AL Clark, Jonathan G. Meyer [the little red hen ebook .TXT] 📗

scanner. It was fascinating. If you don’t mind my saying, you are a very sophisticated machine.”

“This is a dream...or a nightmare. It can’t be real,” groaned Al.

“I am afraid it is real my friend. I have even tried pinching myself. It hurts.”

“You’re playing a joke on me, right Doc?” Al hoped.

“I wish that were so. You can see for yourself what is inside you.”

Al remembered protests on Earth and laws that were passed, “Aren’t humanoid robots banned on Earth?”

“Yes—they are. I did hear rumors that development was secretly still going on. I did not believe the research had gotten this far. Now I believe because here you are.”

This revelation was going to take a while to sink in. At this point, Al wasn’t sure what to think. He needed to get back to his routine and get busy or go crazy.

“We can’t tell anybody. There must be a reason there is no mention of Al Clark in the computer and why nobody remembers me but Captain Effinger.”

“You are my friend...regardless of what you are. I will say nothing,” promised his friend and confidante.

“Thank you, Cody, because I have a feeling I might need all the friends I can get.”

Doc Cody cleaned and wrapped his leg. He admitted he did not know how much it would help. The technology used to create Al’s body was way outside of his expertise. They could only hope his leg would heal itself.

He left Cody at the clinic and took a walk around the perimeter fence to clear his head.

I think—therefore, I am, came to him.

I felt sorrow when Rudy was killed and feel affection for my friends.

Can a robot have feelings?

I don’t feel strong or fast like a robot should. I don’t f-e-e-l like a robot.

Does a robot know it’s a robot?

Shouldn’t I be able to tell?

So many questions circled in his mind with nowhere to turn for answers—or was there? The captain seemed to know more than he let on. Maybe he knew about this. If Al asked the right questions, he might get some answers. One thing was for sure. He had to be careful, and no one should know that didn’t need to. It was possible even the captain was against humanoid robots.

He thought of his need for sleep. He had dreams.

Do robots dream? Al didn’t know. It was all very confusing.

He decided to talk to the only robot he knew well—Robot Nine. At least, a robot could not lie, or hate. It was late, and most of the colonists were asleep when he summoned the mechanical with his pad and met the machine near some secluded equipment on the south side of camp.

Al was not sure how to start. “Robot Nine...am I human?”

“Yes sir, you are a human.”

The answer surprised Al. “Am I a robot?”

“Yes sir, you are a...robot.”

“Which is it?” he pressed.

“My sensors tell me you are both human and robotic.”

“Please explain yourself.”

“You have a human brain organ and a robotic body, sir. Does this cause you discomfort? I sense conflict in you.”

“You have no idea.”

“If my answers cause you discomfort, why do you ask harmful questions?”

“Because I need to know who I am. I guess that’s the human part of me.” Al continued, “What are my capabilities?”

“I have no data on your capabilities, sir.”

Disappointed the little robot didn’t know more, Al sank into thought.

“Can we discuss security details, sir, I do not wish to cause you further harm.”

This one-time rogue robot seemed to possess a need to please him.

Do robots have needs?

****

CAPTAIN TOBIAS EFFINGER was extremely busy, and he didn’t like it. He didn’t think he should be. The captain wanted to be flying shuttle missions and helping the colony.

In this stage of their mission, it should be routine maintenance and preparation for planetfall. The discovery of the dinosaurs on Avalon complicated things, but this ship and the people on board were equipped to handle almost anything. He understood that the vessel was their home for forty-something years. Still, they should be shutting things down as the colonists left for the planet, and preparing the ship to perform settlement operations.

However, things seemed to keep going wrong on his ship.

The first problem was the air scrubbers for the hangar bay. Somehow the scrubber panels had been reversed in their slots. When people started passing out, the mistake was found and corrected. The simple error could have resulted in a grave disaster, and the captain was angry that someone as well trained as his people could allow it to happen at all.

Then the hangar bay door started acting up. It began opening to space without the force field in place; which should never occur. If not for the quick thinking of a ship engineer, the doors unprotected opening could have led to decompression of the hangar bay and a serious disaster. Until they could upgrade the security protocols, he was forced to post a guard on the door controls. They could not let it happen again.

The captain was currently at the medical center talking to the staff. People were getting sick, and the doctors were saying the water in the habitat ring was the cause.

“There is something in the water?” asked the captain of the senior MD.

“Yes, sir, the analysis we did showed a high level of contamination. Something was added; to make it toxic. The system has numerous types of filters that would have caught it, so we think the poison was put in after the filters. Someone did this on purpose Captain.”

He was astonished this could happen on his ship. In all his years of service, he had never had to deal with sabotage. “Secure all access to that system after the filters; bolt it, weld it, do whatever it takes, but get it done. Are my people still in danger?”

“We have flushed the system, sir. That should take care of it.” was the quick reply.

Too many problems in a short period. He had to assume they might be related. Captain Effinger left the medical center and headed back to the bridge with his assistant. There were over seven hundred souls on board, and someone appeared to be working against them.

In the captain’s cabin attached to the bridge, the onboard head of security recommended they increase patrols to every half hour and concentrate on critical systems. The captain agreed, and added, “I know there are only four of you aboard. Still, I need you to begin an investigation into each incident. Advise all senior officers of the investigations, and ask for their assistance. They may know something that could be useful.

“We need to go through everyone’s personnel files looking for anomalies. Recruit help from other departments if you have to. Do you understand?”

The security man looked uncomfortable, and replied, “Yes sir.”

“We need to find this person, and quickly. Get to it.”

Finally alone, he could take some time to think. He was starting a search of his own on his terminal when his data pad chimed. The radio technician reported, “Call from Chief Clark, sir,”

“Put it through please.” When the line cleared, he said, “This is the captain.”

“Hello Captain, Chief Clark here. I need to speak with you, sir.”

“Well, go ahead son.”

“No sir, I need to speak with you in person. I would like to arrange a meeting.”

“Is something wrong Chief?” The captain didn’t like the way this conversation was sounding.

“No sir—it’s personal. I have a few questions about myself that I hope you can help me with.”

Now the captain was concerned. “One of the shuttles is returning tomorrow, is that soon enough? Contact me when you get aboard the Excalibur, and we can talk. Are you sure you can’t tell me what this is about?”

On the other end, Al was aching to blurt it out. One question would do it.

Am I a robot? Unfortunately, he could trust no one right now except Doc Cody.

“No sir...I’m sure. See you tomorrow. Have a good evening.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing you, Mister Clark.”

“Thank you, sir.” Al closed the circuit feeling hopeful. The captain knew more than he was saying; how much more was anyone’s guess, but he knew...something.

The captain had been dreading this day for some time. Ever since Al failed to recognize him when they met after his awakening, he knew something was wrong. He might have to be the one to tell a man he was not entirely human. It was just a matter of time before Mister Clark figured it out. He assumed something must have happened that gave it away.

The captain was also excited. If Al were to become aware of his capabilities, and learned to use them constructively, he could become one of the most valuable assets available. The problem was his information will be very unsettling for Al, and quite possibly dangerous.

****

AL HAD FOUR HOURS SLEEP when he got up and went to breakfast. He decided on a light breakfast even though he wasn’t especially hungry. This was going to be a long day, and he wanted to start with a full stomach. Besides, he was not tired. A dull ache throbbed in his head which slowly diminished as the morning progressed. The shuttle wasn’t leaving for another two hours, so he went to the mess hall and ordered an egg, grabbed an orange juice, and took his breakfast to a table.

It didn’t look like anybody suspected he was different. He felt different. Is Al Clark my name? Why can’t I remember? Questions bounced around in his head.

He was trying to convince himself there were good things about being robotic. He would live as long as his brain did. That’s good, right? He should be stronger. Why am I not stronger? Why am I eating? His confused state of mind preoccupied him as he ate his breakfast; sitting alone, watching all the humans go about their business.

The shuttle left on time and arrived at the Excalibur on schedule. It was always inspiring to see the great ship in space, and to appreciate the scale of the starship as they approached. The ship was an amazing accomplishment and a tribute to the human race. He was a little surprised to find it felt good to be back.

They met in the captain’s cabin for lunch. When Al arrived, he was escorted directly to his cabin. It was just the two of them at the long table, and the captain seemed a little—uneasy.

“Please have a seat, Mister Clark. I believe we’re having cheeseburgers this afternoon, or what passes for cheeseburgers these days. I’ll be glad when we get some real cows in a pasture. Packaged food and vegetables only go so far for me.”

Al pulled out a chair and sat down at the table laid out with a formal setting.

“Thank you for seeing me so quickly sir; I know you’ve been really busy. They briefed me on the situation aboard ship. Any leads on the saboteur