"Papa, papa", the little girl said as she jumped on Dr.Igmus's bed. Her older brothers pulled her off as they in unison said," Lidia let the Doctor sleep."
Startled and sweaty the Doctor squinted one eye open then the other. He smiled and greeted Lidia with a pleasant," Why hello? Aren't we up bright and early? Could you be get my eye glasses from the stand?"
She interrupts him with glasses already in hands knowing the routine. "Papa, were you having another Dimension 11 nightmare?"
The twins Ziggy and Iggy chime in," It is not polite to ask such nosy things." As they nudge her back.
Dr.Igmus says," It's okay... And yes, matter of fact I was having a dream about something to the likes of my eleventh Dimension lecture. You my littlest assistant...Where would I be without you.?" He puts his glasses on and pulls himself up. She sits beside him grinning. He pats her on the head. He looks to the wall to check the time, but there are a variety of clocks all different. Not set to any specific time zone. Just random. He asks the children," Do you know which one is right today?"
They respond," they're all right somewhere."
They laugh.And like every other day this is how it starts.
The children leave the Doctor to take his shower and get dressed. While they go off to do what children do best. Play.
Ziggy and Iggy are the oldest, identical twins at that. Neither of them know which was first. So they both agreed upon being born at equal times. They bare a remarkable resemblance to Dr. Igmus. They both have the same platinum white hair as their father and a pale complexion. They are ten years old and have developed an acute sense for mechanized drawings.
They spend most of their days planning schematics for gadgets, vehicles, and other devices that they mysteriously have no idea how they came to be. They bounce ideas off each other all day long about the possibilities of the impossible and what can possibly be done to achieve these lofty goals. Their most infamous of creations was a complex tree house complete with a mechanized elevator pulley system that later had to be destroyed because of serious health risks to Lidia. It tried to eat her to be exact. Or so she claims.
Lidia four years their junior is six, but considers herself the Doctor's assistant to which none will dispute her. Dr.Igmus and the twins often forget her age because she carries herself with such maturity. Although, she has yet to conquer some issues dealing with her emotions. She can let them get the best of her as any four year old would.
They were all born on the island I guess to what could be considered extremely rare conditions. They have never met their mother and being that they are in complete isolation from the rest of the world. Dr.Igmus has not explained to them their true origins. For now, he figures let them enjoy their innocents and be children.
Dr.Igmus's style of raising them is unorthodox to say the least. He has taught them the wonders of science and mathematics at an early age. With their minds eager to ask questions he answered them with all the knowledge and frankness of an adult. Their imaginations are flooded with the possibilities of what can be. Along with an entire island that is their playground. The one rule is they are never to go anywhere alone. And especially never wonder into the forest after dark.
Besides that life can be pretty gentle. An occasion bruise here. An occasional accident there.
Ziggy and Iggy are sitting at the dining room table made of one solid piece of wood both working on their latest drawings. While Lidia is adjusting a stool so that she can reach the sink. Where she begins to rinse vegetables for breakfast. Dr. Igmus walks in and says good morning to everyone. The twins are focused on their latest drawings.
Lidia says, "Good morning." and continues rinsing vegetables.
Dr.Igmus," So what's on the itinerary today young minds?"
Lidia looks back," I-tin...er-ary?"
The twins shake their heads as they continue to draw.
Ziggy says," He wants to know what were doing today."
Lidia,"Oh? I knew that. Papa, fishing is on the itinerary today. Can you come?"
Dr.Igmus says," Fishing...I'm much to busy. I'll be in the lab all day, but I am in the mood for some SEA MONSTER!" as he sneaks up behind Lidia and grabs her. She jumps and the vegetables go flying behind her. She then starts laughing.
Dr.Igmus tells the children he has no time for breakfast. Reminds them to be careful out there and not to stay out to late. To be home by afternoon or he'll send Ms. Thirteen out after them.
The children agree as Dr. Igmus grabs his lab coat by the door and heads outside.
Lidia brings the boys breakfast consisting of eggs, vegetables, and some bacon. They both have a puzzled look on their faces. They always miss when she is making the food. It always just seems to appear and it is always exactly what they are in the mood for. They simply think of it as a mere coincidence and nothing more. She smiles. They go back to their drawings as they stuff their faces.
Lidia sits quietly thinking. She asks," Are there really sea monsters out in the ocean?"
Ziggy and Iggy look at each other and smirk.
Iggy says," Yes, big one's with fangs and claws and tentacles. That like to eat little girls named Lidia."
Lidia says," Shut up! Or I won't make lunch for you two."
This straightens them up and they apologize right away. They know that without her meals they will definitely go hungry on the trip today. They all go back to eating. After finishing their breakfast the twins clean up the dishes. While Lidia sneaks a peak at their drawings. The drawings appear to be some sort of fishing contraptions. She notices that both the drawings are of the same exact object, but from different views. They are always doing this she thinks. They are always thinking of the same ideas except from two different angles.
She slides back over to her seat and pretends not have seen the sketches, but Ziggy and Iggy know other wise. She is not good at pretending they know. So they ask if she likes their drawings. She quickly gets up from the table and goes over to the kitchen to prepare lunch for their outing.
Lidia asks," Are you guys going to build those today?"
Ziggy and Iggy," Build what?"
Lidia," You know what... Your drawings?"
Ziggy," Oh, you mean the fishing poles. Why? You want to help?"
Iggy nudges Ziggy whispering," Shhh... We don't need her help."
Ziggy whispers back," You shhh... You know she always builds are stuff better than us... Remember the tree house elevator!?"
Lidia pretending not to hear them smiles with her back turned still making the lunches.
Lidia" Would you let me? Pretty please?"
Iggy," Oh, I guess so. If you promise not to screw things up?"
Lidia," I promise."
Ziggy," Well then, it sounds like we have a deal."
Lidia," What about Ms. Thirteen? Can she come?"
Ziggy and Iggy," NO!"
And with that the front door swings open and a robot is standing there. Humanoid in character and female in form. She has a bit of where and tear on her. The thirteenth edition that Dr. Igmus has been working hence the name Ms. Thirteen.
This was one of his projects he built before he had any children and the prototype was to be his assistant. As the evolution of the robots began through fixing glitches and accidents. Eventually it led to this thirteenth installment. Which to date has been the most successful of all the robots. He fused her to power off of solar energy in order to charge her batteries. This causes her the slight personality quark of often being found outside sunbathing which is quite unusual for a robot. Though it adds to Ms. Thirteen's general charm. Plus, the children find it amusing because occasionally she will be found outside applying sun block on her metal skin.
Ms. Thirteen walks in looking at the children and accessing the situation.
Ms.Thirteen," So, Ziggy, Iggy, Lidia. Your all going fishing today. Remember, be home by afternoon or it is me you will deal with."
Iggy," I hate it when she does that."
Ms. Thirteen," Does what? Iggy?"
Iggy," Oh, you know. Knows everything. You probably even know what we're drawing."
Ms. Thirteen," That would be fishing poles. Just make sure you supervise building those things."
The twins," We will watch her."
Ms. Thirteen," I was talking about Lidia supervising you two. We don't want another tree house incident."
Lidia laughs and the twins grumble.
The lunches are packed. Ziggy, Iggy, and Lidia are ready to go. Ms. Thirteen grabs one of the boys sketch pads and opens it. Her index finger tip flips back and inside is a laser that magnetically discharges ink onto the the page laying out a complete map through the forest to the ocean. Along with notes and diagrams of all the proper fish that can be eaten. This all done in a matter of seconds. They all thank her and leave out the door. She follows them standing outside watching as they walk down the path. She then goes back to her charging station which looks exactly like a beach chair with the exception of a plug that she inserts into her side. She props her feet up. Switches her vision mask to ninety percent tint. The equivalent of sunglasses for robots. She then sets her personal timer for exactly 0'1600 hours. Or four o'clock in case the children are not home and enjoys the rest of her day.
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