Ficlet 3
Lord Heterodyne is dead. Long live Lord Heterodyne. The people of Mechanicsburg -- of all of Europe -- hope it's a long time indeed. Bill and his brother Barry are Good Boys. They're redeeming the family one adventure at a time, just them, a few friends, and a couple of constructs -- intelligent, gentle constructs.
It's not just the boredom -- and boy, is there boredom. Like all of them, Maxim's picked up a hobby, but leatherwork isn't the hunt. Still, what really gets to him is harder to explain. Maxim finds himself occasionally skirting the edges of the new rules, hoping to be yelled at, given orders, disciplined...anything to make them acknowledge that he's there, and that he's theirs.
He walks very slowly, especially for him, as he goes to deliver the message from General Zog. And it's even slower as he starts to hear their voices.
"Sometimes I almost think.... I mean, do you want to leave any kids of yours the burden of this kind of responsibility? And what if we don't have any? What happens then, they're just ...unleashed? Acting on every deadly impulse until they fall apart? It'd probably be more humane and more safe for ordinary people to maybe...well, you know they'll follow orders right off a cliff."
"Yes, and often survive. Making them hurt and upset isn't humane OR safe for people. So let's not be too scared of responsibility."
There is a sigh. "You're right, Bill. Wrong idea. I just...worry."
Maxim knocks, then enters when instructed. The salute is impeccable, as usual. "From General Zog, master."
"Thank you."
"Velcome."
It's not just the boredom -- and boy, is there boredom. Like all of them, Maxim's picked up a hobby, but leatherwork isn't the hunt. Still, what really gets to him is harder to explain. Maxim finds himself occasionally skirting the edges of the new rules, hoping to be yelled at, given orders, disciplined...anything to make them acknowledge that he's there, and that he's theirs.
He walks very slowly, especially for him, as he goes to deliver the message from General Zog. And it's even slower as he starts to hear their voices.
"Sometimes I almost think.... I mean, do you want to leave any kids of yours the burden of this kind of responsibility? And what if we don't have any? What happens then, they're just ...unleashed? Acting on every deadly impulse until they fall apart? It'd probably be more humane and more safe for ordinary people to maybe...well, you know they'll follow orders right off a cliff."
"Yes, and often survive. Making them hurt and upset isn't humane OR safe for people. So let's not be too scared of responsibility."
There is a sigh. "You're right, Bill. Wrong idea. I just...worry."
Maxim knocks, then enters when instructed. The salute is impeccable, as usual. "From General Zog, master."
"Thank you."
"Velcome."