Stranger
{Follows Conversation and Revival}
Tipsy hadn’t been gone long when the stranger came walking down the street toward The Haven. He held an old, bulging briefcase in one hand, and his pink optics scanned the street uneasily. People were here—other robots. More than he had expected.
As Spectre, he had prepared for his revival by stashing the briefcase in a nearby abandoned building, along with some clothes. It wouldn’t do to just show up naked. No, no, no, no. He would happily blend in as long as it took to get Tipsy Tonic right where he wanted her.
Some of the robots loitering outside The Haven—no, it was The Oil Joint now, he reminded himself—looked at him as he passed, the duster rippling around his legs. He did not smile, though some nodded to him. Two robots were standing on the ramp, so he took the stairs, clomping downwards; he’d become used to gliding. The door was the same as it had always been, and the familiar weight made him smile despite himself.
He was not prepared for the bar to be as packed as it was, and it took a few moments of standing in the doorway and staring to compose himself.
No matter, he thought, stepping forward and keeping his briefcase close to his chassis. All the more to witness.
He slowed, recognizing a ‘bot sitting at a table…
Oh, yes. All the more to witness, indeed.
As he turned away, he noticed the miniature ‘bot jumping down off the table. He moved past a group a people and took a sly glance back, just in time to see TM duck out of sight.
She wanted to follow him? No matter. As long as she didn’t get in his way.
He took a few minutes to walk through the crowd and eavesdrop. Something, something about a judge, something about a court case… Something about the bar.
“Have you seen Tipsy Tonic?” He finally risked asking an antique looking ‘bot sitting at a table. They nodded.
“She left for the courthouse about half ago. Poor gal, them humes bullying her, but she put on a brave face for us. You missed her I take it?”
“It seems I have.”
“Well, I don’t imagine she’ll go anywhere save right back here. Just gotta wait for the shoe to drop.”
“I see. Thank you.”
He made his way to the counter and stood in front of the entry flap, thinking for a moment. He had to draw upon the correct… ‘personality.’ Then he lifted the hinged segment of the bar and stepped behind it, much to the shock of those around him.
“Wh—whoa, who’s this guy?”
“Uh, you can’t do that, dude.”
“Where’s Elijah?”
“Calm down, everybody,” he said easily, tucking the briefcase underneath the bar. “I used to work here! Who wants drinks?”
Most of the faces were skeptical, though a few looked piqued at the mention of drinks. And suddenly a giant serpent’s head rose up over the bar, her snout shoved into his face.
“Get out,” she growled. “You can’t be back there, you’re not allowed.”
Fortunately for him, he’d seen this particular ‘bot around town, though he had never stalked her the way he had many others. “You’re Elijah, right? Ms. Tonic’s new right hand?”
“That’s right! And I’m the only other person allowed back there besides Ms. T!” She began to reach for him, as if to pull him bodily over the counter, and he threw up his hands with a placating smile.
“5-7-6-2,” he said simply.
Elijah stopped.
“That’s the code for the safe, right?” he said quietly, so that only the two of them could hear. “It was while I was here. I can’t imagine she would change it. Does she still keep her ledgers under the floorboards in her room, too? How about the secret shelf, behind where she’s got that bottle of plane fuel? The pistol in the storage closet? The hidden stairwell from when this place was a speakeasy?”
“Who are you?” Elijah growled.
“I’m an old, old friend,” he said, pink eyes wide and innocent. “One Ms. T hasn’t seen in a long time. And I can’t wait to see her again.” When Elijah was silent, he continued. “You’re a good bouncer, Elijah. You could break me in half if you wanted to, but you know only people Tipsy trusts would know these things. Just like she trusts you.” He smiled. “If you’re really worried about me messing things up back here, why don’t you join me? I can tell you all about the good old days. And you can tell me how a marvel such as yourself came to grace our humble city. I’m dying to know, really.”
Elijah was quiet, and then, slowly, she climbed over the bar herself.
“What’s your name?” she said loudly. “So everybody knows who you are.”
His smile widened.
“Call me Connie. All my friends do.”
