Mr. Roboto
Chapter 9-Reconisence with Natural Insanity
A black plain was all that was visible to Gary while a white room coming into focus. He then saw there were two adults and one child in the room, one of the adults in a bed and holding something in a blanket. After a few more seconds the image became clearer and he was able to see that this was no ordinary hospital room, because the people looked like a younger version of his father and his mother in the bed. With a little girl standing next to them? Where was he then? "Come and meet your new baby brother Renée." He then understood what this was. He was looking at his first moments in the world, the day he was born.
A much younger Renée, no older than 4 came closer to the bed where Rachel his mother was holding something in a blanket. She then lowered it some and revealed a little sleeping baby inside. Gary was looking at his newborn self. A moment almost no one can recollect in their memories. "Since I got to name Renée, why don't you name him Rachel?" Richard asked his wife, still staring lovingly at the newest addition to their family. "How does Gary sound?" Rachel asked, wondering if Richard had any objections. "Sounds lovely, what made you think of it?" Richard questioned regarding her origin of choice. "Remember the pastor who married us? Who served in World War two to part off soldiers who gave their lives? Father Gary Des Milton?" So that's who Gary was named after? A pastor who did service in the second world war and married his parents? He must've died when he was young. "It's been some time since we've seen him but I surely remember him sweetie, and what a great name to choose for him. We should get father Des Milton to baptize him." And with that the Hudson's welcomed their second child into the family. "I was hoping for a girl," Renée admitted, "But maybe I can teach him a thing or two." All Gary could do was feel pure happiness while looking at his introduction to his family.
"He's sure going to do great things in the future." Rachel continued while still looking down at him. "He's going to learn how to farm, learn what it's like to live in the free plains, and…" This time Rachel's tone of voice changed from a pleasing loving tone into a more negative and harsh tone. "He's going to abandon us and let us all die." She said while staring straight out, looking exactly where Gary was watching from. Gary could only watch from the sidelines and had no idea his family knew he was there. But now he was shocked this is what they thought of him. "He's going to let me get shot in the arm." Richard added angrily. "He's going to get a useless degree that will accomplish nothing for our business." The Younger Renée added again to this already negative display of comments. "And worst of all, he's going to run away like a coward and let us all get killed when we're in our most desperate time." Rachel finished.
"You told me to run," Gary defended, shocked that his family was turning against him. "I didn't want to leave you but I would've been killed too."
"You're no Hudson, you're not our son, and you're nothing now." Richard slandered. Disowning his only son and disappearing along with Rachel and Renée. Gary was now left in a dark silence once again, with no where to turn and no one to guide him.
"Your family's right Gary."
The voice made Gary gasp out of horror, as he turned his head and saw Colbert Roberto, alive and well, up against his back and clutching his arm tightly. "You abandoned them when they needed you most, you have no one to blame but yourself for being stuck in such a lonely, pitiful life.
"Liar." Gary snarled back. "You killed them, I got my revenge, and I save countless lives by doing so. Besides your legacy is long gone now. Just like your soul."
Colbert could only smirk sinisterly in response. "Why Gary, didn't your family ever tell you that true evil cannot be destroyed? And that no matter what happens to me, like I said all those years ago, I always find a way back." Colbert then took a large bowie knife, one that dwarfs Gary's machete, and stabbed Gary right in the back. All Gary could see was the blade piercing his torso and blood spilling out his form his chest.
Gary then woke up in shock and fear. Grabbing down right at his torso and seeing that there was no blade and no blood to be seen. His first slumber since the night his family was killed, and it was a nightmare? Granted he was sleeping in an alleyway fire escape catwalk with just his coat as his only cover. But could he ever sleep peacefully again after now experiencing such a traumatic event? And what did Colbert mean by true evil cannot be destroyed? Whatever it meant, he now felt in danger again.
"Not only do I need to get cash, but I need more protection." Gary thought aloud, "Let's see if we can find a pawn shop that sells guns too. Or better yet ammo for my python and skorpion." So far he hasn't seen a single gun shop since his future life began, then again this was the city, where gun shops were fewer than back in the country. At least he hoped that was still the case. Could guns even still be purchased or was there no longer a second amendment? Was America even still a nation? Still so many questions to answer and still so much to figure out. But first it was time to get down to ground level again by climbing down the fire escape catwalk. Which after a millennium still looked so much like the ones he'd seen before in movies and other city travels.
Once he was back on the sidewalk Gary tried locating another transport map to see if he could locate a pawn shop in the city.
Even the examples he saw with Vectyx and Tinny Tim proved to him that he was already having a positive effect on this future world. Maybe freezing himself for this time was the right choice after all? Or was it just the way he was raised in trying to do what was right regardless of who he was doing things for?
First full day in the future and I'm already counseling myself again. He thought to himself while trying not to attract attention from other pedestrians passing by him. Even if his attire would attract unwanted attention anyways. Let's see if I can find clothes that will allow me to blend in better too, and not conflict with this temporary name I made up. Until he knew of Fry's status and was able to find a career, Gary would be known as Mr. Roboto.
At the nearest city transport map, Gary was looking for any sign of a pawn shop, with little luck in his favor. "If only there was a way to search for specific addresses or general locations." Gary said aloud to himself annoyed. "Why is it so damn hard to search for a pawn shop in Manhattan?"
"Searching pawn shop in Manhattan." A robotic female voice said from nowhere.
Until Gary saw that the sign itself was looking for a pawn shop when he spoke aloud. Taking out what looked like an arm extension with a magnifying glass on the end it panned over the city map while simultaneously zooming on specific streets. At first he was surprised the sign actually heard him, but then saw how inefficient it was for the map to zoom in and use a magnifying glass at the same time. Maybe we haven't come as far as I thought. Gary said now just in his thoughts.
After a few more seconds of the map searching, another arm with just a single pointed finger came out and moved right below the magnifying glass indicating where the pawn shop was.
"Nearest pawn shop to this location: West 47th Street. Now for my tip."
"Tip?" Gary asked perplexed, "You're just a transport sign that told me where the closest pawn shop was, I didn't even know you could search locations."
"And you probably don't know what it's like to stand in the same spot all day when there's a very useful booth just down the road that I want to use." The arm pointing behind Gary to what appeared to be a phone booth, just completely enclosed.
"Well if that's what you want to do so badly? Why don't you just get up and walk over there yourself?" Gary asked sarcastically and annoyed, not knowing what the sign could do.
"Sir," The sign began sternly, "I've been waiting so long for someone to say that that now I have the permission to move freely again." The sign's legs then unbolted from the sidewalk as it started to move up and walk towards the booth. Gary was once again weirded out by what this world had to offer. "That's the greatest tip anyone's ever given me, and now I'm going to recycle myself so that the signs of the city can have brighter days." The sign finished now in a much better mood than when Gary told her to walk over to the booth herself. The sign walked inside the booth and right before the door closed said: "Hi, one slow and painful robot edition please."
"Slow and painful? Gary thought aloud, until he remembered what that usually meant. "Did the sign just kill itself?" Gary walked over to where the booth was and looking at the label on it's side confirmed what he just saw, the sign just entered a suicide booth.
"There are booths where you can kill yourself?" Gary questioned shock by this revelation. "How is this legal? Or better yet why would a robot want to kill itself? Did I cause her to go over the edge?" That last part shocked him the most, because it was in his title to prevent people from harming themselves. At the same time though, he asked for directions and then got annoyed when "she" asked him for a tip. Was this what she meant by a tip? On what to do next? Or was she in no position to keep dealing with people like she was supposed to? Either way Gary was more confused than guilty by the ordeal.
"Besides, one missing sign isn't going to change anything. At least I know what those booths are and will not be going in one. Then again if they were there in my time…But that's not important anymore, time to go to this pawn shop now that I know where it is." It wasn't that late in the day at only 1:18 PM so there was no worry of it being closed, unless it was closed since it was New Year's Eve. But the sign probably would've said something about it being closed if that was the case.
After walking a few blocks up Gary managed to walk right into what looked like time's square. Not only because of the billboards and ads all around just like in old times, but with it being New Year's Eve there were lots of decorations and already some people ready for the new millennium. Gary didn't know if there were others in his situation, but he doubted that anyone other than himself would claim to seeing the start and end of a millennium twice. There maybe someone else though who could claim to that. As Gary thought about Fry, and looking into his pack saw that Sherri's letter still there and waiting to be delivered.
Up on the main jumbotron, what looked to be a news bulletin came on.
"Good afternoon, I'm Linda van Shoonhoven." The blonde woman in pink introduced herself. Showing that news anchors also haven't changed a lot. "We have breaking news out of New New York today in that for the first time in over a century someone has escaped the city's applied cryogenics location unidentified and undetected. And while there was very little identity given to the escapee, previous security camera footage of the cryogenic chambers shows what appears to be someone wearing mostly western attire. Granted even with this 276 megapixel picture, it's still hard to see past the condensation. However what can be said about the escapee is that they were smart enough to escape unnoticed and without any trace."
"That's what you may think now Linda," The camera cutting to a large green beastly looking alien with a large head. Maybe news anchors have changed more than at first glance? "But after these reports from yesterday of a bartender seeing someone described in western attire going by the name: Mr. Roboto. What kind of western has a robotic name? And earlier today this missing transport map sign isn't far from that café."
That sign was like a few minutes ago? Gary thought while watching the bulletin, Are they actually tracking me down? Or even worse have they found me yet?
"It appears this weak supposed human is trying to hide from the future." Who's this intimidating green alien calling weak? And if I wanted to hide from the future I would've killed myself in the past. But on another note, so that's what an alien looks like. Very similar to us actually. "If this western buggalo boy is watching, let myself Morbo let you know that you're being hunted down as we speak and that you will be destroyed! Muhahahahah, Or maybe just charged a fee I don't know."
The camera then cut back to Linda, who was just chuckling at Morbo's threat. "Wouldn't want to be that guy, assuming it's a guy. But whatever escape well be keeping you up to date with any new findings. In other news it looking to be the warmest New Year's we've seen in years and…"
"WHERE ARE MY WIFE'S DOUGHNUTS?!" Morbo yelled from off camera. "My wife made them just for me and some dumbass took them all. This is Morbo saying… my wife's not going to be happy knowing someone got to her doughnuts first." He finished in a more downbeat and worried voice than his tantrum before.
Even the biggest of men, are still terrified of their wives. Seems like someone needs a marriage counselor, too bad I'm not qualified for that treatment. Gary thought as he took off anything that made him look western or stand out from the crowd. Thankfully no one was looking, and he was able to once again blend in with the rest of the people walking by. Gary once again came across Sherri's letter, and from there Gary made another decision.
"Once I get to that pawn shop and get some clothes to blend in better, I'm going back to applied cryogenics and making sure Fry wakes up." Gary thought aloud as he passed thought time's square and continued to make his way to the address the sign gave him. After now feeling in danger again and regretting leaving behind one of the Butcher's body armor suits, as not only would it give protection, but it would blend him in better with everyone else's attire. Although it would've also been a dead giveaway from him being from the past and possibly make it easier for someone to track him down. Either way he needed to find something that allow him to blend in with a crowd and that would, match his temporary name, and protect him if need be. As well as possibly finding ammo for his python and skorpion and maybe a few new tools that would be useful for protection in this new time.
A few minutes later on West 47th Street Gary was able to finally find a pawn shop, glad to see the fabled-old tyme trading post was still part of society. "Saltwater Taft's antique pawn shop?" Gary read aloud, somewhat confused by the name. Only to be filled with excitement when another sign lit up from underneath it. "And indoor shooting gallery? Well who's the lucky man from yesterday again?"
Upon walking inside, he saw there were only one or two people around and other things you'd normally find inside a pawn shop such as display cases filled with jewelry and other valuables as well as prices to go along with each item. Some of these items ranged from familiar to foreign in terms of appearance. As Gary walked back towards the transaction counter he saw how there were indeed guns along a back shelf. Some of these looked to be laser guns out of any sci-fi movie but other looked just like a normal gun. Weather these were actual guns he knew still had to be determined. Gary knew he didn't have much money with him so he either had to sell something or just made an offer. He knew selling the guns was out of the question and he didn't think his souvenirs from long ago would be worth that much. So he approached the counter and started inspecting the guns to ask his first question.
"I'm new to this city," He began to a guy behind the counter, "And I was wondering are those live ammunition guns behind ya?"
"Those," The clerk began, "Are the reason why I still have a shop to run. Live ammunition guns are rare these days. The military and law enforcement stopped using them over a century ago, but clearly that decision has led to them looking meek to these other worlds millions of miles away. And it's the folks still interested in guns like yourself that keep this shop going. Too bad there's not many like yourself here in the city as this is the last traditional gun shop left in Manhattan. But enough chatter from me since ya new to the city, whacha looking at getting?"
"See the thing is I don't have much spending money," Gary admitted, "So how much ammo can I get for $6.00?" As he only had eight ones left with him, but didn't feel it was right to spend them all. Even if he really needed some supplies. He then gave the bill to the clerk and after a few seconds of examining it the clerk just shrugged the dollar saying: "You're honestly going to use this to buy something? You're out of your mind." Gary was caught off guard for a second, shocked to find out his fear of his money being worthless coming true. Until the clerk started talking again.
"Out of your mind to use this as spending money." Gary perked up a little after hearing that, wanting to hear what the clerk was talking about. "Where'd you get this bill from? And the print says 1996 and in this condition, it's worth a fortune."
"Wait…The dollar bill itself is worth a fortune?"
"These ones are at least, collecting old currency can go a long ways. And this thousand-year-old bill in such great shape, I'll tell you what. I'll give you a thousand dollars in cash for each bill."
Was Gary hearing that correctly? A thousand dollars for every dollar bill he had? And here he thought he'd have to worry about the currency being worthless in this new century.
"I've got six bills I can sell you, but there's a few things I want to get first." Gary told the clerk, now knowing he had a way to pay for things. "I know I talked about ammo, but do you have anything else in terms of personal protection?"
"As in like body armor and knives?" The clerk thought up examples.
"Yes, but do you have anything that'd work against say robots?" Gary asked, knowing guns probably wouldn't be very effective against robots.
"I hear whatcha saying," The clerk responded know what he was talking about. "For as great as live ammunition guns are, they're not very effective against robots. As the bullets either travel right through them without damaging much on the inside or aren't even able to penetrate their bodies." He then bent down below the counter to search for something. "That's why a few decades back, they invented these." Pulling up a box filled with grenade sized canisters, similar to a flashbang. "Electromagnetic pulse grenades, or EMPs. These are adjustable in strength and will range from just stunning a robot to flat out frying one."
"If robots are citizens now and these can deactivate them wouldn't these be illegal?" Gary questioned, know how these are meant specifically to harm electrical equipment.
"Gun cause harm to animals including humans, we're citizens, but we still have guns right?" Gary nodded agreeing with the clerk's example. "Secondly with how far robots have advanced and how expensive these are most robots will never encounter someone who has one, let alone someone who would use one on them. And thirdly when I said they can fry a unit, they'd have to be very simplistic and obsolete for that to happen. It's basically a flashbang for robots." This now made more sense to Gary and how they were still legal now.
"Sounds good and all, but you got anything that wouldn't be a toss able?
"If you want the best defense against robots, the best device you can possibly use is this: The Black Hat PDA." The clerk then unsheathed a tiny remote looking device that Gary had never seen the likes of before. It had an unconventional vertical screen and could fit in the palm of your hand.
"It connects with this wrist mounted computer and with it you can scan any computer device you can find." Gary was astonished once again by the progress technology has made. A computer that fits on your wrist? And you can scan any computing device? What were the things you could see with a device like this? Were there limitations? And just like with the EMPs was it even legal?
"I must ask again just like with the EMPs how could a device like this even be legal?"
"This falls under the decommissioned military equipment category as these haven't seen service since 2964. While it does in some ways count as an antique with that age, don't underestimate it's capabilities. There's even been reports of this hijacking unpiloted spacecraft. But those are once again uncommon instances and very few of my customers ever have such malicious intentions."
Gary was taken back some by his mention of malicious intentions considering the clerk hasn't asked for a background check yet even thought he mentioned guns. By this point it seemed like the clerk wasn't going to question Gary's intentions for getting this stuff. Especially given how the clerk didn't question where he got the old bills from and he didn't seem to know about the news story concerning Gary.
"As for the guns I've got on me." Gary finally decided it was the time to reach into his pack again and pull out what he had with him so he could get the right ammo for them. "These cold war relicts: A Colt Python and a Skorpion." Just like with the old cash the clerk was once again stunned.
"Those are looking great. And how old were they? They must be worth a fortune too."
"I agree, but they're not for sale." Gary denied, "I'm sure they're worth a lot too, but my protection from them is too valuable for me to sell them." Even if there was also the sentimentality factor of the Python and keeping Bowman's spirit going with the Skorpion. "What I do want is some ammo and do you have any possible upgrades for these?"
"I do indeed have plenty of .357 and .32ACP rounds, they're still made to this day, but now that you mention it I may have some speed loaders for the python and some larger magazines for that skorpion." The clerk offered. Going into a back room to find the ammo and accessories. Gary was a little surprised there'd be a larger mag for a skorpion since all he had were three twenty round mags which were the largest you could find for the skorpion from what he recalled. The clerk then returned with a few speed loaders and two larger mags for the skorpion.
"Got four speed loaders and two thirty round mags. How much ammo do you want for each of them?"
"I'll take sixty .357 rounds and 120 .32 rounds." That would be enough to fill all his speed loaders and all the skorpion mags.
"Looks like I'll be closing shop early today," The clerk commented, implying he didn't have too many customers buy this much at once. Then again Gary was not ordinary customer in this regard. "You know if you're trying to start your own militia, why not get some newer, more powerful guns?"
"I'm not here to fight a war, but let's just say I've felt a lot less safe this morning since my time in the city began." Gary responded, vague but honest. "So aside from the ammo and electronic stuff, anything else you recommend for personal defense and general survival?"
Over the next few minutes Gary was introduced to other gadgets such as a wrist mounted grenade launcher complete with personal grapple hook, to amphibiotic gloves that could stick to walls, and new clothes that not only could protect from bullets and knives, but blended in much better with modern attire compared to his western flannel. Now no one would think he'd be from the country let alone the past. With the addition of a new belt with holster slots and grenade slots. And new pack attachments that could hold more for survival and keep things locked in and secure. He was now ready for any possible threat the future could throw at him, and what was the total?
"That'll be $4,368."
"And you said you'd pay a thousand in cash for each dollar bill I had?"
"Maybe I'll need to keep the shop open for longer than I thought." The clerk said now realizing he'd lose some money from these thousand-year-old dollar bills.
"Maybe I could shoot some in the range here too." Gary added, trying to brighten the clerk's spirits up a little. After all it was still in his nature too. "But sadly, not today, I'm supposed to meet someone in…" Looking down at his new wrist mounted computer, still getting used to the idea alone and how it worked. Found the time was 2:53. "About three hours from now." Assuming Fry would awaken when his timer went out about a day from when he did.
"I didn't catch your name sir?" The clerk mentioned, but this point Gary might as well give him some identity. Since this could be a place to find other guns in the future.
"Dr. Gary Hudson, psychologist. I'm new to the city, originally from the great plains. That's why I came here to find out about the status of old styled guns." At least old styled to this time. And by this point Gary decided to use his real name on those he could trust, and if someone was willing to sell him live ammunition then clearly he was trustworthy.
"Jeremiah Taft," The clerk said finally disclosing his name too. "Owner of this pawn shop that's been around over a century. Pleasure doing business with you, and if you're still interested in guns I can give you a monthly statement of what's new in stock."
"Sounds good actually," Gary responded pleased with that offer. "I'll return at some point with a mailing address so I can get those. And I'll be sure to use your indoor shooting range too. But until then I've got somewhere too be. Glad to see guns are still used even here in the city."
"Take care of yourself Mr. Hudson, and have a happy new millennium." Jeremy responded, grateful there was someone in this city passionate about the good old firearm. As he finished he also handed Gary the rest of his money from the antique dollar bills he sold.
As Gary walked out the door, along with Jeremy turning on a closed sign, he now had new clothes that blended in better, more ammo for his guns, electrical defense gear, over a thousand dollars in cash, and anything else he needed for temporary survival. Including a suppressor for the skorpion, in case he had to use it in broad daylight. With that he started to make his way back to Bowman where he'd watch for Fry to awaken from his hibernation.
It was clear that he couldn't just walk back in as there were people who knew he escaped and were probably tracking him down, so he had to watch from outside the building. He remembered how the room had a large window and that chamber 40, where Fry was in, was closest to that window. If he could find a way to get up to a building facing that window from the same floor height he'd have a front row seat and could watch his awakening.
Of course after a well needed meal. After all it had been nearly a thousand years since he last ate.
One the way back to Bowman he stopped by then still continuing hot dog stands that have been a staple of New York culture for a long time now. Getting a traditional dog and a slurm to boot, he noticed how the dollar bills of this future currency had a few new faces that he didn't expect. "I don't know how long it's been, but Homer Simpson, and Larry king are not historical figures. Maybe I need to teach these folks a thing or two about my time."
As he continued down ninth ave, he was being watching from the sidelines. The same robot who was watching him yesterday when he was talking to the preacherbot and Tinny. "But soon enough I'll be back in Bowman ready to see Fry's awakening." Gary thought aloud, but this time he wasn't the only one hearing.
"Bowman huh? The rival to my hero now embedded in the city's history with an entire section name change, sad, but at least now I know exactly where to trap him. Don't worry Colbert, you'll be avenged once again."
After a few more blocks Gary finally made it to the building across from applied cryogenics on W 23rd Street. Looking up he could see a large window near the top of the building, the same one that was his window to this future paradise just about 24 hours ago. And the one he was certain Fry would be looking out of in an hour or two realizing where, or more superficially when he was. Gary then thought about instead of going up the building through the stair or elevator, why not try out this new grapple hook?
He then walked back into an alleyway, very reminiscent of the one he talked to a dying Bowman in, and after pressing a few buttons on the grenade launcher, aimed it at the top of the building and launched the thin but very lengthy grapple hook.
He could see the hook itself launch into the air and luckily mange to go over the rooftop. From there he got a light on the launcher saying it was secure and with a yank of his arm back, it pulled him all the way to the top. Thankfully it was set to slow down before retracting all the way so that Gary had some time to prepare before hitting the rooftop. And by the looks of things, no one had seen him make his way to the roof. Now he just sit there and wait patiently for Fry's awakening.
He got prepared with a pair of binoculars he had with him since his family's trip all those years ago, and at around 6 P.M. Fry should awaken, and look out the window. Or at the very least come into sight since the window was huge to a large chamber room.
Just like he predicted, around an hour later, he saw Fry emerging from his chamber. In a similar vain to his own awakening yesterday, Fry stumbled some and took a second to get his composure back. And also just like Gary inferred, he looked to his right and saw the future world on the other side of this large window. He was thinking out loud and although Gary couldn't read his lips let alone hear him, he knew what he was thinking about. Through his let down and slightly sorrow expressions, Gary could tell he was realizing he was now in the future and that his family was gone. "Not quite though." Gary thought aloud, remembering the letter Sherri wrote to Fry, and was the reason why he was even watching him awake in the first place.
But then things changed as Fry threw his arms up and his expression changed into that of excitement and happiness. Thinking that now he was free to start a new life and to never have to worry about his old life again. "That didn't take long," Gary thought, "But I'm glad to see him happy again, although he was never the type to think too long and hard about his problems, and was very easy to cheer up." Fry then looked behind him and walked towards the chamber's entrance. "It looks like he was greeted by those lab technicians and is now going to be assigned something. Maybe I should try sneaking over there myself and finding out what happens next. Maybe there was an integral part of this process I didn't see because I escaped." Unfortunately though, his plans were about to change.
The robot who was spying on him earlier made his way to the roof as quietly as he could. He could tell by his target talking to himself that he suspected he was alone up here and was not expecting any company. Not any friendly company that's for sure. He then got within a few feet of his target, pulled out a large knife, and right before he could strike…
"Hard to imagine, all those years ago the events that I'm sure a still a mystery to this day. Not to me that is." The target said to himself, then the robot thought of another way to take out his target.
"Familiar sight? Isn't it Butcher boy?"
Almost instantly Gary heard the voice from behind him and turned sharply only to see an orange robot with knife in hand.
"What are you talking about?" Gary questioned this robot thug, "And what are you doing up here anyways?"
"Oh me? I was just commenting on such a familiar sight to me, after all…You did kill me here."
Gary was taken back some by this explanation, clearly hinting at some sarcasm, but he didn't kill any robots before. "I've never seen you before, and how do you know about what happened at this sight?"
"You didn't kill me specifically, but you killed my hero, and like my hero always said: I always come back." Gary could only be stunned at his hero's words. He couldn't be referring to…
"Colbert?" Gary asked nervously
"See? You are smart." The robot mocked. "He wasn't just my hero, but I look up to him so much I took his last name: Roberto." So was this what Colbert meant to Gary as a last stance threat against him? But if Colbert died so long ago, how did this robot come to know him? Unless…
"How did you find out about Colbert and the Wiseos in the first place if they've been dead for almost a millennium?" Gary questioned, trying to process how Roberto here could know about this famed drug criminal gang leader?
"But dumb enough to keep asking shit." Roberto insulted back at Gary's questioning. "If you really ought to know, I was programmed by sympathizers of the gang who years later wanted to continue Colbert's legacy and create more chaos from the ashes of the Wiseos. And to kill the descendent of the murderer responsible for killing him and the rest of the gang." Now a new question that Gary had was did Roberto know that it was he himself that killed Colbert and the Wiseos or did he just think he was a descendant?
"But it looks like I won't be needing to search any longer." Roberto concluded, "Because not only have I found who killed Colbert in the first place, but this time," He then pulled out his big knife and heled it right up to Gary's chest. "It'll be him who's butchered." Mocking the name of the vigilante group that tired stopping the Wiseos all those years ago.
Gary reacted immediately by taking out his machete blade and striking Roberto's knife. With how far robots have appeared to come this Roberto seemed to be slower on reflexes than previous robots he encountered. Gary was able to use his large blade to thrust back at Roberto in which he was knocked back some and stumbled on some crates found behind him, giving Gary enough time to pull out an EMP and test it out.
He only had enough time to set it to stun before arming it and throwing it at Roberto who was just getting back up. When the EMP went off there was a mild bang and a slightly disorienting sound. Nothing like a flashbang and nothing that would do any more to Gary than catch him off guard. But to Roberto it caused him to get knocked back down and drop his knife. Gary saw this as the opportunity to also try out his new Black Hat. He quickly activated the PDA and pressed a button on the wrist tablet to sync the devices. He then pointed the PDA at where Roberto was only to see…He was gone?
Gary saw him just a second ago almost immobilized by the EMP, and now with him out of sight again this wasn't a good situation. His worries were confirmed just a moment later when Roberto punched him from behind. Gary tried retaliating by turning and throwing a punch back at him, only to see his whole chest assembly move backwards by extending his neck. Only his head remained in the same spot. He then punched Gary again, knocking him on the ground with how hard his steel hands were.
"You should've stayed in the past butcher." Roberto taunted.
"Did your creators even tell you who I was? Or could they not find out because I vanished?" Gary questioned, knowing that Roberto was confused and didn't even know who the killer of the Wiseos was.
"Dr. Gary Hudson, I come from not just the past but the west. And I was never part of the Butchers, just the only one who could kill the evilest man in New York at the time."
"Well now the prophecy is finally fulfilled," Roberto responded sarcastically. "Not only am I killing the one who killed my hero all those years ago, but I'm setting example to every robot out there that if a human steps in the way," He then extended his arms and picked up Gary, "Just shut up and kill them." Attempting to once again to stab Gary, he reached back for his knife he dropped, only for Gary to lean on the edge of the roof, unknowing activating the amphibiotic gloves he had on. Roberto than tried to stab Gary by extending his arm forwards, causing Gary to run out of room and fall of the siding.
Roberto at first was confused, he knew he didn't reach out far enough to push him over, but also didn't extend fast enough for him to not have another choice. And for that matter he didn't hear him scream as he fell. Come to think of it, did he even hit the ground? Roberto walked to the edge and looked around at the ground. Finding not hint of a body on the ground below, and no one looking up. As if Gary did hit the ground, not only would his body be in sight, but there'd be witnesses around. There were neither. So what happened? All he could compute was that Gary was out of sight, but until he found a body, could not be confirmed to be dead. And with nothing else on the roof as Gary had everything with him on his back, there was nothing else to do but walk back downstairs and keep searching for him. At least now he knew what he looked like and that he had a defense with EMPS.
Right below the siding out of view, Gary was hanging on to…nothing? Gary only saw how his hand was touching the building's wall but not grasping anything. He then reached his other and on the building to see the glove he was wearing light up some and instantly cling to the surface. Just like the name implied, these amphibiotic gloves griped to any surface, and he could maneuver around and hang from places without fear of falling. He then looked back across the street to the applied cryogenics building. Knowing that with this encounter with Roberto, he was not only in danger again, but he had lost track of Fry.
"The only thing to do now, is to find answers." He determined, "Looks like now it's time for me to go to this head museum." After all, at least it was free today.
As Gary used the grapple to lower himself down and start heading north. Although the more he thought about it, he didn't know if it was a good idea for him to use his real identity for this Roberto. At the same time he probably wouldn't have bought the fake name since he recognized him as the one who indeed killed Colbert and the wiseos. And with Gary telling him more about his true identity, it wouldn't have added if had he given the Roboto name. But at least now Roberto wasn't here and Gary had a place to hide. Fry and the letter written to him would have to wait. But with his awakening in this new time he'd either be learning about all that's changed or would've been assigned a career like Gary supposedly would've. But we he too have resisted and gotten away? So many questions waiting to be answered. At least he'd be going to a place where they'd be answered.