Chapter 12 · Continued
Piston
“Wireless connection established,” it announced. “Thank you, Jane. I am now fully operational and ready to assist you.”
Chris folded his arms. “That sentence is concerning.”
The robot turned toward him. “Concern has been noted.”
Jane laughed and sat on the couch while Seymour cautiously jumped down to inspect the new arrival.
The robot lowered one utility arm toward him.
Seymour sniffed it once, then rubbed his face against it.
“Well,” Jane said. “You passed inspection.”
“This pleases me.”
Jane thought for a moment. “All right. Important question.”
The robot’s animated eyes widened attentively.
“What is your name? Do you have one?”
“My official designation is RCAM Home Companion Unit HCU-4.”
Chris immediately made a face. “Absolutely not.”
Jane nodded. “Yeah. We’re not calling you Hiccup Four.”
The robot processed this. “I am capable of accepting a personalized name.”
Chris grinned. “This is dangerous.”
Jane leaned forward and studied the little machine while Seymour sat beside it like a furry adviser.
“Hmm.”
The robot waited patiently.
After a moment, it added, “Cam predicted that you would rename me within the first hour.”
Jane and Chris looked at it.
Chris pointed dramatically. “See? He absolutely programmed this thing.”
“Some terrifying robot uprising,” Jane said, settling back against the couch. “He’s adorable.”
“Very,” Chris replied, looking directly at her instead of the robot.
As he passed, he gave her a playful smack on the butt.
Jane jumped. “Chris!”
Then she stopped and pointed toward the little robot.
“Wait.”
The robot’s screen face had shifted to a soft pink.
It was blushing.
Jane and Chris stared for half a second before bursting into laughter.
“Oh my God,” Chris wheezed. “It got embarrassed.”
“I did not anticipate that interaction,” the robot admitted.
The blush deepened.
Jane laughed until tears formed in her eyes. “Okay. We definitely need to give you a proper name.”
The robot’s eyes brightened. “I am prepared to receive a designation.”
Chris snapped his fingers. “What about Piston?”
The little robot became still.
Then soft processing chirps and happy electronic blips rose from inside its shell.
“I find that designation appealing.”
Chris pointed triumphantly. “Yes!”
Jane laughed. “All right. Your name is Piston.”
The robot’s screen face brightened.
“Hello. I am Piston.”
After a brief pause, he added, “I believe this household may become highly chaotic.”
Chris grinned. “Oh, buddy.”
“You have no idea,” Jane finished.
After they cleared away the mountain of packing foam, bubble wrap, and restraint straps—and moved the enormous crate into the garage—the front porch looked normal again.