Servo 30:1

Servo 30:1

Suz opened the door to the hardware store and ushered me in. She seemed a bit annoyed that she’d been sent out again in search of supplies. I figured she’d be happy to be out of the claustrophobic hotel room. All of us jammed in there were getting downright uncomfortable. I longed to be back at the farm house with my own room. We wandered in and were “greeted” by an older man at the counter. “May I help you, children?”Suz shook her head. “No, thank you, we just need a can of spray paint.”“I can’t sell that to you without adult consent.”“I’m eighteen, I’m an adult,” she replied smugly. “And we’re not out to deface any property if that’s what you’re worried about.”I followed her to the back where we found a rack containing dozens of cans. They were in a rainbow of colors, but my eye was drawn to the various gray shades. Producing the bot finger, I held it up until I found a reasonable match. “This is the closest.”“All right, grab a can. I hope it works.”“Me too.” I tucked the finger away and reached for a can, jiggling it loose. Handing it to Suz, I figured it would be best if she paid for it. The less suspicion the better. We went to the counter and the man eyed us anyway. Suz paid for the paint and we left without uttering a word. I carried the small plastic sack with the metallic can making the occasional rattle with the glass marble in it. To me, it made too much noise. I wanted complete silence so we didn’t alert another battle bot. As we walked, I swore I saw more of them than earlier. Just about every street corner had a bot stationed on it. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end; my stomach cramped with anxiety; this was no place to be. Our pace hastened as we felt too many sets of electronic eyes on us. I knew they were watching our every move; looking for some reason to detain us. We could not afford to give them one.The hotel loomed just a few blocks away when I saw a battle bot in hot pursuit of a man. He was running flat out, a small bag in his left hand. I guessed his age to be mid-forties, his clothes weren’t the kind normally found in the Inner States. The bot caught up to him in the middle of the street. I wanted to turn my head and look away, but it happened so quick I couldn’t. The bot delivered a quick blow, the man was sent to the asphalt, his head smacking with a loud thud. He screamed as the bot stepped on his lower leg, crushing it. And then I watched bot grab the man by the back of his shirt and drag him to his feet. It stuck out a scanner and scanned the man’s arm. The man continued to plead and cry; dropping the bag.“It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it!” he said, tears coming to his eyes.“You are an unauthorized citizen who has committed theft.”“I didn’t take anything! Look in the bag, the receipt is there!”The bot glanced down at the bag. “You have been found guilty of theft.”“No! No! I didn’t take anything!”“Why were you running?”“I was trying to catch the bus.”“Irrelevant. You have been found guilty of theft.”“No!”“You are an unauthorized citizen. Produce your travel papers.”“I’m here visiting my sister, she sent me to the store to get some apples. The papers are at her house. I’m legally here, I can assure you!”“Irrelevant. You have been found guilty of theft.”We watched the bot drag the poor man off to an awaiting enforcement vehicle where he was roughly thrown into the back. The doors slammed shut and I assume the man would be taken to the very same prison I sprang Otto from. Hell on earth.“It’s starting,” I said softly. “We need to hurry.”Suz stood transfixed by the incident. I think in her little mind she was trying to come to terms with her perfect world crashing down around her. She probably found it inconceivable the government of the Inner States would turn on its own people.  After the vehicle and bot left, I went into the street and picked up the bag. Inside I found three rather bruised apples and a receipt from the grocery store a block away. The bot had failed to verify the man’s story. “It violated the law,” I said, carrying the bag to the side of the street.“What?”“That bot violated the first of Asimov’s laws: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm…It threw that man to the ground and stepped on his leg.”“Oh,” Suz said, her mouth hanging open slightly. “Then Dad was right.”“Of course he was.” I gave her a nudge, “Let’s get back to the room.”“Right.”Our stride hastened even more; trying to reach safety but not look too obvious. Three more battle bots watched our progress. I kept staring toward the hotel, my eyes catching movement out of one side. A bot was following us. Oh no!“We need to slow down,” I whispered.“What?!”“We’re being followed.”“Halt citizens!” the bot called.Suz and I froze in our tracks. I regarded the bag in my hand and quickly dug out the receipt. The bot approached. “I.D. scan.”We offered our hands and the mechanical menace scanned us. “Why were you in a hurry?”It was my turn to come up with a story. My stomach twinged a little and that was enough to help me. “Oh, I’m sick, haven’t been feeling well. I need to get to a bathroom.” I put my hand over my abdomen and groaned a few times. “Do you require medical assistance?”“No, I require a toilet. We’re staying at the hotel—there,” I replied, pointing and following it up with more moaning and groaning. “I’m sick!”The bot looked us over. “You have been to a retail establishment?”“Yes, I have a can of paint for a summer school project. Here’s the receipt.” I held it up. “Bought and paid for.”It scrutinized the receipt all while I continued my charade. “Oh! Ow! Oh, my stomach!” I played the part like a seasoned actor. Suz tried to hide a smile; although deep down, I was confident she was scared out of her mind.“You do not require medical assistance?” the bot said.“No! I need to get to the hotel.”“Resume your travels. I will notify other units in the area not to delay you.”“Thanks, so can we go?” Suz asked.“Affirmative.”“Can we walk fast or even run a little?” “Affirmative.”