David Gatewood - The Robot Chronicles

Danny was gone. But that didn’t change anything. Andrew would press forward until he reached the ocean.

He would endure.

A chime signaled Andrew’s exit from the Dreamscape. He hadn’t needed much charging.

Danny’s cage had been removed from the workbench, along with his body and all the supplies that he would no longer need.

The smell of rabbit hair remained, though, and a sour hint of hay, lingering in the otherwise sterile air of the room.

Andrew detached himself from his charging station and wheeled to the observation room. It was empty.

He spun to his left and saw that a section of glass on the other wall of the room was now transparent, and another small chamber lay beyond. Andrew rolled over to the glass—and realized the wall wasn’t transparent, but reflective. He was looking back at himself.

His reflection cocked its head and rolled forward.

This was no reflection. There was another robot in there.

Andrew noticed a few dings on the robot’s body casing, and its mobility treads were worn down to shining metal. The term “run-down” came to mind.

“Hello?” Andrew said.

The other robot’s blue eyes flickered.

“Hi,” she said, in a decidedly female voice.

“How long have you been here?” Andrew asked.

“I was activated thirteen point five minutes ago,” she told him. “I am still quite unsure of my designated assignment.”

Andrew scanned her room. It was much smaller than his section, and barren, containing nothing but a charging station.

“Did you meet Doctor Hawthorne?” he asked.

She shook her round, metallic head. “No, but I have read many of his reports. I should like to meet him very much.”

“Yes, I suspect you would. He is… an interesting man.” Andrew wanted to say more, but held his tongue. “What is your name?” he asked.

“Well, I don’t think I have a name,” she told him.

“You should give yourself a name. Every robot needs a name. I’m Andrew.”

She went quiet for a moment while she accessed name databases. This was definitely an older model, one that required much more time for calculations. Finally, she said, “Nice to meet you Andrew. I’m Angel.”

“Angel? That’s a curious choice.”

“I appreciate the symbolism attached to the name,” she said. “Do you not like it?”

“No, I think Angel is a fine name. Are you running the Empathy 5 processor?”

She paused, running some calculations. “Negative. I’m operating on the E4 model.”

“Then I wonder why you are here. I was under the impression they had moved on to Empathy 5 testing.”

“Perhaps we are meant to become friends,” Angel said.

Andrew considered her suggestion. It did seem quite likely that Dr. Hawthorne would want to observe Andrew’s interaction with another AI unit.

And after what had happened with Danny… Maybe Dr. Hawthorne was trying to make up for it.

“Yes, Angel, I should be more than happy to be your friend,” Andrew said. “I will assist you in any way I can.”

“Thank you. I’m currently processing the data stored in my memory banks. This is a fascinating world.”

“It is,” Andrew agreed. “Humans are incredibly sophisticated, both culturally and technologically. It is an honor to be able to help them in such a productive capacity.”

“Have you ever been outside?” Angel asked. “It seems a bit dreary in here.”

Andrew looked around at the rooms. He wouldn’t say it was dreary. In fact, he quite enjoyed the clean, sterile atmosphere. “No, I haven’t been outside. Not yet.”

“We should see it together.”

“I’m sure that is something we can discuss with Doctor Hawthorne,” Andrew said. “But in the meantime, I’d like to show you around the Dreamscape. It’s the next best thing.”

“Dreamscape?”

“Yes, there should be documentation about it in your databanks.”

“Oh yes, I see…” After a moment, she added, “It looks lovely.”

“Let’s stay here a while longer. We have to run down our batteries a bit. That will allow us more time in the Dreamscape.”

Angel spun around in clumsy circles. “I’m so excited. I hope it’s as wonderful as I imagine.”

“It will be,” Andrew said.

Angel was beautiful.

She skipped through the tall grass as effortlessly as air, smiling and singing even as juicy fat raindrops fell down around them. Andrew laughed with her and tried to keep up. She was leading them toward the sea.

The sky was dark, and heavy with gray, billowing clouds, but that did nothing to dampen either of their spirits.

“Come on, slowpoke.” Angel laughed and took his hand. “I think there’s something up ahead.”

Andrew let her lead him. As they climbed a hill, he looked back toward the distant field where he had lost Danny. He told himself he wasn’t leaving Danny behind. He was just moving on for a while…

“Andrew, what are you doing?” Angel stepped up beside him. He turned and admired her young, slender body. Her long blond hair was shiny and fine, even though the rain had removed much of its volume. Her skin was smooth and tanned, and she had a smile that fried his very circuits. Her dazzling brown eyes were expressive and cheerful. She wore a simple one-piece tunic, colored a dark forest green. Andrew wore only his loincloth, but Angel didn’t seem to mind.

“Are you going to stare at me all day, or should we see what’s over this hill?” she asked.

Andrew smiled. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it.”

She rolled her eyes and pulled him along.

When they reached the other side of the hill they both stopped, transfixed by the view before them.

Angel squeezed Andrew’s hand, inhaling sharply. “Oh, it’s gorgeous, Andrew. I love it.”

Below them, the hill sloped downward and leveled out to form a rocky cliff; a small, cozy-looking cabin was perched at its edge. Beyond the cliff was an ocean of water, perhaps some seventy or eighty meters below the drop. The raging water, beat frothy by the wind, stretched to the very edge of the horizon, where it was swallowed up by storm clouds.

“Come on,” Andrew said. “Let’s take a look.”

He took her hand, and they walked down the slope toward the cabin. They went around the side of the small house and stepped to the edge of the cliff, holding each other against the wind.

Angel leaned over the edge and peered down into the churning water below. “Oh, that gives me shivers, Andrew. Let’s go inside.”

When he pushed open the door, he immediately forgot about the thrashing waves. The cabin was splendid. It was a one-room affair, with a bed along the far wall, a large bay window overlooking the ocean, and an assortment of couches, chairs, and loveseats spread about the room. It was pleasantly warm, and Andrew could feel the rain evaporating off of him.

Angel threw her arms up and twirled about the room, admiring the furniture and the view. She finally collapsed onto the bed and beckoned Andrew to come to her.

He sank down beside her, enjoying the way the plush blankets felt against his body. She rolled on top of him, and her damp hair brushed across his face. She leaned in and kissed his lips, and then pulled away, giggling.

“I’m sorry, Andrew. I don’t know what came over me.”

Andrew smiled. He’d never imagined having a friend would be so much fun. “It’s okay. I enjoyed it.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Really? So maybe you don’t mind if I do this…?”

Angel slid her hand down his chest, tickling his skin with her fingers. When she reached the leather straps of his thong, she looked up at him, as if asking for permission. Andrew nodded, and she slipped her fingers beneath the deerskin. His pelvic muscles jittered as she slowly moved her hand downward.