entry_9

0203 hours, Sunday, February 4, 1973.

The Sniper was kind enough to join us in the back of the van tonight as we waited for the news. I think Herr Engineer appreciated this very much, especially once we no longer had jaw repairs to keep us busy. It was cramped, but they acted as though they didn't mind. In fact they were in the middle of a game of cards when the others came to fetch us.

The Medic was there when the Sniper opened the back door, with the Heavy and the Pyro standing just a little bit behind him. It seemed odd to me that they sent three of their own when one would have sufficed, but I didn't say anything about it. I only tucked Drei into her box and set her down next to me.

Sniper unit: You got something worked out?

Medic unit: I would hardly be here if we didn't. Und I would recommend that you bring your van closer to the base; there is too much open area to cross to get out here.

E-001: Hell Medic, since when do you care about safety?

Sniper unit: Reckon he's just feeling grumpy. You have to stop in the middle of a dissection for us?

Medic unit: I am NOT grumpy! I am simply-

Heavy weapons unit: We have area ready in surgery for you to stay. Doktor is right; it is bad to stand outside long now.

The Sniper grinned.

Sniper unit: Oh that's why you're grumpy, is it? Don't want to share your room?

Medic unit: (scoff) The surgery in this base is certainly big enough for the three of us, I assure you, und keeping Miss Pauling out should be a simple matter.

I had my own thoughts as to why the Medic might be irritable about Herr Engineer and myself staying near him in the base, but I kept those to myself.

0031: Ah, so. So are we ready to leave?

Herr Engineer tossed the cards he had been holding onto the table before rising from his seat.

E-001: It ain't like I've got nothing to bring in besides my toolbox. See you Sniper.

Sniper unit: See you Truckie.

We climbed out through the back and into the open air, where I was able to take better notice of our surroundings. It was almost overwhelming at first; I had never been among so many trees before, and they were all so BIG! Their branches obscured the sky all round except for one big patch directly over us. Looking up to see the stars like many bright sparks shining their white lights at us made me feel odd. It is difficult to explain the sensation precisely, but it was almost as though for the first time I was realizing what a small powerless thing I was when compared to the entire world. I edged closer to Herr Engineer, still looking up, except then Pyro squeezed in between us and grabbed his hand. I backed away again and regained control of myself. The Pyro gave me one inscrutable look before it and Herr Engineer pulled ahead. The Medic was well in front of us already, apparently eager for the protection of the building against the world outside. I accelerated a bit.

Heavy weapons unit: What was robot doktor looking at?

I spun around in surprise at the human Heavy's voice. His capability to move quietly despite his bulk is rather alarming.

0031: Ah, nothing much. Just our surroundings.

He nodded slowly.

Heavy weapons unit: Mm. Trees are nice.

0031: I am not used to them yet to be honest. They are very large.

He frowned at me.

Heavy unit: Large is not bad always. These trees keep sneaky robots hidden now, yes, but Gray will have hard time with tanks and giant robots in forest.

0031: I am not so sure. Herr Gray is a brilliant man. He very well may find a way through.

We proceeded in silence for three seconds.

Heavy weapons unit: Why do you call Gray 'Herr'?

0031: Was? Ah, well, Herr is like saying... it is like saying the English 'Mister' I think.

Heavy weapons unit: I know what this word means. That was not my question.

I slowed down and looked up at his face. It was hard to tell in the dark with my limited knowledge of human faces, but it seemed likely that he was not looking at me in an angry or overly suspicious way.

0031: Well... it is mostly out of respect. He built me und took care of me for all of my functioning existence until the past several weeks after all. I owe everything that I am to him.

Heavy weapons unit: (grunt) This is also why you say Herr Engineer, da?

0031: Somewhat, yes. He made the first versions of the designs which led to my construction. It is also because he prefers I do not call him by his serial number, und I respect that.

Heavy weapons unit: So you respect Engineer, but you helped to make him a robot also.

0031: Exactly. Why do you ask?

He tilted his head and gave me a look that confused me. It was certainly not like any expression Herr Gray had worn before, not in my presence at any rate.

Heavy weapons unit: I think little metal doktor would do better if he forgot about Gray.

I stopped and looked at him very hard. My fists clenched without me telling them to.

0031: Oh? Und why is that, exactly?

But the Heavy only shook his head and was silent. He did not even stop walking, so I had to follow him again. I kept watching him, wanting him to give some clue as to why he would say something so outrageous. Suggesting that I forget about Herr Gray... but, yes, anyways, he did not say more about that. He did say something that distracted me though after a moment as he looked at me over his shoulder.

Heavy weapons unit: I thought you had bird, like Medic.

I pulled up short.

0031: Ach, I am an idiot. I left Drei in the Sniper's van.

Heavy weapons unit: Sniper can bring bird in the morning.

0031: Nein, tell the others to wait for me. I will not take long.

The Heavy frowned again, but I turned back without any hindrance from him. I moved swiftly, not wanting to keep them waiting for long.

When I reached the van and knocked, the Sniper answered looking annoyed. There was a loud agitated flapping coming from in the van behind him.

Sniper unit: Forget something?

0031: Er, yes. I am sorry.

He handed me Drei's box, and she quieted down immediately.

Sniper unit: Right, maybe now I can get some sleep.

0031: Ja, ja, sorry again for disturbing you.

He shrugged and shut the door, leaving Drei and me alone together outside. I turned and raced along in hopes of rejoining the others before I had been gone for every long. I did not want them to be annoyed with me than they were already.

A noise like 'psst' stopped me.

I didn't really want to look around. It was dark, I was so far behind the others, and I really just wanted to shut down until the morning. But I looked around anyways.

The fence was approximately 3.1 meters away, much closer than I had anticipated. It was open asphalt then dirt with grass to that point, and right outside the chain links the enormous tree trunks stood like the legs of the giant robot Soldiers I would sometimes heal on the battlefield. At first I could see nothing else.

Then the 'psst' happened again. Something moved near the fence, somewhat beneath my eye level, and I saw a set of glowing blue optics.

A Scout unit was watching me. As soon as he realized I was watching him back, he stuck one thin arm through the links of the fence to beckon me toward himself.

I turned and sped after the others as quickly as I could. My processor buzzed almost audibly with this new data. I did not understand.

I hardly paid attention to what I did when I rejoined the others. I made my excuses for seeming flighty, we got inside the base and inside the surgery without any further delays, and I set Drei's box out of the way. Herr Engineer is watching me now because I keep shaking. He continues to ask me if I am all right and I continue to tell him that I am. He will shut down soon, and the Medic unit has already gone into his office. I do not know if I want to shut myself down though, because I do not understand.

That was unit 0396. Scout unit 0396.

I killed him in my old workshop on January the 18 of this year.

/entry_9