Servo 29:1
Servo 29:1
Besides running away from Grandma and Grandpa’s, this had to be the craziest thing I’ve ever done. The hour was late—nearly eleven at night, and the five of us were hiding around the corner from a department store a mile from the hotel. We watched a bot come out of a back door and take a large pile of boxes to a dumpster. It was a newer model, but not so new or old as to be conspicuous. “Now!” Dad bellowed.We launched into action, running toward the bot, which now had its back turned to us. Otto reached up and found the off switch. The rest of us were there to catch the bot as it collapsed. It was heavy, but not nearly as heavy as Dad. We wrestled the lifeless chassis to where my father waited.“Good job!” he said, taking the weight from us. “Let’s get back to the hotel.”“How are we going to keep from being seen? Remember there was a battle bot three blocks back,” Rory added. “I know, and there’s a way around it.” He gestured to me. “Got that sheet in your pack?”“Yup.” I produced a bedsheet that we’d temporarily “appropriated” and helped cover the bot. “Okay, let’s get go.”The journey back seemed to be filled with every peril imaginable. There wasn’t just the one battle bot, there were three! And we saw several enforcement officers driving around in patrol cars. By the time we arrived at the hotel, we were exhausted. Suz closed the door behind us and we propped the stolen bot against the wall. “That went well,” said Dad as he rummaged through my pack looking for the tools I’d brought. “Now to make the swap.”“How are we going to do that?” Rory asked, kicking off his shoes. “We can’t risk powering you down.”“I know, I know. How about you humans get some sleep while I look over the bot and see what I can figure out.” As much as I wanted to stay up and help Dad, I was beyond tired. So I grabbed my “pajamas” and headed to the bathroom. Once comfortable, I brushed my teeth and gargled with some of the hotel provided mouthwash. It tasted like liquid soap so I spit it out immediately and looked at the bottle. Nope, definitely said it was mouthwash. Yuck! Exiting the bathroom, I was passed by Suz, who wanted it next. Otto was sitting at the table with Dad. They had my tablet and were indexing through something. I decided I was too tired to encroach on their conversation; I headed for the small sofa which had now become my bed. Lying down, I pulled a lightweight blanket over and mashed the pillow in attempt to make it conform to my standards. Whaling on the foam-filled sack did little good and I was forced to sleep with a lump under the back of my neck. I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. It was anything but a restful slumber as images of battle bots marching down the streets massacring innocent people filled my head. Was this what the Great Separation was like? The “history” texts glossed over that pivotal period in American society; offering vague details and a mostly one-sided view of the war. Having now lived on the other side of the conflict, I had a deeper understanding of why it happened. And Grandpa and Mrs. Graham helped enlighten me further. All I knew is we couldn’t let another war break out. Millions died in the last one, and the country torn in two. Yet with everything I’d seen, it appeared eminent. I hoped Dad’s plan would put an end to it. Tossing and turning, I spent a restless night. Occasionally I’d reach a level of consciousness and hear Otto and Dad still talking. Their voices were muted in the fog of my brain. I wondered if they had arrived on a plan of action. Somehow Dad would have to get inside Servidyne without being detected. My biggest fear was them catching him and wiping his memory banks. Our beloved father would be gone forever. Or would they keep him as a prisoner and study him?
Besides running away from Grandma and Grandpa’s, this had to be the craziest thing I’ve ever done. The hour was late—nearly eleven at night, and the five of us were hiding around the corner from a department store a mile from the hotel. We watched a bot come out of a back door and take a large pile of boxes to a dumpster. It was a newer model, but not so new or old as to be conspicuous. “Now!” Dad bellowed.We launched into action, running toward the bot, which now had its back turned to us. Otto reached up and found the off switch. The rest of us were there to catch the bot as it collapsed. It was heavy, but not nearly as heavy as Dad. We wrestled the lifeless chassis to where my father waited.“Good job!” he said, taking the weight from us. “Let’s get back to the hotel.”“How are we going to keep from being seen? Remember there was a battle bot three blocks back,” Rory added. “I know, and there’s a way around it.” He gestured to me. “Got that sheet in your pack?”“Yup.” I produced a bedsheet that we’d temporarily “appropriated” and helped cover the bot. “Okay, let’s get go.”The journey back seemed to be filled with every peril imaginable. There wasn’t just the one battle bot, there were three! And we saw several enforcement officers driving around in patrol cars. By the time we arrived at the hotel, we were exhausted. Suz closed the door behind us and we propped the stolen bot against the wall. “That went well,” said Dad as he rummaged through my pack looking for the tools I’d brought. “Now to make the swap.”“How are we going to do that?” Rory asked, kicking off his shoes. “We can’t risk powering you down.”“I know, I know. How about you humans get some sleep while I look over the bot and see what I can figure out.” As much as I wanted to stay up and help Dad, I was beyond tired. So I grabbed my “pajamas” and headed to the bathroom. Once comfortable, I brushed my teeth and gargled with some of the hotel provided mouthwash. It tasted like liquid soap so I spit it out immediately and looked at the bottle. Nope, definitely said it was mouthwash. Yuck! Exiting the bathroom, I was passed by Suz, who wanted it next. Otto was sitting at the table with Dad. They had my tablet and were indexing through something. I decided I was too tired to encroach on their conversation; I headed for the small sofa which had now become my bed. Lying down, I pulled a lightweight blanket over and mashed the pillow in attempt to make it conform to my standards. Whaling on the foam-filled sack did little good and I was forced to sleep with a lump under the back of my neck. I closed my eyes and quickly fell asleep. It was anything but a restful slumber as images of battle bots marching down the streets massacring innocent people filled my head. Was this what the Great Separation was like? The “history” texts glossed over that pivotal period in American society; offering vague details and a mostly one-sided view of the war. Having now lived on the other side of the conflict, I had a deeper understanding of why it happened. And Grandpa and Mrs. Graham helped enlighten me further. All I knew is we couldn’t let another war break out. Millions died in the last one, and the country torn in two. Yet with everything I’d seen, it appeared eminent. I hoped Dad’s plan would put an end to it. Tossing and turning, I spent a restless night. Occasionally I’d reach a level of consciousness and hear Otto and Dad still talking. Their voices were muted in the fog of my brain. I wondered if they had arrived on a plan of action. Somehow Dad would have to get inside Servidyne without being detected. My biggest fear was them catching him and wiping his memory banks. Our beloved father would be gone forever. Or would they keep him as a prisoner and study him?
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