One-Of-A-Kind Meta-Clone-O-Matic

Hey Kid Mk. 6 slows down ever so slightly...

"Sorry, Amelie! I know, I'll run somewhere else so you won't be able to see the scuff marks that I leave behind! Great idea! Okaygottagobye!"

They take off in a flash, leaving a trail of scuff marks in their wake!

Lady Sheridan is impressed, "My my, that was impressive. Seems those young circuits of yours are handling things quite well." She wheels over and knocks on Hey Kid’s door.

"Pardon me is Hey Kid in there? If so maybe you can tell us how many of you are in there?" She might have said more but a beam of light from the window hits her arm and it lights up on fire! "Oh drat, could you close the shade please dear Amelie?"

The door opens and Hey Kid pokes their head out! Well, its must be Wednesday, September 15th today, because on Wednesdays, this Hey Kid wears pink! "Oh, hello, Ms. Sherry, Ms. Yola, Mx. Amelie. Have you come to play with me? I have so many cool toys and action figures and games in here! Come on, let's have some fun together! I've always wanted some older playmates!" Hey Kid Episode IV: A New Pink giggles and twirls in their pretty dress.

"Dear me! I think they are cracking wise about our age," Yola says, clucking her leafy tongue.

Amelie is pleasantly surprised by the pink Hey Kid’s manners. "My, what a polite child. I do not know whether I am older. I was assembled fairly recently, but have no recollection of my time in storage. You seem to be approximately a decade older, but today you are renewed.

"Oh, but the ladies are older than us both, so you must mean them."Whoopsie is what Amelie would think to themself, if only they were aware of how their philosophical monologue about age might have come off to the very person who has repeatedly complimented the maid-bot and called them ‘young.’

Though the android has no clue, a human observer might feel as if Amelie had a problem with being called ‘older’ and dropped that problem in Lady Sheradin’s lap.

Lady Sheridan is indeed old, she and her friend Yola go back to Victorian times. "I think they are cracking wise Yola dear and young Amelie has joined in. Tsk..tsk, well it’s good that I have a sense of humor else I might decide to do something about it."

Her bark is worse than her bite, especially since her tooth broke long ago. She wheels in and adds, "In any case, since we are the elders do allow us the choice of games hmm?"

She doesn’t take no for an answer and sets up a proper tea party. She ensues every one is seated correctly and details appropriate items for tea party etiquette. Somehow she ensures everything goes just like she wants it to.

"Yay! I love tea parties. Let me put on my tea bonnet!" Hey Kid IV says, rummaging through their closet for a pretty pink hat with a bow on it that matches their dress. They sit demurely at the table Sherry sets, following the rules of etiquette and lifting their pinky as they sip at the tasty tea.

"Oh, this is ever so much fun! We should play like this forever..." Hey Kid with a hint of an ominous undertone.

"If I had to do one thing forever, a never-endi g tea party would be a delightful option."

Amelie thinks this Hey Kid is quite the Hey-Kid-Upgrade. They might be the easiest to work with."Such dainty cups and saucers to clean, orderly settings, napkins should be swan-shaped…" they go on dreamily while folding linen napkins into swans…

Hey Kid IV grins at Amelie. "Oh, yeah. I think we should invite somebody else to our tea party!" They glance through the open doorway as Sal is walking by. "Hey, Sal! Fancy some tea?"

Sal quirks an eyebrow at the scene in Hey Kid's room. "Uh, no thanks. I'm good."

"Oh, come on! I insist," Hey Kid says. They rush over to Sal and practically shove him into the room. Suddenly, they race all around the room in a flurry of activity, grabbing ribbons, bows, and clothes from their closet. A cloud of dust obscures Sal, and when it clears, he is surprised to find himself dressed in a quite demure ensemble of a floral dress and sun hat! Hey Kid IV shoves a chair beneath him and pushes him to the table, then smiles sweetly as they pour a cup of tea for Sal. "Yay! You look simply marvelous, darling!" Hey Kid IV says sweetly.

Sal blinks at the tea cup in his hand. "What just happened?"

Lady Sheridan is quite happy to enjoy a little tea party. The finer points of malicious gossip aren't to be had in this genial atmosphere but, there is something to be said for having a nice spot of tea with friends. She does, of course, inquire more. "Now usually Hey Kid is not so concerned with such fancy activities or a fond moment of talk among friends. Why do you think this has changed for you?"

Her own cup gets a pour of tea from a different pot. One that pours a darker red in color with a ferrous scent.

"Because I’m a clone, of course," Hey Kid IV says matter of factly. "I know where I came from, but I don’t want to go back. There are so many wonderful toys and games here! You won’t make me go back, will you?" They look up with big, glittering eyes.

Amelia assures the well-dressed Hey Kid, "We need to gather you and the others together. But to discontinue your existence is to do harm.

"I cannot do harm." They are quite certain that murder is in direct violation of Be Polite to Guests code under the Always section.…but Amelie’s matter-of-factual reply might not have been the best response to Hey Kid IV’s puppy doe eyes.

"Hooray!" Hey Kid IV says, jumping up to give Amelie a big hug. "You rock, Amelie! Just like Neutron Gal! Here, let me show you my favorite action figure of her. It's the Limited Edition Neutron Gal Plus with Real Rocket-Firing Backpack! I promise not to shoot your eye out!" The pink Hey Kid drags Amelie over to their toy shelf, their spirit unburdened."Wait, there are Hey Kid clones?" Sal asks, apparently slow on the uptake. He frowns and takes a dainty sip of his tea.

Amelie feels good about rocking. They will continue to rock. "This is an excellent collection. Might I suggest you and the clone in orange merge this gathering? I have reserved the room that sportsball-viewing guest normally acquire. It has comfortable furniture and ample space for snacks, making it the ideal place for a larger tea party.

"A tea bonanza, if you will." The maid-bot considers a moment… and according to a quick data analysis, it is highly likely that coziness is preferable. A tea party is dainty by default settings.

However, what is undesirable is a poorly decorated event. And the sportsball viewing room is a man-cave with houseplants. "If it is not too much to ask, Hey Kid ver. Pink-point-oh, would you be willing to accept the position of Decorator-in-Chief?"

Hey Kid IV’s eyes sparkle. "Oh, yes, Mx. Amelie! That sounds lovely! I’ll go find my orange associate right now!" They skip off into the B&B."Looks like you got this, right?" Sal says, attempting to avoid having to take responsibility for anything.

Lady Sheridan watches them go and nods slowly, "You’re doing quite the job Amelie. I am glad I don’t normally do this but, it’s been nice to adventure again. Now that we have two in one place shallwe endeavor to gather the others into the same locale?" She wheels along into the hall to listen for more children.

To Sal she says, "I could do with a top up on my tea. Do you think you’d volunteer to be drained a bit? If not I am sure Amelie, Yola, and I can manage."

As Sherry wheels into the hallway, she is nearly bowled over as Hey Kid Mk. 6 dashes past her! "My bad, Miss Sherry! I’m in a hurry!" they call as they blur by.

"Why, thank you, Lady Sheridan," Amelie replies. They have no idea why Sal is being asked to pour tea what with me being pleased to serve and all, but the robo-maid will not question a woman of such prestige.

So she goes on, "I believe that is the optimal sol—"

A striped blur comes too close to a collision. The idea light bulb that sometimes pops up from their scalp rises, illuminating the hall with is amber brilliance. "A yellow light means proceed with caution," the inform the kid.

"Ahem, that’s Lady Sheridan young one. While I may allow Yola the privilege to address me less formally it is because we are dear friends. Now, what say you follow Amelie’s advice and then perhaps head somewhere more amenable to running?

Lif is treating her poorly today as once again it seems a beam of light hits her arm and flames start up again. She flops a napkin on the blaze and apologizes as the smoke alarm goes off. "Apologies Amelie dear, my condition is just acting up today."

The red Hey Kid does slow down a bit at Amelie's yellow light, but when Sherry catches on fire, they zip past her and off to another part of the B&B too quick to follow!

"No apology is necessary, Lady Sheradin."

Amelie then examines the floor. The maid-bot appears to grin. "Scuff marks."

They follow the trail that will lead to the elusive Hey Kid Mk.6!