Return to Mech City

by Brian Bakos

  Then he, too, froze with shock. The repair bots stood immobilized, like bookends. Between them vibrated an absolute terror.

  19: Radical Solution

  An unspeakable horror advanced into the room on wheeled feet – a large, rigid metal man with dead staring eyes and jagged teeth protruding from its steel trap mouth. A huge, lobster-like claw protruded from its right arm. Its left hand gripped a sledge hammer.

  “W-who are you?” Quincy gasped.

  In response, the creature aimed its claw at him and snapped it open / shut.

  Chink! Chunk!

  Jack retreated to a workbench and grabbed a metal bar. “Stay back, you!”

  The intruder rotated its head toward Jack. The repair bot felt the lifeless eyes stab right though him. The claw snapped open, the creature began rolling.

  “Okay!” Jack dropped the bar. “Come on in, then – anything you want.”

  The monster halted.

  A reedy voice drifted in from the corridor: “Calm yourselves, please! There is no danger if you act responsibly.”

  “Nilo?” Jack said.

  “At your service.” Nilo appeared in the doorway. “Or rather, I expect you’ll be at mine.”

  Nilo was leaning heavily on his walking stick, and his free hand gripped the door frame. He looked about ready to topple over.

  “Now, if one of you will be good enough to assist me,” he said, “I’ll explain this situation.”

  “Sure, Nilo,” Jack said.

  Giving the clawed monster a wide berth, Jack took Nilo by the arm and led him into the workshop. He helped the old robot take a seat on an operating table.

  “Thank you,” Nilo said.

  “Sure thing,” Jack said.

  He backed away to stand beside Quincy, who was also quaking with fear.

  “Now don’t be alarmed,” Nilo said. “I’m here strictly in a professional capacity.”

  “P-professional?” Quincy jerked a thumb at the clawed robot. “With th-that thing?”

  “Y-yes,” Nilo said. “Have you ever considered getting some remedial speech programming, Quincy?”

  “Oh, he usually talks just fine,” Jack said, “too much, if you ask me.”

  Nilo indicated the tools scattered on the floor.

  “You really ought to take better care of your instruments,” he said. “They’d be difficult to replace, don’t you think?”

  He chuckled at his supposed joke and scanned the repair bots with malevolent eyes. Quincy and Jack did not respond.

  “Oh, please forgive me,” Nilo said, “I seem to have forgotten my manners.”

  He gestured toward the monster.

  “Allow me to introduce my new associate, gentlemen. This is Clawfurt.”

  “G-glad to meet you, Mr. Clawfurt,” Quincy said.

  “Yes, the pleasure is all ours,” Jack said.

  “I rather doubt that,” Nilo said. “Would you care to shake hands?”

  Clawfurt advanced, flexing his massive talon. Chink! Chunk! Chink!

  “No!” the repair bots shouted.

  They had cowered back nearly to the rear wall of the workshop.

  “I thought not,” Nilo said. “Shall we get down to business, then?”

  “Yeah, Nilo, whatever you want,” Quincy said. “Just keep that thing away from us!”

  “Of course,” Nilo said. “Please give our friends a little more cringing room, Clawfurt.”

  “Yes, sir,” Clawfurt said in a toneless, mechanistic voice.

  It rolled backwards and stopped at rigid attention beside Nilo.

  “What do you want from us?” Jack said.

  “I require your technical expertise.” Nilo gestured toward the doorway. “My drone valet just had ... an accident in the corridor, I’m afraid.”

  Quincy and Jack exchanged terrified glances.

  “Won’t you have a look?” Nilo said.

  “Anything you say, Nilo,” Jack replied. “Lead on.”

  With surprising delicacy for such a brutal looking machine, Clawfurt assisted Nilo from the operating table. The two moved slowly into the corridor. Quincy and Jack tagged along behind.

  “Oh, please, after you,” Nilo said. “I insist.”

  The repair bots slipped around in front of the diabolical pair and began walking the dimly lit corridor. Ahead, about half way to the lobby, a massive drone machine lay sprawled on the floor. Jack glanced back over his shoulder. Nilo and Clawfurt had fallen behind several paces.

  “Let’s run for it,” he whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  The repair bots took off. The corridor echoed with the pounding of feet on bare tile. Jack glanced back again. Nilo and Clawfurt were much farther behind now.

  “We’re gonna make it!” he cried.

  But just as they were about to gain the lobby, two massive four-legged creatures emerged from a side corridor.

  “Yow!”

  Quincy and Jack collided to a halt.

  “My gosh!” Quincy gasped. “I thought I’d seen every horrible thing already.”

  “Those look like Iridium’s evil twins,” Jack said.

  The mech wolves stood blocking the hallway. Their red eyes glowed in the muted light. Growls vibrated the air, but the beasts made no move to attack – yet.

  “Gentlemen!” Nilo called. “I see you’ve met your escorts. Best come back with them. We wouldn’t want any unpleasantness, would we?”

  Quincy and Jack swiveled around and returned the way they’d come, with the mech wolves close behind.

  “Why do I feel like a late night snack?” Quincy said.

  “Don’t worry,” Jack replied, “they don’t have digestive systems.”

  They stopped at the fallen drone and knelt beside it for a closer look. The robot’s head was bashed in, its meager brain components lay scattered.

  “Good grief!” Jack glanced up toward Clawfurt.

  “This was no accident,” Quincy said.

  “Yeah,” Jack said. “Looks like its head lost an argument with Clawfurt’s sledgehammer.”

  Two more mech wolves emerged from the gloom and accompanied Nilo on his slow progress down the hall.

  “Such an unfortunate turn of events,” Nilo said when he finally arrived at the drone wreck. “I’m hoping that you two can rectify the situation.”

  “We’ll give it our best shot, Nilo,” Quincy said. “Come on, Jack, give me a hand.”

  The repair bots attempted to lift the drone carcass, but made little headway.

  “My gosh,” Jack said, “this thing weighs a ton.”

  “Not that much, certainly,” Nilo said, “in any case, Clawfurt will assist you.”

  He released Clawfurt’s arm and leaned himself against a wall for support.

  “You may leave your baton with me, Clawfurt.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Clawfurt dropped his sledgehammer and rolled over to the drone. In a single jerky motion, he seized it under the armpits and lifted it off the floor.

  “Oh man,” Jack said. “That thing’s another Gorzo.”

  “Well come on,” Quincy said, “let’s get it done.”

  The repair bots each hefted a drone leg and staggered down the hallway. Clawfurt rolled along easily, as if the heavy body was of small consequence.

  Back in the workshop, Clawfurt lifted the drone onto an operating table, then departed back to the hallway.

  “I could sure do without that guy,” Jack said.

  “Yeah, but our options seem pretty limited right now,” Quincy said.

  Two mech wolves kept a sharp eye on the repair bots as they examined the drone. Aside from the demolished head, the thing appeared to be undamaged. A few minutes later, Nilo returned with Clawfurt.

  “Sorry, Nilo,” Quincy said, “but there isn’t much we can do for him. His brain unit is totally shot.”

  Nilo gripped Quincy’s arm and leaned in.

  “I don’t think you quite understand,” he said. “Let me explain ...�
�

  He whispered into Quincy’s left auditory unit. The repair bot’s eyes widened.

  “I ... uh ...” Quincy stammered. “Okay, w-we’ll do our best.”

  “See to it,” Nilo said, “or the consequences will be very sticky for you.”

  ***

  Under the watchful glower of Clawfurt and the mech wolf guards, the repair bots labored throughout the night – silently, fearfully, not allowing themselves to think about the consequences of failure, or of success –

  Until a scrofulous sunrise lanced its rays over Mech City, and a ghastly new era began.

  20: The Great Unraveling Begins

  The fourth week of renovations began on a high note as Jimmy appeared at Winston’s temporary quarters above the hardware store.

  “Your penthouse apartment is finished, Boss,” he announced.

  “Already?” Winston could barely contain his pleasure. “Isn’t this a surprise!”

  “Yes sir,” Jimmy said, “we gave it top priority – along with the new roof, of course.”

  Winston retrieved his BOSS hard hat from its peg of honor and placed it firmly upon his cranium.

  “Let’s go have a look, Jimmy,” he said.

  They strode the three blocks to the REX. Despite the early hour, the hotel vicinity was already crowded with onlookers. They jockeyed for position so as to get a better view at Winston as he passed.

  “Hello, Professor!” someone called.

  “Beautiful morning, huh Boss?” another yelled.

  Winston acknowledged their greetings with a friendly wave and his best politician’s smile.

  “It’s a great day to get things done, isn’t it!” he said.

  “Maximum effort!” the crowd replied. “Maximum effort!”

  The crowd’s voice had a powerful edge that rather unsettled Winston. It sounded like that of a wild beast that could turn savage at any time – if they became disappointed in their leader. Winston sidled a bit closer to Jimmy.

  And the morning was actually far from beautiful. A gray, thick sky promised something ugly, and a testy wind stirred up dust devils. One of these mini tornadoes spun past them filled with bits of trash and grit.

  Winston glanced upwards. “Looks like we’re going to need that new roof, eh?”

  “Don’t worry about that, Boss,” Jimmy said. “She’ll hold up against anything short of a hurricane.”

  They entered the lobby. The place was hardly recognizable. Ornate light fixtures hung from a freshly plastered and painted ceiling. The stench of mildew and old cigarette smoke was gone, replaced by the exciting fragrance of newness. Workers were installing beautiful wood paneling on the walls.

  Jimmy led Winston to the elevator and pressed the Up button.

  “And now for the big event,” he said.

  The doors slid open to reveal a stark and battered elevator car.

  “It still needs some work,” Jimmy said, “but everything runs fine. You’re the first official passenger, Boss.”

  Winston stepped into the elevator car, accompanied by a round of applause from the onlookers. The floor gave slightly bringing a touch of giddiness to his circuits, but he covered it up with another broad smile / jaunty wave combo.

  “Onward and upward!” he called.

  Then the door closed. He and his chief foreman zoomed upwards like a pair of ancient Greek heroes in a divine chariot. Winston’s consciousness seemed to skip a beat until they got off at the top floor.

  The hallway here was reduced to its bare elements. The walls, stripped of their mildewed paper, revealed numerous patched areas. The floor, with many new pieces of lumber in place, had a solid feel to it now.

  Two thirds down its original length, the hallway terminated at an ornate door. Jimmy opened it with a dramatic flourish.

  “Your new quarters, Boss,” he announced.

  Winston stepped into an elegant new world. Several rooms and a stretch of corridor had been combined into a large suite.

  “Hot damn!” he cried.

  They were standing in the living room now – recessed wall lighting, thick blue carpet, new windows and drapes. The scent of fresh paint hung in the air like an incense.

  “Man, I had no idea ...” Winston said. “This is fantastic, Jimmy!”

  “If you’re going to be the Boss, you need to have the proper surroundings,” Jimmy said.

  Dr. Horvath’s photo hung in a small, unobtrusive recess – like a shrine to some forgotten minor deity. The research paper cover sheets were not in evidence, and Winston didn’t think to ask about them.

  “Let’s take a look at the study,” Jimmy said.

  He led Winston into a smaller side room. The lighting here was subdued, the window covered with thick drapes. The whole ambiance spoke of reflection and deep intellect. A large red reclining chair dominated the room like a throne.

  Winston ran his hands over the beautiful upholstery.

  “Top grade leather,” Jimmy said, “and a brushed stainless steel handle for the footrest.”

  Winston settled into the chair. The scent of fine leather caressed his olfactory sensor and his pressure indicators registered thick, luxurious cushions surrounding his body.

  “When you’ve got one of these, you know you’ve really made it,” Jimmy said. “A nice little getaway where you can enjoy your reading.”

  The construction foreman stood proudly, arms crossed, basking in Winston’s reflected glory. Winston’s thoughts turned to future glories.

  “So, what’s the next step, Jimmy?” he asked. “What are we going to do once the REX is finished?”

  “That’s up to you, Boss,” Jimmy said. “There are lots of possible construction projects in town. The problem is building materials. We’re using up most of them on the REX.”

  “We’d have to get them somewhere else, then, right?” Winston said. “That could be a huge project in itself.”

  “Ah ... you sure now how to think big!” Jimmy said.

  He glanced up at the wall clock.

  “Well, gotta go, Boss. I’ll just let you alone a while to enjoy your new digs.”

  “Thank you, Jimmy.”

  With a polite, rather incongruous bow for a large and angular machine, Jimmy departed.

  Alone now, Winston luxuriated in his chair, savoring his well-earned and exalted status. That timid secretary robot he had once been now seemed like a contemptible insect creeping around in some other world.

  Yes, it certainly had been another world, Winston recalled with a twinge of sadness. It had vanished forever and taken many fine things with it. But he was constructing a new world to replace the old one – something unprecedented in history! Of course he had capable assistants, but they were merely extensions of his own will. He was the one and only BOSS.

  He’d almost forgotten his previous mission as the Walking Library of Alexandria. What a fool’s errand that had been! The last things anybody cared about now were the writings of Plato in the original Greek or the symphonies of Mozart. Yet he had all that and much, much more stored in his data banks. Useless knowledge, perhaps, but nobody else had it, did they? Winston Horvath was unique in all the world!

  A taboo picture gurgled up out of his memory – Rob, tangled in the toy baby carriage, moving slowing down the concrete banked river. Again he experienced the simultaneous horror and exaltation of that moment. It was a part of him he did not wish to acknowledge, so he pushed the image away and replaced it with more recent recollections of glory ...

  “Oh, well,” he said after twenty minutes of contemplation, “I’d better go show myself to the underlings.”

  He reluctantly left his power suite and descended to the lower regions, taking the stairs this time. The elevator was a powered machine, and he was not programmed to operate any powered machine.

  He strolled across the lobby as if on a cloud, his mind still off in the world of daydreams. On his way out the front door, he tripped on a hammer lying on the sidewalk and nearly fell.
/>   “Oh!”

  Now he was abruptly back in the real world, and very angry. He should have seen the hammer, which made him doubly angry.

  “Who dropped this thing here?” he demanded.

  “I did, sir,” a nearby workman said. “It must have slipped off my belt.”

  “Well, be more careful!” Winston snapped. “I could have gotten hurt. Where would you be then, huh?”

  The workman snatched up the hammer.

  “Sorry, Boss, it won’t happen again.”

  “See that it doesn’t!”

  He turned away from the chastised workman and noticed Star standing nearby. She had one hand on her hip and a disapproving look on her face.

  “S-Star!” he said. “I didn’t expect you here so early.”

  “You were pretty hard on him just now, weren’t you?” she said.

  “No,” Winston said, “I mean yes. Well ...”

  “Everybody’s working too fast,” she said. “Even I can see that. Mistakes are bound to happen.”

  As if to validate her observation, a loud crash issued from an upper story of the REX.

  “Maybe I did sound a bit harsh,” Winston said, “but Jimmy told me to chew somebody out occasionally. Keeps them in line, you know.”

  Star pointed to the BOSS emblem on Winston’s helmet. “I thought you were supposed to be in charge. Now you’re taking orders from Jimmy?”

  “Not so loud, please,” Winston said. “The others might hear.”

  “Sometimes I don’t understand you at all,” Star said. “Maybe you should get a bigger helmet, your head seems to be swelling all the time.”

  Winston took off his hardhat and checked the sizing band.

  “It seems to be appropriate,” he said.

  “Oh, really?” She turned to leave.

  “Star, wait,” Winston said. “Did I say something wrong?”

  But she was already making her way through the crowd.

  “Nice going, Winston,” he muttered. “You sure handled that situation well.”

  He felt suddenly alone, despite the bustling robots all around. Indecision stuck him in place. Should he go after Star immediately and try to make things up with her, or should he wait a while for her to cool down?

  Or maybe he should just forget the whole thing. What right did she have to talk to him like that – he was the BOSS, wasn’t he? Then events outpaced his ruminations as Jimmy emerged from the REX.

  “Look at this, Boss.”

  Jimmy held up his left arm. It was dangling uselessly at the elbow, numerous scratches and dents covered his torso. A bolt of alarm shot through Winston’s circuits.