entry_2

1433 hours, Tuesday, January 30, 1973.

This is unit 0031 again. I wasn't going to utilize this journal any more, but something interesting happened today and Herr Engineer does not want to talk about it. Maybe it is these sorts of situations that lead humans to keep journals in the first place. Either way I will see if this recording helps sate the impulse I have for discussion.

What happened was that the human Soldier and the human Scout came to the workshop today. It was the first time they have visited while I was powered on. They knocked first to signify their presence, and Herr Engineer stopped taking off my punctured tire. They began to converse through the door, as follows:

Soldier unit: ENGIE WHY IS YOUR DOOR LOCKED?

E-001: Just wait a minute, I'm coming!

Soldier unit: THAT'S OKAY, I GOT IT!

The Soldier said that because he kicked the door down. Herr Engineer did not behave as though he were surprised, but he did not seem happy about it either. The Soldier did not notice, and neither did the Scout who followed him through the door.

Scout unit: Hey pally, you shouldn't shut yourself up like that. People are gonna think you don't want us around.

E-001: Don't y'all have any notion of privacy?

Soldier unit: PRIVACY IS FOR LITTLE GIRLS CRYING OVER THEIR FRILLY PINK DIARIES! BESIDES I HAVE SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO DEBRIEF YOU ON PRIVATE!

E-001: Yeah, well it'd better be pretty darn important if you couldn't wait for me to unlock the door.

Soldier unit: IT IS INFORMATION FROM MEDIC AND HE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT, SO THERE!

Herr Engineer straightened from where he was examining the damaged door so he could look at Soldier's expression, whatever wasn't covered by his helmet anyways.

E-001: What is it?

Soldier unit: IT IS THAT MEDIC WANTS TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT IMPORTANT THINGS! SO THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOU!

0031: Was?

And then Soldier and Scout turned around quickly to look at me. I do not think they knew that I was conscious.

Scout unit: Whoa, Engie why didn't you tell us that Champ was on?

0031: Are you referring to me? My identification code is 0031, not-

E-001: Maybe I would have if y'all gave me time to let you in instead of busting my door down.

Soldier unit: FIXING THINGS IS YOUR JOB! I'M SURE YOU CAN FIX YOUR STUPID DOOR!

Scout unit: Yeah, stop being a big crybaby.

E-001: Scout, do I look like I'm even capable of crying in my present state?

The Scout ignored him except for he snorted a little. His attention was turned toward me anyways, and he began to walk over to the workbench. I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do, especially as Herr Engineer and the Soldier were moving as though to leave the room. I did not want to be left alone with this human I didn't know.

0031: Ah... hello.

Scout unit: So you're like, a real robot? One of the ones that keep trying to kill us all the time?

0031: I am not trying to kill you right now, so no. Besides I was retired by Herr Gray several months ago.

Scout unit: Why, you get too old?

0031: Er, partially, though I would rather not talk-

Scout unit: Dude, so your eyes like glow in the dark and crap, right? Does that mean you never need a flashlight?

0031: No, I-

Scout unit: How about your body? Is that solid or is it hollow?

0031: Now really, if I was solid metal where would my circuitry und the like- STOP BITTE, THAT IS NOT PLEASANT!

I grabbed his wrist because he started to bang on my chest. He scowled and yanked out of my grip.

Scout unit: Okay, geez, I was just curious.

0031: You are asking questions too quickly for me to answer them. Also please do not hit me. I don't like that.

Scout unit: You're no fun.

0031: I didn't realize that "being fun" was a condition to being allowed to stay here.

Scout unit: It ain't. I just thought it'd be cool to have a robot at the base. Didn't expect you to be completely lame.

0031: There is not much I can do about that. Herr Engineer is still repairing my motility functions.

Then he gave me a strange look as though he had no idea what I was talking about.

Scout unit: You're freaking weird, you know that?

0031: Er, you may think so I suppose, but that is a matter of opinion I think.

He looked like he was going to keep talking about that, so I changed the subject to something I actually wanted to talk about.

0031: What is it that your Medic wishes to discuss with Herr Engineer?

Scout unit: Hell if I know. Medic won't even say what he's doing to me when I'm on the table in his surgery. He ain't about to say anything about what him and Engie are up to. Believe me, I asked.

0031: Why not?

He rolled his eyes and leaned against the wall.

Scout unit: Something about me not being able to keep my trap shut. That's just an excuse though, cause I can keep a secret better than anyone and he knows it. Like this one time when I was back home one of my pals took ma's car for a joyride, see, and I didn't say nothing about how the windshield got busted to her. It's not like-

0031: Yes, I think I understand now. But, ah, aren't you curious about what they are doing?

Scout unit: Well yeah, but they still ain't gonna tell me. Why?

0031: Oh, I was only wondering about it. Your Medic's job sounds very interesting, working with true organisms.

He laughed slightly.

Scout unit: Heh, yeah, the way that crackpot does it makes things a little TOO interesting if you get what I- oh hey!

The Scout turned to face the door because Herr Engineer had returned. He did not look up immediately on being addressed. This served to irritate the Scout.

Scout unit: Yo, gear-head, I'm talking to you!

E-001: I heard you, now shut up. Wait... have you been in here this whole time?

Scout unit: Well yeah. Me and Champ here were having some quality time, you know, like I was showing him the ropes kind of and-

E-001: He didn't mess with anything did he?

The words were directed at me.

0031: Oh! No, we were only talking as he said. I think he likes talking.

E-001: Good.

He rubbed the back of his helmet distractedly. I hesitated before continuing the conversation.

0031: Ah, if I may be so bold Herr Engineer, might I ask what it was the Medic und the Soldier were talking with you about?

E-001: Soldier wasn't talking with me about nothing, just Medic. I doubt Soldier even... yeah.

The Scout looked between us.

Scout unit: Seriously though, what kind of stuff were you-

E-001: That ain't none of your concern, boy, now how about you leave so I can fix the door y'all broke?

The Scout scowled but made his way toward the exit anyways, even though he hadn't actually been the one who had broken the door.

Scout unit: Your fault for locking the door to start with. Anyways I'll see you Champ. Maybe when you get your wheel fixed we can hang out.

0031: Goodbye, human Scout. It was interesting to meet you.

After he was gone, I scooted myself forward a little along the workbench so I would be marginally closer to Herr Engineer. He did seem terribly distracted as he stood there staring at the empty door frame. He didn't even proceed forward to examine where the hinges had been torn off by the force of the Soldier's boot.

0031: Is everything all right?

E-001: Yeah.

There was a pause in which I expected him to say more but he didn't.

0031: Would you be willing to converse about it?

E-001: Nope.

0031: Oh. I am sorry, I did not mean to-

E-001: I'm gonna lie down. You should get some rest too.

I only nodded in reply, but he wasn't looking at me. He was leaving the room so all I could see was his back.

I do not know much about human behavior yet, but his shoulders were tense like they had been when he was human and Herr Gray was asking him questions that he did not like. It is worrying to me a little bit, but then we are among his friends. They will not let anything bad happen to him most likely, unless they are not truly his friends or they are secretly still angry about him going to work for their enemy.

Which is not reassuring now that I am processing it, as these are both possibilities. Perhaps once I am mobile again I can find out what is wrong.

/entry2