3. CHARGE
Upon being created, one of the first things Carl was introduced to was his charger.
"This is your charging station," Cornelius had said. "Whenever you start to feel...drained, you come and stand here till you feel better again."
When he first created it, it was simply an enclosed tube, that looked a little like those showers with the sliding doors. As Cornelius grew, so did the charging station. After a while, it began to look more like a bedroom of sorts, with the bed itself being the actual charger in the station.
One might have found having to be charged a nuisance, but as Carl saw it, it just made him more human. And what was technically him recharging his battery, was similar to humans going to sleep at night.
Unfortunately, as Wilbur got older, sleep seemed to be a thing of the past. Not just for Wilbur himself, but for Carl, too, as he was usually dragged on the boy's little misadventures.
On one particular night, Carl had just helped Lefty finish cleaning the dining room (Taco Tuesday always seemed to be more messy than any other night) and headed to his charging station, when Wilbur suddenly blocked his path.
"Not tonight, little buddy," Carl yawned, his arms giving an involuntary squeak as he stretched. "I need to get some rest."
"No time for rest," Wilbur said, peeking over Carl's shoulder, as if someone was following him. "We're on a very important mission."
"You mean you're on a very important mission," The robot said, moving around Wilbur so he could walk forward again. "I'm going to bed."
"How can you think of sleep at a time like this?"
"At a time like what?" Carl turned his head completely around, while his body continued walking.
Wilbur groaned. "Alright, I didn't wanna give this to you till your birthday, but if it's the only way..."
Suddenly, sleep was the last thing on Carl's mind. "You got me something?"
"I made you something."
"Let me see!" Carl insisted, excitedly.
Wilbur quickly glanced from side to side, then reached into his back pocket. What he pulled out looked to be about the size of a remote. It also looked very plain.
Carl deflated, but continued with wavering curiosity. "What is it?"
"Well, let me show you," He said, walking behind the robot.
He pulled open a compartment in his back and stuck the small object in an empty slot. When he closed the compartment again, Carl felt a sudden boost of energy. He gave Wilbur a questioning look.
"It's a battery," He told him. "Like the one in my phone. You charge it instead of you." He pulled out a second one and handed it to him. "I made two, so when that one dies, you just put the second one in while the first one's charging."
Carl looked at the spare battery Wilbur gave him, flipping it over in his hands. "You made this yourself?"
"Yeah, kinda," The boy shrugged, shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I just, y'know, took dad's blueprints of your charging station and made it...smaller."
The realization hit Carl then and he could barely hide the amusement in his voice. "So...you're like an inventor."
"Yeah, yeah," Wilbur rolled his eyes, then he pointed a warning finger at the robot. "Not that you need to go blabbing it to everyone. I've got a good thing going here."
Carl just laughed. "Whatever you say, Son of the Future."