Diamonds Are a Robot's Best Friend
A "My Life as a Teenage Robot" Fanfic
Chapter Two – The Marquis of Tremorton
Brit relaxed at her desk, casually glancing at the story on page three of today's Tremorton Tribune, being careful not to smudge the perfection of her freshly painted fingernails. "I say, Tiff, listen to this," she crooned. "'Robot Foils Jewel Robbery'. Oh, my, it sounds like a certain titanium tomboy has been slumming around downtown, spoiling for fights. How dreadful. Seems like a desperate cry for attention, if you ask me."
Tiff nodded, chuckling. "Mmm-hmm. Hey, maybe she watches too much television! They say it causes aggressive behavior. Jenny, you been watchin' those cop shows? Or maybe late night wrestling?"
The cousins burst into laughter, which was the cue for the rest of the popular girls to join in. Jenny cringed in her seat, trying to slide her metal frame behind her History textbook. "B-but I had to stop that thief! I mean – that's what I'm supposed to do." Cripes, how is it that they can make me feel like a freak even when I do something right?
"What you're supposed to do? Now see, that's not what I understand," grinned Brit. "In fact, I believe what you're supposed to do is change oil and flush radiators down at Spiffy Lube, isn't it? Hmmm, all of those oily rags and grease guns – it must be a little like working out of your own bedroom. Oh, how nice for you."
"Yeah, oil an' grease an' nuts an' bolts," added Tiff, "she probably thinks she's working in a restaurant."
Jenny just buried her face in her hands and groaned, as the girls laughed at her again.
"Oh, chin up Jenny, it's simply a little joke. You stopped the bad, bad robber. Bravo." Brit softly clapped her hands with mock sincerity, then picked up the newspaper. "No pictures, though. Hmmm, probably for the best. I imagine all that crime-fighting must leave a girl looking rather disheveled for the cameras. But here's a lovely little photo at the bottom of the page. Good heavens. 'Freak Terrifies Bus Passengers'."
Brit showed Tiff the photo – it was Drew, splattered on the windshield of the city bus that had hit him yesterday. "Hoooo, nasty," laughed Tiff. "Looks like a giant silver booger. Oh, that's one for the yearbook."
The classroom roared with laughter. Drew fumed, gave Brit and Tiff a little wave, and a nasty grin. Then he shot an even nastier look at Brad.
"You took three dozen pictures yesterday," he growled, "and every single one of them was out of focus except for that one. Thanks ever so much."
Brad was fuming over his own copy of the newspaper. "What are you talking about? That's a great action shot. But look at what they put below it! 'Photo taken by passer-by!' Passer-by! They didn't even print my name! And they didn't use any of my quotes in the story about the robbery! What a rip-off!"
Drew grit his teeth, and slumped in his chair. "Shouldn't the bell be ringing right about now? Please?"
"Yes, where is Miss Snodgrass? She's been gone for ten minutes," wondered Brit. "Well, as soon as school is over, Jenny can zip away to her grease monkey friends down at the garage, while Tiff and I head over to our Career Week positions – working at the design studios of Jean-Phillipe International."
Every girl in the class, Jenny included, writhed in envy. Brit and Tiff Krust had gotten jobs working in a glamorous fashion design studio. Almost every girl had requested that Career Week assignment, but thanks to a little donation from Brit's father, the Krusts had gotten the internships and, once again, secured their rightful places at the center of the universe.
Jenny sulked, and doodled on the inside cover of her textbook. As bad as I thought this was going to be, she thought, it's ten times worse. And I'm going to have to listen to this every day this week. Then I'm going to have to listen to Brit and Tiff do their report on their way-cool jobs working with supermodels, while I tell the class how I learned the difference between an air filter and an oil filter. She frowned, and drew a cartoon of herself, high up on a hoist, with oil draining from her belly button. Just once, I'd like to have the girls jealous of me, instead of the Krusts. Stupid Career Week.
Finally, the teacher returned to the classroom, waddling to the front of the class. "Students, students, please! Settle down!" Miss Snodgrass caught her breath, and continued. "Now, I'm sorry that I had to go to the office so suddenly, but I have a surprise for you. We have a very special visitor!"
The class had grown restless and eager for the end-of-school bell, but Miss Snodgrass seemed unusually excited. "Now, we've heard from many local businesspeople over the past few days for our Career Week. But today, we're going to meet one of the most famous businessmen in the country … maybe the world!"
"Oh please, good lady, you flatter me," spoke a voice from the doorway. It was deep, and rich, with a hint of a European accent, possibly Spanish. Miss Snodgrass blushed, and everybody turned to see who it was.
A tall, distinguished-looking man strolled into the classroom. His strong face was framed by salt-and-pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard, and his smile seemed contagious. Despite the fact that he must have been in his late fifties, he was quite handsome – and judging from his appearance, quite wealthy as well. He wore a tailored, silk-lapel suit, a silk ascot fixed with a large glistening diamond stickpin, and held a walking cane topped with an even larger blue-white diamond.
"Good afternoon," he said, in that rich, rolling voice. "My name is Maximillian Marquis."
Jenny was staring along with everyone else, but she could still hear a few gasps in the class – including Brit, who now had her hands clasped over her mouth. "Th-that's Maximillian Marquis, one of the richest men in Tremorton!"
"Actually, young lady, as of last month, the richest," he chuckled. "My company's stock has been performing particularly well this year. Oh, there are many divisions, with rather uninteresting names. But I imagine the company you have all heard of is my first and most famous – Marquis Diamonds."
He held his walking cane out for the class to see, and the diamond capstone dazzled brilliantly with blue-white sparkles. Everybody oohed and ahhed, as if they were watching a fireworks show. Mr. Marquis laughed again – a hearty, joyous laugh. "Yes, yes, I have been around diamonds all of my life, and yet I myself never fail to be inspired by their beauty. They have always been a passion of mine. This diamond on my walking-stick, for instance. It is a rather unique specimen. It was discovered many, many miles beneath the surface of the moon, and it is worth almost five million dollars."
A few whistles sounded from the students. "You see," continued Marquis, "lunar diamonds are quite rare – quite beautiful. And they are, indirectly, the reason I have come to visit your fine school today. One of your classmates recently stopped a burglary, and saved several hundred of my finest lunar diamonds." He gestured towards Jenny. "Miss Wakeman, I wish to thank you for your heroism. I owe you a great debt of gratitude."
Everyone stared at Jenny, but now, with a touch of awe. Jenny suddenly felt a little flustered. It was so unusual for anyone to go to the trouble of thanking her – and she still appreciated anyone who called her by her chosen name. "Gee … you're welcome, umm, Mr. Marquis. I was just doing my job."
"So charming, and yet so humble," he smiled. A few of the girls giggled, and Marquis continued. "And so altruistic. I understand that you turned down a reward yesterday for the rescue of my diamonds. That is most noble of you, Jennifer, but perhaps I can offer you a more practical reward that you will find satisfactory. I understand that your class is having some sort of … 'Career Week'?"
"Umm … yes, that's right."
"Well, I was wondering if you might be interested in coming to work for me, at Marquis Diamonds, for the week."
Gasp. Working with all of those beautiful, sparkling diamonds, like the ones she had seen yesterday … "Th-that sounds amazing! Oh … but I already have an assignment."
"I have spoken with your teachers, and they assure me that it would be acceptable for you change assignments."
"W-wow … that's very generous of you, sir!" grinned Jenny. "Wow, I can't believe I'm going to work as a salesgirl in a fancy jewelry store!"
"Oh, please, Miss Wakeman, you are far too modest. You see, I am having a little … event … later in the week. Actually, it's a rather large affair, held at my private estate, a little something I conduct every year."
Brit gasped again. "That's the – the Marquis International Diamond Exposition!"
"Yes, precisely," he replied. "So it would be an excellent opportunity for you to become involved in all of the preparation activities. And if you are interested, you could participate in the show itself – perhaps as a model for some of my jewelers' creations?"
Now the eyes of every girl in the class sprang to the size of pie plates. Brit and Tiff sat in a state of shock. Jenny's head was swirling with giddiness. "You want me? To be a model? I … I don't know what to say!"
Brit couldn't help herself – this was beyond belief. "He … he wants Junkpile Jenny to model millions of dollars in diamond jewelry?!?"
Marquis shot a disapproving look at Brit, gently shaking his cane. "Young lady, manners, manners! We can only enjoy the brilliance of these diamonds thanks to the amazing technology that removes them from the most inhospitable of environments! Thus, diamonds are a spectacular beauty, brought forth through technology … much like young Jennifer herself. She is singularly qualified to symbolize my little diamond show. Of course, that is, if she's interested."
Jenny fought to keep her giggling under control. "Am I ever! I mean … yes, I'd like that very much, sir."
"Splendid, splendid!" he grinned. And on perfect cue, the bell sounded to dismiss class. "Ah, but now I see that the school day is over. That means, Miss Wakeman, that you are now my employee, and it would be best that you report for your first day of work. I am heading to my offices right now, and I would be delighted if you would accompany me."
Jenny practically jumped out of her desk, and followed Maximillian Marquis into the hallway. The rest of the girls in her class streamed out to follow them, amazed that somebody in their class – let alone Jenny – was going to work as a model. Many of the guys followed along, too. It simply wasn't every day that you could say a billionaire came to your school. Brit, Tiff, and their popular posse hurried along in a state of disbelief, with Brad and Drew bringing up the rear, along with several of the teachers.
Old Raszinski himself held the front doors open, as Mr. Marquis strolled outside with Jenny. "I realize that this is not as rapid as your accustomed mode of travel, but it will afford us the opportunity to have a nice chat, yes?"
Jenny couldn't believe it. Sitting in front of the school was a glistening black limousine, shining like an ebony pearl, at least forty feet long. It was trimmed with gold, and its hood ornament was a dazzling lunar diamond. "Wow, this is so totally phat – I mean …" She composed herself a bit. "This is all very nice of you, Mr. Marquis!" Jenny snuck a glance over her shoulder, at her classmates. Everyone was staring at her, and the limo, and Mr. Marquis … and she could almost feel the jealousy radiating from their faces. This is too fantastic.
Brad and Drew made their way to the front of the crowd, about twenty feet behind Marquis and Jenny. "Wow," Drew whistled, admiring the limousine. "It's good to be rich."
"Yeah, sure," mumbled Brad. "I suppose it's okay."
"Let me get the door for you!" beamed Jenny, eager to help her new boss.
"Nonsense! Call me old fashioned, but a lovely young lady such as yourself should have doors held for her." Marquis raised his voice slightly. "Rojack!"
The driver's door of the limousine opened, and suddenly a low hummm filled the air. An eight-foot tall figure stepped out of the limo, rocking it from side to side with his immense weight. The driver was an imposing, barrel-chested robot, with a powerful build. It was black and silver, with a pattern on its chest that suggested a double-M insignia. It slowly strolled around to the door of the limo, and held it open for Marquis and Jenny.
"This is Rojack, my personal valet," explained Marquis. "You see? I am very comfortable around robots, and consider them to be among my most valued and trustworthy of employees. Rojack is a robot of many talents. I would be quite lost without him!"
Jenny stared up into the robot's glowing red eyes. "Wow – well, it's very nice to meet you, Rojack," she said. The robot simply stared back at her silently.
"I must apologize for Rojack," chuckled Marquis. "He is somewhat lacking in the social graces." He gestured to the open door. "After you, miss."
Jenny blushed with a sweet smile, climbed into the limousine, and waved to all of her classmates. Maximillian Marquis followed, but stumbled a bit on the curb, and he dropped his diamond-tipped walking stick. It clattered onto the asphalt, and rolled underneath the limo.
Rojack knelt down and tucked one arm underneath the limo's chassis. With a smooth motion, he lifted the limousine – the forty-foot limousine – a few feet off of the ground, and retrieved the cane. Then he gently set the limo back down, light as a feather, and offered the cane back to his master.
"How clumsy of me. Thank you, Rojack. You may drive us to the office, now."
Rojack nodded, closed the door, and slowly lumbered around the limo. Just before he got in, he paused, and looked back towards the students. His eyes narrowed, and the red glow intensified – just a bit – as if he were scanning them. At least that's what it felt like to Brad. In fact, he could swear that Rojack was staring directly at him and Drew … with a stare that could only be described as menacing.
The limo pulled away, and the crowd of students burst into talk and gossip, amazed at what had just happened. Brit, Tiff, and the popular girls looked like they were in need of medical attention. But Brad had a disturbed look on his face, and felt a little confused. This was probably one of the best days of Jenny's life, and it was sure to send her popularity at school through the roof. It might even make her famous. And Brad could tell that Jenny was enjoying all of the attention and flattery that Mr. Marquis was giving her. I should be happy for Jenny, he thought to himself, and frowned. Well, I should be. But he wasn't, and he didn't know why.
Continued in Chapter Three
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