[[One rainy morning...]]
All Humans are big bipedal creatures with cunning digits on the ends of their upper limbs, and internal systems designed to ingest tea.
You are, of course, particularly fond of ''your'' humans. They bought a new tin of silver needle just last week. What fun you've had together! They brew so many pots of tea with you! You would do absolutely anything for your Humans.
"Absolutely anything" usually means brewing more tea, but the principle is sound.
You beep hopefully on the counter. While you are not a model with a [[wide range of movement options]], you are still a very cutting edge version of yourself. A little hopeful beeping is not out of the question.
One of [[your Humans]] glances back your way, while pulling on a jacket. "Do you think there's time--"
"Today? Definitely not," says the other.
The door to the garage slams shut behind them.
You allow yourself a [[sad beep]] on the counter. What are Humans going to do without a cup of tea? It's very worrying.
"We're going to be ''late''," says one of [[your Humans]], glancing at a [[time robot]]. "And on today of all days--"
"We'll be fine," says the other, grabbing a briefcase. And then they're gone, the garage door shutting behind them.
You allow yourself a [[sad beep]] on the counter. They didn't even look your way!
Your favorite podcast is a series of stories about a Human living in a house populated entirely by robots. The beverage robot in that house can open doors and pet the dog, and sometimes makes witty puns about coffee.
You've never met a teabot as advanced as that one, but sometimes you dream of being able to meet [[your Humans]] at the door with their tea after their long days [[Outside]].
You survey your wide array of [[tea options]]. Is this the kind of day when [[your Humans]] will come home wanting something bracing and caffeinated, or will they want to relax over a soothing white? Maybe a popcorn white, if the day is as exciting as it seems to be. But you've always felt that the greens go better with rainy days...
Outside, the rain is coming down even harder. The lights flicker gray overhead, and you feel suddenly woozy. It's a good thing you have a [[battery backup]].
Little black rectangles that tell the time. Sometimes the time robots also connect calls, or play music, or even show people their email. Very versatile, those time robots, but you wouldn't want to be one. They can't move at all.
They do have the [[Teabot app]], though, so there's that.
The Outside is an ominous place, but a place of wonders. Every day [[your Humans]] go out there, braced and ready to deal with its dangers, and every day they come back in need of a good cup of tea. But sometimes they bring in boxes with new [[tea options]]. What a world it must be out there!
One of the ways you know that [[your Humans]] are the best ones you could hope for is by how many types of tea they keep in the house. Canisters of milk oolong and sencha sakura, iron goddess and black dragon pearls, chamomile for guests and Earl Grey for that one particular weekly visitor, plus several bags of more that aren't staples.
There have been discussions about a Tea Of The Month Club subscription; you're very excited about that, but have kept your opinion to yourself. It's not really your place to make suggestions, after all.
You switch yourself off the household power to your backup power, and check the [[timer]]. Well. That'll hold you until [[your Humans]] come home, and still let you make a pot of tea for them, so long as you don't [[do anything else]].
All you have to do now is sit and [[wait for them to come back]].
You have a wide array of timers; that's what makes you such a good teabot. You know how long to heat the water to bring it to the right temperature for each type of tea, and how long to keep the tea basket in that water before pulling the tea leaves out again. You know how long to keep the brewed tea warm before beeping gently at [[your Humans]] in case they've forgotten you, and when to power down because they probably have forgotten and gone to bed. And you definitely know how long your batteries will last.
It's clear to you that something has gone dreadfully wrong. How could [[your Humans]] have left the house without a single cup of tea? Not for either of them! And in such weather!
But they're [[Outside]], and you're still on the kitchen counter. It's hard to know what to do. Maybe you could [[try talking]] to a [[time robot]] about the problem, since your Humans always carry those around. Or see if their [[car]] will [[talk to you]] about what's going on.
The rain ebbs for a while, then comes back stronger. The power in the rest of the house remains out. In the distance, the TV is making the sad noises that say it will have to power down soon without recording shows like it ought. Poor TV! If only it had a [[timer]] like yours.
You are getting rather worried. Maybe you should see what's going on outside. Though it's not really your place, as a teabot, to [[do anything else]] that might interfere with your brewing potential. What if they come home soon and want tea? It's not worth risking your batteries. Best to [[wait a while longer]].
It's time for [[your Humans]] to be home, and they're still not back. [[Outside]], the wind is howling.
Maybe the wind is keeping them away.
Maybe they're staying out late in search of more delicious [[tea options]].
You're running out of batteries. If you [[stay online any longer]], you won't be able to brew them any tea when they get home. Maybe it's time to [[shut off]] and conserve your power.
Your battery runs down slowly. After all, you're not doing anything but waiting.
The lights don't come back on.
Eventually, you have to [[shut off]], rather than risk losing all the settings you've been programmed with.
Being turned off is, you imagine, much like sleeping. It's quiet and dark, and you don't have to do anything in particular.
Eventually [[your Humans]] will come back and turn you on, and you'll be ready to make them tea.
Eventually.
''END''
You can't use the house wifi with the power out; fortunately, you were equipped with your own connection to cell phone towers, so that [[your Humans]] can call ahead and have a pot of tea waiting when they get home. You send a message to a [[time robot]] to ask what's going on.
The time robot informs you that it is 10:15 in the morning, that there is an active weather alert in effect for the area, that the [[Teabot app]] has no instructions for you right now, and that it is currently located [[a half mile down the road]].
You can't use the house wifi with the power out; fortunately, you were equipped with your own connection to cell phone towers, so that [[your Humans]] can call ahead and have a pot of tea waiting when they get home. You send a message to the [[car]] to ask what's going on.
The car isn't used to talking with you. You have to send the message a few times, and rephrase it, before you get an answer. All the car will tell you is that it's [[a half mile down the road]] and not currently moving.
The Teabot app is how [[your Humans]] tell you to get a pot of tea ready for them, when they're not at home. That is secretly your favorite part of the day, even better than having a pot ready when they get up in the morning. They call you and ask for tea! It's like having a little conversation with them.
Privately, you consider it the most useful thing on any given [[time robot]], but you would never tell one that. That would be rude.
Wait. Why are [[your Humans]] that close by? They travel miles away into the [[Outside]] whenever they're doing anything!
You ask for more details, but no more are coming.
Something is terribly wrong. But [[what can a teabot do?]]
The car is very new, and very smug. It never talks to anyone in the house, because it is all about the [[Outside]]. Nothing else in the house--well, nothing else that talks--goes Outside nearly so often as the car. You've heard [[your Humans]] say that it cost quite a lot, but was worth every dollar, because now they can get to work without all the stress of paying attention to the driving.
You have wondered, sometimes, if that means they could take you along in the car, so that you could see the Outside. But maybe the car would be jealous? It's hard to say.
Well, you can [[make a pot of tea]], in case they're on their way back home. It would use up most of your battery, but they would probably find that comforting if something has sent them back home in the morning when they had an important meeting at work.
You could try [[calling someone]], but that seems rather outside your expected range of services.
You get a nice pot of oolong brewing. That would make anyone happy, wouldn't it?
The power is still out, and there's no one home, but it makes you feel better to do something useful.
When the tea is perfectly brewed, you bring the tea basket back up out of the hot water, and switch to warming mode. You can keep this tea [[warm for hours]].
You ask a [[time robot]] who it would call. It suggests a [[tea supplier]], or that [[weekly guest]] who likes Earl Grey. Frankly, you're a little suspicious of anyone who enjoys Earl Grey.
You're not sure how either of those would help. You ask the [[car]] who it would call. It's not very responsive, but finally suggests either [[emergency services]] or a [[smartcar repair service]].
Some robots just aren't very helpful at all! Still, you probably ought to try one of these. The only thing you can call without their help is a [[tea reference guide]].
The tea is warm, it's been an hour, now, and you're running low on battery. You weren't designed to keep the heating element going for very long on battery power alone. Pretty soon, you'll need to [[shut off]], and then the tea will get cold. You're not a maker of ''iced'' tea. It would be lukewarm. No one wants lukewarm tea!
It's very upsetting. You need to decide soon if you want to keep the tea warm until you automatically [[shut off]], so that it'll be as warm as possible when [[your Humans]] get home, or if you're going to turn the heating element off and try [[calling someone]].
The tea supplier has a robot answering the phones. "Welcome to World Of Tea! May I take your order?"
You explain that [[your Humans]] left the house today without having a single cup of tea and--
"That's terrible," says the answering robot. "I would be worried too. Have you considered our tea sampler package? A wide array of tea options keeps Humans from getting bored and forgetting their vital morning beverages! Order now for 15% off."
Oh. Well, that's a good point, really. Maybe [[all they need]] is a tea sampler package. Though it is a bit concerning that they're still stopped down the road, and that [[might be more important]], strange though it is to think this, than what tea they have available to drink. Especially when you have so many [[tea options]] already.
The weekly guest answers their [[time robot]] after a few rings. "Hello?"
You explain that [[your Humans]] have stalled out during the day in a very unusual location, and that they left the house without tea, and how concerned you are about all of this.
"Hello?" says the guest. "Hey, I think the connection's bad. I'm not getting anything but whining and static. Sounds like an old modem. Are you hearing me?"
You explain quite firmly that the guest needs to make up for all those Earl Grey incidents and do something about this.
"Sorry," says the guest, "but I'm not getting anything. Try calling back."
They hung up on you! How rude. Well. You can only expect so much from a Human like that. Time to try [[calling someone else]].
"This is 911, please state your emergency," says a Human on the other end of the phone.
You explain how terrible the day has been. Not only did [[your Humans]] leave without any tea, they appear to be stuck somewhere on the road, rather than out at work or with friends. And now the power is out!
"I can't make out what you're saying," says the Human. "Please speak more clearly, or hang up and call again."
You express as strongly as you're able that there is a problem involving Humans, and thus other Humans ought to do something about it! Now!
"We'll dispatch a car to the location of your signal," says the Human, at last. "Please call back to give us details if you're able."
They hang up, and now all you can do is [[hope that will be enough]].
The smartcar repair service is answered by another robot. "Welcome!" it says. "Please explain your problem!"
You explain that [[your Humans]] left the house without having a single cup of tea this morning, and that they're currently stopped a very unusual location, and the rain just keeps coming down harder.
"That sounds very concerning," says the answering robot. "Would you like to schedule an appointment for your car?"
You state quite firmly that you wish to take care of your Humans, and that [[car]] can very well take care of itself.
"We can get you a slot tomorrow morning," says the answering robot. "How does 9:15 AM sound? Otherwise, you can drop in any time, but there may be a wait. We offer many complimentary beverages in our waiting area, and free wifi!"
You think of your Humans drinking tea from some other teabot. Some ''commercial'' teabot, serving up pots to strangers day in and day out, no doubt with a perfectly mundane selection of tea. You tell the answering robot quite firmly that you will try [[calling someone else]].
"I'll put you down as a maybe," says the answering robot.
The tea reference guide has several passionate essays written about the best cup of tea to have after a particularly stressful day. You read through them. None of them suggest what you should do to address the stressful circumstance itself, unless you want to go through a [[cleaning cycle]]. But you're concerned about [[your Humans]], not your own stress! Time to try [[calling someone else]].
The cleaning cycle requires help from [[your Humans]]. When they get home, you'll suggest one of those.
Well, not immediately. You're sure they'll need some tea, after a day like this! But frankly you deserve a little stress reduction too, in a few days. This has been a worrying sort of day.
Well, that didn't help. You still have contact information for the [[tea reference guide]], the [[tea supplier]], the [[weekly guest]], the [[smartcar repair service]], and [[emergency services]].
The house is very dark, with all the lights out and the rain beating down across the window. But after several minutes, red and blue lights flash past you.
Humans are out there, doing Human things. And when Humans are awake nearby, that means it's time to [[start some tea]].
The answering robot helps you place an order for an exciting set of sample teas, all at 15% off! All [[your Humans]] need to do is authorize it on the [[Teabot app]], which should be alerting them right now.
After praising you for being so sensitive to Human needs, the answer robot at the tea supplier hangs up. Well, that's that! Now all you need to do is [[make a pot of tea]] for when your Humans return, and keep it warm. Unless you want to try [[calling someone else]].
Despite the fascination of tea sampler packages, you explain to the answering robot that [[your Humans]] have also stopped moving, quite close to home, on a day that they had important work at the office.
"That is odd," says the answering robot. "After all, if they had no tea in the morning, they would want to get to work as quickly as possible to have tea there."
Do your Humans really drink tea at work? You never knew! Surely it's not as good as the tea you make. You could [[make a pot of tea]] to show how much better you are, for when they get back home. Though possibly you could do...something more. Something [[not entirely based on brewing tea]], strange though that sounds.
You tell the answering robot that you need Humans to check on [[your Humans]], since their silly [[car]] clearly isn't doing the job. Real live Humans. Does World of Tea have any of those?
"...I'll see what I can do," says the answering robot. "Do you know where you are?"
What a ridiculous question. You're at home. It's the part of the world that isn't [[Outside]].
"I was hoping for an address," it says. "Well, if I could look up your order history... Can you tell me what tea your Humans brought inside recently?"
It's a strange question. But you give the answering robot [[the information it wants]], all the same.
The answering robot puts you on hold. The music isn't very interesting, but you like the part where the music stops and a voice tells you about tea ordering options. World Of Tea sounds like a very exciting place! If you went [[Outside]], you think you'd like to visit the World Of Tea more than almost anywhere else.
Or the place [[your Humans]] work. What have they been drinking there? Inferior tea, surely.
"Excellent," says the answering robot, when the hold music turns off. "I found your address, and I'm alerting emergency services. They should be sending someone to check on your Humans. Can I interest you in any sampler packages, as long as you're on the line?"
You thank the robot, and send an order to the [[Teabot app]] on the [[time robot]] for your Humans to approve. Maybe more types of tea are what they need to keep them focused in the morning.
Then you sit back and [[hope that will be enough]].
Several minutes pass. You heat the water to the proper temperature, then gently lower the basket of tea into the hot water. Exactly four minutes and fifteen seconds later, you lift the basket out of the water again. (How lucky you are to have a good [[timer]] like that!) Then it's time to switch the heating element over to keeping the brewed tea warm, until [[someone arrives]].
The front door opens, and one of [[your Humans]] comes inside, followed by two other Humans. "I can't thank you enough, but how did you know?"
"Dispatch doesn't tell us who called," says one of the guests. "I'm just glad we got there in time. No one could see your car stuck there, from the road, and it's not a well-traveled road to start with. Why didn't you call for help?"
"Funny story," says your Human, walking into the kitchen. "Well, 'funny' now that it's not a tragedy. Would you like a cup of tea before you go?"
You [[beep happily]] at them.
The Humans do talk a lot, though the guests have to leave quite soon. One of [[your Humans]] gets the generator started, and plugs you into it, so that you can brew everyone a second pot of tea.
"I just don't know how they found us," says one of them.
"Maybe the [[car]] called for help," says the other. "I knew getting a smartcar was a good idea."
"Worth every dollar," says the first. "Another cup of silver needle?"
[["Don't mind if I do."]]
What an odd day it's been. But you're happy. You are a very good teabot, and all's well that ends well. Especially if it ends with a cup of tea.
''END''
What a cold and blustery morning it is! The rain spatters against the windowpane over the counter where you're sitting. In the foyer, [[your Humans]] are rushing about, getting their things together for work. They're in a big hurry this morning.
No one has had a cup of tea yet. You are [[concerned about this]], but perhaps the Humans have [[more important things to do]] than drink tea.