Rowa-2's Arc

Chapter 1 of 7

Rowa-2 dragged a metal beam across the dusty ground, leaving twin grooves in the rust-colored dirt. The small robot's optical sensors glowed bright as they surveyed the empty lot ahead. This would be the place—a trading post for wanderers who had nowhere else to go. The robot worked through the next three days, welding beams together and hammering sheet metal into walls. Rowa-2 painted the exterior in bright desert colors—orange, yellow, and deep red. Real cacti grew wild nearby, so the robot dug up several and planted them along the front wall. Inside, Rowa-2 built a long bar from salvaged wood and set up tables made from old cargo crates. The Cacti-bar stood complete, its door propped open to the desert wind. Any outcast who passed through would find shelter here, and maybe something to trade. Rowa-2 stepped back outside and stared at the blank wall beside the entrance. Travelers needed a way to share news and leave messages for each other. The robot gathered hay from an abandoned stable down the road, bundling the dried stalks in metal arms. Back at the Cacti-bar, Rowa-2 pressed the hay tight against a wooden frame and secured it to the wall. The robot tested it by pinning a scrap of metal to the surface. It held. Now wanderers could post notices, trade requests, or warnings about the road ahead. The message board would connect people who had no other way to find each other. Rowa-2's optical sensors dimmed with satisfaction. The trading post was ready to welcome its first visitors. Behind the Cacti-bar, Rowa-2 cleared a patch of hard-packed earth. The robot hauled flat stones from a dry riverbed and laid them end to end, creating a long narrow beam close to the ground. Rowa-2 walked across it slowly, testing the balance. The stones held firm. Travelers could settle arguments here or show off their skills. Others could watch and decide who earned their respect. The robot stepped down and brushed dust from its metal hands. The Cacti-bar now had everything—shelter, trade space, a way to share news, and a place to prove yourself. Rowa-2 looked at what they had built and knew the outcasts would come. They always did.