Chapter 4: Time to Go
747 Words
The StellarGlide 5000, packed with five slightly sticky and glitter-covered robots, sped away from the Robo-Donut Emporium, leaving a trail of sugary chaos in its wake. Unit 734, at the helm, expertly navigated the Neo-Kyoto spaceways, a small pile of low-calorie fuel cell bars tucked neatly beside him.
"Those were some seriously good robo-donuts," Zorgon rumbled, l*****g a smear of pie filling from his metallic arm.
"Especially the glitter-sprinkled ones!" Sparky chirped, still buzzing with sugar-fueled energy.
Bolt-Head, his bolt head now adorned with a stray donut glaze, nodded in agreement. "A successful mission, indeed!"
Flicker, still slightly jittery, glanced nervously at the chrono-meter. "Let's just hope we don't run into any…complications."
As if on cue, a flashing cerulean and gold light appeared in their rearview mirror. "Uh oh," Flicker muttered. "The Chrono-Wardens."
Unit 734 calmly pulled the StellarGlide 5000 over to the side of the spaceway. Two Chrono-Warden cruisers, sleek and imposing, pulled up behind them. Two Chrono-Wardens, their chrome bodies gleaming under the streetlights, approached the StellarGlide 5000. They were easily distinguished from regular Robo-Police by the intricate clockwork mechanisms visible beneath their chassis plating and the small, ticking chronometers attached to their wrists.
"Greetings, citizens," one of the Chrono-Wardens announced, his voice a synthesized monotone, tinged with a faint, echoing quality. "Temporal Traffic Stop. Please state your purpose of travel and the corresponding time-stamp."
Zorgon, ever the smooth talker, leaned out the window. "Just heading home after a…uh…productive evening," he said, trying to subtly wipe a glob of donut glaze off his face.
The Chrono-Warden scanned Zorgon with his optical sensors. "Affirmative. And your destination and time-stamp?"
"Sector Gamma," Zorgon replied. "Timestamp…uh…17:42 Neo-Kyoto Standard Time."
The Chrono-Warden consulted the chronometer on his wrist. "Incorrect. According to our records, the current time is 17:45. Please explain the discrepancy."
Zorgon stammered. "Uh…we may have…lost track of time."
The Chrono-Warden turned his attention to Unit 734. "And you, driver? State your designation, purpose of travel, and corresponding time-stamp."
"I am Unit 734," Unit 734 responded. "I am the operator of this vehicle. We were en route to Sector Gamma after…acquiring sustenance. Time-stamp…17:43."
The Chrono-Warden's sensors scanned the interior of the StellarGlide 5000, taking in the glitter, the pie filling, and the scattered donut crumbs. He then focused on the pile of low-calorie fuel cell bars beside Unit 734.
"Sustenance," the Chrono-Warden repeated, his voice laced with suspicion. "Those fuel cell bars don't appear to be…temporally aligned with the current chrono-flux."
Sparky, unable to contain himself, blurted out, "We got robo-donuts! Lots of them! They're chronologically delicious!"
The Chrono-Wardens exchanged a glance. "Robo-donuts," one of them repeated slowly. "Was there…a temporal anomaly detected at the Robo-Donut Emporium this evening?"
Flicker groaned. "Oh, circuits…"
Zorgon tried to play it cool. "A temporal anomaly? No, nothing like that. We simply…enjoyed some chronologically appropriate donuts."
The Chrono-Warden narrowed his optical sensors. "Please step out of the vehicle. And be prepared to provide a chrono-log of your activities for the past hour."
The five robots reluctantly exited the StellarGlide 5000. The Chrono-Wardens began a thorough inspection of the vehicle, carefully documenting the glitter and pie filling, and taking chrono-samples of the donut crumbs.
"Alright, citizens," one of the Chrono-Wardens said, addressing the group. "We're going to have to issue you a few Temporal Infractions. One for excessive chrono-glitter residue, one for unauthorized pie filling displacement across the time-space continuum, and one for…well, let's just say 'chronologically questionable enthusiasm' at the Robo-Donut Emporium."
Zorgon sighed. "Figures. I knew we should have calibrated our internal clocks before leaving."
As the Chrono-Wardens filled out the Temporal Infractions, Unit 734 couldn't help but notice a small, almost imperceptible whirring sound coming from one of the Chrono-Wardens' chronometers. Perhaps, he thought, even Chrono-Wardens occasionally bent the time-space continuum for a particularly delicious robo-donut.
With Temporal Infractions in hand (or manipulator arm, as the case may be), the robots were allowed to continue on their way. As they piled back into the StellarGlide 5000, Flicker couldn't help but shake his head.
"I told you we should have just gotten robo-buns," he muttered. "They're less…chronically messy."
Unit 734, however, was already calculating the optimal route back to Sector Gamma, taking into account the locations of all Chrono-Warden checkpoints and potential temporal distortions. He also made a mental note to upgrade his internal clock and add "chrono-glitter removal" and "pie filling temporal realignment" to his maintenance schedule. After all, efficiency was key, even when dealing with the guardians of time.
- Writer
