Another

Chapter Two: Flint

I walked to the mouth of the cave. The sun was clearly in the sky now, and was shining on the wooden door blocking the entrance. I knocked and waited for Flint. A muffled “one minute!” came from inside. A series of clangs, thumps and what sounded like a marble rolling erupted. The door opened up to reveal tiny Flint, his metal blinding in the sunlight.

                “Jacob! Where were you? I was waiting the entire morning for you!” He said excitedly through his speaker and climbing up to my palm.

                “It’s alright, Motherboard needed me and you for some business. And since you were still charging, I took the liberty of going by myself.” I lied slightly.

                “Oh, I understand,” he nodded his circular screen, “what sort of business did she mean?”

                “She needs us to go look for some ‘Sensor Fluctuations’… Over by the mountain.” I pointed.

                “Fantastic! Let’s go right now!” he started shaking happily, making my hand tickle.

                “Calm down Tin-Grin… We gotta prepare for this mission. Go get the stuff."

                He started stuttering. “Uh… Perhaps… Maybe… What type of mission is this?”

                I sighed and said, “Voice Command”. Flints screen turned black, with a single bar of green light shining in the middle.

                “Please enter voice command,” an entirely different voice erupted even more robotically than Flint’s voice.

                “Alpha dash two four seven.” I stated to the robot, the green bar raising and lowering with each syllable. Flint’s computer voice said a simple “Command Understood”, and his screen was back to normal.

                He started shaking excitedly again. “Ooh yes! Cave Raid!” I shook my head, smirking. Flint rushed inside. I sat down on a tree stump close by. What kind of mission was this exactly? The Queen could have easily sent in some guards to check it out, but, why didn’t she? Perhaps this wasn’t meant for her guards… maybe only-

                “Hey Jacob! I’ve got the supplies! Let’s go!” Flint bashed through the door, carrying a backpack in his hands. He handed it to me, his green pupil shrinking to tiny size. I put the pack on, and then placed him inside one of the pockets.

                We were walking towards the mountain when Flint suddenly questioned, “Where exactly are the fluctuations reading?”

                I slipped my watch up to my face and found the coordinates the Queen gave to me. “Looks like, one-seven-three X, and five-six Y.”

                Flint stopped talking for a second, then said, “Off to the north a bit more, then keep going east.”

                “Thanks buddy.” I simply said, walking to my left.

                “Stop!” Flint shouted. “Now east.”

                “I can see that fine bud. It’s about lunch time.” I noticed.

                “Lunch time!” Flint shouted and hopped out of my pocket, setting up his solar panels. I lifted a sandwich out of my backpack and started to eat it. It was quiet between me and Flint.

                “Jacob I was wondering…” he started, “Why did motherboard send us to fix the fluctuation problem? She could have easily sent someone else…”

                “The truth is, Flint, I don’t even know why either.” I responded sullenly. “Has she gone rampant?”

                “I’m not sure, Jacob…” he said. “My charge is done!” he announced out of context.

                “Alright buddy, let’s go.” I said feeling happier at his optimism.