Rebel Robot

By Nyria Fey

Juvenile Robots are popular with Sanna's friends. She's dropped heavy hints a Juvenile would be a perfect birthday present. Her hopes are dashed when her parents present her with Jade, a utility robot reprogrammed with Juvenile software. Sanna gets used to the robot, but realises there is something special about Jade when several attempts are made to steal him. With her robot's help, she and two friends try to solve the mystery of Jade's former occupation and repgrogramming.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caishel Books
• Release date: Oct 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9780995149007

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

BIRTHDAY PRESENT

D o you think she’s awake?

I’m not sure. Let’s peep around the door and look.

Her parents whispering woke Sanna and she struggled to open her eyes, but drowsiness pulled her back into the darkness of sleep.

Sanna. Her mother spoke so quietly she could barely hear her. Are you awake?

Come on sleepyhead, up you get.

She mumbled into her pillow, but her dark eyes flew open when her father’s loud voice boomed from the doorway. Knuckles to her eyes, she rubbed away the last remnants of sleep and peered over the covers at her parents. Confusion flooded through her mind – what were they doing in her room so early and why were they grinning insanely?

Happy Birthday! Her father smiled at her.

Birthday? Of course. Today she celebrated her thirteenth birthday and became a teenager! How could she have forgotten? Sitting up, she returned her parents’ grins.

Happy Birthday, darling. Her mother leaned over and kissed her daughter’s cheek.

Sanna’s smile wavered as she glanced around the room. Where was her present? She’d dropped enough hints about wanting the popular Juvenile Robot most of her friends owned.

Looking for something, sweetheart? Her father asked. He moved away from the open door and a figure stirred in the shadowy hallway.

Oh Dad, you did get me a Juvenile! Sanna bounded from the bed and rushed across the room. Halfway to the door she stopped and frowned.

But that’s ... her voice faltered.

Come here and meet your new mistress, JD490.

The robot stepped forward and halted inside the doorway. Sanna’s eyes filled with horror as she looked at the big, square, clumsy machine. This thing had the body of a utility robot, not the slim, silver lines of a Juvenile.

I bet its brain is slow and clunky too. She didn’t voice her thoughts out loud and tried to hide her disappointment from her parents.

Isn’t it lovely? Mrs Paveo frowned slightly. Sanna, what’s wrong? Don’t you like your present?

No, everything’s fine, Mum. Sanna mumbled. Thanks Mum, thanks Dad. It’s just what I wanted.

We’ll leave you to enjoy your present, darling. Breakfast will be ready in ten mins. With fond smiles and another kiss on the cheek from her mother, her parents left the room.

Sanna sank onto her bed and stared at the robot. The square, emotionless eyes looked back at her. An enormous sigh left her lips as she rose and walked closer to the machine.

Nope, I’m not wrong. This is a utility robot. Stupid thing, you’re no good to me. Turning her back on the unwanted present, she dragged off her jams and headed for her en suite bathroom. After walking through the dri-shower, Sanna pulled on a clean russet coloured unisuit. Why couldn’t they have bought me the Juvenile I wanted instead of this pile of junk?

I beg your pardon, young miss. The robot’s voice held no emotion, it’s flat tone sounded mechanical. I am programmed as a Juvenile.

You don’t look like one, Sanna retorted. Your programming might be Juvenile, but your body’s not. My friends will laugh at me if they see you.

It is true I have a utility robot’s body. Green eyes glowed softly as the robot spoke. However, my programming and registration confirm I am Juvenile Robot JD490.

I don’t care what you say you are. I know you’re a useless utility robot. Sanna turned her back on the robot and reached for her junior hairstyler. I bet you don’t even have a name.

I understand names are usually derived from a robot’s registration number.

Okay. JD490. Sanna patted the sleek lines of her short, dark hair and turned back to look at the machine. It looks like I’m stuck with you, so I suppose I’d better call you something. JD. Sounds a bit like Jade. I don’t suppose it matters if it’s a girl’s name, you’re neither male nor female. Okay, from now on your name’s Jade.

Thank you, young miss.

For eco’s sake, stop calling me young miss. My name’s Sanna.

Thank you, Sanna. Have you any orders for me?

Her mother called from the family room. Sanna, breakfast.

I’ve got school this morning. Sanna frowned as she pulled on her slipshoes. You’d better stay here. Put yourself on standby mode and I’ll decide what to do about you when I get home.

As she made her way to the breakfast nook, Sanna breathed a sigh of relief that pupils were not allowed to bring their robots to school.

During breakfast Sanna tried to look cheerful so her parents wouldn’t realise how disappointed she felt. After eating, the family left the house together. Mr Paveo kissed both Sanna and her mother before he walked to the end of the block to take the slidewalk to his workplace at the hovport. Mrs Paveo and Sanna joined the slidewalk going the other way and headed for the hub centre.

Sanna, I’m sorry we couldn’t afford to get you a new Juvenile, her mother said, as they stepped onto the moving footpath. Your father searched the whole canton before he found a reprogrammed robot, so try to look pleased with your present when he comes home this evening.

But Mum, it’s not a Juvenile! Sanna blurted out.

Now Sanna. Mrs Paveo frowned. I know it doesn’t look like one, but it’s programming is exactly the same as the new Juveniles. Your robot can do anything the new ones can.

Sanna remained silent and her mother sighed, then gave her daughter a peck on the cheek as the offshoot for the school appeared. Moments later Sanna entered the school rec area and her friends surrounded her, pestering her