Competition: [Life Day Celebration IV] Tis the Bounty, Fa-la-la…

Good enough to ensure participation if I don't get to finish this properly with the holiday rush.

Puck 2

Here is my fiction submission for the comp. I selected Puck Three as my prompt.

Had my English Major wife proof this submission for me.

Puck 2

"Executing System Boot. Loading... Loading... Ten percent... Twenty Percent... Fourty Percent... Seventy Percent... Sixty Seven Percent..."

"Wait what?" Creon responded.

"A fatal error has occurred. This program will now shut down. Would you like to send a report?"

"No. Don't send a report."

"Sending report..."

"Dank farrick! Now I have to wait fifteen minutes for absolutely nothing!"

"Amused response: Oh master, I was just executing my comedic subroutine programming for your amusement. HK-55 fully online."

"How amusing..." Creon said with a unamused tone and given facial expression.

"Serious Inquiry: How might I be only service, master?"

Creon cleared his throat, "It's time for your first mission, fifty-five. You're hunting a Rancor."

Data from the galactic network downloaded and was analyzed by HK-55's processor over detailed information regarding the nomenclature "Rancor" upon receiving the keyword's audio input.

"Apathetic Compliance: A trivial protocol. You need not make my first mission an easy one."

"It's not about measuring your functional capabilies. It's simply what's currently available. Believe me, when the opportunity presents itself we'll see how well you perform in more difficult circumstances. But for now, we are hunting a Rancor. Follow me to the hangar to introduce you to the ship you'll be piloting."

The two marched through imperial designed hallways of the ____. Upon reaching the hangar bay Creon pointed over to the only Firespray-class model docked on the platform.

HK-55's photoreceptors scanned the ship and crossreferenced it with data found on the network and downloaded information affiliated with the model.

"Grateful Exclamation: Master, you are too kind. Such a prestigious extension for my operational functions!"

"It has a droid brain installed to handle subroutine functions, one of which over time will be further developed and optimized to your preferences. You have full rights as an Administrator, save for overwriting myself as priority Administrator. I hope you two develop a capable symbiotic relationship, you'll need it to be successful. I'll be going with you, monitoring your progress and observing how you work. After a few successes that gives me the vote of confidence, you'll then be going on missions given from me independently."

"Neutral Response: Understood master."

The two opened the hangar and walked through to the cargo hold. HK-55 stopped to scan the entirety of the internal features of the ship, and took a longer moment to observe the swoop bike.

"Analysis Report: Data not found on this model. Yet it's engineering is of a measure far improved by standard issues."

"Yes. This bike is a custom make, you'll need to acclimate yourself to it with customized programming. There is no pre-made software for handling this like there would be a standard bike model. But for now, let's focus on the mission. Take us to where the mission details states to go."

Two Hours Later

Both Creon and HK-55 stood outside a dark cavern outside of a swamp near the village which called for the bounty. Insects sang to the night sky with only the light of twin moons illuminating the field.

"Well... scouts from the village reported this is where it's made it's den. Are you going to go in?" Creon asked.

"Explanation: If its fine by you, master, I should like to set up an ambush by luring the creature outside, then using the Firespray's turrets to destroy it from above."

Creon yawned and turned back to walk back to the ship that had been parked approximately three hundred meters away, "That's fine. Wait for me to get strapped into the ship just in case I need to be a gunner."

"Informative Response: The caliber of the Firesprays' turrets are confirmed capable of killing a Rancor with a single shot."

Creon didn't respond but simply took off with his jetpack to the parked spaceship.

HK 55 waited patiently, with every other minute or so firing it's grenade launcher rounds into the cavern to stirr the slumbering beast from it's solace. The first explosion came with a curdled growl, the next a warning groan, and the third a howling roar. The Rancor then emerged from the shadows just as the firespray rose from the horizon. The creature looked at HK, then back up to the ship and remained fixed on it. HK-55 gave a silent command directly sent to the ship's droid brain to open fire on the target. Two turret beams blasted from the guns on both sides and made its mark on the Rancor. It screamed in pain before falling silent after collapsing to the ground.

"Declaration: Mission Accomplished. A trivial success." HK-55 relayed to the ship's communication system for Creon to hear.

"Well done, HK-55. Let's go get paid for it."

"Eager Entitlement: Am I due a sum for my efforts? Only for a simple request for a humble oil bath, master?"

"You will get 50/50 until you start doing bounties without my oversight, then it's only fair you get the majority share."

"Enthusiastic Ambition: This fits my primary programming perfectly. I am ready for the next task!”

Unfortunately ran out of time focusing on other stuff, had to just make it to 500 words and call it