Mr. Roboto
Chapter-8 The Future has Arrived
Applied Cryogenics, New New York, December 30th, 2999.
It felt like no time had passed since Gary was looking at the face of Sherri Fry, to now having a blurry vision and a tired body. The cryogenics tube door opened in front of him as he was still registering his surroundings. He then took a step out and felt his body to make sure nothing had been removed since the door closed. His glasses, python, and Sherri's letter were all still there completely untouched without any sign of aging. Even his skin didn't show a day of aging. He looked back into the chamber to see his pack was still inside, and he saw the timer on the door read zero. Zero?! He thought to himself, if it reads zero, that means I've spent the whole time in the chamber uninterrupted, and that must mean… He then turned to his left and saw the window overlooking the city that was still there, but this time, he was looking at a completely different city.
The future has arrived.
He went straight up to the glass, amazed at the sights he was witnessing. Cars were flying, buildings were all different looking, and there was so much more…color everywhere. There had been no sign of wars, no signs of dystopian civilizations, and no signs of corruption. It was perfectly peaceful and happy. Ever flowing with action and excitement that only a fantasy could rival. It was the best image of the future he could've possibly imagined from his childhood. It was the definition of Tomorrowland. With that Gary then started smiling and chuckling like a little kid.
"I knew I made the right choice, this is amazing!" He shouted excitedly. "This is everything I could've possibly dream of, never in my life would I think a thousand years from now would look so great." He then looked to his side and as if things weren't already fantastic, Fry was still frozen, with the exact same expression on his face; beer can and all. "And Fry is still here, nothing's happened to him or me in all this time. Thing's couldn't be any better."
He then heard a sound coming from the other side of the vastly different entrance door on the other side of the room, even in the midst of his jollity, Gary then got this strange feeling of uncertainty. As if he wasn't supposed to be there. "I gotta hide," He thought aloud. He knew he'd have to freeze himself again if he stepped back into the chamber, and with a default of another thousand years he knew he couldn't set the timer fast enough. He then looked around the room for another place to hide and saw an open closet door. He quickly made his way over and by the time he shut the door, the entrance door slid open.
"Welcome, to the world of…huh?" Presented a male voice, clearly expecting him to be there. "Lou, wasn't there someone supposed to run the time by now?"
There was a big enough gap at the bottom of the closet door so that Gary could make out the feet of the people in the room without being seen. Assuming they didn't need to open the closet.
"I'd think so Terry," Another voice said as another pair of unusual blue shoes with overlapping pant legs at the soul came into view. "The 36-chamber door is open, and it looks like something is still inside of it." Gary cringed at forgetting to pick up his pack that contained his clothes, items from his family, and also guns with live ammo. The pair of shoes then walked over to the chamber, about to look at the pack until…
"What do you think you're doing?" Asked now a female voice.
"This chamber is opened with a clear timer, but no one's here. And there's still this pack of items inside."
"In case you forgot Lou, I'm the security advisor here, it's my job to make sure no one escapes." The female voice said sternly, now coming into sight in the form of a pair of black boots.
"Yeah sure," replied this Lou, "But it looks like this time someone did pass right by your linear sight line." He then laughed a little at his comment.
"At least I'm not some jackwad who can't keep track of who's from what time and how much time they have left." The female said irritated. This made Gary think: was he supposed to unfreeze on his own? Or what even was going to happen next, and what did this Lou guy mean by linear sight line?
"Whatever you say 1B-DI," The other voice, Larry from what Gary heard, said in a joking manner, clearly not taking the woman co-worker seriously.
"I mean it Terry, Ipji is not going to like this." This codenamed 1B-DI, said sternly, clearly taking her job more seriously. 1B-DI? whatever that means Gary thought, "We haven't had an escapee in the past century, now we need to find whoever it was and assign them to their ultimate inescapable career." That last part came as a shock to Gary, inescapable career?!, he thought, By the looks of things, I thought this was a paradise of a future.
"I'd really stop calling it an inescapable career if I were you B-DI," One of the men suggested, "They can have options…if they're smart enough."
"Firstly Lou, I thought that was my area of expertise," The woman argued back, "And secondly, after all the clients I've worked with, very few of them had any useful experience." This also came as a shock to Gary. Surely he had useful skills in this time period right?
"Okay miss unibrow." One of the workers joked, and even without a face Gary could tell the woman did not like his comment. Whatever it meant.
"What do we do about that bag left in the chamber?"
"Considering how big it is I'd doubt they'd leave it behind, you two watch the security cameras to find out who it was."
"But hey, you're the security guard here."
"Security guard and cryogenic counselor to be exact, secondly it's almost quitting time and I have other business to powder in." She told her co-workers as she left the room, giving Gary a chance to think about how to get his pack. Clearly these Lou and Terry guys didn't seem to be that smart.
Seems like the people did get dumber as time went on. Gary thought. As he looked down to think about what to do next he saw a crushed soda can on the ground. This gave him an idea of how to distract the men and find a way out.
Slurm, he read, never head of it, but there's bound to be millions of new things to learn about. That's what I gotta do next, learn about what's happened in the past millennium. He could tell the can was still made of aluminum, showing the metal was still in use. Weather it was still mined from earth or somewhere else was something he'd have to find out. Of course there'd be worries to combat such as food, money, general supplies and a career. And making sure he gets Sherri's letter to Fry. but given he'd just awoken from an insanely long hibernation, there'd be time for those concerns later. Now he just had to get out and find out what was originally his future, but was now history to these people.
He started to slowly open up the closet door, not to cause attention to the cryogenicists. It appeared they were deep into a conversation at the room's entrance, unaware of his activity. Gary opened the door enough to execute the next part of his plan. He crushed the soda can quietly, raised his arm back with the can in hand, and threw it towards the door. As if luck was still on his side even after his hibernation, the can flew right above them and landed in the hallway.
"You hear something Lou?" One of them asked, looking around and coming to his senses.
"I've heard nothing," the other admitted, "All I've heard is just you and something coming from the hallway." He along with his co-worker both had shocked faces when they realized they hear something in the hallway.
"Something from the hallway?!" They both said in unison with surprise. "I told you there was something up," One of them told the other as they both went into the hallway to investigate.
"Seems like cartoon logic still lives on." Gary said to himself as he fully opened up the closet door and went over to the chamber to grab his pack. He opened up the compartments and check to see that everything was still intact. Given how everything on his body was intact he didn't think the pack would be any different. After making sure everything was still there he placed it on his back and looked at the now empty chamber. A small wave of emotions from what he'd just experience swept his conscious. Even if it had been hundreds of years since he interacted with the outside world, to him it felt as if no time had passed. As if he hadn't slept in the time his family was killed and his world shattered. He then shut the now empty chamber, but with nothing inside the chamber didn't seem to engage the timer.
He then looked back at chamber-40, the one with Fry inside. He was still one of the biggest reasons he was there, and it was his mission to get Sherri's letter to him. Even if it took the rest of his life. It's not going to take that long. Gary reassured himself, I just need to keep an eye on him. And make sure he doesn't go far. At first he thought just leaving it on the door, but then he thought about how much time Fry had left. Looking down at the dial it read: 23 hours, 37 minutes, and 18 seconds. If he left the note there, there'd be a good chance it'd either be taken by security or Fry wouldn't notice. Gary knew he had to keep it with him and give it to Fry in person, when the time was right. For whatever reason he now noticed how it was daytime when he awoken from his chamber. And not only did the time prove the chamber was undisturbed, but just like he did, Fry would awaken in the afternoon. Gray's watch, which somehow had it's battery preserved too, read 6:06.
"Don't go wandering too far kid." He said looking at Fry's chamber. "My business with you isn't finished just yet." And look at that, already sounding like an old man. He thought as he walked away from the cryo chambers and to the exit.
He poked his head out from the room exit and looked around to find a very white and sterile hallway. Just like many sci-fi stories he grew up with. He noticed how the two men in the room before were still talking to each other about something, and not paying attention to their surroundings. What ever they were discussing, it was something they were both clearly into and something they enjoyed. Gary was in some ways relived that civil conversation was still a necessary component of civilization.
"Hey uh, I don't know about you Lou," One of them started, "But shouldn't we go check to see if 1B-DI is done with her business and hasn't left yet?"
"For once Terry," The other guy now known as Lou, responded. "You make a decent point. After all it is her job to check the cryo chambers."
"Isn't that our job though?"
"If it were our jobs, we'd be the best in the business by now and be the managers."
"I like your thinking. We wouldn't have to worry about shit all day and could spend our time playing cards and drinking."
"Someday Terry, someday."
By this point Lou and Terry had entered another room with an entrance seen as a sliding door. Once again, just like many sci-fi stories Gary remembered seeing in his younger days. But now with them gone, and no sign of that security figure they mentioned, it was time for Gary to find his way out. The hallway layout was surprisingly similar to the hallway from the original building, then again since there were no interruptions in his frozen status, the building had to have been preserved throughout his whole hibernation. That in itself had to have been another miracle, another one in a row for him.
He found the elevator, looking similarly to the one he came up there in, and started going down in it. This time however it was moving considerably faster than before. Not just with it's doors but the transport speed was much faster than any elevator he'd ever been in. It was a dragster compared to the tractors from his time. Upon arriving at the lobby floor and the elevator doors opening, he saw once again how different things were from his last time being there. With advanced computer systems and a much cleaner look than before. Also with no evidence there was even a shootout in the building to begin with.
No one appeared to have taken notice of him once again as he made his way out of the lobby and out the front door.
Meanwhile back at the top, Terry and Lou were back in the main hallway.
"Wait a minute, weren't we supposed to be checking for a strange noise around here?" Lou questions.
"Hey you're right," Terry suddenly remembers why they went into the hallway in the first place. "Well, why don't we have dinner with 1B-DI first and then…Hey what's this?" He looks down and saw there was a crushed slurm can on the ground. "This can only mean one thing…someone didn't see the recycling bin."
"Or since it's crushed already," Lou begins, "Do you think someone tried to throw this towards the recycling bin from the…" They both looked at each other in shock as they realized:
"The cryo chambers!" They shouted in unison realizing their mistake, and rushing in only to find chamber 36 was empty, with no trace of previous occupation.
"Oh shit, 1B-DI is going to…"
"Do what?"
They both gasped at the female voice from behind them. And turning around confirmed their fears that the security officer was done with her business, and they had just let someone form the cryo chambers go. Without being assigned to their inescapable career no less.
"No officer I swear." Terry tried defending himself.
"Cool it Terry I'm not a real police officer," IB-DI reassured both Terry and Lou. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to beat your asses for being incompetent again when I'm done with my shift."
"There will be no ass beating from any of you today." Interjected another voice coming from the entrance. "Not after failing to keep a person from wandering off into the world without a job."
"But I thought it was illegal to not be employed." Lou questioned.
"We just tell them that so they get scared and sign on the whatever we tell them to get." Ipji confirmed. "But regardless, never since I've been in charge of Applied Cryogenics has someone wandered off into the streets without someone getting assigned something…Until now." He then looked at Lou and Terry with a disappointed look. "Had there not be a lack of recent applicants, I would've fired you two stooges long ago.
"Two stooges?" Terry asked confused at his boss's analogy. "Then who's the third stooge?" Their answer came in the form of Ipji suddenly turning to 1B-DI, again adorned with a look of shame.
"She's way too good looking to be Curley." Lou whispered into Terry's ear regarding their boss's analogy. "And too narrow eyed." Terry joked back.
"I would've expected more from you officer, given your previously distractionless record." Ipji now addressing 1B-DI.
"How is this my fault?" She protested. "I had to go powdering," That last line causing Lou and Terry to snicker, followed by a death stare at them from her. Causing them to straighten up instantly. "And you know better than to trust the stooges with making sure the fresh freezlees have their fates assigned."
"At least that's what we want them to think." Ipji reminded. "But still, since you're in charge of security and you've had a flawless record since starting here four years ago. I'm going to let you off with a warning. I mean, what's one extra hobo out there going to hurt for the streets of robots and aliens? Even if I do encourage you to track them down."
"Does this mean I'll get a raise of I find them?" 1B-DI asked with enthusiasm.
"How about a new laser gun instead?" Ipji offered showing off a fresh off the line laser pistol.
"They don't even kill with one shot, they just sort of…stun people."
"Bottom line is: We had our first escapee in over a century today, and if this happens again I swear. It'll be the first and last mistake you'll ever make."
"So nothing extra for going out and finding this person with no leads and no previous identity?" 1B-DI argued back at her boss's threat. "Sounds like a great time for me."
"What about the security camera footage from earlier? That has to give you some type of lead?"
"Uhh, about that boss." Terry began reluctantly. "The cameras were pointing the wrong direction."
"Next time I'll have to arm you dims with styx and stones." Ipji could only sigh as the sudden incompetence of his team continued to dismay him. "As for leads, there maybe someone around Manhattan with no previous identity and will likely have no idea what's happened since they froze themselves. We'll be notified if there's a strange person in the area who doesn't seem to fit in."
"I can go searching right as any lead is found." 1B-DI presented.
"Very well," Ipji accepted. "And since this is only your first mishap and it's not entirely your fault I'll let it slide, but don't mistake me. I won't be so easy the next time. In the meantime, since there's no chambers scheduled to open up for the rest of the day, if you can find out anything about who was in there before they escaped, what you find may be useful in tracking them down."
"I guess I'll see what I can find," 1B-DI accepted, "But whatever I find still may not be enough to find them. They must've been pretty smart to make it out of here unnoticed, wonder what they were like?" But to her mostly absent luck, she'll find out who escaped before long.
It was a surprisingly warm December outside; at least 50 degrees. Much warmer than the winter weather Gary felt when he froze himself nearly a thousand years ago. He also noticed just how on the move this future seemed to be. Cars whizzing by on the road as well as in the air, ships high above the city, and even a few modes of transportation that he never thought possible. Like a huge tube with people flowing inside, and a few people on jet packs. It seemed like everyone was in such a rush that no one noticed the one wearing the old western clothes and who also had a backpack with metal frame. Speaking of people it seemed that everyone looked just about the same, minus a few new hair and clothes styles that have clearly evolved with time. But even to Gary that was nothing new. Wonder if any of them have ever seen the fashion trends of the 80s. He thought in his head while observing the people around him. His guns were still out of sight and he still had enough ammo if and when he needed to use them. But the real question is now are normal guns even used? And if so could he even find the ammo to continue to use them? But that was a concern for another time. The big concern now was finding out more about the new world around him.
Wait. He suddenly realized, What about the money I have? I don't have that much with me, and I doubt any cash or credit card I have will work in this new time. Now he not only had to figure out what had happened since his time, but he had to find a way to get enough money to make it through a few days in the new city. I guess I could try finding a pawn shop or somewhere to sell something, that would at least allow me to make it a few days. Gary thought to himself again. It's not like I plan on doing any big spending anytime soon.
He continued to walk along as he passed not just people but a few strange looking creatures. He tried to act naturally and just let them pass by, just like how they were letting him pass by. Did this mean there were alien lifeforms now here on earth or were these genetic mutations of some kind? More answers needed for more questions.
At least an answer to the question of what to do next came up as he passed by what appeared to be a map of the city. Going up to it and examining it, it appeared that there was no geographical change to the city since his hibernation. So if that was the case here then it was unlikely there'd be any major geographical changes anywhere else in the world. So this proves that global warming or whatever the news called it was a myth. Gary then observed how he was located in Bowman and not Chelsea.
Did they rename the section in his honor? He thought, If so then they found out about his death and killing of the Wiseos. But then they clearly didn't find out about him, and there were no successors to the Butchers since there was no armory in the building. Unless they moved but that was something to find out later. He then how the local transportation network consisted of a few bus lines and a train line, just like in his time. But there were no metro lines, instead there appeared to be a tubular transport system. With lines running around Manhattan and connections to Brooklyn and Queens.
"This shows the transport systems but no historical attractions." Gary thought aloud. "I see things like The Hip Joint and The Madison Cube Garden?" In a slightly different location than the original square garden no less. "But what about historica…wait." He suddenly found a structure located where the Museum of Natural history was before, this time called the: "Head Museum?" Was it just a showcase of skulls from historical figures? Or was it talking about a different perspective of history? Ahead of history? Either way this was the place to go to find out about the past thousand years. "Free on Tuesdays?" Not only was that a strange day for a museum to be free, coincidentally it would be on New Year's Eve, but it was a Monday today. "Where am I supposed to find money to learn about this…" As if right on cue, his noticed a ten-dollar bill at the support beam of the sign.
"Once again, the future continues to impress me." Gary continued to himself. "Maybe this is good Karma for what pain I endured those years ago. Even if I technically haven't sleep since then." But it was just now turning to evening so sleep could wait, and was yet another issue he needed to figure out. "I hope this is enough to get into this museum." It was quite a few blocks until he got to the museum, so he'd have plenty of time to see more of what's changed around Manhattan.
After a walking some he was in the equivalent of the theater district. Time's Square was only a block away and Gary could tell many of the businesses that populated the city before were long extinct. Instead replaced by businesses that appeared to offer similar items of interest. Commonalities such as restaurants, bars, markets, and other various stores appeared to have little change. But considering such commodities have been a staple of society since the beginning of civilization, it honestly wasn't a huge surprise that stores and restaurants haven't changed much. Speaking of which Gary was beginning to get thirsty, and maybe should considering finding a bar or fountain of the future to try the new standard for beverages. Just like how Grandpa Bucyrus told him long ago about how Sarsaparilla was given a name change despite being: "The same damn thing."
There was a plethora of options when it came to finding a drink, after all it was still New York. But none of the places seemed to really catch Gary's attention. So far were just fast-food places like Fishy Joe's or convenience stores from his time like 7-eleven, but somehow even more convenient. He then saw on the corner a place that finally swayed his attention, Café 1980s. It's exterior being even more vibrant than the buildings already around the city, and with a name calling back to his time, there was sure to be some nods to his time and what his time meant now.
Walking into the sound of Beat It, he saw how everything was retro compared to the outside city. With the walls covered in memorabilia he instantly recognized, and many of the people dressed accordingly with the said time.
"Looks like even now my time is well respected." Gary said to himself impressed with the sights and sounds surrounding him. There were enough people inside to make it seem like the place was live, but not crowded like the streets either. After taking a seat at a vacant stool he started to look at not just drink options but price too. Shortly he was greeted by…a ROBOT bartender?
"Afternoon human and welcome to the Café 1980s," The robot appeared to introduce himself. Fitted with time appropriate attire and with a voice to match the city outside. "The name's Vectyx, and what can I gecha?"
Gary didn't think he saw any robots on the sidewalks earlier but maybe he wasn't paying enough attention. Surely he would've noticed if a sentient robot passed him. But now all he could do was try to keep his shocked expression suppressed and figure out what the new popular drinks were based on what this city sounding robot had to say.
"I'm new to this area," He wasn't exactly lying but didn't want to reveal his real age, fearing he could be tracked down. "What kind of drinks you got and what do you personally recommend?"
"Oh I don't think you'd like my favorite sir," Vectyx answered honestly, "I was told humans don't take Dinasi very well."
"Dinasi doesn't sound that bad what's it like?"
Gary was then proven it wasn't for him when he saw the logo, it looked just like the dinaco gas station logo combined with the pepsi logo, and it warned: contains 95% petroleum oil and 3% alcohol. "Looks like that's not for me." Gary realized. But he's right it would be a favorite for a machine, if he's even a machine. What even is he? Is he a he? And how is IT able to speak in a New York dialect? Questions filled in his mind about the robot bartender in front of him. "What's your most popular option then?"
"Slurm is undoubtedly our most popular beverage." Vectyx answered, "Then again, I don't think there's a place out there where it isn't the most popular. Guess that's why it's tagline is: "Highly addictive." So this was the brand that Gary noticed not only back at the cryogenic chambers but also across various billboards and delivery vehicles seemed to suggest this was the coke of the 30th century. "Other popular brands include Colonel Belzzer, Summit Splurge, Scorpi-una, and Lingwis's pine cider."
Pine Cider? Gary thought at the name, Sounds like something Grandpa would've drank if he landed in Idaho instead. Either way I don't know if I want it, at least not now. "I'll take a Slurm."
"Sounds good human," Vectyx accepted. Human? Gary thought again, I guess sir isn't what robots use? Or is this bot not a formal? Given this café that seems to be the case. "One Slurm for what did you say your name was?" Gary was taken out of his thoughts when he heard the question.
"A name?" Gary confirmed, "Is a name that important?"
"It ain't my rule human but we've been getting some suspicious activity since the start of this month. Not to mention there've been quite a few anonymous figures coming in and not paying for their drinks. You wouldn't believe it but back when this place first opened in 2915 the bartenders were just monitors on suspended hooks, it was so easy to just take a drink and run. Granted that was before the robot unions were dismantled and we could work for who we wanted to." This explained so much about how much robots have come in not even a century, let alone the millennium Gary was frozen for. "So I hate to be the bad spark in your led zeppelin, but I gotta have a name so when know to charge ya."
Gary knew using his real name could get him identified by the cryogenics lab and have him detained. So he looked around on the walls trying to figure out a temporary name to use to get by while he continued to learn about now. The various album banners on the walls were almost all instantly recognizable to Gary, not just ones he's listened to, but even owned at one point. He then recognized an album he was almost certain would've been forgotten by now: Kilroy was Here by Styx. And given how this Vectyx bot didn't seem to be overly aware of his surroundings, this could be the right name for the time.
"Mr. DeYoung Roboto." Gary answered. At first Vectyx looked as if he didn't by the name, but after a few seconds just as Gary predicted he didn't seem to care. "Strange name for a human but I'm programmed not to judge, $3.60 and your drink will be out soon enough." Gary then gave him the ten, and he inserted the bill into his right shoulder and the change came out of the left shoulder. "$7.40 is your change."
"Why did you need my name if the transaction was so fast?"
"You call that fast?"
Almost instantly after Vextyx finished saying that a futuristic looking bottle came out of the bar top right in front of Gary. "Sorry it took so long Mr. Roboto." Considering it took only seconds for Gary to receive the drink, it only made him question what the standard for table service was in this time. It seemed that Vectyx and other bartender/waiter bots were used to high efficiency service. Very much unlike the past. Gary thought, Wonder how much they make in tips? If anything?
Gary then turned his focus to the bright green, almost glowing green liquid in front of him. It appeared have a higher viscosity than traditional soda, but low enough for a light fizz to be seen. Gary then inspected the nutrition label to see a surprising lack of information. It only mentioned a calorie count of 150 per 20 fluid ounces, and the only ingredient listed was: Grandma Wormulon's secret recipe. While this made Gary suspicious, there were many in the café who also had bottles and glasses of Slurm, so it was clearly safe. After opening the bottle and taking a light sip he was surprised at not only how satisfying it's texture was, but like the tagline implied he wasted no time in taking another sip. "Domo Arigato indeed." Was his response to Vectyx, clearly only understanding the thanks and not getting the reference he made.
"Hope you enjoyed your drink Mr. Roboto." Vectyx said, "Not like it's easy to not enjoy slurm, hope you try another drink soon. Also you might want to back away from the bar some."
"Why would I need to do that for?" He was then answered by large poles coming out from the bar top and the lights turning low.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the 80s," A speaker announced, "It's time to send your kids to the arcade or the alleyway outside and welcome our special dance bots: The Spaceballs and the Star Whores." Two doors from each side of the bar top slide open and a group of robot dancers walked on the bar top towards the poles. Then from the other side a group of very feminine looking robots walked along the top and met the now clearly male robots at the dance poles.
"Don't say I didn't warn ya." Vectyx smirked?
"So that's what a female robot looks like?" Gary asked, barley audible due to the music playing. "Wait a minute how can there be female robots if there's no biological differences?"
"Hear that girls?" One of the female robot dancers responded to what Gary asked, even if he wasn't asking anyone in particular. "This man doesn't know the difference between us and these hunky robo supermen here." She said as she was leaned up against one of the male robot dancers. Along with a few oohs coming from the other female bots. "Why don't we show you the difference honey. HIT IT." A bunch of colored lights started to shine on the bots and some smoke stared filling the café. Along with the song Spaceballs by the Spinners starting to come on. Both the male and female bot dancers were dancing to the song and clearly putting on quite the show for the people at the bar.
"Do they dance like that often?" Gary asked Vectyx who was also looking at the show, distracted from his work. How can a robot be so distracted?
"They usually perform later than this, but since there's only a day left of the year, they're doing early shows." Vectyx answered. "Man does that Sharleen know what gets the antennas extended." He commented on one of the female dance bot's performance. Doing some very rapid motions while the male bots dancing with them were dancing more like what you think a robot would dance like. Still motions and consistent speed intervals. Vextyx was clearly entranced by this fembot's dance moves. In the same vein a man seeing a woman dance would.
This just raises more questions. Gary thought this time. What would the functions of robot dancers be? Of course to entertain, but why use robots for that? And not only are there man and woman robots, but there's both a difference in appearance and movement. The male robots looks just like what you'd expect a robot to look like while the female robots look like metallic women. Complete with slim hourglass figures. Just like their organic counterparts. And based on the way Vectyx is looking at the dancer, he's looking at her so entranced, almost…instinctively? Now I know what he meant by extending antennas. Ew I gotta get outa here.
"Yeah I don't know about you Mr. Vectyx but I think must be going to uhh…pick up party supplies." Gary lied, even though he was completely weirded out by what he was seeing.
"Okay Mr. Roboto, ya know considering your name I'd think you'd look less like one of those western guys and be decked out in high tech gear." Vectyx connected. For a moment Gary wasn't sure if his attire would conflict that much with his temporary name, but if Vectyx couldn't catch on he doubted any robot could notice.
"Also I can't tell who's better."
"Who's better?"
"Sharleen or her older but equally sexy counterpart Lucille." Vectyx looked up at the fembot he was was referring to. Another robot dancer right on of the poles doing a more traditional dance that seemed like familiar to Gary. And significantly less exploitive…at the moment.
"Bake them cookies Lucille!" Vectyx and a few of the male dancers shouted as her dance moves became more intense and more in line with the other fembots. Then she got up close to one of the male bot dancers, opened up his torso compartment, and pulled out a tray full of uncooked cookies. She then opened up two compartments on her chest and poured the cookies into them.
Are those…breasts? Gary questioned in his mind. Is that what they're used for or are they some form of external fuel reservoirs? Either way I don't think I wanna know at this time. Lucille then paused for a moment until a ding was heard, almost sounding like a kitchen timer. She then turned to the people around the bar and tables and asked seductively: "You boys want my delectable centuries old styled cookies?" Outlining her hands around her "breasts". The audience could only cheer with some oohs to add. "Looks like we've got some nice boys tonight, you've earned your cookies. Come and get em!" She then opened up her top and one by one cookies shot out of each breast going around the whole café.
Now I really need to get outa here. Gary thought this time disturbed.
"Well um," He began uncomfortably. "Not that this isn't a nice time and what not for us robot like men but…"
"Hey you two," He was interrupted by Vectyx gesturing two robots who were hooked up to the café's speakers and appeared to be getting high voltage levels running in their bodies. "No Jacking on in this joint, haven't you learned the 80s were such a respectable and drug free time?"
Damn right. Gary thought.
"Read the sign next time." Vectyx said as he disconnected the disappointed robots and dragged them to the café exit. "Damn jackers, sorry you had to see these buzz bums doing electricity but some of these robots don't have any respect."
"I'll say." Gary responded, "These dancing girls giving up their bodies to attract men."
Vectyx was at first taken back some at this perspective from "Mr. Roboto."
"I don't see how these ladies are being exploitive." He explained, "They're just having fun while giving these manly bots a good time. Besides, they dance in front of enough guys they might just find their knight in shining indium."
"Maybe it's just the way I was raised," Gary began with his explanation. "But when I was young and before I was "into girls", my grandmother, bless her soul, gave me advice about which girls to seek out and who to avoid. She gave me her exact philosophy when it came to how one should treat oneself: A man should always respect his woman, but a woman who doesn't respect herself deserves no man." Am I really talking about treating a female robot the same as a human woman? As if robots could feel love…could they?
On the other hand, Vectyx himself really didn't consider this before. How maybe being a robot he didn't feel there was anything more to a female robot than pleasure and excitement. He wasn't sure if (Roboto) knew if robots could have relations, but he's never had any extensive relations before, and maybe this was how to start it.
"I guess you got a point there." Vectyx responded to Mr. Roboto's way of thinking. "They're not going to find their knight if they keep showing off themselves as commodities." Gary was surprised at how philosophical a robot was being with him.
"Then again, wouldn't indium make for a weak exterior?"
"Guess you're right again Roboto. Well if ya needed to get going I hope you revisit sometime. And maybe I'll speak to the dancers about uhh, not being such objects."
"Oh I'll for sure be returning, can't think of a better place to reminisce about what a great time it was. Catch you later Mr. Vectyx." Gary finished as he walked out the exit. Vectyx wasn't sure what he meant about reminisce since he clearly wasn't that old. No one was, so he just brushed it off as someone with an obsession of the time period like everyone else. He then turned back and looked at Lucille, now after considering Gary's view, he decided to try something different.
"Okay take five dancers you've put on a good show now it's time for a recharge." Vectyx announced before closing his attention on Lucille.
"Yo Lucille, fine dancing and all as usual, but have you gotten the feeling that maybe if you're doing this to find your manbot, that you would've found them by now?"
"Look Vectyx," Lucille began, "Not only do the guys like the show I give them, and they certainly love the cookies, but what made you think I'm doing this to find someone?"
"I don't know, but you've been dancing here for almost six years and performed before countless menbots and humans. Haven't you thought about…choosing someone by now?"
"I have fun doing this, the other girls have fun too, and since when do you care about what I do or who I do it with?"
"After talking with that human with a robotic name, he told me about how woman who don't respect themselves don't deserve a man. And after a moment of processing I calculated that maybe he's right."
"You saying I don't deserve a lover?"
"No but I'm saying that if you want respect out of not just guys, but everyone, maybe dancing like it's your last dance isn't the best thing for you. That and haven't you ever thought about ya know, finding a different job?"
"Ya mean you don't like it here?" Lucille asked, now with some form of concern for her co-worker.
"No believe me I do, but I mean I don't want to be a waiter/bartender my whole lifecycle. I mean maybe you could learn how to sing with that lovely voice you've got." Vectyx's cheeks started to feel warmer than usual. As Lucille's smiled cutely at his compliment. "And maybe I could learn how to play drums, I mean my uncle could turn into a freaken drum set."
"Or you could even try out a holophonor. I know we need one here. Either way I think I get the megapixel now. You finding a more respectable career and how it could be the better choice for ya." Then, while thinking about a better career choice another thought occurred to Lucille. "Hey Vectyx, I heard a rumor that manager Aiello has almost reached the end of his lifecycle is that true?"
"Maybe, last I saw he wasn't moving all that fluently. Why are ya asking me?"
"Well, I just thought since you've been here some time and with how good you are when it comes to money. And if Aiello doesn't have much time left, maybe you can take his place as manager?" Vectyx was a bartender unit that could count money fast for fast service. But he never really considered if he took Aiello's place and get his business manager program card. In which upon being inserted in him he would gain management skills and more economic knowledge. It would improve upon his already above average money skills, and it would be a better job than being a bartender. He could even stay here at the café where he liked working, and liked who he worked with. The last part he thought of while looking at Lucille, and got that odd warm sensation again.
"Gee, I never thought about taking over the place after Aiello goes into standby." Vectyx admitted. "But ya know after thinking about it, I could see myself doing it if no one else does. Besides it'd mean I could still work with beautiful you." Lucille was taken back some by what he just said.
"Beautiful? Me?" Vectyx was nervous after just admitting his actual feelings.
"I mean if all the attention you get dancing isn't proof enough, you are the most gorgeous looking fembot I ever lay my visual sensors on."
"Oh Vectyx, that's nicer than anything I'd ever get from those humans, And for the record…I like you too." Vectyx was surprised to hear this, he's worked with Lucille for a few years now but only now was talking to her about getting "better reception."
"I'm so happy you feel that way, we robots belong together anyways. And with what you said about humans I'm so glad you're not one of those robosexuals."
"You should know Sharleen is one right? Just look at her now." She then pointed out how Sharleen was getting surrounded by drunk men and was reeling them in with a grapple hook hand. "The sooner I talk to Aiello about taking over the better." Vectyx concluded sounding very uncomfortable. At least he now had a bright future and a sexy fembot to be with.
As Gary exited the café 1980s, still shaken some by the display from the fembots he just witnessed, continued on his way to the head museum. There were still so many things about this new time that was new to him.
The robot dancers, particularly the female robots were not just something new to Gary, but the question of what their overall practical purpose was still plagued him. Where they just programed by the café for leisure and entertainment for the customers? Or did they…sign up for this? Given the way Vectyx and the dancers talked to him and the others inside it was unlikely that what they said or did was scripted. And given that there were other robots inside who were not working or dancing along. Did this mean robots were…full fledged citizens? And if they were citizens were they held to the same standards as people? Given that displace of those bots hooked up to the speaker system and getting some kind of high experience from it, were robots even with a full conscious even capable of having the same standards as the rest of society?
"Do robots even have moral standards?" He thought aloud. Thankfully it wouldn't take long for him to find out.
After walking up was appeared to be ninth avenue, Gary continued to take notice of this future world and what else might have changed since his hibernation. Not just noticing more robots each with varying sizes and supposed functions, but other strange looking creatures that he assumed earlier were aliens or mutations. Either way he'd find out once he got to the museum, still hoping the $7.40 would be enough for admission.
He then looked ahead to the next intersection were amongst the crowd of people and whatnot appeared to be a younger boy losing grip of a crutch and falling on his knees. Gary instantly felt concern and ran up to help the boy up.
He pickup up the crutch and brought it over to the boy where upon gripping it he was able to pull himself up again. He then grabbed Gary's hand as he moved the crutch to his right side. Gary then noticed how heavy he was for a boy, and how his hand was…metallic?
"Thank you kind sir, many others would've passed me by and let me stay crippled." Said the boy in an English accent. Proving that there were still other dialects outside of the U.S. But Gary was surprised once again to see that this boy was too a robot. A robot child?
So not only are there male and female robots with seemingly full consciousness, but there are children robots too? Are they build as children? If so what would their use be? Or do they start as children like we do and grow to full size? Does this mean robots have cells? And can robots now have relationships and love each other? Can they have relationships with humans too? Damn that's scary. And if they can love each other does this mean robots can now…procreate?
"Tinny!" Shouted a worried voice from behind them. "There you are, this is the second time since Christmas you've been separated." Gary looked to see that this was yet another robot. This time in what looked like a paster's robe and with a stained-glass window in the middle. Was this robot a pastor? So not all robots were reckless and they did have some morality after all?
"Kind sir, thanks the heavens for finding Tinny here." The pastorbot said turning to Gary. "With his crippled condition him getting separated could've led to him getting stuck alone on the streets."
"I was so scared sir, thank you kindly again." Gary was still perplexed by seeing the child bot.
"Shouldn't your parents be looking for you?" This Tinny only lowered his head in response.
"I'm an orphan sir, I don't got a mummy or daddy. I've been living at the Mother Photovalctoria home for children for as long as I can remember. Reverend Lionel Preacherbot here has been a frequent caretaker there and usually escorts me around the city." An orphanage for robot children? Gary was surprised that not just there were child bots, but there were enough of them that there needed to be a place for them to stay if there were no "parents" to care for them. What would the function of a child bot be anyways? To observe what adult bots did to take after them when they're no longer functional like an apprentice? Or are they used for marketing to sell products to mainly a juvenile demographic? Gary hoped not the latter since it would be exploitation, if indeed they were considered citizens? Gary then turned to the Preacherbot with a few questions in mind.
"I know this may be tapping into private information but are there any records of him having parents?"
"About 13 years ago we found baby him in a basket outside our monastery. And with no other models similar to him in the Manhattan area and no records to speak of, it's a complete mystery if has parents or where he came from." The Preacherbot answered. Gary could tell he was being honest. "Recently I've been showing him in my ways to be a server at our masses, even with his less than ideal condition." So Tinny here was taking after the Reverend and might become one himself. Just as Gary inferred, this child bot was technically an apprentice.
"So you're a pastor, are you Catholic like I am or what variation do you preach?"
"I am not Catholic but Robotology isn't too different. It was the first variation of the Church to be formed by artificial intelligence and is the most popular branch for robots." So not only was religion still very much a thing, but this was proof robots had obtained consciousness since they could believe and think for themselves. Something Gary always like to see.
"And lastly you said you weren't able to find anything regarding Tinny's parents, so robots can have children? Or can they have relations with humans?"
At first the Pastorbot's eyes widened at the last question. "Don't even think about suggesting that robots and humans can be together. Robosexuality is the greatest sin in the modern world." So this proved that relations between a human and robot was possible but very frowned upon. Another relief for Gary.
"Secondly to answer the first part, yes robots can have children. I can't say how in front of the kid, and I haven't had any myself since I'm single, but from what I hear it's not so different from how humans have children. But it only accounts for about half of all robots out there. Most others are factory made. I'm an exception since I was constructed by the Church about 30 years ago to be a new lead priest. Granted I can also preach for other branches if needed. So when you said yourself that you were Catholic, I guess I can be too if circumstances need be. Not that there's a detriment to the Church, it's actually thrived long after the time of the printing press." So this explained how there were child bots, and that most were still constructed the old fashioned way. Gary was also glad to see that the Church was still alive and well a millennium later.
"I guess I'll have to attend one of your masses at some point and see for myself what the difference is."
"Oh and let it be the word of Lionel Preacherbot myself that when you do walk into our temple we'll be sure to welcome you." Reverend Lionel responded humbly. "Well good day Mr…what was your name again?"
Gary was so curious the robot child and the church of robotology he forgot he hadn't introduced himself. "Oh forgive me, Mr. Deyoung Roboto. And after seeing the display from the café I was just in I am relieved to see the Church is still thriving.
"Glad to see you to Mr. Roboto. Now I need to take Tinny here back to the Monastery children's center to get fixed up." Tinny had a somehow sad look upon his innocent face. Gary could tell he didn't like being an orphan and wanted something better. Maybe he'd get that once he became a pastor himself, but it looked like he was a long ways away from that. Gary then thought about the extra money he had after his drink earlier. And even though he still had to figure out what to do after visiting the museum, he remembered the pawn shop idea he had and that could be his answer to temporary cash.
"One moment Reverend, Tinny?" Gary called out, getting the orphan bot's attention. Still in a downbeat mood.
"Money isn't exactly what I have the most of right now, but you need this more than I do." He said while taking out the $7.40 left over and giving it to Tinny. Shocked to see a human would actually show some care for his well being, let alone giving him some money. "Now go have a nice meal, from what I hear you've earned it by learning from the Reverend here." Tinny's expression instantly went from downbeat to extatically cheerful.
"Oh thank you kind Roboto. You've been nicer to me than any other human I know." Gary could only look down in admiration for doing what he knew was right. The way Tinny was thanking him was proof enough. Even the Reverend was surprised by his unexpected donation.
"You two have a nice rest of the evening, and I'll be sure to come by at some point here." Gary said as Lionel and Tinny walked away. He then noticed how the sun was starting to set, granted it was still winter and the sun always set later due to the solstice. (Another thing he was relieved didn't change), but he figured it was time to go find a place to sleep. Weather it be on a rooftop or a vacant room, he'd find somewhere to experience his first homeless rest. And technically his first rest since his hibernation. So he continued walking up ninth avenue in search of a place to sleep for the night, one without room service.
Unbeknownst to him or the robots he just spoke to, there was another someone who was watching in on his conversation, and now examining him from an alleyway as he walked away. Another robot was scanning Gary after hearing the name Mr. Roboto. After doing a thorough check of the human and not robot, the figure concluded, or better said calculated that he was the one who killed Colbert Roberto all those years ago. And it was his programing to hunt down whoever killed him and his gang and continue his legacy in the next millennium.
"Target locked, killer of Roberto Wiseos finally found after all these centuries, and he will be sorry for stepping in my hero's way." The robot said to himself, and what better name to carry on a legacy than Roberto?