Shunk Ka, the sound of a pump action shot gun is distinct and memorable. Slowly raising his hands over his head, Rhys Witherspoon swallowed hard. The insurance agent quaked in his space boots. Usually people were happy to meet their claims adjustor. Or anxious about how much they would receive? Rhys stared into the double barrels and smiled.

“I think there has been some sort of misunderstanding, Mr. Millers 011. We are your insurer, home, vehicle, and commercial. Tri-Planetary Insurance treats you like family. We want to help,” Rhys said, eyeing the seven foot gun toting Android.

“I have not made a claim. Yes, there has been a misunderstanding on your company’s part,” the Android responded tapping the agent’s chest with his shotgun.

“Tri-Planetary Insurance does the hard work for you. A claim investigation was automatically launched based on the police report of the attempted break-in and subsequent property damage. We know the assailants were not captured. These thieving clans, violent and tight knit,” Rhys said, “Some Android clients fear human reprisals.”

“I was built on Mars. Terraformed the bowels of that red hellhole. Fought in the Gray war. Carved my metaphorical shield into a plow and have the most successful solo farm in the region. Do I look afraid?”

For the first time Rhys looked at the Android instead of the shotgun. Standard heavy duty farm equipment, Millers 011 was wearing loose overalls splattered with mashed sweet potatoes. He had a bright polka dot cloth over one shoulder and a fire in his cool gray eyes. If he didn’t know any better Rhys thought the machine looked like a mama bear. Instinctively the agent backed up.

Small ragtag clans of humans had been preying on the smaller farms. If one of their ships crashed with survivors, Rhys wondered. The smell of chocolate chip cookies wafted from the Android’s front door. Millers units ran on solar batteries. Hands lowering, Rhys started walking backwards to his hover ship.

“Tri-Planetary Insurance treats you like family because you are family. Contact me personally if need anything. You know if you add pumpkin to the cookie batter it is a tasty way to sneak veggies into someone’s diet. I will close the investigation, Mr. Millers 011.”

Still suspicious Millers 011 lowered his weapon a few inches. A small hand knit sock hit Millers 011 in the back of his head. The agent walked away humming Rock A Bye Baby.