12 Hours

The good thing is, we have five whole hours to kick some robot butt, find the energy source and stop the rockets from launching. I also needed to double-check to make sure I reprogrammed everything correctly.

" You know what's crazy?" Bryson asked.

" What?" I replied.

" When I am in school it feels like minutes feel like eternities and hours feel like eras," he said.

" Eras? Seriously?" I said.

" Yeah, and here it feels like hours are minutes. Time goes by fast here," he said.

" Well, we did travel 8 years into the future," I said.

" That's different, we used technology. Time is not technology," he said.

I shrugged my shoulder and nodded my head. Once again, Bryson and I were having a pointless conversation instead of worrying about the real problem here, that we are still stuck in this stupid storage room. I needed to get back on track and make sure I did everything right with reprogramming the robot. I would hate for us to turn it on and I accidentally turned it into a human killing robot. Well, actually the robots are already pretty much like that. So maybe it could be a human annihilating robot.

" Alex....." Bryson said in a distant voice.

" Why do you sound so far away?" I said.

Then all of a sudden everything started to shake.

" Snap. Out. Of. It!" Bryson yelled.

I must have zoned out because when I looked at Bryson he was kind of blurry, but he eventually got clearer and clearer the more I tried to focus on him.

" We don't have time for you to be zoning out. You need to make sure that robot is programmed right so we can get out of here," he said.

" Right," I said.

I went over to the robot, got on my knees and looked on the side of the robot that I was working on to make sure I did everything right.

" Check....check.....looks like we're all good," I said.

" Seriously?" Bryson said.

Bryson walked over to me and sat down next to me.

" So how do you know everything's a-okay?" he asked.

" Well do you see the gold looking line?" I asked.

" Nevermind," he said.

" What? I didn't even get started on the interesting part." I said.

" The interesting part to me is that you did all by yourself. You definitely deserve a cookie," he said.

" Whatever, you probably wouldn't understand it anyway," I said.

" What's that--," he said.

" Remember, personal issues are to be put aside," I said calmly.

" But you--," he said.

I put my finger on my mouth and shook my head at Bryson. He rolled his eyes and walked to the entrance door and then pointed at the door, then the robot.

" Robot, door, freedom," he said.

" Ok, ok. I am going to turn this thing on, but I advise that you keep your distance." I said.

I got back on my knees to see where the on switch was on this robot.

" Uh, Bryson," I said.

" Yeah?" he replied.

" Do you know where the on switch is on this thing?" I asked.

" Yeah, it's on the back of its head, on the bottom," he said.

I scooted over to the robot's head then lifted it up to see if the switch was there, and it was. It wasn't an ordinary switch, like a light switch, it was like a screen. On the left side it was green, on the right side it was red, and in the middle, there was a fingerprint.

" Bryson, how do you work this thing?" I asked.

" Figure it out," he said.

" We don't have time for that!" I yelled.

" We just passed the 7-hour mark, we have plenty of time," he said.

I moaned and tried to figure out how to turn the robot on.

" Does it need a specific fingerprint?" I said to myself.

" No, it is for the human-like robots," Bryson said.

" How did you hear me? I wasn't even talking to you." I asked.

" Believe it or not, you whisper pretty loud," he said.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

" So what were you saying about the robots?" I asked.

" Well, when I was trying to flip the robot over, I noticed that there was a switch on its head," he said.

" Ok, that doesn't explain why you know about the human-like robots," I said.

" Let me finish," he said sternly.

I put my hands up and nodded my head.

" When we were talking to that woman robot before we got stuck in here, I noticed that she had a visible fingerprint," he said.

" What do you mean visible, you can see human fingerprints if you look at our fingers closely," I said.

" You didn't have to get close to her to see her fingerprint perfectly," he said.

" So what did it look like?" I asked.

" You know how when put your finger in ink and put it on paper, you can see your fingerprint perfectly? Like the lines, swirls, everything?" he asked.

" Yeah," I said.

" That's how hers looked. It looks like every human robot has a fingerprint carved into each of their fingers," he said.

" Interesting, so that must mean that only humans or human-like robots can turn on non-human robots on," I said.

" And I actually came up with another idea," said Bryson.

" What is it?" I asked.

" Since these robots are obviously very cautious about who can turn things on, they probably have fingerprint security for the rockets and the energy source," he said.

" Well we can just use our fingerprints and boom, the world has been saved," I said.

" But what if they only human-like robots can access them, or certain human-like robots?" he said.

" Why would they do that?" I asked.

" Well since they are so protective, they wouldn't want every human-like robot to think they can launch the rockets. Humans do the same thing, we have security, on top of security, on top of security," he said.

" I think you've got a point, Bryson," I said.

" So we need to figure out which human-like robots are allowed access to the rockets and their energy source," he said.

" First, we need to turn this robot on before we plan anything," I said.

Bryson nodded his head backed up from the robot. I lifted to robot's head up and placed my pointer finger on the fingerprint. As soon as my finger touched the fingerprint on the screen, the robot lit up and the energy source inside the tube on its chest lit up neon green. It began to make noises.

" Whoa," Bryson said in awe.

I stood up and stared at the robot, waiting for it to stand up.

" You might want to backup Alex," said Bryson.

I looked back at Bryson then walked backward. I praying to God that I did everything right and this robot was reprogrammed to be good, not bad. Suddenly the robot stopped making noises. It was still lit up, but it was silent.

" Did it not work?" he asked.

" I-I don't know," I said.

Tears started to roll down my face, and I started to sniff. Bryson heard me and walked over to me. He put his hand on my shoulder and rubbed it.

" It's ok Alex," he said.

" I was so sure I programmed it right," I said.

" We can figure out another way to get out of here," he said.

" I smacked Bryson's hand off my shoulder in anger.

" What another way!?" I yelled.

" I don't know, but we will figure it out," he said.

" No, we won-," I yelled.

All of a sudden the robot started to make noises, but they were much louder. The robot began to move its arms and legs.

" I think it's about to get up," Bryson said.

" Nah dip Bryson, robots don't move their body parts for no reason," I said sarcastically.

" Watch it, remember you said--"

" I know, I am not supposed to be mean," I said.

" I would've said that if you didn't interrupt me," he said.

" Didn't interrupt that time," I said.

Bryson rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. The robot then began to straighten itself.

" If this robot kills us, I just want you to know....well actually don't want you to know anything," he said.

" Well if we die I want you to know that if I see you while we float up to heaven, I will punch you," I said.

" What?" Why would you punch me? He asked.

" For making my life a living hell for the past 7 hours," I said.

" I've been making your life a living hell? You've been making my life a living hell!" he said.

" Great, we've been making each other's life miserable." I sighed.

" Well if you messed this robot up, we will be put out of our misery so that's a plus," said Bryson.

" Seriously? Dying is better than being stuck with me?" I asked.

" I thought you would think that was funny," he said.

" Ha Ha, so funny. I'm laughing so hard that I'm NOT." I said.

" Someone's a party pooper," Bryson whispered.

" Party poop--!"

Before I could finish what I was going to say the robot sat upright then slowly turns its head and looked at us.

" What the--," said Bryson.

" I would say run, but where would we run to?" I said.

" That robot is evil," he said.

" We don't know that...." I said.

" That freaking demonic robot slowly turned its head at us, not fast, but slowly," he said.

" Well, maybe that's how all robots startup," I said.

" Sure, then it will realize that we aren't robots and it will shoot its lasers at us and pa-pow we will float on up to heaven," he said.

" I mean we are covered in metallic paint, so it might buy us some time," I said.

" Not much time," he mumbled.

" Who is the one who brought me to life?" the robot asked.

" Oh, my gosh, these robots can talk?" I whispered.

" I thought the fighting robots didn't talk?" Bryson said.

" Well, I guess they can," I said.

" Who is the one who brought me to life?" the robot asked.

" M-me," I said.

The robot looked me up and down then stood up.

" Holy, you better back up Alex," said Bryson.

" You don't think I already know that?" I said.

The robot started to walk towards me, then put its arm up and pointed it at my head.

" Oh lord, that wants to kill you!" Bryson said.

" Why would it want to kill me?" I asked.

" Because it didn't want to be brought to life obviously!" he said.

" W-wouldn't someone want to be brought back to life if it was dead?" I asked.

" Maybe robot afterlife is better than robot present life," he said.

" W-well what should we do?" I asked.

I looked behind me to figure out how to stop the robot, but Bryson wasn't behind me.

" Bryson where are you?!" I yelled.

" Somewhere where that robot won't find me," he said.

I looked to the right then to the left, and I saw Bryson under the table that had all the scrap pieces of metal.

" Seriously? That's where you're gonna hide?" I said.

" It's a lot better than standing right in front of the robot that' still walking towards you!" he said.

I looked forward and the robot was slowly walking towards me with his arm still pointed at my head. Why do robots always walk super slow when they are about to kill you?

" Why are you standing there?" Bryson asked.

" I-I don't know?" I said nervously.

" And you're still standing there! Move gosh dang it!" he yelled.

" R-right," I said.

I tried to move from where I was standing but I couldn't, my legs wouldn't let me.

" Move your left and right legs to walk!" he yelled.

" I-I can't!" I said.

" What do you mean you can't?" he said.

" I can't move my legs! They're stuck!" I yelled.

I started to cry because I was going to die because I programmed a robot to kill me! The robot finally reached me and we were standing face to face. Well actually more like face to the chest because when I looked straight forward I was looking at its chest. I slowly looked up and the robot was looking down at me into my eyes.

" You are stuck." the robot said.

" W-what?" I said.

" You and your friend are stuck." the robot said.

" I-In here?" I asked.

" Are you asking me if you're stuck in here?" it asked.

" N-no, I was asking...I don't know what I was asking." I said.

" Idiot!" Bryson yelled.

The robot turned towards him and pointed it's arm at him and started to power up its laser. I grabbed the robot's arm before it could shoot at him and pulled it down.

" No! Don't shoot him, he's a good guy." I said.

" Good guy?" the robot said.

" Yes, he is my friend," I said.

" Ok, any friend of yours is a friend of mine." the robot said.

" Good, but everyone else is bad," I said.

" Everyone else? There are more of you?" the robot asked.

" Yeah, there are tons of robots around here," I said.

" So those robots are not your friends?" the robot asked.

" Exactly," I said.

" What is your name?" the robot asked.

" Alex," I said.

" Alex who?" the robot asked.

" You don't need to know my last name," I said sternly.

" Why not? I am your servant, after all, I should address you by your full name." said the robot.

" Servant? You're not my servant." I said.

" Yes I am." said the robot.

I turned and looked at Bryson. I waved him to get up from under the table. He got up and walked over to me.

" So you think that you're her servant?" Bryson asked.

" Yes." said the robot.

" Why would you think that?" I asked.

" All humans create robots to make them their servants." said the robot.

" I reprogrammed you to help us, not to be our servant," I said.

" That is very unusual." the robot said.

" Wait for a second, how did you know we were humans?" Bryson asked.

" It is obvious." the robot said.

I looked down at my arms and legs and started to touch my face. Was it really that obvious?

" So we painted our bodies for no reason?" Bryson said.

" Painted your bodies?" the robot asked.

" Bryson!" I said.

" What?" he asked.

" Go ahead and tell the robot why we're really here since you're telling it our secrets," I said.

" Us being painted with liquid metal is no secret, I mean look at us! We're walking silverware!"

" Why are you guys here?" the robot asked.

" Well, we are here in this room because Miss. Smarty Pants curiosity got the best of her," said Bryson.

" So now this is my fault?" I said.

" Yes, yes it is," he said.

" Is there anything you need me to do?" the robot asked.

" Yeah, can you get us out of here?" Bryson asked.

" The robot asked me the question," I said.

" And I answered it, your welcome," he said.

" How do you want me to get you out of here?" the robot asked.

" You have a laser arm right?" Bryson asked.

" Once again, the robot was asking me," I said.

" Seriously Alex? You're choosing to argue instead of telling the robot on how to help us get out of here," said Bryson.

" No, I would just like to answer my questions," I said.

" Ok......answer your question then," he said.

" I will.....what was the question?" I asked.

Bryson put his hand on his forehead and shook his head.

" The robot asked how we wanted it to break us out of here," Bryson said.

" Oh, we need you to bust that door open," I said pointing to the entrance door.

" Bust that door open?" the robot asked.

" It doesn't know what bust that door open means," Bryson whispered.

I nodded and tried to think of other ways to say it in robot language.

" We need you to open that door," I said.

" Why don't you just turn the knob?" the robot asked.

" The door locks from the outside," I said.

" So you are locked in here?" the robot asked.

" I thought we already established that?" said Bryson.

" We need you to blast the door open with your laser arm," I said.

" I can do that." the robot said.

" Well do it," said Bryson.

" You might want to move out of my way unless you want to be blown up." said the robot.

" Ain't gotta tell me twice," Bryson said.

Bryson and I quickly got out of the robot's way so it could blast the door open. I was crossing my fingers behind my back. I was beaming with excitement, we are actually going to get out of here. But sadly, like every situation, there are pros and cons. The good thing is that we are going to finally get out of here, the bad news is that we are going to draw a lot of attention to ourselves.

The robot raised it's arm and pointed it at the door, then it started to power up its laser.

" I know we already backed up, but I think we should like back up some more," said Bryson.

" I agree, I don't wanna get hit debris," I said.

Bryson and I backed up a little bit more because we didn't wanna get knocked out by a piece of the soon to be blown up door. I thought Bryson was right beside me but when I looked beside me, he wasn't there. I looked behind me and he was like 5 feet away.

" Bryson stop being extra and get up here!" I said.

" Are you asking me to move closer to the area that is about to be blown up?" Bryson asked.

" Not exactly," I said.

" You mean you are, but you didn't realize that until I said something," he said.

" Shut u--"

Suddenly the robot blasted the door with its laser arm. Actually, the robot blasting the door with its arm wasn't sudden, it just scared me to the point that my heart stopped. Unfortunately, I should have done what Bryson did because the explosion still hit me and flew back to where Bryson was standing. I was lying on the ground and looked up at Bryson and he still had his hands in front of his face to protect it from any flying debris.

" You should have stood back here with me," said Bryson.

" I should have, but I didn't. Lesson learned." I said.

" People never listen," he said.

I rolled my eyes and tried to focus. My sight was still kind of blurry from the explosion and my ears were still ringing.

" Are you ok?" Bryson asked.

" No I'm great, being thrown across the room feels great," I said sarcastically.

" A simple yes or no would have done fine," said Bryson.

" Just help me up," I said.

" Is that a demand or request?" he asked.

I gave him a "stern" look.

" You can give me looks all day, but I won't help you up until you ask," he said.

" Can you please help me up?" I asked.

" Lose the attitude," said Bryson.

" Fine, I'll help myself up," I said.

I slowly sat up while holding my head. I sat there for a second then I slowly began to stand up.

" Now was that so hard?' Bryson asked.

" Actually yes, it was painful," I said.

" Oh..." he said.

" The door has been blown up." the robot said.

" We noticed," Bryson said.

" Don't be rude to the robot, it helped us get out of here," I said.

Bryson rolled his eyes and walked towards the robot, but he suddenly stopped and gasped.

" What?" I asked.

" My bag...I forgot to grab my bag before it blew up the door! I forgot to grab both of our bags." he said.

" Bryson! All of our weapons were in that bag!" I said.

" In case you didn't notice, THAT'S WHY I'M FREAKING OUT!" he yelled.

" No worries Alex and friend, I grabbed both of your bags before I took care of this door." said the robot.

Bryson fell to his knees and looked at the ceiling.

" Thank you, thank you, thank you!" said Bryson.

" The pleasure is mine." said the robot.

Bryson got up and walked over to the robot and gave it a hug.

" What are you doing?" the robot asked.

" It's what people do when they are happy....one of the things they do," said Bryson.

" Noted." the robot said.

I got up off the ground and joined Bryson and the robot.

" Here are your bags." the robot said.

The robot extended its arm out with our bags hanging from it. Bryson grabbed his then grabbed mine and handed it to me. I started to go through my bag looking for the weapon that I picked as my favorite, then I realized we decided to keep them in our pockets.

" Bryson, we forgot that we kept our favorite weapons on us," I said.

" Oh yeah, so even if the robot didn't grab our bags we still would have had our most valuable weapons," he said.

I nodded my head then slowly turned my it and looked at the entrance. The door was gone.

" I guess this is it," said Bryson.

" The only thing stopping us now is us," I said.

" May we proceed?" the robot asked.

" Only if Alex is ready," Bryson said.

" It doesn't matter if I'm ready or not," I said.

" That's a yes," Bryson said.

I looked at Bryson and he looked at me. Then we both looked at the robot, and we all looked forward. We all began to walk towards at the same time.

" Ok we all can't fit through this door at the same time," said Bryson.

" Ok, we'll go one at a time," I said.

" Ok, I'll go first," Bryson said.

" Why don't I go first?" the robot said.

" Why should you go first?" Bryson asked.

" I am the real robot, you both are fakes." the robot said.

" He's got a point," I said.

" What gender are you anyway?" Bryson asked.

" I am a male. All defense robots are males." the robot said.

" Makes sense," Bryson said.

I gave Bryson a sideways look.

" We have no time to waste. We need to hurry up and find the energy source and stop World War III." I said.

" Ok robot, let's go," Bryson said.

The robot hovered out of the door with Bryson following behind. I looked back at the cold and dark storage room that we were stuck in for a couple of hours and then left the room. We all stood in the bakery looking out at the city.

" So are we still going trick a robot?" Bryson asked.

" No, we need to come up with another plan," I said.

" Why do you need to trick a robot?" the robot asked.

I looked at Bryson nervously, then he looked at the robot.

" We need to find the energy source that the robots use to stay alive," Bryson said.

" So the energy source you are looking for is in me?" the robot asked.

Bryson and I nodded our heads. The robot put its hand on its chin and slowly turned its head left and right.

" Why are you humans here?" the robot asked.

Bryson looked over at me. I could tell he didn't want to tell the robot why we were really here.

" Can I talk to my partner for a second?" Bryson asked.

The robot nodded its head.

" I don't know if we can trust this robot," Bryson said.

" This robot is our only hope," I said.

" We only needed it to bust us out of that storage room, we're out now," he said.

" Why can't we keep him?" I asked.

" That robot is not a pet," Bryson said.

I put my hands my hips and looked at the robot then I sighed.

" If we were to get rid of it, where would it go? What would it do?" I asked.

" Beats me, it's not our problem anymore," Bryson said.

I sighed then looked up at the ceiling, then I started to realize that it had been a while since Bryson's watch had buzzed. Of course, as soon as I realized that Bryson's watch started beeping. Bryson and I both looked at his watch then looked at each other.

" We have four hours left," Bryson said.