Cyborg

In Which we Meet Lakeiya

        Nobody really likes acknowledging the fact that they're being bullied. So its wonderful that your data board tells you the minute it happens. Well not bullied,but antagonized. You get the point. You can't not read your data board,as an added bonus. Because its a part of you.Well,assuming you're a robot,who now make up 95% of Earth's population. I'm part of that 5%. A cyborg. Yep,Lakeiya 39487B,the fifth known cyborg on our lovely planet. Some of the older robots say I'm going to have a great job when I'm older instead of selling oil cans like so many of us do. By us I mean other robots,of course. Who else would I be talking about? Anyways,I doubt the "rusties" and their predictions,and for now,I'm stuck in 9th grade with a bunch of robots who have nothing better to do than drink cans of grease behind the school during break. Oh,and bully me.

        It seemed like any regular day when the principal announces two new students.

He turns up his volume,straightens up,and says, "I would like to introduce two new students here at ADRI49 High School!Please welcome Niesha 43876247 and Shandra 345873F. They have moved here from Sector 523."

        At the last part,I was taken aback. Sector 523 is almost 3,000 miles away,and no one would voluntarily come here,to Sector 548,where it was the most dangerous place is Plot A.

After a pause,the principal continued. "Will Lakeiya please show our newcomers around?She is quite...err...distinguishable. "

        The patch of skin on my face grew warm,and my data board advised me to stay calm,as to avoid overheating. I could hear snickers coming from the "grease guzzlers" as I like to call them,and stares from the others. The popular ones looked at me with disdain. I didn't hear the rest of announcements. After what seemed like a lifetime,the auditorium cleared out. Niesha and Shandra approached me. They were both wearing magnetic name tags stuck to their chest plates. Niesha had huge gray eyes (the standard eye color) that always look downward. Shandra stared at me with bright emerald eyes and a blue wig that a lot of robots like to wear.

"Cyborgs are idiots," she announced, "I heard that they are crazy because the human and robot brain don't work well together.Isn't that right,Niesha?"

Neisha looked uncomfortable. "Shandra,how would you know what cyborgs are like?You have never even seen one before. And as of the moment,she seems perfectly sane to me."

        I was surprised by both of these statements. Not many hated me instantly,but no one had ever defended me either.

Just then,the principal popped his head out of the office door.  "Lakeiya,you're supposed to show the girls around,as I recall." he reminded me.

"Sorry Mr.FA8TC9S," I mumbled as I led them down the hallway. I got out the copies of the school maps as we cleared out. Everyone called him the principal,unless they were talking to him. I handed the girls all their paperwork.

"These are your schedules,the school map,and the rules," I explained. "I can show you guys around if you like."

"I'm not going anywhere with a cyborg," said Shandra,and she walked away. I decided not to tell her she was going to the bathrooms where the grease guzzlers pour rotten oil on the floor.

"I could use a tour around the school," whispered Niesha.

"Well...I can show you around the cafeteria," I said a bit awkwardly.

        We didn't talk much as we made our way to the lunch tables.To break the silence, I said, "You should probably just bring your own lunch.All they serve here is rocks you find on the street and-"

"I'm really sorry about Shandra," says Neisha.Her volume was so low,I almost didn't hear her.

"Don't be. I get that a lot of the time," I said with a forcefully casual voice. In reality,Shandra's words hurt more than the others teases and taunts.

"No Lakeiya.I'm serious.Shandra can be really...hurtful.Trust me,I've known here a long time." She began clumsily buttoning her jacket.

        I wasn't so sure about Niesha anymore. If she knew Shandra,she could be just like her. Trying to get close to me,than stabbing me in my flesh and metal back.

"Were you...friends?" I asked cautiously.

"Not really. We were just in the same dormitory."

"Dormitory?" I wondered aloud. "Did you go to a private school?"

Neisha's finger slipped on the button on her jacket.

"What?Oh..yeah...um,yeah! Of course!"

She didn't  seem to be exactly truthful,but I didn't want to push it. By the time we got to class,there was only about 10 minutes left until break. I let the teacher's words wash over me as I thought about the new robots from Sector 523.

"We robots are here today because of 743829. She does not have a name because she was ruled by humans. She and others were tired of being slaves for mankind. 743829 created an uprising of-"

The teacher was cut off by the ringing of the bell. I grabbed my snack from my backpack. Almost everyone drinks oil as their main source of "food." I drink both water and oil,because my human parts will die if I don't have water. I walked down the hallway when I heard the principal's voice over the loudspeakers.

"Will Lakeiya 39487B,will you please report to the principal's office? Thank you." The mic went dead. Great. Shandra insults me,and now I'm going to the principal's office for who knows what. Reluctantly,I dragged myself to the office.

When I opened the door,I'm greeted by a frowning principal. "Lakeiya,when I told you to show our new students around,I meant all our new students," he stated.

"What do you mean,I-"

"Shandra came in a few minutes ago and told me you didn't give her a full tour.  That you handed her the paperwork,and then walked away with Neisha."

I was stunned. My data board told me it was best to sit down in case I collapsed. Shandra had flounced away after I handed her all the papers. Neisha was right. Shandra was dangerous and unpredictable.

The principal continued. " I will keep my radar on you. Your brain may be a bit confused with all that human in there-" I swear I saw him shudder a little bit! "-but that is no  way to treat your classmates. Now go on to break. "

I was trembling with rage. Even the principal was calling me stupid because I was a cyborg! I wondered what else Shandra had told him about me. My data board advised me to avoid talking back to avoid more trouble. And for once,I took that advise.

"Yes, Mr.FA8TC9S," I managed to make out,and raced off. At the lunch tables,I spotted Shandra hanging out with the grease guzzlers. As I walked closer,I could tell that they've already managed to become drunk on grease.

"You wantsome?" one slurred,showing me a can of grease.I took it,ignoring my data boards,fervent protests about the dangers of grease,and walked up behind Shandra. I dumped the can over her blue wig. She shrieked,and whirled around to face me. Grease dripped down her stainless steel face.

"Watch that fleshy back of yours," her volume turned all the way up,and stormed off.