Chapter 16: A Slightly Crueler Cruller

Donut stands on top of Red Base in pink armor.

Donut: Dude, this is sweet! Command was so happy that I got the Blue flag, they gave me my own color armor!

Grif and Simmons look at each other.

Grif: Uh... hey, Donut?

Donut: What?

Simmons: Um, about your armor...

Donut: What about it?

Simmons: How do I put this... Your armor is, um... It's a little, um... Grif, uh, you wanna help me out here?

Grif: It's pink. Your armor is frickin' pink!

Simmons: Yeah, that's it. Pink.

Donut: Pink? My armor's not pink!

Grif: PINK.

Simmons: Yeah, definitely pink.

Donut: You guys are color-blind. Why would they give me pink armor?

Grif: Hey, don't ask, don't tell.

Simmons: (over Grif's laughter) Heh, that's not funny.

Grif: (laughs a little more) It's a little funny.

Donut: Look at it, it's not pink. It's like, uh.. a "lightish red".

Grif: Guess what? They already have a color for lightish red. You know what it's called? Pink.

Donut: I hate you guys.

Sarge: (running up the ramp with Lopez in tow) Well hello, dirtbags. ...and a fine hello to you, madam.

Donut: It's LIGHT red.

Sarge: Don't get your panties in a wad there, Barbie. Do you have a package for me?

Donut: Yes sir.

Sarge: Excellent.

Donut: (holding up a mechanical unit) They said this speech unit should work with Lopez.

Grif: Speech unit?

Donut: (handing the unit over to Sarge) Here you go.

Sarge: Affirmative. Command was fresh out of speech modules when I started building Lopez, but once I get this baby installed, I'll finally have someone intelligent to talk to. ...No offense, Simmons.

Simmons: Oh, don't worry, I know who you meant, sir.

Grif: Wait a second.. Lopez is a robot?

Simmons: Of course he is. You didn't notice that he never talks?

Grif: I just thought he was a really quiet guy.

Sarge: And the fact that he sleeps standing up and drinks motor oil didn't get your attention?

Grif: Well I-I did think the motor oil thing was a bit odd... Uh, I just thought he was trying to impress me.

Simmons: Hey, sir. You really should ground yourself before handling that card.

Sarge: How come?

Simmons: Because static could damage the card.

Sarge: Come on. That's an urban legend they use to sell those stupid bracelets. (Grif and Simmons look at each other) And I suppose Pop Rocks and soda's gonna make my stomach blow up! (he inserts the card and there's a visible electric discharge which makes him jump back) YOW!

Simmons: Sir. I won't say "I told you so", sir.

Sarge: Good. I'd hate to make Strawberry Shortcake here my new favorite Private.

You are reading story The Shy One at novel35.com

Donut: It's not pink, it's lightish red!

Cut to Caboose, Bell, and Tucker outside the Blue Base. Tucker's armor is clean, but Caboose's and Bell's are still black.

Caboose pants. "Uh, you know, this stiff does not come off easy?"

"It's like trying to pry gum off a school desk." Bell says, not winded. 

"Yeah, this was a lot easier when we were cleaning just my armor." Tucker says.

"Yeah, I know, that-that's, I think, because, you know, uh, YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING."

"Yeah, we did all the work." Bell states.

"I'm sorry, what?" Tucker asks. "It's kind of hard to hear you over the sound of your constant team killing and you being a little bitch."

Caboose fakes laughter. "Yeah, I know! Ah yeah aha, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh... Don't make me mad."

"That was very mean, Tucker." Bell says in a low tone."

Cut to Donut.

Donut: So, what happened to me anyway? I recall something about a spider on my head?

Grif: Right. That was a grenade.

Donut: And the last thing I remember.. is a loud bang.. and then Simmons fainting...

Grif: Ha! Told you so!

Simmons: I did not faint.

Sarge: Done and done. Lopez. Activate speech unit!

Lopez: Buenos días. Y gracias da por activar mi función del discurso. Soy el número de modelo cero uno cero uno uno tres cuatro ocho ocho dos tres. [Good morning. And thank you for activating my speech function. I am the model number zero one zero one one three four eight eight two three.]

Donut: (over the last five numbers) Am I the only one not understanding any of this?

Lopez: Me llamo López. [My name is Lopez]

Grif: Lopez, he just said Lopez! I understood that. I can speak Spanish!

Sarge: Lopez, speak English.

Lopez: Mi procesador de inglés ha funcionado mal.Se habla solamente español. [My English processor has malfunctioned. I speak only Spanish.]

Simmons: Huh, I think you shorted out his speech unit with that static, sir.

Sarge: Maybe Princess Peach here picked up the wrong model.

Donut: Seriously, dude. For the last time: Not pink.

Sarge: Lopez. I order you to speak a language we understand.

Lopez: Negativo. [Negative]

Sarge: Well this is just dandy. Lopez, HOW - DO - WE - FIX - YOUR - SPEECH - U-NIT?

Grif: Why are you talking so slow? He understands us just fine. Maybe you should try listening slower.

Sarge: Lopez, would you like to shoot Grif?

Lopez: (raising his gun) Sí señor. Gracias.[Yes sir. Thank you]

Fade to black.

Grif: No, stop! Uh, alto, alto!

Simmons: Alto means tall, you dumbass.

Grif: Then why do they put it on stop signs?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

01-24-2023

You can find story with these keywords: The Shy One, Read The Shy One, The Shy One novel, The Shy One book, The Shy One story, The Shy One full, The Shy One Latest Chapter