The Mech-man

Chapter 5

Knock, knock. The Squad came. Saying it was a squad, but there was only three people. On tall and thin wearing a black suit, and the other two were short but extremely muscular. They came in after the tall person, who was likely in charge.

“Mr Smiths,” The tall and thin person said to the police, “I gathered that you thought that he might be a Mech-man!” He concluded eyeing Max who bit his lips nervously. He had never seen the Squad or Mech-man.

“Yes, Mr Brown.” Mr Smiths, the police replied politely and standing as straight as possible.

“Come here.” Mr Brown holding up his hand, then he turned to face his two helpers and hissed, “Get ready to do the blood test. Quickly!”

Max gulped as he walked slowly towards Mr Brown, he couldn’t imagine if the result was that he was a normal boy, it would ruin his whole life.

“Don’t move, kid.” One of Mr Brown’s servants said, “It’ll be very quick.” He said it softly as if Max was a little child. He felt his arms sting as the pain increased, then it was over. He could see a test-tube of his blood being handed to Mr Brown who poured them into a strange, squared shape machine. Max held his breath.

Beep, beep. The signal that the blood test was finished. When Mr Brown looked curiously to the results, he gasped.

“Mech-man, level 9!” Mr Brown exclaimed open mouthed, then turned to face Max, “That’s almost impossible for someone with the experience of yours!”

“How impossible is that?” Lucas asked, feeling happy but also a bit of jealousy for Max.

Mr Brown turned and explained smiling, “The highest level of Mech-man ever recorded was a level 10!”

“So kid, what’s your name and family name?” Mr Brown asked Max.

“Max, and for my family I don’t know.” Max muttered ashamed of his memory.

“Max, are you registered?” Mr Brown asked.

“I might be.” Max admitted, thinking of the dream he had seen.

“I’ll check, M-a-x. Right?” Mr Brown asked.

“Yes.” Max replied.

Max waited nervously, until Mr Brown read, “Max Bentlin, registered date 2423, age 9.”

“I think that’s me.” Max said after hearing Mr Brown.

“Do you remember anything from The Incident?” Mr Brown asked expecting yes as an answer.

“No, but I saw the event in a dream.” Max confessed to Mr Brown about the dream/nightmare he had when he fell unconscious.

“Interesting.” Mr Brown said at last, “Thank you, Max. We’ll come back tomorrow for your ‘crime’.”

Max gulped, “What would happen…”

“I don’t know, wait until tomorrow.” Mr Brown said smiling grimly.

While Max was taking the blood test, Mr Beckon was talking with Mr Smiths, and the police man was furious to learn about Mr Beckons s*****y attempt.

“He said he wanted sons.” Mr Beckon argued, “Not slaves!”

“Still, same thing from s*****y. Tell me his name and it might save you some trouble.” Mr Smiths ordered, “And then me and my colleagues will decide your imprisonment.”

“But what about Max, that brat also committed crime!” Mr Beckon complained.

“He will also be punished, but much lighter than you.” Mr Smiths judged. Mr Beckon sighed.

“He told me his name was James Pattern, but I’m not sure if that’s true.” Mr Beckon said at last.

“Describe him then.” Mr Smiths demanded.

“A mid-aged man. White hair wears glasses. About 1.7m high…” Mr Beckon began as Mr Smiths noted things down on his notebook.

“Thank you.” Mr Smiths said after Mr Beckon finished, “Be ready tomorrow to face the judge!”

Then, Mr Smiths left marching out of the old, rusty door.

Nobody uttered a word when Mr Smith and Mr Brown. But soon, the silence was broken.

“Max, you’re so luck!” One of the orphans complimented jealously.

“How do you feel being a Mech-man?” Another orphan asked.

“Max, are you going to leave us?” A tall orphan asked.

“Max…”

“Max…”

The orphans bombed him with questions and compliments only got interrupted when Mr Beckon, high annoyed bellowed for silence and sent them to their room.

The chatter continued as the orphans went into their bedroom. Many of them envied Max for his fortune of being a Mech-man. Max hated attention; he always did. He would rather be lonely than being in the central of attention. He tried his best not to stand out in his friends but now everybody wanted to ask him question. He tried best to answer them, but with every question, he felt more uncomfortable.

“Lights out!” Mr Beckon bellowed and silenced the questioning, “No more talking after lights out.”

Max had never been so happy to hear Mr Beckon lights out, he sighed happily when the orphanage’s lights darkened, he never felt so happy to be in the dark, where nobody can see his expression.

“Guys, I’m tired.” Max admitted as the orphans started to chatter again, “Stop asking me questions.”

“Sir said no talking after lights out.” Max continued, not wanting to be in central attention again.

“And you listen to him?” One orphan asked sarcastically.

“No, but I want to sleep.” Max complained, “I can’t sleep with all that talking.”

“He has a big day ahead of him, so stop asking him questions.” Lucas ordered, helping Max.

The orphans became silent knowing not to argue with Lucas. But the silence barely lasted. Quiet murmur broke out but not about Max.

Max smiled as he fell asleep, he mumbled a ‘thank you’ to Lucas and closed his eyes. It felt good to be lost in a world of dreams, where amazing things could exist with nobody judging you and no worries for your real life.