Robotic Vampires 17

The morning broke again as usual Mike was being escorted by a robot with a signatory letter from the boss. The robot reached maintenance removes the letter and shows it to the boss, "this is for you," the robot says

"Mike, what's he doing here?" Ray asked in a low tone,

"He wants to join," E said. The boss collected the letter and read it,

"The King has spoken, let Mike join you in maintenance, take him anywhere you go. Don't try to be smart, cuz they'll be consequences,"

Just under the message, Norman signed, "this is forged?" The boss said

"Is it?" Mike asked the robot, "you can ask him, but before that where do you want me,"

"Over here with me," Rob said,

"Just so you know I won't be a punching bag for anybody," Mike walked frightened to Rob's generator. The Robots walked out and closed the door gently

"Introduce yourself," Smith says,

"What do you want to know?"

"I am this and that…" Smith says,

E said, "or he should actually begin from the reason why he suddenly joined us,"

"Yeah, yeah," Ray said,

"I have obligations and each time spent is very precious to me,"

"What obligations?" Rob asked immediately,

"Personal obligations,"

"I hope they are not family-oriented," E said, "because all of us have our different families to take care of,"

"Yeah, you get the picture, family,"

"It's not family," the boss said, "hands scrubbing his overalls, then his chin, then his balb - three signs you're lying,"

"Are you lying to us?" Rob sparks, "we live like brothers and now you come here to lie_

"No…ok, I'll tell the truth, alright,"

"You better do," E said, "Smith here is worse than Rob,"

"In three months my gabbling would pay out. I…"

"You're here because of gabbling?" Boss asked,

"Someone rarely speaks up," Mike said looking at the boss. Smith stretched out from his corner and ran unto Mike, "you say that again and it won't be the best welcome party trust me,"

E was focused, very focused on Smith's mechanical movement, the movement of his hands and all that when his radio rang noisily, "you brought your radio here," the boss said

"I didn't remember sleeping with it in my pocket all night," E said,

"Is someone going to answer that," Rob said,

E sealed his left heart using his index finger and ran to one corner of the room that was a little bit quiet and less suspicious, "Ray check up on incomings for me,"

"Alright," Ray dropped his hammer and went outside and stayed, watching for the passer-by,

"Sir, this is bad timing," E said in a low voice,

Flynn said "I know, but people over here want to know the progress of our second Norman,"

"Ria has found something, she believes it to be Norman's son,"

"The 12-year-old," Holland says,

"Yes sir,"

"Alright, we'll need to take a picture of him so we can find out the connection,"

"Woo, that's going to be a problem. Norman doesn't like him getting out of his apartment"

"Find a way, I'll be in touch,"

"Sir, I think we should just stick to the every night pattern, it's helpful for me and the boys,"

"Ohh, you've made friend's all ready,"

"About that, I think there's someone you have to meet," E stretched out and called on the boss. The boss took the spot in the corner, pressed his left ear, and said, "I'm Master Chief Thomas Julian, former SEALS, and leader of Alpha one operatives,"

Flynn holds his breath, he nods and Z makes a few tabs on the keyboard and his image shows, "deceased, three years ago," Flynn says, "what are you doing there?"

"I and six others were sent on a mission to Pakistan, four including me survived," the boss,

"I'm sorry for what happened, we'll do our best to get you out, all of you,"

"I don't need your sorry, I just want to know if my family and those of my boys are alive,"

"We'll give you an update on our next meeting, for now, stay strong,"

E collected the radio fast and said, "and my mom,"

E finished on the radio and Ray came in. Everyone went back to their post, "you guys have a radio," Mike says, "I need one,"

Everyone turned and said as if planned, "shut up,"

"I won't," he smiles hard, "remember our deal, Easton,"

"What deal?" Smith says,

"You knew about this?" Rob asked,

"He came and threatened if I don't let him in he'll let Norman in,"

"Lab rat," Smith says

"Don't call me that, and besides it worked,"

"Scumbag," Ray says

Enough!" Boss said, "we need to send a message. Ray go get the red lady,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ria had been in her apartment all day, and it was almost getting to midday when the blonde with a red bandana came knocking, "come in the door is open,"

The red lady came in and dropped a piece of paper, "from E," she said. Ria took the paper and it read, "the storage unit now."

• • • •

Ria walked into their usual storage unit and before long E entered, "you talk like you'll be early," Ria said,

"I can't stay in this hot place alone,"

"Better be fast, Norman thinks I'm in the apartment,"

"Ok, I'll make this quick, you need to take Norman's son to a place where the U.S can take pictures and do some scanning,"

"You're joking, I won't be going anywhere close to that boy or anything that belongs to Norman never,"

"Yes, you will because the planet depends on it,"

"I said no…I'm just fed up,"

"All of this will end in the usual failure like Murphy and my previous mission,"

"Thought you said Murphy isn't dead,"

"How will I know? He is more likely to be a robot in three days and this is two already,"

"Don't worry, I'll find out," E said

"How? You've been here just three months,"

"I have a friend," E said, "you find a way to take Norman Jnr out for a walk and leave the rest for me,"

"Alright,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

E just came back from his walk and tells the team, "it's time for lunch,"

"Woo, I'll be seating on the golden table today," Mike said

"Just behave yourself,"

After some time everyone settles on the table after joining the line several minutes ago to get their lunch, "so I hope everything is alright with our top executive," Mike said

E didn't want to talk at first but when the boss said, "just answer,"

"Yes, but I'll be off this night nonetheless, I have to check out something for her too,"

"Where would that be?" Rob asked, "James, I'm going to see James,"

"I'm coming with you,"

Ray said, "No you're not,"

Mike said, "yes I am,"

"Boss, we'll have to take care of this our baby here,"

"You don't have to," the boss said, "because it would be the last time he counters anyone's decision,"

"Should I keep reminding you every minute about my deal with Easton,"

"You want out just like the rest of us," Boss shifted his food and looked him in the eye, "are you in or out? Or do you want to be reminded of the road to Norman's palace,"

Mike kept quiet for a while, "I want in,"

"Thought as much," the boss said, "you're granted your wish to follow Easton, for today only,"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ria watched Norman's wife's apartment closely for almost an hour from the storage unit opposite the apartment. The moment Norman's wife leaves for the poll she moves in slowly to meet with Norman Jnr.

"Jnr boy, c'mon, it's aunt Ria," she told him lying on the bed on the far left,

"What about my mum?"

"She's out for a game. Don't you want to go out for fresh air," Ria tried tricking him into leaving the apartment,

"My mom has strongly advised me against the world, says there's enough chaos' to bury my head down once my legs step out that door,"

"That's not true, believe me, you won't die trust me,"

"How do you know,"

"Because I walked in here and I didn't die or fall sick,"

"Maybe it affects only children,"

"Well, there's only one way to find out,"

"I'm sorry, but I'll get scolded if I step my foot outside. I don't want that,"

"I understand, but in six years you'll be an adult, you have to start behaving like one,"

"How is that?"

"Getting up from the bed and getting out is step one,"

Jnr moved out of the bed and made a walk to the threshold, stepped on his first foot, and made a walkout, "see that," Ria said, "I told ya you won't get hurt,"

"What now?"

"This way," Ria looked left opposite to the pole house which was right.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Easton and Mike had finished lunch and set off for their journey to the land of robots Ray called it, "this place have you ever been here before," Mike asked

"Yeah,"

"How far are we then," Mike asked,

"Not too far, " both walked through several corners and finally they saw themselves in the main hallway that leads to the robots room, "this is where you stay and watch," E jacked Mike by the shoulder and forced him into the storage room opposite, "like Moses you won't enter the promised land,"

"Are you God now?"

"Well, my friends don't like friends, so,"

"You're so pathetic,"

"Why's everyone saying that?"

"Because it's for Norman and right now you behave like him,"

"See you when I see you," E walks into the room and goes straight to James amid five other workers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ria took Jnr to the big window and showed him the wonderful view, "what's this?"

"According to your dad, the only way out of here,"

"What? I'm gonna die here?"

"No one knows, but we are though and we hope for the best,"

"My mom never told me no one would be going out,"

"Your mom said that to protect your eyes from seeing beyond your nose,"

"And why are you telling me this,"

"To protect your head and your mind perhaps," Ria said, "the lies protect your eyes, the truth protects your head and mind. Which one do you want?"

"My mom usually says the truth is bitter, but I can handle bitter,"

Ria looked at Jnr and smiled then said, "It's enough for today I just hope they got the message,"

"I want to stay, I love the view,"

"Everyone does, but it's dangerous if your mom sees you out here,"

"She told me the lies,"

"For your good," Ria says, "C'mon,". And they returned

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The boss and his boys sat in different spots in Easton's room waiting for the E and newly joined Mike to return. The door jerks and both E and Mike returns, "we were worried, you're 10 minutes late," Rob says

"Just 10 minutes, I don't understand were you expecting us to behave like soldiers," Mike said,

Smith says "E is a soldier, you slow him down that's why we hate you,"

"Enough of the quarrel alright, the good news is he's fine. Murphy is fine but the news Norman knows about it, and now he'll be used as an experimental instrument for Norman and his doctors,"

"Aye, that's a little bit of good news, at least we can break him out," the boss said

"We are not thinking about doing that, I mean we have a lot on our hands,"

Rob said, "I'm with E on this one,"

"Boss I respect you and you know that but E is right, too many jobs to get done too soon," Smith says

"What about you Ray? What do you say?" E says,

"Anything you guys saw bro, I'm behind that,"

"Alright, we can break him out later, maybe after the break out,"

"If there's time, I guess," E says

"They'll always be time for what you want," the boss said,

"No one asked for my opinion," Mike says

"Who knows you, man?" Smith says

"We don't need it, sorry…" Everyone chuckled