The Nano Empire

Chapter 4: Friend or Threat

Back on Planet Earth, ZX-01 is waiting idly in the interrogation room at the Sky Patrol HQ, wondering what they were planning to do to him. He wasn't even sure what kind of testing they were planning to do, but reasoned with himself that it probably isn't drastic measures. He then saw the door open and witnessed the CEO of the Sky Patrol coming into the room, holding a blue folder in his right hand, before he sat opposite of him. He then flexed his fingers and said as he looked at ZX-01 attentively "So, am I to take it that you were the occupant in that highly advanced shuttle that crash landed earlier on?" ZX-01 then replied nervously "Yes sir… Sorry if I damaged anything on the way into orbit."

The CEO held up his hand and shook his head with his eyes closed, assuring him that he did no such thing, apart from the ground. He then asked him "Now, don't take this the wrong way, but we're still not sure if you're a friendly or an enemy to the planet… Personally, I doubt you would bring harm morally, but…" ZX-01 then replied in a guess "But it would be best to be safe than sorry?" The CEO nodded at ZX-01, pleased that he got the message quickly. ZX-01 then responded "Okay then… I don't really fancy being shot down by security either way, so if you want to assess me, I won't argue about it." The CEO, although having a quick interview with the highly advanced robot, felt that he wasn't exactly a hostile.

ZX-01 was then escorted by security personnel to the R&D laboratory, where he saw there were rows and rows of research equipment, filing cabinets, desks, lab stations, you name it. He then heard a familiar voice coming towards him and it said enthusiastically "Ah, you must be that occupant in the shuttle earlier… Thanks you two, I'll take it from here." The guard on ZX-01's right then replied "Sorry sir, but just to ensure there won't be any threat, we must be present at all times, no exceptions." The Head Researcher then adjusted his glasses with a reluctant sigh and allowed them to watch over the subject just in case.

He then lead them to a capsule that an average adult can fit inside, which ZX-01 supposed is where he would be scanned for any dormant powers and abilities. He then entered the capsule willingly, when the door closed automatically and he held out his arms away from his torso with his palms exposed. A small cluster of miniature orbs then scanned parts of his body as he kept still like a statue, while the Head Researcher looked at the terminal linked to the capsule in interest.

After a couple minutes of careful scanning, the miniature scanners returned to their docking stations and the capsule door opened, which ZX-01 left it and stood by to hear the Head Researcher's conclusion. He then said "First, the good news: Scanners showed that there is, in fact, dormant power and abilities that are similar to Jenny, aka 'XJ-9'. The bad news, however, is how to unlock them systematically and I have no idea how to do so."

ZX-01 rubbed the back of his head with a curious expression, though he has no idea how to unlock his powers and abilities either. The Head Researcher then sighed and continued "Well, I guess we can worry about that for another day… Right now, there's the matter of the Movement Course." ZX-01 widened his optics a little, blinking once, before inquiring "Movement Course?"

Minutes later, 2 floors below the surface, ZX-01 came into a large, metallic room with various obstacles on a linear course in front of him. He then took steps towards the starting line, when he heard a loud click coming from the wall on his left. When he turned his head, he heard the CEO announce through the P.A. "Sorry to put you through some tests, but we need to be sure if you are a hinderance or a useful tool. Naturally, this test is some Mobility training for recruits, but this is an exception only for you." ZX-01 nodded, before turning his attention to the course and shook his hands before making a deep breath.

As the course self-adjusted itself to include obstacles such as a smooth vertical wall, a metal bar above a plastic ball pit, a few hurdles, a rock wall and a wet bit of floor, ZX-01 let loose his servos as he focused on the course itself. When he heard the horn blare, he rushed off almost immediately and initiated a Wall-Run towards the Balance Bar, fluently crossing it with his arms spread out like a pair of Seagull Wings in an updraft. Naturally, he jumped over the hurdles in a fair pace, before scaling the rock wall in next to no time, before doing a handstand and boosted off into a perfect cat-like landing feet from the Icy Flooring.

Seeing that the next obstacle involves traction control, he slid across the ice with his metallic feet, admittedly out of interest, before making a jump and stopped at the finishing point. He then turned to the Observation Window as the course merged back into a plain room, when the CEO said through the P.A. "Okay, not too shabby… Of course, this'd be astounding if you were human, but still, the results proved your resounding athleticism." ZX-01 shrugged with a slight smile, at least pleased that he isn't considered neither a threat or a hinderance… yet.

Minutes later, he was escorted by a security detail to the lobby, with the CEO and Head Technician on either side of him. The latter then said "Now, ordinarily we would put you through a Weaponry Test, but the scan results had shown that your weaponry, which I admit to witness personally, is also dormant." The CEO then added "So until either at least one of your powers or weaponry, you will have to reside with our top Robotic Expert at her home." When they left the elevator to the lobby, ZX-01 saw a fairly aged woman with large spectacles and wearing a yellow lab coat. He personally admits on not being accustomed to the term of 'Mad Scientist', but he seriously doubts that this person is "Mad"; if anything, it's more like "Experienced".

The female scientist then asked in interest as she adjusted her glasses "So, this is the robot that my daughter mentioned earlier? I must say, the tech housed within him will greatly assist us in future planetary attacks from hostile forces." ZX-01 checked his arms, pondering if that would be even possible to the tech available on THIS planet, though he conclusively understands the caution. The CEO then informed Dr Wakeman "Dr Wakeman, with all due respect, I believe it would be far more wiser to reverse engineer the shuttle for the aforementioned tech. This robot here, despite having all of his powers and weapons dormant from the crash, would be better off active than stuck with wiring downloading foreign software from his circuitry."

ZX-01 thought that would be the best course of action, since he didn't know what to do to reactivate his powers and weaponry. Dr Wakeman then noted "The fact still remains that the tech will be an advantage to the Earth against the Cluster Armada, but in the meantime, I'll be sure to look after this model in my home. I'm sure my daughter would warm up to him during his temporary stay." ZX-01 wondered if it was that same female robot he encountered back in the Coal Power Plant, but he smiled and nodded at Dr Wakeman at any rate. Deciding to depart now, Dr Wakeman led ZX-01 to her Minivan and directed him to the Passenger's Seat, before driving him back to her home.