Loading Times - Part 2 of 3

As more and more systems became automated, many age-old careers became redundant. Even the police force eventually disbanded, making way for private contractors to handle the investigation, procurement, and delivering of justice to wrongdoers. If a person or group was deemed a threat to the nation, the government would step in, sending an elite group of assassins androids equipped with the most advanced combat AI ever created and a multitude of lethal and non-lethal weaponry. Mostly however, the public was on its own, and this worked… most of the time.

“Thirteen killed by loaderbot in grocery store massacre-“

“-explosion at oil refinery reportedly caused by malfunctioning loaderbot-“

“-android rampaging through the streets-“

Our radio was buzzing with constant reports of loaderbot attacks all throughout the city. In the driver’s seat, Lloyd’s face had gone pale. Whether this was due to his injuries or the events unfolding, I didn’t know.

We were speeding towards an abandoned robot factory on the south end of town. After we had defeated the android at the mall, I was able to track a connection between it and this factory, most likely the location of the person behind all this.

“It could be more than one person,” said Lloyd as if reading my thoughts. “In fact, I’m almost sure of it. There’s no way all these robots could be controlled at the same time by just one dude.” He paused for a moment. “Maybe we should call for some backup?”

I hesitated. I really didn’t like working with other repair companies. Heck, I could barely stand Lloyd most of the time, but he was probably right. I took out my phone, and scrolled through my contacts. It was shamefully bare, for I had the tendency of deleting the number of anyone who irritated me, which happened often. A name caught my eye, and I stopped scrolling as I felt a prick of pain in my chest. The faint LED glow of Allie’s name burned itself into my retinas as brief flashbacks assaulted my mind’s eye. We had gone on a couple of dates, but a huge argument had caused a rift between us and it had been several weeks since we had last talked. I… kind of liked her… a lot.

Her son was actually the reason we met. Lloyd and I were investigating several reports of malfunctioning lawnmowers terrorizing teachers, and her son Mark was behind the attacks. Only fifteen, he was a hacking prodigy of sorts and would also create his own machines to do his bidding. Mark had a weird obsession with bats, calling himself “Ne0nVampL0rd57” as a sort of alternate persona. He was a bit irritating at times, but his skills were inarguably useful. Also asking him for help would give me an excuse to talk to Allie again.

I tapped the name and put the phone to my ear. After a few seconds she answered.

“Hello?”

“Yeah, hey Allie!” As I said her name, Lloyd squinted his eyes and shot me a suspicious glare.

“Oh… hi Donald.” I felt another stab of pain realizing the only reason she didn’t know it was me is because she probably deleted my number.

“So how are things?” I asked awkwardly.

“They’re pretty alright I guess,” she answered awkwardly.

“So, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to get a coffee sometime or…” Suddenly Lloyd elbowed me hard in the ribs.

“Not now!” he mouthed silently.

From the phone came Allie’s voice. “Yeah, maybe. That might be nice.” Did her voice sound slightly more cheerful, or was it just my imagination? Regardless, I felt a surge of adrenaline because she had clearly just said yes. But now to the difficult bit.

“Alright sounds great! But uh, listen Allie, do think I could talk to Mark real quick?”

The resulting silence seemed to last a lifetime. Finally she spoke. “He really likes you guys. His dad’s not in the picture so he really looks up to you two. I hope you know that.”

I found my words caught in my throat, unable to reply.

Allie continued. “So I’m going to go get him. And you’ll probably have him go off doing God knows what. Just know, that if he gets hurt in any way, I will hunt you down myself.”

“I know, Allie. He’ll be safe, I promise.”

“He’s my world, Donny…”

“I know, Allie.”

A minute later Mark was on the phone. “Ah, my dearest repair companions, we speak again. It has surely been too long.” He was talking in his “villain voice”, which seemed to be part of his persona. “What do you pathetic worms want?”

I could hear his mother in the distance. “Mark, I told you to stop talking like that!”

Mark shouted back, “Fine, whatever mom!”

I cleared my throat. “Hey kid, we got a job for you.”

“Oh? What’s up?” he said, dropping the voice completely now.

“I assume you’ve been listening to the reports on the radio.”

“I might’ve been,” he said smugly.

“Well we tracked the source, but we might need backup. Meet us at the abandoned Turtry Robotics Foundry south of town if you want to get in on the action.”

“Muahaha, how pitiful! The mighty Perkins brothers calling upon their greatest enemy to-“ he started with his villain routine again, but I hung up the phone cutting him off. I knew he would come.

“You really think asking that kid for help is a good idea?” asked Lloyd in a skeptic voice.

“He might be a little bratty, but he’s good in a fight. Trust me.” I still had scars from the last time we fought with Mark.