Blik-0 1946 (2 page)

 "Pick myself…up?"

 "Yeah. Why, it just so happens that I was on my way to have some fun when I bumped into you. You could come along."

 Led by Sly, Blik-0 saw street performers, watched movies, and visited the markets, all for the very first time. Who knew there was this much fun to be had out in the wide world?

 "So, what do you want to do tomorrow?"

 "Have more fun!"

 "More fun it is! And I know just the place!"

 And Blik-0 gambled.

 And drank liquor.

 And smoked cigars.

Act 7

 After a few days, however, Blik-0 grew homesick.

 "Thank you for the fun, Sly, but I must go now."

 "Go? Where to?"

 "Home."

 "You can't go back there!"

 "I can't?"

 "No, we're heading to a new town. Just the two of us."

 "But the doctor is waiting."

 "The doctor? He's not waiting for anyone."

 "He's not?"

 "The old man sold you to me for a few marks."

 "But he would never sell me! Never! He loves me!"

 "Loves you? But you're made of tin! Humans can't love dolls!"

 "They can't?"

 "So just forget about the old man. We can go someplace where we can have fun every day!"

 "No! I won't! Doctor Mabuse would never sell me. You are a liar!"

 "Button it, doll! Get over here, now!"

 "No!"

 "I'm not going to tell you again!"

 "Stop it!"

 Blik-0 was only trying to free himself of Sly's grasp…

 But Blik-0 was originally designed for battle. His strength was far greater than that of any human. Hurled to the ground like a ragdoll, Sly whimpered and then lay very still.

 "What was that!?"

 "What happened?"

 "What on earth is going on here?"

 A great crowd of people had gathered to see what all the commotion was about.

 "I saw it with my own two eyes! That strange little doll knocked down that poor young man!"

 "He spun twice in the air before hitting the ground, honest!"

 "Somebody call the authorities!"

 The crowd surrounded Blik-0, inching closer and closer.

 "Get back!"

 "It talked!"

 "The doll talked!"

 "Who ever heard of a talking doll!?"

 "Ahhhhhhhhh!"

 Blik-0 screamed as he pushed his way through the mob and ran off into the city.

Act 8

 With nowhere to go, Blik-0 wandered the streets in a daze. When it grew late, the little robot stopped to gaze at the setting sun, far off on the horizon…

 "Being human is hard.

 I scared away my best friend.

 I made the doctor sad.

 I hurt Sly.

 My heart aches so.

 Why did the doctor make me?

 Did he really try to sell me?

 If he wanted to sell me, why was he so kind to me in the first place?

 The more I learn, the less I understand. Why would anyone want to be human?"

Act 9

 "Blik! Blik! Where are you? Oh, won't you come home, Blik!?"

 While Blik-0 was gone, not a night went by when Dr. Mabuse didn't go looking for the little robot. But this night was different. This night, it rained. And being cold and wet was bad for the old man's health.

 Suddenly, a voice called out from the gloom.

 "You are a very hard man to find, Dr. Mabuse. Now, give us what we came for."

 Dr. Mabuse's eyes widened in horror. Soldiers! Wasting no time, he turned on his heels and ran as fast as his aching legs would carry him.  But the doctor's ailing heart soon gave out, and he fell to the ground, where the soldiers soon found him.

 "A man your age should really be more careful. Now, let us return to the laboratory."

 But as the soldiers tried to lift the doctor to his feet, a solitary figure emerged from the shadows.

 "Let him go."

 It was Puppe!

 "This is none of your business, fräulein. Now step aside if you know what's good for you."

 "Don't make me ask you again, or…or…"

 "Or what?"

 "Or you'll regret it!"

 "Well, aren't you a feisty little thing!"

 "I said, let the doctor go!"

 "That's enough. Out of the way!"

 With a cruel kick of the soldier's boot, Puppe went flying into a nearby wall, hitting her head against the bare bricks.

 "If you'd only liste─ Wh-what are you?"

 "Let him go…him go…him go…him…go…let…go…him…"

 Puppe's chest swung open to reveal a machine gun…and it began to fire.

 That's right. Young Puppe was a robot, too, built by the doctor and brought to the village when he fled from the army.

Act 10

 Blik-0 had finally made it back home, but his head remained cluttered with unanswered questions.

 Why does my heart ache so?

 Why can I not think straight?

 Why did the doctor make me?

 Questions that only the doctor could answer. But where was he? Maybe the letter on table could tell him…

 Dear Blik-0

 If you're reading this, it means you're finally home. I always knew you would come back. Thank you. You've made me so happy. I'm going out to look for you now, but decided to leave you this message in case anything happens to me while I'm away. My heart is growing weaker by the day, and I don't believe I have long left. That's why I must tell you this now, while I am still able.

As my observations of you are incomplete, and the data I have collected inconclusive, I believe there is a chance that you may be led astray if you meet with the wrong people. I speak specifically of the men from the army. If they were to find you, I fear they would make you serve evil. This is why I must ask that you obey one last order: Blik, if I die, you are never to talk or move again. You and Puppe will both sit and live here in silence. Do you understand?

 Lastly, allow me to apologize for comparing you to a doll. It does not matter to me that your body is made of tin, or that your brain was assembled in my laboratory. You are my one and only son, and I love you more than anything.

 "Doctor! Doctor! My heart! It aches! I must let you know, but I do not know how!"

 Blik-0 could not stop trembling.

Act 11

 Bang! Crash!

 The front door flew open, letting in the worst of the storm.

 "Blik!"

 Puppe was carrying the doctor.

 "Puppe! Doctor!"

 "Blik, the doctor needs help!"

 "Doctor! Are you all right? I am sorry! I am sorry! I was wrong!"

 "There will be time for apologies later! We must first do something about the doctor's heart!"

 "Doctor! Do not die! Please do not die! Do something, Puppe!"

 "Blik! Are you programmed to perform field surgery?"

 "Field…surgery?"

 "Take my heart…"

 "Puppe!"

 "…and put it in place…of…the doctor's…"

 "Puppe! What is wrong with you?"

 "Brain circuitry damaged… I'm sorry I lied to you, Blik… I'm a robot…too."

 "A robot!?"

 "I was built to protect the doctor."

 "But you can't be!"

 "We…must hurry! Take my heart!"

 "But I can't! I don't know how! Can you, Puppe?"

 "It is in…my programming…yes."

 "Then give the doctor my heart!"

 "But…you'll…"

 "If it means saving the doctor, I don't care!"

 "Blik…"

 "I can still be his doll. That's enough."

 "…"

 "Puppe! Hurry! Hurry!"

Act 12

 The doctor finally opened his eyes. How long had it been since that fateful night? Both Puppe and Blik-0 sat in the corner of the room, silent and unmoving. Blik-0's chest panel open, Puppe's wires dangling from her head…

 It did not take the doctor long to realize what had happened.

 "You gave your lives to save me. When did your hearts become so pure? Oh, thank you! Thank you so much! How you have grown! What I wouldn't give to have you know how important the two of you are to me. I love you, and not being able to tell you pains me so!"