Q185

There were several land-hoppers there and many agricultural machines. Q185 dismounted and walked over to one corner where a small, compact charger lay hidden. The android opened a side panel at his waist and removed a cylindrical object. The lights within his eye sockets dimmed momentarily and the robot emitted a low humming noise. He exchanged the cylinder for another, securing a fresh, low volt battery and placing the discharged one into the charger. He put a box over it, turned and left.

When he was gone, a rustling in the far corner produced a tiny figure. Two small hands pushed the box aside and disconnected the charger from its power source. Then, careful to replace the box to its original position, the small form disappeared through a vent in the wall.

An hour later, the house was alive with activity. Gregor had brought out the car, which they rarely used, and parked it in front of the domes.

Mary appeared in the entrance in a summer dress and fringed hat. She looked at Gregor who was bent down and looking under the vehicle. He stood up and saw her there and smiled.

"Gregor Downs, what are you up to?" she asked.

"Where’s that daughter of yours? Allie, let’s go!"

Alice came running out behind her mother.

"Are we going? Are we going?"

"Get in," said Gregor, thumbing towards the car.

Then he walked over to his wife and offered her his arm. She took it and he led her to the passenger side and helped her in.

"Cue- let’s go!" he hollered, closing the passenger door.

Gregor opened a hatch on the rear of the vehicle where two back seats sat facing him. Alice sat in one seat and Quick, showing himself, took the other.

The seats turned around and Gregor shut the hatch. Then he got in and powered up the car and they left.

"Gregor, where are we going, into town?"

"Yes," confirmed Gregor.

Q185’s emotionless face twitched. Alice took notice of this and committed it to memory.

The main road into town was congested with traffic. Gregor could not maneuver around it.

"What a mess," said Mary.

Gregor leaned forward and looked up into the sky. There was a thick cloud of smoke billowing up ahead. He quickly turned and moved along the shoulder negotiating between the traffic on the main road and the rocky wall that lined it. As the car hovered closer to the origin of the smoke, Mary could hear the scraping noise of large rocks underneath.

"Gregor, do be careful."

"Here- we’ll stop here. I’m going to see what’s going on."

"Gregor, wait...."

Mary’s cry went unheard. Gregor had bound from the vehicle and was quickly moving through a large crowd. Mary got out, too, and moved closer to see what was happening and to try and keep after her husband. Alice climbed into the front seat and looked out of the window.

"Whoa, look at all that smoke! There must be a huge fire."

And saying this, disappeared out the door and into the thick of the crowd.

Cue sat a moment, thinking. He did not know what they were doing here. He felt his power reserves dwindling. He thought he should wait there for his master. If they got split up, he might not make it home. Finally, he resolved to get out and investigate.