To Win His Heart

After her sister took one and started munching, the panel closed.

“So where are you taking us?”

“To the mother ship.”

“Why?”

“To talk of new possibilities.”

At this point her heart had jumped to her throat. “It’s too late for that. Your master destroyed the world I live in.”

“There are other worlds.”

“I’m talking about the human world. The only one I want. You know. Emotions. Hearts. Souls. Flesh. Blood. Guts. Tears. All that good stuff.”

“My master made a mistake in judgment.”

“I thought the masters of your universe couldn’t calculate incorrectly. It just goes to show you everything I ever believed in is a myth.”

“He wants another chance to restore your faith.”

“Faith? Such a word isn’t part of that madman’s vocabulary. He’s just a robot like you.”

“Cog does not know what robot means. Please explain.”

“Take a good look at your master and you’ll have your answer.”

“I only obey him. He has ordered me to bring you to him.”

“That’s too bad. I’m not going.”

“I must produce you.”

“What happens if you don’t?”

“He will self destruct, and that will be the end of Cog.”

“Don’t worry about it. You’re no great shakes. I know a robot that can drive two thousand miles through enemy lines delivering medicine.”

“He said you would be difficult.”

“Yeah, well he doesn’t know the half of it!”

“Give in,” Piper whispered. “Can’t you see he’s dying?”

Piper was such a romantic. That was because of her artistic genes. “You’re just like mother.”

“That’s not such a bad thing you know,” Piper muttered in a hurt voice. “She had Daddy eating out of her hand.”

“I’d rather be eating out of Cog’s hand. What do you have for dessert? I might be willing to negotiate a few terms if you’ve got something chocolate.”

Another panel on Olivia’s side flew up to reveal a plate of them. She reached for a dark chocolate truffle and bit into it.

“Hmm. That’s yummy. Here, Piper. This one’s milk chocolate.”

“Do you wish anything else?”

“Not for now, Cog.”