Lu-Na and Protag stood beaming over their sone as a large Surge-O-Bot reconstructed and replaced Arch-Ie’s severed arm.
PROTAG
Brilliant move sending that message to Le-Thario.
ARCH-IE
He was the only one who believed in the technology.
PROTAG
I sure am believer now.
ARCH-IE
Where is Uncle Le-Thario anyway?
LU-NA
We’re taking turns; he’s with Syd now.
ARCH-IE
And Syd?
Protag and Lu-Na looked to each then to Arch-Ie
Syd lay on an operating table with a gaping hole in his chest as Ja-Ne cried over his body. Le-Thario stood at the edge of the room with Doc-Tor EL-41.
EL-41
Mr. Kik’s heart could not take the stress of today’s events, we tried all we could but it has permanently shorted out.
LE-THARIO
Why not just give him a new one?
EL-41
His technology is so outdated that there is no proper replacement..
LE-THARIO
Put him on a data stick, we’ll upload him to a new body then.
EL-41
Every port is outdated, even the adapters needed to transfer him to a new body no longer exist.
LE-THARIO
Poor Syd.
They heard him at the end of the hall arguing with an attendant.
PAT-REE
You know who I am you nit wit! I’m on the poster in the lobby; just direct me to whoever wants me there the most.
Ja-Ne was incensed, sharply leaving Syd-Kik’s side rushing to the doorway.
JA-NE
See that you don’t set one foot in this room!
PAT-REE
Ja-ne darling, I have news. It was R0- RY, my granddaughter, who was behind all of this.
JA-NE
Was it she who was too cheap to update his own partner and assistant for all these years, so that now he’s…he’s.
Pat-Ree moved towards the doorway.
PAT-REE
Don’t get hysterical I-
Le-Thario swiftly moved in front of Pat-Ree.
LE-THARIO
I think you should sit this one out pop.
PAT-REE
I just need to explain-
LE-THARIO
Pop I love you but it’s been a hard day on all of us.
PAT-REE
I see my boy.
Pat-Ree retreated to the other side of the hospital as Kris-Ti exited the elevator running into Le-Thario’s arms.
LE-THARIO
Nice to see you too.
KRIS-TI
I brought your father here.
LE-THARIO
You’re the one we should thank for that huh?
KRIS-TI
Believe it or not he’s completely innocent in all of this and the real culprit is someone you won’t believe.
Pat-Ree had decided to try his luck in the maternity ward where he would meet his new grandson. Hugh was stationed outside of the viewing room where every infant-bot had its own way of coping with their first moments of life, Or-I-On was not hard to spot as he appeared as a human newborn who was playing video chess on a datapad while propped up with eight metal tentacles forming out of his back.
PAT-REE
Holy smokes that’s him!
HUGH MANN
Good to see you made it Ree, and yeah, that’s my boy.
Pat-Ree stepped forward and knocked on the glass.
PAT-REE
Hey little guy, I’m your grandfather.
Or-I-On looked up from his game, waved with his left arm and a left tentacle and nodded.
OR-I-ON
Salutations.
Then went back to his game.
PAT-REE
He is deliciously macabre, I love him already; where is my daughter?
KVXIV
Behind you.
Pat-Ree went for a hug then quickly remembered, then saluted.
PAT-REE
Apologies.
KVXIV
I just had a child, I will gladly accept a hug, I need the hug.
Pat-Ree embraced KVXIV.
KVXIV
Besides, we’re the only members of the family who do not presently hate your rusted innards
Pat-Ree broke the hug.
PAT-REE
Yes, I got some of that already.
KVXIV
They all find you at fault for today’s tragedy.
PAT-REE
I tried to tell them I’m not, but they won’t listen to me.
HUGH MANN
We will.
PAT-REE
Of course you will, the human just has to be the only sensible being in the building.
Le-Thario came running into Arch-Ie’s room with Kris-Ti by his side.
LE-THARIO
Heads up brother, I got some news.
PROTAG
Father is here; I was already alerted by the staff.
LE-THARIO
Not just that, Antag is back man.
PROTAG
Impossible.
LE-THARIO
Not with R0-RY’s skills, apparently.
PROTAG
No doubt he is coming to kill me.
LE-THARIO
He already tried.
PROTAG
The explosion.
LU-NA
He has to know it wasn’t you that-
PROTAG
He might not, especially if R0-RY has been pulling his strings.
LU-NA
What are you going to do?
PROTAG
I’m going to get ahead of him.
The Drewniverse 44 