by David Poland
“Hey there, Mr. Paycheck,” said Jackson, “and you too Mr. dude, we got some work to do. Let’s see if we can turn this here modern art into a motorcycle.”
Dax and Angie, and even Demy, watched everything. Jackson asked Paycheck to remove the back tire and mount the new one. Demy immediately started to help Paycheck. Their four powerful robot hands made easy work of mounting the new tire.
Jackson directed Tommy and Carl to opposite sides of the steering fork and they helped him mount the front wheel.
“Look at that,” said Dax. “That wheel looks like it’s ganna fit!”
“It is,” said Jackson. “That Tommy is one lucky dude.”
At the same moment, Angie and Dax spotted the new seat still in its packing. Dax put it up on the bench and they unwrapped it together. They were careful not to scratch the leather-like synthetic that covered it.
Jackson inspected both of the tires and wheels. He grabbed the handlebars and made the bike roll forward and backward. He closed the grip for the front brake and felt it stop the front wheel. He lowered the kickstand and then stepped back looking at it. Everyone was silent. Jackson surveyed the machine from the front to the back as he remembered every single thing that had been done. The silence was making Tommy crazy.
Jackson finally exhaled, “I’m ready for the seat.”
Everyone, including the robots, cheered. Captain Dax brought him the seat like it was made of gold. “I hope it’ll fit,” said Daxy.
“My goodness,” said Jackson. “It’s a perfect fit.”
“You hear that! You hear that! You hear that! I got me a motorcycle!” Tommy couldn’t stand still as Jackson tightened the seat. “That there is a real motorcycle and it’s got real gasoline in it, and I got me a real license.”
“OK, dude, roll it outside. Let’s see if you can start it.”
Outside, Tommy straddled his bike and let it lean a little away from the kick-starter. “I know every single part on this here machine and they all workin’ just fine.” Nothing on the first, second, and third kick. Unfazed, he kicked in again and this time the gas fumes in the exhaust fired with a bang. Tommy smiled. He liked the noise and the foul smell. The third kick fired and the engine rumbled to life. He was now in control of ten, maybe twenty wild horses. It was noisy and he revved it up even more.
Jackson let his electric starter do the work for him and his bike came to life making very little noise.
With more confidence that he had any right to, Tommy sat down on his machine. He revved it up a bit more and released the clutch. The motorcycle engaged and started forward. “Oh yeah!” he yelled over the noise. Gaining speed he shifted gears and then he maxed the throttle. Jackson engaged his bike and leaning into a long curve, started after him. The two swampers tore up the pavement and disappeared off down the street.
Captain Dax and Angie looked at each other without saying a word. At this moment, there was no question. Tommy, with a little help from his friends, had won the game.