The Cube.

---

"Bob, this decaf?"

"Yes, for the millionth time, Frank. Black. Decaf. No sugar. MANLY coffee."

"Damn right it is."

The two middle-aged and slightly pudgy police officers sat near a paper-ridden desk at their headquarters. It was 8:13 AM, and already they were bored out of their minds. And they were pretty sure that wasn't going to change any time soon.

Frank sipped his coffee, and prodded his partner with another question,

"Why the hell are we here this early? Shit, why the hell are we here at ALL?"

"Orders."

"Yeah, I know that, but why? I mean it's not like they need us as much as they used to. Damn Bot's just takin' over. Pretty soon they won't need any of us. The cops will all be made of metal and crazy junk like that!"

Bob rolled his eyes, "Maybe yours wasn't decaf...."

"Sorry man, it's just...."

"I getcha. I feel pretty darn useless too. Apparently, this is our duty now." He slapped his hand on the desk and a few papers fluttered to the ground.

"What is all this shit anyway? Reports?"

"Yeah, a lot of them are. Even with the new Bot, there's still a lot of crap goin' on out there, Franko. So we aren't totally useless then."

"Been weeks since I've seen any action. That cube-shaped Bot just gets it all."

"Yeah, but he really works. He's got a bit of an attitude for a metal box, though."

"You think they will make more of 'em?"

"Not anytime soon. I mean the prototype for this one took ages....but then again technology speeds up every day."

Frank shook his head, "It's crazy. It really is....Hey, what's the deal on those guys...those "Supers" or whatever?"

Bob took off his spectacles and rubbed them on his shirt, "THAT apparently is the big, on-going project that cube is working on."

"Dang! Well actually, if he's fixated on those guys, maybe the rest of us will get some action after all."

"Dunno, he's pretty good at..uh...."multi-tasking"."

Frank slapped his forehead, "Can't win."

"Yeah well....we'll see. There is always SOMETHING to do. Let's see if we can take care of these files and junk. Maybe clean up things a bit then for the chief."

Frank chuckled, "Looking for a promotion, kiss-ass?"

"Let's see if you're still laughing once I get one."
---


*****Meanwhile....somewhere in town******


"Pat, c'mon, this is cake for you."

"You mean PAN-cake for you."

"Shut up, Doc.
Pat c'mon, two more and we get the free motor-scooter!"

"Staub, somethin' tells me if Pat does this, YOU'RE gonna take the scooter."

Staub grinned widely at Doc. They were sitting in a booth at Mr. Sunnyside's Pancake Place, which apparently was giving away a brand new motor-scooter to whomever could conquer their "Fifty Pancake Gobble Up" challenge. Pat was almost as green as his alter-ego, Blerpman. But he wasn't feeling quite as energetic or powerful as him right now...

"Damn right I'm gonna use that scooter! I'm gonna get Boots and Yosh to rig it so it has little rockets on the side, so I can fly around.....Man, it really sucks Pat can't turn into Blerpman right now.....Fuck blending in...."

Just then Pat put his fork down and shoved the last pancake into his mouth.
Wincing, he swallowed.
And then put his head down on the table.

"HEY ALRIGHT!!! He did it!" Doc cheered.

"Awesome!! Good job Pat. How're you feelin'?"

Pat lifted his head, and belched.
"Ughhh...well. A bit better now..."

"Whoo man, fifty pancakes....That alone proves you're a superhero...haha." Doc got up and patted him on the back. Pat burped again.

"Don't slap any harder there, man. Or there will be much more than burps comin' out."

"And it will probably come out and hit me." Staub remarked.

Doc was grinning now, "Well in THAT CASE..."

And as he went to slap Pat harder on the back, a woman shrieked outside the building. The three of them got up and ran to the window, just in time to see something whiz by with a handbag.

"What the..."

"..Fuck?"

Pat turned to Doc and Staub, "What the hell was that?"

"Looked like a hairy man thing....you think it was...." Staub looked over at Doc.

"Oh shit. You mean another one of those "were-things" that people have been reporting about? Who the fuck is makin' these things?" Doc shouted.

"Um, guys I dunno, but while we're arguing, that wolf-assed thing is getting away!" Pat smacked Doc and Staub on the back of their heads, "LET'S MOVE IT!"

But as soon as they had gotten outside, everything was already over. Down the street, not even a block, they saw a crowd. As they approached it, and wove their way through to the center, they saw the creature was down. Its neck was broken, and a very happy woman was being handed back her bag.....by a robot.

A cube-shaped robot.

It had long, thin metal appendages, functioning as arms and legs, obviously. The cube itself was a well-polished looking metallic box. It had a round light, glowing bright purple at its center on one side (this being the eye), and it winked at the woman,
"Please be more careful with your things, Miss."

Doc, turned to Pat,

"Oh FUCK it's the cube...We gotta split before he notices us."

"Good plan....wait. Where's Staub?"

Pat and Doc looked around, and at that moment, they saw Staub come buzzing down the street on a brand-new motor scooter.

Pat pushed him off, "At least give me the first ride, you jerk. C'mon we need to get out of here."

Doc pulled a blue disc out of his pocket, pushed a red button on top of it and it turned into large surf-board-looking contraption,

"Right. Get on, Staub."

"Dude, once we get rockets on that scooter, I'm totally racing you."

"Done. Now shut that mouth of yours and let's get the hell out of here."


With that, the three companions shot off,

but they didn't leave unnoticed.


There was a singular, glowing purple eye watching them as they sped away...