We were lacking robots. Here is a robot. A MIGHTY ROBOT.

. . .

 

     MIGHTY ROBOT: “I AM THE MIGHTY ROBOT. YOU WILL BE CRUSHED.”

 

June Action ducks a high-powered swing and rolls back, giving her just enough distance to size up the Mighty Robot before it bumbles its way over for another strike. A classic construction of backyard mad science, this particular model boasts little more than heavy metal plating, line-run joints, radio control antenna, and a cassette-based speech feature.

The Mighty Robot strikes again, this time with both fists; they meet concrete wall, breaking off great chunks from the surface as it pummels. One of the chunks cracks into a thin joint on the left leg, rendering the robot incapable of completing a moving turn to face its target.

 

     MIGHTY ROBOT: “I AM THE MIGHTY ROBOT. YOU WILL BE CRUSHED.”

 

June slides in behind the Mighty Robot, just quick enough to avoid the undamaged leg raising itself up to stamp on her. A grave error on the part of the controller as June moves to push the leg up, barely able to give it any heft but just enough that the broken joint bends and snaps on itself, sending the once mighty crashing to its side.

The right arm lifts once more to swing, only to crash back down on itself as June pulls the antenna from the smashed head. The lights inside the open metal die out, all except one, bright and shining in defiance of the ultimate destruction of the unit.

 

     MIGHTY ROBOT: “I AM THE MIGHTY ROBOT. YOU WILL BE CRUSHED.”
     JUNE ACTION: “You might just be the best conversation I’ve had all day.”

 

June opens the chest plate and pops the tape from the cassette player, pocketing it carefully. Another addition to a growing trophy cabinet.