Chapter 1

Williamsburg, VA- October 21, 2088

A sixteen year old Tracy Bonne sat upstairs, in her room, diligently working on her Advanced Science and Technology project. She sat back, brushing her black and pink hair out of her eyes, and strapping an arm device to her wrist. She adjusted a few sensors on the small yellow robot, who stared back at her, smiling. It was eerily human-like. Activating a few of the keys, she spoke to it, "Okay Robbie, make my bed."

The foot-tall being hopped from the desk, and shuffled across the room. She turned her chair, watching it "run" over to the stereo and turn on the "electronica" station. She rolled her eyes and removed the wrist device, when the robot began dancing, excitedly.

Her holo-comms chimed, as she picked up the tiny screwdriver. She pressed the answer key, "What up hoe!?" Her best friend, Gina greeted, as she fiddled with her close-cropped, platinum-colored hair.

"Homework." Tracy replied, holding up the wristband, "What about you?"

"Just ordered a new holo-comm, from DirectTech, shit's gonna be so cool..." She began, "...wait, are you listening to electronica? Gross."

Tracy turned the holo, toward the dancing servbot, "Still making adjustments." She said, rubbing her head.

"Oh my God! He is so cute! When are you gonna make me one?" Gina replied.

"Cute isn't gonna get me the college co-op credits that I need." Tracy said, turning the display back. "He needs to be able to obey commands. And I told you I would make you one for your birthday."

"Ugh, smart girl problems. We're sixteen, Trace, stop worrying about college and careers. Come to Cody's party with me tonight. It's Friday, skank! Let's have fun!" Her friend pleaded.

Tracy smirked, "I wish I could, but Robbie needs to be set to go, in three days. Besides, my brother and Danica are coming into town, tonight."

"Screw the party, can I come to your house?! Scott is so hot! Sorry, I know he's your brother and all, but damn!" Gina responded.

"Ew, whatever, he's five years older than you, and has been with his girlfriend since, like, high school." She replied, "Besides, he's a total dork. All he likes to do is watch old movies and crap, from, like, the nineteen-hundreds.

"I think that's kinda cool." Gina said, "Tell him I said 'Hi'." She laughed.

Tracy grinned, shaking her head, "Bye, bitch."

"Later, tramp." Gina responded, as the holo closed out.

Downstairs, Tracy's mother prepared dinner, while her father watched football, from the couch. She walked through the living room, rolling her eyes at the cliché. Sitting the servbot on the counter, she opened the refrigerator, scavenging for a soda.

"It lives!" Her mother joked, "Hi there, Robbie." She said, patting the robot's head. He tweeted and smiled in response. "Honey, why don't you put your tools and stuff away. Your brother will be here, any minute." She asked.

Tracy pulled a drink out, closing the door, "Mom, I really gotta get this project done. I promise, I won't be working at the dinner table. Can I just leave my stuff in the living room?"

Her mother smiled, "Sweetie, you've created a robot, with artificial intelligence, only months after the ban was lifted. I think they'll give you the credits. Take a little break, for me?"

Tracy looked over, to the servbot, "His intelligence is low-grade, the other three kids I'm up against can do that. I need to be able to command him, otherwise, he won't be taken seriously."

Her father chimed in, from the next room, "Maybe, if you fixed your hair, and stopped dressing like a 'devil-worshipper', you would be taken seriously."

"Seriously, Stan!?" Her mother replied. She turned back to Tracy, "Just be yourself. You've always achieved your goals that way, anyhow."

The doorbell chimed, ending the conversation. When her mother opened it, the large German Shepherd ran in, first, wagging his tail. "Whoa! Hey there, Rush!" Tracy said, ruffling his fur. She walked over, hugging her brother and his red-headed girlfriend.

"Hey guys," Scott started, "whoa, what the hell is that!?" He finished, pointing to the robot, on Tracy's shoulder.

"This is Robbie. I made him." She answered, as the dog jumped up, sniffing it.

Scott whistled, bringing Rush to his side, "Weird, what does he do?"

"Right now, he just hangs out, and dances." She said, "But if I can get him to do my chores, the school will grant me early graduation, and move me to the Tech Center, to start development on more."

"Oh my God, can I hold him?" Danica asked.

"Sure." Tracy replied, handing him over, like a small child.

Scott walked into the living room, "Dad, how are you?" He asked, putting out his hand.

His father, not looking, took a sip of his Scotch, "I'm fine, Scott."

He pulled his hand back, smile fading, "I haven't seen you in a year, dad. Could you at least look at me, this time?"

His father turned his stubbly face to him, "Hello, Scott." He replied, sarcastically. "I see you brought your fucking dog with you." He said, turning back to the holo-vision.

Scott nodded, slowly, saying nothing, as he left the room.

At dinner, the five sat eating and telling stories, of things that were going on in their lives. "...so, I told Scott to pull over, so I could take a picture." Danica said, as they laughed. But Stan stayed silently eating.

"I wish I could have seen that." His mother replied, smiling.

"So, is there anything new on base, that you're allowed to talk about?" Tracy asked.

"Well, Vice President Wily sent in some new model security droids, to assist the Scouting units. And these guys are like something out of Star Wars, or something." Scott said excitedly. "They're like muscular skeletons, with these blasters on their wrists. They even wear ar..."

"No one needs to hear about Wily's fucking death traps!" His father interrupted, slapping the table.

Everyone sat, awkwardly, until Scott responded, "Well, technically, they would have to meet concealed defensive standards, to be qualified as 'death traps'."

The ladies laughed, breaking the tension. "Everything's a fucking joke, to you, isn't it, Scott?" Stan replied, bringing the mood back down. "Three years ago, I told you that I needed help with the mechanic shop. Now my business is closed, because you let this red-headed girl convince you to run off, and be some kind of hero, with her. And you have the nerve, to come into my house, and make jokes!?" He scoffed. "Those old movies and books have brainwashed you, into thinking you can make the world a better place. But you're just another one of Wily's dogs, now. No better than his machines." He took another drink, "And where does that leave us, Scott? Stuck in this house, behind on the mortgage, because you were too good to help."

"Dad!" Tracy started, but Scott put a hand up, stopping her.

"I'm getting sick of this, dad." He began.

"Son, don't. Just let it go." His mother said.

"No, mom, he needs to open his eyes, for once." He turned back to him, "The reason I left, is because you didn't want me to help with the shop. You wanted me to run it for you, for free. The reason it closed, is because you were too drunk to notice all of the employees ripping you off, behind your back. And the reason you're behind on the bills, is because mom is the only one working." Scott looked to the pantry, "And judging by the crates of Scotch, sloppily hidden behind the heater, I can see why she may be coming up shorter, each month. It's been three years, dad. At some point you gotta realize that your problems aren't my fault."

"Guys, please don't do this, again." Tracy pleaded.

Her father stared, angrily at Scott. "Get your dog, and get the hell out of my house." He said.

"Stan!" His mother interjected.

"Shut up, Janet!" He snapped, "Get. Out!"

Scott and Danica stood up, "It's okay, mom. There's a hotel up the street. We'll stop in and see you, on the way home." He said.

As they walked to the door, Tracy ran from the table, hugging him around the waist. "I'm sorry." She whispered, "I wish he wasn't like this."

"It's okay, kiddo." He responded, "I'll comm you later, we'll catch up some more."

Danica pulled on her long, yellow scarf, and hugged her, before the two were gone. Tracy walked back into the kitchen, looking at her father, "Why do you always have ruin everything!? I hate you!" She yelled, before running upstairs, with her servbot.

Stan looked over, at his wife, "Well, I'm sure you have something to say, too. Right?"

She stood up, picking up her plate, "Why bother?" She said, "It wouldn't make a difference."

The next morning, the household was awakened to the sounds of blaring alarms and gunfire. Tracy ran downstairs, to see Vice President Wily, on the holo-vision. "People of America, in the early hours of the morning, the United States Military took it upon themselves to assault my private quarters. They've labeled me a 'domestic terrorist' and 'murderer'. So, I've been forced to take matters into my own hands." He began, as he brushed his blonde hair, out of his face. "Your Country's forces have been decimated, and only my army remains. All civilians are to report outside, for registration, and work relocation assignments. Any resistance will be met, with lethal force. It's time to usher in the New Era, the Age of Megatropolis. And I will be your King."

The holo ended, then began again. Tracy turned to her parents, "They can't really be killing people, right? That's just insane!" She said, panicked.

Her father still hungover, replied, "I don't care how crazy Wily is, he can't overthrow an entire nation. Just step outside, and see what's going on."

The Bonnes walked out, onto the front lawn. They could see the smoke, in the distance, and hear the screams of the fleeing civilians, being gunned down. One of the flying, silver orbs approached them, scanning with it's photoreceptor. It zoomed in on Robbie, who cowered over Tracy's shoulder. "Unlicensed, Non-Wily-Issued life form detected." It chimed, ejecting a claw. "Turn over the life form, for termination."

Tracy was shocked, "What? Wait, it's not hostile!" She replied.

"Shut up and hand over the fucking robot, Tracy." Her father demanded, through his teeth.

The servbot whimpered, trying to hide on her back. "No, just hold on. Scan him, again! He's harmless!" She pleaded with the drone, holding back tears.

Stan was out of patience, by this point. He drove the back of his hand across her face, knocking her to the ground. "Stan!" Her mother yelled, as the drone ejected three machine blasters, from it's sides.

"Hostility detected." It chimed, and opened fire.