TWO YEARS LATER

Sarah Zen was jubilant today. It was maybe the fourth or fifth time that her husband, Arnold was sitting right in front of her. Moreover, he seemed in a wonderful mood which was so unlike his character.

“ I am so proud of you Sarah! You acquired the ‘Network Jamming Chip’ for me. You are the best.”

Sarah’s brows furrowed in confusion. How could she have helped him to acquire something when she didn’t even know what it was?

“I think you are mistaken. I don’t even know what that jamming thing is.” Sarah said honestly though she was tempted to lie just so that Arnold spent some time with her.

She gazed at his perfect face, high jawbones, prominent features and full, cherry red lips. He was the epitome of perfection. It was like the creator had created him without any flaws.

“You might not know about the chip but you played an important role by helping me acquire it. Do you remember Plutonic Enterprises?” Arnold’s words snapped her back to reality.

That rang a bell in Sarah’s mind, “Isn’t it the one I helped out with legal issues. You were furious with me for that.”

“ Hmm…..I know…..my mistake.”

She did a double-take. Had Arnold just accepted that he made a mistake? The sun must have risen in the west today. She pinched herself a bit too hard, her sharp nails drew blood and she winced. It was real after all.

“Mr. Weilan is the chairperson of Zuretta Enterprises too.”

“No way!!!!” Sarah gasped, her pupils turning a shade of silver.

“Request for help was just a test to identify the person deserving of the chip. Turns out, you were the only one to help him. So, he gave the only chip he ever made to us.”

“Gosh!!! That was a huge coincidence, isn’t it?” Sarah said. She couldn’t still believe that a single selfless act could give such drastic benefits.

“ You should have seen Mr. Xono’s face. I bet he turned purple with envy when Mr. Weilan put my name on the contract in the secret physical meeting.”

“Mr. Weilan arranged a physical meeting!?”

“Ummmm hmmm…,” Arnold said pressing his lips together in a thin line.

Sarah’s eyes widened with surprise. It was rare for people to host physical meetings.

Looking at her shocked expression Arnold explained, “As I told you earlier, Mr. Weilan is very traditional in approach. He wanted to hand over the chip in person like good old times and…..”

“And what?

“ This was a secret meeting. There are no digital records for this meeting. So it’s like this meeting never happened.”

“Wow!” Sarah couldn’t believe that she was witnessing something like this.

“ How is our little Zubie doing? Have you resolved the complaints made by the playtime supervisor?” Arnold asked distracting her from her contemplation.

Sarah wanted to say that this incident had happened a year ago and it was too late for him to ask but she bit her tongue and said, “ Zubie has been doing well. He has made a best friend too.”

“ Is it? What is his name?”

“Steve.”

“ What!!! Are you crazy? Tell him to stay away from him.”

“ But….why?”

“Do as I say! Don’t ask too many questions when you don’t know anything.”

Sarah trembled when she heard his raised voice but she had to put forth her son’s point of view. She said in a shaking voice, “ It will break him if I ask him to stop talking to the only friend he has.”

“ You don’t understand Sarah! Steve is Xono's son! He is as vile, crafty and sly as his father.”

Sarah felt as if she had been struck by a bolt of lightning. Steve was Xono’s son!? Why hadn’t she run a background check on him? How could she be so careless in a matter related to their son!

Arnold’s eyes burnt with fury as he regretted trusting her with his son’s welfare. He should have just hired a professional to look after their son. At least he would get regular reports.

Suddenly, the screens flashed a few warnings in red but Sarah and Arnold were engrossed in their conversation.

Then, all at once, all the whole room started buzzing with shrill sirens. The screen flashed the picture of Zuben lying lifeless on the floor.

Both Sarah and Arnold jolted out of their chairs in shock. Sarah was glued to her spot too stunned to give a reaction.

Arnold was used to handling high-stress situations. So he got to work immediately. He called up the Zen Medical Facility.

“My son is critical, sent the whole resurrection team.” He commanded and rushed towards Zuben’s room.

Sarah regained her senses and followed behind him. When they arrived Cuppy Cake had already laid Zuben on his bed. He was checking his vitals and scanning his body.

“What is the report, Cuppy Cake?” Arnold asked moving in for a closer view.

“Zuben is dead. He can’t be revived.” It said in a mechanical tone.

“ What rubbish! The Revival team is on its way….”

As if on cue there was a deen….da…..deeeen……da sound from outside. Sarah pressed a button and the west wall of the house slid in making an open entrance.

A team of five robomedics and two doctors had arrived. They set to examine his body. One of the robomedics opened the Zuben’s fist and handed a small pin to the doctor.

The doctor’s eyes widened in horror. He checked the pulse and performed about a million tests, working as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, the robomedics used many devices to infuse medicines and energy into Zuben’s body.

Arnold and Sarah waited patiently for the doctors to give them the verdict.

After five long minutes, the doctor faced them. He was drenched in sweat and his face was flushed.

“ Zuben can’t be saved, sir.” He said in a shaking voice.

“What do you mean by that? There is no illness, no virus that we can’t treat with the extraordinary team we have! Mind what you are saying. I can ruin you with the click of a finger.” Arnold roared as he grabbed the doctor by his collar.

“ His heart isn’t functioning.” The doctor croaked out.

“Transplant.”

“His brain is fully damaged!”

“Perform a brain transplant! Hell! Use a clone if needed but I want to see him revived. You know I can afford it.” Arnold said tightening his grip on his throat.

“Si….r……your….son…..has injected…...himself……with……plumbic cyanide….” The doctor said struggling to catch his breath.

Arnold grip loosened as he realized the gravity of what had happened. The only poison from which human beings couldn’t be saved was plumbic cyanide. No medicine or transplant worked on a person affected by plumbic cyanide as it altered the DNA of the cells making all treatment ineffective.

The doctor staggered backward as Arnold released him. A robomedic took a wand and healed the bruises on his neck. in moments it was as if the doctor was never injured.

“How………,” it was the only word that came out of his mouth as he slumped to the floor. This was the first time he had been rendered speechless in his life.

As for Sarah, she stood there like a statue. She had still not been wrap her head around what had happened.