Mike and Paul Revealed: The Hunt for Number 5

We are just days away from Mike and Paul’s big adventure. As such, I can no longer keep my silence. Anyone who knows these two gentlemen knows two things: they hate science and believe the Cold War is still going on.

What is the real mission of this “road trip” – to find and destroy Robot Number 5 AKA “Johnny 5.”

Number 5 is one of five prototype robots proposed for Cold War use by the U.S. military, although the scientist mainly responsible for creating them, Newton Graham Crosby, Ph.D. and his partner Ben Jabituya, are more interested in peaceful uses of their artificial intelligence, like playing musical instruments. One fateful night while a demonstration took place on the grounds of Nova Laboratories in Damon, Washington, a lightning storm forces an end to the formal presentation of the prototypes. A power surge hit Number 5 while it was recharging and altered its program, causing a malfunction. An associated accident causes it to be taken off company grounds and it wandered away, unable to communicate and not knowing where it is.

Number 5 then found its way to the home of animal-lover Stephanie Speck in Astoria, Oregon, who initially thinks the robot is an extraterrestrial visitor, but then determines that the robot was built by Nova. After she helps it satisfy its cravings for "input", and explains the nature of life and death to it, Stephanie and the robot realize the power surge has brought the robot to life. The robot subsequently gains a respect for life, rejecting the destructive nature of its military programming, as well as a fear of the disassembly that awaits it back at Nova, believing it to be akin to death. It is this achievement of awareness that irks Mike and Paul. They don't buy its "respect" for life. They believe that Number 5 – Not Skynet – will start the inevitable war between man and machine.

After several narrow escapes from a troop of soldiers led by Nova's security head Captain Skroeder, Stephanie and Number 5 finally convince Dr Crosby of the robot's sentience, but are cornered by the full weight of Nova's security and the Army, who seemingly destroy the robot. Unbeknownst to the soldiers, the robot they destroyed was a copy built by Number 5 from spare parts, and with the robot's "destruction," the project that spawned it is ruined and Skroeder is fired.

Number 5 was last seen heading toward Montana…whereabouts unknown.

Sound farfetched? Sound like a movie that won the hearts of children, lost said hearts in a sequel and then hopes to regain them in an upcoming remake? Well you’d be wrong. This happened.

Mike and Paul aren’t traveling to “see this great land of ours” they are on a mission to save lives and find the one known as “Johnny 5.” Good luck men, you’re our only hope….