2. Unexpected Visitors
Star poked her head into the Mayor’s office from the corridor and observed Winston deep in concentration at his desk, studying some papers. He stroked his chin with that gesture that was so characteristic of him, and feelings that she’d almost forgotten began to surge anew.
She was instantly transported by an avalanche of memories back to a simpler time when Winston was all that mattered to her in the world. Back when he had been her hero, her protector against the Fascista Ultimo monster – her great comrade in arms. When all others had despaired, he’d fought on until the Roboto Fascist dictatorship finally came crashing down.
A sad, nostalgic smile moved across her face. Exquisite pangs of love twisted her heart. Then Winston straightened his shoulders in that new, arrogant manner of his and the moment passed. A bitter, almost scornful, expression twisted Star’s mouth now. She rapped her knuckles on the door frame. Winston looked up from his desk.
“Hail, Exalted Mayor,” she said with a slight bow.
“Ah, Star, so good to see you!” Winston exclaimed.
He rose and crossed the room to her.
“Thank you for granting me an audience, Exalted Mayor,” Star said.
“Forget the ceremonial gab,” Winston said. “I’m just plain old Winston, remember?”
“Really?” Star said.
He took both of her hands into his own. The communicator, which controlled the mech wolf guards, hung prominently from his left wrist.
“Of course I am,” he said.
“I wish you’d show me more of that old Winston,” Star said. “I really miss him.”
“Ah, forgive me!” Winston said. “So many responsibilities I have these days. I scarcely recognize myself sometimes.”
He gestured dismissively around the imposing environs.
“But all this is only temporary,” he said. “Just until Ajax is back in shape. You know that, Star.”
She nodded, unconvinced. Winston grasped her hands again.
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen you,” Winston said. “What can I do for you, Star?”
“Well ... it’s about Iridium,” Star said.
Winston’s manner became immediately tense, cautious. He withdrew his hands from Star’s
“What about him?” he asked.
“I spoke to him at the RDI today,” Star said. “He’s doing much better now, you know.”
“Glad to hear that,” Winston said without apparent interest.
“Yes ... of course,” Star said.
Winston’s abrupt coldness had unsettled her.
“Anyway,” she continued, “he was telling me that he feels ready to take over the job as Mech City’s security chief ... as you promised him.”
“I see,” Winston said. “And what did Jack and Quincy think?”
“Well, they thought that – ”
Iridium strolled into the office just then with his customary swaggering confidence, as if he owned everything he surveyed. Winston stiffened.
“Here’s Iri now,” Star said. “He can explain better than I can.”
“Iridium!” Winston pasted on his best politician’s smile. “So glad to see you’re up and around.”
“Hi, pal,” Iridium said. “Good to see you, too.”
“I’ve been meaning to visit you,” Winston said, “but City business sucks up all of my time.”
“Yeah, a lot of things suck these days,” Iridium said.
Star stroked the great canine’s head. “How did the tests go, dearie?”
“Great,” Iridium said. “I’m feeling almost factory fresh.”
Winston regarded this statement with a singular lack of enthusiasm.
“Quincy and Jack are getting better at their repair work all the time, aren’t they?” he said.
“Right, but speedy they ain’t,” Iridium said.
Winston returned to his desk and sat down, careful to keep his left wrist out of view on his lap.
“So, what can I do for you, Iridium?” he said.
“I’m reporting for duty as security chief,” Iridium said. “As per our agreement.”
“Yes, well ... I’m afraid there’s a bit of a problem there, old chap,” Winston said.
He surreptitiously fiddled with the communication device strapped to his wrist. Four mech wolves crept in from the adjacent room.
“Problem?” Iridium said.
“Yes, quite,” Winston said.
The mech wolves closed in on Iridium, teeth bared and metallic growls rumbling in their chests. The hairs of their gray coats stood on end.
“Oh!” Star cried.
“No need to be alarmed,” Winston said. “Please remain calm.”
“What’s going on?” Iridium demanded.
Winston shrugged apologetically.
“You see, the mech wolf guards have become used to my way of doing things,” he said. “A change right now would upset them.”
Iridium coolly surveyed the mech wolves arrayed against him. They formed a solid wall of razor teeth and malevolent yellow eyes.
“OK, pal,” he said. “I get the picture.”
“I’m certain things will be different once Ajax becomes mayor,” Winston said. “It’s only a temporary situation. You do understand, don’t you?”
“Yeah, right,” Iridium said.
He walked toward the door. As he passed Star, he commented in a low voice.
“Watch out! That guy’s turning into another Fascista Ultimo.”
Then he was gone. Star looked daggers at the Exalted Mayor.
“Ohhh, it’s times like this that I really hate you, Winston!”
Winston raised his open hands in a gesture of entreaty.
“I have important work to do,” he said. “Sometimes, unavoidably, I have to disappoint others.”
“You’ve certainly disappointed me!” Star said.
She turned to go.
“Star, wait ...”
She stomped out the door leaving Winston alone at his desk baffled and unhappy. He stood up and returned to look out the window.
“Nobody understands me,” he said. “This must be the price of greatness.”
3. Ajax Debuts
Late afternoon sunshine glared in through Winston’s open door, thrusting dramatic rays across his desk as he studied the construction update report. The sky was uncharacteristically bright today, but the report certainly was not. In it, Jimmy expressed again his deep misgivings about the government quarter building project, and especially about the Palace of His Excellency the Mayor.
“Hmm.” Winston stroked his chin. “I’ve heard all this before.”
What was that old expression? ‘A broken record.’
Jimmy could not move beyond superficial concerns but merely rehashed all of his old arguments. His report overflowed with dreary specifics. It spoke of inadequate materials and transport, problems with drainage, labor shortages, insufficient foundation strength, etc. etc. All the things that got in the way of truly grand endeavors.
Winston shoved the papers aside.
Later today, he would visit Jimmy and explain to him the political importance of the building project. He’d tell the prosaic construction foreman how all obstacles must be overcome in order to provide Mech City with government buildings worthy of its greatness. He’d emphasize how merely practical considerations were not the most important things, how –
A shadow spread across the desk.
Winston jerked his head up to see Ajax towering in the doorway. The great bronze robot dominated the office with his 2.35 meters of broad, powerful height. His noble Greek warrior head turned to scan the environs, his eyes flashed.
The effect would have been terrifying, were it not for the great intelligence and rectitude shining from those eyes. The comic book hero that Ajax had been designed to replicate would have been proud to see his tangible manifestation.
Winston stood and tried to obfuscate his unpleasant surprise.
“Ajax! How go
od to see you,” he said.
“Greetings, Interim Mayor.” Ajax made a slight bow. “May I enter?”
“Yes ... please do.”
Ajax covered the distance to Winston’s desk with a few long paces. Winston suppressed a panicky urge to flee.
“So, how are you feeling, Ajax?” he inquired
“Quite well, thank you, Interim Mayor” Ajax said.
“You can drop the formality,” Winston said. “My friends call me W. H.”
“Certainly ... W. H.” Ajax said.
He felt rather unsettled. Didn’t Fascista Ultimo also ask his “friends” to address him by his initials?
“My diagnostics indicate that I am back to 97.4% of designed capability,” Ajax said.
“Is that so?”
“Yes,” Ajax said. “My progress is very encouraging. I feel quite capable of assuming my duties as mayor.”
Involuntarily, Winston grasped the mayor’s medallion hanging around his neck.
“And what about the mech birds?” he asked.
“They all remain deactivated, per your instructions, Interim Mayor,” Ajax said.
Winston dampened a smile of relief. The mech birds were dangerous Ajax loyalists. Who knew what mischief they might cook up if they became active again?
“Good, glad to hear that,” Winston said. “We’ll have to find some sort worthwhile activity for them down the road.”
Ajax nodded. His posture conveyed expectant tension, but Winston did not appear to notice.
“I believe that you are occupying my desk, W.H.” Ajax finally said. “And please hand over that medallion.”
He held out a massive open palm. Winston recoiled.
“Certainly,” Winston said, “all in due time.”
“Due time? But I am prepared now,” Ajax said.
“Yes, of course,” Winston said. “Uh ... please excuse me a moment.”
He turned away from his gigantic visitor and mumbled into his wrist radio.
Moments later, four mech wolves appeared at the door along with Comrade Drone – the idiot valet robot nearly as massive as Ajax himself. His blank white face conveyed nothing but dumb obedience.
Ajax did not notice the new arrivals at first, but Winston drew confidence from their presence. He turned squarely toward Ajax.
“I’m concerned that you’re not quite 100%, yet,” he said. “Does your head still try to act independently?”
“Only on extremely rare occasions,” Ajax said, “but I have things firmly under control.”
“Uh huh,” Winston said.
Comrade Drone closed in. Despite his enormous bulk, he moved silently on shock absorbered legs. The mech wolves followed in his wake.
“Why don’t you rest a while longer, Ajax?” Winston said. “Just until you’re really in the pink.”
“But, I am ‘in the pink’ now,” Ajax protested. “Whatever that is supposed to mean.”
Comrade Drone and the mech wolves were right beside Ajax now. He finally noticed them and recoiled with astonishment.
“What the hell!” he cried.
“Oh, come now, Ajax,” Winston said. “Hell is a human concept – hardly applicable here.”
“This is an outrage!” Ajax said.
“Please don’t feel that way,” Winston said. “I’m only acting in the best interests of all concerned – including you.”
Comrade Drone grasped Ajax’s elbow. The mech wolves surround him, cutting off any retreat. Despite his great power and bulk, Ajax knew that, unarmed, he was no match for a mech wolf – let alone four of them.
“Shall we go, Ajay?” Winston said cheerfully.
Ajax drew himself up to his full stature. “As the interim mayor wishes.”
They exited the office suite and headed up the REX Hotel’s main staircase.
Two mech wolves and Comrade Drone led the “honor guard.” Winston and the other two wolves brought up the rear. Ajax walked with stately grace, as if he was receiving some great honor instead of heading for internment.
What a deuce of a fine fellow! Winston thought. Too bad we can’t use him.
On the penthouse floor, the group paused before a solid steel door with a barred window in it.
“Your old cell – I mean apartment – is still available, Ajax,” Winston said.
Comrade Drone swung the door open to reveal a large room with a heavily barred window. The décor was neat, but very Spartan, as befitted a robot modeled on a Greek warrior hero.
“See? I’ve had it redecorated,” Winston said.
“Yes, the new bars are lovely,” Ajax replied.
He entered the cell, projecting as much dignity as possible under the terrible circumstances. Comrade Drone shut the door behind him and locked it.
Winston peered in through the tiny window.
“Let us know if you need anything, Ajay,” he said. “Bye for now.”
Winston and his crew departed, leaving Ajax standing alone and infuriated in his cell.
“I hate being called ‘Ajay!’” he said.
4. Mr. Popularity
The next morning, Star sent a note, via Comrade Drone, to the Mayor’s office. In it she asked Winston to meet her at the fountain park. He was delighted to oblige.
After all, this was the same little park where they’d strolled together on his first night in Mech City. It was a locale attended by fond memories, and the first public space to be renovated during Winton’s tenure as mayor. Star must be wanting to make up with him for her outburst of the other day.
“Women can be so over emotional at times,” Winston observed as he walked the half kilometer distance to the park. “One must be prepared to make allowances.”
Four mech wolf guards trailed a discreet distance behind. Winston disliked the idea of bringing his full escort, objective observers might conclude that he was unconfident. But with Iridium lurking around, it didn’t hurt to be extra cautious.
I should have given Iridium a guest suite at the REX, Winston chided himself.
He’d planned to do just that, but Star’s presence in his office had deterred him from this reasonable course of action. Women could be so impractical!
Iridium would just have to come to an understanding of his true place in the New Order and dismiss any foolish notions about commanding the Security Service. Winston would make it up with him, too, eventually. He’s offer the great canine some grandiose, though powerless, position with a fancy title – Special Assistant to the Mayor, or some nonsense like that. But for now, it was better to have the mech wolf guards along and not need them than to risk the opposite situation to.
Winston entered the park to find Star seated on the edge of the fountain, the identical spot where they’d first exchanged their deepest confidences. So long ago it seemed, so much had happened since then! A rush of nostalgic affection throbbed in Winston’s circuits. He envisioned Star jumping to her feet and rushing into his arms as she’d done so many times before. Everything would be forgiven and ...
But she didn’t get up. She just sat glowering at him, her lovely chocolate complexion seemed to have darkened a full shade with anger. The repaired fountain gurgled pleasantly behind her, but her mood was anything but bubbly.
“I can’t believe you locked up Ajax!” she said by way of greeting.
Winston pushed away his keen disappointment.
“How good to see you again,” he said.
He waited for an invitation to sit down, but none came. He moved awkwardly to stand beside her. A wave of cold seemed to emanate from her.
“Well, what do you have to say for yourself?” Star demanded.
“Please, Star, try to understand,” he said, “it’s for Ajax’s own good. You know how badly he acted before.”
Star snorted derisively, an astonishing noise that Winston had never heard before.
“He’s made a wonderful come back since then,” she said. “He wouldn’t have reported for duty if he thought he couldn’t handle it.
”
Winston shrugged and diddled his fingers in the fountain water. It felt cool and inviting on his agitated temperature sensors.
“I don’t question Ajax’s sincerity,” he said, “but, by his own admission, he’s not quite 100% recovered yet.”
Star looked apprehensively toward the mech wolves scowling at her from their discreet distance. She plowed ahead.
“He’s plenty good enough,” she said, “you know that as well as I do.”
Winston shrugged. “We’ll just have to see.”
“So, what’s the next step,” Star demanded, “reassemble Clawfurt?”
“You know, I’ve been giving that some thought,” Winston said. “He could be useful to – ”
Star shot to her feet and confronted Winston directly. The mech wolves drew closer.
“This has to stop!” she cried.
Winston reached reflexively for her, meaning to brush her aside as he had so many others who had challenged his authority, but he managed to restrain himself. He turned to look at his mech wolf guards who were quite close now, fangs bared and growls rumbling in their chest speakers.
He made a slight hand gesture. The mech wolves backed off, frustration glowing in their savage yellow eyes. Winston looked back toward Star.
“I’m sorry that you don’t understand,” he said, “but I cannot avoid my destiny.”
“So, what is your ‘destiny?’” Star said. “Become another Fascista Ultimo?”
“Certainly not!” Winston said. “Of course ... he did have a few good points.”
Star turned her back with disgust.
“I’m nothing like F. U.” Winston protested. “The people love me.”
Star spun back around. “People? We’re all robots, in case you haven’t noticed.”
“A matter of semantics.” Winston waved a dismissive hand. “Didn’t you say yourself that we’re evolving?”
“Like this?” Star said. “We were better off before.”
“Just go ask anyone how they feel about me,” Winston said. “You’ll see.”
A grim, almost malicious smile that Winston had never seen before oozed across Star’s features.
“All right,” she said, “you’re on.”
“Okay ... very well,” Winston said, “if that’s what it’ll take to convince you, let’s go solicit some opinions.”
“Shall we start at the RDI?” Star’s voice was calm, ingenuous. “You should have lots of admirers there.”
“Certainly, why not?” Winston said.
***
The walk across town to the Robotics Development Institute was quiet and grim. Star kept her thoughts to herself, and Winston knew better than to add any fuel to her obvious upset. The streets were virtually empty, as all the available manpower was devoted these days to the construction of the new mayor’s palace.