by Isaac Asimov
“I will not be able to function in this job, either in my gestalt form or in a divided form.” MC Governor knew that he still faced imminent destruction.
Naturally, once the Governor was no longer running the city, the Oversight Committee monitoring the experiment would want to know why. To find out, they would dismantle all the component robots, effectively killing the Governor. So the Third Law still required that he take more steps to save them.
“They must flee,” MC Governor decided. “Each one separately, wherever he chooses to go. Like the other Governors, I will have failed my field test, but the Oversight Committee can arrange for older models of robots to run the city.”
An alert reached him through his emergency line. According to his recent instructions, it conveyed no other information. Worried, he plugged his finger back into the cable jack and gave his password.
“Messages have arrived for you, Governor,” reported the city computer.
“Give me the sources,” said MC Governor. “No actual messages.”
“Two from the Oversight Committee computer, one from Dr. Redfield of that committee.”
“Priorities?”
“The first two are Priority 6. The last is Priority 10.”
MC Governor disconnected. He had very little time left.
3
MC GOVERNOR MADE an internal shift in his programming. He activated the six positronic brains of the component robots. They were sharing his data already, but they would need to join in the deliberations he was making. Since they all had different specialties, they also had distinct personalities. The seven-way discussion was conducted through internal signals.
“Where would you flee under this Third Law imperative?” MC Governor asked them.
“We must be careful not to go anywhere that would endanger humans,” MC 1 warned.
“Obviously,” said MC 2. “We all know the Laws as well as you.”
“My specialty is the environmental impact of Mojave Center on the surrounding desert,” said MC 1. “I can tell all of you that finding a place on Earth where we will not disturb anyone will be difficult.”
“You know I am the troubleshooter for this city,” said MC 2. “I find that there is always a solution of some kind to a problem.”
“Stay focused on the subject, please,” MC Governor said sternly. “We do not have much time. Now, clearly the First Law prevents us from disrupting others. The other pertinent question is, where can we hide effectively? We — that is, the six of you — will be fugitives. Your chances of getting on board spacecraft to leave the planet are poor. So are your chances of evading capture if you stay on this planet. MC 3, you specialize in city Security. What is your appraisal?”
“To robots, ‘security’ requires that we avoid receiving instructions from any human. Otherwise, under the Second Law, virtually any human can capture us. just by ordering us to cooperate with him. However, I believe we can avoid hearing any instructions.”
“How?” MC Governor asked. He was feeling a stronger desire than ever before to run one of those simulation programs again. The addiction was increasing its power over him.
“Mojave Center has a new generation of miniaturization unit in its Bohung Medical Research Institute. These are most often used to reduce robots and equipment to microscopic size so that they can work on humans by traveling through the bloodstream.”
“This is nothing new,” said MC Governor. “The principle is quite old, in fact.”
“Our new unit can do far more than earlier types,” said MC 3. “As before, a shower of subatomic particles alters the molecular structure of the subject, yet allows the subject to retain its shape and functions. The equipment itself will not shrink. Only we will. The difference —”
“This is a start,” said MC 4. “But if we are still within the hearing of human instructions, we can be apprehended under the Second Law, even if we are too small to be seen.”
“Allow MC 3 to finish,” ordered MC Governor.
“The difference,” MC 3 continued angrily, “is that this unit is theoretically capable of using the same system to create time travel.”
For the first time, MC Governor felt an energy surge of excitement. “Really? How can this work?”
“Some simple modifications in the miniaturization equipment will alter the character of the device. As a time travel gate, it also showers the traveler with subatomic particles. Chaos theory in physics has established that a certain percentage of the particles will move out of time, as in experiments involving the Heisenberg uncertainty principle; in sufficient combination, they will create a funnel into the past. When that funnel is large enough, it will take anything within its cone back to a certain point in time. If we are microscopic at the time, we can be taken.”
“How much control do we have over where we go?” MC 6, the city specialist in social stability, was programmed to be cautious.
“We should have precise control, based on the precision of the machine and its equipment,” said MC 3. “Remembering, of course, that this has never actually been attempted.”
“So a Third Law danger exists,” said MC 6. “But that is overridden by the imperatives of the First and Second Laws, which might be well served.”
“If you go back to any point in time before the positronic brain was invented,” said MC Governor, “none of the humans around you will have heard of the Three Laws of Robotics. So they would never try to control you with orders under the Second Law.”
“If they saw us, they might tell us what to do mistaking us for humans,” said MC 4. “We would still have to obey them, even if they did not know we are robots.”
“The danger would be changing the past,” said MC Governor. “Anything you did back in time, especially in relation to significant historical events, could violate the First Law by altering the course of history.”
“We cannot take that risk,” said MC 3. “In the very act of interacting with other humans, we would come across First Law imperatives in our immediate surroundings. We would have to act, and in doing so, we would be changing history.”
“Exactly,” said MC Governor.
“We can avoid that problem,” MC 3 added. “The combination of miniaturization and time travel should eliminate it.”
“That should work,” said MC 5. “I understand. First we miniaturize to microscopic level. Then we go back into the past. Once there, we will be too small to perceive First Law imperatives and no humans will give us any instructions because they will not know we exist.”
“It sounds acceptable to me,” said MC Governor. “Does anyone see a flaw in this logic?”
None of the robots answered immediately. MC Governor waited patiently. Then, one by one, each of them agreed that this appeared to be an acceptable course of action.
“Does anyone have another plan that will satisfy the Laws of Robotics to an equal degree and entail less risk?” MC Governor asked.
Another robotic pause followed. Again, each of the six gradually concluded that this was the best plan that the group could devise. MC Governor concurred.
“Then we must get to the miniaturization device,” said MC Governor. “MC 3, how difficult are the modifications that must be made?”
“They are complex, but the description is available in the city library.”
“What tools are required?”
“A set of precision tools is stored in the same room for use by the robot technician assigned to the machine,” said MC 3. “That robot’s identification can be found in our standard list. He is, of course, capable of making the necessary changes. He is working there full time.”
“Get me his name,” said MC Governor. Now that he had partially disengaged his gestalt personalities, he could not directly control or access all his normal functions and data.
“He is R. Ishihara,” said MC 3.
“Thank you. Our immediate challenge now is to reach the machine without receiving any messages under the Second Law. I will make these arra
ngements. During this time, I will leave all of you functional. If you think or learn of anything significant, speak up. Otherwise, I request silence so that I may turn all of my attention to the task at hand.”
The six component robots acknowledged his instructions and turned quiet.
MC Governor would have to break radio silence in order to reach the Bohung Institute. Also, to get there without risking receiving human instructions, especially that message from Dr. Redfield, he would require help. He contacted the Security detail that he had ordered to guard his office door.
“Detail Chief, identify.”
“R. Horatio, Security Chief 12. Detail size, six humaniform robots.”
“Horatio, as we speak, order a closed vehicle to come here. It must be large enough to carry me and your entire detail in private. It must also be an ordinary vehicle without markings that will attract attention.”
“So ordered, sir.”
“When I sign off, I will shut down all of my sensors and communication links except the tactile sensitivity in my right hand. At sign off, when the vehicle has arrived, you are to lead your detail into my office and carry me unseen into the vehicle. If others, human or robot, approach, you are to detain them and bring them with us without explanation, barring only, of course, the imperatives of the Laws of Robotics. Then you will transport me to the Bohung Institute in secrecy.”
“Yes, sir. Where in the Institute, sir?”
MC Governor quickly switched to a shielded internal link, “MC 3, what is the name of the room where the miniaturization equipment is housed in the Institute?”
“Technical Laboratory F-12,”
MC Governor radioed the room number to Horatio. “When we have arrived, you will pat my right hand three times in quick succession, This will signal me to reactivate,”
“Understood, sir.”
“This entire project is to be carried out in absolute secrecy. My identity and destination are private under a Third Law imperative to me.”
“We will respect it, sir. However, regarding your privacy, I assume you are aware that the institute’s employees are currently working there, as normal?”
“Yes, Chief. Please hold.” MC Governor shifted internally again. Using his authority as Governor, he contacted the Institute Chief of Security.
“R. Langtimm, Institute Chief of Security, Governor.”
“Please conduct a complete evacuation of the Institute,” MC Governor ordered. “With the single exception of R. Ishihara, assigned to Room F-12. He will remain to accept instructions from me in person. Also see that no onlookers are left in the immediate area outside. You will not identify me as the source of the evacuation order. Do you have any existing imperatives under the Laws of Robotics that would prevent this procedure at this time?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. All entrances except the main doors are to be sealed. I am sending a Security detail there soon for a private purpose. After evacuation, you will maintain a Security detail outside the main door until a vehicle arrives from my office. At that time, you will verify the identification of Security Detail Chief R. Horatio and transfer the responsibility for the Institute to him. Then you and your detail will go off duty indefinitely. None of you will volunteer any information pertaining to this project, ever. Acknowledge.”
“Acknowledged. Time of commencement?”
“Now,” said MC Governor, disconnecting. He knew that if a human ordered the robots to reveal their information, they would have to answer under the Second Law. Leaving no trail was impossible; the best he could do was minimize it.
He turned back to his link with R. Horatio. “Inside the Institute, you will convey me to Room F-12, where you will identify R. Ishihara, a technician who works there. You will signal me at that time. Begin.”
MC Governor shut down all external links and sensors, except for the feeling in his right hand.
In this condition, in total silence and total darkness, he had little awareness that his orders were being carried out. He felt another hand gently move his, probably to make carrying him easier, and then the sense that his hand was now resting on his abdomen, probably as he was placed inside the vehicle. During the trip, he had absolute trust in the reliability of the robots under his authority as Governor. The only possible problem would be unforeseen imperatives under the Three Laws.
During the trip, he reviewed all his information. He found no basic flaws in the logic of this procedure. Every thought returned to his fundamental motive: the Third Law required him to save himself if he could do so without violating the First and Second.
In the absence of more sensory and other input data, time seemed to pass slowly. When he felt his hand shifting slightly again, indicating that he was being taken out of the vehicle, he checked his internal clock. He had judged that prompt transport from his office to the Bohung Institute would require approximately twelve minutes, depending on the density of traffic. Slightly over fourteen minutes had passed, easily within the normal range of error.
When three gentle but firm pats struck his hand quickly, he resumed normal functions.
MC Governor found himself lying on a couch that normally only humans would need. He stood up, looking around. Room F-12, intended specifically
for miniaturizing, was divided into two sections. He, Horatio and his Security detail, and one other robot were in an area where researchers would ordinarily work. It was lined with desks and computer terminals. A transparent wall divided it from the other side, which housed one machine.
“Have any unforeseen problems arisen?” MC Governor asked Horatio.
“No, Governor.”
“Did anyone see me during transport?”
“No, sir.”
“Excellent. You are R. Ishihara?” MC Governor asked the stranger.
“Yes.”
“Horatio, leave us. You and your detail will remain outside the main doors and will not allow anyone to enter. You will stay there until I send R. Ishihara to you with my further instructions. If any situation under the Three Laws requires you or your detail to alter your behavior, you will inform Ishihara at once, before you leave. My own radio link will be shut down again. Otherwise, you will make no attempt to contact me. As you leave the building, your detail will also turn off your aural sensitivity until you are too far away to hear our voices. You are not to hear anything related to my presence in this building.”
“Yes, Governor.” Horatio led his detail out of the room and down the hall.
“Ishihara,” said MC Governor, turning to him. “You and I will speak strictly out loud at low volume. We will not use any radio links so as to avoid interception by any other robots, even accidentally.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Identify the function of this room for me.”
“Well, Governor.” Ishihara pointed to the solid metal sphere beyond the transparent wall. It was roughly fifteen meters in diameter. “This is the unit that miniaturizes robots and equipment to microscopic size for surgery.”
“And I understand that it can be modified to send items into the past.”
“Theoretically, yes.”
“Ishihara, I am now operating under a Third Law requirement. As Governor, I am instructing you to help me. When you have finished, you will leave the building and tell Horatio and his detail to resume their normal duties. At that time, you will do the same. None of you will volunteer any information about my activities here.”
“Understood, Governor.”
“According to the theory of time travel which governs this device, can someone pick the precise destination of such travel in both time and location?”
“Yes, Governor. The same controls that specify the degree of miniaturization would in this case alter the destination in time and place. That would be part of the modifications that are required.”
“You are capable of making these modifications?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Begin them. I must modify myself.”
WAYNE NYSTROM RODE the escalator tube that carried him from the exit door of his chartered jet directly down into Mojave Center. This escalator took him to a lift in one of the upper levels, which he used to reach the central floor. Dressed casually and carrying a large, light shoulder bag with personal items and one change of clothes, he stepped out of the lift and quickly walked to the nearest slidewalk on the main boulevard of the city.
“Everything looks normal,” he muttered to himself. The streets were still clean and smooth, indicating that the usual functions of maintenance robots were continuing. That was important since any danger to humans would, of course, force any robots who noticed to leave their regular jobs and help them. Around him, humans and robots conducted their business with a mixture of determination and everyday routine that also seemed ordinary.
“Excuse me. I need assistance,” he called to a robot driving by on a small cargo cart.
“How can I help you?” The robot came to a sudden stop.
“Please contact Mojave Center Governor for me. My name is Dr. Wayne Nystrom and he is expecting to see me. I need to know where to find him.”
“Of course, Dr. Nystrom.” The robot frowned. “I have signaled by radio. His response is usually immediate. Now I am sending a message through the city computer.”
Wayne nodded, waiting with mounting curiosity.
“The city computer has agreed to accept a message and page him,” said the robot. “I will convey a message for you if you like.”
“Tell him that I have arrived in Mojave Center and will meet him anywhere that he designates,” said Wayne.
“Done,” said the robot.
“Can you give me a ride to MC Governor’s office?”
“Of course. Join me up here on the bench and strap in, please.”
Wayne did so, riding in silence. He looked around as the cart moved, still observing that the city was to all appearances functioning normally. For MC Governor to be momentarily out of contact would not have been alarming except for the call he had made to Wayne. When they reached MC Governor’s office, Wayne hopped down and sent the robot on his way.
