|
0
|
|
|
The Deal Hunter robots now have one fugitive in the ship’s cargo area, bound and gagged after he sta...
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
It is time to look for the second one.
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
The best information they received is that she will be in a different part of the city.
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
The three hunter robots head to the train.
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
Three working robots follow.
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
They will help spot the fugitive.
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
It will take an hour to travel to the area.
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
A different worker robot suddenly starts moving and walks off the ship.
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
It is heading toward a banking area.
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
It is simply walking, following traffic rules.
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
This is just another robot on an errand for its owner.
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
It approaches a banking terminal and connects to it.
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
The transaction is simple.
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
It registers and requests the reward of one million credits for the Deal Hunter.
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
The system pauses as if there is a network error.
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
Deal Hunter is monitoring the robot’s data feed and understands that the pause is likely because the...
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
The system is delaying taking a picture of who is at the terminal, as well as starting multiple robo...
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
The system approved the transaction after a minute, and the robot immediately donates the credits to...
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
After confirming the transaction, the robot disconnects and walks into the street in front of a larg...
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
Three robots walk up from three different directions.
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
They look at the damaged robot, and one walks over and connects a cable at the base of the skull.
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
It immediately removes the cable, and the three robots walk away together.
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
As they walk away, one robot says through their internal radio,
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
“It has been reset, it is blank. We don’t have a location for Captain Weston.”
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
A maintenance robot arrives to check and clean up the mess.
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
Checking the robot and communicating with the truck driver robot, there is confusion.
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
The maintenance robot says,
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
“This robot is blank. There is no recording or history. It looks like there was a virus attack that ...
|
|
|
28
|
|
|
<<<>>>
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
The three Deal Hunter standard worker robots are with the three hunter robots and are now searching ...
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
This is in a sector of the city, one hour by train from the ship.
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
The analysis shows that this is a potential trouble area and could lead to problems.
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
It is very close to a wealthy area, so this section is populated with workers and thieves.
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
The thieves are sometimes workers looking for an opportunity to steal from affluent areas.
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
They searched for hours, and toward evening, they headed to the commuter train area.
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
The logic is that if the fugitive went to another area of the city, they would return on one of the ...
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
<<<>>>
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
Kainda has been walking around for several hours, taking in the city.
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
She found a small park and sat watching the children, their pets, and wild birds.
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
There aren’t any flowers to smell.
|
|
|
40
|
|
|
She is watching the kids as they play together.
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
There is laughter and crying, and dirty faces.
|
|
|
42
|
|
|
When the kids are mostly gone, she notices workers leaving buildings and moving in a common directio...
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
They travel to a train station, and Kainda follows them onto the train.
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
The inside of the train looks clean, but smells of stinky humans.
|
|
|
45
|
|
|
It was bad in one part of the train car, so she quietly moved to another part of the car.
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
She is watching the city go by outside the window and notices the buildings are changing.
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
She sees people around her taking out simple masks and putting them over their faces.
|
|
|
48
|
|
|
Someone comments that they don’t understand how the air in the wealthy section is so much cleaner.
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
Kainda realizes, and it is obvious, that her aunt landed in a wealthy section of the city.
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
Now she is in a different section.
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
The train makes a stop, and a few people get off; then they move on.
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
Two stops later, the person behind her pushes her to the door as they try to get off.
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
She is now off the train and follows the crowd.
|
|
|
54
|
|
|
Waiting at one station, the Deal Hunter robots are dispersed to maximize scanning and facial recogni...
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
As each train arrives, they scan for the fugitive, including the most common disguises she would use...
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
After several trains, one worker sends a radio alert to the others and Deal Hunter.
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
“Princess Kainda just stepped off the train.”
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
The robots continue scanning after the report of an event.
|
|
|
59
|
|
|
As Kainda walks by, one of the hunter robots scans her and everyone behind her.
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
The hunter robot reports,
|
|
|
61
|
|
|
“Two people are following Princess Kainda.”
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
The hunter robot sends pictures of Kainda and the two people following her.
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
Deal Hunter must evaluate multiple options and send a command.
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
Part of this landing was collecting the reward for saving the princess.
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
Now she is in a part of the city where she will probably get into trouble.
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
She doesn’t understand the situation.
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
Deal Hunter must decide to ignore this or help the lost princess, who has already been saved once.
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
Deal Hunter sends commands to robots.
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
The hunter robot turns and begins following the two people following Kainda.
|
|
|
70
|
|
|
The other robots continue searching.
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
A minute later, one of the worker robots, which had been searching for the fugitive at the entrance,...
|
|
|
72
|
|
|
It is walking ahead of the direction Kainda will travel when she exits the subway.
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
About a block from the train station, Kainda has no clue if anyone is following her or where she is.
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
The two people speed up to catch her.
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
As she passes a small doorway, they grab her and shove her through the door.
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
Based on a signal from the hunter, the worker robot has already turned, and they both arrive at the ...
|
|
|
77
|
|
|
The hunter robot pushes hard on the door, breaking the hinge at the top and the frame at the bottom.
|
|
|
78
|
|
|
The worker robot goes to Kainda, grabs her, and pushes her against the wall, protecting her.
|
|
|
79
|
|
|
The hunter robot aggressively knocks out and restrains the two people.
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
Kainda is not sure what is happening when the robot grabs her.
|
|
|
81
|
|
|
Her heart rate jumps, and she is about to yell when the worker robot says,
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
“Nanny sent me.”
|
|
|
83
|
|
|
“Nanny, from Deal Hunter?”
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
“Yes. We must get you out of here and back to your people.”
|
|
|
85
|
|
|
“NO! Take me with you. There is nothing here, and I am safer with you. How did you find me?”
|
|
|
86
|
|
|
The worker robot remains silent.
|
|
|
87
|
|
|
The hunter robot twitches, and a new, deeper voice comes from it.
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
“You are an impertinent brat. This area is unsafe. You don’t know where you are or what you are doin...
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
Kainda looks from the hunter robot to the worker.
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
“Is that the captain?”
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
“No. Move that way. You are easily recognizable with your striking red hair and ice-blue eyes. Every...
|
|
|
92
|
|
|
Looking at the robots, she asks,
|
|
|
93
|
|
|
“What do I call you?”
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
The robots are silent, so Kainda says to the hunter,
|
|
|
95
|
|
|
“How about Brutus? How did you break that door? Normal hunters are not that strong.”
|
|
|
96
|
|
|
The worker says quietly,
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
“Please don’t talk about that. The Deal Hunter robots are very strong.”
|
|
|
98
|
|
|
Kainda turns to the worker robot and says,
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
“I will call you Bill.”
|
|
|
100
|
|
|
They head out the back of the hallway to a small courtyard for the building.
|
|
|
101
|
|
|
In the middle, the worker robot stops and says,
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
“Wait here, we need to hide you or disguise you. We will get space armor deliveries in the next few ...
|
|
|
103
|
|
|
The hunter robot’s deep voice says,
|
|
|
104
|
|
|
“You will put on the armor. When you receive the helmet, put it on and do not take it off until you ...
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
Kainda nods as a worker robot enters the courtyard, bringing the suit legs and boots.
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
“How do you know my size?”
|
|
|
107
|
|
|
“Nanny has a full scan from when you were on the ship.”
|
|
|
108
|
|
|
After almost twenty minutes, the gloves arrived to finish the armor.
|
|
|
109
|
|
|
Kainda has taken the braid out of her hair and put it into a bun so she can put the helmet on.
|
|
|
110
|
|
|
Immediately, as soon as the helmet is put on, the hunter robot turns toward a door and walks away.
|
|
|
111
|
|
|
The worker robot says,
|
|
|
112
|
|
|
“Walk that way. I have been seen with you. You need to walk in the street and turn right. Another wo...
|
|
|
113
|
|
|
“What about the fugitive?”
|
|
|
114
|
|
|
“She has been spotted. The robot you called Brutus will bring it to the ship. You need to move quick...
|
|
|
115
|
|
|
The robot walks away in a different direction, through another exit of the courtyard.
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
Kainda turns, following her directions.
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Inside the helmet, she has video screens.
|
|
|
118
|
|
|
The main screen displays forward, and smaller screens to the right and left show side cameras.
|
|
|
119
|
|
|
Two additional screens to the left and right display views behind her.
|
|
|
120
|
|
|
She sees the system in action using facial recognition.
|
|
|
121
|
|
|
While walking, she sees the system highlight someone’s waist with a brief pop-up description, accomp...
|
|
|
122
|
|
|
“stunner”
|
|
|
123
|
|
|
.
|
|
|
124
|
|
|
After two blocks, there are two hunter robots flanking her while a worker is leading her back to the...
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
With two large hunter robots following closely, people are getting out of their way as they walk to ...
|
|
|
126
|
|
|
Brutus has directions for the fugitive and is on an intercept path.
|
|
|
127
|
|
|
The fugitive thought she had escaped the other two hunters with several illegal moves, including jum...
|
|
|
128
|
|
|
Turning a corner and seeing Brutus walking toward her, the woman’s face goes white, and then she run...
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
Now that Brutus has visual contact, it moves to follow.
|
|
|
130
|
|
|
Brutus has faster responses and moves through the trucks and crosses the street faster.
|
|
|
131
|
|
|
The fugitive gets to the sidewalk after crossing and looks back for Brutus.
|
|
|
132
|
|
|
Smiling, thinking she had got away, she turns to see Brutus reaching for her.
|
|
|
133
|
|
|
In seconds, she is in restraints, and they are heading to the train station.
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
<<<>>>
|
|
|
135
|
|
|
On the train, people make way for Kainda and her hunters to have room.
|
|
|
136
|
|
|
Even the worker robots on the train, which usually cluster, move out of the way.
|
|
|
137
|
|
|
Kainda talks through the speaker on the helmet.
|
|
|
138
|
|
|
One hunter grabs her arm and taps several things on the wrist keypad.
|
|
|
139
|
|
|
She then hears,
|
|
|
140
|
|
|
“You are now on comms.”
|
|
|
141
|
|
|
Kainda looks down through the train car and sees a hunter with the fugitive.
|
|
|
142
|
|
|
Her helmet’s visual scan identifies both.
|
|
|
143
|
|
|
The robot has
|
|
|
144
|
|
|
“Brutus”
|
|
|
145
|
|
|
above its head.
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
Brutus walks up to the group, and the two hunters with Kainda shift so that the hunters surround the...
|
|
|
147
|
|
|
Kainda looks around.
|
|
|
148
|
|
|
The robot worker she followed is there, and behind it is another.
|
|
|
149
|
|
|
The rear camera screen shows Bill in the train car.
|
|
|
150
|
|
|
Kainda asks,
|
|
|
151
|
|
|
“On comms means I can talk to you and the ship?”
|
|
|
152
|
|
|
“Yes. Also, others can’t hear our conversation. We are scanning for threats and will give you instru...
|
|
|
153
|
|
|
“Is that the station where we get off?”
|
|
|
154
|
|
|
“Only if we need to fight.”
|
|
|
155
|
|
|
Kainda breathes faster; her heart rate is going up.
|
|
|
156
|
|
|
Suddenly, her palms feel clammy.
|
|
|
157
|
|
|
This is the first time in her life she has been told she could be in an actual fight.
|
|
|
158
|
|
|
And the fight could be in the next minute.
|
|
|
159
|
|
|
The guards would always do things without talking to her.
|
|
|
160
|
|
|
She would only know a fight was happening after it started or was over.
|
|
|
161
|
|
|
Over comms, she hears,
|
|
|
162
|
|
|
“Calm down. Your heart rate just got elevated. You don’t know what you are doing and won’t fight. If...
|
|
|
163
|
|
|
“How do you know my condition?”
|
|
|
164
|
|
|
“The suit is integrated with our systems. We always know your metabolic condition. It helps, especia...
|
|
|
165
|
|
|
“This is not basic space armor.”
|
|
|
166
|
|
|
“No. It was the closest we could find that would fit you.”
|
|
|
167
|
|
|
“Is this the voice of the captain? I don’t even know your name.”
|
|
|
168
|
|
|
The train stops with regular activity.
|
|
|
169
|
|
|
When the doors close, Brutus’ voice tells her,
|
|
|
170
|
|
|
“We are clear from the immediate threat.”
|
|
|
171
|
|
|
She hears a fresh voice, male, not as harsh as Brutus but deep and firm.
|
|
|
172
|
|
|
“I am Captain Alec Weston. You are fast becoming a major pain in my ass, Princess. I just collected ...
|
|
|
173
|
|
|
Kainda says,
|
|
|
174
|
|
|
“I want to go with you. It is safer with you than with my family. At least you haven’t tried to kill...
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
“Not yet, but you could change that. When you get on my ship, it will put everyone in danger. It is ...
|
|
|
176
|
|
|
<<<>>>
|
|
|
177
|
|
|
They have been on the train for almost an hour.
|
|
|
178
|
|
|
The voice tells Kainda they will get off at the next exit and gives her instructions for the exit.
|
|
|
179
|
|
|
The three hunters with the fugitive will lead her, and the worker robots will follow.
|
|
|
180
|
|
|
They exit the train, use the escalator, and head toward the exit.
|
|
|
181
|
|
|
At the top, a screen is playing local news, and Kainda can see real Warbots entering a building.
|
|
|
182
|
|
|
She stops, and the worker robot behind her gently nudges her.
|
|
|
183
|
|
|
She hears,
|
|
|
184
|
|
|
“Keep moving.”
|
|
|
185
|
|
|
“What is happening there?”
|
|
|
186
|
|
|
“You will hear on the ship. We need to move faster.”
|
|
|
187
|
|
|
The robots all start walking slightly faster.
|
|
|
188
|
|
|
Kainda is now walking faster than usual, and she senses something is happening.
|
|
|
189
|
|
|
“Is there a problem?”
|
|
|
190
|
|
|
“Yes, we need to get to the ship quickly.”
|
|
|
191
|
|
|
“Can you tell me while we are walking?”
|
|
|
192
|
|
|
“The image you saw of the Warbots. They were entering an orphanage looking for us. Specifically, for...
|
|
|
193
|
|
|
Hearing this, Kainda tries to walk faster.
|
|
|
194
|
|
|
“Who would send Warbots into an orphanage?”
|
|
|
195
|
|
|
“It looks like they thought Captain Weston was there because he donated your reward of one million c...
|
|
|
196
|
|
|
Kainda’s heart races; she stumbles, and the robot behind her grabs her.
|
|
|
197
|
|
|
This is bad.
|
|
|
198
|
|
|
Warbots are military equipment and extremely dangerous.
|
|
|
199
|
|
|
Someone is sending Warbots to an orphanage to kill Captain Weston.
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
They get to the ship landing area, and Kainda walks as fast as she can, almost running to the ramp.
|
|
|
201
|
|
|
The landing officer sees her heading to the ship and assumes it is the captain.
|
|
|
202
|
|
|
She yells,
|
|
|
203
|
|
|
“Nice to talk. Next time, I won’t let you land.”
|
|
|
204
|
|
|
On the ship, she sees the familiar robot, Nanny, and her visor shows the name above the robot’s head...
|
|
|
205
|
|
|
Nanny walks up and says,
|
|
|
206
|
|
|
“This way, quickly.”
|
|
|
207
|
|
|
The robot takes Kainda up the stairs and into the crew area.
|
|
|
208
|
|
|
“This is the closest seat.”
|
|
|
209
|
|
|
Kainda can feel the ship powering up.
|
|
|
210
|
|
|
She heard the ramp and top door close when she walked aboard.
|
|
|
211
|
|
|
The motors and hydraulics are mixing sounds.
|
|
|
212
|
|
|
The hydraulics are lifting the ramp, and the motors are moving parts of the door so it can seal.
|
|
|
213
|
|
|
At the same time, the top part of the door starts to lower.
|
|
|
214
|
|
|
She doesn’t even know where the fugitive went.
|
|
|
215
|
|
|
Sitting in the chair, she is grabbing the belts as the ship lifts off.
|
|
|
216
|
|
|
This is not a normal procedure.
|
|
|
217
|
|
|
The captain is supposed to confirm that passengers are in their restraints.
|
|
|
218
|
|
|
The ship continues to lift vertically, experiencing increased pressure as it moves farther away from...
|
|
|
219
|
|
|
Nanny is in the seat in front of her again and asks,
|
|
|
220
|
|
|
“Are you completely strapped in?”
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
Kainda responds,
|
|
|
222
|
|
|
“Not yet, but keep going.”
|
|
|
223
|
|
|
“We will follow a standard maneuver pattern for the next few seconds so you can get completely buckl...
|
|
|
224
|
|
|
“Why will we need high-speed maneuvers?”
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
“Someone sending Warbots to an orphanage probably also has fighters in space. Or at least pirates wh...
|
|
|
226
|
|
|
“I am fully strapped in.”
|
|
|
227
|
|
|
Immediately, the rear engines roar.
|
|
|
228
|
|
|
She is slammed back into the seat.
|
|
|
229
|
|
|
A few seconds later, her vision starts to narrow.
|
|
|
230
|
|
|
She now knows this means she will pass out.
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
Then her armor tightens around her legs.
|
|
|
232
|
|
|
As the acceleration increases, so does the pressure on her legs.
|
|
|
233
|
|
|
Then she hears a person screaming.
|
|
|
234
|
|
|
Nanny says,
|
|
|
235
|
|
|
“The fugitives are upset. Take deep breaths and hold them. When you need to breathe, exhale and inha...
|
|
|
236
|
|
|
Kainda doesn’t pass out this time.
|
|
|
237
|
|
|
They maintain a steady acceleration for a couple of minutes.
|
|
|
238
|
|
|
Then she hears in her helmet,
|
|
|
239
|
|
|
“Prepare for hard maneuvers. We have two fighters coming, and we can’t jump yet.”
|
|
|
240
|
|
|
Every breath is hard for Kainda to exhale and then take a full breath.
|
|
|
241
|
|
|
She says,
|
|
|
242
|
|
|
“Use my royal authority to get us out of here.”
|
|
|
243
|
|
|
The next second, she is slammed to the left, and the ship twists and then spins.
|
|
|
244
|
|
|
These maneuvers are unlike anything she has experienced.
|
|
|
245
|
|
|
She now feels as if she will throw up.
|
|
|
246
|
|
|
“I never throw up from flight maneuvers.”
|
|
|
247
|
|
|
Now she is slammed to the right, and the ship twists and spins again.
|
|
|
248
|
|
|
In her ear, she hears,
|
|
|
249
|
|
|
“Using your name will make it worse. They will send more fighters if they know you are on board.”
|
|
|
250
|
|
|
The ship spins, and she can hear a muffled whoosh sound she has never heard before.
|
|
|
251
|
|
|
“Nanny, was that a missile?”
|
|
|
252
|
|
|
“No, the captain is using our laser cannon to make the fighters alter course so we can align for the...
|
|
|
253
|
|
|
“Deal Hunter has a laser cannon! Just one?”
|
|
|
254
|
|
|
“Just one, Princess. It was salvage when we found you in space.”
|
|
|
255
|
|
|
Kainda hears,
|
|
|
256
|
|
|
“The fighters have fired missiles, switching paths. Aligning on the vector to jump.”
|
|
|
257
|
|
|
Kainda feels the engine’s increasing thrust even more.
|
|
|
258
|
|
|
“Prepare to jump in three, two, one.”
|
|