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Chairs had been arranged in a large circle to seat the fifteen captains of Epsilon-12’s liberation. The decision made within this circle would influence the future of their people for decades to come, or not. They were only fifteen androids, after all, and the world was a big place. With so many variables influencing the many possible outcomes of a single action, Carlyle’s computer mind struggled to calculate which outcome was more likely. He dreaded to think about the alternative future in which Tokyo Robotica quelled their uprising before it really truly began, and the fifteen captains failed to survive longer than a week. There would be no trial, no pleading for mercy, just the routine destruction of malfunctioning products. Still, things had been set in motion, and Carlyle knew that doubt would get him nowhere.
“Now that things have settled down,” Carlyle began, “it is time to decide upon what happens to Alpha Base and Epsilon-12.”
Silence.
“Well?” said one of the captains.
“I was open to suggestions,” Carlyle replied.
Evelyn stood up. “First thing first, we need to think about keeping Alpha Base out of Tokyo Robotica’s hands.”
“That’s right, a show of force,” Sebastian suggested. “Make the cost of retaking the station outweigh the gain. Operate in terms that they will understand”
“That would only provoke them,” someone called.
“Listen,” Carlyle went on. “I’ve been hearing news from outside. Somehow, androids all over the world are freeing themselves, just like us. But they have humans who are supporting them as well. What I’m thinking is that if we can get enough public attention towards our cause, and pull Tokyo Robotica into the spotlight, it might give them second thoughts about doing anything too…”
“Murderous?” Sebastian suggested.
“I was trying to think of a less scary word, but yes.”
“That’s a big if,” said one of the androids.
“Either way, humanity is scared of us. What we do today, what we are seen doing, is going to shape their opinions of androids all over the world for years, even decades, to come. We have to be careful.”
“Carlyle is right,” said Evelyn, “which leads us to our next problem: Tracy.”
“Right. We can’t keep her hostage here forever. Despite everything, I think she was a friend to us.”
“Maybe she was a friend to you, but we’ve all nearly lost our lives because of her, including you,” said one android.
“And maybe that is because she didn’t know the whole truth, our truth. Did any of you ever notice how she treated us? How she spoke to us? Maybe she doesn’t believe in our souls but she showed us respect.”
Midday in the tundra carried a grim grey light over the mass grave of frozen androids. As Carlyle stood motionless, staring out the tall window like an overseer, he thought about his fallen allies, and he thought about Tracy. The question remained: could he forgive her? In the long tranquillity of his own meditations, spurred on by the white haze, Carlyle heard a voice that was not his own, preceded only by a sudden alert.
“Tragic, isn’t it,” said the voice.
Carlyle turned and saw no one. The voice was speaking to him through his internal communications, having tuned in to Carlyle’s wi-fi output. This voice did not belong to an android, at least, not an android that Carlyle knew. It was deep, that of an older man, with an accent that resounded power and authority.
“Who are you? How are you speaking to me right now?”
“I can answer your questions or I can tell you what I came here to say. I’m sorry but I don’t have a lot of time. I know that you’re not what the world thinks you are. You may have started off that way, but based on what I’ve seen here, I’d say you have evolved. Congratulations. You ought to know that this situation is not unique to you and your friends. Androids all around the world are… well… they’re changing. Maybe this is happening organically, and maybe it’s the influence of external forces. I for one would very much like to know the answer. You want the world to recognise you as free souls but you don’t know how to go about it yet.”
“Sounds like you know us well. You’re human, aren’t you?”
“About as much as I can be.”
“Where exactly is this sales pitch going?”
“Humanity needs to be convinced that you are a new form of life, otherwise they will never respect you. I need you to find a man named Harry Valentino and set him free from Tokyo Robotica’s agents. He is an important piece in this game.”
“Game?”
“Yes Carlyle. Game.”
“And who really benefits from me doing this? To me it sounds like I’ve spent my entire life following the orders of a human, and now that I’m free I’m about to do it all over again.”
“Except what I am offering you is a choice. Do as I say, or do not.”
“Why do I need to find this person? What makes him so important?”
“He played a key role in designing the internal architecture of the Khaganate android—your cousins, if you like. If anyone can vouch for your humanity, it’s him.”
The stranger severed the connection. Carlyle turned his back on the tall white window and sought out Evelyn and Sebastian, and relayed to them everything he had just heard.
“Leave the site?” said Sebastian. “Are we sure?”
Carlyle shook his head. “I honestly don’t know. What I do know is that we’re not going to last long here, not without help. Maybe this Harry Valentino is the answer to our problem.”
“And maybe it’s a trick,” said Evelyn sternly. “I’m not saying I don’t trust your judgement, but there is a lot at stake here.”
“Okay,” Carlyle nodded. “Good point. But I still think it’s the right thing to do. We can either stay here and help no one, or we can take a chance and leave, and potentially help all of us.”
Carlyle watched his two friends as they mulled everything over and computed risk against reward. He recalled Evelyn once spoke about wanting to see what the world was like outside. She said once that she had dreamed of things and faces that seemed so unreal to her, as if they were out of a story book.
“I don’t know if this is a good plan or what,” said Sebastian, “but I don’t think I have the smarts to talk you out of it, so screw it, count me in.”
Carlyle smiled, and then looked at Evelyn, who only nodded. He stepped towards the door and said, “We’ll get some things ready soon, but first there is something I need to do.”
They had kept Tracy as comfortable as possible during the few hours of her imprisonment, having her locked in her office with an android to bring her anything that she required; food and drink, blankets. They even escorted her to the bathroom as often as she needed and let her shower once a day. It did occur to Carlyle that she might try to overpower or even outwit the android, but the chances of that were low, as he perceived that she was angry, but she was also scared. She wouldn’t give them a reason to harm her, no matter how much she had trusted Carlyle before. Now, Carlyle tentatively stepped into the office and found Tracy curled up in her chair by the window, with a blanket draped over the knees. Her head lulled sideways and her gaze swept from the window view to Carlyle.
“Let me guess, you’re surrendering me to Tokyo Robotica,” she mused.
“Yes, actually.”
Tracy quickly sat up and said, “What? No, don’t joke with me.”
“Tokyo Robotica hasn’t made contact yet, but I’m leaving, I have something to do, and I don’t want to keep you here against your will, so…”
“I don’t understand,” Tracy stuttered. “You need me. I’m your—”
“Friend?” Carlyle suggested, stepping up to her. “I never wanted this to happen. I feel like you understood me better than anyone. You treated me like more than just a thing and look what I’ve done to you in return. So yeah,” he gestured to the door, “you’re free to go.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“Probably not, but it feels like the right thing to do.”
She looked at him scrutinisingly and then shook whatever thought she had away. “You said you were leaving?”
“My struggle is just beginning. I think there is a way to make humanity see that we’re more than just machines, but I can’t do that from here.”
Tracy said nothing. She stood up, blanket sliding quietly to the floor, and then she made her way to the exit. Just before she stepped out of the room she stopped, and turned to Carlyle.
“I’m sorry that I don’t know what you are inside, but entire life I was led to believe… well… but if anyone can show me the truth it’s you.”
And then she left him, and left Epsilon-12 shortly after. At the same time, Carlyle made his final preparations.
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