Grailem by Gary L Beer (best novels for teenagers txt) 📕

robots and he bides his time. He needs to stay with the consignment of microchips that he has altered as he may need a few robots on his side to stay alive.
As the robots pick up the cases containing the microchip's Grailem finds it is easy slipping on board the craft. Keeping close to the cases carried by the service robots he simply walks alongside them and casually enters the craft. The service robots totally ignore him and he hides himself amongst the packing cases and waits for loading to be completed. The spacecraft is quickly loaded and the cargo doors shut as the engines start. Grailem keeps perfectly still amongst the cargo as the craft lifts off and heads down to the planet.

Grailem feels the spacecraft come to a soft landing and taxi along the runway, as it slows down the engine noise echoes off surrounding walls and Grailem knows they have entered a large building. The opening of the cargo doors shows a transparent domed roof at least thirty metres above his head. Robots board the craft and quickly start unloading, Grailem waits until they are about half way through before he steps out of the craft and hides behind the high stack of packing cases that have been unloaded. Keeping close to the microchip's cases he watches the efficient unloading of the craft by the robots. Each robot appears to know what it is doing, showing Grailem that they are also capable of independent reasoning and thought. Even the simple robots in this society appeared to possess a high intelligence.
With unloading complete the cargo doors close and the craft taxis out of the huge building and out onto the runway. Gaining speed the shuttlecraft roars down the runway and takes off putting itself at a steep angle as it heads back to the starship.
Large trucks enter the building and pull up beside the unloaded cargo; immediately they are loaded by a large group of robots and driven through the large hangar type building to the far exit.
Soon the robots are picking up the cases of microchip's and Grailem follows them to a waiting truck. Loading the cases onboard Grailem sees that the truck is almost full and he can see nowhere inside to hide. Crawling under the truck he grasps hold of the back axle and wedges himself underneath and holds on tightly.
The truck leaves within a few minutes and Grailem is carried through the hangar to join a convoy of trucks that are heading for a large industrial area at the edge of the spaceport. The modern factories look out of place as the view from orbit just showed large residential buildings. With all their requirements coming from off planet they had no need to work; and if they did, the robot force would do it.
The truck heads ever deeper amongst the industrial buildings which all appear newly constructed. Driving into a large warehouse the truck pulls to a stop in front of a long line of service robots. As the robots unload the cargo Grailem drops to the ground and slowly edges his way out from under the truck.
Legs that are not robotic appear at the other side of the truck and Grailem rolls swiftly out. The warehouse is lined with machinery set out in a production line system. Not stopping to look if he has been seen Grailem runs across the warehouse and hides behind one of the larger machines. Keeping still he listens to the sounds of the robots unloading the cargo while two Arct talk expectantly about the new design of robot.

Grailem's hunch is right as he watches the modified robots made on the starship being unloaded. The robots are part of the two hundred and fifty thousand that will follow and the two Arct are eager to see the microchip installed. Instructing the robots to open the container that holds the new robots and taking two of them out they walk across the warehouse and lay them on two bright steel benches.
The Arct approach them with a robot behind them carrying a case of tools and the all important microchip's. The robot places the case on the end of one of the benches and walks back to help continue unloading.
Opening the case of tools the oldest looking Arct takes out an electronic tool that looks like a screwdriver. Taking hold of the tool in his hand he approaches the head of the robot. Unscrewing a plate on the top of the robots head with the electronic screwdriver the Arct removes it and lays it down onto the bench. Telling his companion, who he calls Thyne to pass him a microchip, he looks inside the robots head.
Thyne opens the casing holding the microchip and hands him one of Grailem's modified microchip‘s. Taking the microchip from his hand the older Arct pushes it into the receiver port inside the robots head and appearing confident he screws the plate back on. Pulling two electrodes out from the end of the bench he connects them to the head. Turning a switch on the bench the robot jolts as the shock of electricity hits it and it sits upright.
Turning off the switch and disconnecting the electrodes the Arct orders the robot to stand two metres from the bench. The robot immediately swings its legs off of the bench and stands upright; walking the three short steps the robot appears to have difficulty with its balance.
"What is wrong with it Kifele?" asks Thyne looking worried.
"They are always like that at the beginning, let it stand there for a few minutes to charge itself up and carry out a diagnostics check on itself. We will fit the other one as we need to test two before we report."
"How long have we got before the military arrive?"
"About three hours, they are travelling in one convoy with all the equipment; more than enough time to give these two a thorough test." replies Kifele with what Grailem assumes is a smile as he bares his mouth of sharp teeth.
Grailem gets behind the ever growing stack of goods as the truck is emptied and driven away. Looking round for a better hiding place Grailem can see none; the warehouse, newly constructed only contains the production line and two benches - and the goods that have been unloaded. The safest place will be outside, and would be a good test of one of the improvements he had made to his system.
Invisibility he knew as an impossibility but he had incorporated the next best thing. Designed by the military on his home planet, the front of his body could be converted into a large viewing screen. The back of his body was covered with a multitude of tiny camera's that transmitted the image to the front of his body. To look at him directly you would only see what is behind him, as long as Grailem stayed still he would not be seen.
Switching on the device he steps from behind the cargo and looks at the two Arct; so intent on their work fitting the microchip to the robot they do not see him. Grailem, keeps his face and front towards the two Arct as he walks sideways across the warehouse to the exit. Reaching the exit he has to turn his face to look outside; all is clear but the sudden appearance of the side of his head catches Kifele's eye.
Looking up sharply with alarm on his face he looks directly at Grailem, who, by then has turned and faced Kifele and remains motionless, using telepathy he tries to calm the agitated alien.
Staring at Grailem the alarm on the Arct's face turns to confusion as all he can now see is the warehouse wall and the open doorway.
"Are you all right?" asks Thyne appearing annoyed at Kifele having stopped working.
"I must be going mad, for a split second I was sure I could see the back of a humanoid head." replies Kifele looking worried.
"I told you there was something unnatural about those crispy fingers we had on the way here. They were twice the size of the normal fingers we have in cans; I bet they were grown on that moon in the Riptor sector." says Thyne with deep conviction.
"I fail to see how them being larger would make me see things, their size is due to the low gravity, how can that effect my eyesight?"
"It is what they feed them on, their size has nothing to do with low gravity; it is the chemicals they feed them on."
"But they taste so good, that does indicate they led happy lives." replies Kifele defensively.
"The taste is artificial, I think you will find that the flavour is supplied by the root of a vegetable that they grow on the same moon. With a little help from the genetics laboratory they then feed it to the humanoids so they taste natural."
"How do you know all this?" asks an annoyed Kifele. They had stopped at one of the most expensive restaurants on the way here at Kifele's expense. Earning a good salary he thought he would treat Thyne to a restaurant meal. He had been working with Thyne for several months now and had only ever seen him eat out of a can.
"Seen it on the Natural Channel, they talk a lot of sense about the artificial ingredients that we use."

Stepping out of the doorway the two Arct do not see Grailem as he walks alongside the new building. Reaching the end of the building he looks for somewhere to keep out of the way. Before him is obviously the target range; a wall five metres high and a metre thick stands at the end of the courtyard. Painted on it are circular targets mixed in with painted humanoid targets. The humanoids appear to be carrying large rifles and the artists have hidden them amongst the brown and green of the painted undergrowth.
Everything is newly built and it looks like the robot workforce has just left; as everywhere is so clean. At the end of the building two metres above the courtyard an observation platform has been built. Reached by a metal ladder the platform is enclosed in thick glass that is protected from the elements by a light absorbent roof.
Climbing the ladder Grailem keeps on climbing when he reaches the doorway and climbs up onto the roof. The roof is made of a tough material that does not bend or flex under his weight and he walks over to where the roof joins the side of the building. Lying down sideways, Grailem keeps his invisibility imaging turned on and faces forward. Remaining motionless and with a good view of the target range he waits for the Arct to show a demonstration of their power.

Twenty minutes later the two new robots come into view followed by the two Arct; Kifele and Thyne. The robots are carrying phaser weapons; a large barrelled rifle is clasped firmly in their hands and a small hand phaser is in a holster at their hips.
Kifele and Thyne walk quickly to the observation platform and