ROBOTS (any gender, mid twenties to late life)
I'll tell you right off, I don't need anything fancy. Okay? Don't try to push the fancy high priced stuff on me. Just the basics. I've never rented a robot before and programing, it doesn't come naturally to me. And DON'T tell me that you all make it easy. You don't know how I am with gadgets. Programing? I can barely program a microwave.
So, something simple.
But not that one, it looks like a stack of metal boxes. I get into trouble, if pirates come aboard my ship what's THAT thing going to do? Wobble in front of me so, like, only SEVENTY percent of my body is a target? No wobbly box robots. No.
I need something that is combat ready. But simple. SIMPLE.
Not that one. I don't need a set of guns mounted on a drone. Pirates come aboard my ship, what are they going to shoot at first? The guns. I need something that can conceal weapons. My old partner was really good about that. But he's got the flu. He can't go on this mission. So, okay, no junk pile and no visible guns.
But for God's sake, no human dimensions! So none of those models over there. They give me the creeps. I don't care if they're simple, they don't look right- it's in the eyes. I don't want to spend three months with something that looks like a person without a soul. Blech! But nothing too sophisticated either, I keep telling you-... you.
Hey, what do they pay you in this shack? You seem smart, seem to be in decent shape and I can promise you ten grand plus a bonus if you go on this mission with me. I'll teach you real fast, too, I'm a good teacher, just a lousy programer- wait a sec, you ARE human, aren't you?
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes.
If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"