Maxwell Empire Scripted Book 3 Chapter 7
Fred and the Arena
FRED
Mum, we have to discuss law and order.
MUM
What about it, Fred.
FRED
Well, the role of robocops, what they can do to offenders, fish fooding, the Arena. You know, everything.
MUM
The robocops are very good at keeping the law.
FRED
I know that. With their flying overhead and keeping track of everyone.
MUM
Yes, having the world population microchipped means people cannot hide or lie later about where they have been.
FRED
It definitely helps the robocops know where you have been that they keep the record of your location from your microchip for years.
MUM
Their biggest problem is when they have to deal with someone in the middle of a crime.
FRED
It would be great to see that action in real life.
MUM
Yes, seeing the video of them cocooning a baddie would certainly be improved on if you were seeing it as it took place beside you.
FRED
They keep the baddies alive though; just stop them moving or doing anything.
MUM
Yes, robocops are not allowed to kill animals so whether it is a mad human or dog or elephant they cocoon them.
FRED
I guess it takes a lot of robocops to cocoon an elephant.
MUM
For sure. But at least the elephant might have a good reason to be set free later. Humans are usually sent off to the Arena.
FRED
Yes, that brings us to the function of the Arena.
MUM
Well, the Arena is entertainment. People enjoy seeing baddies getting chased around the Arena by a bunch of hungry pigs.
FRED
Especially when the pigs catch up with one of them and take chunks out of their leg or backside or whatever.
MUM
Yes, definitely exciting. And sending the message, be good or be here.
FRED
Have you seen a cocooning up close, Mum?
MUM
Yes, Fred. Just once. I was in the Electron Microscopy Lab when a student outside the lab was cocooned.
FRED
How many robocops were spraying him with filament?
MUM
Oh, probably half a dozen. It was very exciting.
FRED
What had he done?
MUM
You know that the worst crime is interfering with the communications to robots. He had thought it was fun to have robocars run into other robocars. Several humans died.
FRED
So he was immediately taken to the Arena.
MUM
Yes, there was an event taking place. They interrupted it. Sent the pigs out; and the baddies. Put him in the middle. They had flown all the University people there. All the thousands that were there that day. I was there.
FRED
So the world knew what he had done. I have seen the video. The whole world was watching.
MUM
Yes, for the worst crime you get the most viewers. That is because they make sure it is truly gruesome and not something you want to endure.
FRED
And only one pig was sent in at the beginning.
MUM
Yes, Big pig was huge. Not overly fast so he could keep in front of the pig but of course he eventually ran out of puff.
FRED
Then he lost a foot. A whole foot.
MUM
Yes, Big pig went chomp and off came his foot. Blood was spurting everywhere.
FRED
Big pig then got much more interested. Yes. The speed of Big pig went up several notches. Running around with one foot and a stump means you are not too fast. Big pig took another bite.
MUM
Yes, lots of screaming. You hear it on the video but being there it was much more gruesome.
FRED
Then they let in a whole lot of Big pigs buddies.
MUM
You know I can never get over just how quickly he was just bones. It seemed that one second there was a screaming, bloody human standing there on one foot, and the next just a pile of bones with a few disinterested pigs gnawing a bone or two.
FRED
Well, so the Arena has the effect of keeping us good.
MUM
It ain’t necessarily so, as the song goes. But it possibly makes us think of consequences.
FRED
I think I need a break from law and order, Mum. It is just too gruesome.
MUM
Good. You can help me with dinner. It is robocook or us.
FRED
I like robocook’s food but I like helping you, Mum. So we are cooking.
