"Upgraded" Assignment 1 By: Erik Amill We open on a café where various people and very humanoid looking robots are gathering, talking, and working. The dress is very casual. We get the sense that this is the near future. We don't see people in crazy looking jump suits or weird looking stereotypical "Future Dress" outfits. We can tell the robots from the people by their build, so to speak. The robots in the room look just like everyone else save for an unnaturally pale color. The robots' forearms look like they are wrapped in a large cylinder. Their lower legs look similar though they fan out slightly at the bottom to an almost space suit style boot foot. Think MegaMan and Roll from the MegaMan series of games from Capcom. Come in close on one table in particular. A male robot - Bob - is sitting there drinking what looks to be a can of soda. He notices another male robot - Hal - coming into the café. Bob: (Stands up) Hey Hal! How are you doing today? Hal: (Walking towards Bob) Completely operational as always. Good to see you man! Bob and Hal shake hands and tap their shoulders together. Hal: (Pulls out a chair to sit) So... how have you been doing? Bob: Feeling a little... (Puts foot up on the table) Upgraded! Hal: (Surprised) Those are the new rocket boots from NNT right? Bob: (Puts his foot back on the floor) Yep. Saved up for a month for these puppies. Hal: I bet. How long did it take to install 'em? Bob: 13 hours. This was my longest one yet. Hal: Damn. But it was worth it right? Bob: (Looks down at his boots) Definitely. Hal: I've heard so much about those new boots. How do they feel? How do they ride? Bob: They're good, they're good. Low emission but still really high performance. I don't need to worry about extra fuel anymore because these babies hook right into my power supply. Hal: No kidding. That's gotta' take a toll on your battery right? Those things are supposed to do 120 miles per hour tops. Bob: That's what makes these boots so sick. Zero to sixty in four seconds with minimal power loss. I can go all day without a worry! Hal: Man, modern tech at its finest. Bob: (Stands up) See, that's not even the best part. Get a load of this! A dull roar comes from Bob's new boots as he begins to rise off the floor. Like the muffled sound of Harrier jet lifting itself off the ground. Bob: (Hovering a few inches off the ground) Stealth hover. Pretty boss huh? Hal: (Surprised) Dude that's sick! Rockin' it all military style. Damn I need a pair of those! Bob: (Smiling) It cost a little extra... but it is was worth it. The two make their way back to the table and sit. The two laugh while Bob hovers all the way back Hal: (Pointing at Bob's boots) So how's that office job of yours? I'm sure your boss will have something to say about those. Bob: (Pops open his soda) No problem. As long as I don't show off in the building I'm not violating company policy. Anyway, my boss is dying to see them too. Hey... last time I saw you, you were in between jobs right? Hal: Yeah. It took me a bit but I finally found a place with some decent pay. Bob: Where at? Hal: Dockside security for NNT. I start full time next week. Bob: (Nudges Hal with his elbow) Nice. I can picture you as a security guard too. Busting heads if someone got too close to the fence. (Laughs) Hal: (Smirks) Hey, laugh it up salary man. Just remember I get a 25% discount on any NNT upgrade I want. Bob: (Smiling) Like what? Hal: (Lifts his right arm) Like this little number I picked up for work... Hal's hand slides back into his forearm. In its place slides a short barrel. Bob: (Spit takes) Whoa! Hal: Oh yeah. You're not the only one with an upgrade. This little baby here is the latest in NNT light weaponry. (Pats his gun arm) I can do everything from stun a pedestrian all the way up to punching a man-sized hole in a cinder block wall. Bob: (A little scared) Isn't that a little much for a security guard? I mean... that's a lot of power man. Hal: Heck, this was standard issue! That dock sees a lot of cargo, ya' know. But its good right now. I have the safety on. The best it'll do is give you a shock. Bob: (Smirks) I bet you can't shock me. Hal: (Confused) What? Bob: Come on. You said it yourself - the safety is on and it can't do a thing. Come on an shock me! Hal: What?! No. I haven't had much practice with it yet and I could really put the hurt on you if I'm not careful. Bob: (Smiles) What's the worse that could happen right? Hal: (Shrugs) Okay man. Can't say I didn't warn ya'. (Aims at Bob) Goodbye. (Fires) A massive blast hits Bob and knocks him clear through the wall behind him. The recoil from the shot flips Hal back out of his chair. When the dust clears, all that's left of Bob in the café are his new boots. Hal: (Stands up) Hey Bob! You okay? Bob: (Props himself up off the ground, laughing) Damn! That was nuts! Hal: (Lifts up Bob's boots, smiling) Hey Bob, you forgot your new boots! The End