25 Sep 2020, 15:30
A Survey of Metamorphosis, Part I
London, Summer 2020
“OK, attempt #10 for TrashDrone, with the addition of the birdcage test room. That ought to keep any loose parts from flying into my face this time.”
When one would imagine the location of a secret laboratory in Downtown London, the last place anyone would suspect would be the inside of an abandoned dumpster, which itself was in a junkyard. This lab was about as makeshift as one could get. The bench was formed from a lunch ray on top of a cinder block. Upon the tray was the TrashDrone: a palm-sized flying drone made up of a random assortment of trash. Almost all of it was made of things the budding mad scientist found lying around the junkyard: Paperclips making up the frame, propeller blades made of folded aluminum foil, and rotors salvaged from electric toothbrush motors. All of this was in the confines of a birdcage, in case it exploded after being connected by a pair of long wires, which themselves were taped to a pair of AA batteries.
The inquisitive scientist in question was Jericho Todde. A boy of just 11, Jerry exhibited an intelligence uncommon amongst other children. He often would take apart devices to figure out what was inside, much to the chagrin of the device owners. Most recently, he was experiencing strange occurrences: doors slamming shut without a touch, glasses exploding without any outside influence. He thought this was connected to emotions, but screaming at glasses and doors did nothing but scare the stuffing out of his foster parents. It got to the point where even an exorcist was called. Now labeled a “problem child”, Jerry felt he was destined to return to the orphanage. The only place he felt accepted was in his personal lab space, alongside the resident rat he nicknamed Narf. Here, he could bury his worries into his work.
“And 3…2…1…”
The rotors spun madly after Jerry connected the leads. That was all they did: the drone remained on the ground.
“Hmm…too heavy to fly. Yet, it makes an acceptable cooling fan.”
As he enjoyed the unexpected benefit of the cooling air, Jerry looked up at the night sky through the open door of the dumpster. He spoke to the only other soul around: the rat who mindlessly chomped on a half-eaten bag of chips.
“Rats don’t have to worry about finding that right place where they fit in. They go wherever and that’s their home. And if they get kicked out, they settle somewhere else. As long as there’s food, rats are happy everywhere.”
Narf scurried across the dumpster and into Jerry’s shirt pocket as the boy continued.
“I’m envious really. I never have a permanent home either. And yet, I have this longing. That I belong somewhere completely different from this world. With people that can actually keep up with me. There’s only one explanation for all of this…”
He immediately pulled out a notepad and starting writing his ideas down.
“Early onset puberty! My intellect is so far beyond the average, my physical body has to compensate by reaching adulthood faster. These weird thoughts of belonging are clearly a side effect. Yes, next research topic: my hormone levels. Though…this lab is not suitable for blood tests…”
The boy’s monologue did not go unnoticed, as someone approached his makeshift laboratory…
(To be continued)
“OK, attempt #10 for TrashDrone, with the addition of the birdcage test room. That ought to keep any loose parts from flying into my face this time.”
When one would imagine the location of a secret laboratory in Downtown London, the last place anyone would suspect would be the inside of an abandoned dumpster, which itself was in a junkyard. This lab was about as makeshift as one could get. The bench was formed from a lunch ray on top of a cinder block. Upon the tray was the TrashDrone: a palm-sized flying drone made up of a random assortment of trash. Almost all of it was made of things the budding mad scientist found lying around the junkyard: Paperclips making up the frame, propeller blades made of folded aluminum foil, and rotors salvaged from electric toothbrush motors. All of this was in the confines of a birdcage, in case it exploded after being connected by a pair of long wires, which themselves were taped to a pair of AA batteries.
The inquisitive scientist in question was Jericho Todde. A boy of just 11, Jerry exhibited an intelligence uncommon amongst other children. He often would take apart devices to figure out what was inside, much to the chagrin of the device owners. Most recently, he was experiencing strange occurrences: doors slamming shut without a touch, glasses exploding without any outside influence. He thought this was connected to emotions, but screaming at glasses and doors did nothing but scare the stuffing out of his foster parents. It got to the point where even an exorcist was called. Now labeled a “problem child”, Jerry felt he was destined to return to the orphanage. The only place he felt accepted was in his personal lab space, alongside the resident rat he nicknamed Narf. Here, he could bury his worries into his work.
“And 3…2…1…”
The rotors spun madly after Jerry connected the leads. That was all they did: the drone remained on the ground.
“Hmm…too heavy to fly. Yet, it makes an acceptable cooling fan.”
As he enjoyed the unexpected benefit of the cooling air, Jerry looked up at the night sky through the open door of the dumpster. He spoke to the only other soul around: the rat who mindlessly chomped on a half-eaten bag of chips.
“Rats don’t have to worry about finding that right place where they fit in. They go wherever and that’s their home. And if they get kicked out, they settle somewhere else. As long as there’s food, rats are happy everywhere.”
Narf scurried across the dumpster and into Jerry’s shirt pocket as the boy continued.
“I’m envious really. I never have a permanent home either. And yet, I have this longing. That I belong somewhere completely different from this world. With people that can actually keep up with me. There’s only one explanation for all of this…”
He immediately pulled out a notepad and starting writing his ideas down.
“Early onset puberty! My intellect is so far beyond the average, my physical body has to compensate by reaching adulthood faster. These weird thoughts of belonging are clearly a side effect. Yes, next research topic: my hormone levels. Though…this lab is not suitable for blood tests…”
The boy’s monologue did not go unnoticed, as someone approached his makeshift laboratory…
(To be continued)