I stare at the robot.

　　"One caesar salad, please," I repeat.

　　But it simply stares forward as if I do not exist.

　　This would be one thing if this were just a glitch in its programming. But this is not the first time the Soup`n n Green`n robot has given me the cold, metallic shoulder. In fact, it is the third day in a row.

　　And it is the same for every restaurant in the food court.

　　I sit back down at the table and hand Karina a few dollar coins.

　　"Again?" she asks.

　　"Again," I answer.

　　She gets up to go buy me a salad and I lay my head on down the table. I let out a loud groan.

　　Everywhere I go in my normal routine, the robots have been completely ignoring me, acting as though I am not a human being but instead a stationary object to avoid colliding into. I`ve become completely disassociated from the modern human experience all on account of my being excluded from facial recognition software. It`s as if I never existed in the first place.

　　Except to the auction robots. They`re still hounding me around, though in lesser numbers recently because the online listing price is getting a bit high (for some reason). Larkins has been forcing me to work in the back on some paperwork organization so that I don`t cause a big disruption, but even that hasn`t been going particularly well with robots standing at the entranceway silently. It`s creeping the customers out.

　　When Moonslash said I`d have to undergo some trials, I really thought it was going to be something a little more& deadly.

　　This is just torture.

　　Karina comes back, salad in tow.

　　"Here ya go, Harding."

　　"Kodama, you`re a real pal."

　　"I`m certainly a guy."

　　"The best of them."

　　She sits down to finish her pecan pasta (????), and lets out a sigh. "This really sucks."

　　"The worst thing I`ve ever been in."

　　"I mean the pasta."If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　"Oh."

　　"You`ll get through your thing," Karina says. "I know you will. I believe in you. You`re Morgan Harding, after all."

　　"What`s that supposed to mean&"

　　***

　　"Harding!"

　　"Yes, sir?"

　　"What the hell is this robot doing in my office?"

　　"Eh, what do you mean?"

　　"I thought the things wouldn`t enter the bank, but this one is right here."

　　"I have a delivery for one Morgan Harding."

　　"Uh, that`s me. What the&"

　　"Here you go. Have a nice day from United Georgia Services!"

　　"Harding&"

　　"I didn`t order anything, I swear."

　　"Then what is it?"

　　"Let`s see& It`s a&"

　　"Harding, is that a&"

　　"I did not order this. I promise."

　　"And you especially did not have it shipped to this bank address."

　　"Especially not."

　　"Harding."

　　"I`m going to put this away."

　　"Yeah. And when you get back, let`s talk."

　　***

　　Well, now that I`m being made to take some "sick days," I might as well get some TV watching in. The Scott Stutzman Show`s done with its season, so there isn`t anything I`m actively watching, but I heard the new robot cop show Almost Human is pretty alright. Maybe I`ll catch an episode-

　　Knock knock knock.

　　-And try to ignore the Bidbay bots again.

　　Okay, let`s turn it on-

　　Static on the TV-

　　Uhh-

　　Nevermind, I guess it`s now showing a rerun of Predator: The Gathering. I`m not in the mood for soap opera science fantasy psuedobiodocumentaries so I do not think I`ll be watching this one. I flip to the next channel.

　　Static-

　　Huh, it`s on this channel too. I didn`t know they were owned by the same company. Or maybe it`s a syndication thing. Why is that alien fighting in World War 2? Eh. I`m still not interested. Maybe there`s some cartoons on-

　　Static-

　　Apparently Predator: The Gathering is also a kids` animated television show, because it certainly is on this channel too. A young half-alien half-human child looks down at its father`s remains being lowered into the grave at Arlington. It vows revenge.

　　I check the channel guide.

　　It appears that Predator: The Gathering is a very popular show, because it is playing on every channel for the rest of the evening.

　　Alright, then.

　　Knock knock knock.

　　***

　　I know I don`t have to go to work this morning, but I want to at least try and hang out with Karina today, even if it means braving the hordes of robots sure to be&

　　Huh. No robots are here yet. Must be out harassing someone else for a change.

　　But there are six giant boxes at my doorstep.

　　I open one up&

　　It`s a box of computer chips.

　　That`s it. Just piles and piles of useless computer chips&

　　&Which can only be recycled by taking them to a drop-off location at your local tech store. And the nearest one is four blocks away.

　　***

　　All I wanted was an eclair. All I wanted was an eclair!

　　Is it that bad to want to leave your house to get junk food from Fami every once in a while? It appears the answer has come to me in the form of a shouting robot.

　　"You`re responsible! You`re responsible! Shame on you!"

　　The robot points me down, with several bystanders staring at it gawks loudly in my direction.

　　"Atlanta`s Most Wanted, Kendall Bracken! You will atone for your murder and the police will intercept you. Do not try to resist."

　　Why- I`m not a fugitive murderer. I don`t even look like Kendall Bracken. But& everyone is still staring at me regardless.

　　"That thing`s really malfunctioning, huh," I say.

　　"Someone call the police, hurry!" the robot shouts. "We must arrest Kendall Bracken!"

　　People are still staring.

　　Moonslash, you fiend. You`ve finally broken me.