"Universe 41"
"Sup bros?" Hugh blurted out as he strutted up, flexing his muscles to the group of young adults.
Brooklyn recklessly punched Hugh in the arm as she flicked her long brown hair out of her eyes, "Not much, just waiting for my transport."
"Excuse me, but," Jackie interrupted impatiently, as she stood on her toes pointing her fingers in Hugh's face, "I'm a grown woman."
"Sorry sweetie, there's a height requirement for this conversation," Hugh quipped while nervously shoving a mysterious device into his bag before anyone could notice.
Jackie's purple eyes followed the device into Hugh's bag, "Are you planning to share that or just keep it to yourself?"
"Shut up blondie," snarled Hugh, "where I come from, digging into someone else's business can get you hurt."
"I've been in terminals all around the world and I have never seen someone bring in something like that," Jackie bragged.
"I reckon that y'allneeda get along," Jeff chimed in while tipping his Stetson and speaking in his warm southern drawl, as he looked over at the red-headed girl reading a book by herself, "don't ya agree, Miss...?"
Nicky bashfully pushed up her glasses and revealed her blue eyes, "Who me? Ummm... Nicky...mmmmyyy name is Nicky."
The PA System announced in a robotic voice, "Teleporter 241 is now ready for passengers to board, please proceed to the entrance."
The group started towards the gate, with Brooklyn leading the way, "Are you guys all on transport 241?"
"Looks like we're going to have a great time!" Hugh exclaimed, smiling ear to ear.
On the teleport, the walls were sleek silver, there were no seats due to the fact the ride across the world is only a few seconds long. The back wall of the teleporter had a big, colorful sign that read, "UNIVERSE 41."
"What in the world," Jackie said looking around, "is Universe 41? I thought I was going to London!"
Jeff looked at the sign, "Wut da heck? I believe I was headin' to London to see my mama."
Assuring them, Hugh verified, "Calm down guys, it's probably a connecting transport through there. Maybe there was an issue."
"O.. O.. one time I was reading an informational book on transports and um, well um, it said that connecting the transports use propaganda for the other location just to get more business. I'm sorry..I.. I just interrupted your conversation," uttered Nicky.
Hugh flashed Nicky a grin, "See guys, nothing to worry about."
"Passengers of transport 241," the robotic voice booms, "takeoff will begin in 30 seconds, we should reach the destination approximately 2 seconds after takeoff."
The voice continues to speak the countdown from 30 seconds. When it reached one, the teleport turned dark and they had reached the destination. The group stepped off the teleport and looked at their surroundings, "This doesn't look like London...," Jackie noted.
Looking around the dull, gray, bleak surrounding Brooklyn started yelling, "Where are we? The transport must have been faulty. This is not London. Where in the world are we?"
"I don't know much but I know that London is very purty, it ain't full of rocks." Jeff announced, agreeing with Brooklyn.
"The transport must have taken the wrong path," Hugh proclaimed, "maybe this is Universe 41."
Jackie tried to think positively exclaimed, "It'll be okay! It'll be an adventure and we can stay here and make the best of it until the next transport comes through."
"I...I...I think I might have something that can help us," Nicky offered pulling an object out of her duffel bag, "This is a state of the art device that will give you any information you could ever possibly want. Ask it where you are, it will tell you. Ask it how far you are from where you're supposed to be and it knows. It knows everything."
"I...I...I think then maybe you should stop stuttering and figure this out," Hugh mocked, inconsiderately.
Nicky put the device close to her mouth and asked, "Where are we?"
"You are in a newly created universe. The common name is Universe 41. The founder of the area, is unknown," The device responded in a robotic, monotone voice.
Brooklyn threw her bag down on the marble ground and exclaimed, "Why aren't we in London?! That's where I paid to be transported too!"
"Calm down!" Hugh asserted, grabbing Brooklyn's arm, roughly.
"OW! That hurts!" Brooklyn yelped, then kicked Hugh in the shin.
Jackie began to walk across the smooth grounds of the area and saw a person coming her way. "Guys! See there's a person! You can all calm down. We're going to be fine." Jackie coaxed, hoping to ease the tension in her new friends.
As the person got closer, the group got a little uneasy. The person was very strange. It had stick straight hair that did not move in the slightest even when there were gusts of wind. It had shockingly defined facial features. Nothing like any of them had ever seen before.
When the person got close enough, Brooklyn walked up to it. She touched it's arm, it was ice cold. "What is your name?" she inquired.
In a cold, icy robotic voice the person responded, "On Universe 41, there are no names. We go by numbers. I am Mechanism 25."
Confused, Jackie looked back to the specimen. "What do you mean mechanism? Why would they call you that? You are a human."
Looking back to her, Mechanism 25 spoke even more cold this time, "There are no humans on Universe 41."
"I reckon that thingy looks a tad bit like you, Jackie," Jeff said moving more towards the crowd, "look at its eyes."
The group of 5 all focused their attention on the eyes of Mechanism 25. They were a bright, vivid, strong color of purple, almost exactly like Jackie's.
"Wait, what do you mean there are no humans of Universe 41?" Brooklyn pushed.
"Follow me," the creature suggested turning its solid body toward the rest of the terrain.
Mechanism 25 led the way throughout the universe pointing out all landmarks, including the library, and introduced them to other important mechanisms.
Jackie questioned suspiciously, "Why do you need a library if all information is already programmed into you guys?"
"Some of us are programmed for different purposes. My purpose is to be a tour guide for newcomers like yourselves," Mechanism 25 informed.
"How.. How.. How about I go to the library to figure out how to get us out of here," suggested Nicky.
"Once you arrive here at Universe 41," Mechanism 25 creepily chuckled, "there is no way out."
After that, Mechanism 25 finished the tour, leaving Jackie, Brooklyn, Hugh, and Jeff. Nicky made her way to the library determined to figure out what was going on.
"Jackie don't you think it is a little odd that these robotic creatures have the exact same eyes as you?" Hugh proposed.
Brooklyn stomped over to Jackie, grabbed her ponytail and looked her deep in the eyes, "Yeah it is a little strange. Did you know we were coming here?"
"What? No! I had no idea this place even existed. Why are you accusing me of these things?" Jackie defended.
"Why are you getting so defensive?" tortured Hugh.
Jeff tried to end the argument by saying, "How 'bout we just try n find a place to get some good ole shut eye."
"Quit trying to fix things Jeff. Just shut up and get away." Brooklyn demanded.
"Why are you using me as your scapegoat, Hugh? Are you the one actually under all of this just trying to blame me? That seems pretty legitimate considering you were super calm about this place before we were even transported," accused Jackie.
Brooklyn defending Hugh stated, "That is nonsense!"
Hugh glared at Jackie and made it very obvious he was not happy with what she had just said. "Jackie, why don't you and I go for a walk?" he demanded.
"I am not going anywhere with you." Jackie blurted.
"Oh really," Hugh then threw Jackie over his shoulders, "too bad you don't have a choice."
They walk and walk until they reach the library. Once they are there, Jackie asked, "What are we doing here?"
Hugh ignored her and continued to walk into the library. Once they are inside they went down to the basement. "Do I hear screams?" Jackie asked, growing more and more confused by the second.
Again, Hugh ignored her. Hugh opened a cell like door and set Jackie down in a chair. Hugh then tied her to the chair and pierced her ear with an electronic tracker. "This is in case you are stupid enough to try and escape. Just know that I will find you," he threatened.
"What is going on? Why am I here?" asked Jackie.
"You were starting to catch on to my master plan. Now if you disappear, and more robots are showing up, your friends will think that it's you," Hugh announced, despicably.
Jackie still didn't understand what was going on, "You're the one turning the people into robots?"
Hugh chuckled, "Oh sweetie. Of course I am. I am the creator of Universe 41. It's my greatest accomplishment and since you so rudely pointed out to your friends that it might be me that is behind this, I must dispose of you."
"Dispose of me how? You wouldn't do anything. That would be way to suspicious," Jackie taunted.
Hugh sauntered over to Jackie revealing his wicked grin, "Well I have a couple options. I can either kill you, I can turn you into a robot, or I can let you suffer and watch all of your friends be turned into robots, knowing it is happening to them and not being able to tell them, and eventually turn you afterwards."
Jackie gulped, officially very nervous, "Please, no. I'll do anything."
"Begging won't get you anywhere at this point, sweetheart. But don't worry, you'll be able to watch your friends go through the worst time of their lives," Hugh promised.
The next thing she knew, she was in front of a live 3D image of Jeff and Brooklyn. "This will show you a 24/7 live video of the rest of us, so you'll be all caught up on our progress," Hugh said, winking at her.
"Don't you mean your progress?" Jackie inquired, wondering if Hugh had an accomplice.
"I meant what I said. You didn't think I could accomplish this all alone did you?" Hugh began, "I'm very smart and talented, but no one person could single handily take over the world."
"Take over the world?" Jackie whispered.
Hugh bellowed a huge evil laugh, and walked out of the library, leaving Jackie all alone, watching Jeff and Brooklyn and broke down into tears.
Hugh walked back to Jeff and Brooklyn and asked, "What do you say we go find something to eat?"
"Where in tarnation is, Jackie?" Jeff exclaimed, looking around.
Taking a second to come up with a lie, believeable enough, Hugh spoke, "She was taken away by the head robot to be studied because they think she's lying about why she has purple eyes. I'm sorry to break it to you, but I think shes he one beind all of this."
Tears sprung in Brooklyn's eyes, "No. I refuse to believe someone would purposefully bring innocent people here to end their lives. Especially Jackie."
"What do you mean especially Jackie?" Hugh defended.
Brooklyn processed this. "Well, Jackie seemed like a really level headed girl who genuinely cared about people. I just can't believe that she would do something like this."
"Well, looks like you were wrong," Hugh added rudely, "as usual."
"I may not be the smartest man around but I can dang near tell you mister, that that ain't no way to speak to a lady. You 'ought to treat her with respect. That’s what she deserves," Jeff told Hugh, finally getting the nerve to stand up for Brooklyn, which is what he'd wanted for so long.
"Well, well, lil old cowboy saving the day for his woman that will never ever want him," Hugh snorted.
Brooklyn looked down at her feet, embarrassed. "Hugh, just leave us alone."
"My pleasure," Hugh agreed, walking away cockily.
Hugh walked past the restaurant, which didn't actually serve food. It served water, which was enhanced with oil, to help keep the mechanisms going. Hugh ended up at the library. He walked through the aisles of books and found Nicky. "Hey...hey...hey Nicky, finding anything to help get us out of here?"
Nicky glared at him, "Stop making fun of me for stuttering. I...I...I can't help it."
Hugh laughed and walked down to the basement. He went to cell number 1. There was a pale young girl, huddled into a corner of her cell. "Get over here," Hugh demanded her.
"What's wrong with you?" He barked.
"Oh I don't know, maybe the fact that you've turned all of my friends into robots and made me watch. Or maybe it's that you brought another group of people here and you're going to turn them into robots too. You're sick. You brought another girl down here last night. I know you did. I heard--," Hugh cut her off by whipping his device out of his pocket and zapped her into a robot.
Her body stiffened, her eyes turned into the vivid purple, with no life in them. "Hello master, I am Mechanism 27."
Hugh opened the cell door and let her go. She walked robotically past Jackie's cell, stopped and put her hand on the rails in the front. She paused for several seconds, and then strolled away.
Hugh walked up to Jackie and grinned, "How's it going in here?"
"You monster I can't believe you turned that innocent girl into a soulless robot," Jackie cried.
"I may be a monster, but at least I have power," Hugh laughed.
Hugh left, and Jackie became determined to escape and help Brooklyn and Jeff stop what's going on. She wriggled her hands free from the rope that tied her to the chair. After that, she had the freedom to untie her feet. All she had to do was figure out how to get out of the cell.
Hugh went back to Jeff and Brooklyn, "Hey guys, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I was just really shaken up from the news about Jackie."
Brooklyn glared at Hugh. "What you said was completely inappropriate. Jeff and I are friends. He's here helping me try and figure out how to get out of here, unlike you who disappears every 10 seconds."
"I know, I have been trying to get updates from Nicky at the library. I am trying to get out of here too, and keep us all protected from Jackie," Hugh proposed.
"I reckon you's a good guy," Jeff justified as he grabbed Brooklyn's hand, "just apologize to my good ole lady here n we'll all be goody."
Confused and annoyed Hugh apologized, "I am genuinely sorry for what I said to you earlier."
"Oh Hugh, it's alright. So, what have you heard from Nicky? Also, where is Jackie?" Brooklyn asked.
Hugh quickly thought of a devious lie to tell Jeff and Brooklyn. "Jackie is locked away in a cell being questioned. Nicky found some research and also looked up Jackie's background. Jackie is a serial killer and turns people into robots and sends them here, changing their eyes to be like hers so she feels superior to the normal people she brings here. Nicky also found out that getting out of here is nearly impossible. We will all have to work really hard. I told Nicky to rest for the night and come sleep with us, but that girl is so shy and would just rather sleep at the library by herself. That's all I know now, I will keep you updated. How about we go get some sleep?"
"Sounds great," Brooklyn said sleepily.
Hugh called over a mechanism and it guided the three of them to a room to sleep in. Throughout the night everything went smoothly and they all woke up determined to get out of there.
"I'm going to go to the library to check on Nicky," Hugh proclaimed.
When Hugh arrived to the library he went down to where Jackie had been and noticed she was missing. Hugh was furious.
"JACKIE?! You can't hide from me you silly silly girl. I know you are in here. It is impossible to leave this room without the key. I suggest you come out now or you will live to suffer the consequences," roared Hugh.
Hugh started to panic frantically and searched for Jackie. Eventually, Jackie was found behind a stone wall and Hugh is furious.
Jackie pleaded to Hugh, "Please don't hurt me. I didn't mean to run away. I just want to go home, I won't tell anyone about you if you just please please, please, send me home safely."
"Oh, wow I didn’t realize how much this was affecting you, I will absolutely send you home safely," Hugh said sympathetically then started laughing, "NOT. Did you think it was really going to be that easy? You just made it a thousand times worse, Jackie."