scan around and saw that no neighbors were watching him. It was dark, and so he was well hidden, outside of the glow cast by the porch light. He was thankful that it was still early enough in the night that security systems probably weren’t turned on yet.
Then came a loud, mechanical roar from Baggs right, and he jumped back so fast that he almost fell over. He whipped his head around and saw with relief that the noise was only someone in a nearby house leaving in their helicopter.
A cold wind kissed Baggs’s sweat-drenched face. He watched the helicopter rising higher into the sky, and for a moment considered turning around and just heading home.
No! This is my last night with her and she wants cake!
Baggs made it to the trash receptacle and looked around once more for anyone watching—no one. He opened up the lid and saw the cake, still in its plastic container. It had been bought at the grocery store three days ago, and didn’t expire until tomorrow.
Baggs felt a grin of joy come on his face as he thought of Olive tasting the cake. He would tell Tessa that some client gave it to Greggor and he didn’t want it because he’s on a diet.
And maybe if I can keep stealing food like this, I won’t have to enter Outlive.
The cake was beautiful. The icing was thick, and decorated with balloons made of sugar. Baggs almost laughed with joy as he reached toward the container.
Then, he felt something tear at his left arm and he was brought to the ground with enough force to make him lose his breath. He screamed as something needle-sharp tore and tugged at his left shoulder. Instinctually, he balled his right hand into a fist and struck the thing that was making him bleed. His hand struck something solid, unmoving, and strong.
Lights flicked on in yards and inside of windows all around Rolling Gardens. A spotlight came on above him and illuminated the side yard as though it was daylight. He screamed again, tried to get up, and was subdued.
Baggs turned his head and felt all hope drain from him. The thing that was restraining him was a K9. Not wanting to be hurt further, he lay down on the rocks and submitted to the robot, saying, “I give up. I’m laying down.”
K9s were robotic dogs. Many of them were used in the military, by police forces, and, as in the case of the one biting Baggs, for home security. Baggs had to consciously remind himself that the thing was not an animal; it looked so incredibly alive, and closely resembled the appearance of a Rottweiler.
The K9’s ‘skin’ was black, well oiled leather that reminded Baggs of a baseball glove. Thick leather stitching ran tightly up different parts of its body, holding the robot’s outermost layer in place. The eyes were white, lubricated spheres with dark brown irises that opened and closed to alter the amount of light let inside the visual processing components of the computer by way of black pupils. The K9 had whiskers made of metal antennas. Its teeth were made of shiny titanium that was currently covered with Baggs’s blood. As Baggs stared at the animal, he thought that the creepiest, most lifelike thing the robot did was breathe. Beneath the leather exterior, the mechanical chest rose and fell with each inhalation and exhalation. The breath came out of the robot’s nose and onto Baggs’s face. The breath was actually warm, and smelled like dog food. The robot was growling menacingly, and even though Baggs was lying still, the K9 refused to let up its bite. Baggs estimated that the robot dog weighed one hundred fifty pounds. He looked down at its claws and saw that they, like the teeth, were titanium.
Then came a loud, mechanical roar from Baggs right, and he jumped back so fast that he almost fell over. He whipped his head around and saw with relief that the noise was only someone in a nearby house leaving in their helicopter.
A cold wind kissed Baggs’s sweat-drenched face. He watched the helicopter rising higher into the sky, and for a moment considered turning around and just heading home.
No! This is my last night with her and she wants cake!
Baggs made it to the trash receptacle and looked around once more for anyone watching—no one. He opened up the lid and saw the cake, still in its plastic container. It had been bought at the grocery store three days ago, and didn’t expire until tomorrow.
Baggs felt a grin of joy come on his face as he thought of Olive tasting the cake. He would tell Tessa that some client gave it to Greggor and he didn’t want it because he’s on a diet.
And maybe if I can keep stealing food like this, I won’t have to enter Outlive.
The cake was beautiful. The icing was thick, and decorated with balloons made of sugar. Baggs almost laughed with joy as he reached toward the container.
Then, he felt something tear at his left arm and he was brought to the ground with enough force to make him lose his breath. He screamed as something needle-sharp tore and tugged at his left shoulder. Instinctually, he balled his right hand into a fist and struck the thing that was making him bleed. His hand struck something solid, unmoving, and strong.
Lights flicked on in yards and inside of windows all around Rolling Gardens. A spotlight came on above him and illuminated the side yard as though it was daylight. He screamed again, tried to get up, and was subdued.
Baggs turned his head and felt all hope drain from him. The thing that was restraining him was a K9. Not wanting to be hurt further, he lay down on the rocks and submitted to the robot, saying, “I give up. I’m laying down.”
K9s were robotic dogs. Many of them were used in the military, by police forces, and, as in the case of the one biting Baggs, for home security. Baggs had to consciously remind himself that the thing was not an animal; it looked so incredibly alive, and closely resembled the appearance of a Rottweiler.
The K9’s ‘skin’ was black, well oiled leather that reminded Baggs of a baseball glove. Thick leather stitching ran tightly up different parts of its body, holding the robot’s outermost layer in place. The eyes were white, lubricated spheres with dark brown irises that opened and closed to alter the amount of light let inside the visual processing components of the computer by way of black pupils. The K9 had whiskers made of metal antennas. Its teeth were made of shiny titanium that was currently covered with Baggs’s blood. As Baggs stared at the animal, he thought that the creepiest, most lifelike thing the robot did was breathe. Beneath the leather exterior, the mechanical chest rose and fell with each inhalation and exhalation. The breath came out of the robot’s nose and onto Baggs’s face. The breath was actually warm, and smelled like dog food. The robot was growling menacingly, and even though Baggs was lying still, the K9 refused to let up its bite. Baggs estimated that the robot dog weighed one hundred fifty pounds. He looked down at its claws and saw that they, like the teeth, were titanium.
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