41

Is That You, Obi?

The cat-like robot took a few shaky steps, paws clacking on the wood floor. Slowly, it began walking more confidently, looking (aside from the metal body) everything like a cat.

CatBot looked around the room, sniffed the air. Around its neck was Obi’s medallion.

Nobody knew what to do.

Everybody was completely still as Max walked up to CatBot and crouched down.

He slowly sat in front of CatBot, watching it intensely.

The robot twisted its head to look at Max but didn’t move.

Nobody even dared breathe.

Outside, lightning crashed, rain swept down, but inside there was perfect silence. Everybody was focused on Max as he reached out to touch the robot.

“The Connectivity Ritual!” Joan said to her squad.

“Ooohhh,” the Protos said in unison and recalled the ritual they had observed countless mornings as Max left for school. They knew each step like they knew their own programming and watched carefully, as always.

Here is what they saw:

Slowing his speed, Max immediately moved to extend its ten small probes into the four-legger’s four favorite spots.

First: between the ears on the very top of the head.

Second: the left cheek.

Third: the right.

Fourth: a quick probe to the chin.

Fifth: Max dug into the place where the four-legger’s back curved down near its tail . . .

The OB_1_Cat_NoB arched his back under the flexing and extending probes.

“Scritch-scratch, scratch-scratch,” said Max.

“Prrrrrrrrrrrr,” said the OB.

Max slowly turned and looked up at his mom and dad. Tears were running down his face.

He smiled, and after a big sigh, he somehow managed to speak.

“It worked. This is Obi.”

The room erupted in celebration.

The kittens, who were hiding, leaped and pounced on the New Obi, who gently batted them away with his new, powerful arms.

The Protos spun and twirled with something like joy that their old nemesis (and therefore their old responsibility) was restored.

Max stood up slowly and looked at his dad. “But what about my Obi? Where is he?” Dad pulled Max in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Max. Old Obi fought a good fight.”

Max held tight to his dad, tears flowing like the rain outside. “Promise me you’ll never die, okay, Dad?”

Dad’s eyes welled up as he looked around the happy room. “I’ll do my best, Max, I promise.”

The celebration was abruptly interrupted when the door flew open with a crash, and through a torrent of rain, Beeps rolled in and silently took in the scene.

“Greetings. I am Sir Beeps-a-Lot, second-in-command to the supreme leader of the Robot Federation.” His head swiveled to take in the entire room, resting on Pounce. “I do not come in peace.”

“Shocker,” Pounce said, returning the glare.

Beeps went on. “House, I’m here for the chip. Hand it over now, and nobody will be hurt.”

Mom was first to gather herself. She was used to dealing with stubborn robots, so Beeps didn’t intimidate her. “Sorry, but actually not sorry”—she winked at the kids—“the chip is no longer available. It has been imprinted, fused into Obi. They are single-use chips, completely worthless to you now.”

“OB? Fused? USELESS?” Beeps fidgeted, just inside the door.

Max watched in awe as Obi took a quick butt wiggle and leaped an impossible distance to the kitchen table, landing perfectly, facing Beeps.

Beeps rolled back in amazement.

“I have the chip. Or rather, I am the chip now,” Obi said through his medallion.

Beeps adjusted his cameras, zooming in for a close-up. “But you’re a robot! And a cat? I don’t understand. You are one of us now?”

“Negative, old boy.” Obi blinked. “I’ll never be one of you.”

Dad crept closer to Beeps, amazed at the intricacy and sophistication of this alien robot.

Pounce leaped up to the table next to Obi.

Beeps again pulled back, startled.

“Sorry to let you down, but you’ve arrived too late, and the chip is ours.”

“Well, now,” Obi purred, “I’m not sure I would say that exactly, either. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I am or whose side I’m on anymore. Or if I’m on any side at all.”

Max smiled when he heard Obi talk. It was strange to hear his voice, but he had to admit, it sounded just like he imagined Obi would sound.

Javi jumped up, excited. “That’s it! You’re the key! Part robot, part cat! You can bring the sides together!”

“Never!” Beeps blared out, embarrassed and furious at his defeat. “I can see now that the chip has been compromised. But it is still of great value to the Robot Federation and our supreme leader, SLAYAR!”

Max and Min exchanged a glance. “Slayer?” Max said.

“Wow, so metal,” Min said, smirking. Max laughed.

“You won’t be laughing when our fleet arrives and OBLITERATES YOU!” Beeps, horrified that he might have to return to SLAYAR and deliver this bad news, had lost it. He rolled up to Max, eye pulsing red. Max pulled back.

House calmly confirmed the threat. “I’m afraid Beeps is telling the truth. A rather large-sized fleet will be here soon, and they do in fact have the power to obliterate.”

Javi paced back and forth, deep in thought. “I don’t know what to do. The Robots are coming. We can’t defend against a fleet. And we don’t have the chip anymore.”

Beeps, desperate for a solution, rolled up to Obi, eyeing the gleaming metal frame. “I know what to do. I’m taking this robot-cat-hybrid monstrosity with me. Our scientists will examine, poke, prod, whatever, until we have unlocked all of your secrets.”

“NO!” Max and Min both shouted in unison. Pounce jumped between Beeps and Obi. “Not if the Feline Empire has anything to say about it!”

Beeps pulled back. “Oh really? Tell me, Pounce, what size is the fleet your empire sent along with you?”

Everybody looked at Beeps expectantly. Surely the Cats had the firepower to protect Earth? “Yeah, Pounce, let him have it!” Max said, but Pounce hesitated and the air left the room. Pounce was sure Beeps knew the truth, so he didn’t hide it.

“I am the fleet, I’m afraid,” Pounce said.

Obi looked around sadly. He saw the truth, that they were vastly outnumbered, and knew only one option remained.

“I will go with you,” Obi said bravely.

“But they’ll destroy you!” Mom said.

“Maybe, maybe not. But better me than all of you,” Obi replied. “I’m grateful for this tenth life, and for all of your help, but I see no other option.” Obi leaped gracefully down and walked toward the door.

Javi stopped pacing and sat down, defeated. “Obi is right.”

“WAIT!” Max screamed, but his mom held him back when she saw Beeps move between them and Obi, threatening. Stu and Scout had jumped on Javi’s lap and were mewling sadly.

“Don’t be afraid, children. I feel, somehow, that we will meet again, in a different time and a different place. This is not good-bye.” With that, Obi spun and jumped through the rain into the waiting ship.

“See you later, Obi. Again.” Max was completely crushed.

“Ha!” Beeps shouted as he spun around quickly, headed for his ship. As he entered the ship, over the roar of the storm, Beeps blared his parting shot . . .

“This isn’t the last you’ll hear of the Robot Federation! Our supreme leader will not rest until Robots rule the galaxy! SLAYAR will reign supreme, this I vow!”

Beeps, not waiting for a response, sped up the ramp into his ship and, as quickly as he arrived, shot up into the sky and disappeared in the clouds.