[TheRaisin]

Ian

When the door caved in in a shower of splinters, I was ready. Before the last pieces had hit the floor, I had rolled off the bed and dropped into a crouching position. The black robot rushed in, its treads crushing the scattered pieces of plastic that had been the chair wedged under the doorknob. I leapt up from my crouching position. As the robot advanced, I put one foot in front of the small base on which the treads were mounted and, reaching back over its hulking shoulder, grabbed one of the back-mounted secondary arms. This movement had sent us both reeling backwards, so I stood with my one free foot still on the robot while I used the other to push away from the doorframe, launching the two of us back the other way. The arm wrenched and bent, but it was just stong enough to work: I pulled with all my strength, then moved to the side just in time as the massive thing crashed forward, crushing the face-plate with its own weight. The momentum carried it forward into the wall, where it left a sizzling spider-web-crack crater five feet across. I paused only long enough to make sure it wasn't going to get up again. In short, it wasn't.
I rushed out into the hall, crashing into another robot.
Stupid! They always work in teams!
Fortunately, the robot was sent crashing lightly into the wall, stunning it long enough for me to escape. I was still a few strides away from Lyra's door when it exploded outward, hanging precariously on one hinge. Another robot screeched out on its side, shooting up sparks as its metal body scraped across the linoleum tiles. Nearly crushed but still fighting, it feebly raised its one remaining arm, a heavy primary one. A cheap plastic chair flew through the air from the doorway and crashed against the arm, throwing the aim wild as the fist launched itself just as in training. It ended up punching a deep hole in the ceiling. A chunk of plaster fell and hit its head, sending it spinning around on its broken and loose swivel. Finally the light behind the visor flickered out, and the head clunked gracelessly to the floor.
Lyra walked out of her room, shoving the door aside, which broke off its remaining hinge and slammed against the ground. Her jaw was set with anger, her teeth clenched. The cuts on her face and limbs were still fresh and bleeding profusely. Her shifting green eyes were now burning with rage, seeming to glow like green lasers. She stood in the doorway for a moment, surveying the broken robot, then coolly and wordlessly gave it the finger.
Ms. Fletcher rounded the corner a few yards off.
"Ah, excellent work. You left one standing though."
I turned, remembering the third robot. It was simply standing there against the wall. Lyra wrenched an arm off the broken robot, and began bashing the remaining one with it. After a few whacks the faceplate fell off, revealing the circuitry beneath. Lyra shoved the arm deep into the mess of wires and processors, and the robot shut down.
"Good. You've passed this test."
Lyra sat on the ruined mechanical beast.
"Great," she said, massaging a bruised knee. "Can I go back to bed now?"