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#7
MAR 12 |
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“Robot Rumble” Part One
"That... that is just disturbing," said Bobby as he watched his friend, Jacob Johnson, working on the wiring in his chest. A small, square chest plate was open, visibly showing wires and circuits.
"I need to replace this wire or I'll burn out," said Jacob as he used a mini torch on his circuitry. "Unless you have a degree in robotics."
"Oddly enough, I could have, but I got my accounting degree instead," replied Bobby. "I can file the hell out of your tax return, though."
"There...almost finished," replied Jacob as he closed the chest plate. "Good as new. Well, as good as I can do anyway."
"You know, we've known each other for a few weeks now, so, um," said Bobby as Jacob pulled his shirt on. "WHY ARE YOU A ROBOT!?"
"You really want to know?" asked Jacob as he buttoned up his shirt.
"Duh, I've been wanting to know since that whole Terminator thing," replied Bobby as he took a seat. "Fill me in, bro."
"I was built by a top secret underground scientific firm," replied Jacob. "And...I haven't told you because...you'd probably hate me if you knew the truth."
"What, that you're a robot? Dude, you're totally cool in my book, and considering who I am that's pretty awesome," replied Bobby as he looked over at his friend.
"Okay, well, the truth is... I'm a Sentinel."
Bobby stood up, looking confused. "Wait...‘Sentinel’ as in giant twenty foot killer robots that want to wipe out mutants?"
"They started experimenting with human-scale versions several years ago," replied Jacob. "I was one of the first to be developed with real A.I., but I was a little too real. The plan was to make human-looking Sentinals that could blend in with humans to take down mutants easier. As one of the first, I was developed to act and think like a human. Unfortunately, I kind of developed a conscience. I couldn't bring myself to hunt, or even kill, another living thing.”
“The project was shut down after I was deemed a failure. I was marked for termination but I escaped. I had just enough knowledge of my own circuitry to replace anything that could be traced and I changed my looks so I could hide."
"And you decided to hide out by becoming a Hollywood star?" asked Bobby with a raised eyebrow.
"The best place to hide is in full view of everyone," replied Jacob. "I've been in hiding for about ten years now. I think that they've stopped searching for me."
"And what happens if these guys did find you?"
"I'd be disassembled, dissected and probably have any information I've acquired to reprogram a whole new generation of mutant killing machines. Oh, yeah, and my show would be cancelled."
"Speaking of shows, I'm supposed to be taping a cameo for Red's Anatomy," said Bobby as he looked at his watch. "I'll be playing Dr. McIcy, the cool new resident."
"Careful, they might decide to lock you into a contract and make you a regular," replied Jacob as they headed for the door.
"A regular role on television? What would be so bad about that?" asked Bobby as he pushed the button for the elevator. "You do it."
"Yeah, well, I don't have to succumb to the stress of a weekly series, you know, being a robot and all," said Jacob as they walked into the elevator as it closed, not realizing they were being monitored.
L.A.
"FUCK!" shouted Ronny as he looked at the tabloid. "The fans love my new look! They think it's cute! This is bad!"
Ronny threw the paper down as he paced around the room. "What am I going to do? Everything I do makes me look cute and innocent, the kind of guy parents would let their daughters date. How the hell do I break out of this mold?"
Jason was leaning back against the couch, playing his videogame. "Well, you can start doing heavy drugs. Got a full bag of coke we can share. I think I left it in your car when you came to pick me up earlier."
"I don't think so," replied Ronny with a sigh as he ran a hand through his black and blue streaked hair.
"How about releasing a sex tape?"
"Where would I find a girl that would want to do that?" asked Ronny as Jason's eyes shifted.
"Yeah... a girl."
"I give up," replied Ronny as he grabbed his car keys. "I'm going out for a drive. You going to be here for a while?"
"Yeah, I'll housesit for you until you come back," said Jason as he kept playing the videogame. "Go out, have fun."
Ronny left the building as Jason waited a few seconds before running into Ronny's room, grabbing some of his underwear and socks and shoving them into his backpack. "Just a few more items and my shrine will be complete, my love ."
"Isn't it weird that they're filming Red's Anatomy in Chicago?" asked Jacob as the two walked to the studio.
"Not really," said Bobby as they approached the front door. "Since Oprah ended her show, the studio's started filming more TV shows and movies here. The Oprah Winfrey Show set is actually the largest set in the world…it had to be to fit Oprah's massive ego. They can film over 100 projects here at any given time."
"No wonder we almost never have to leave Chicago," replied Jacob.
"Well, that's more for convenience but let's not go pulling threads on that," said Bobby as they walked along. They reached the dressing room as Bobby opened the door and looked around. "That's odd, all the makeup people are passed out on the floor."
"Must have been working with the Lohans," said Jacob as a group of black-clad ninjas snuck in behind them. They grabbed Bobby and Jacob and started punching them.
"Ninjas? Really?" asked Bobby as he iced up his hands and started punching at the attackers. "Today was supposed to be my day off from this kind of shit!"
"Why is it every time I hang out with you something screwed up happens?" asked Jacob an electric prod was pushed into his back, causing electricity to shoot through his body. His system temporarily shut down and he hit the floor. As Bobby saw Jacob go down, the same thing happened to him. Bobby fell to ground, unconscious next to Jacob's body.
"We were only sent for one, what do we do with the other?" asked one of the ninjas.
"Leave him, we were only paid to retrieve the robot," said the other ninja as they picked Jacob up, leaving Bobby lying on the floor.
L.A.
Ronny was driving along the street when he saw the police lights in his rearview mirror. He pulled over as the officer walked up to the car. Ronny handed him his information as the officer looked at the driver's license.
"You were going a half mile over the speed limit and...Hey, you're that singer!" the officer said. "My kid loves you! She just turned five."
"Yeah, that's...great," said Ronny as the officer handed him back his information. "Can I go?"
"Sure," the officer told him as he spotted a bag of white powder sitting on the passenger side seat. "What is that?"
Ronny looked over at the bag. "...Shit."
Bobby woke up in the dressing room, finding that he was alone. "I know some ninjas who are in for a serious ass kicking."
Picking himself up, he iced up his arm to make sure his powers were at full strength.
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To Be Continued...
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