The New World: Crimson Winter

by Andy Skrzynski

  A few minutes later, Skeeter stared at the android’s parts strewn across the table. Andralec’s face seemed so peaceful, much like the guardian angel he pictured from his pa’s description.

  He was totally mesmerized as his gaze settled on her sparkling, baby-blue eyes. She’s pretty, just like Caru’s Auntie Mercy.

  Pure as fresh-fallen snow, the robot’s white hair glistened in the sunlight peeking through the curtains. She’s too young for such white hair, but I love it!

  The short style looked similar to Tinker Bell’s but so different from women in the village. His heart warmed. She’s so beautiful! How could Andralec possibly be anything but friendly?

  The Texan’s warning made no sense at all. As far as he was concerned, grown-ups worried way too much.

  He tapped his foot on the floor. “What’s taking so long?”

  Teli replied. “Just a sec. Almost there.” He touched the monitor.

  Speedy’s image popped onto the wide screen. “How y’all doing this afternoon? We received your message that our gift arrived.”

  Cupping a palm over his eyes like a scout hunting prey on a sunny day, the Texan finally pointed. “Ah, there she is. Looks like you got all the pieces.”

  Skeeter smirked. “Yup — head, torso, and limbs. Now, how do we slap this thing together?”

  Queasy scowled. “Sorry, Speedy. He’s been chomping at the bit ever since he found out she was arriving today.”

  Motioning to a rocker in the corner, the scientist looked at Skeeter. “Sit! You can watch but keep your flaps tight, or you’ll have to sit on the porch. I’m going to continue dissecting the monster while Teli and Hoot assemble the android.”

  Stomping to the chair and plopping down, Skeeter mumbled. “You guys never let me do anything fun.”

  Hoot shot a glare. “Yeah? What happened yesterday when you were having all that fun?”

  Skeeter curled his lower lip and stared at the floor. Maybe Sis understands me too well.

  Teli grinned. “You’ll have plenty of time to get to know Andralec. Just be patient a little longer.”

  ‘Waiting’ was a word he wished had never found its way into the dictionary. He huffed. “Oh, okay. Just get this thing moving.”

  The Defender’s accent floated from the speakers. “Y’all ready?”

  Teli beamed. “Let’s do it.”

  Speedy rattled on. “Okay. Remember what I told y’all. Andralec can be moody, to say the least. We like our androids to be human-like with their own personalities, but let’s just say she’s a tad bit more temperamental than we prefer. We’ve tried tweaking her emotions, but even with the lowest setting, she’s a handful.”

  Hoot retorted in a gruff voice. “We’ll manage. We’ve faced many a muclone in our time.”

  The Texan grinned. “If you say so. Be ready to cover your ears when you turn her on.”

  Glancing at each other, Teli and Hoot replied in unison. “Okay.”

  Curious as to how Andralec would look when assembled, Skeeter scrutinized each section. The torso was covered with a plain-collared blouse, more like a t-shirt but dressier, with a shade of blue that matched her pretty eyes. The legs were clothed with black slacks.

  Oddly, her attire clung tight to her body and looked more like paint than fabric. It was hard to tell for sure.

  Teli pointed at the table. “What’s next?”

  “I suggest not attaching her arms and legs until after you wake her up.”

  Sis shrugged. “Why not?”

  “Y’all will find out soon enough. Go ahead; grab her head and press that recessed button at the back of her neck.”

  Cradling the cranium, Hoot tentatively pushed the black bar. Andralec’s eyes blinked before opening wide. Her serene face contorted into deep furrows across her forehead and cheeks — uglier than the trolls Skeeter envisioned from stories he had read.

  A tirade of gibberish exploded from the robot’s mouth at speeds unintelligible for the most part. Her pupils turned crimson as she blared at his sister. “Who are you; and where am I?”

  The thunderous noise pierced Skeeter’s ears, and he quickly covered them. Through his fingers, he barely made out Speedy’s muffled voice. “Calm down, Drally. You’re with new friends in Ukkiville.”

  Andralec screamed. “Don’t listen to him! He’s crazy! I’m never going to be happy here!”

  “Come on, Drally. Don’t be so difficult. Caaalm down.”

  Shifting toward the Texan’s image, the android’s eyes turned brighter red and started flashing. “Don’t you shush me! You know I hate being turned off! And don’t you call me Drally!”

  Her eyes spun in their sockets. “What’d you do with my arms and legs? Would you do this to a human?”

  Holding what must have been a possessed cranium at arm’s length, Hoot stood stunned. While seemingly oblivious to all the commotion, Queasy continued dissecting the beast in the corner.

  Skeeter’s jaw dropped. Andralec was nothing like he expected. He wanted a new friend — someone fun — not some demon from Hell. He crouched lower in his seat.

  Hoot glanced toward the Texan. “What do I do with her?”

  “Screw her head onto the torso. Just twist, and it should click in place.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes, do it! She won’t harm you. She’s been programmed not to hurt humans unless they are threatening those she’s charged to protect.”

  “Easy for you to say. You’re more than a thousand miles away!” Teli held the torso upright, while Hoot aligned the neck and twisted it. It clicked onto the base of the shoulders.

  Andralec’s head immediately spun around in complete circles as she spewed more demands. “Hurry! Attach my arm, you idiot! What’s taking so long?”

  Speedy urged Hoot onward. “Go ahead and twist her right bicep in place but stand back when you do.”

  Teli’s eyes grew large. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No, go ahead. Once she gets past her tantrum, she’ll be fine. She’s mad at me more than anyone else. After one arm’s in place, she can assemble the remainder of herself.”

  Andralec flashed an evil smile and spoke with an eerie voice straight from the Wicked Witch of the West. “That’s right, Dearie. You have nothing to worry about. Hurry it up!”

  Fearing for his sister’s life, Skeeter gulped. Never had he been so scared.

  Hoot kept shaking her head as she gingerly hooked the android’s arm to the main body. Immediately, the partially-assembled robot grabbed a scalpel from a nearby table and flung it across the room. Skeeter ducked, and the razor-sharp blade stuck in the pine log above his head and wobbled.

  His sister screeched. “Brutish!” She slapped Andralec. “That’s my brother! Leave him alone!”

  Skeeter hid his face in his hands. Peeking through his fingers, he feared for Hoot’s life.

  Speedy yelled. “Andralec! Quiet!”

  Instantly, the android fell silent, and her face returned to the adorable angel of before. A second later, she smiled, and a calming, feminine voice ensued. “Hi. I’m Andralec. How can I be of assistance? I’d like to be your friend.”

  Still appearing stunned, Hoot scowled at the Texan’s image. “Why didn’t you do that earlier?”

  A devilish chuckle escaped him. “What would be the fun in that? Besides, you needed to experience Drally’s difficult side. Admit it. You certainly appreciate the value of the ‘quiet’ command much better now.”

  “But that crazed thing could have hurt my brother!”

  “Nah. Like I said before, she can’t harm y’all. That blade landed precisely where she targeted.”

  Skeeter let the air escape his lungs. It was unlikely he’d ever unsee Andralec’s terrifying antics anytime soon. She was destined to provide fodder for many a nightmare to come. I can’t even imagine what life will be like with her around!

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Robo Protector

  Late Afternoon

  Following the robot’
s frightful commotion earlier, Queasy hoped for calm during the remainder of the day. He probed one of several splotches along the six-legged monster’s hide. A large, reddened welt with a puncture marked the center of each raised area.

  Tingles along his fingers spread to his arms while he continued his tasks. He’d rather it be due to long hours than a repeat of the panic attack suffered a few years back, but with time in short supply and work plentiful, he couldn’t afford any setbacks. Like a bear foraging honey before the winter snows, he plowed forward with few complaints.

  Hoot marched to the nearest window and opened it. “How can you guys stand the smell? That ammonia’s sickening, and it burns my eyes.”

  “You get used to it after a while.”

  “Not me.” She returned to the old desk and continued with her notes.

  Queasy sliced around one of the monster’s welts and twisted toward Aluki. “What do you make of these sores all over the hide.”

  His wife set the trunk of the beast on the table. “Looks like stings.”

  “I thought the same, except for the strange behavior of its skin. This thing’s been dead for hours, but the welts are still bubbling.”

  “A strong allergic reaction?”

  “Possibly.” A wild thought wormed its way to the forefront. What if…, he scrutinized his scribbles again, …no that’s impossible!

  Either his eyes deceived him, or the reaction to the venom was the craziest stuff ever. He glanced at the corner of the room where his student inspected the dead Skalag. “Teli. When you get a chance, run a test on this sample.”

  Setting the chunk of flesh in a petri dish, he slid it to the corner of the table.

  His pupil walked over and picked it up. “I’ll do it now. I kinda need a break.”

  “Know what you mean.”

  Tiger’s friendly voice floated from the speakers. “At least y’all got something interesting to do. Now that Andralec’s together, I’m stuck here filling in for Speedy while he repairs a drone. We’ve got some really sophisticated equipment, so we can run a more thorough analysis of its composition once you send us the cadaver.”

  Curious, Queasy smirked. “So, Tiger, are you stuck monitoring us because you let the cat out of the bag in that first chat?”

  “Partly, but I’m also taking biology at the University of Texas. After all the excitement with the muclones a few years back, I want to learn more about DNA splicing and cloning.”

  “Good for you. I’ll bet you’d like to get your hands on the real thing, wouldn’t you? There’s only so much we can do from our end.”

  “I’m sitting on pins and needles ‘til you send it our way. I get the first crack at it down here.”

  The numbness in Queasy’s fingers worsened. “I hope to send it out within the next day or two.”

  “Great. When you do, insulate the crate and use a little of the perma-chill we sent you for your cooler, where you keep the bodies. A cupful of the chemical will keep a cadaver that size cold for a week. Ship it back in the same drone used for Andralec.”

  “Sounds good.” He set the scalpel down on the stainless-steel tray. “Seems like we’ve been working on this thing forever.”

  His wife looked up from the long, wrinkled, gray appendage. “Yep, my shoulders are killing me.” Aluki placed a pair of tweezers on the table next to her.

  Observing his love, he couldn’t imagine facing all the chores ahead without her by his side. She made each day bearable. She was the best thing that ever happened to him.

  He switched off the video cam and plopped on a stool. “Definitely time for a break.”

  Something kept nagging at the back of his mind. Where was all of this headed?

  He glanced at the young boy conversing with the Andralec near the door. “Hey, Skeeter. Do me a favor. Bring us a couple of glasses of cider.”

  “Sure. Can I have some?”

  “Yeah, go ahead.”

  Aluki licked her lips. “Can’t wait. The last jug was great. Woody outdid himself this year. Those apples are so sweet.”

  A Second Later

  Hoot slapped her knee. “Blazes! That’s what I forgot! Woody asked me to stop and get some cider for Pa.”

  She tightened one of her braids Caru taught her to make, the night before last. She knew full well why Woody wanted her to come over. Every time she visited, he looked her over like one of his masterpieces.

  She rolled her eyes. I’m not some carving that he’s polished to his liking, and I never will be!

  These days, it seemed inevitable: if Woody wasn’t after her, it was Hound Dog. She sighed. Woody’s nice, but Doggy Breath — he’s the right kind of nice with a bod.

  Holding the icebox open, Skeeter peered at Queasy. “What about Andralec? Can I give her cider, too?”

  The robot immediately replied. “I don’t consume food or beverages.”

  Wrinkling his nose, the lad set the mug on the counter. “Really? How do you expect to grow?”

  Andralec’s neck stretched upward, and her head shifted back. “You’ve got a lot to learn.”

  Hoot cleared her voice. “Um, um, ummm. What about Teli and me? Are we invisible, or something?”

  Shyly smirking, Skeeter whirled and headed back to the cabinet. “Oh yeah. I forgot.”

  Tiger’s eyes turned sad. “Guess I’ll just have to wait until the next time I visit Ukkiville. Y’all better save some.”

  Hoot chuckled. “Better not wait too long, or it will turn.”

  “Fine with me. I like it after it has hardened a bit.”

  When Skeeter finished his rounds, Queasy glanced at Hoot. “Could I get you to run through your notes, starting from this morning?”

  She sipped her drink and swallowed. “There’s no shortage of oddities with this snatcher. Looking for anything in particular?”

  The Next Morning on October 22, 2105

  Queasy’s Cabin

  Still wary, Hoot gawked at Ukkiville’s newest resident, the emotionally-charged mechanical visitor. Her eyes settled on the robot’s red hair, cut just above her shoulder and flipped under, exposing the bottom of her neck. Wicked! What happened to her white hair; and how did it grow so fast? Wish I could do that.

  Her brother seemed fixated on the android’s latest style. A jealous twinge nipped her heart as she huffed. Andralec may look human, but I ain’t fooled. If she ever hurts Baby Brother. She clenched her fist.

  Aluki looked at the robot, then at Skeeter. “I’ve got an idea. Why not have Andralec be your brother’s protector?”

  Hoot flew from her chair. “You crazy? She tried to kill him yesterday!”

  Cocking her head, the android spoke with a soothing voice. “You need not concern yourself. The scalpel landed exactly where I aimed — three centimeters above his head.”

  “Three centimeters? What’s that? Looked more like an inch to me.”

  “1.1811 inches, to be exact.”

  “I don’t care where you think you were throwing it. You better never throw anything in Skeeter’s direction again!” Hoot plopped in her chair and stewed.

  The pseudo-human’s penchant for precision drove her batty. So, what if Schizo Robo knows math! Doesn’t mean she’s qualified to take my job. I’m Baby Brother’s protector!

  Tiger’s voice broke over the speakers as she lifted her finger. “Actually, Andralec would make an excellent bodyguard. Skeeter could learn from her, and she from him — a win, win.”

  Ready to grab her boot and heave it at the monitor, Hoot paused. Hmmm, maybe that’s not such a bad idea after all. I could attend more meetings and be with the older villagers.

  She creased her brow. “I’m Skeeter’s protector, but…,” relaxing her face, she smiled, “…while I’m not thrilled, I’d be okay with sharing that role with Robo Woman.”

  Putting her hands on her hips, Andralec smiled. “How charming. There’s no need for names. I assure you, I have no intentions of usurping your responsibility. Think of me as a helper.”

&
nbsp; Hoot cracked a smile. “Well, if you all agree, I guess I’m okay with the idea.”

  Stunned, Skeeter’s jaw dropped. What’s Sis thinking? How could she do this to me?

  Hoot had never abandoned him before. Life as he’d known it must certainly be coming to an end — and fast.

  Queasy motioned toward the door. “Skeeter, why don’t you and Andralec go out back and become acquainted. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

  Aluki frowned. “It’s chilly out there.”

  Grumbling, her husband waved his arm in some random pattern only a like-witted intellect would understand. “They can use that chimnia thingamabob Drew gave us for Christmas last year.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Great idea. You’re always too busy, and when you’re not, it’s too cold.”

  Skeeter scrunched his nose. “What’s a chimnia?”

  The preoccupied scientist huffed. “It’s out on the patio. Find the ugly thing that looks like a pot-bellied fireplace made of clay, with a mouth that could swallow you. Can’t miss it.”

  Andralec put her arm around Skeeter, but he quickly brushed it off. She offered her hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. Come on, I’ll show you.”

  Swinging the back door open, the robot glanced at Queasy. “We’ll put that…,” she paused and emphasized, “…‘chiminea’ to good use.”

  Aluki smiled. “Use a couple of the smaller logs by that old tree.”

  Still skittish about the whole ordeal, Skeeter darted past the android and hopped off the back deck. “Will do.”

  He ran across the flagstone patio to the dilapidated woodshed and returned with a small stack. He set the split timber beside the chiminea.

  Andralec grabbed a couple of logs and set them in the well of the clay burner. When she pointed her index finger at one of the logs, a yellow stream shot from her fingertip and began to burn letters into the wood. She slowly underlined her inscription, and the name, ‘Speedy,’ burst into flames.

  His buddy, Teli, had shown him some cool tricks but nothing like that. Maybe, she wasn’t such a demon after all.

  Lifting her appendage to her mouth, the android blew.

  Skeeter’s eyes grew large. “Brutish! How’d you do that?”