Teafop, ch 1 (the other one was ch 0, but it was important)
Surprise! I had enough time to whip up another chapter before I left for a week! Woo hoo!
Teafop: A Tale About Coffee
A note about the name of the story:
The name of the story is a bit misleading. Despite its name, Teafop, the story has nothing to do with tea, and coffee isn't exactly central to the plot (although it is still a story about coffee). Teafop is an acronym for "The Ebb and Flow of Power," and the fact that its acronym contains the word Tea is a coincidence, but it made for a good pun since the story has a lot to do with coffee (Actually, the pun is visual only, because the name is pronounced Taya-fop). Also, the name itself, "The Ebb and Flow of Power" is also a coincidence, but you'll find out about that later.
Chapter one
Robot model Ess-Double Zero-Kay walked through the open door of the shop that he went to every morning. The occurrences ad Haberdasher Café were an everyday thing for him. Hovering past the full tables, he approached the counter. "Gimme the regular, Aich-Man!"
Mr. Haberdasher was not amused. "Whatever, Sook." He already had it ready, the "regular" thing Sook always ordered, an iced coffee with two sugars, and a little packet of coffee beans. These little packets were made by "popular demand," that is Sook requested them every day until Mr. Haberdasher had begun providing them.
Sook grabbed the iced coffee and the packet and hovered toward a seat.
"Lemme guess… 'put it on your tab,' right?"
"Yep," Sook said, sitting down and tearing open the packet of beans.
"And…" Mr. H began, pausing to draw out the word, "When will you be paying this very large 'tab' you owe me?"
Sook frowned a moment, then sipped, munched, and smiled. "Mr. H, I've been over this with you a hundred times. I'm a robot, see?"
"Yeah, I'd gathered as much," Mr. Haberdasher said, filling another patron's order.
"So I have like, ten thousand years of life or more, depending on whether or not there's anyone around to perform maintenance."
"And why they'd prolong your life, I don't know," Mr. Haberdasher muttered under his breath.
"So, with a lifespan that long, my probability generators tell me there's no way I'll live that long without striking it rich at least once!"
Mr. Haberdasher frowned with a passionate look of indifference. "And, when you're rolling in the dough, and I'm under six feet of dirt, how will you pay me?"
"Don't sweat it," Sook said, grinning. "I gotcha covered. If you're dead, I'll just forward the payment to your closest relative!"
"Whole lotta good that does me," Mr. Haberdasher grumbled. "But, if you'll excuse me, I have to serve my paying customers now."
"By all means, good sir!" Sook said, munching on the beans. "I don't mind at all!"
After about ten minutes of sipping coffee and watching the news on the small TV in the shop, Sook's coffee was gone, and so too was he. He left the coffee shop and began to hover slowly skyward seconds before the news was interrupted.
"We interrupt this broadcast for a special news report." All heads in the coffee shop turned with energy powered by caffeine to look at the TV, having been alerted by the deep voice and urgent music.
The screen faded from the words "special report" into footage from outer space around the planet, showing debris floating around. "This footage is coming to you live from orbit around Banaland, where the planet's orbital defense facility has been destroyed just moments ago."
Everyone in the shop panicked.
"Did he say Banaland?"
"Yes, I think he did!"
"That mean's we're vulnerable!"
"We can be attacked!"
"Everybody run to a bus stop, we've got to get off planet!"
Most of the customers ran off, but Mr. Haberdasher and a few stood transfixed, staring at the TV.
"The station was destroyed just moments ago by an explosion. Hundreds of people around the planet called us, all reporting different things about the explosion. It is thought that the explosion was caused from within, because the shields of the station were thought to be able to resist attack from any modern weapon. Authorities are investigating the explosion now, but all bussing and transportation to and from the planet is temporarily suspended. We will have more on this as details unfold."
A short while later, another piece of data came over the TV. "A log of entrances and exits from the station has been found intact," came a female voice. "According to the data, all personnel were on the station at the time of the explosion with only one exception. A small maintenance robot was on his daily trip to the planet. His serial number was Ess, Zero, Zero, Kay."
Mr. Haberdasher's jaw dropped. He didn't know Sook was a maintenance bot on the defense station! He listened and watched intently as the reporter continued. "The robot, known as 'Sook,' returned to the station, not having heard news reports about its destruction. He had this to say."
Sook appeared onscreen, looking very distressed. "I-- I only know of one way this could have happened. It must be Doctor Bee!"
The female voice continued. "We looked into this 'Dr. B,' and found very little data on him. Ten years ago, he worked with a scientist named Derek on project Banacle, whose goals are still top secret. Derek I reported to have died due to high levels of radiation when working on the product. Dr. B was not available for comment, as the moon was under investigation by Banaland police."
As this report concluded, the bell at the door rang, indicating that a customer had entered.
"I'm gonna need some coffee for the road," Sook said. "And hurry."
"What's wrong?" Mr. Haberdasher said, filling a large thermos with Sook's usual. "I didn't know you worked on that station."
"Well, I used to," Sook said, "And now this is where it gets tougher."
"How so?" Mr. Haberdasher asked.
"Because," Sook said. "Because I'm the only one who knows the truth. And the world isn't ready to hear it."
"The truth?" Mr. Haberdasher asked.
"Yes, the truth," Sook said. He took the thermos from the counter, and did something he hadn't done in his life, put money on the counter of Haberdasher café that was sufficient for the day's purchase. "The truth about what happened ten years ago." With that, he left the building.
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