, it was really beginning to stink in there.
Pixel: That must be the enzymes getting ready to secrete.
SonicRed: You were just in time. Now you better go back to Dr. O.
Pixel: Right! (kisses SonicRed's helmet as the Sonic Five take battle position.)
SonicBlue: Maybe a little energy boost will help us out now.
SonicYellow: I'll go first. Activate SonicBlade! (The giant boomerang appears in his hands) Digital SonicRush! (He forms an energy spear with his body and his SonicBlade. The energy spear impales Mothrax.)
SonicBlack: I'm next! Activate SonicCannon! Digital SonicTornado! (The cannon shoots a twisting plasma beam at Mothrax. Mothrax makes some earpiercing sounds with his mouth and his wings.)
SonicBlue: This is too loud for my aural receptors to handle!
SonicRed: Continue the attack!
SonicWhite (trying to bypass the loud noises): Get ready, Mothrax, here comes Digital SonicSpin! (She spins the SonicPoles as she herself begins to spin toward the monster like a buzzsaw. She gives Mothrax a supercharged series of flipkicks.)
SonicBlue: (pointing his SonicDaggers to the sky) Now, Digital SonicDrill! (He forms an energy drill with the daggers and his body, which drills through the Mothrax, which lets out another series of supersonic screams.)
SonicRed: This is too much. I can't lock on target with this disruption.
(From the distance, the Galtean warriors Zenos and Argox appear. They have Lexicons with them.)
Zenos: Time to even the score! (Throws a GalteaBall at the monster.)
Mothrax: (Monstrous screams as he cracks open the GalteaBall and absorbs the energy from the orb as he grows.)
SonicWhite: Could this get any worse?
(Mothrax begins to scream at the top of its lungs.)
SonicYellow: Damn. That's pretty bad.
SonicRed: Activate Macroprogram, now!
(The five press the "S" button to reveal more buttons. They punch a few buttons on their Sonic Chargers and then press the **POSITIVE** button.)
MacroRed: Macroprogram completed.
MacroBlue: Hey, Mothrax! I've got a sound you should hear!
(He fires a SonicWave from his helmet, which knocks Mothrax off balance. The Macrodroids then approach the Mothrax one by one and attack. After Mothrax is severely weakened, MacroRed moves in for the kill, his Tomahatch glowing.)
MacroRed: MacroRed Finish!
(MacroRed leaps several feet into the air and comes down with a finishing slash! The aftermath: where Mothrax once stood now remains an abundance of smoke and fire. Observing the battle, the Galteans are not pleased.)
Raybin: How did the prisoner escape?
Zenos: Maybe you should answer...
Raybin: Maybe you should shut up.
Arachness: Silence, both of you. This was just a minor setback. Now that we have found more vices in the Sonic-V, we can expose them for our will.
----------
Pixel: That was a big place. And it moved so fast...
Sydney: You say that like you haven't been on a hypertrain before.
Pixel: I haven't seen anything outside of Ottawa before...
(The rest of the team joins Rob and Sydney in the concourse area.)
Kevin: Well, Carter? I think you have something to say.
Carter: Well.... Pixel, I must thank you for saving our lives. Although I am programmed to hate your kind...
Pixel: What? Programmed to hate Galteans or humans? Sydney: Pixel...
Pixel: No, I'm sick of all this. Listen, if you're going to hate me...
Carter: Let me finish. Like you, I'm also half-human, but in programming only. therefore, I'm prone to many mistakes. And I apologizing for my harsh treatment. I hope you can forgive me.
Pixel: Well, I never had a grudge. I mean, I did save your life, didn't i? Forget about it, Carter. I'm just hoping we can be friends (offers to shake hands).
Carter: (still uneasy) You got it. (awkwardly shakes her hand).
Rob: (reenters with Dr. O) Good news, Pix. Dr. O and I have arranged with the US Government so that you can stay here with immunity. You know, just until you get yourself back on your feet.
Pixel: (obviously) You mean it? I can stay?! That's so cool! (wraps arms around Rob)
Rob: Well, I really don't know what to say, now... Dr. O: Well, you can start by showing her around this place. She'll have to get acquainted with it.
Rob: Well, there's really not much to... hey! (gets dragged to the lifts by Pixel as she gets very close to Rob.)
SONIC V STAND BY
Questions and comments should be addressed to either Chris or myself.
NEXT WEEK:
Kevin goes all out...
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