Temporary Glitch

Synopsis:  A Power Rangers fanfic. The Rangers attend CES, but problems arise when King Aradon brainwashes all of the attending robots. Alpha thinks thinks it's going to be a fun time, because he'll get to meet new friends, go to question-and-answer sessions (talking to roboticists of course) and have fun. He is proven right the minute they set foot into the door. He is well-liked by all the other robots. However, when he is insulted by a fellow con attendee who his "cheap costume" (really, his body), Jenny finds herself going to a robot called "Andrew" for comfort. Of course, "Andrew" is actually Somnibot's father's rival King Aradon in disguise, and he's looking to add more than a few new robots to the Cluster by any means possible. Also at the con, Billy is approached by a few employees of several robotics companies and they want to offer him a well-paying job building new bots.

‘It’s nice to know we can have a laid back day where nothing really exciting happens.’--Stephen, ‘Doug Out: Stephen Universe’  

Chapter 1--The Consumer Electronics Show

Billy was positively beside himself.   It had been a while since the Rangers had seen him so pumped over something besides acing all his assignments.   

‘What’s got you so psyched ?’, Rocky questioned.  

‘The CES !’, Billy said, pointing to a flier he picked up on the way back to Headquarters from a jog.    Isaac and Cayenne were eager to go, being the ever curious youngsters, wished to participate in the convention and asked their parents if they could attend.  

‘Certainly.  We’ll be going as well.’, ASIMO relayed, full of pride in how well their children were doing.

Alpha 5 heard the news and rushed out, much like a kid on Christmas day.

‘CES !   Why didn’t you say so ?  When does it begin ?’,  he asked, bouncing up and down eagerly.   

‘Tomorrow.   All of you are invited if you want to come.’, Billy added.  

‘Sweet.  Count me in !’, Zack commented, giving an approving thumbs up.  

However they didn’t know that Aradon had been planning for this event before it had even been set up.    

‘Somnibot you have no idea what waits for you.   In this disguise, no one will know it’s me !’, Aradon thought, evilly as he entered the con under the handle ‘Andrew’.    Soon, he would be adding robots to the Cluster to take over Earth entirely.   It would be a robot revolution that would wipe out any trace of humanity.   Soon Homo Sapiens Sapiens would be a mere footnote in history once King Aradon’s plan had run it’s course.    

Chapter 2--Merrily We Robot Along

The robots were intrigued at the newer models that were coming out and what technology could accomplish with these latest AI and their incredible computational and analytical ability.   Alpha 5 got a rude remark from a fellow attendee.

‘What are you supposed to be ?  A broken down Dalek ?  Pathetic, even my costume is more authentic than yours !   They should throw you out with the rest of the rubbish.’, the insolent purist snidely stated, with a smug, conceited grin.

‘Pay that little one no heed.  He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.’, Delta reassured him.    Alpha was slightly hurt but in all honesty he knew that the kid in the BB8 costume was probably jealous of how unique and incredible it was.  

Meanwhile, Billy was talking to roboticists and getting many offers that he couldn’t refuse.   He had just graduated Magna Cum Laude at the top of his class and many of the companies were very prestigious.   Fabricating robots, however, was only a hobby and he couldn’t see making something entertaining a career.   

‘Andrew’ bode his time watching Somnibot and her friends carefully.   He knew he had to be subtle and inconspicuous.   She would have to be distracted, away from her family and friends.    While she was turned around, he would implant the insidious chip in one of her ports and she would in turn, infect her fellow bots faster than cottage cheese growing mold.   

Chapter 3--Oldest Trick in the Book

Andrew had to, however, figure out how best to enact his plan.   He didn’t want to ruin his chances at assimilating all the robots into his empire, the Cluster.  

Schmoozing, he caught Somnibot’s attention and waved her over to a massage chair nearby.

‘You must be exhausted from walking around so much.’, Aradon began with a twisted, toothy vulpine grin.   

‘Actually, my feet do hurt a little bit.’, Somnibot stated, impressed that she actually understood a concept so vast and complicated as ‘pain’.    Aradon began lubricating her shoulders and inserted the chip without her knowing it.   

‘Easy point of access.’, he thought, trying not to become celebratory too quickly.    

Somnibot felt strange but wasn’t sure of why.   She felt itchy and found her neck port irritating her immensely.     The itch was incessant but by then it was too late.  Each robot she bumped into recieved the virus that had been programmed into her.  She had just become the dreaded ‘patient zero’ in Aradon’s robot apocalypse.    

Before long, all the robots, old and new alike were beginning to revolt.   Even Alpha found the pull of disobedience far too alluring.   

‘No one can stop us !’ Aradon said as he paraded his newfound army out of the convention, knocking over all the expensive new technology in the process.   

The Rangers, unable to stop the oncoming hoard, were trampled by the bots but managed to break free.

‘Rogue robots !   What on earth is going on ?’, one of the roboticists asked.  

‘I don’t know, but I can imagine it was virus related.’, Billy said, sagely.

‘It’s up to us to pull ourselves together and follow that culprit.   More than likely he’s responsible.’, Aisha added.   

They all felt a little dopey for not having noticed the badly costumed man who had sneaked into the convention with malintent in his gaze.   

‘Come on.  We’ve got no time to waste.  Other robots are going to be infected too !’, Kim said as they rushed after Alderon and his brigade, growing more powerful by the minute.   Thankfully no technology had been overturned or blighted by the virus.   The new firewalls had been enough to keep them pristine.    Nevada would be first to fall, and then the surrounding states afterward.   

Chapter 4--A Game of Chess

Alderon was in the mood for a massive game.   He knew that the Rangers weren’t that skilled when it came to chess, or so he thought.    He had come across one human on earth once named Magnus Carlson that beat him but he had quickly blanked that defeat from his memory.   These humans were nothing like Mr. Carlson had been.

With his superior knowledge of strategy and defense on his side, he set up his armada much in the same manner as a chessboard would be.   

‘I know what he’s doing !  He’s challenging us to chess.  Fortunately, we know a bit more about the game, since we have Billy on our side., Adam whispered to Rocky.    Zack was anxious and a few of the other guys were too.  

‘Don’t worry about it.   We’ve played plenty of times before.’, Kim reassured.

‘I know that but this is a far bigger board and I’m certain the consequences are a bit more devastating than regular chess.’, Tommy retorted.   It had been the first time Kim had ever seen him afraid of anything or anyone.   She patted his arm to assuage his nerves.  

‘We’re in this together.   We’re going to be fine.’, she said, sweetly.   Tommy’s attitude changed.   Even though he was a little unhinged by the vastness of this chessboard, he knew what Kim had said was right.  

Alderon made his first move.    They all remembered what Billy had taught them and moved in accordance against his pawns, all the time, protecting their Queen from being taken.    One by one, his armada was knocked out and he stood right in front of Rocky.    He was pretty sure that underneath that mask, he was glowering at him.   

‘Looks like I have been bested.   No matter.   We’re still stronger than you’ll ever be !   Attack !’, Alderon said, sending his robot slaves after them.   The Rangers didn’t want to fight against their best friends, but Billy noticed something unusual about Somnibot.   

‘Guys, she’s been infected with a chip.   Just remove that and the virus will be destroyed.’, he called out over the hail of battle.   It was difficult to hear him but the Rangers already knew what they must do.    Although it was hard landing punches against their buddies, they did so to localize and neutralize the threat.   

Chapter 4--You Wouldn’t Believe Us If We Told You !  

As the Rangers beat back the remnant of the Cluster, their friends lay on the ground, oblivious to having been beaten.    

‘I’m letting you win this time, Rangers.’, Aradon said, sneering as he used what little was left from his shrinking Cluster to blast off back to his home planet.   

‘Ugh...What just happened.   My neck is killing me !’, Somnibot complained.

‘You wouldn’t believe us if we told you.’, Aisha began.   

‘Well, we have all day and I’ve got plenty of time.’, Somni returned, feeling a bit better even though her gears were a bit stiff.    All the robots had suffered through some battle damage, but time in their recuperating chambers was just what they needed to feel right as rain again.    

Billy began reiterating what had happened at CES as they made their flight back home and into familiar territory; Angel Grove.     

‘You’re right.  I don’t believe a word of it !’, Somnibot said, completely shocked.   

‘You weren’t yourself.  Machina’s rival really pulled a fast one on you.  It was a low-down, no good, dirty, rotten trick !’, Rocky scowled.  

‘It’s alright.  I think anyone would’ve trusted Aradon given how authentic his costume was.’, Kimberly admitted.    

‘I’m just happy none of us is seriously injured.   That battle was pretty fierce.  My gears are really grinding.’, Alpha 5 whined.    

‘The recoup chambers will remedy all that.  Don’t worry.’, Delta chimed in.   

That was the only thing they could think about now, sleep, rest and relaxation.  Tomorrow would be their first day out in the real world looking for employment.  To think that they were still all saving the world without being noticed was really a testament to the fact that they would always be heroes and there were others on their side, watching over them and helping them when they needed it most.   Someday, they would pass the torch on to other Rangers who were younger, fitter, more limber and agile than they.    For the time being though, they lived like any other human would.  

Epilogue

The bots awoke from sleep mode the following morning to a videophone call from the people at CES, as well as the robots that they befriended.

‘So glad we could reconvene !   Thank you for saving our lives back there.’, one of the roboticists said, blissfully.   It was the same one who had offered Billy his once in a lifetime chance at his company.   

‘You’re welcome.  I’m just sorry we got in the way.’, Somnibot deprecated herself.  

‘Don’t beat yourself up, dear.   You helped us bring Aradon down !’, a fellow robot relayed, graciously.    Somnibot felt less guilty and happier now that the whole ordeal was over.    She had received an update.   Only she could configure herself in the future.   Her ports were subtly hidden under a new skin that had cable links to recharge, upload and download whatever she wished.   

‘I am optimistic this will not be our last meeting.   We’re always here every year.   New tech, new opportunities.’, another engineer said, really pitching the idea of swaying Billy’s ingenuity his way.    Billy would be happy to come but he knew his mind was better used elsewhere.   

By the time the call had ended, the troop was calm, cool and collected.   Any scars of battle they had maintained had healed.   Just then, Pepper had a new surprise to share with her comrades.  

‘Looks like I’m expecting again !’, she said.    Her children were positively delighted, hoping they would become siblings someday.  

‘Do you know what it’ll be, mom ?’, Cayenne questioned, excitedly.  

‘I have a hunch, but ASIMO and I have decided to keep it a surprise until the big day comes.’, Pepper said, a brilliant smile gracing her lovely face.    Everyone was overjoyed for Pepper, especially Somnibot.   Their mother’s day had become even more delightful this year, for sure.    They were gonna make sure they had even more to share in the future.

The End