Eric and Mia stepped into the brightly lit room.
This was a no go area for them and each knew it was not a place they should be going into. Their father, James worked for a waste management firm as an R and D engineer, finding cleaner ways to store and eliminate waste.
Mia stepped in first, Eric checked his watch. "Mom will be home soon" he said while Mia began opening drawers looking for the key to the outside cabinet.
Eric walked in and looked at a workstation that had been setup next to a 8x8 slightly raised platform. The workstation had four monitors, each scrolling data from top to bottom. Looking up he could see an array of LED lights and fixtures, he stood on the platform to get a closer look.
His watch alerted him with text message: "Meet me in the garage in about 5 minutes to help with groceries"
"Mia...mom is almost home..."
Mia had spotted a stack of plastic containers 3 high that were against the wall next to the platform. She had climbed on top and was feeling along a shelf for the key.
Suddenly, the lid of the bottom container gave way, causing Mia to come toppling down onto the platform along with the container she was standing on. Items from the shelf flung half way across the room, some landing on platform, some striking a monitor on the workstation. A Rubic's Cube glanced off of the top of one monitor, fell nearly straight down hitting a keyboard.
Eric stood in stunned silence. "I can't believe you did that" he said panicking. He looked over at some of the mess and saw a familar logo.
"They got me the GoZoo system" he said but was dejected. "I doubt either of us will get anything but grounded now" he said holding his hands in his head.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the scrolling had stopped on the monitors at the workstation. Each screen was now flashing the same message: "Error....Authentication Needed....Error....Abort Y or N....Error...Image Profile B182X Received....Error...Commencing Restore....Abort = N...Delete Image....Abort = Y....System Initiated....Begin 10,9,8,6,5.7.6.5,7,4...."
"Come on Mia, let go help Mom." Eric said and grabbed Mia by the hand and helped her stand.
The both jumped as a loud buzzing down suddenly erupted from the machinery overhead and the lights began to pulsate.
"Shit!" Eric said and with Mia in tow took two steps when a blinding light exploded. Mia's scream was cut off, the buzzing stopped, the lights dimmed and there was silence.