(story extract)

“Here’s to another thousand robots sold, eh? I tell ya Twintails, business has just been booming since those ghouls from down south all migrated. Construction bots, security bots, hell, even companion robots, everypony wants one!” The older earth pony mare let off a small laugh, dad and myself sitting down at a small table in the large RobronCo factory office, three glasses of glowing, fizzy soda set on it. I’ll be honest, I would’ve preferred staying with the tank, but… goddess-damnit, I love Sparkle-Cola as much as my fathers. Well, maybe not <del>that</del> much… still love it a lot. Jumper Cables smiled as she trotted back over from the kitchenette, myself and Dad raising our glasses with her and clinking them together.

“Well, it’s nice to see at least the first pony we helped out did well for herself. You didn’t hear it from me, but I’m pretty sure Minty’s still iffy about coming up here – already lost one leg, don’t think he can afford to lose another.” He let off a chuckle, taking a long drink from the cup, myself greedily downing the rich, radish-flavored radioactive nectar of the goddesses. Oh, sweet, sweet Sparkle-Cola RAD. “Then again, that was almost twenty years ago. You did get all the landmines and what-not cleaned up, right?”

“Oh, trust me, we did. Took twenty robots and four employees getting damaged or hurt, but we made sure the road was clear eventually.” Jumper Cables let off a weak chuckle, bringing her glass over to her desk and sitting herself behind it, giving her back a stretch with a yawn. She took to looking through some papers, Dad leaving his empty glass on the table and going over to meet with her – right, rangefinder for the TOG. Well, here’s hoping that doesn’t take long…

Still idly sipping from my glass of Sparkle-Cola RAD, savoring the sweet sweet strontium-90-infused taste, the hum of an owlbot filled the air behind myself as it hovered over to the table. I watched it curiously for a few moments, seing it’s metallic wings fold up and talons walk it over to the empty glass, resting my chin on my foreleg out of bored fascination. Damn weird things these robots, weigh at least fifty kilos apiece but they can still fly on their puny metal wings and levitation talismans. Not to mention the creepy eyes… okay, staring contest with an owlbot, go!

The robot played along with me for a moment, at least, before taking the glass dad was drinking out of up in it’s beak and bringing it over to the sink, placing it gently in the basin. Finishing off my glass with a few moments of trying to get the very last of that glowing liquid out, the owlbot set itself back down, staring up at me expectantly. I stared at it for a few moments longer, getting a little chuckle from it as it tracked the empty glass with it’s head, before finally giving in and giving it the glass. Well, at least I was a little entertained over this trip. Trotting back over to Dad and Jumper Cables, the look on Dad’s face was… uh, how do I put this… bad news that meant good news. Something like that.