The excitement of a drunken crowd almost roared in the dark warehouse. Bets where being shouted as book keepers quickly scribbled the information in their ledgers. Gambling flowed almost as freely as the alcohol that was passed around the crowded event. In the center of the warehouse erected a makeshift arena, slapped together from plywood and cheap plexiglass stood housed all the entertainment. Two robots fought it out as the handlers shouted orders for what the next move should be.
Outside the warehouse a rust-bucket slowly sputtered to a halt. The car appeared like it should have been headed to a junkyard not a gambling arena. Inside Rebecca sat in the back seat, while full of energy the child fidgeted with the holes in her torn pants. Her shirt was well worn and in serious need of being washed. Rebecca’s hair was in short pig tails but to strangers, she had the appearance of a young boy especially with her hat on. She looked to her father with curiosity as he sat nervously tapping the steering wheel of the car.
“Daddy I-I have to go to the bathr -“…What did I say about speaking without permission?” Rebecca flinched at the scolding voice as she glanced up to her father’s angry eyes staring at her in the mirror above his head. He let out of huff almost in disappointment to his daughter as he unbuckled the seat belt slowly opening the door. Rebecca quickly clicked the button to release her belt as the car interior light turned on.
“STAY IN THE CAR!” - Bellowed her father and glared directly towards the child.
His greasy black hair gleamed in the light as he bent down to grab his expensive leather coat.
“I’m going to run and take care of something. Brat, this is no place for kids and unless you want to disappear and never be seen again, you will stay hidden.” After slipping on his jacket, her father slammed the car door shut. Rebecca leaned against the door as she watched him flick up the jacket collar and walked inside the warehouse. Once he was out of sight she sat back with a pout trying to figure out what to do to pass the time. The bored child laid down in the seat and sang a little song to herself.
Her father made his way through the crowd. He walked past the arena and the open bar to an elevator shaft. Two large men stood guard as he waited for the lift to hit the ground floor.
“Falton is expecting me!”- He stated in an almost demanding manner.
The guard on the left gave a slight nod and opened the maintenance lift door. Rebecca’s father may have appeared calm but his heart was racing as the elevator slammed shut. Each creak and jolt of the lift as it proceeded to the next floor made his stomach turn. As the elevator halted and the shaft opened, muffled begging and pleading came from the other side of a glass door. It to was guarded by another pair of large men. The door flung open as a guard dragged a beaten bloody man out of the office. The guard held his victim by the collar while his limp hands and feet scraped the floor. A maid scrambled to clean the office inside while Falton sat at his desk smoking a cigar. He was a large man neatly dressed in a fine suit and impartial to the carnage in his office. Falton lifted a single finger off his cigar and pulled it forward to summon forth Rebecca’s father who stood in the entrance. Rebecca’s father was almost shaking as he entered the office. A guard stood behind him as a book keeper counted cash in the corner. Next to Falton’s desk was a green painted robot powered off and recharging . Falton took a large drag of his cigar; a plume of smoke followed as he spoke:
“Come in! We where just finishing up a contract…Ben, for your sake, I hope you stuck to your end of the bargain? I would hate to renegotiate two contracts in a row.”
Rebecca’s father nodded as he slowly reached in the front of his jacket. The movement was more of a precaution to not trigger the guard, than to show fear. He pulled out a roll of money and presented it in front of the men. Falton let out a single nod; the large guard grabbed the roll without hesitation, unraveled it than handed the cash to his boss. The room was dead silent and still as Falton counted.
“Good! Good! I knew I could count on you, Ben!”- Falton stated as he placed the cigar back in his mouth for another drag.
After releasing a small puff of smoke Falton noticed Ben ogling the green robot. Understanding Ben’s gambling history, the loan shark couldn’t hold back a greedy smirk and proposed: “Ben, that concludes our business unless you would like to make another wager?”
“NO!” Ben let’s out a weak cough to cover his loud outburst. ”No thank you Falton...I should be going.”
“Ah leaving already? The main event won’t even start for another hour, come! Stay, next drink will be on the house! Take it as a token of my good will. It looks to be an exciting night...”
Falton leaned back in his seat turning ever so slightly towards the green robot. “The main fight consists of an undefeated champion. This green one was a donation of sorts and will be starting the fight with odds 500 to 1. Could you imagine the purse if that hunk of metal beats my champ in a preliminary fight?” he paused for a second and remarked:
“ Besides, Ben I may find it rude you don’t take me up on that drink.”
Ben glanced to Falton. The large man motioned for the maid who was still cleaning blood to pour the two men drinks. Quickly without a moment lost nor ever raising her head towards the loan shark, the maid washed her hands and poured them a glass of scotch.
As the men conversed and drank, back in the car all sense of time had left Rebecca. The child couldn’t tell how long her father had been gone. She fell asleep and was woken up by a loud drunkard leaving the warehouse. Rebecca tried to open her door to let out some heat but the child locks prevented her from doing so. Bored and worried for her father Rebecca climbed over the drivers seat and opened his door. For the first time she could hear the cheers and excitement coming from the warehouse. The child attempted to figure out what was going on but couldn’t sort out the sounds. Curiosity caught hold of the girl as she slipped out of the car. Rebecca knew if her father caught her, she would be beaten severely. She kept to the shadows hoped to avoid detection. The child neared the building, looked around and saw a pile of stacked up crates that lead to a window. The rascal smiled as she changed her direction and approached noting the wooden boxes design. They had almost an x shape on the outside which made it prefect for her small hands and feet to use as supports while she climbed. It took the girl about 10 minutes to scale the pile of trash and crates. Somehow Rebecca went unnoticed by trash bots and employees coming in and out of the warehouse garage door. She peaked through a broken window.
Rebecca could now watch the event; two, three and half foot tall robots were marching into the arena one behind the other. She glanced up to see her father standing next to the entrance with a big fat man next to him. Falton shook Ben’s hand while a woman with a note book stood behind him writing something down. Rebecca looked at the Robots. On one side a red bot with a square head, had barb wire wrapped around his body and Saws for hands. On the other, near her father was a green robot with an almost a frog like appearance.
The crowd cheered as over head announcer and judge declared the Red robot's name was apparently “The Scrapper”. Only a select few in the audience cheered on including Rebecca’s father for the green robot that was simply given the title of the “Newcomer”.
Rebecca looked at the green robot. She didn’t understand what was about to happen. All she could grasp was the bot looked friendly and happy with even a mouth slit, unlike the red one that looked dangerous and mean. A bell rang breaking her concentration as Scrapper turned on its saw blade hands. The green robot knelt down as the red one charged. Using the hydraulics in its legs the green robot jumped high into the air almost back flipping and avoided the charge. New Comer landed and extended its leg out; The hydraulic mechanism in its leg designed to carry large amount of weight delivered a high pressure kick to the back of Scrapper. Such was the impact’s force, it sent the red bot flying high speed into the plexiglass. Barbwire and bolts flew off the bot as it crashed on the ground. The crowd was silent as Ben cheered on the green robot. The green robot having the same hydraulics in its grippers leaned in to punch Scrapper to end the match. Just as the sound of the press clicked Newcomer stopped all functions and fell backwards. The bot hit the ground, its legs detached from the cuirass. But because of the bots’ proximity not many spectators saw Scrapper extend it’s blades into the hip joints. Scrapper’s saw blades severed Newcomer in half. The crowd cheered loudly as bets were shouted out the undefeated champion was damaged by a no name bot. Rebecca’s father stood in silence as he looked at the remains of the Green robot. Trashcan bots entered the arena, collected the green bot and wheeled out the two halves.
Rebecca noticed the woman with the ledger had come back. She talked to Ben for a moment before they both walked back behind the crowd gathering for the main event. The child saw her father enter the lift and near where Rebecca watched the fight from, a garage like door opened. She quickly ducked down as the trash bots wheeled out of the warehouse. The trash bots opened up their compartments dumping the Green Robot’s two halves into the trash pile. A man came along with one of Falton’s guards and slowly walked up to the mangled remains.
“Grab the legs! Falton wants the hydraulics installed on Scrapper! As for the torso, the scavengers can have it, there’s nothing of any value. I even took the step of wiping its memory before the fight.” -The man chuckled as he kicked the torso with a light tap. The guard next him bent down picking up the legs like they where a sack of potatoes. The two walked back inside closing the door shut behind them.
Rebecca studied the bot from a distance for a minute or two, before she slowly climbed down to get a closer look. She had always heard her parents buying a robot babysitter but since they were too expensive, she had never seen one. The child moved in closer. She crouched down examining the wires sticking out of the torso. The door open again; startled Rebecca jumped up her foot caught on the wires kicking off as as they sparked. She quickly behind the creates and watched as more trash bots rolled out. The mechines dumped their garbage and rolled back inside, Rebecca noticed the broken bot sparked again. She left her hiding and crept closer, only to realize its grippers where moving. Without notice the Robot sat up and rested on its hand like grippers. The startled child jumped back and hit her head on the side of a crate. Using its arms the robot walked closer.
“Are you hurt human?” it asked in a broken robot voice.
“Wait , did you just speak to me?” - Rebecca asked shock plastered all over her pale face.
“I am SAS - Student Assistant System, Human are you injured?” The robot questioned her.
Still in shock un able to answer Rebecca shook her head no. She noticed a small drop of fluid drop out the bots under arm. His wires dragged on the ground and the door started to open again.
“We need to go before I get caught. My dad will beat me.” She whispers and started to head towards safety. The robot analyzed her words in its internal dictionary. Using the hydraulics in its arms, the bot was able to swing and walk on its grippers like a gorilla. it followed the girl back towards the vehicle.
“Human you are in danger? I must protect human. It is my programing” the robot followed closely. Scared, hopped in the car and quickly shut the door close, locking the bot outside.
“Go away! if dad sees you he will know I left the car.” Yelled Rebecca.
Politely, the Robot knocked on the door “Must protect human.”
“Please go, I don’t want to be in trouble!” Pleaded Rebecca as she opened the door.
“Go where human is safe?” The bot’s broken robotic voice was loud.
The girl noticed people leaving the warehouse and panicked. She quickly moved back on the long seat to get out of the way.
“Hurry and get in! And shut the door I don’t want my dad mad at me”-she saying that, the robot lifted itself in the car using its gripper and bracing the car handle. Rebecca reached across the green metal chassis to quickly pull the door shut. She climbed over the seat back to the back and pulled down her cushion showing a direct path to the trunk.
“Can you fit in here?” She asked in a panic- laden voice while looking to the door, fearing her dad could walk out any second. The bot hoisted itself over the seat and wedged in the whole as sparks continued to fly from its torso. She flinched as one of the jolts hit her arm.
“It will be hard to protect human in here, my damage may be a hazard.”
“Rebecca! My name is Rebecca. I don’t need a robot to protect me. But you did help my dad in the fight. He seemed to like you...so…maybe we can be friends?” She stated looking at the bot. The girl noticed there was a screen on his arm with a blinking full battery sign. Rebecca knew little about electronics.
“A friend? …Processing… after checking my dictionary. Friend is a person humans are familiar with, a close bond, not related. Friend Rebecca it is.”
A bright smile shone on Rebecca’s face. She had always wanted a friend, but was afraid how her parents would act if she brought anyone over.
“Frog, that’s what I am going to call you” -she chuckled
“ I have assigned the new call sign Frog. What is that round sphere at your limbs, friend Rebecca? The bot pointed to a nearly deflated ball lying on the floor board.
“Its my rubber kick ball, but dad didn't like it rolling around the car so he put a hole it.” -She looked at the bot with sadness in her eyes.
“Friend Rebecca it is broke?”- Rebecca nodded yes to the bot. “It will protect her now, if Friend Rebecca permits.”
Confused by what Frog was saying, she bent down grabbed the ball handed it to the robot, who was now stuffed in the trunk access. The bot gripped it gently pulled on the rubber . Like a swimmer slips on a swim cap, Frog stretched out the rubber ball shielding the bottom of his exposed torso. The fit was prefect seal. The rubber from the ball insulated the exposed sparking wires.
“Now Frog will no longer harm Friend Rebecca, or risk fire to the vehicle”
Rebecca smiled; The robot calling her friend made her feel all warm inside. It was probably the first time since being away from her grandmother’s house, Rebecca felt human. The child seemed confused why was a robot cared than her parents ever did. Rebecca looked back at the warehouse; this time it was her father coming out towards the car. She quickly lifted the seat’s cushion.
“Frog, if you want to protect me don’t move or say anything! Stay put or you will put me in trouble” she whispered sealing the bot in the trunk.
“Affirmative” Frog responded as he powered off his voice module.
After hours of being at the warehouse Ben slowly opened the car door with dread in his eyes, his body reeked of alcohol. Hands shaking he struggled to put his keys in the ignition and Rebecca shuffled in the back seat.
“Damn I forgot you where here, well little brat! Let’s go home… Hopefully your useless mother has my food ready.” -He swayed while he grumbled at Rebecca. Ben drunkenly pulled the clunker out of the lot and drove home.
(to be continued )
A special thanks to all those that helped with the editing of this project. I couldn’t have done it with out you