entry_25
0213 hours, Wednesday, February 14, 1973.
Those idiot mercenaries won't leave well enough alone. They would do better to just negotiate with Herr Gray for Scout instead of sending people into the tank. The last time was different as there was no alternative to attacking the headquarters to get Herr Engineer back, not to mention they had the advantage of surprise on their side. This time Herr Gray expects them, and they have a chance of avoiding the inevitable disaster this next reckless plan of theirs is bound to be if they simply choose to talk instead of fight. But I am getting sidetracked.
When I looked out into the hallway after 0396 and 0395 left with Scout, I saw only a movement to one side of the door before something shaped distinctly like a gun barrel pressed itself to the back of my head. I stood very still.
0031: H-human Spy? Is that you?
The slight pressure against my head was relieved after a moment's hesitation. At the same time someone grabbed my arm and pulled me backward into the cell. I did not resist, instead opting to look at the human's silhouette as he slipped around me to close the door. The light of my optics revealed a sight that surprised me. It was not the Spy who had come into Herr Gray's base, but the Sniper.
0031: What are you doing here? This is very unsafe!
He turned toward me as soon as the door was closed except for a crack. One of his hands was still clenched around his submachine gun while the other was fingering the hilt of his kukri. The tension of the muscles around his mouth informed me that he was not pleased.
Sniper unit: Where's the Scout?
0031: Ah, well, 0396 und 0395 took him away, I think for the negotiations Herr Gray is planning.
Sniper unit: Piss.
0031: Why did they not send the Spy?
He glared at me.
Sniper unit: Don't reckon that's any of your business.
0031: I-I am sorry, I did not mean to-
Sniper unit: Just shut up and let me think for a mo.
The Sniper rubbed his forehead and looked down at the floor, apparently in the midst of intense concentration. I rocked on my wheel. It felt very awkward, being in his presence.
0031: You are mad at me.
Sniper unit: Yes, I bloody well am mad at you. And I told you to shut up.
0031: Bitte, there is going to be a negotiation. There is no reason for you to-
Sniper unit: There'd be no reason for me to be here at all if you hadn't gone mucking about with the robots.
I hesitated, then fell silent and wrung my hands. It was unpleasant to hear this because it was true.
0031: Are Herr Engineer und Herr Medic all right?
Sniper glared at me again, evidently quite annoyed. At first I thought he was going to ignore my question.
Sniper unit: Doc was still having trouble stringing two words together when I left. Truckie's up and about but pissed off.
That twisting feeling of guilt happened inside of me. Herr Engineer and the other mercenaries had every reason to be upset with me, but the thought of it made me unhappy. It would be nice if they could understand my predicament, but well. They are not robots. Not even Herr Engineer, really.
0031: You should go then. I do not want you to be caught, und the Scoutbots may return before long.
He turned on me with a strange (in a way that Herr Engineer calls "funny") look on his face. His free hand toyed with his kukri again.
Sniper unit: You don't think I'm leaving you here, do you?
0031: Was? But you were angry with me. You were not even looking for me, und how do you even know I am not another Medibot pretending? Or that I will go with you?
Sniper unit: You're going with me because you don't have a choice. Dell told me to bring you back, and it wasn't a request.
I hesitated, taken aback. Herr Engineer strikes me as someone who could be very frightening if angered sufficiently; the command to bring me back might be for my own good, as he sees it, or something more akin to a threat. Sniper continued.
Sniper unit: Besides, you know quite a bit about us now, having lived with us for a while. If I didn't take you back, I'd have to consider you a loose end and... tie you off, if you get my meaning.
0031: Er, vaguely, but I think that may be enough. Still how do you know-?
Sniper unit: Dell said you had a busted eye when you last talked to him. Plus you're the most dented up piece of trash in this stinking place.
It seemed wise to overlook this insult instead of being offended.
0031: Und if I refuse to accompany you?
He raised the gun and pointed it at my head.
Sniper unit: I think you'll find coming with me's a more do-able option pretty quick then, mate.
Quite suddenly a feeling of frustration came up in me, more strongly than any fear I felt. I wrested the gun from his hand. Whether out of surprise or something else, he did not attempt to fire.
Sniper unit: Oi, that's mine!
0031: Sniper, stop this. It is as you have said, I have spent almost a month with you now. You gave me a name.
Sniper unit: Yeah I did, and then you stabbed us in the back like a damned spy. What the hell did you want to go off with Gray for, eh? He's been doing his best to kill us off!
0031: No he has not! If he merely wished to kill you, he could have done that already! He besieged the base, certainly, but you are all alive und well!
Sniper unit: Oh, fine, and what he did to Dell, he's well too ain't he? That was a real funny joke he pulled wasn't it, robot-izing him?
0031: No! I know Herr Engineer does not... he just does not understand. But I have been helping him to be repaired, have I not? His new body, that is partly the result of my efforts. Und I did not bring his brain back for Herr Gray.
Sniper unit: Then what the bloody hell are you doing coming back here?
0395: We were kinda askin' ourselves the same question.
Sniper turned toward the door, simultaneously pulling his bow from his back in one fluid movement. An arrow was already on the string. I spun around as well. 0395 and 0396 were standing in the doorway, weapons out. I rolled back toward the wall slightly.
0031: You did not bring your rifle?
Sniper unit: Figured this was a good time for something quieter.
0395: Didn't help you much though, did it meat-bag?
The other robots moved in on us. I clutched at the submachine gun, hoping that I looked angry and not frightened. Sniper did not flinch.
0396: Man, you would not BELIEVE how much I was hoping this would happen. I mean, I like cavin' a skull in as much as the next guy, but I've been looking for an excuse to get you back since January.
0395: Yeah. How's the bird anyways? Was it worth the beating you're about to get?
0031: Drei is perfectly well, but you will not be if you do not leave at once.
Sniper gave me another sidelong glance as he kept his bow trained on our advancing adversaries.
Sniper unit: Friends of yours, Steve?
0031: Ah, after a fashion, but it seems being punctured und beheaded was not something they appreciated.
0395 pulled up short. His words sounded incredulous as he turned his attention more fully upon me.
0395: Hold up, did Fleshie just call you Steve? What are you, like their pet or someth-
Sniper's arrow was through his eye before he could pull the trigger of his scattergun. 0396 jumped over his compatriot even as he fell. Sniper reached for another arrow, but the Scoutbot's bat swung through the air and caught him hard in the side.
The mercenary fell backward with a string of curses as the bow was knocked from his hands. 0396 moved in to press his advantage but got a slash across his midsection from the kukri for his trouble. It was a wild swing that did little more than send sparks flying from where it scored 0396's plating, but it caused the Scoutbot to retreat all the same. Sniper stooped for his bow.
0396: You fleshy BASTARD!
He surged forward again, and this time Sniper wasn't quick enough. The bat caught him in the side of the head. He staggered sideways into the wall, bleeding with his glasses hanging from one ear, and slid down into a dazed heap on the floor. 0396 advanced on him again, a little more slowly as though thinking about where he'd best like to strike him next. As his fingers twitched at the handle of his bat, I raised the submachine gun and squeezed the trigger.
0396: OW! Screw off!
He spun away from the Sniper and with the same movement swung his bat toward me. I couldn't get off another shot before I was on the ground again, my shoulder aching where he had hit me. The gun went spinning out of my reach. 0396 towered over me, and I had been so long with the humans that the complete lack of expression, the perfectly round lights of his eyes, the strange jerky movements caused something inside of me to quail. I scooted back away from him.
0396: No freakish robo-man here to save you this time, pal. Just you and me, for however long I want this to take. Seems strange sayin' it's gonna be fun, but Gray's probably right. I'm just getting older and, uh, developing. That's the word.
0031: You did not call him Master Gray.
0396: Yeah, well he ain't here to hear me right now, is he?
I dragged myself back a little more, partly terrified at this development and partly annoyed at how often I found myself on the ground these days. My hand hit something solid; it took me a moment to realize it was the fallen 0395. He was blocking my way backward.
0396 lifted his bat. He was trembling as though he could not wait to get started.
0396: Okay Stevie, I'm gonna teach you a new trick since the humans ain't taught you to behave properly. Play dead, Stevie.
I pulled the scattergun out from 0395's grip and shot my attacker in the face.
The bat fell on top of me. The force from the gunshot spun 0396 around on one foot, an almost comic figure, before he collapsed. I sat there watching his eyes flicker and go out. I almost expected him to jump back up and continue attacking.
Then the sound of movement made me jump. Sniper was pushing himself up against the wall and wiping a trickle of blood from over his rapidly swelling eye.
Sniper unit: (chuckle) Good boy.
I threw the scattergun down.
0031: Ihre Witze sind Scheiße, Schweinhund!
Sniper unit: Blimey, calm down. After what you pulled, I think I can make a joke at your expense.
He got to his feet, wincing a little but quite steady, then offered me a hand up. I took it even if I was still annoyed.
0031: What are you going to do now?
Sniper unit: You said something about a negotiation with Gray, right? That's where Scout is.
I simulated a sigh. It seemed that the options were either to waste precious time arguing in circles again or to simply let him have his way.
0031: Und thus where we are going to go, ja, I see where this is going. I wish to see Gray anyways.
I paused, dismayed at myself.
0031: Herr. Herr Gray.
He tilted his head. His eye that was not bruised and almost swollen shut regarded me with a look I did not appreciate very much.
0031: It does not matter, Sniper, just please let's go if you are determined to go through with this.
Sniper shrugged and led the way out. I must admit that as I shut the door on the dead Scoutbots, I wondered if this latest escapade would have been enough to get his attention.
/entry_25