Waiting

[Hal 2000]

Hal stayed there in the sand, wheels retracted, the cover closed on them, as he waited for something to happen.  He had the newer black colored shell, and waited silently.  The brilliant blue glow of the screen shone bright as he waited, 2 computerized eyes, and a computerized mouth appeared on the blue screen, the little white spot on the case showing the microphone's whereabouts.  The speaker was hidden in the case as were a pair of phasers.  He'd been working on a grappler arm/ laser system, and fudging over where to mount it.  He waited silently, playing games against himself.