Deliver Us Huis

“First Anthrolems gone.” Petrus said, looking at the screen, “ETA is in 15 minutes.”

“Are the other ones ready in the hover trucks?” I inquired.

Petrus checked the other video transmissions, “Yup, we have 42 Anthrolems in trucks across the city, awaiting orders. Everything’s in place.”

“When are we sending the first trucks?”

“As soon as the first Anthrolems hit, we’re sending in the first trucks. By the time they get there everything should be ready.”

“And the Anthrolems supposed to unload are in the back of the first truck?”

“Yes, Tel, stop stressing. Everything is going according to plan.”

“I’m not stressing.” I said, “I just want to be sure everything goes smoothly.”

He nodded, “It will, we’ve got everything we need for success, a worthy plan, and a means to achieve that plan.”

“I guess.” I said. But I was still worried. A plan on paper and a plan in action were two totally different things.

We watched the screens as the two Anthrolem came closer and closer to the power grid that would shut off the power of the storage facility. It was guarded only by a large metal fence and signs warning “High Voltage” and “No Trespassing”.

Within moments the Anthrolems were over the gate, and wandering between the wires and metal boxes that carried electricity from one place to another throughout the power plant, and then out to the buildings throughout the nearby cities.

It was a simple matter for the Anthrolems to locate the right switches and wires. Soon they were flying out again, over to the storage warehouse.

They touched down right outside of the guard houses.

“Sending first truck out now.” Petrus announced.

I kept my eyes on the screen and watched as one of the Anthrolems easily froze the first two guards in the guard house. The other’s visual caught the two on the roof, both easily frozen.

Within a matter of seconds they burst through the lobby doors, and soon the two guards in the guard room also were taken care of.

I flicked my eyes over to the other screen, watching the first trucks getting closer and closer to the storage warehouse.

In the meantime I saw the first two Anthrolems begin flying the guards out of the warehouse. We had programed the Anthrolems to take the guards just a few kilometers away, in a desolate area, so when they awoke they wouldn’t be able to get to any devices with which to contact the Planet Guard anytime soon.

We watched in silence as for the next few minutes the Anthrolems took the guards away. And then the warehouse was empty of all six guards, and the first hover truck pulled up to the back of the warehouse.

Slicing through the lock as if it was no more trouble than a piece of fabric the Anthrolems were in.

The materials were stored in large containers, it would take three of them to completely fill the back of the hover truck.

The two Anthrolems, the guards having been taken care of, helped the other two who jumped out of the back of the truck. Together the four of them wasted no time in loading the truck with three large containers, and the first truck left.

“When will the second truck arrive?” I asked Petrus.

“It was sent five minutes after the other one, and they have been programmed to all follow in five minute increments.” Petrus said, “That loading operation took four minutes, an astonishing time really, meaning the next truck should be there about…” he checked the time onscreen, “Now.”

Within moments another truck appeared in the Anthrollems visual and the truck was loaded again, just as quickly and efficiently as before.

“When is the first load going to make it here?” I asked.

“At it’s current speed it should be here in fifteen minutes.” Petrus announced.

I nodded, “I’ll go to the roof to watch the unloading and make sure paths to the fifth to the seventh floors remain open for the parcels.”

Petrus nodded and I took my leave. While being alone with the eerily lifelike Anthrolems would not be my first choice, it was better than being stuck next to the computer doing nothing.

I checked the rooftop, where two Anthrolems stood, watching for the trucks. I then traced the path to the seventh floor.

Petrus and I, with the help of the Anthrolems we had available, had knocked out the walls in the fifth to seventh floors, and now they were ready for the large crates of supplies, and later would be available to be filled with ranks of Anthrolems.

I checked to make sure there were no spare tools or things that would be in the way of the oncoming Anthrolems, but there was nothing. We had already checked all the halls, but I had to do something.

But there was nothing else to do.

Petrus and the Anthrolems were taking care of everything. I wasn’t needed.

The realisation hit me hard. I wasn’t needed anymore. Petrus could very well handle everything from here. If he wanted, he could very well finish off the job, and then go on to make the android army without me.

He had my plans, and that was all one would need. Was he only letting me stay out of pity?

I got angry with myself. What was I thinking?

This was my plan. I would be ruler. Where would Petrus be without me? No where. I was the one who made this all happen. And I wasn’t going to let Petrus take the reigns. Sure he knew how to control the Anthrolems. Well so did I, in a rather relative way.

You type in commands. I could do that, and it was time for me to stop letting Petrus be the one to control my Anthrolems. He was supposed to be the helper, not the one controlling everything.

I began stomping back up the stairs, ready to yank the controls from his hands when the more sensible part of my brain caught up. I paused, trying to collect my thoughts.

Right now the operation was all pre programmed. Petrus was just there if anything needed to be changed. Taking the controls now could mean the death of this entire operation. It was wise for Petrus to keep on controlling the Anthrolems this time.

But I wasn’t about to let him forget who was in charge.

With that I collected myself and then walked slowly back up the stairs. I was about to be the queen of the entire planet, it was about time I started acting like it.