***
Winston and Star exited the building and began moving across the parking area toward the sidewalk. The truck which had transported them here stood idle and silent like some big, snoozing creature from prehistory. The air was calm, though still hazy and expectant, as if preparing itself for the next dust storm.
“Where are we going?” Winston asked.
“To Dr. Che’s workshop, of course,” Star said. “Everything is all arranged for your conversion.”
“That’s what I thought,” Winston said, his voice flat and emotionless.
His pace slowed until he was barely moving, despite Star’s firm grip on his arm. His motions were stiff and jittery, like some comic figure in a cartoon.
“Are you nervous?” Star said.
“Yeah, a little,” Winston said, “a lot, actually. Can’t this wait for some other time?”
Star halted and looked directly into Winston’s eyes.
“What other time?” she said.
“I mean, it’s been a very long day, with Iridium and all,” Winston said. “Besides – ”
“You’re terrified, right?” Star said.
“Well ... yes,” Winston said.
“This is our only chance, Winston,” Star said. “Dr. Che took a lot of convincing – he will never be available again. Trust me on that.”
She took Winston’s arm and resumed walking, almost dragging him along.
“Poor Winston, this is all so much for you,” she said.
“Y-yeah ...”
Winston could hardly sense the concrete under his feet any longer. He felt on the verge of a panic attack worse than anything he’d experienced since the death of his human family. He began to tremble.
“Tell you what,” Star said. “Try the conversion for one week. Then, if you really hate it, Dr. Rackenfauz can switch you back.”
Winston calmed a bit, his trembling receded.
“Well, okay ... I could do that ... I guess,” he replied.
They walked in silence across the deserted grounds until they reached Dr. Che’s building. Star halted their progress by the main door and took Winston’s hands.
“I want you to know that it didn’t mean anything,” she said.
“What?”
“Sometimes a girl has to do what’s necessary,” Star said. “Even if it really isn’t right ... even if it was a lot of fun.”
Winston looked baffled.
“Maybe you’ll understand later,” Star said.
She opened the door.
“After you, my hero.”
Winston lurched himself into the lobby. They proceeded down a long hallway past many closed doors, their steps echoing off the walls. Winston recalled the passageways of the Space Invaders’ jail. What terrors lurked behind those doors?
“My, this building is in excellent condition,” he observed, witlessly. “The vandals must have bypassed it.”
“Uh huh.”
At last, they found Dr. Che’s workshop and peered in through the open door.
Dr. Che was sitting at his desk examining some papers. The Nordic Avenger epidermis hung from a wheeled conveyance nearby. His back was to the door, so he didn’t see them enter.
“Excuse me, Dr. Che,” Star said.
Che jerked around in his chair, startled. His face and hands were covered with scratches – bruises and bite marks adorned his neck. He stood up and moved to the other side the desk so as to place it between himself and the robots.
“A bit early, aren’t you?” he said.
Star experienced a pang of regret. She felt rather sorry for Dr. Che – his obvious feelings for her which she had trampled under foot, the way she’d so blatantly used him last night.
Damn it, I’m still so turned on by him!
There’d be serious repercussions, she knew. How could they be avoided, or a least tempered? Maybe there was fun at the end of this road, but heartache, as well. She’d caused it all, she’d ...
Think about it later, girl. Take care of business.
“Yes, we finished with Dr. Rackenfauz sooner than expected,” Star said.
“What happened to you, Dr. Che?” Winston asked.
Star elbowed him hard. Winston shut up.
“We’re all set to begin, doctor,” she said.
Keeping a wary eye on Star, Che moved to an empty workbench and motioned for Winston to lie down. Winston hesitated, then he noticed the epidermis and walked over to examine it.
“I’m not sure this is really my style,” he said. “Maybe – ”
“Let me be the judge of that,” Star said. “Now come on, time’s wasting.”
She led Winston to the workbench and gently helped him lie down on his back.
“Everything is going to be just fine,” she said.
She reached behind his head and flicked his deactivation switch. Winston went instantly limp.
“Good luck,” she said.
She almost added the words “my only love,” but restrained herself. She could already feel the angry, smoldering eyes of Dr. Che boring into her, and she did not want to make the situation any more tense than it already was.
Star reached into her purse and withdrew the leather bag containing the male genitalia Dr. Rackenfauz had fashioned. She’d carried this precious cargo all the way from Pickle Lake Castle to Mech City and back again. Now it was here, at it’s final destination. Soon, she would be intimately familiar with it – if everything went well, if Dr. Che succeeded with the conversion, if he chose not to sabotage things ...
She offered the leather bag to Che. He snatched it away.
“Do you want me to stay and help?” She asked.
“No!” Dr. Che practically shouted.
“I just thought – ”
“Keep away from me,” Che said in a low, ominous voice.
He pointed emphatically to the doorway.
“All right ... thank you, Doctor,” Star said.
After a final glance at Winston’s inert form, Star moved toward the door. Then she turned back to face Che.
“You can have me again, after this is over,” she said. “If you want to, that is ... I mean ... if everything goes well ... ”
Tears sprang into her eyes.
“Please fix him up right!” she practically wailed. “I’ll do anything you want.”
“Outside!” Che commanded.
Star retreated through the door. Che immediately closed and locked it behind her. Out in the hall, Star heard a chair being dragged to the door and braced under the knob.
She kissed her fingers and pressed them against the metal door.