“Wow indeed.” Topo answered grimly. The mental exhaustion and the strain of his overworked soul manifesting with the words. "So yeah, that happened while you two were in respawn limbo. As far as we know the people who shot the initial shot were an unknown pirate group, not associated with either The Escaldian Government or Generica Online.

  We assume they wanted to cause a conflict between the automated defenses of both sides, till the conflict escalated out of control. And they nearly succeeded. But in any case, that is far beyond my pay grade…"

  "As to the real world of here and now. The Neutral Zone is resembling a radioactive wasteland at the moment. Not that anyone cares for that though… everyone up there.” The bot pointed his finger to the ceiling. "Is concerned with political backslash and playing the blaming game rather than to care of the actual physical damage."

  "Which brings me back to you two. Herman…” The mechanoid hesitated, looking uncertainly towards the cameras at the corner of the room. After taking a deep virtual breath and exhaling, he continued. “The Mayor was impressed by your foolish interference today. Although you lost, very badly. He has decided to offer you a job of protecting the wall against raiders. It is much cheaper than using the automated defenses, especially now after the mana reserves have been severely depleted."

  "B..but what about me? I am supposed to be the mighty Chicken Defender. He can’t cancel my contract. It isn't my fault that moron decided to impersonate the great Lord Mecron!" Polya protested.

  Topo suddenly looked at the camera in the corner of the room, as well as the mirrored window at the wall. "Mecron is nothing more than a dangerous terrorist and he will face the full wrath of the law." The concerned guardsman droned as if reciting a script.

  "Isn't that right?" The mechanoid questioned, widening his mechanical eyes at the woman and looking at her with an expectant, pleading look.

  "Humph!" Polya scoffed in return, crossing her hands and looking defiantly at the double mirror.

  "Yes, Mecron will face the justice of the law, I am sure of it. That that criminal scum…" Herman pitched in unconvincingly. Trying to salvage the situation such as it was.

  "Sigh…" The bot sighed yet again, despite his distinct lack of lungs. "I am sorry Polya. I tried to talk with the Mayor, but he didn't want to listen. He needs a scapegoat and he has chosen that to be you. Just be glad he couldn't get you in trouble with the authorities.

  You have 1 more raider event left from your contract and then I am ordered to not let you in through the gates. That is unless you give up your Generica citizenship and choose to leave for good."

  "That fat bastard! I knew he was a scheming narcissist the moment I saw him. Who does he think he is, that motherfu….." That went on for a while… the woman spewing all sorts of vile insults and curses towards her new arch nemesis, making both Herman and Topo blush with embarrassment at some of the more creative insults. Eventually the chickenmancer tired herself out and finally ceased her furious outburst.

  The bot’s eyebrows formed a defeated expression as he helplessly glanced at the camera and mirrored glass again. "I am sorry Polya, I know this meant allot for you." The bot finally said.

  "Yeah, me too.” Herman added. “I know it won't make things right, but I will not be accepting the job offer. "I don’t want to be replacing you, plus what the hell can I do that the wall defenses can't!?"

  "No no, you should take it. I remember what it was like living in the queue. You will need every scrap of credit, especially now. Don’t think too much about me, I will be fine.” The woman said unconvincingly. "It’s just… I wanted to make a difference. I can go and be a superhero anywhere I want. But I remember what it was like to live in fear of constant raider attacks, as well as starving to death over and over again in that desert.

  That is why I fight, and provide as much free food as I can afford. I know it is not much, but it is all I can do to help out."

  The two men looked at each other and then back towards the sadened Polya.

  "Oh come on you two, don’t look at me like that." She laughed between a few sniffs and teary eyes. "Come on, it will be fun. I still have one more run. Herman, you could be my sidekick."

  "Heh, I guess I can do that. If you are sure about it."

  "I am sure, the woman replied." Her voice almost back to normal.

  ___

  "Alright, I guess this is goodbye for now." Polya said. Standing next to the massive gates right outside the guard station. "I would really like to stay and visit you and Staple though."

  "I am sorry Polya, you know the rules, you can’t spent more time outside the walls than your allocated time in the contract."

  "Well, can’t you just arrest me, then set one of the inn’s rooms as my prison cell for a night or two?" The woman inquired with a mischievous smile.

  "I..well…" The bot hesitated.

  "No no, I was sort of kinda joking. I know you want to keep a low profile. I just miss you guys." She said.

  "We miss you too. The Inn isn’t the same without you." The bot replied. Then Topo looked suspiciously to the sides. Scanning the gates area for any prying eyes.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Once he made sure nobody was looking, he conspiratorially passed the woman a small package. "Staple sends her regards, she made your favorite dish."

  “Uuuu!” Polya squealed in delight and rushed to hug the bot. She couldn’t quite wrap her arms around his broad chest, but that didn’t discourage her from trying, the way she squirmed made it look like she was trying to wrestle the burly bot rather than hug him though.

  "Sure, sure." The bot replied awkwardly. Patting the girl on the back with one hand and gently trying to detatch himself from the girl.

  “Heheh I really thought I would get you this time unckle Topo. I guess I still have lots of growing to do before I manage to propperly hug you.” The woman chuckled as she finally released the bot.

  I am pretty sure humans don’t grow taller after a certain age, and let’s be honest you aren’t a spring chicken.” The bot puffed his mustache as he replied with a dad like smirk.

  “Wow, I don’t know if I should be offended that you called me old or impressed of the chicken dad pun…” Polya pondered.

  “Aaanyway, I will let the comment slide, for now. You did get extra points for the gift after all.” The woman finally decided.

  "Ok, I will be going now, the mayor’s mansion won't egg itself after all. Herman, we will meet on the next raider event. Watch your notifications, they will tell you when the watchtower spots an attack, I will bring you some gear too."

  And with that, the mighty Chicken Defender went through the gates, leaving the neutral zone behind.

  …

  “Heh, what a small world we live in. I never would have guessed that you were friends with the mighty Chicken Defender.” Herman said with a teasing tone as they watched Polya enter the city beyond the gates.

  “That girl, well, woman now, is the closest thing me and Staple have to a daughter.” Topo replied with a caring tone.

  “We met her shortly after we arrived here. It was… oh, more than 15 years from now I think… She was just a kid back then, she died back on Earth and someone paid the cost to get her here early. Not sure who exactly, since she never mentioned her real parents to us, but whoever it was had enough money to get her the Super Legendary package.

  Not that she realized what she had at the beginning… This world doesn’t exactly come with a tutorial.” Topo said, shaking his head in distaste.

  “During a patrol I heard a noise coming from one of the trash containers. I expected to find a feral techno demon, instead, I stumbled on a hungry girl neck deep in trash.

  I had to take her in, Herman, I just had to… It ain’t right for a kid to be forced into scavenging for food in a place like this. Even back then the queue was full with all sorts of shady characters, I dare not think what would have happened if I hadn’t found her…”

  “Staple was a bit upset with me when I brought a random garbage covered urchin at the inn, but as soon as she met Polya’s eyes she immediately went into mother hen mode.” Topo said with a warm chuckle at the memory.

  “Eventually we taught her how to read and take advantage of her System powers. She could have left there and then, but she chose to stay with us for a long long time. And for once I was glad the guards are so understaffed. It might be making the queue time longer, but it also gave us time to raise her with care. “

  “Sighhh…” The bot sighed deeply at the rush of emotions, while Herman respectfully listened to the heartfelt story of the mechanoid.

  “Of course she had to leave eventually, those are the rules after all… Now she lives in the mechanoid city of Fence-Town beyond the wall. Me and Staple go and visit her from time to time, but it is not often enough.”

  “Maybe it is time for us to chance scenery and enter Generica ourselves. Maybe find a job inside the city where we could be closer to our chicken obsessed girl.” Topo said with a chuckle, absorbed in his own thoughts.

  After a few quiet moments the mustached bot came back to his senses.

  “Oh am… Kakhem… look at me rambling away nonsense and holding you down.” The flustered bot said, scratching the back of his head, a sheepish expression on his face.

  “It isn’t nonsense.” Herman replied with a serious look. “The story clearly means allot to you, and I am glad you trusted me enough to share it.” Then the old man stepped closer and placed a firm hand on the bot’s shoulder.

  “Topo, you are a genuinely good person, I am glad there are people like you and Staple in the world.” The old man said, followed by the two men exchanging a respectful nod, a steadfast bond forming between the two.

  After the moment passed though, the two manly men felt quite unmanly after the emotional moment, so they stepped back and exchanged the usual platitudes of “umms” and “amms” accompanied by pointless sports chatter and monster truck video discussions.

  After the two very awkward men felt their masculinity sufficiently restored, Herman felt it was a good time to start heading back to the inn.

  "I think I will be going back. I have to see what am I going to do now that everything has been reduced to rubble...” The man said, and after waving goodbye, turned to leave.

  "Herman, wait a minute. I wanted to ask you something." The bot said.

  "I… well… what are you even still doing here? You don’t have to do any of this. Me and Staple didn’t say anything before, since we enjoy your company and didn’t want to pry. But with the recent conflict and with the Mayor’s offer, I just had to ask.”

  “You know that he is just searching for another scapegoat, right? He knows that you won't be able to fight off the raiders and then he is going to blame everything on you. Not sure why, since that would also undermine him as well, but who knows what goes around in the heads of people like him. He is definitely plotting something though. Of that I am sure. So I ask you again, why are you still here?"

  "Huh, what do you mean why am I still here? Where else would I go?" The human said, bafflement in his voice.

  "Muurgrgh mumblrghhh!"

  Before the bot could reply though, a loud insistent mumbling took their attention.

  "Hey hey hey, what is happening, did I miss much, what time is it, hey Topo is your mustache gone even grayer since I last saw you?" The chatty slip blurted out as Herman pulled him out of his pants pocket.

  Ignoring the antics of the paper slip, Topo opened his mouth to talk to Herman, but got interrupted yet again, this time from one of his mechanoid subordinates.

  "Hey chief! There is some big shot politician demanding to speak with you. He says his name is minister Yppils." Said a mechanoid guard leaning from the charred out side door of the guard station.

  "Can this wait? I am in the middle of…" Topo began saying.

  "He insists this is a life or death situation." The subordinate said.

  "Ugrhh…. They all say that…" The chief guardsman grumbled unhappily. "Ok good luck Herman, we will talk later. Take care now. Also please check on my wife, she should have been protected by the walls defenses, but still I worry.” The chief guard said as he jogged back and disappeared inside the station.

  "You sure you are ok Slippy? You look awfully shifty today." Herman said, squinting his eyes suspiciously at the paper slip.

  "Me? Suspicious? Nooo, never! I am just hungry that’s all. Come on, let's get back to the inn!" The digital slip said nonshalantly.

  Herman once again glanced at the way too nonchalant slip. Finally, he just shrugged and began his trek through the apocalyptic landscape.