Chapter 6: Shockwaves

Second-in-Command Robber Baron 284-9 stared into the wreckage of the Chief Financial Officer's office, at the remains of the Cog Boss himself. He simply stared, mouth slightly agape, oblivious of the oily tears trickling down his face. Nine barely registered the arrival of a small group of Cashbots that had been in the vicinity and had heard the explosion. They too gazed in disbelief at the flames that now engulfed the Cashbot Boss.

"Wh-what happened?" a Loan Shark blurted out.

"He just. . . exploded," the Second-in-Command replied numbly.

"What do we do?" a Short Change whimpered.

Nine closed his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh, as if expelling the grief from his body. "First. I inform the other Seconds. Second. I'll get the Tech Team up here to investigate, see if they can figure out what happened and why. Third," he faltered.

"Third?" asked a Bean Counter.

"In the absence if the CFO, I assume authority of Cashbot HQ, but I was only ever intended as a temp. I don't have sufficient training to take over completely."

The group of Cashbots exchanged worried looks.

"I have no choice then, but to authorise the awakening of the Master."


Chief Executive Officer Roscoe Cheese's shoulders shook as sobs wracked his body. He wept into his hands as his father tried to soothe his anguish.

Ursula Cheese looked up at him and scowled. "What are you whimpering about? You didn't even know him that well."

"He was s-still my f-friend."

"And crying about it won't bring him back, so why bother?"

"Ursula!" Big Cheese scolded, glaring down at her. "Leave him alone."

"No! This display of waterworks is pointless and stupid."

"Why are you being so mean?" Roscoe whimpered.

"You're the CEO, brother. The Boss of the Cogs. You should lead by example. So suck it up and do something useful."

"Ursula! The CFO is dead. Have some sympathy."

"Well I didn't know him either, so why should I care?"

"That does not mean you shouldn't show some respect!"

"Fine, but I don't have to show Roscoe any for being a crybaby!"

"Ursula-!"

"No, Pa. Sh-she's right. I. . . I'm going to go check in with Nine and then I'll go and see Monty and Elmo. They'll have taken it harder than I."

The Master blinked, surprised at this sudden display of maturity then glanced at Ursula and frowned. "You can manage by yourself, my son? I want a word with Ursula."


Roscoe Cheese glanced around the corridors of Cashbot Headquarters as he made his way down to Maintenance and Repair. A few dejected Cashbots dragged themselves from place to place as they made some attempt to keep on schedule but it was clear to the young Cog that their metaphorical hearts were just not in it. He sighed as he trundled by and headed into the main section of M+R.

Two Robber Barons were standing before the wreckage of Jacques, one slightly back from the other, and Roscoe froze in his tracks at the sight of it, a jolt of anguish running through his metaphorical heart. He took a moment to regain his composure before quietly approaching.

"Nine?" he whispered.

The Second-in-Command nearly jumped out of his suit at the sound of his voice and whipped around. "Chief. When did you get here?"

"Oh, just now." He glanced over at the other Robber Baron who had not seemed to notice him. "Who's that?"

"The Master."

The CEO's eyes widened. "You mean, that's. . ."

Nine nodded. "The CFO's father."

"Aww no. If I'd known you'd awakened him, I woulda bought Pa along so he could say hi."

"He wouldn't have come."

They both jumped.

"M-Master, we didn't know you were-"

"I'm old not malfunctioning," he replied somewhat bitterly.

"Why would Pa not have come? I thought you used to be friends."

"Used to being the key term here. Marvin and Will fell out over your father's treatment of Elmo. Even after it came to light what had happened to three to the Vice President's predecessors, Will still refused to apologise. Jeremiah and I sided with Marvin. None of us want anything to do with him."

Roscoe scratched his head and exchanged confused looks with 284-9. "I still don't understand what happened."

"It's not my story to tell," Jasper replied with an air of finality.

The young Cog sighed in defeat, deciding it would be best not to pursue the matter.

"Foreman. The design of his engine is different."

"All the Cog Bosses have been upgraded with an electric engine."

"You were able to find a design that was efficient?"

"Indeed. Courtesy of Ol' Cheesy himself no less."

The Cashbot Master snorted at the mention of his name.

Roscoe leaned in close to the Second-in-Command. "He doesn't seem very cut up about Jacques. . ."

He sighed. "I. . . didn't have the heart to tell him the whole story. He thinks Ja-uh, the CFO is going to be rebuilt and his memories uploaded into the replacement."

The Cashbot Master whipped around. "What are you saying?!"

Nine cringed. "Oh you heard that. . ."

"Explain!"

"Um. Well. You see, Mr Jacques' father sir-"

"Mr Baron."

"Mr Baron-"

"Master, the CFO's memory backup was destroyed prior to his death. By who, we know not."

Jasper Baron looked like he'd had a large, heavy object fall on him from a great height. "Y-. . . you mean. . . ?"

The two Cogs nodded and Nine answered. "I'm afraid so."

He managed to remain standing for a few seconds before crumpling like a puppet that had had its strings cut.

"Aww, come here." Roscoe rolled forward and scooped him up into a hug. "It's. . ." he stopped himself from saying "all right".

The Cashbot Master said nothing, merely returning the hug and burying his face into the CEO's golfing vest.


Ursula Cheese perched on the end of her father's desk, arms folded, her face set into an annoyed scowl. The Hybrid was only half listening to Wilson's lecture.

"Are you listening to me!?"

She pulled her attention away from one corner of his office to return his angry look.

"Not really."

"Ursula, this is a serious matter! What's got into you?"

"I thought you said I was part of your attack force, so unless this has some effect on that future, why should I concern myself with it?"

His palm met his face. "Ursula!"

She huffed in response and went back to staring at the corner.

"Ursula," he tried again, softly this time. "Roscoe has just lost a friend. And the Cashbots, they've lost a leader. Try and put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel?"

"But I'm not them."

"What if you were?"

"But I'm not them!"

He sighed. "All right, then. What if that was me?"

She whipped around suddenly, so he could not see her face.

"There, see?" He patted her on the back. "You understand now?"

Ursula nodded but said nothing.

He smiled and pulled her into a hug.

The red bear stiffened for a few seconds before relaxing and returning the hug. "Father?"

"Hm?"

"With the destruction of the CFO, won't the Cashbots have revived their Master?"

He froze. That was right. Jasper Baron, and possibly Marvin Hollywood and Jeremiah Bigwig would have been reawakened for the situation.

"And wasn't he a friend of yours?"

Wilson Cheese pulled away suddenly, a somewhat distraught expression on his face. He could not face them again.

Ursula blinked. "Father?"

He pulled out the remote from his top drawer and disappeared into his laboratory, the door sliding closed behind him.

The Hybrid blinked, staring at the bookcase in confusion. What was that about?


The Chief Executive Officer rolled up to the door of Chief Justice Lamont Bigwig's chambers and knocked. A brief pause then a weary reply. "Who is it?"

"It's Roscoe."

A sigh. "Come in."

Roscoe pushed the door open and entered. He took in the sight of the dejected Lawbot Boss sprawled over his desk. "Aww, Monty." The Bossbot trundled over to his desk and gave him a sort-of-hug.

Lamont shrugged him off. "Get off me." He glowered at the young Boss. "What do you want anyway?"

Roscoe blinked. "What do you mean?"

"You came all this way for something. What is it?"

"To see you."

"For what reason?"

"I don't understand. Jacques' just died, you're upset. Why else would I be coming here?"

He attempted another sort of hug. Again, Lamont shrugged him off.

"Stop that."

"But hugs make you feel better."

He snorted. "Perhaps that works for you. But not me."

"Then what will?"

"Nothing! Just leave me alone!"

Roscoe sighed. "Um. Well. Is there anything you want to talk about?"

"Nothing I'd care to discuss with you."

"But why?"

"You're still a stranger to me, Roscoe."

The young Cog was stung by that one. "Oh. . . I see."

"I've already asked you to leave. Don't make me repeat myself."

"O-okay." He turned and left without another word. The young Cog hovered outside Lamont's door. The elder Cog was obviously upset by the event. He had not yet visited Elmo, but the Sellbot would be in no condition to help. Lamont was not likely to open up to his Second-in-Command either. Roscoe Cheese scratched his head. He himself had turned to his father for comfort. Lamont had no one. Unless. . .


Lamont Bigwig hauled himself off his desk at the ringing of his phone. He picked it up. "What is it, Two?"

"Uh, Chief. The Foreman's just informed me that he has been authorised to reawaken your father-."

"On who's authority!?"

"The CEO's."

"Of all the-!" 159-2 blinked and stared at the reciever when he heard it go dead. He put the phone back on the hook and wondered if he should phone down to Maintenance and Repair to the inform the Foreman that reawakening the Master was probably not such a good idea.


The Chief Justice arrived in Maintenance and Repair to see Roscoe having his audio receptor bent by a revived Jeremiah Bigwig. He could not help but smirk at the sight. Served him right to go behind his back on the matter.

The Bossbot noticed his presence and turned a pleading look on him. Jeremiah followed his gaze. "Lamont! It's about time you got here."

Uh oh.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Monty, he wouldn't let me get a word in edgeways to explain."

"His name is Lamont. Why you tolerate this ridiculous nickname is beyond me."

"Father. Enough," the Lawbot sighed. "A lot has happened in your absence. Allow me to explain then, if you will not allow Roscoe."

Jeremiah scowled over his half-moon specs. "This had better be good, Lamont."


The young Cog Boss was all too glad to escape from Lamont's scary father, leaving the Lawbot to see to the matter of bringing Jeremiah up to date. He headed over to Selbot Headquarters through the underground tunnels and arrived at Senior Vice President Elmo Hollywood's office doors. Silence from within. He knocked. No reply. He knocked again. Still no reply. Roscoe pushed open the door and peeked inside but it was empty. The young Cog frowned and scratched his head in confusion dislodging his golf hat into his eyes. He wondered where else Elmo would be as he adjusted his hat. Where would he be, the Bossbot thought to himself, if he was too upset to drag himself to his office? A moment later the answer came to him.


Roscoe trundled up to the doors of the VP's bedroom. He could hear sobbing coming from within. The young Cog Boss sighed and knocked; it was as he had feared. There was no answer. He knocked again but Elmo was too distraught to permit him entry. The Bossbot opened the door and entered.

A metal shelf or table descended from the ceiling in one corner of their rooms for the Cog Bosses to sprawl on after they had shutdown for the night. It was upon this that the Vice President was leaning, sobbing into his now ruined sleeves. He looked up when Roscoe entered.

"Why is he gone?"

"I. . . I don't know."

"Who did it?"

"I don't know that either."

The Sellbot went back to whimpering into his arms.

He hovered at the door, unsure if he would face the same rejection he had received from the CJ until he reminded himself that Elmo was not like that. Roscoe touched him lightly on the shoulder. "Elmo?"

He looked up with tear-filled eyes.

"Do you want a hug?"

The VP sniffed, nodded, pushed a button on the wall to move his bed out of the way then pulled Roscoe into a tight hug, burying his face into the Bossbot's shoulder.

He returned it, equally tightly and sighed. Why had this happened?