Chapter 6: The Doctor and his Assistant
"Hurry Mei! If we get there in time we'll be able to interview the survivors of that plane crash."
Mei: "I don't see it Tania."
She doesn't see it?
"Wait. What do you mean you don't see it? Did you lose sight of it?"
Mei: "Well it couldn't be helped. I was so busy trying to avoid stepping on the little guys that I sort of lost my bearings."
Unbelievable. This klutz.
Mei: "Oh!"
"Oh? Have you already spotted our crashed air vehicle?"
Mei: "Yes! It's over there."
I pull out my night binoculars. I raise an eyebrow. That's the plane crash? There's no smoldering wreckage. From the way it was falling it should've at least singed some trees if not be in disrepair.
"Get closer."
Mei brings me closer. When we are at the plane site, Mei lowers me down.
"Unbelievable." I say as I examine the Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA. "It's as though it's in pristine condition."
Mei: "Pristine?"
I shake my head.
"No, nevermind that."
I reach into my back pocket to pull out a walkie-talkie.
…
4 days later…
I am in my office. I crack open a can. I take a deep breath
"Heeaungh! Ah…"
The fresh scent of orange coffee. I take a sip then after having done so, I pick up my notepad and pen and begin to once again evaluate what has happened 4 days ago.
"4 days ago Mei and I saw a Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA crashing towards the shoreline near Minato City. Mei found it at Koshin-do Kamoba and other than being busted, no further damages were found."
How odd. With the way that plane was rapidly descending, it should've started a fire nearby but instead that didn't happened. What's more none of the task members I've had assigned to recon the crash area have reported any traces of their ever having been anyone on that flight.
I shake my head.
No, the time for that technology is far ahead in advanced. Certainly they wouldn't have shared it and even still, it wouldn't have been compatible with such old technology. Then what could've caused these events to have occurred? Fortunately for me though, through the power of live-video editing, all the public knows is that it was a terrible crash and that no one survived. Well, no one that they know of. With falsified reports and a sanctioned off crash site, this has given my units enough time to thoroughly investigate the Kawasaki P2V-7 VSA. So in about another half hour there should be another report coming in. Before that happens though, I think I'll go for a nice stroll.
I take a big whiff. Ah! The fresh bakery is inviting, but I just had my morning cup of orange coffee so I'm not feeling it. I pass by a few window shops and that's when I hear it.
?: "Intruder detected."
Instinctively I jumped back just as a square robot with tractors for wheels attempts to ram into me, to run over me or perhaps push me into the streets? Sheesh. What a way to go. I'm careful around these parts. I ain't letting myself get isekaied by not watching the streets.
…
Okay, well in my case it wouldn't really matter if this particular body of mine got isekaied, though I'd really hate to have to experience that one again. Dying is… painful. You feel every part of your body crack and bend, so no thanks.
I whip out my antimatter ray gun and fire at the strange robot.
How odd. It's not disintegrating it. It's coming at me again. I quickly deploy an emp mine. As I begin to run I see that it has no effect. It's still giving chase.
"Mei!"
Mei looks down.
"Step on that piece of junk!"
Mei: "But if I do, you'll be crushed alongside it."
"I don't care! Just do it."
Besides, I already have plenty of other bodies already. What's one less to me? I can always get a new one.
Mei brings down her giant foot.
Mei: "Huh? This robot."
It's pretty strong. How is it taking a direct hit from Mei? No, no time to focus on that. I have to make some space. It looks she's at least able to pin that one down if not destroy it.
"Mei, keep it pinned there." I say as I pull out my walkie-talkie. "I'm going to call in for backup now."
Now considerably a safe distance away, I radio in to a private secure channel. Within 12 minutes 4 black helicopters start swooping in and very quickly this strange robot is surrounded by 74 task force members. With a downward salute of my hand, I order the task force members here to deploy one of our signature technologies. Within minutes the whirling of machines can be heard as a static like field is generated. Sadly we've still yet to deal with this noise problem but even this robot won't be able to escape from here.
"You can let go it now, Mei."
Mei lifts up her foot. As soon as she did, the robot tries to ram into me again but stops mere seconds before crashing into me.
Strange Robot: "What? What is happening? Why am I still here?"
Still here? What is this robot saying?
Strange Robot: "I felt it. I felt her remove my amok, and yet I.. no. That makes no sense at all. My wiring must be all messed up."
Looks like someone's having a little existential crisis.
"Dear me. Am I intruding?"
The strange robot backs up a few steps.
Strange Robot: "You. Is that strange technology you have here the reason for my continued existence?"
I shrugged.
"Sure looks like it, I suppose."
Strange Robot: "But you impeded on.. Ah but even still you.. I am..?"
"Ah, it looks like I have. My apologies…?" I looked at the strange robot expecting to hear a name. Instead it just shakes its head.
Strange Robot: "My master never gave me a name."
"Then call yourself whatever you like. Look, I'm terribly sorry for intruding on your grounds. I had no ideal this was your turf. Tell you what. How about I make up for it, hm?"
I motion to the task force members to deport.
Strange Robot: "What do you mean?"
I smile a warm friendly smile.
"How about we take a little seat inside?" I say as I gesture to a nearby metallic door.
Strange Robot: "Starbucks?"
"Don't worry. All the people here are under my employ. Neither you nor your master would've known about it. We're that secretive."
Taking a step inside I walk over to a bench and sit down. The strange robot follows in after me.
"Now, allow me to introduce myself. I am the head of a top secret organization that deals with beings of your kind, anomalies."
Strange Robot: "Anomalies?"
"Yes. Beings, objects, abstractions and what have you, places? Things that don't quite fit in with the common consensus to reality. From what you said earlier, it sounds like your very existence is tied to something. Now, we're quite familiar with all sorts of symbiotic relationships, yet why would a machine have need of such of these? Furthermore you've displayed an overwhelming sense of individuality for a machine."
Strange Robot: "I don't follow."
"Simply put we keep the public in the dark about the existence of things that don't quite match up what is generally presumed to be the case of reality. You're not a robot at all. You can't be, your very nature violates it, it contradicts what is a robot. You have your own personality. Robots do not, thus you are an anomaly and here's what I am willing to offer to you. Join us. Here at the Foundation we provide several perks. You'll have your own assistants, money if you wish. We have plenty of those and all sorts of new gadgets and toys. Well? What do you say?"
I hear a bit of whirling at first before the strange robot responds.
Strange Robot: "And why should I join you?"
"Because if you don't, we'll just deactivate that device that's keeping you here."
I stand up.
"You either join us or you cease to exist. Make your decision oh and before I forget, you kill me and you will definitely cease to exist. No pressure though, I just have to make sure you know of the risks."
…
Strange Robot: "I will join you."
"Fantastic!" I say as I stretch out a hand to shake one of its pincher hands. "So glad that we could become acquainted like this. Now, I have something I want to give to you. Consider it a little gift from me, Tania Katashi."
I begin to head out of the Starbucks.
Strange Robot: "Will the gift be worth it?"
"Oh it will. Trust me, you'll see. Soon you're going to discover that working for the Foundation is going to rock your world and I foresee in you a very Bright future."
Or at least for one of your kin and if my suspicions are correct, I shouldn't be disappointed. As I head to my office I start to rub my hands together. How long have I waited for this, for a chance to test this out.
Fufufufufu…
"Oh how long has it been? I expect we will meet again very soon, ufufufufufuuuu…"
I feel my smartphone buzz. She must be calling me right now. I'll deal with her later, for now I have business with that strange creature I've found.
