PHASE 3

It’s Saturday. Allen prepares to pickup Charlotte, putting on his best clothes (that he could find).  He walks toward the mansion gate. It is a massive structure, as it also happens to function as the Arrow tech showroom/museum, containing a frame of every model produced by Arrow Tech; from the ATF-P1 Prometheus, the first prototype devised by the legendary Abraham Arrowsmith, to the latest model the ATF-F89 Deepstrike, a frame specializing in infiltration and long range bombardment.

 

As he reaches the eighteen feet tall gate with the equally tall walls, He reaches for the interface panel. He is surprised to find that it is smashed inward. He picks up a stone. “HEY! BOB! YA THERE?” he yells. No response. He throws the stone at the gate. The stone hits with a resounding clang, and ripples of energy can be seen at the point of impact as the gate energizes and activates it’s G-barrier. It also happens to trigger the alarm. An electronic voice speaks from unseen speakers. “INTRUDER ALERT. INTRUDER ALERT. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE. PLASMA CANNONS ARE ARMED AND LOCKED ON TO YOUR POSITION. DROP ANY AND ALL WEAPONS AND RAISE YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD. TURN AROUND. ARMED GUARDS WILL DEAL WITH YOU SHORTLY. FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE INCAPACITATION AND YOU WILL BE TURNED OVER TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES.

 

Instead of armed guards a single overweight man in stained blue jeans, a sleeveless white shirt and a pair of fluffy pink bunny slippers wielding a hastily assembled pulse rifle (the stock was upside down and the energy cartridge was missing) appeared from a hidden door in the wall and aimed his weapon. “Don’t move! I have a lethal weapon and I won’t hesitate to- oh, it’s you. Hey there Allen, been awhile”. “Hey Bob; see you’re still diligently working to ensure the protection of the Arrow Tech household”. “Aw c’mon man, you know darn well no one ever tries to attack this place. It’s got such an advanced security system that I don’t even know why they need me here in the first place”.

 

“And another thing, you didn’t have to toss that rock at the barrier, I told you to just give me a call, or even better, use the interface panel by the gate. Your biometric data is already in the database”.”Um, Bob, the panel’s busted” Allen states frankly. “Bob takes a look at the panel. He makes a low whistle. “Whoa, what happened here? Still, you coulda given me a call”. Allen lowers his head and palms his face. “Bob, the signal jammers, remember? You’ve been at this job for twelve years already man”. “Well, nothing really does happen, does it? Aside from when you come around, the only thing that triggers that thing is the squirrels, and even they’re starting to learn to keep away from it, ‘specially ‘cause of all the squirell corpses. Anyway, I’ll look into that panel”.

 

“Whatcha here for anyway Allen? You don’t really come over any more, and you’ve never come on a weekend”. Then a sly grin appears on Bob’s face. “Unless,” Bob says mysteriously. “Unless what?” Allen says with a puzzled look on his face. “Unless…. You’re taking Miss Charlotte on a date!” Bob exclaims with glee. “Wa-Wait, a date!? Of course not! Dude, c’mon! She’s practically my sister”! Allen is starting to turn red. “But, there’s no blood relation! She’s not even legally related to you! I’ve seen how you two get along, she obviously likes you, and I’m pretty sure the feeling’s mutual, amirite”? “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sh-She’s j-just a f-f-friend” Allen manages to stammer out.

 

Bob raises both hands in mock surrender. “Fine, fine. If you say so. Well then, if that’s not what you’re here for, Then what are you doing here”? “ … … … I’m here to pick up Charlotte” Allen says while palming his face. “Hmm, Okay. I understand. Understand that you’re on a date!” “Wait-” “YOU’RE DATING!” “but-”“YOU’RE DATING!” “I-”“YOU’RE DATING!” “Hey!” “YOU’RE DATING! DATING! DATING! DATING!” “Oh please, grow up Bob. Just let me in”. “Right, right. Let me just-” the phone strapped to Bob’s belt rings. He answers the call. A two dimensional holographic screen appears displaying live video feed from the security room. “ oi, Bob? What’s the status on the intruder situation? Another dead squirrel is it?” the man on the screen asks. “Nah boss, just Mr. Frost here, picking Miss Arrowsmith up for a date” Bob says while shoving his hand in Allen’s face interrupting him mid-protest. “Alright, I’m opening the gate ‘ere, tell Mr. Frost ‘ere ta ‘ave a lovely day with Miss Arrowsmith.

 

Allen just lowers his head and shakes it slowly in a defeated fashion. “I’ll just show myself in then”? Allen says while entering the main gate. “(sigh) it’s been awhile since I’ve been here. Allen starts walking toward the mansion.