[Freezair]

"Oh, god, not 'Still Alive' again," Cuddles snorted. "I know all the words to that song, and I don't even like it. Play something different."

She did not add that she did not want to hear anything having to do with robots or computers. She almost felt as if HEO had chosen that song to tease her.

[8]

[Freezair]

Sighting, HEO rotated the music dial on his chest. The sound of rain suddenly appeared in the air; several small creatures turned their heads in confusion. Cadpig was among them; she spun and fell on her haunches, looking for the rain.

The pattering sound was absorbed into the happy, upbeat sounds of a man singing. The jazzy melody made the little dog bob her head. HEO swiveled back and forth on his feet, dancing to the groove.

[9]

[Freezair]

Cuddles became even more vexed. She hadn't exactly been looking for "happy," either.

In protest, she peeled away at her own built-in music player. She adjusted the dial until she found a man screaming. What he was saying, what song it was, that was all irrelevant--just so long as she had some contrast. As long as she could be contrary, she was happy.

[9]

[Freezair]

"Oh brother, sis," HEO sighed. "I guess it's war, then."

Cadpig slouched and came to a dead stop. She put her head down and shoved her paws on top of her ears.

HEO cranked the volume up on an exceptionally loud and peppy version of "Witch Doctor." He sung along--off-key, but he was more interested in volume. He howled the nonsense lyrics as loud as he could.

[10]

[Freezair]

Cuddles retaliated. She blasted a loud, dramatic song. She turned it up so far that the individual sounds within it became indistinguishable--the lyrics would have been anyway, thanks to the way the vocalist sang them, but she didn't care. She listened to the song for its cathartic value, not because she enjoyed it.

Cadpig was howling in distress.

[10]

[Freezair]

The musical war followed the two androids all the way into town, their howling puppy adding her own disharmony to the mix. Both of them were trying to pick the most obnoxious songs now. HEO was being chased around by an absurd and annoying novelty song from a late 80's TV show. He would fling his chest in the direction of Cuddles from time to time, trying to unnerve her.

As they passed beyond the Nabias city limits, several villagers found themselves hunkering down with their hands over their ears.

[11]

[Freezair]

A Gyrophant woman, carrying two baskets of groceries on her horns, hollered out at Cuddles. "Sakes alive! Turn that infernal racket down! You're disturbing the peace!"

"I'll disturb your peace," Cuddles muttered saucily. But she had to remember the MISSION OBJECTIVES. She could not Engage the ENEMY while she was on this MISSION. If she did so, she would FAIL. And although she was a bitter and jealous robot, she was not programmed to enjoy the sensation of FAILing.

[11]

[Freezair]

Of the two, HEO was more likely to head the recommendations of the townsfolk to turn off the music. But, like his sister, he was stubborn, and if he turned off his music, she would see it as a way of him backing down. He couldn't back down!

Everything except the music--and the howling Cadpig--was quiet. People were rushing inside their homes and stores, slamming their windows and jamming fingers into their ears to drive out the riotous noise. HEO tried to bob happily to his favorite tunes, but this was difficult when he felt the conspicuous emptiness of the street staring at him.

[12]

[Freezair]

Cuddles passed a fishmonger's stand. An unmanned, empty fishmonger's stand, but a critical place for them to achieve one of their MISSION OBJECTIVES nonetheless. She approached it and began to bang on the ground with her broad, flat feet. Not that the sound could be heard over the screaming singers in her chest. Not that it could be felt, either--the entire air buzzed with the ruckus she and her brother were making.

"HEY, YOU!" she screamed. It was a whisper in the face of a hurricane. "SOMEBODY COME AND SELL US SOMETHING!"

[12]

[Freezair]

"I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S HERE!" HEO screamed back.

Putting her nose to the ground, the curious Cadpig sniffed at the stone. Aside from the tangy smell of seawater and fish, she picked up something. Her snout ran along the cracks in the cobbled road, and she nosed her way into the rear of the booth. She barked, trying to be heard above the noise.

[13]

[Freezair]

"HEY, HEO! THE PIG'S FOUND SOMETHING!"

Cuddles jabbed a paw in the direction of the stand. Sitting proud over her prize, Cadpig thumped her tails into the ground. Beneath her, a woman cowered from the incredible sound.

[13]

[Freezair]

"EXCUSE ME! MA'AM?" HEO leaned over the rim of the stall. His paws sunk into the ice packing the fish. "EXCUSE ME! COULD YOU HELP US, PLEASE?"

"TURN OFF THAT BEASTLY MUSIC, AND WE'LL SEE!" she shouted back.

Cadpig prodded the woman's shoulder with her paw.

[14]

[Freezair]

Well, that did that, Cuddles thought. The music was impeding their MISSION OBJECTIVE. They would have to turn it down in order not to FAIL.

Unwilling to face the displeasure of FAILing, Cuddles was the first to concede. She spun her tunes all the way down, as far as they could go. Then she hit the button that turned them off. She buttoned up the flap concealing her speakers and tried to look dignified.

She waited for HEO to follow.

[14]

[Freezair]

HEO simply punched his music off. He looked smugly back at his sister. He had won this round--sort of. He was worried that, as their game had been forcibly ended by their duty to their MISSION, he hadn't truly won.

"There," the exasperated woman said. She stood, Cadpig yipping happily at her heels, and brushed off the front of her smock. Her hair was frizzy with stress.

"Now. Did you two robotic hooligans need something?"

[15]

[Freezair]

Cuddles grinned. She found herself liking this woman. She found herself liking this woman a lot.

Smooth as she pleased, Cuddles leaned over into the ice.

"This hooligan here," she said, pointing at HEO, "needs a couple'a pounds of haddock and maybe some cod. This hooligan," and she pointed at herself, "stands back and apologizes for what she's done. I am quite sorry, ma'am." Cuddles bowed insincerely.

[15]