It took a some time for Insula to reach the front of the road block. As she waited, quite a few vehicles were turned away. The Founder saw the angry drivers and knew that her act would have to be spot on if she was going to be able to be any help to her student. Hopefully, this was going to be worth the sleep she missed the night before.
Finally at the front of the queue, Insula saw the bot trying to look intimidating with the heat sensing rifle. There was a second scanning device set on the road. This one looked more like a box. Insula knew everything about what it was for and she wasn’t scared of it one bit.
The training-bot approached Insula’s van as she pulled up. Everything about the bot was identical to all others. However, it spoke there was a particular Crisho accented voice, “W… what business have you at this hour ma’am?” The peasant behind the controls stuttered a bit. He clearly was enjoying his role in this play. Still, he recognized his employer.
“I’m trying to get groceries,” Insula replied in frustration. The Founder enjoyed acting as well. She rarely had a chance to interact with the little people, but she had to remember her role. She was supposed to be acting like a lowly peasant like those around her, “I apologize m’lord. This morning has been nothing but trouble.”
There was a notable pause before the peasant behind the controls spoke again, “V..very well,” he continued. “Tis a might big car for getting morning groceries is it?”
“Sorry sir,” Insula tried to imitate his accent, “Roommate took the good one barhopping. I know where she got. Just can’t get to her right now.”
“Mind if I check the back?”
“No sir.”
“Keep your hands seeable.”
Another notable pause from the mechanical guard. Perhaps the pilot wasn’t quite used to the controls. Not surprising, peasants are trusted with so little but expected to do so much.
Once moving again, the bot started fiddling with the box scanner on the road. This was much faster since the bot only had to stick its hand into the device. After that, the pilot communicated directly with the device.
The bot lifted the device from its access point and aimed the device at the van. Circling the van, it saw images of what what was inside through the hull. There was nothing really: towels, a spare tire, the standard backseat, and a small basket apparently for trash.
Seeing nothing of value, the mechanical guard waved Insula through the blockade.
“Be sure to stay grounded while you’re doing business,” he warned.
“Yes sir.”
With that, the Founder drove into the secured area and
Insula had taken great care in making this scenario. The town’s folk were used to disruptions in their lives. They were peasants as well as Commoners so they expected things like this from the higher classes by now. This particular disruption seemed to be more fun for some of them though.
Now back to my student’s test.