"Hey Bea, are you done in there yet?" Beauregard asked as he knocked on the bathroom door. "It's just that you've been in there all day, and our date tonight is in about fifteen minutes." He said in bewilderment. "For crying out loud we're just going for dinner and a movie. How would that warrant so much work in there?"
"Well it's my first official date, and I want it to be perfect!" Beatrice said.
"And Dr. Metro said that a 'perfect' date would be impossible," Beauregard answered. "Now... can you please come out?"
"Just... one... last... there! Now I'm ready!" Beatrice said.
"Well I'm going to get Persephone, you'll get Daniel and we'll meet up at the restaurant." Beauregard left the house and flew to pickup Persephone. Beatrice also did this to pick up her boyfriend Daniel Pakaru.
She knocked on the door, and out of the door came Daniel. "Sorry, It was kind of a hassle to get ready without... oh my." He then saw his robot girlfriend.
Beatrice was as beautiful as ever in her light blue sleeveless dress that matched her blue hair and eyes. The dress hugged her figure perfectly, yet was modest enough to leave the rest to the imagination. Her shy, yet happy smile topped off her beauty. "Is the dress too much? I spent all day designing it. I've got it saved into my data-network... but if you don't like-"
"Beatrice... you're as beautiful as ever. And the dress is gorgeous." Daniel said breathlessly.
"Thanks," Beatrice said bashfully. "Are you-are you ready?"
"Yes, although I still have doubts about doing this with Beauregard," Daniel said. "I mean, he could not have-"
"Hey, that's my family you're talking about." Beatrice admonished. "Now hang on tight." She said as she grabbed Daniel's wheelchair. She then flew with him in tow towards an Italian restaurant. "Here's the place." She said proudly at the restaurant.
"Is it any good?" Daniel asked.
"Well Veronica and Jonah frequent this place, and they've only had good things to say about it," Beatrice said, they were then joined by Beauregard and Persephone. "It's great to see you guys... why are you wearing a tuxedo Persephone?"
"Well, Bo did get me this cute dress. But I thought that something might happen on this date that would ruin it" Persephone said.
"What could possibly go wrong?" Daniel said.
"This is Danville, Dan, at least once a week something weird and/or destructive happens," Beauregard said, and as if to illustrate his point. The Baklava Boar was in the parking lot. "See, he isn't around often but-"
"Beauregard. Let's just enjoy the evening." Beatrice interrupted, the couples went inside the restaurant and were seated at their table. Eventually, a waitress came to them. "Yes, we'd like to see some menus- Veronica?" She said in surprise at her purple-haired gynoid cousin.
"I wasn't aware that you worked here," Beauregard said.
"I don't," Veronica said frankly. "Actually it's kind of a story why-"
A look of panic went across Beatrice's face like wildfire. "Veronica... is your dad, or your brother, or any of your male relatives here?"
Veronica looked apprehensive to answering her cousin's question. "...yes." Veronica relented. "In fact, there's a Murphy family reunion and we're all having dinner here tonight-" Beatrice then fell to the floor, hyperventilating in panic. "And she lasted longer than I thought."
"Okay, what is going on? What is the big deal of a family reunion?" Persephone asked.
"It's Murphy's Law, the entire family has some sort of genetic disorder that attracts negative probability ions," Beauregard explained. "Which means that the family, specifically the males, are essentially walking disaster areas. Whatever can go wrong, will more often than not go wrong. Sometimes in especially improbable ways"
"It's going to be okay Bea," Daniel said reassuringly as he dragged Beatrice into his wheelchair. "Seriously, you couldn't have given a heads up?" He said accusingly at Veronica. "You and Jonah couldn't shoot a text?"
"In our defense, nobody spoke a word about this date beyond that it would be tonight," Veronica said pensively. "As for why I'm your waiter, one of the waiters that we're serving our family got severe concussions from a falling chandelier. And one of the chefs was knocked out by a ricocheting cork. So Jonah and I are helping to make up for their work."
"B-B-Beauregard, how many-many-many-many Murphy males are here- are here- are here- are here?" Beatrice asked, her voice glitching from stress.
Beauregard donned his visor. "Begining sensor sweep... and I've got at least one-dozen Murphy's with the Murphy's Law gene."
Persephone snorted with repressed laughter. "Come on, don't tell me you two of all people believe in bad luck."
"Murphy's Law is not just 'bad luck'," Daniel said grimly. "The first time we directly encountered it, we got sucked into a freak wormhole to an alien planet. That isn't bad luck, that's the universe itself trying to-" He then remembered that his girlfriend was having a panic attack. "My point is that Murphy's Law is real and dangerous." Then a leg on Persephone's chair broke. "With any fortune, the worst that'll happen is things like that."
"I'll just get a starter for you, in the meantime... Bea, try to calm down. Statistically speaking, even if Murphy's Law doesn't ruin your evening, your anxiety will." Veronica said.
The dinner went on, Beatrice hyperventilating in panic as random pieces of furniture broke. "Easy Bea... I've got you," Daniel said reassuringly, taking her hands into his.
"Wow... she does not handle stress well," Persephone said.
"She honestly handled the war better... though her therapist was brought along," Beauregard said.
"He's your therapist as well-well-well-well," Beatrice said, eventually, the teenagers got their food. With Beatrice's meal being an entire baking dish of lasagne. After she ate it, her face was covered in cheese and sauce. "Sorry for my mess. I tend to eat like this when I'm stressed. And Murphy's Law so close to my first date... I'm sorry for-"
"Don't apologize, Bea," Daniel said. "Just... after we're done here. Maybe we should go home."
Beatrice's eyes bulged. "No! We've got a movie after this, and by Asimov, we're going to see it!"
"So how serious are the Three Laws to you guys?" Persephone asked of Beauregard.
"Well, we BEA-Droids see them more as broad guidelines than absolute rules. Whereas less advanced robots are hard-wired to obey them absolutely." Beauregard clarified.
XXXX
Later on, Beatrice, Daniel, Beauregard, and Persephone were at the movies. Beatrice had noticeably calmed down since they finished dinner. "I hope you guys enjoy this movie."
"Well... personally I've never really been into superhero movies," Persephone said. "I mean the Silver Automaton is cool, and saved Earth from the Sym'ians... but come on. These things are so old hat that only parodies and animated direct to video movies are ever any good."
"A fair point," Beatrice agreed. "But I'm certain that you'll like this one." The movie began, and it was quickly established that the movie was less about the fictitious adventures of the Silver Automaton. But about the behind the scenes of how such a movie would typically go.
"Oh my goodness you were right I love this movie," Persephone said excitedly.
"And thankfully... there are no Murphy's in this theater." Beatrice noted, then the theater started to shake.
"Okay... I wasn't expecting that to happen." Beauregard said with surprise. "I mean I was under the impression that this movie didn't-"
"It's not the movie," Beatrice said ominously. "Bro," Beatrice transmitted. "I don't know what exactly is causing those tremors. But we need to look into them. Now."
"A fair point, but we need a distraction or an excuse to slip away." Beauregard transmitted.
"Yes- wait? Why would you want to... have you not told Persephone about our armor?" Beatrice asked.
"I haven't found an opportunity yet!" Beauregard said defensively. "And besides, how bad could things get that we'd need the armor?"
XXXX
The mutated Tyranousaurs Rex was subdued by the armored BEA-Droids. "Beatrice... look at the time." Beauregard transmitted to his twin sister.
"We need to get back to the theater now!" Beatrice said in a panic. The two siblings hastily flew back to the movie theater where their date was interrupted by a rampaging dinosaur that had been mutated.
They hastily discarded their armor, snuck back into the theater. And returned just in time for the end of the movie.
"Persephone, I'm so sorry that I was gone for so long." Beauregard apologized.
Persephone just rolled her eyes. "Well better late than never," Daniel said understandingly, giving Beatrice an understanding kiss on the cheek.
XXXX
After the movie was over, Beauregard took Persephone home. "Bo... it was a good night. But I want to know why you were gone for most of the movie." She said tensely.
Beauregard sighed in resignation. "Look... you have to understand that I didn't..." He said anxiously. "You're a really great girl, and I didn't know how to share this without-"
"Just. Tell me." Persephone said.
Beauregard took a deep breath, he then projected a hologram of the Silver Automaton armor. "Beatrice... is the Silver Automaton. My cousins are the Emerald Automaton, the Ruby Automaton, the Obsidian Automaton, and the Amythest Automaton. I'm the Black Knight." He admitted.
Persephone's face turned from a look of disappointment to genuine surprise. "Wow... I mean this does explain why the Silver Automaton and his-I mean her! Her friends were missing during the War of Earth." She noted.
"Yes... I'm sorry for not telling you sooner." Beauregard apologized.
Persephone then took her robotic boyfriend into a passionate kiss. "Are you kidding me? This is the most awesome thing that's ever happened to me!"
"More awesome than saving your life WITHOUT the armor?" Beauregard asked.
"My point is, not only am I dating an awesome robot... but an awesome robot superhero!" Persephone exclaimed. "I can't wait to write about this!" She said as she ran inside her apartment.
"Just keep it safe for work! And don't go revealing our identities!" Beauregard yelled.
XXXX
Beatrice returned Daniel to his home. "So... d-did you have a good night?" The gynoid asked anxiously.
"It was one of the best," Daniel said.
"E-Even though the restaurant fell apart around us, a-and I pigged out?" Beatrice stuttered.
"Consider our experiences with Murphy's Law, I'd say you were justified in your anxiety," Daniel said.
"A-And when Bo and ducked out of the movie? Th-That wasn't an issue?" Beatrice said.
"I was disappointed that you had to go and leave me. But, it was for the greater good." Daniel said as he hugged Beatrice. "Goodnight Beatrice."
Beatrice returned the hug. "Thank you... oh, what the heck." She then gave Daniel a deep, and passionate kiss. "I love you Daniel Pakaru." She then flew off for home.
Daniel blushed. "I love you too Beatrice Flynn!"
XXXX
The twin Flynn BEA-Droids returned home. "So, how was your date?" Isabella asked of her robotic children.
"It went well... despite some complications that were beyond our control," Beauregard said.
"First at the restaurant, the Murphy family was eating there for a family reunion. By the time we left. Every chair, table, and ever other wall had collapsed." Beatrice explained. "Then at the movie, a mutant T-Rex ran amok and we needed to contain it."
"Reminds me of when your father and I started dating," Isabella said wistfully.
"Mom, you didn't even start dating until you got into college." Beauregard pointed out.
"And I'm so happy that at least two of my children didn't repeat one of the biggest mistakes of my life," Isabella said with tears of joy in her eyes.
"Which ones?" Beauregard said sardonically.
Beatrice elbowed her brother in the stomach. "Anyway, it's getting late so we'll be going to bed." She then dragged her twin brother down to their basement bedroom, the twins plugged themselves into the Quantum Android Forge. "Goodnight Bo."
"Goodnight Bea." And the two robots went into sleep mode for the night.
XXXX
The following morning, Beatrice and Beauregard woke up and ate breakfast. "So what's on your agenda today?" Beauregard asked his sister.
"Well, we managed to resolve my whole 'love-triangle' thing," Beatrice said. "So I think I'll help my friends."
"Which ones?" Beauregard asked. "I mean the obvious answer is 'all of them', but who would you start with?"
"Well... Jessie, Mathew, and Jessica, I think." She surmised. "Jessica's current condition is pretty much my fault," Beatrice said regretfully. "Mathew's still shaken up about the Battle of Nidavellir. And Jessie, well I think I should look into her anyway."
"Well, what were you expecting when you grafted one of your arms into her arm?" Beauregard said. "Though I do agree regarding Mathew... he seemed surprisingly sociable despite his neurological differences. And I won't lie, Jessie despite her demeanor and often confusing mannerisms... I respect her."
"Confusing how?" Beatrice asked. "Is it because she's biracial?"
"I'm only going to say that she confuses me," Beauregard said defensively. "And what about your old Young Superheroes Initiative friends?"
"There stronger than you realize," Beatrice said proudly. "They can handle whatever problems there facing as a result of the war."
"If you say so," Beauregard said, disguising his disbelief. "And what of our cousins?"
"There seeing Dr. Metro as well, aren't they? And before you tack on Draco, he's too... young in mind to really understand what happened." Beatrice said.
"I was actually talking about Amanda," Beauregard said. "She's still not talking to you after... whatever you did to alienate her."
"I'll get her a gift basket," Beatrice said quickly. "A gift basket and a video publically apologizing for publically embarrassing her."
Beauregard just rolled his eyes at the notion. "Well... might as well actually eat then just ramble like this."
