Of Monsters and Mainframes

by Barbara Truelove

I check for heat signatures. Nothing. Oh. They’re all dead. Well. That’s awkward.

They’re for external use only. Humans ignore that label all the time. Trust me.

Though the official name seems far more practical. And as I look at WEBB990641206HBF through my sensors,

Fuck yeah, robot arm. Fuck yeah, I’m a cyborg. Fuck yeah, it ain’t dainty or pretty or human-looking. It’s a scary, big crab-claw thing that can unscrew bolts and crush stuff flat. Fuck yeah, this is awesome.

The Delicate Art of Lying Face Down on the Floor and Feeling Sorry for Yourself