Chapter 10 : New life, new life

At 2:30 pm, Larry was still waiting in the café. He checked time again and couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. The rendezvous was at 2:00 pm. The new officer was already late. Maybe didn't he receive the message?

Nevertheless, Larry still waited while ordering some extra oil. Every time there was a newcomer in the café, Larry wondered if they were Officer Buck Tuddrussel. His heart beat faster whenever the newcomer was attractive though he always ended up disappointed when they headed for another customer.

At 2:45 pm, Larry was ready to pay and leave when the door opened again. This time it was a tall, bulky man who appeared (almost a giant). He probably was around forty, a kind of designer stubble and was dressed with the usual Time Squad uniform.

No doubt. That was Officer Buck Tuddrussel.

At the first glance, Larry's heart sort of jumped in his chest, heat radiating inside. Tuddrussel wasn't really bad-looking. He even had a kind of charm that could attract some people. In any case, Larry couldn't help but having a small grin on his face when Tuddrussel headed for him.

The man didn't look as pleased. Before Larry could speak, he just blurted out. "Guess you are the tin can that will be paired up with me?"

One sentence and Larry's grin disappeared.

"…yes. My name is Lawrence 3000…Though I guess you can call me Larry."

"Rust-butt"

Larry's eyes widened. "Beg…pardon?" He mustn't have heard well.

"Sorry…I have still trouble acknowledging that robots have names and jobs. To me, they always have been like…microwave. Why giving names to microwave?"

Larry's grin appeared again though this time, he couldn't have a more forced smile. "…I think you must be aware that we are at the year 100,000,000 AD, Buck Tuddrussel."

"Of course I know! So, what?"

"So…Technology progressed. We robots progressed too. We learned to have feelings, dreams, desires…These things humans must have."

Oh my Gosh, Larry thought, why am I talking about such things?

"And…?" Tuddrussel asked. He looked sincerely clueless.

"And" Larry kept on, "it means that as we have feelings, we must have rights too. Name and job is part of these rights. Do you have more questions?"

However, Tuddrussel just looked away, his attention focusing on something else. Did he just hear one word from what I said? Larry wondered.

Okay. The man was racist. Never mind. Larry dealt with racist people during his career. He was able to endure.

"Coffee" Tuddrussel just said. "Hey man!"

The waiter brought a hot coffee in front of him. Larry took this opportunity to order some oil again. He would probably need it.

"So, why did you call me?" Tuddrussel just asked him.

Larry raised one eyebrow. "Huh…I just called you because I thought it would be a better way to learn more about each other. Did you just read my message?"

Suddenly, the man laughed. "Ha yes! Your message was just hilarious!"

"Is that so?" Larry didn't mean it to be funny. He was formal and polite. That's all.

"Indeed. A robot calling me officer Tuddrussel! OFFICER Tuddrussel!" The man repeated, punching the table, mugs trembling.

What was he talking about? He just called him by his usual title and name. Though right now, Larry was tempted to call him by others ways. He thought that monkey, moron and baboon were more fitting than officer.

"Anyway, I just wanted to know…Since when are you an officer?" Larry remained polite though he really did his best not to look annoyed. Inside, how deeply annoyed he was.

"…Don't know" Tuddrussel drank his coffee before ordering another.

"…Have you been partnered with others robots before?"

"HAHA! No."

"And…As we will live together…What are things you like?"

"HEY!" Tuddrussel glared at him. "We are not in a speed-dating here! I don't swing that way!" He loudly growled, pointing a finger on Larry's face.

Larry's friendly expression turned into a deadpan face. "…I know we are not. I simply asked if there were things you liked to eat and…"

"Nachos! Burgers! Pizzas!" Tuddrussel spat out, before ordering another coffee. "And coffee."

"If it can please you, I have others recipes…I just cooked a delicious…"

"No!" Tuddrussel cut him off. "Burger!"

Larry crossed his arms. "You didn't let me finish. I just said that I could cook others meals for you." That man had the simplest tastes. In one instant, Fiskmeyer's clone Larry had in mind shattered in millions of pieces. He was replaced by reality embodied by the man in front of him. "Did you…ever eat chicken curry?"

"I didn't."

Okay, Larry thought, maybe there is still a way to save him…If I make him discover more refined meals; there still is one chance that he would like it.

"However I don't care! First, burgers."

Larry sighed.

They talked like this for quite time, Tuddrussel becoming more and more annoying and Larry struggling to maintain his false calm attitude. At one point, Tuddrussel just stared at him and cried out.

"Dude! I haven't realized how much you looked sissy!"

This time, Larry put his cup down. "Sorry…I don't understand this word coming out from a smelly baboon like you."

"WHAT? WHAT JUST DID YOU SAY, YOU TIN CAN?" Tuddrussel yelled.

Oh my God, Larry thought, first meeting and we already are at each other's throats. Honestly, Larry found him unbearable. He wondered if there was a way to be transferred in another Unit with another officer. Why did they pair him up with HIM? XJ5 said their personalities should match. What did they have in common? They were too different! No way it could work.

"I sincerely apologize, officer." Larry said in a mocking tone. "I was too entertained by your wonderful smell and…your…awing language."

Tuddrussel didn't reply. Once again, his attention was focused on something else. The door opened again. A beautiful red-haired woman appeared and headed for them.

"Buck? What are you doing?"

"Ah! Mrs Sheila Tuddrussel!" Tuddrussel welcomed her, grinning.

For one moment, Larry wondered if that was only a joke. The true officer Tuddrussel would be this woman and this gorilla would be an imposter sent and paid by Fiskmeyer to torture him. Unfortunately, it didn't sound to be the case.

"Hey! Honey!" Tuddrussel kissed her, accidentally pouring some coffee on her uniform. The woman frowned though her face remained calm. Look like Larry wasn't the only one embracing this attitude when it came to HIM.

"I just wanted to know if you wished some help to move in your satellite." The woman asked. Her tone sounded emotionless.

"Of course no!" Tuddrussel chuckled. "By the way, do we see each other tonight?"

The woman shook her head. " I don't think so, Buck. I'm too busied."

"You are always busied."

The woman then turned back at Larry. "Hello. My name is Sheila. I'm…Tuddrussel's wife."

Larry's eyes widened. His wife? Only one question was in his mind: how could this woman be married with him?

How could he have been married?

He couldn't understand. He just stared at her, taken aback.

"…My name is Larry 3000." He introduced himself.

"Pleased to meet you" She then came closer to him, whispering in his ear. "I wish you good luck."

"Hey sweetie! Take a coffee!" Tuddrussel offered.

"No Buck. I'm late. Then…You will make me pay as usual because you forgot your wallet".

She then left the café. Tuddrussel's grin fell down.

"These last times, she only avoids me. It is always about work now." He sighed. Larry frowned, a bit taken aback by the sudden depressed attitude.

"When I met her, she liked having fun. Now she is just a work alcoholic. I just don't understand…Everything changed since we got married. She is like a stranger for me now."

At least, it looked like he wasn't that dumb…At least when it came to his wife.

"I'm sorry, I suppose" Larry tried to put the sympathy card though it sort of reminded him Fiskmeyer. He ended up by standing up. "My things are packed so…Why not just joining our new satellite?"

"…Yes. I suppose that's a good idea." Tuddrussel was about to follow him when the waiter immediately pounced on them.

"Hey! You didn't pay your drinks!" He yelled, angry.

Tuddrussel searched for money in his pockets. "Oops. Guess I just forgot my wallet." He grinned at Larry. "Rust-butt, it would be my first order as your master. Pay my drinks."

Larry nearly choked. "Beg pardon? Are you serious?"

"Hey! I didn't have time to pick my wallet…Sorry. Let's go home now."

"PAY!" The waiter ordered him, his face red. Larry sighed but complied. After all, there were no other way.

First day, first trouble, Larry thought. Only one responsible: Tuddrussel. Gosh! My life is great! Before teleporting them to their satellite (beg pardon: their new home) he also paid for the paper. He was just able to read the headline before disappearing out from the café.

"Save Lance 9 Trillion".