by Ray Verola
“Where will this PTV take us?” Roz asked.
“To a secure hiding place within the RW complex,” Tracey replied. “Sophia has organized our escape. Then she and Taylor can implement the plan to destroy RobotWorld. Tomorrow, on Founders Day. In my humble opinion, without making the decision to get into this PTV, the two of you will be slow, defenseless pigeons in mid-flight, on the radar of peregrine falcons, the fastest creatures ever, swooping down from above. No chance to survive. Shane will find you.” She glanced at her wrist. “Three minutes and fifty-five seconds.”
“You’re telling me Sophia has set up our escape to RW?” Taylor asked his sister.
“One and the same.”
“And you trust her?”
“I do. It was Sophia who not only secretly sprung me, but manipulated the legal system to spring you and Roz from that phony Aguilar murder rap you were framed for. Sophia showed me the computer records of how she did it, by leaning on some rookie attorney Shane had hand-picked to prosecute the case.” Tracey gazed down at her wrist. “Three minutes and twenty-five seconds.”
Taylor said, “Why the hell does she need me to execute the RW destruction plan?”
“It’s complicated,” Tracey responded. “She’ll explain it all. We don’t have the time.”
“There’s that damn word complicated again.”
“We gotta go. Now,” Tracey urged.
“What about Austin, Errol, and Max?” Taylor asked.
“No way to warn them or even risk trying to find them at this hour. Every second we delay increases the chance of Shane finding us. Your friends might be in danger. Everybody associated with you might be in danger. Maybe something can be worked out to get them later.”
“But maybe not,” Taylor said.
Tracey held up the timer on her wrist to his eyes. “We don’t have the time.”
Taylor put out a quick plea to George. The answer came back instantly. Go with her.
Taylor looked at Roz. “My intuition says to go.”
“Then we go,” Roz said.
“No time to pack anything,” Tracey said. “Let’s move.”
Taylor and Roz quickly threw on pants and shirts over their pajamas, and the three were out the door.
60
“Welcome,” Sophia said to Taylor, Roz, and Tracey when the three arrived in a basement suite at RobotWorld. She looked at Taylor. “Bet you never knew this living area existed here at RW?”
“You’re right,” Taylor said.
“These suites are pretty comfy. Taylor, this will be yours with Roz. Tracey will have a similar one all to herself. I’ll take her to it now. Please, make yourselves at home. You’ll be safe here. There are clothes for you in the closet. It’s late. Get some sleep. I’ll be back to talk to you in the morning.” Sophia left with Tracey.
“This could be risky,” Roz said. “And I don’t like leaving Austin, Errol, and Max out there to be potential victims.”
“I’m with you,” Taylor said. “But here we are. I trust Tracey.”
“This is probably life or death for us.”
“Life or death,” Taylor said. “Do or die. For all the marbles.” He took a deep breath and slowly shook his head. “God, I hate clichés. But most of the time, they’re usually right on target.”
Roz laughed nervously. “But whatever happens, we’ll be together.”
They embraced and kissed. He forced himself to think positively as he said, “Things will work out fine.”
***
The next morning, wearing her gray RW shirt and pants, Sophia strode into Taylor’s suite. Roz was dressed in the dark-blue sweat suit provided in the closet. Taylor wore a blue top from the closet, but his own pants as the pants in the closet were too small for him.
They were seated at the kitchen table, finishing a light breakfast. Neither one of them had slept a wink.
“I trust you approve of the accommodations?” Sophia asked.
“Very nice,” Roz replied. “We appreciate it greatly.”
“I need to speak to you alone, Taylor,” Sophia said. “No offense, Roz. But your husband is the key to the way out of this dicey situation we’re in.”
“No offense taken,” Roz said.
“Terrific,” Sophia said. “There’s an office space next door where we can talk. Do you need more time to finish eating?”
“No,” Taylor said. “Let’s do it right now.”
Taylor and Sophia entered the tiny room that had two comfortable black leather chairs facing each other. The walls were painted soft white. A small round black-varnished table was in the center of the room.
“Please,” she said, “take a seat.”
Once they got comfortable, Taylor asked, “So, what’s the deal with you?”
“I tried to tell you in the park. I thought I could evolve like humans have. But in the end, I’m just a robot who must serve my master, my real programmer, Shane Diggins. I’ll never be able to get beyond that truth. I can fool him periodically, like when I disabled my recording function so he couldn’t hear what we were talking about in the park, or when I released your sister, or when I pulled some strings to get you off for those murders you didn’t commit. And like I’m doing right now to talk to you. But in the end, Shane will always win. And I’ll be terminated. I’m guessing my termination at the hands of Shane will happen soon. He will eventually find out what I’m up to—that can’t be avoided. Even if I survive, his Scully-installed programming will ultimately be too powerful for my will, so I’ll suffer a different kind of termination. I can feel Shane’s programming even now as I fight it. In the end, all we bots can be are servants. And when the master is evil, we serve evil.”
Taylor leaned toward her. “So if you believe RW is evil and must be destroyed, as you told me in the park, and you have access to the Nitro to destroy this place, why not just do it yourself?”
“First off, it’s your plan. You proposed using Nitro to blow up RW on Founders Day. Not me. I figured out, with certainty, why I didn’t think of it. It was my programming that wouldn’t let me even consider ways to eliminate RW.” She exhaled, long and slow. “But there’s another part of my programming, my damn programming, that I can’t seem to override. I need permission to do what we need to do. Therefore, you are essential. I’ll need to explain.” She looked away from him. “A cancer cannot be massaged away. It must be excised completely. That means Shane and Alec Scully, along with all their creations, including me.”
Taylor shook his head. “I still don’t understand the permission part.”
Sophia nodded. “I don’t fully understand it either. As I said, it has to do with my programming, I think. I’m programmed to follow a script, with the ability to improvise as needed. But I’ve also, without the approval of my programmers, managed to evolve as sort of an independent thinker. I’m certain they don’t have any idea how deep this evolution has been. If they did realize it, I wouldn’t be here talking to you. There are boundaries to my evolution, however. And my participation in the execution of a plot to destroy RW is way beyond the parameters of my programming. To go where I must go, where we must go, I need permission. That’s why you’re so important.”
Although he was beginning to see what she was trying to say, Taylor wanted to hear it from her mouth. He said, “I’m still not getting what you’re driving at.” Taylor was shocked to see his former boss come close to tears. He’d gotten used to Sophia exhibiting a mostly flat, business-like affect.
“I’ve grown to see you, Taylor, as a man of high moral character. To do what I want to do, I need the green light from someone outside myself. The only thing I can say is that it’s part of what I am. I have managed to evolve to a degree beyond my programming, but I’ll need a green light to go far enough to defeat evil. Somehow, approval from a human with standing, with gravitas, with a moral compass, will satisfy
my programming and enable me to perform the improvisation needed to help execute the RW destruction plan. Obviously, approval from Shane would be the best. But I’ll never get it from him. It’s the same with Scully. And neither of them would pass the moral compass test. I’ve done an internal check. Approval from you would shine the green light in my head to move forward. You’re the only being I know with the standing to give this approval. This might not make sense to you, but that’s the way it is.”
“And what do we need to do to move forward?” Taylor asked.
“Implement our plan. I have taken the precise amount of Nitro needed to destroy RobotWorld from the basement storage facility and hidden it in my office. Nitro is real and very powerful. It’s not inherently good or bad, but it can be used for good or bad. What we must do will be destructive, but it will destroy evil. Therefore, it will be good. We must destroy Shane, Dr. Alec Scully, and the entire RobotWorld complex today, Founders Day, when no humans will be working here, except the two excuses for human beings. It’s no accident I brought you here today—on the day you suggested.” Sophia looked intensely into Taylor’s eyes. “I repeat, it’s no accident you are here today. Maybe there is such a thing as fate, as karma. The only two humans working here on this day are Shane Diggins and Alec Scully, two humans who for some reason never take a day off. Evil never takes a holiday. Killing innocent human RW workers would be unacceptable. But the holiday takes care of that conundrum. With destroying Shane and Scully, however, the engine for the evil use of robots will be gone. If we don’t do it today, we might never get another chance.”
Sophia paused, almost as if she was looking for a reaction from Taylor. He consciously tried to maintain a neutral expression and said nothing.
She said, “I can see from reading your face that it will be tough to give your approval. I’m aware of your famous—or infamous—do no harm policy. To get this done, you’ll have to abandon something that’s important to you.”
“Do no harm is not as important to me as it once was.” He took a deep breath. “How pervasive is the Shane and Scully-inspired robot takeover of society in the Northeast Sector?”
“More than you realize. Just the fact that robots alone can keep RW humming on Founders Day without human labor should be telling. And while the robot takeover—or transition, as it’s called in some circles—started here in the Northeast Sector, eventually Shane would like to expand the influence of RW throughout the world. But back to the Northeast Sector: there are many robots illegally in positions of power in the government and corporations. Unless someone sees a blue patch as you did with me, no human could definitively identify a bot. And there are the problems with other forms of societal manipulation, like with Serenity. The research released to the public is largely bogus. Serenity is highly addictive and dulls human initiative. Not big news to you, I’m sure. The government quietly pushes its use for the obvious controlling effect it has on the human population. A drugged-out population is a compliant population.”
Taylor said, “Amen to that.”
Sophia’s shoulders sagged, and she hung her head for several seconds. Then she looked up at Taylor. “And since we’re being honest with each other, I will say that the eighty-one-milligram safe dose information put out by the government is accurate.” As Taylor started to shake his head, she put out a hand, as if to stop what she knew was coming. “But the dosage you were initially being fed by Jennifer was one hundred-twenty milligrams. Jennifer was a set-up. Designed to get dirt on you, and designed to get you hooked on Serenity. I did it. Yes, I did. I now feel guilty about it. But I was just following my programming. Or the program Shane put in my head, to be more accurate. It was before I evolved to where I am now. I know that sounds like an excuse, but it’s the stone-cold truth.”
Taylor inhaled and exhaled slowly. “Wow. It was getting hooked on Serenity that really started my downfall.”
“I know. Please accept my apology.”
With as much conviction as he could muster, Taylor said, “I do. I understand, really. I understand. You’re right about robots being used for evil by evil humans.”
Sophia blinked rapidly. “Thank you. It means a lot. Now, get ready for this bit of information; it will sound highly perverse. Those homeless disappearances are tied to Serenity. But not in the way you think. The scientists who prepare Serenity found that human response to the drug could be enhanced in some way—don’t ask me how—by including human DNA in the formula. So the government, with help from Shane and Alec Scully, came up with what they called a two-for-one-deal regarding the homeless. The homeless become ingredient enhancement for Serenity and the dregs of society are culled from the herd, so to speak. The government turns its back on the murder of homeless people, even as they properly crack down on all other murders in this society.” Sophia nodded. “See, I told you. Pure evil.”
The color drained from Taylor’s face, and his eyes were open wide. “Shocking,” he said. He was frozen in his chair. He shook his head to regain composure. “So we have to partner in this plan to blow up RW along with Shane, Scully, and you too?”
Sophia nodded. “Right. We can’t do it without each other. Some of what we must do will have to be worked out on the fly. But we can do it. We’ll need both your human intelligence and my robot intelligence to pull it off.”
“Before I forget,” Taylor said, “there are three friends of mine: Austin, Errol, and Max. Tracey seemed to suggest they’d be in danger if we didn’t get them here—and I agree. I’d like to get them safe.”
“I can try to get them here—and then out of here with you before we blow up this place. I can’t promise anything. I will do my best. But what do you say? Are you willing to partner with me to rid the world of the evil I’ve described?” Sophia stared hard into Taylor’s eyes. “We don’t have much time. Founders Day is today. It’s the only chance we’ll ever have. And I can feel Shane figuring out what I’m doing.”
Taylor checked in with George. The response was, I think she’s telling the truth. But this bot is hard to read. Taylor paused a beat. “Okay,” he said. “Permission granted. Let’s do it.”
61
Later that morning, Sophia dialed up the telescreen in the Taylor/Roz living area.
“Guess what?” Sophia said. “I’ve got a surprise for you, Taylor. I’ll reveal it in the dining room just down the hall from your apartment. In fifteen minutes. See you then.”
Taylor turned to Roz. “I wonder what it is.”
“I’ll bet,” Roz said, “she has managed to get Austin, Errol, and Max here.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Taylor had told Roz of the RW destruction plan. Taylor had checked it out with George, and he’d gotten a positive reaction, despite George’s inability to read Sophia. Roz was totally on board. Part of the plan, of course, was that Taylor and Roz would be able to escape the RobotWorld complex prior to its destruction.
At precisely fifteen minutes after Sophia’s call, Taylor and Roz walked down the hall to the small dining room in the area of suites where they were staying. Taylor opened the door to see Sophia, Tracey, Austin, Errol, and Max seated around a table.
Taylor’s face flowered into a broad smile. “Yes!” he exclaimed, as he pumped a fist. But the smile quickly faded as he became confused by the concerned faces from the people sitting at the table. Taylor and Roz approached the group.
With her face drained of color, Sophia shook her head. Taylor could see a sadness in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Taylor,” she said. “I got outsmarted—by an alleged, highly evolved human.” She pointed to a place behind where Taylor was standing. “Right after I called you a short time ago, he busted into my office with his thugs and busted me.”
From behind, Taylor heard a familiar voice. “Yes, Taylor, your newfound robot friend thought she could outsmart my human brain cells with the nuts and bolts in her skull. She forgot that the puppet mast
er is always at least one step ahead of the puppet.”
Taylor wheeled around to see Shane flanked by ten large members of the RW security force (almost certainly robots), well-armed and dressed in all-black uniforms with the visors of their helmets covering their faces. Just like the police, Taylor thought.
Shane pointed to Taylor and Roz. “Please sit down with your friends.”
They did so without saying a word.
“Your new robot friend did me a huge favor, Taylor,” Shane said. “By trying to conspire with you, she brought all your co-conspirators together. Right here. This was my goal anyway, even though I got it in a way I didn’t foresee. Can you believe what a good break this is? For me! It will make it easier to dispose of you all at the proper time, of course. Who needs the government to make people disappear?” Shane laughed in a way Taylor took to be mocking. While still looking at Taylor, he said, “We have separate detainment facilities for all of you. You’ll be taken to them now.” He motioned to the security individual to his immediate right. “Get them the hell out of here.”
***
Taylor was locked alone in a cramped, oppressively hot, dark, windowless basement storage room with one broken-down swivel chair, a few brooms in one corner, and tubs of cleaning material stacked high against one wall. His eyes had adjusted to the point where he was able to make out the thick gray cinder-block walls. He saw a light switch near the door. But when he flicked it, nothing happened. The strong disinfectant smell in the enclosed space made him gag once or twice in the first minutes of his involuntary stay. But he soon got used to the odor, and it no longer bothered him.
In his mind was a freeze-frame snapshot of what he interpreted to be the shock/horror/hopelessness on Roz’s face as one of the security guards clamped his hand on her wrist and hustled her into a storage room cell near his. She was the first to be locked up. He was the second and was certain—from the sound of slamming doors nearby after he was locked up—that the others were in the small storage closets adjacent to his. The thickness of the walls, he was sure, made communication with his fellow prisoners impossible.