It is with this that I try to honor, JR Parz. The great and powerful wizard behind the original Master PC story. I hope that this story can do justice to the greatness that was his writing. s
*
It began with the lasers. Jack Daniel stood over his science fair project with pride. It had taken him several months to program the lasers in his small, glass box to interact with a person's hand gestures. Theoretically, he presumed, if there was more time spent on the technology, it could open the door to sign-language on computers, or the ability for human facial expressions to be recognized by devices everywhere. It was quite the achievement by itself, although not too many people understood it but Jack.
And it seemed like not too many people decided to come down for the moderate science fair that was happening at the local high school. It wasn't a bad school, or a good one. It was in a good and prosperous neighborhood.
But the people suck,
Jack was reminded as he saw the ten total people drift from booth to booth. The other four participants to the fair had other various booths. There was one called, "What a watermelon looks like on the inside," where a student proceeded to smash a melon with a hammer. Jack reminded himself that this kid won the fair last year. He should not be underestimated. Another student's booth was about how to burn floppy disks onto smartphones. Jack respected him, but c'mon, floppy disks? Where did he get those?!
The fourth project was a volcano, made by Jack's worst enemy: Sara Reynolds. Star cheerleader, straight A's, very popular, and very attractive -- Sara was the girl you'd hope your kid came home with to dinner. She had the perfect angelic golden hair and the right amount of cleavage where she could play at being modest, or ignite torment for her admirers. Jack hated her, because underneath all that charm and beauty, there was a monster seeking to manipulate the pawns around her. Jack knew this, because it was Sara that bullied him in school. It was Sara that made everyone thing Jack was untouchable, gross, or unholy. She killed every chance Jack had with asking someone out or trying to get close to a few friends. And Jack knew why: She feared how smart Jack was. A manipulator only can thrive when she beguiles the stooges around her. But Jack was smart, smarter than her probably. In her own words to Jack, "I know that my looks will only get me so far. I have to do what I can to stomp out the real competition before their weeds grow in my perfect garden. Ya understand right Jackie-boy?"
Jack hated when he called her that. It was demeaning. And there was nothing more torturous than knowing exactly why Stone Cold Sara was stomping all over him. It was because he could take her down. And today was the day that it would be possible. With his tech, no volcano would stand a chance at winning.
Jack straightened everything as the judges came around to look at his invention. Four lanky old women with clip boards. Their beady black eyes roamed all over his project.
"Hello there," Jack said brightly, "I have here something that will revolutionize the way we talk with our machines! Think about all the times that you made a sour face when you saw who was calling you. Wouldn't you like your phone to know not to answer that person? Or how about trying to google search things using sign language? I give you my Wonder Box! Compatible with -- "
"What's this? A phone app?" One of the judges squawked, "Another one of those silly phone and computer gadgets? I thought we already did this booth."
"It's not very original then. We already had a computer booth. This kid's just copying his work."
Jack thought he was going to get a nosebleed. What the what now?
"Excuse me," Jack said politely, "Although both projects were based in computers, our ideas are far, far apart. They have very different concepts that-"
"We know you kids today love your computers and your apps and your small phones. But it's all the same." The judge interrupted him again, "We can give you points for trying. But I think this should be a disqualification."
"Ooh why don't we let that lovely girl with the volcano get first prize?" A third judge piqued up, "She's so brave to be the only young woman to enter into the fair. I think that should be rewarded don't you girls? We need to support women in science!" The fourth nodded in reply.
Jack was dumbfounded. This made no practical sense. He looked over to where Sara was standing next to her booth. She was grinning like the Cheshire Cat. Jack knew that the Queen of Cold hadn't even tried for the fair. She knew the judges were going to pick her. He had to contain his temper and his grief. He couldn't give the satisfaction to her. He had to be emotionless.
The next half-hour was grueling. Jack had to sit and watch the other booths win over him. Sara came in first, that bitch. The second, was the floppy disk guy. Third was melon man. And Jack won the opportunity to take the winner's photo. Sara insisted.
Jack was packing up his experiment, although he felt more like torching it. What was the point now anyway? Sara got what she wanted and now Jack was stuck with more terribleness.
"You should have won." A voice said. Jack turned around to see the floppy disk guy standing over the project. "Lasers huh? That's brilliant. If these old vultures could see that this actually had more potential than a damn volcano, you'd have won. Don't forget that."
Jack smiled. "You're new here aren't you? Not many people are nice to me, and I certainly don't have good ideas."
Floppy disk guy chuckled. "Dude, I'm just passing through. I'll be gone after Spring Break. I'm just doing this contest for credit. But you man, you deserve a real reward." The guy pulled out a floppy disk from his pocket. "I think you should be capable of decrypting whatever's on here. My grandfather Samuel said that it was something amazing, but the program inside never worked right on my tablet. Here man it's all yours." He handed the floppy to Jack who looked back at him.
"Thanks I guess. I'm sure I'll give it a shot sometime."
"Try it over break man. Get your mind off the contest. It sucked anyway." Jack agreed with the guy on that part.