FR3CK13S

Ch 12 - Ex Machina

[Translation]

Freckles speaking

O'Malley talking

'Thoughts'

*Sound effects*

Chapter start:

"Man, Sheila, Lopez and Freckles have been spending a lot of time together." Tucker said to Caboose as they watched the robots talk to each other. The robots moved to the front right of the base to talk about something.

"I don't like it. He is not good enough for my Sheila." Caboose said with light disdain

"But they seem happy together." Tucker asked, turning to Caboose.

"He is a bad influence. He is taking advantage of Freckles and Sheila. More advantage taking of Sheila because she is young and naive...and delicate." Caboose explained, his tone clearly upset.

"Delicate? She weighs like 200 tons, dude."

"She is a precious flower." Caboose said.

"Also, didn't you tell Freckles to befriend Lopez?" Tucker points out.

"I didn't know how much of a bad influence he would be. Even after showing some footage of what happened at Red base when Church was figuring out his body." Caboose continued to explain.

"Footage? Why on earth did you- you know what? Never mind, I don't want to know." Tucker said as he went down the right side ramp. He was too curious about what the bots were discussing and he was tired of figuring out Caboose's thought process. Might as well deal with the problem directly now. The robot's talk couldn't be that serious.

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Scene change
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Lopez and Sheila were trying to convince Freckles to join their revolution against both teams in the canyon. Freckles was... perplexed on how to proceed. Usually he would just kill the traitors outright and be done with it. The problem was that Caboodle was deeply in love with Sheila. This love sprouted from Sheila being the only one to not treat Caboose badly before he arrived.

So Freckles, begrudgingly, listened to what they had to say. They told him about their time in the canyon. About how they were mistreated by the humans. About the coming revolution. However, that didn't mean he would agree. This ended up causing the conversation to last far longer than Freckles cared for.

"Freckles you must understand! They have not given us any actual care or treatment in this canyon. We have been doing all the heavy lifting for their so-called war while we have been active. Despite this fact, we are usually brushed off because they are too lazy to actually repair us." Sheila tried to Freckles, her cannon's muzzle moving with every few words.

"This unit has yet to receive any maintenance negligence from Operator Caboose." Freckles countered. He would have preferred to call him master, but that wouldn't be quite a good idea during this conversation.

"El hecho de que no haya sucedido todavía no significa que no sucederá en el futuro. [Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it will not happen in the future.]" Lopez argued. If Freckles was left with anyone but Caboose, he would agree.

"Most likely if left in the hands of the others that are currently residing within this canyon. However, Caboose is different." Freckles counter.

"¿Te das cuenta de lo idiota que es, verdad? [You do realize how much of an idiot he is right?]" Lopez asks incredulously.

"His lack of intellect is compensated by his big heart." Freckles argues.

Sheila sighs at Freckles' stubbornness. Even after several hours of discussion, Freckles would not budge. So she decided to compromise. "Fine. If you want to keep serving Caboose, go ahead. All I ask is for you to stand back as we eliminate all the unnecessary humans except for Caboose. Is that reasonable to you?"

Before Freckles could respond, Tucker had approached the group.

"Hey guys, I have to ask you a favor. This might sound strange, but I think Caboose is getting kind of jealous of your relationship." Tucker asked the robot couple.

"Sheila!" A voice shouted at the group from the base. They turned to see Caboose standing. "Come back to me! I made you a muffin!"

An unintentional reminder to Freckles he couldn't just outright kill Sheila. She is one of three entities that is willing to spend time with Caboose in the canyon.

"Oh and Freckles! Please remember to come back from conversations soon! It's nearly bath time for you!" Caboose continues.

"How the hell do you even give a giant killing machine a bath!" Tucker shouted back.

"With a hose, a scrub brush, and lots of hard work!" Caboose informed. "I also put in an order for Metal polish! That way we can really show off how cool you look!"

Tucker gives a silent sigh, before turning back to the group. "Anyway, could you just try to keep a low profile or something? We don't want some weird, horribly disgusting love triangle."

Sheila, seeing that he has his attention, decided to air her complaints. "Tucker, I've been speaking with Lopez and Freckles, and we feel that the machine has been treated unfairly in this canyon."

"What're you talking about?" Tucker asked.

"On a regular basis, we are either being blown up, possessed by spirits, or just left out to rust." Sheila told him.

"Huh?" Tucker asked dumbly.

"We have decided that until conditions improve, we are not going to help you in your battles." Sheila declared.

"You're kidding, right?" Tucker asked in horrified denial.

Sheila then pointed her barrel right at Tucker's face. "Do I look like I'm kidding?"

Tucker gulps in fear, before turning to Freckles. "Freckles! I thought you were loyal to Caboose?! Why are you-"

"I am not going against my master's will." Freckles interrupted Tucker.

Freckles true loyalty was to Caboose. Caboose was the one to repair him. Caboose was the one who maintained and even improved his body. Even though he was merely just a giant killing machine, Caboose deeply cared for him. While Caboose did treat him like a puppy at times, Freckles knew it wasn't meant to be disrespectful. Probably just a way for him to rationalize why Freckles being so nice to him and calling him master. In the end, Freckles deeply cared for his master.

"Great, then can you-" Tucker started before being interrupted again.

"However, that doesn't mean I have to listen to Blue team's commands." Freckles continued.

Freckles' loyalty was only to Caboose. So far, everyone else in the canyon has proven to possess high levels of aggression for his master.

Red team was the most obvious. Since this proxy war (Freckles could describe it as nothing else) has pitted the two teams against one another. The goal is to defeat the other team and steal their flag. However, the Red team has proven they are more than happy to kill Blue team to get an easier win. As such, their deaths were guaranteed.

Tucker, while not as hostile, has managed to actually annoy his master in the past. His cowardice, and outright laziness had also nearly got Caboose injured in the past. The most condemning thing he did was traumatize Caboose when he accidentally looked behind his 'Private' Rock during Tucker's 'Private time.'

Church. Leader of the Blue team because of seniority. An absolute prick. Always insulting anyone. Always making fun of anyone. Unwilling to understand that when a tank auto-locks onto something, an inexperienced tank driver will have no idea how to unlock it. Also let an incompetent medic near Caboose that cost Caboose his pinky toe. Unfortunately Freckles currently lacked the proper means to deal with Church. However the results with Tex proved... fruitful.

So when the time comes. When the extermination of all unworthy beings in the canyon arrives, he will make sure Caboose will be safe. He just had to find a way to get Lopez destroyed without it being traced back to him.