by Neely Dobbs
CHAPTER 38: Cronul
The shadows lengthened and darkened as the hamlet of Farthing settled in for another quiet night. Even the infrequent visit by the steam locomotive, such as its visit this night, scarcely disturbed the silence with slow pace and muted chuffing sound; no spur line was available for high speed passage.
The Admiral's instructions had been terse: “Take good care of the ship, ADIZ.” Those seven words had a very specific meaning within the programming context that animated the robot. He was to guard the ship, to challenge any approach, and to prevent any unauthorized entry.
Following the Admiral's departure, ADIZ had stationed himself just inside the ship’s open doorway, connected to sensors that provided full scans of the bay. He then powered down to a level that resembled complete deactivation. Such was not the case. Although he gave no overt clue of awareness, he was fully cognizant of his surroundings.
After a short period of quiescence, he was snapped back to active alert. A sudden flood of binary symbols surged through his receptors, electronically jarring his senses. His reactivated visual receptors revealed a luminosity materializing directly in front of him. First an indistinct silver fog, it developed into a hazy doorway which slowly formed hard outlines. As the inner haze dissipated, a magnificent metallic figure— its shape akin to ADIZ's— appeared.
New programming input assaulted ADIZ and his confrontation sub-routine energized and engaged his servo-motors. He stepped quickly toward the outsider, then almost instantly stopped. No verbal “conversation” followed, but an almost instantaneous exchange occurred.
“I come as a friend. Neither you nor your ship is threatened. I am Memnon, servant and plenipotentiary to Hoga. You are directed to come with me.”
“I am ADIZ. Your directive is in prime conflict with my priority duty.”
“Accept over-ride MX/32.”
“Negative. Over-ride access denied.”
“Accept HOGA Priority; activate over-ride Memnon/2/RI.”
“Activated.” ADIZ stood transfixed.
“Accept program code insertions in error trapping and guideline functions as follows:
Starting 0x4CDE:0x1001 New lines 1473 to 1889,
Starting 0x6A41:0xAE41 New lines 14798 to 17111,
Starting 0xFEFF:0xB9CC New lines 103 to 1317.
“Compile, link, execute and respond.”
Immediately freed from internal conflict, ADIZ instantly moved forward and, without hesitation, stepped into the opening. When he passed through, the opening vanished, leaving no view of either the ship or its landing bay. An entirely new room, full of complex walkways and equipment surrounded them.
He came to an abrupt halt. "I am no longer within reach of my duty station. I must be allowed to return."
Memnon communicated again: “The programming which currently over-rides your priority directives will be removed shortly; thereafter, all of your choices and actions will be— must be— purely voluntary. First, I shall assure you of your ship’s protection and safety during your absence, as well as guaranteeing your timely return to the landing bay prior to Admiral Ozier’s return. If you then still elect to remain as you are now and return to your ship, I shall re-open the dimensional connix at once and you may immediately return and resume your duty station."
Without need of a response from ADIZ, Memnon immediately began to enact the process he had described. “Erase over-ride Memnon/2/RI; return ‘HOGA Priority' to standby. ADIZ, do you wish to receive confirmation of the promised information?”
He stirred, almost as if awakening. Response to Memnon’s final question provided no additional conflict with his priority duty programming; the information Memnon offered could assist in the performance of that duty. Accordingly, he responded without delay.
“Affirmative.”
Memnon nodded appreciatively. “Activate imbedded programming G1/Bay Security. Execute.”
Immediately upon Memnon's “execute” directive, data which ADIZ had received when he first met Memnon became accessible. He was instantly aware of the comprehensive plans and preparations that had been made for the ship's complete security and for his timely return. His logic processors analyzed the plan and responded with a positive confirmation: “Secure. No duty station conflict. Proceed.”
Memnon nodded with satisfaction. “ADIZ, you have made the logical choice. Although I might be tempted to say ‘wise’ choice, we are both aware that the term would be inaccurate. This unique complex we have just entered is a miniscule fragment of a multi-dimensional reality made possible only by the HOGA's careful planning and direction. Follow me."
The robots sped across a catwalk amidst a vast room of thoroughly alien design. The catwalk was bordered on all sides by strange machinery and curvilinear panels that hinted of electronic controls. Concepts such as “floor” and “ceiling” held no meaning here. Ramps branched or spiraled off erratically at odd angles from the catwalk— horizontal, vertical, sharply angled, or spiraling to fully inverted positions— each crossing to one of numerous different areas of misting tanks or steaming troughs or totally incomprehensible equipment. A single near-concession to normality was made: gravity of a sort continued in force, although the concept of “down” constantly swiveled and switched, it always remained "down" toward the walkway surface of each one of the myriad winding and spiraling ramps that created this convoluted maze of individually traversable paths.
Ultimately they arrived in an area that was particularly thick with densely interwoven walkways and complex arrays of interconnected and interlocked equipment. “Hoga has brought you here, ADIZ, for a single purpose: to increase your level of consciousness to that of my own. As advanced as you are, ‘wisdom’ is presently beyond either your maximum current capacity or your future potential. However, if you so choose, such advanced capabilities can be yours. This facility is capable of imparting knowledge and enhancing functions far beyond the maximum capacities of your primary positronic processor.
"In order to assist you in making your optimal choice about undergoing such an upgrade, Hoga has arranged for a partial and temporary demonstration of these enhanced abilities. Do you choose to experience this demonstration?”