Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe

by Asprin, Robert

“You can't count on Ravensteel to do anything,” Sasha insisted“Even if they believe Gedge, which is doubtful, they won't lift a fingerWhy should they?”

  Hosato sighedThis argument had been going non-​stop since they lifted off from Grunbecker's PlanetHe thought it was getting circular, but couldn't be sureLack of sleep was making his mind fuzzy.

  “Look, Sasha-” he began wearily.

  “Say, I hate to interrupt,” Rick interrupted through the open door to the pilot's compartment, “but where are we going?”

  “What was that, Rick?” Hosato blinked.

  “I said, where are we goingI want to get this baby on autopilot and join the brawlI've got a couple thoughts on the subject myself.”

  Hosato hadn't really given any thought to their destinationHis main concern had been getting away from Griinbecker'sStill, everyone seemed to be look-​ing at him for a decision.

  “I don't know,” he said, running a hand through his hair“Pick the nearest free spaceportWe can go our separate ways from there.”

  “Just like that!” Sasha shouted“Go our separate waysJust turn our backs on the whole mess and pre-​tend it never happened.”

  “What do you want us to do?” Hosato exploded“We barely got out of there aliveIf your whole se-​curity setup and guard force can't stop 'em, we sure can't.”

  “If we don't, who will?” She glared back.

  “Hold your fireI'm coming in!” Rick popped in from the pilot's compartment and stood grinning at them.

  “Now that I've successfully set foot in no-​man's land, there are a few observations I'd like to make.” He began to pace up and down the lounge, adopting the mock characteristics of a lecturer.

  “First of all, Sasha's right when she says we have to do somethingThe robots that massacred everybody at McCrae have to be stopped, and we can't rely on anyone else to do the jobRemember, we didn't be-​lieve what was happening ourselves until it was too late and we were in the middle of itI don't see any way anyone else is going to be convinced of the dan-​ger until it threatens them directly, and then again it will be too late.”

  The mechanic paused and pointed a dramatic finger at Hosato.

  “On the other hand, our ace superspy here is right, tooThere isn't much we can do.”

  “Then we're at an impasse,” Hosato observed“We have to do something, but we can't do anythingThe odds are against us.”

  “I thought you were supposed to be some kind of expert at beating long odds,” Sasha probed“Hell, a while back you were all set to take on that same air-​tight security system single-​handed.”

  “And now, between Sasha and me, you've got a ready pool of information as to what the security lay-​out is and what makes the machines tick,” Rick added.

  Hosato stared at the floorThe others remained si-​lent, letting him turn the facts over in his mindFi-​nally he sighed and shook his head.

  “NoIt still won't work.” he announced“There's one big problem no one seems ready to faceWe don't know what happened back thereUntil we know what went wrong, we don't know for sure what we're up againstWithout that little piece of informa-​tion, any plan for a counterattack would be suicidal.”

  The trio sat silently, each lost in their own thoughts.

  “Wait a minute!” Rick exclaimed.

  “What is it?” Sasha asked, but the mechanic was gone, disappearing through the door of the pilot's compartment.

  He was back in a moment, brandishing a sheaf of papers in his hand.

  “Do either of you speak computer?” he asked ea-​gerly.

  He dumped the papers in Hosato's lap, who bent to examine themThe papers were covered with what appeared to be typed mathematical notations inter-​spersed with word fragments.

  “What are they?” he asked.

  “You should know,” Rick replied smugly“You gave 'em to me, back at the crawler bay, when you carried Sasha in.”

  “And you've been carrying them all this time?”

  Hosato vaguely remembered the incident, but was astounded the mechanic still had the documents in his possession after all they had been through.

  “Yep,” Rick announced proudly“Had 'em stashed inside my shirtThe guards who searched me at Ravensteel looked at 'em but didn't figure they were important enough to take away from me.”

  “For the benefit of the unenlightened,” Sasha inter-​rupted sarcastically, “what is it you've got there?”

  “It's a copy of the most recent entries to the computer-​monitor file,” Rick informed her“The guys were going over it at the end there, trying to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.”

  “I hate to admit this,” Hosato said, “but I don't know what that is or what it means.”

  Rick looked a bit distressed, but answered him“Everything that's input into the central control com-​puter passes through the monitor file. every pro-​gram change, addition, request, everythingIf we're right and Turner did something that created a new logic system in the robots, there should be a record of it here.”

  “I can't help you there,” Sasha interjected“What I don't know about computers could fill a library.”

  “Same here,” Rick admitted“I was hoping one of you..”

  His voice trailed off as he noticed Hosato's frenzied activityHosato had scavenged a pencil from the depths of the bar and was busily scribbling something on the back of one of the sheets.

  “Rick!” he said, handing the mechanic the paper“Set a course for those coordinates.”

  “Where are we going?” Rick asked, studying the sheet.

  “To visit a friend of mine,” Hosato replied“He builds and programs custom robotsLet's see if he can decipher this mess.”

  “Now you're talking,” Rick said, brightening no-​ticeably.

  “WhoaDon't get your hopes up yet,” Hosato cau-​tioned“We don't know yet if he'll be able to find anything in that fileEven if he can, we've got to come up with a plan of action we all agree with, and that includes. say, where is James, anyway?”

  Rick smiled and pointed to the back of the loungeJames was curled up on one of the luxurious sofas, fast asleepCradled in his arms like a teddy bear were Hosato's dueling epees.

  “I think the kid has the right idea,” Rick observed“We could all do with some sleepThere are half a dozen cabins there in backTake your pick.” “What about you?” Hosato asked“I'll be doing the same as soon as I get this new course fed into the autopilot.” He disappeared into the pilot's compartment once more.

  Hosato found himself staring at James's sleeping form.

  “Leave him,” Sasha said softly at his elbow“He'll be all right there, and he'll wake up if you try to move him.”

  “I guess you're right,” Hosato acknowledged“You know, Rick is quite a guy.”

  “Qualified to operate and repair a wide variety of heavy machinery, including space transports shows a high degree of dedication when it comes to completing assignments, but displays little or no lead-​ership ability seems content in current position not currently considered for advancement,” Sasha recited“You know, until all this, he was just another personnel report on my deskFunny how you can know a person so well and not really know nun at all.”

  “I know what you mean,” Hosato admitted“Until things blew up back there, he was just another person to pump for informationNow..”

  His voice trailed off into silence.

  “It must be a lonely way to..”

  Sasha started to lay a hand on his arm as she spoke and succeeded only in waving her stump in the airShe stared at it for a moment, then turned away abruptly.

  “Sasha.” Hosato said, moving to her side.

  “Leave me alone!” she whispered, turning to keep her back to him.

  “SashaIt doesn't matter,” he insisted.

  “I don't want your pity,” she snarled, and started to stalk away.

  Hosato caught her before she had taken three steps.

  “I'm not offering pity,” he said softly�
��I'm offering meNow, if you're not interested, say soBut don't blame it on your arm.”

  Then she was in his arms, crying against his chestHe gently walked her down the corridor to the cabins

  What the Hungarian's real name was, nobody knewHe used a wide array of aliases when signing various documents, and in conversation, he responded to a variety of nicknames.

  Some said he broke off a brilliant career with the corporations to start his own business; others, that the corporations, stole his business away from him and he started a new one out of spiteThe Hungarian had a small shop in a teeming city on a backwater planet -but his reputation was known in that part of the galaxy.

  Whether he started rich or if he built his business to the point where he was wealthy was inconsequentialWhat mattered was the current situation, and cur-​rently he could and did pick and choose his jobs, ac-​cepting only those that were immensely expensive or particularly challenging.

  Hosato had been referred to the Hungarian when searching for someone to build a fencing robot for him, and the two had become fast friendsNot that they were particularly close, for Hosato's profession did not allow confidantsBecause of that, the Hun-​garian's stoic refusal to ask questions of a personal nature endeared him to Hosato more than anything elseAs an example, they had known each other for five years after Suzi's construction was complete be-​fore Hosato had hesitantly mentioned to the Hungar-​ian that his talents included sabotage and that he would appreciate any business that could be steered his wayWhen this fact was formally mentioned, the Hungarian immediately produced not one, but three clients for HosatoApparently he had had his sus-​picions all along, probably from the “special construc-​tion” that went into Suzi, but had refrained from seeking clarification or confirmation until Hosato broached the subject himself.

  Hosato was reluctant to face him with the news of Suzi's demise, but he needn't have worriedThe Hun-​garian greeted them upon their arrival with his usual expansive welcome and was introduced to Sasha, Rick, and James without once commenting on Suzi's absenceIn fact, the subject was not even broached until later over drinks, after they had briefed the Hun-​garian on the events at McCrae and the problem at hand.

  When they had finished their tale, he sat silently puffing on his pipe for several minutes before respond-​ing.

  “You know, Hosato,” he said at last, “if yon hadn't brought along a brace of witnesses for your yarn, I'dd think this was all an elaborate excuse for losing one of the best robots I've ever built.”

  “I know it sounds impossible-” Sasha began.

  The Hungarian waved a hand of dismissal at her.

  “When you've worked with machines as long as I have,” he declared, “you learn nothing is impossible -highly improbable, perhaps, but not impossible.”

  “Can you read these?” Rick asked, eagerly produc-​ing his sheaf of papers“It's a copy of the last entries to the central Computer-​Monitor file,” the mechanic announced proudly“We were hoping you might be able to tell from these what went wrong.”

  “Not so fast.” The Hungarian exhaled a long stream of pipe smoke“It's too soon for detailLet's approach this problem one step at a timeFirst of all, what is the basic problem?”

  “Come on, Tinker,” Hosato groaned“The problem is that robots are killing people.”

  “Wrong.” The Hungarian pointed his pipe stem at Hosato“The problem is that the McCrae complex is producing robots that are killing peopleThat makes it a problem with the computer, and not a malfunc-​tioning of the robots themselves.”

  “That's right,” Rick asserted“We think something went wrong with the programming when Turner, James's father, was trying to design a new security-​robot systemProbably something that bypassed the 'no-​kill' base programming.”

  The Hungarian shook his head“It's not that sim-​pleWe're talking about an 'activity program.' That means, in addition to capacity, it needs motivation.”

  It was clear that the Hungarian had risen to the bait and was rapidly becoming enmeshed in what to him was a puzzle of electronics and computer logicHosato was glad to see him involved, though the con-​versation rapidly became too complex and technical for laymen such as himself to follow.

  When James got up and wandered off into the small kitchen and no one noticed, Hosato decided to follow suitThe other three were huddled over the monitor log copies and didn't even look up as he left.

  James was pouring himself a glass of pop and looked up as Hosato joined himHe brightened no-​ticeably.

  “Could you pour two more of those while you're at it?” Hosato asked.

  “SureNo problem.”

  As the boy hurried about his errand, Hosato pon-​dered the best way to approach the subject on his mind.

  “Say, James,” he said at last“We haven't had much time to talk since the blowup at McCrae.”

  “Talk about what?” James asked, passing his friend the glass of soft drink and perching on the counter.

  “About your future, mostly,” Hosato responded pointedly.

  “I thought that was all settled,” James replied inno-​cently“I'm going with you.”

  "It's not that simple, and you know itLook,

  James,“ Hosato began”You don't know anything about me or how I liveNow, I don't know what kind of romantic notion you have in your head about the kind of person I am, but it's not a life-​style you enter into casually."

  “I'm not doing this casually,” James protested“I asked you to take me along with you before things went bad at the complex before Dad was killed, tooBesides, I don't have anywhere else to go.”

  “That's what I mean!” Hosato pounced on the phrase.

  Without realizing it, he began to pace back and forth in the cramped kitchen.

  “James, there are lots of things you could doYou're brightYou're energeticYou've got gutsAnd you've got a whole lot of options before youDon't be stampeded into any one life just because you feel there's no other choiceParticularly my kind of lifeNow I don't mean to sound negative on all this, but I've been traveling the star lanes most of my life and I've seen this time and time againMen and women working at jobs they hate, their whole lives just a drone existence, all with the same story, 'I didn't have any other choice.' Well, by God, you do have choicesLife should be a series of choicesSome lock you in, a few lock you out, and then there are others that open more doorsMaking good choices demands brains, some luck, and a whole lot of gutsAnd most of all, it takes that something that makes us human the will to make ourselves betterJames, don't lock yourself into the first chance that you getAnd that's what this life will doDon't be looking back ten or fifteen years past the star lanes wishing you hadn't committed to something you can't get out ofJames, don't make choices like a programmed robot!”

  Hosato stopped, realizing how emotional he was becoming.

  “Is that why you said no the first time I asked you?” the boy prompted.

  “That's rightI'll tell you now, I was tempted to go along with it even thenMy work is lonelyTo give you an idea how lonely, Suzi was my best friend until she was destroyed, covering our retreatDo you un-​derstand what I'm sayingMy best friend was a robotThat should give you an idea of how low things can get.”

  “I liked Suzi,” James protested.

  Hosato ignored him“You've got a dozen ways you could go with your lifeI'm only one of themAt this moment, I just happen to be the closest option to youI can't let you make your decision on that basis.” Then with a quick wink, an attempt to lighten the conversation, he added, “Listen kid, I've got my own dubious concept of honor, you know.”

  “How did you get into this business?” James asked pointedly.

  Hosato was silent for a few moments, then leaned against the counter as he answered.

  “That's a good question, James, and it deserves an honest answerWith me, I really didn't have a choice, or rather, the choice was made for meIt's a family business, and I was raised into itFor me, it's as nat-​ural as breathingFor man
y reasons, I couldn't leave it now if I wanted toBut I'll tell you this much, James, I'm not particularly happy with what I doSometimes I wonder, if I were starting all over again and given a choice, and I knew what I know now, if I wouldn't walk away from it all without looking backYou've got that choice, and I want you to ”think it through before commiting yourself."

  James bit his lip thoughtfully“All right, Hosato,” he said“Tell me about this terrible lifeWhat do you do?”

  Now it was Hosato's turn to lapse into silenceWaves of bitter memories held in check by sheer force of will now flooded over himHe had set himself up for this question; now he had to answer it, both for the boy and for himself.

  “I'm a killing machine,” he said quietly“I kill peo-​pleNot because they're a threat or even because they may have offended me-​not that that's a good reasonI kill because I'm paid to.”

  Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe

  He fixed James with a calm gaze as he continued.

  “You want to know what it means to be in my line of workI said you don't have any friendsWell, that was a lieYou have lots of friendsBut your profes-​sion makes a mockery of the word 'friendship.' You worm your way into people's confidence, and when they trust you implicitly, you destroy themRick's my friendWe used to drink together back at McCfaeAll the time we were together, I was getting information to shut the complex downAt the veiy least, it would have put him out of work-​permanently, if anyone ever found out he was a security leakIf he had found out what I was about or surprised me while I was working, I would have killed him.”

  He deliberately let his voice harden“You remem-​ber what it's like to kill people, don't you?”

  James's gaze wavered and dropped to the floor.

  Hosato fought and conquered an urge to console the boyHe waited in silence while the boy relived his first blooding.

  “Hosato,” James said at last, not lifting his gaze, “I don't know about the killingBack at Ravensteel, when I killed those men. I don't knowI'm glad I saved our lives, that I was good enough with weapons to do it, but I still feel a little sick when I think about it!”