Chapter 1.1
Prelude:
Our future, 2226, a world full of robotics becomes fully integrated into our society and becomes the new norm. Categories of robots segregate their kind, basic artificial intelligence to advanced and even those with free will. Basic smart devices are given the title of simply being robots, they are servants to even their own kind. Androids have a more advanced AI, allowing them to make decisions based on an algorithm and learn from mistakes and updates to their software. While androids may have some similarities to humans in appearance, they have been granted freedoms and rights like the Hobotics.
Hobotics are the most advanced robots, containing artificial intelligence that is remarkably the most human. Their decision making and thought process is not based on an algorithm but by experience alone. Their structure, from how they are built inside to their outer appearance is similar to a humans, they are almost indistinguishable from a human.
Chapter One:
A cup of tea wasn’t unheard of in the Olympa household, it was the common drink of choice that often found itself being sipped elegantly from the finest of porcelain cups manufactured by hand. The cups with saucers were held with delicate hands by the ladies of the home, both Juno and Athena—only accompanied by the sounds of the tirelessly working bees in the garden before them.
Unbothered by the bees genetically programmed to stay in their flower beds, the two ladies of the house sat to watch them work. As Juno began to take a sip of her tea, its earthy aroma would creep to the back of her throat. A sensation she enjoyed, but it would be interrupted only by the sudden voice of her daughter as she spoke up.
“Mother, do you find the tea enjoyable?” Athena would ask, seeking approval from her mother wasn’t hard. She was appreciated for any action she committed, no matter how small or big.
“You know I do, sunshine. I can tell you helped yourself to the honey in my garden.” Juno would take a sip of her tea, further enjoying its sweet taste as she glanced over at Athena. As cheeks flushed, Athena would look guilty for hesitating once again to ask for permission to use her mother’s honey.
“It’s not that I do not approve of your use of my bees and their honey, I worry about them. They are endangered, your father went through a lot of trouble to have the last of the bees saved just for me.” Juno would continue, though she did not mean to scold her daughter, she did in fact worry about the condition of her bees.
“I did not mean to upset you, mother. I simply wanted to make your favorite tea.” Lowering her cup to its matching saucer, Athena would lower her eye level to the floor. Though she had proper training in her mannerism, she would slip due to the light scolding of her mother’s disapproval.
The door to the garden would slide open, a short yet quiet chime would go off to notify those inside of its function. Heavy footsteps could be heard and yet felt, almost as if the sound alone would travel through the floor and into your chest. A heavy unsettling feeling would wash over Athena, eyes maintaining contact with the lower half of the room, unknowing to her as to why the feeling had come to make her stiff like cement.
“Ah, my precious babydoll.” Hands would creep out from long draped robes, hands muscular and thick—gripping upon the shoulder of his daughter. The grip alone would feel not physically strong, but mental—as if its grip alone kept her from consciously making any decision to get up and move freely.
“What is this I hear of using your mother’s bees without her permission? I specifically remember her asking you not to, was that not the case? Do I have to remind you of the consequences of disobedience?” Jupiter’s voice would sound almost kind, yet under his tone was a malice behavior, one that suggested he longed to punish Athena.
“I—” before she could answer, her mother’s hand would reach out to grip her lower forearm gently, mirroring the clutch of her fathers.
“It was a minor mistake, my love—one that—”
“I do believe I was speaking with our daughter, wife. You will do what you are told and speak only when spoken to, am I understood? Chaos in the Olympa household will not be tolerated—from either of you.” Jupiter’s grip becomes tighter, his fingertips pushing deeper into her skin. Athena would flinch slightly at the pain, yet she knew better than to show an emotion towards it—else Jupiter punished her further.
“Yes, father. I will not be making the same mistake.” Athena simply said, closing her eyes as to shut herself into what felt like a defensive autopilot. Letting her mouth speak the words he wanted to hear to allow his anger to subside. The grip on her shoulders would ease, hearing the words he did indeed wish to hear.
“That’s my good girl. Now then, shall we go meet our guests? I have a few who are most eager to see—” An alarm would blare loudly, causing their quaint setting to erupt into something a bit more panicky. Jupiter would look quickly towards the door as a guard would come running in, only moments would pass between the two as no words were spoken, yet it seemed like a conversation had taken place.
“Take my wife and Athena to their room—lock it down and secure the perimeter. Failure is not an option, is that clear?” Jupiter would quicken towards the door; his pace left no time for Athena nor Juno to ask questions. For a Hobotic his stance, it was surprising to see how quickly and smoothly he could move.
“Yes sir!” The guard would stand in attention until Jupiter was clear of the room, taking his rifle in arms and holding it promptly. He would leave it pointed away from the ladies of the house, yet in a demanding and authorizing voice, speak up towards them.
“Ladies Athena and Juno, I am to escort you to Lady Athena’s room in this lockdown procedure. If you follow me with the utmost haste, we will get you to safety!” Athena and Juno stood up, cups and saucers placed at the small table in between them. Making their way towards the guard, he would look down the hallway before escorting them further down the hallway of the Olympa mansion.
Though vast in its size, Juno and Athena would pick a room closest to the garden for their preference for drinking tea in its luxury. Today it proved useful in this aspect, yet the loud noises from across the mansion and booming shaking of the ground below them would make the ladies tremble slightly at what may be happening. Stories of a robotic rebellion had become more frequent in the newspapers, especially after the events of Prometheus and his team of Hobotics titans.
“What is happening, guard?” Athena would ask, growing concerned over the noises that seemed to be growing with every moment that passed. The guard would quicken his pace before entering Athena’s door frame, making sure the room was secure before exiting, and allowing the two to enter.
“Master Olympa demands the Ladies of House Olympa stay within a secure room. Stay here while I stay outside to keep the perimeter secure.” The door would shut as the guard finished talking, allowing him to secure the room. Athena sat herself upon her bed, legs bent underneath her. Her hands reached up to her long brown hair and began to stroke the locks, nervous of the situation at hand. Juno would approach Athena, sitting upon the spot near her, placing a hand upon Athena’s knee in comfort.
“Everything will be fine, sunshine. I promise” Athena would adjust herself to further face her mother.
“How can you promise that? There is an intruder in our home! I do not mean to be so rude and brash, but that does not seem like a fair thing to promise.” Athena’s voice would rise as she spoke, her hands now balled in fists upon her thighs. Loud bangs could now be heard down the hall—shooting from the guard's laser rifle going off before shards of energy came bursting through the walls. Though they did not grant an entrance. The door opened up, a woman in bright translucent light blue armor walked through, staring at the two ladies before her eyebrows would raise—looking directly at Athena.
“Atlas?” she would ask, causing Athena’s heart to drop. Was this the intruder? Who was Atlas?
