Presenting, Bob Zinfidel

Paul brought his space craft out of hyperspace a bit farther from Earth than usual. He had not sought permission to enter earth orbit or enter its atmosphere and according to Earth Law he would be arrested on the spot as soon as he dropped out of hyperspace.

Paul's space craft entered the solar system from above, cruising past the outer planets. The droids insisted on turning on the view screens so they could witness the home solar system for the first time.

"My God!" sighed Mary. "Its more beautiful than any holographic representation I've seen."

"I agree," said Sherrie. "Mother said it was amazing, but nothing compares to looking at the real thing.

As they passed from Neptune to Jupiter, even Jon Rishi Senior Marveled at the contrast in color between the two planets.

"Is it true," asked Mary, "that Jupiter is almost a sun?"

"It just needs heavier elements at its core to produce enough pressure," replied Jonny enthusiastically. "We went on a field trip last year to the outer planets, it was so cool!"

Jonny continued, "They considered lighting it up at one point to build the first artificial planet but were concerned about the slight change in its gravity causing a shift in the orbits of the rest of the planets."

"The truth is," said Rishi, "Planetary Corp had plans to stoke it and it almost took a revolution to stop them. Some of the computer models showed a small possibility that the earth would shift farther away from the sun, risking life on earth. Nearly everyone involved in the project decided it was too risky. However, Planetary Corp fired the lot, kept marching forward, and continued creating heavy elements. Its rumored they were within six months of launching when the combined forces of all the world governments and millions of volunteers stormed PC's offices on Mars."

"Where is all the heavy matter they created?" Asked Jonny.

"No one knows," said Paul, "We've been looking. There's a rumor they had been collecting dark matter to shoot into the planet to jump start it."

"There are many kinds of rumors," said Rishi, "like they were using plutonium and lawrencium to create a new element that was stable in the cold low pressure of space. But the fact is: no one has been able to prove anything and no records have ever been found."

The Slipstream space craft passed Mars' vacant orbit, The formerly red planet was in orbit on the other side of the sun, and as they approached Earth, the radio cracked to life.

"Xray-Seven-Alpha-Foxtrot-Delta-Niner-Echo, this is moon command seventeen, come in."

Paul closed his eyes hard and said, "MC seventeen this is Xray-Seven, go ahead."

"For someone who's in a hurry to save his girlfriend, you sure are moving slowly."

Paul spat, "Huh? How'd you know."

"We got a call from, well this is hard to believe but we double verified his access codes."

"Who?"

"Robert Zinfidel."

Rishi's eyes got huge. "Bob is Robert Zinfidel!"

"Oh that explains a lot!" said Paul.

"Dad, isn't Robert Zinfidel the President?"

"He was, until he disappeared twenty years ago."

"Mom is with Robert Zinfidel?" said Mary and Sherrie at the same time.

"I can't believe it," said Rishi. I spent a year with that old man and he never mentioned it once. He never even hinted."

"Xray-Seven you are cleared for Earth approach," said the man on the radio, "and once you pick up Terrie and Zinfidel you are to proceed to the Solar System Capital on Mars where President Rubinic Slevonovich is waiting to meet Zinfidel."

The radio cut off and Paul commanded the ship to proceed to the pickup location specified by Bob.

"Needless to say," said Rishi, "if you two act this human when we get to Mars, we'll be dead before we know what hit us."

"Affirmative," said Sherrie.

"Yeah yeah. We'll play nurses. We're not stupid," said Mary.

"You're so much like Mom," said Jonny.

"You are very perceptive," said Sherrie, "she gave us a bit of herself to make us stable."

"Let me get this straight," said Paul, "She gave you patterns from her own mind to make you stable?"

"Yes." said Mary.

"We're doomed," said Paul.

Rishi laughed and said, "You know Paul, I'm not sure the Terrie you know is the same Terrie I know."

"What do you mean," asked Paul.

Before Rishi had a chance to answer, the ship requested manual assistance. Paul ran to the pilot's seat and the front screens opened.

"The on board computer indicates that the pickup point is inside the mountain."

"Its not like we can cut our way in," said Mary.

"Unless you got some cool weapons," said Sherrie.

"Please Sherrie," said Rishi, "for the love of Shiva," don't talk about guns with love and adoration."

"Oh," said Sherrie, "bad idea huh?"

Mary laughed. Hearing laughter from a Droid he designed sent a shiver down Rishi's spine. He shook it off and said, "seriously, you two need to back off. I designed those bodies you're wearing and I know at least six ways to shut you down permanently without Terrie's kill switch. You are seriously weirding me out and need to calm down and act less human."

"Don't threaten us!" demanded Sherrie moving toward Rishi. Sherrie's aggression shocked Rishi.

Mary stepped between Sherrie and Rishi and said, "Sherrie, this is our father you move against."

With that realization, Sherrie shut down and collapsed into Mary's arms.

"Explain," demanded Rishi.

"That's the kill switch at work."

"She has to be told what she's doing for the kill switch to work?"

"Not really, she hadn't realized that you are our father."

"But she should shut down if any person becomes the target of her aggression."

"That's not how mother designed it."

"We're doomed," said Paul.

Mary made light work of picking up her sister and placing her in a chair.

"How long till she lights back up?" asked Rishi.

"I'm not sure," replied Mary, "its never been tripped before and we haven't gotten all of mother's notes yet."

Rishi looked at Sherrie's lifeless body and marveled that this simple Droid had become something altogether different and the personality differences between Mary and Sherrie were rather astounding. Rishi felt a little affection for Mary and fear of Sherrie. He didn't like these feelings. He didn't want those feelings in him. He wanted to be cold toward them to make sure he didn't get drawn into their apparent humanity.

His mind switched gears and said, "Jonny, call Mom and see where she is."

Jonny pulled his phone out of his pocket and held it in the palm of his hand. "I wish I could put one in my head like the other kids."

"Kiddo," said Rishi, "we know how bad an idea that is. We designed those units and no matter how hard we try to prevent them from being harmful, all it takes is one corrupt person to hurt a lot of people. When you're eighteen I'll show you how we make them and what protection we design in and trust me you'll choose to not buy one."

Bob's face appeared floating above Jonny's hand. Bob said, "We're stuck, you're going to have to come and get us."

"Where?" asked Paul.

"We made it to my ship but the damn water carved a new path and it happened to cause a collapse on us. I didn't see this one coming Rishi, things are very much random now. I was hurt and I can't see the rutabagas anymore."

Paul looked at Rishi cock-eyed, and squinted basically saying, "Is he nuts?"

Rishi looked at Bob and said, "I got you. Where is your ship?"

"Its where I crashed it of course, on the top of the mountain."

"You hiked up another ten thousand feet?"

"No. we took my localcraft."

"You have a localcraft?"

"Yes."

"Where did you keep it?"

"It was in the cave in a hidden chamber. Listen, we're hurting pretty bad up here and my ship is in no condition to fly so you need to get here quick."

Paul shouted, "we have you triangulated, we're on our way."

The ship lurched up the mountainside and arrived very near the top in a few seconds.

Rishi put on an environment suit, grabbed two more and told everyone else to stay behind. There were strong cold winds blowing as the hatch opened and Rishi stepped out.

Using his son's cell phone he walked to the location indicated by triangulation.

He saw the Bob's ship and couldn't believe it. He held his breath for almost five seconds before sliding his hand across the hatch handle.

Terrie and Bob were really banged up and it was pretty cold in Bob's ship.

Rishi gave Bob an environment suit and while Bob donned it, Rishi put his wife into the other suit. Then he picked her up and helped Bob hobble out the door.

Bob closed the door with a wave of his hand and then the three of them made their way to Paul's Benz.

As the door closed behind them, Rishi looked at Paul and said, "He's got a Jenks!"

"No WAY!" said Paul.

Bob smiled as he plopped in a chair and said, "Yeah. But its no ordinary Jenks. That is THE JENKS."

"No way!" said Paul and Rishi at the same time.

Paul brought the Benz upward and prepared to put it in orbit. Mary looked at her mother, assessed her physical state and said, "Terrie Rishi will be fine."

Then Mary turned her attention to "Robert Zinfidel. You are in bad shape."

"No Nanobots," said Bob.

Mary caught herself before she looked puzzled and carefully replied, "Nanobots are the quickest way to heal you."

Rishi looked at Bob and said, "I oversaw their development Bob, trust me, they are completely safe."

Bob paused and then said, "Okay. Just this once. I want them out as soon as possible."

Mary leaned toward Bob and touched his head. Bob lost consciousness and Mary gently caught him and laid him on the floor.