Robot 55

A shift of air currents as the tunnel opens onto a colossal cave. A raised hand to protect from the glare of countless lights. The suspended walkway vibrates underfoot, just one in a maze of steel tubing intersecting at different heights. Hulking shapes looming at either hand, framed by the harsh glare from below.

Staircase landings coming together to form a small platform. A group of young people in red jumpsuits standing or sitting with bottles in hand. One of them, a girl, shifts her legs to make way, looking on with bleary eyes.

"New guy, eh?" she asks slowly. "Let's see how long you last. Down that way, and keep to you left for two more levels."

"What was that about?" inquires someone as the group remains behind.

"They gave him Robot 55."

"Ah," resumes the first voice. "That's too bad, he's cute."

The voices fade away among the growing noise of cutting and welding. The stairs end at the side of a wider walkway. Then it comes into focus: a human torso as tall as a house, flanked by thick arms; on top, a strong neck supports the head, from which a pair of burning eyes look down on the passer-by with an impenetrable expression. Flat, shiny armor panels are open here and there, revealing the machinery inside.

"Majestic, isn't it." The graying man seems to come out of nowhere. His brown jumpsuit is barely a shade darker than his skin. "Oh, don't look at me like that, there's no curse. Those hotheads back there were messing with you."

The young man runs a hand through his spiky hair. "You heard?"

"Just a guess, knowing them. I'm Ahmed, by the way. What's your name, blondie?"

"Roy." They shook hands. "So, you're my mechanic?"

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