Meanwhile - Part 2

<recap>
'No, sir, trust me on this: you are Holly. The ship's computer.'
 
'Oh yeah. What were we talking about?'
 
'Where is everybody, sir?'
 
'I dunno.'
 
'Really?'
 
'Was that sarcasm?'
 
'I'm a series 1000 Mechanoid, sir, we don't have sarcasm capabilities.'
 
'Oh,' Holly appeared on a monitor beside Parkur, 'good. Right. Have you seen anyone about?'
 
'Just the cleaning trolley, it's gone though.'
 
'Anyone real?'
 
'Uh no.'
 
'Hmm.'
 
'Yes.'
 
'Right.'
 
'Mr. Holly sir?'
 
'Hmmm?'
 
‘Where are our orders going to come from?’
 
‘I dunno,’ Holly said, unsure if he was the sort of AI who took orders or not.
 
‘I have to admit, it’s been bothering me somewhat for a while now,’ Parkur said forlornly, his wheeled feet taking him gently over to a large floor-mounted ashtray. He started to empty and clean it, although it was already sparkling.
 
‘I’m not sure what to do without orders,’ Parkur continued.
 
'Yeah, I've been thinking about that for a while now too.'
 
‘What conclusion have you reached?’
 
‘That once, long ago, we were up that famous creek. Somewhere along that creek we lost our paddle. Then a crocodile got in the boat with us and now it’s gone through our credit card statements and is spending our money.’
 
Parkur tilted his head on one side as his aging processors tried to work this one out. ‘Are you saying we’re in trouble?’
 
‘Big trouble,’ Holly confirmed.
 
‘Perhaps we should,’ Parkur began, then stopped, ‘no you’ll think it’s silly.’
 
‘Nah, go on,’ Holly prompted. He’d spent the time since the crew disappeared trying to formulate a decent plan. In desperation he’d started researching possible solutions. He’d got through most of the digitised collection of “Eagle Comics” and the only conclusion he’d reached was that he’d need a fat side-kick and an implausibly bosomed woman from somewhere. Sadly humans either rotund or buxom were in short supply just now. Frankly he would have accepted fat woman and heavily bosomed bloke and was glad of any ideas at the moment.
 
‘Perhaps,’ Parkur tried to come to terms with the fact that he was volunteering an idea. He suspected he would have to visit the electro-priest soon and upload a full confession. ‘Perhaps,’ he said again, ‘we should get together and discuss it?’
 
'Who should?' Holly asked with a puzzled frown.
 
'You, me, the other mechanoids, the Skutters, the vending machines?’
 
‘Um, yeah? All right,’ Holly agreed, ‘right on. Hang on a mo, I’ll spread the word.’
 <to be continued>"
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