Camera shy short duster – Tales of the courier.
Smile for the camera. But not too wide. Also keep it tight. Don’t want the robot to catch on. Smile for the camera and then start the ride. Welcome to the new safer road experience. 1courier grins. Nothing like a load of spin to start the delivery. He downshifts the ride, and then doesn’t. Apparently there is no way to downshift anything in this new experimental equipment. It’s all up to the robot. 1courier floors the accelerator, expecting the familiar sound of rubber being shredded on the pavement. What happens instead can only be described as a bitter disappointment.
With this in mind, the new delivery vehicle has an issue or two. 1courier looks over at the m-com link when he hears the ding from the device. It’s too early in the delivery for HQ to be calling. He checks the m-com link expecting a delivery update. Instead, he discovers a new citation for frivolously wasting fuel by pressing the accelerator to the floor. He stares at the device while fighting the urge to fling it out the window. Immediately it dings again. He just received another citation for taking his eyes off the road.
Camera Shy
“What the…seriously!?” 1Courier scowls, and puts the device back in the center console before he gets another blasted citation. Then he studies the dash, carefully making sure his eyes appear to be on the road at all times. Somewhere there is a camera and the robot watches. He’s not camera shy, but he is annoyed. 1Courier toys with the idea of a gesture, but doesn’t want to find out if there’s a bird citation. Right away he makes up his mind to return the ride to HQ. They can keep their pilot program. Furthermore, they can keep their ride.
The delivery drop-off is still ten minutes away when he notices the station. It’s one of those deluxe models. Lots of fuel bays, and an on-site diner. The fuel gauge is low and this might be his last chance to get fuel before the night falls. Although it is uncommon to stop while en route to a drop-off, he can’t risk running out of fuel before the drop-off. Besides what is HQ going to do, issue another citation? For stopping to get fuel? 1Courier rolls his eyes and doesn’t floor the accelerator pedal.
Short duster
Five minutes later and the fueling is almost complete. While the tank gets the fuel 1Courier casually studies the dash through the windshield. Fortunately, the fuel depot is also a convenience store. Therefore, he was able to find some tape. Going to tape that robot right on up. In fact, 1Courier decides that he is camera shy after all. As soon as he finds the cameras, problem solved. Three minutes later he’s fueled and ready to go. He starts the ride and puts it in gear. However, it won’t go in gear. From the center console he hears a familiar ding.
He feels that overwhelming urge to fling it out the window again. What could it possibly be this time. With his ire rising, he picks up the m-com link. The vehicle is in pause mode. 1Courier stares hard at the device. Pause mode. Apparently the vehicle detects his elevated blood pressure and the rise in his heartbeat. This created a security precaution and the robot disabled the vehicle until 1Courier calms down. His hand automatically snaps into position to give the gesture, but at the last second he refrains. He still has a delivery to complete. And tape to use.
Tales of the Courier
Five minutes, and one eternity later, the vehicle allows itself to be put into gear. 1Courier doesn’t slam the pedal to the floor. Therefore, he doesn’t shred the tires as he leaves the parking lot. Damn robot. Furthermore, he is now three minutes late to the drop-off. And he’s still five minutes away from the drop-off location. Perhaps there will be a survey. Maybe HQ will want some feedback on the new vehicle. If so, 1Courier knows exactly where to begin.
The road is a story all its own. Some say it goes on forever. Maybe it does, but the only way to know, is to move fast enough to reach the end. Before time runs out. Most couriers are driven, but not all couriers drive. 1Courier enjoys driving. At least, he did until today. Although, the journey is the gem, there’s something to be said for the chariot as well. This one is not cool. It is still watching him too. He can feel it. There is still no obvious camera that he can see. Maybe he’s not the only one who’s camera shy.
Camera Shy Duster
The object is lightning quick when it hits the road. It lands just in front of 1Courier. It is a deer, and a frightened one at that. He slams the brakes, and pulls hard on the wheel. The vehicle swerves dangerously, and he spins the wheel to counter the slide. The scared creature bolts across the road. A moment later, and it’s safely to the other side, and then out of sight. 1Courier straightens the direction of the vehicle and does not slam the accelerator pedal to the floor. He grins, because he might be getting the hang of this. Then comes an all too familiar ding from the center console.
“Official: Citation for reckless lane change. Citation for aggressive brake pedal abuse. Citation for profanity while behind the wheel.”
1Courier stares at the m-com link. He blinks. Slowly… Down the highway goes a vehicle. It moves along slightly slower than the rest of the traffic. Then, a small blinking device flies out the window, and lands in pieces on the road. The vehicle continues down the highway. Rude gesture and all. *To be continued
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