**CONFIDENTIAL**
[OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF: TEST # 01-01-012]
[UNIT: ZED-X-2000]
CONTROL: Tower, prepare to engage on my mark.
TOWER: Confirmed.
CONTROL: Three . . . two . . . one . . . mark.
TOWER: Initiating start up sequence. Unit is responding to commands.
CONTROL: Open bay doors and release the restraining harness.
TOWER: Confirmed.
CONTROL: Let ‘em at it, boys.
TOWER: Unit is exiting the bay and targeting the enemy. Unit has engaged and . . . Neutralized! Three zombies down. Repeat: three zombies taken down. Unit is recalibrating and engaging again. Four more targets neutralized!
Huh. One of them looked like the lead guitarist for Brainz. What’s his name? Steve Slaughter?
CONTROL: Head in the game, soldier.
TOWER: Uh, yes, sir. Unit is performing to spec. Zombies are being eradicated with precision. Was that a football player? Um, anyway, the unit is dropping them like flies.
Uh-oh. Control we have a problem.
CONTROL: Report.
TOWER: Radiation levels are increasing at an alarming rate. Unit is still operational at this point, but wait . . . Radiation levels have reached the tipping point. Unit has engaged the distress protocol. This is not good, Control.
CONTROL: Elaborate, Tower.
TOWER: The distress protocol dictates that the unit return to base. If the radiation levels continue to climb, the unit will essentially turn into a bomb. And it’s heading straight back to the bay.
CONTROL: Can you override the protocol?
TOWER: Negative, sir. The protocol is hardwired. We are lowering the bay doors to prevent the unit from entering the bay.
CONTROL: Excellent.
TOWER: Unit has made contact with the closed bay doors. Oh, God. Unit has breached the doors. Its coming in!
CONTROL: Evacuate! Get the hell out of there!
TOWER: Attempting to initiate shut-down sequence. If I can turn off the unit before the radiation levels reach critical mass . . .
CONTROL: Save yourself, soldier! Forget about the damned machine!
TOWER: Almost there. Just one more . . . No.
[SOUNDS OF EXPLOSIONS FOLLOWED BY RADIO STATIC]
CONTROL: Tower? Report! Lieutenant Murphy, do you read me? Murphy! MURPHY!!
[END TRANSCRIPT]
FILE PHOTO
You heard it here first, folks. Zombies are out. Robots are in.
Although, I couldn’t resist one last appearance of my undead friends. I will never, truly, be over them. Bless their festering little hearts.
Yes, my 2012 calendar is 12 months of make-your-own robot pals. Believe me, I looked everywhere for another zombie calendar, to no avail. However, I like robots. I’m into sci-fi just as much as I am horror, so robots are right up my alley.
I admit, crafting stories involving robots will be a little difficult. Robots lack the, um, personality of zombies, but I am up to the challenge. I hope I can continue to entertain you with my new mechanical minions as I did with my zombie horde.
Welcome to 2012, dear readers! I am looking forward to spending another year with you all.
(And how are you digging the new layout? Like it? Or kill it with fire?)
I am the First to “Like” this post.
LOVE the new look. The yellow and black screams “CAUTION! ENTER at your own RISK!”
And so, I have.
The sequence of events recorded and recovered in the Towers Black Box is most excellent! Feels completely different from your usual tone and style. Sure, robots will be difficult,but I am sure they can be programmed with personality, no?
Nice to see you back at the Controlls, Amy
Only the brave shall pass. And you are brave.
Well, since I am “in charge” my robots will probably have some personality programmed in.
Good to be back, Spectra!
Head in the game, Amy. Head in the game.
A sense of calm has come over me now, knowing you found a calendar to carry us through the year. Though I do not want to wish my life away, I look forward to February 1st.
Do you watch Eureka? I love that show.
I am focused, Lenore. Eye of the tiger and all that.
I am not an avid watcher of Eureka, but I have seen a few episodes and I did like it. It’s one of those that I will probably watch the whole series in three days when it comes out on Netflix. Cause watching a show a week at a time is for wussies.
Let the Robot Apocalypse begin!
Doesn’t have the same ring, but brings a sort of gritty reality since machines will probably control us before zombies do. They’ll start with iPhones and laptops and Pinterest, and they’ll slowly control our minds. Oh, wait… that’s already happening.
Have to say – I was a little stunned by the new design when I initially saw it. It’s bold. It’s in your face. It’s…. yellow. But it suits you to a T. Not that you’re yellow, but you’re definitely colorful. Way to rocket. Way to rock it. Way to ring in a new year, Amy!
Yeah. It is already kind of like Maximum Overdrive. “Who made who,” indeed.
It is yellow. I’ve thought about washing out the yellow a bit, but I kind of like it bright for now. I do think it suits me. Especially with all the &@!$? going on in the background. It’s like cartoon swearing. Which is kinda me in a nutshell.
Domo arrigator Mr. Roboto!
Welcome back, liking the new layout!
DOMO(domo) DOMO(domo)
Thanks, Oma! It’s good to be back and the new layout is a good change of pace.
Welcome back Mr. Kotter (said Kah Tear). It’s great to see you and I totally dig the new layout! And I loved the story. Oh how I’ve missed you
.
Aw! I’ve missed you, too! Thank you!
I can’t say I’m surprised at the demise of our rotting, red-mouthed friends. They have suffered a similar fate on the Copeland blog. I actually asked our readers if they were interested in hearing about them and received a resounding NO. Life moves on. We are all about the skeletons now anyway.
Happy New Year Amy!
Change is good. I like change. Out with the rotting and in with the robotic. I do have all my zombie pals displayed on a bookshelf in my living room. They do still make me smile.
Happy New Year to you, Doug!
Ooooo…I like the new design that goes with the unveiling of your robots!
Picking a new theme is right up there with picking a paint color for the living room – I debated for hours. Glad you like it!
As I get into this presidential race a bit late, I am not wasting my time in the zombie precincts. They have no sense of responsibility and would rather slurp blood than go to the voter stations. You can depend on the robots to get out there and vote so you gotta put your chips with them.
Plus, you can program the robots to vote however you wish!
Lovin’ the last zombie piece. Hmmm and traveling into Asimov territory this year? A giant leap of the end of mankind. I like it.
Have to say enjoy the new layout as well.
The only thing that should be killed with fire is my sister. As she is barely literate professional trophy wife I’m in no danger of a hate letter.
Rock on in 2012
Sci-fi kills as many people as zombies, so it’s right up my alley.
And, I don’t know your sister, but your description of her has me wanting to light a match.
Having been honored to meet your little robot hero face to face; not to mention the hushed and awe inspiring visit to the twelve months of zombie shrine you have in your home, I can only say “Bring It ON!!!” You know my never dying loyalty to the Terminator (original movie, thank you), and having watched it bozillion times I can only hope you and the potential of the still unknown calendar army of robotic marvels will live up to my expectations.
As for the yellow, sunny but probably not my favorite. The font is electrifying. I would like to see the whole shebang.
Thanks for sharing the Peach/Apple/Carp Drop with me.
Welcome back to the blogosphere, and welcome to your little robo-friends. Looking forward to meeting more of them in the months to come.
Very cool, new look for the new year. I’m considering a change, but I’m scared of change, so instead I just whimper in the corner.
I love change. I’m always wanting to re-arrange my furniture and change color schmemes. I’d change my blog theme every week if I didn’t know that it would drive people batty!
I like that the letters in your blog’s title are impaled on pointy things.
It’s a metaphor for how I like to bring a touch of torture to my art. Or, it was a pretty, free font that I downloaded. One of those.