Chapter 2.
382 Words
Chapter 2.
One dark night, many months later as it rained torrentially I stood still atop a slight mound of earth that would become a favourite location of mine and was subsumed with the Robotic equivalent of pleasure! The raindrops thrummed incessantly upon my carapace, seemingly to vibrate my whole being, making me at one with the elements! Suddenly I received several sensor indications that told of a possible fence breach in sector 56.
I took control of two of the Agricultural Drones with their small calibre weaponry and it was as if I was actually there in person as it were, looking through their optical inputs simultaneously. By their night vision and infra-red I confirmed that an incursion was being made by a predatory g**g, probably from a nearby town newly devastated by the latest Chinese Pandemic. They were looking for livestock or grain and there were eight of them, four men, two women and two adolescent boys. All were cold and thoroughly soaked because of the poor quality coats they had and I tried to feel sorry for them but as I said, I was New and my experiences too few to allow me to diverge from my program. Over their shoulders they carried empty sacks and the leader also held an ancient rifle.
I had the two Drones separate by about thirty meters; the one on the left illuminated the group with his torch whilst instructing the people to turn about.
“Attention! Attention! You are trespassing. Turn about and go, turn abo...” A shot had rang out and the valuable Drone died very quickly as the lucky shot had entered its optical recess and shattered its servo-memory.
The leader of the humans laughed coarsely, “That’ll teach the Bas…”
His swearing was cut short and replaced with screams of fear and pain as I gave the second Drone permission to open fire. Unfortunately one of the women and an adolescent were not subsequently accounted for. I assumed that they escaped and it was my fault, but I was New after all!
I called over a Mechanoid and the bodies were quickly and deeply interred and the damaged Drone recovered to our workshop to await the arrival of ‘Agri-Robotics Ltd.’ the following day.
As protocol demanded I informed the local constabulary who showed little interest and did not attend.
- Writer
