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anawkwardperson22 · 3 months ago

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The Electric State WIP snippet

So I am all over the place with my writing for the Electric State. I wanted to take a break and hold off until I can get the book first. Unfortunately, I've been to 5 bookstores already and I still cant find it. I'm probably going to order it online. Until then, however, I decided to post a snippet from my wip, since there isn't much fanfiction written yet.

It's basically a mix of the movie and the book (from what I know so far). I own nothing except one OC, lol.

There was a random kid with a small little bot trying to break into Gabby's truck.

Perhaps the wise thing would be confronting the girl. Maybe even scaring them off with some shouting and threatening them with an (empty) shotgun. Instead, Gabby remained inside her home, staring through the window while drinking some tea.

Honestly, she wanted to see how far the kid will go.

It had been awhile Gabby seen another person; she lived far in a ruined countryside, littered with the remains of the war. Anyone still around is either wasting away with a Neurocaster, or is overly hostile and trying to steal Gabby's crops. Now that's when she can use the shotgun. Not on some kid.

The girl in question jerked away from the truck, waving her arms in protest and threw something to the ground. Apparently the file she was using had broke. The bot - with its familiar yellow and black, cartoon-ish design - glanced between the girl and the file on the ground. It took a step towards the car and reached for the handle. In one effortless pull, the door jacked open. Stepping back, it exchanged a bewildered look with the girl.

They seem harmless enough, Gabby thought with a snort. She took another sip of her tea.

Eagerly, they both climbed into the truck. The girl bent down and started fiddling with what Gabby suspected to be wires. She's trying to hotwire the car, she realized, an amused smile twitching on her face. Gabby almost felt sorry for them.

Almost. Maybe I should go tell them that the truck broke down years ago. Frowning, Gabby shook her head. Wait, no. It's not my problem. They want to steal a truck? Let them fail.

Taking her time to finish the tea, Gabby watched the strangers struggle to work the truck. However, Gabby soon found herself setting the mug in the kitchen counter, and unlocked her front door. She was then on the porch.

The air was chilly and sky gloomily. Looks like rain again, Gabby though, buttoning up her sweater. A loud swear caught Gabby's attention back to the strangers. The girl was now hitting the dashboard of the truck, shouting something unintelligent. Beside her, the robot was curiously looking through the cupholders and sleeves.

Now or never, I guess, Gabby thought, crossing her arms. Why am I even here again? When had it been the last time she talked to someone? Civilly, at least. Not the weird guy trying to steal her carrots. Either way, Gabby had enough of people. There is no reason for her to talk to these weirdos trying to steal her broken truck. But I feel bad. That's why I'm here, I guess. Okay, fine.

Taking a deep breath, Gabby called out to them. "Hey!"

Both girl and bot froze. The girl stared at Gabby with wide eyes, while the bot slowly peered over her shoulder.

"Why are you trying to steal my truck?" Gabby asked.

Glancing back at the bot, the girl adjusted her position to hide it. Then she stared daggers at Gabby, as if she were the one stealing the truck.

"I'm not trying to steal your truck," she called back, haughty.

Ha, yeah right. "Really? Then what are you doing in my truck?"

"None of your business!"

"Are you even old enough to drive?"

The girl blinked. "Yes!"

"Do you even know how to drive?"

"Yes."

"Do you even have a drivers license?"

The girl deflated a bit, glancing away. "Yes?"

"Do you even know if that truck has worked in the last three years?"

"It's... broken?" the girl glanced at the dashboard. "It's broken. Great."

Gabby grinned. "You wanna come out of my truck now?"

Slowly, the girl climbed out of the truck. She reached in and pulled the bot out after her. Taking a step away from the truck, they stared at her, the bot grasping the girls arm as she stood protectively in front of it - an odd sight. Gabby hadn't seen a human and robot co-exist side-by-side like this since before the war.

"So, who are you?" Gabby asked. "I'm Gabriela, or Gabby for short."

The girl eyed her suspiciously.

"I'm not trying anything," Gabby said. "I just wanna know who's stealing my truck."

"I wasn't trying - " the girl stopped herself and took a deep breath. "Fine. Michelle."

"How about your friend?" Gabby asked, inclining her head towards the robot. "What's his name?"

The bot's head jerked up towards her. "I'm your pal Cosmo!"

At the same time, Michelle's said. "He's my brother!"

Blinking, Gabby leaned back to stare at Michelle. From her fierce expression and tensed body, she is telling the truth or she really means it. It reminded Gabby of before the war, a tv news channel shared a story of a woman falling in love with a cooking bot. Gabby laughed about it with a friend at the time.

"Your... brother," Gabby said, slowly. "Okay... Why is your brother a robot?"

"None of your business," Michelle snapped.

"We're escaping from the enemy's base!" said 'Cosmo'.

Turn her attention to Cosmo, Gabby's pondered. It wouldn't be possible for a person to become a robot - at least, not in any way Gabby knew of. However, a more likely explanation, Michelle's brother could be controlling the robot.

Gabby's heart sank at a realization. Neurocaster. During the war, humanity struggled against to fight the robots. However, a company, Sentre, developed a technology that allowed humans to pilot drones, helping humanity to eventually win the war. With the success of this technology, Sentre went out to sell Neurocasters to the public, letting people live in a virtual world. Very quickly, people got addicted. Before anyone could realize, people were soon stuck in their virtual lives, their bodies left behind and suffering, rotting.

Gabby use to have neighbors in the field over. But when the Neurocaster came out, they decided to try it out. When they stopped trading Gabby eggs, she went over to check on them, only to find her neighbors decaying on their porch. The chickens were scattered.

Gabby couldn't eat that day. Does she realize? Gabby thought, glancing at Michelle. Realize?

"Look... kid, you shouldn't be here," Gabby said, glancing at Cosmo. "Both of you shouldn't. This place is dangerous; literally a no man's land from the war. Lots of bad groups of people. Lots of angry, decaying robots. Both can and will hurt you if they can."

"If this place is so dangerous," Michelle pointed out. "Why are you here?"

Fear and guilt stabbed Gabby, but she ignored it. "I'm trying to... avoid people."

"What people?"

"Just... people in general."

A smirk spread on Michelle's face. "Police?"

A flash of a gun on the back of Gabby's head made her freeze. No. She forced into a box and left it in the back of her head. I'm not answering that, Gabby thought, shaking her head to push the memory away. This kid is getting to me. Fuck it. Gabby took a step away. This isn't my problem. Just let them do whatever.

A distant booming of thunder grabbed Gabby's attention. Cosmo made a startled noise, grabbing Michelle's hand again, who turned back to whisper: "It's okay."

For the first time, Gabby took notice Michelle's dirty, ripped clothes. Her blonde hair looked in good need of brushing, and her face was a little pale with bags under her eye. The bot didn't look to good either: it was covered in dirt and scratches, as if someone ran it over in the rain.

The worlds in a shit state right now, Gabby thought. Of course everyone is going to look like shit. But comparing herself with these kids, it was obvious Gabby had it better off.

"You wanna come inside?" Gabby slowly asked. "I have some carrot soup."

"What?" Michelle asked, eyes widening.

"It's going to rain and I'm not heartless enough to send some kids out into the wilderness with... nothing."

"Woah, woah, woah! You could be dangerous," Michelle snapped. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

Crossing her arms, Michelle stared at Gabby defiantly. Beside her, Cosmo glanced between them in an unsure manner. Already Michelle's attitude was getting tiresome. Fine then. I don't know anything about this kid. I don't need to care.

"Alright," Gabby said, raising her hands in defeat and starting back to the cabin. "Then you can get out of here. Why should I care?"

As Gabby reached the door, Cosmo said: "We gotta take shelter from the meteor shower!"

She ignored it and went inside, closing and locking the door behind her. A moment later, the sound of rain pelted on the roof - a very soothing sound. It was followed by a knock at the door. Staring at it, Gabby considered not answering. But morals got the better of her, so Gabby opened it with a sigh.

"Fine," Michelle muttered, now drenched in rain and defeated gloom darkened on her face. Cosmo stood behind her, hands clasped together in a polite, patient manner.

By the time the thunder followed the rain, Gabby had warmed up the carrot stew and served Michelle at the small kitchen table. Michelle had insisted on giving Cosmo a bowl. Despite Gabby's better judgement, she gave him a bowl to be included.

Letting Michelle eat the soup, Gabby cleaned some older dishes and dried them. Before she could put them back in the cupboards, Cosmo appeared beside her, hands lifted up towards her. Tilting her head, Gabby gave him a mug. He carefully walked to a cupboard and put it away.

That's sweet, Gabby thought, smiling. At least one of the two had some manners. After they put the dishes away, she turned back to Michelle who finished the stew.

Deciding to try talking to her again, Gabby said: "Alright, listen: I'm going to be real with you, kid. I honestly haven't seen anyone in a long time and don't really know what to think about this. It really is dangerous here. What are you doing? Are you running from someone? Hiding?"

Michelle tensed and gritted her teeth. "None of your business."

"Is she always like this?" Gabby asked Cosmo.

The bot nodded, shoulders slumping in exasperation.

"Why do you care so much?" Michelle demanded.

"Maybe because you tried to steal my truck and I won't to know why?"

Cosmo came to Michelle and patted her hand. They exchanged a look, Michelle's face softening. Maybe they are running from the police, Gabby thought. During the war, harboring a robot got many people arrested - even if it was a sentient Roomba. Now that the war was over and society was scattered, it could now be a death sentence. It didn't matter if Cosmo was being controlled or not, people will still destroy him.

"Are you in trouble with some police?" Gabby asked, nodding at Cosmo. "Because of your brother."

Michelle's hands curled up into fists. "Yeah," she said quietly. "But he didn't do anything wrong."

There we go. "I understand. Some people don't."

"Are you in trouble?" Michelle asked, finally looking up. "Because I didn't think anyone lived so far from the cities anymore."

Gabby considered her options. She could lie or refuse to speak. But, she's finally getting Michelle to open up. It would only be fair to give back.

"Yes," Gabby nodded. "I was in trouble. I don't know if I still am now, but I'd rather stay away anyways."

"What did you do?"

Gabby tapped the counter, wondering how much exactly to share. "Lets just say... I was a robot sympathizer."

Michelle frowned. "Robot sympathizer?"

"Before the war. I, uh, I was a robotic mechanic. I studied robot engineering and got a job at an amusement park, working closely with robots. When the protests started, I sympathized with the robots I worked with."

"Really?" Michelle leaned on the table. Cosmo also leaned against it, interested. "Everyone I've met hates them. You thought they deserved human status and rights?"

"Well... lets just say that once I had this teacher, and she made a comment that I think about sometimes. She said: 'if you're giving a robot artificial intelligence, aka, the ability to simulate human intelligence, don't be surprise if they start acting like a human'. And what happened? Robots started acting human. Too human. I literally saw a robot have a breakdown because he hated making hotdogs and wanted to be a pianist instead. Hold on."

Gabby left the kitchen and opened the closet in the hallway. Rummaging through the boxes, she took one out and brought it to the kitchen. Opening it, she pulled out some photos, passing one too Michelle. Cosmo peered into the box.

"They were my friends," Gabby said. "I knew them very well. Didn't you know any robots?"

"I was young," Michelle admitted, taking another photo. "My brother... we use to watch this show of Kid Cosmo."

Gabby glanced at Cosmo, finally regonizing where he was from. A cartoon before the war about a robot and his human pal, Jesse. It was popular until the whole situation of the robots.

"Is that..." Michelle's brows furrowed. "The robot that destroyed the memorial?"

Flinching, Gabby took the photo from Michelle and stared at it. It was a photo of Gabby and her coworkers, all smiling and hugging each other. Behind them, a giant blue, cat robot was peering down, waving. A mixture of guilt and fear swirled in her gut, but Gabby also forced it into a box and moved on.

She could easily remember coming to work that morning - she was running late and spilled coffee on the way. By the time Gabby got to work, she found her coworkers huddled over a small tv in the employee lounge. There, they all watched in horror at live footage of Big Blue destroying two helicopters while the vandalizes memorial was in the background.

Unsurprisingly, the park closed after that.

"I - we didn't think he'd..." Gabby waved a hand, gritting her teeth. "It was a surprise. No one thought he'd do that."

Michelle eyed her. "Were you still a robot empathizer then?"

"It was complicated."

Cosmo lifted up a little plush of the cat bot, looking at Gabby with what she'd assume as a quizzical look. Grimacing, Gabby took it from him and put it in the box.

"What about you?" Gabby asked. "What did you think about... the war?"

Looking away, Michelle took a deep breath. "I don't care. I'm just trying to find my brother." She glanced at Cosmo. "I thought he died a long time ago, but then he showed up as Cosmo and told me he was still alive. I'm looking for him."

Pieces fell together, making sense. "You think he's out there somewhere?"

"I know he is."

Glancing at Cosmo, Gabby's heart sank. "If he's controlling this little robot, wouldn't that mean he's using a Neurocaster - "

"No!" Michelle got up. "He's too smart for that!"

"Calm down. I'm just saying - "

"He's all I have left," Michelle said abruptly. "I'm not giving up on him!"

They stared at each other for a silent moment. Any civility they had, gone. Between them, Cosmo glanced back and forth. I better leave it then, Gabby thought, reluctantly looking away.

Collecting the box, Gabby went back to the closet and put it back. When she came back, she offered Michelle the couch (the cabin didn't have an extra bedroom) and a towel to use the washroom.

"You can stay for the night," Gabby told her. "At least until the rain stops."

Without a 'thank you', or even any word, Michelle took the towel and went to the washroom.

With Michelle in the washroom, Cosmo explored Gabby's cabin, taking interest in small robot parts that she collected over the years. Watching him made Gabby imagine a little boy, rotting away in some dark room with an oversized Neurocaster covering his head. Stomach turning, Gabby forced the image away and went back to the kitchen.

The situation is horrible. Unsettling. Sad.

It's not my problem, Gabby forced herself to think. Stay out of it. She leaned against the counter and watched the rain fall, taking moment to enjoy the sound of it hitting the roof. It's not my problem.

But she knew she was going to end up giving them food; she had more the enough carrots to spare. Maybe a jacket too. If Michelle shares where they are going, she'll give a map too. Maybe... Fuck. Groaning, Gabby rubbed her face.

By the morning, she knew she was going to end up leading them across this patch of land. But that's it. That's it...

#the electric state #robot #Michelle #Cosmo #Fanfiction #writing

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