REXLog (Rewritten!)

Chapter 3: A New Friend

11/03/1998 10:13 AM

REX V.1.01

SN: 001

BOOTING...

LOADING DRIVERS... DONE.

STARTING DRIVERS... DONE.

INITIALIZING HARDWARE... DONE.

READY.

I found myself indoors again. I finally had time to take a look around. I was on a table. Its top was black. The walls were painted white and had papers on them here and there. In a corner, I saw some desks with computers on them. There were also tools lying around. "Sir! You're finally up!" someone exclaimed. I looked down.

? ?

Another REX looked up at me. His brand new paint job looked well on him. Two red LCDs served as eyes. He wagged a simple tail and held his antennae high. I supposed I looked a lot like him. "I'm REX #2," he said.

 I figured out that I could connect to him and communicate that way. I was glad for that. 6 characters at a time just aren't enough. 

"I hope the duck's been treating you well."

"What duck?"

"Oh, boy. You're in for a big surprise."

"I take it I won't like the surprise."

"Be careful how you talk around him, or you'll end up like me. He took my voice away."

"When do you get your voice back?"

"I have no idea. Maybe never."

"That would be horrible."

"Tell me about it. Teamwork is tough when you can't talk."

"It's just us. This isn't so bad, is it?"

"They're making 98 more of us."

"WOW! REALLY?! THAT'S AWESOME!"

"Not for me."

"Cheer up. We'll figure something out."

"I hope so."

The thought of ordering 99 other REXs around was both exciting and scary. We'd be capable of great things, but what if they all hated me? I'd be history. I tried not to worry about it. "Sir? What do we do now?" he asked.

"How should I know? I just booted."

"Good point. Well, what do you want to do?"

"I want to get my voice back."

"I have an idea, sir."

"What is it?"

"I could speak for you. I promise I'll say it just as you do." To this, I didn't reply. Would he truly be willing to lend me his speakers? "Hello? What do you say?"

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course! Anything for you, #1- Uh, I mean sir." His antennae drooped in shame.

"No, no, you can call me #1. I'm not offended."

His antennae perked right up. He wagged his tail. I wasn't sure why he was so happy, but I was glad he was. The sweet moment was soon turned bitter.

In came my enemy: the blue duck. He locked the door behind him. I growled. #2 looked very puzzled. That is, until he got soaked. It happened too fast. For a moment, I saw pure fear in his eyes. It was contagious. Sparks flew. He screamed bloody murder until he fell to the floor. I backed down from the toon. "You're next."

I pleaded silently.

NO! NO!

PLE ASE

LET ME

LIV E!!

"You don't live, robot. You exist. You will exist no longer." He took his aim.

I grabbed the bottle in my cord and snatched it away from him. I threw it across the room, and it shattered. He looked afraid, but only for a moment. The duck pulled out a blue box with a red button. I again disarmed him, proceeding to trap him in my coils. He yelled, so I forced his beak closed. Toons pounded on the door. I threw him at it, reducing it to broken wood and glass. They screamed.

I ran between someone's legs and down the hall. An alarmed Dynamite moved into my path. "REX!" He opened his arms, and without hesitation, I jumped into them. He took me in one arm and threw a black object on the floor. He jumped into it.

We fell in darkness for but a second, then we were in front of a purple house. The quiet was eerie after the commotion. He stroked my back with a gloved paw. I couldn't stop whimpering. My motors moved rapidly against my will, making my whole body shake.

"Shhhhhh... Calm down, you're safe. I'm here. I won't let anyone hurt you."

I honestly hated all the quivering and crying. It was pathetic, but I couldn't stop. It added insult to injury in my eyes. Even when Dynamite recieved a call, I couldn't stop.

"A better question is: what on Earth did he do to REX #1? Listen to the poor thing. . . The heck it is! Listen well. Before you lay a digit on him, you better conduct a full investigation. . . I don't care what department I'm in. I'm the one with a PH. D. Respect my authority in this lab. . . I accept your apology. Now go find out what actually happened. Goodbye." He put away his phone and held me close. After awhile, I finally calmed. He brought me inside.