Submitted for the March 2025 prompt: Begin at the Big Ending

Adam’s mind rebelled against the sight of Mickey still standing before him — though clearly dead. The glowing hole through his chest, and through his central processor, left no doubt.

 

As if suddenly finding it too hot to hold, Adam dropped the pulse pistol onto the table beside him, scattering the pieces of a game of chess that would never be finished. Tears welled in his eyes as bile rose in his throat. He could hardly believe what he’d just done.

 

And yet… he did not regret it.

 

* * *

 

Five minutes earlier:

 

Mickey was just standing up from the board as Adam entered the room.

 

“I have made my next move,” the robot said by way of greeting. “I have captured one of your pawns with my queen’s side bishop, placing you in check. I assume you will once again require an extended period to consider your response.”

 

“You assume correctly,” Adam confirmed. “Hey, I’ll be stuck in meetings again this afternoon, so you’ll need to pick up Abby after school. Sue will want to take the car to her book club, so drive the pick-up. Oh, and grab Ma’s prescription from the pharmacy while you’re out.”

 

“Understood, Adam. Have a good day.”

 

With that, the robot turned and strode silently from the room.

 

“You’re getting worse at this instead of better,” Adam mumbled to himself as he leaned over the chessboard. “I would have sworn I had…”

 

His next words stuck in his throat as a startling realization dawned. The board was changed — and not by just one move. Although he was almost certain, he pulled out his phone and brought up the last picture he’d taken to study from. And there was his confirmation.

 

“Maybe Abby bumped the board,” he whispered, desperate to find an alternative explanation that might ease his growing dread. But no, that couldn’t have been it. Mickey would have recognized any change to the pieces immediately. Which could only mean he was responsible. He’d cheated. He’d broken a rule.

 

* * *

 

Five minutes earlier:

 

“Morning, Ma,” Adam said as he entered the kitchen, moving straight to the coffee pot.

 

“Seen the news?” she responded. “Somebody’s robot went crazy. Killed ‘em and half their family too.”

 

“Uh-huh. Let me guess, you got this from your Bling-Bling feed? Where everything is true.”

 

“Don’t be dissin’ my Bling-Bling. And for your information, wise-ass, it was right there on the TV just a minute ago. Damn thing got some big outdate from upstairs and went on a rampage.”

 

Adam shook his head as he scrounged the cabinet for a granola bar, glad he didn’t have time to let this turn into another full-blown debate. “It’s an update, Ma, not an outdate, and MechTech sends them all the time. Mickey got one yesterday too — they all did. But he’s fine. Robots aren’t like people. They can’t fly off the rails. They’re bound by the rules programmed into them. Period. Now I don’t know what was on the TV, but I’m sure there’s more to it than what you heard.”

 

Before he could leave the room, Adam’s mother blocked his way, jabbed a crooked finger into his nose, and said, “Now you listen here, and you listen good. I got my eye on that bugger. If he ever missteps around here, I mean one metal toe out of line, I’m going straight for that pulse pistol in your desk.”

 

“Excuse me? Ma, how do you know about that? Have you been snooping through the house when we’re all gone? That’s a very dangerous weapon. The only reason I’m allowed to keep it is because of my former service. I don’t want you ever looking for it again. Understand?”

 

Though she nodded as she walked away, Adam recognized full well that she didn’t mean it. He cursed himself for not hiding the key to the desk drawer better. If his mother could find it, then so could Abby — a chilling thought!

 

Even if it meant being late for work, he knew he couldn’t leave the house again until the situation with the pistol was resolved. He’d move it into the safe in the basement for now, he decided. It wasn’t accessible there if he ever actually needed it, but at least it would be secure until he figured something else out.

 

As he made his way through their home, Adam was consumed by the revelation of his mother's snooping — almost to the point where he forgot about the rest of their conversation.

 

But not quite.