In the Lives of Puppets by Klune T. J

Author:Klune, T. J. [Klune, T. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBT, Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Adult, Fantasy, Queer
ISBN: 9781529088052
Amazon: B0B9YTCBKW
Goodreads: 62804406
Publisher: Tor
Published: 2023-04-25T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Or, at least he tried. Sticking the robot arm through the bars, he battered Hap with it, only to have him rip it away easily and toss it to the ground in the cage.

Before the Coachman could react, Hap hurtled forward, reaching between the bars. His hand closed around the Coachman’s throat, lifting him up off the floor. The Coachman’s legs kicked as he slapped Hap’s arms to no avail. “You can’t touch my things!” he shrieked.

“We are not going to,” Nurse Ratched said.

The Coachman stopped struggling, arms dangling at his sides, feet inches above the floor. “He’s a HARP. It’s in his programming to destroy all of humanity, including their possessions. I have spent years building my collection. I won’t have you breaking my toilet! I love it so.”

Vic said, “He won’t do that. Not a HARP. He’s Hap.”

“Hysterically Angry Puppet,” the Coachman whispered. He grimaced, Hap’s fingers dug in. “Fine. Would you please put me down? I’d rather not have my neck crushed, if it’s all the same to you.”

Instead, Hap pulled him closer until his face pressed against the bars. “We aren’t your p-p-prisoners.”

The Coachman pushed his hands against the cage. “Yes! Anything you say! It was merely a misunderstanding!”

“L-let us out.”

“Why? So you can kill me? Fat chance of—”

Hap pulled him against the bars over and over, the cage rattling. “I w-will kill you if you don’t. Three s-seconds. Two. One. Time to s-see how attached your head is t-to your body.”

“Fine!” The Coachman shouted. He lifted his arm, slapping a button on the panel. The cage doors swung open. Nurse Ratched rolled out first, followed by Rambo, who immediately began to suck up the sand that had been tracked into the house, humming as he did so.

Vic stepped out of his own cage warily, unsure if this was another trap. “Hap, let him go.”

“He t-tried to hit m-me,” Hap said flatly. “W-with a r-robot arm.”

“We could put him in the cage,” Nurse Ratched said. “To be safe, we will need to remove his arm beforehand as he controls the house with it.” The panel on her right side opened up, and a whirring circular saw extended. “I am qualified to perform such a procedure. Engaging Empathy Protocol. There, there. Just a little pinch and it will be over. Who is a good patient? Guess what? It is you.”

“Please!” the Coachman wailed. “Anything but that! I use my arm!”

“No sawing,” Vic said. “Nurse Ratched, put it away. Hap, put him down. Coachman, if you try anything, you’re done.”

“And Rambo!” Rambo cheered.

Hap’s grip tightened briefly before he let go. The Coachman dropped to the floor, scurrying back as Hap walked out of the cage. “How . . .” He shook his head. “It’s not possible. How are you fighting your programming? I’ve never seen such a thing from a HARP before. I knew you looked familiar. Even with all that wood. How?”

“I am d-different,” Hap said. “I am m-me. I am w-with them.”

“Damn right!” Rambo crowed, arms waving.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.