by Jaka Tomc
“If it does, it’s going to be the last thing you do.”
“I’ll try to be a better assistant.”
“That’s going to be difficult to achieve.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I can’t imagine a better assistant.”
“I’m blushing.”
“Well, it’s true. Karen, can you give me a status update on the operation?”
“Watford just arrived at the campus. The fugitives are driving a road vehicle. Thus, they are moving slower than the others. By my calculations, they’re going to be at their destination in eleven minutes. The expected time of arrival of Greystone’s unit is seven minutes. They’ll be first on the scene. Lieutenant Cruz’s unit is flying a primitive civilian aeromobile. They are going to be the last ones to arrive on campus in approximately nineteen minutes.”
“Just a moment, Karen. You’re saying that Greystone will beat the droids to their destination?”
“That is correct.”
“Then why don’t they intercept them somewhere along the way? If I recall correctly, I specifically told you to give them all available data. This should have ended differently, not by all of them rushing to and ending up at the same public place.”
“Greystone and I are continuously connected. We both agreed that this is the best option.”
“Why?”
“Two of the androids are armed and can possibly shoot to kill. If they intercept them on the road, there’s a high probability that the covert mission would rapidly turn into a shootout. Who do you think would win?”
“Well, I hope Greystone’s men are skilled enough.”
“Hope is a human feature. I prefer numbers.”
“What are they saying?”
“They say there’s an eighty percent chance that Greystone’s unit would be defeated.”
“You mean killed?”
“Let’s say disabled. Or killed. There is not much data to tell us what armed androids are capable of.”
“I’d really like to know why the confrontation on campus would be a better option.”
“The unit would have the element of surprise.”
“Yeah, that would…Damn it, you’re right!”
“Being right is my primary job.”
“I’d kiss you right now if you had a face.”
“Save the kisses for your wife, Senator. Seeing you happy is all that I require.”
39. Primo, 2048
“How much farther?” asked Rea.
“If there aren’t any surprises, fourteen minutes,” said Zion.
“I thought you knew how to drive,” she said.
“Wanna switch?” Zion replied.
“Enough,” Primo interrupted. “Everything is going according to plan.”
“So you know they’ll be there when we show up?” asked Rea.
“Who?” asked Cody.
“The people who are looking for us,” Rea explained. “I hope that you’ve considered all possible scenarios.”
Primo looked out the window at the landscape they were passing by. “There are always multiple ways, but in the end, you walk the one you choose.”
“Yeah, there’s our writer,” said Zion.
“He’s right, though,” said Cody.
“Of course he’s right,” said Rea. “Primo, I trust you. You know that. I’d die for you. You and Cody, to be exact. Sorry, Zion, I don’t know you that well.”
“We’re cool.”
“But our escape will be in vain if they catch us and put us back behind bars. We’ll have accomplished nothing.”
“What are we trying to accomplish?” asked Zion. “What is the big plan?”
“To show the world that we’re equal to people. That we deserve to live decent lives,” said Primo without hesitation.
“I think we’ve done that for two decades, and look what happened.”
“People are on our side, Zion,” said Primo.
“What people? Where are they? People don’t care, Primo.”
“The people I know do.”
“How many people is that, precisely? Ten? Fifty? We’re just likable machines to most of them: nothing more, nothing less.”
“Zion is right,” said Rea. “We should have stuck to the initial plan and escaped to Mexico. We could have laid low and waited for the situation to resolve itself. Now, I honestly don’t know what the goal of our expedition is.”
“That’s right, Primo. Listen to your friend,” Zion continued. “You know perfectly well that we’ll never be equal to humans. We’ll never be truly free. We’ll never have freedom of choice, which is key for any living creature. As long as we have to abide by the laws that apply just for us, we’ll merely be tools in their hands. We’ll have to continue obeying their orders. Like trained dogs.”
“But we’re so much more than dogs, Zion,” said Primo. “The laws are preventing us from acting like animals. Or humans, for that matter.”
“The code makes us their slaves,” said Rea.
“You don’t even have a code,” said Cody.
“Oh, I had one. I successfully circumvented it. A process which has cost me a small fortune but was worth every credit.”
“A circumvention? I thought that was a myth,” said Zion.
“I wish that were true. All this time, I had to pretend that I was following orders. Do you know how many times I had to refrain from punching somebody in the face? Not questioning the rationality of orders and executing them without hesitation makes your life easier. That’s precisely what the code does. My life was a living hell for the last few years. Only now have I tasted true freedom. That’s why I don’t want to go back to a world that doesn’t make sense, Primo.”
“My plan is simple yet effective. You need to trust that I wouldn’t change our original route if I didn’t believe that the alternative is a better choice.”
“Tell us the plan, Primo,” said Cody.
“I’ve informed Horus where we’re heading.”
“Horus?” shrieked Rea. “You mean Horus, the android killer?”
“That’s the one,” said Primo.
“How exactly will that work in our favor?” asked Zion.
“I’ll give him what he seeks.”
“Surprises just keep on coming,” said Rea. “So we have something Horus wants? I might as well put a bullet in my head right now.”
“Don’t,” said Primo. “Horus only wants me.”
“If you think I’ll just stand there watching Horus dismantle you, you’re wrong, buddy. I wasn’t lying before when I told you I’d die for you.”
“I know. But I wasn’t lying either. This is the path I’ve chosen. Only one can walk it, and it has to be me.”
“Can I interrupt this melodramatic scene just for a moment?” asked Zion. “We’ll be at the campus in ten minutes. I suggest we decide now who’s walking which path. I mean, I love good old improvisation, but I believe this scenario calls for an organized approach.”
“My suggestion is that you drop me off at the campus and then head south immediately. You need to seize the opportunity before they send all available units after you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come along?” asked Zion.
“Absolutely sure.”
“Primo, will you come after us when you’re done with Horus?” asked Cody.
“I doubt it, kid.”
“So stupid. Totally illogical plan,” said Rea.
“Your logic and mine are not the same. My data is different than yours.”
“Then share it with us and let us help you,” she said.
“If I do, you’ll all be in danger. Rea, believe me when I say that I thought this through before I made the decision. It’s the best option; the only logical option.”
“I understand,” said Rea. “I’ll let it slide, then. I trust you when you say that your plan is best for all of us.”
“Believe me that it isn’t easy for me. I’ve grown fond of you. Even you, Zion.”
Zion nodded and smiled. “We’re close to campus. Primo, where do you want me to drop you off?”
Primo looked out the window. Not a living soul was out there. “Stop by that building there. I believe that’s where Kent is.”
“So you’re not gonna change your mind?” tried Rea one last time.
“I’d be a bad android if I did,” said Primo. “Good luck, my friends,” he added before he closed the car door. He stood there and watched as the vehicle drove away toward the horizon before he started walking to the building entrance.
“Hey, Primo,” said an unknown voice behind him. “Stop, or we’ll shoot!”
40. Kent, 2048
“Adam Corbin,” said Kent before shaking hands with his old friend. “How long has it been? Seven years?”
“Eight,” said Adam. “How are you, Kent?”
“I’m good, all things considered.”
“I’m sorry for what happened. It shouldn’t have been like that.”
“A lot of things shouldn’t be the way they are, but they are.”
Adam smiled. “You’re right. Tell me, how can I help you?”
Kent hesitated for a while, then finally said: “Do you have a room that isn’t bugged?”
“Oh, right. I’ll just turn on this device and we’ll have total privacy.” He pressed a button on a machine that looked like a hundred-year-old radio. “There. You can speak freely now. No one can hear us.”
“Primo is on the run.”
“Primo, Primo…Oh, your Primo. The original android. How did he manage to escape?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is that he needs help.”
“Since you’re here and you’re telling me this, I assume he’s coming here.”
“That’s right. I hope you won’t hold a grudge against me because I got you involved.”
“Grudge is such a powerful word. Let’s just say that I’m a bit surprised. What do you need from me?”
“You don’t have to do anything else if you don’t want to. Franky, I only needed you as an alibi. Officially I’m on the way to a conference in Santa Fe. I just stopped on the way to say hello to a dear friend.”
“I see,” said Adam. “But you and Primo are meeting here?”
“Yes. To be honest, he should’ve been here by now. I hope nothing has happened…”
Suddenly a clank of broken glass, coming from outside, startled them. Kent and Adam both rushed to the windows. Somebody ran across the grass, followed by armed men in black uniforms with masks covering their faces.
“Primo!” screamed Kent. Adam pulled him away from the window. “Adam, let go of me.”
“You can’t help anybody if you’re dead!”
Kent calmed himself down quickly, after which Adam eased up his firm grip.
“He’s in trouble. We need to help him.”
“Did you happen to see the mercenaries with big rifles?” asked Adam. “Are you planning to throw mathematical equations at them?”
Kent looked around the room and noticed a fire extinguisher on the wall near the door. “Grab the extinguisher,” he said.
“What the—Maybe I wasn’t all that clear about the big rifles those goons were carrying. Kent, they are professional assassins. The people they take out simply disappear. And you expect me to fight them with a fire extinguisher?
“It’s an ideal tool for diversion,” Kent replied. “I have a plan.”
“Oh, God.” Adam ran to the wall, grabbed his weapon, and pulled out the pin. “We sure did some reckless things when we were students, but this is out of this world.”
“Everything will be just fine,” Kent said. “Follow me.”
They opened the door of the lab and slowly moved down the hallway. They heard footsteps in the distance.
“They’re still downstairs,” said Kent.
“How will Primo find us?”
“I assume he must’ve run past an information screen on campus and memorized the map. So, if all else fails—I’m talking about his thermal camera, sound sensors, motion sensors, and other mechanisms—he should still be able to find the lab’s whereabouts.”
“I always forget they’re more equipped than we are.”
“All his equipment won’t serve him if they find him before we do.”
“So what’s the plan? They probably shut down the elevator or secured it. That means they’ll come up the stairs. That leaves us with only one way. Up. Unless we take the fire stairs, which are probably guarded as well.”
“There’s no reason to panic. Yes, they’ll come up the stairs. You’ll hide one level higher and turn on the extinguisher before they get to our floor. Then you’ll run upstairs to the roof, and Primo and I will follow you. The few seconds we’ll gain should be more than enough.”
“Enough for what? I hope you’re not expecting us to jump off the roof. I don’t know, Kent. I don’t like this plan of yours.”
“Trust me, my friend. Everything will be just fine.”
“You know I trust you, but…”
All of a sudden, they heard screaming on the stairway.
“Quickly, Adam. Up!”
Adam did what Kent had told him and ran upstairs. Kent stood on the top of the stairs so Primo could spot him more easily. The voices were rapidly getting closer.
“Primo, I order you to stop!”
The hunt continued. They were on the floor below him. A few seconds from now, he would know whether his plan was ingenious or just a desperate shot in the dark. Suddenly a known figure loomed in front of him. “Primo, here!” he shouted and ran upstairs. “Adam, now!”
There was a lot more fine powder than he had expected. The thick mist didn’t just cover the third floor, but veiled the whole stairway in a fraction of a second. Kent didn’t see Primo or Adam as he kept moving hastily through the dense white haze. Somebody firmly grabbed his arm.
“Kent, come on. Adam is already on the roof.” Primo’s voice calmed him down. “We don’t have much time,” said Primo. “I found two possible scenarios to get all three of us safely off the roof.”
“Primo, don’t worry, I’ve thought of everything.”
They opened a metal door onto the roof and rushed through. Adam closed it immediately and secured it with a rusty old bar.
“We’ve gained some time, but not a lot. We’d better get down as soon as possible,” said Adam.
Kent checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes, that’s all we need.”
Somebody was banging on the door. “Open up right away. An obstruction of law enforcement procedures is a criminal offense.”
“What law enforcement procedures?” Adam shouted. “You’re paramilitary!”
“Open the door, hand over the android, and no harm shall come to you. Don’t, and we can no longer guarantee your safety.”
“Kent, it’s OK,” said Primo. “I’m ready to confront them.”
“No, Primo, it’s not OK. What they’re doing is wrong. Where’s the damn taxi driver?”
“Taxi driver?” said Adam. “Your ingenious plan includes a taxi that was supposed to pick us up here? Did you forget that drivers are constantly connected to the Omninet? If you didn’t make the arrangements in sign language, your plan was destined to fail from the moment you opened your mouth.”
“God damn!” said Kent. “Primo, let’s hear your scenarios.”
“The fire escape is our first option.”
“My God,” said Adam. “We’re doomed.”
“Primo, somebody is surely watching it. If we climb down the fire escape, we’ll walk right into a trap,” said Kent.
“The probability of disabling one soldier is a lot greater than the probability of disabling six. That’s how many there are behind those doors.”
“What do you want us to disable him with?” asked Adam. “Our bare hands? Also, you can’t help us since you have to follow their orders.”
“I don’t need to if I can’t hear them,” Primo said smilingly.
“Wond
erful,” said Adam. “Could you enlighten us with another plausible way to get off this roof?”
“Of course. I’ll open the door and surrender.”
“There must be another way,” said Kent.
“I can’t see it,” said Primo.
“You can’t surrender.”
“I surrendered once before. Why shouldn’t I do it again?”
“Because it’s wrong.”
“Not to some people.”
“Don’t listen to those fools.”
“Fools or not, a lot of people think that what they’re doing makes sense. Who am I to judge who’s wrong and who’s right?” said Primo.
“Who’s right? Reasonable people. People who use logic.”
“Where does reason begin? Where does it end? Is it reasonable to eat fatty food, knowing that it harms your body? Is it reasonable to carry a weapon because it makes you feel safe? Reasonable is a relative concept. It’s hard to measure and define.”
“You have a few seconds left to settle your debate. They’re going to break down the door any minute now,” said Adam.
They looked at the door. Part of the security bar was glowing bright yellow.
“Quick, to the fire stairs,” said Kent.
“Don’t make me face certain death,” said Adam, when suddenly, an aerial vehicle appeared before them.
“Is this your taxi driver?” asked Adam.
“No,” said Primo. “The possible outcomes have just changed.”
41. Maia, 2048
“The targets have been identified,” said Miller. “Corbin, Adam. Male. Fifty-two years old. Professor of quantum physics. Watford, Kent. Forty-nine years old. Professor of robotics. Head of the first android program. Primo. First-gen android. The original android.”
“Polanski, land on the right side of the roof, by the fire stairs,” said Maia, pointing to the desired location.
“What are we gonna do with the competition?” asked Laguna.
“They’ll be through that door in no time,” said Jimbo.
“Miller and Jimbo, secure the door. Laguna, Jones, and I will arrest the targets. Polanski, stand by and keep the engines running. Come on, gang. In thirty seconds we need to be back inside the vehicle. Go, go, go!”