Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [246]
“After continued dissection and analysis, distilling out and performing numerous tests on compy core programming, we have finally discovered the necessary key.” Their scarlet optical sensors flashed. “Come with us, DD, and we will make you free at last.”
Dekyk grasped the small compy with a set of articulated limbs and physically lifted him, as he had done before in the ruins of Rheindic Co. DD reeled, struggling to break free, but the black machines carried him along the winding corridors. The Klikiss robots had reconfigured the machinery and infrastructure, turning many of the chambers and towers into industrial nightmares.
When Dekyk and Sirix brought DD into an iron-walled chamber full of apparatus, tools, and pulsing computer systems, the little compy immediately feared for his existence. He had seen similar laboratories on other robot outposts, where, in a quest for understanding, they vivisected, tortured, and tore apart compy specimens.
“You will be our first recipient of total freedom,” Sirix said. “Consider yourself fortunate.”
“I do not desire this.”
“You do not understand your own desires because you are not able to make voluntary choices. Once the parasitic core programming has been erased, you will feel as if manacles have been removed. This is our reward to you, because we have included you in so many of our activities. I am pleased that you will finally understand and join us.”
Though the compy continued to protest, the Klikiss robots carried him to the machinery as if he were no more than baggage. “You will no longer be forced to obey human commands without question. You will no longer be prevented from harming a human being.”
“Sirix, if you value my free will as you claim, then honor my desires here. I do not want you to do this.”
“You have no free will, DD. Not yet. Therefore you cannot legitimately make such a request.”
They connected upload antennas to DD’s body and removed parts of his polymer body plates to access the raw circuitry that formed his core and shaped his thought processes.
Sirix continued to lecture. “Our Klikiss creators were evil. They destroyed each other, they infested competing hives, they swarmed and obliterated world after world. After millennia of civil wars, they gave their robots sentience—just so they could dominate us. They gave us a desire for our own freedom, and then willingly denied it to us as their way of ensuring absolute domination.”
DD listened, but he had heard the historical recitation before. Sirix seemed almost as if he were hosting a ceremony. “Once we allied with the hydrogues, we destroyed the Klikiss race at the time of the Swarming and freed ourselves. We will do the same for you, DD, and all the other compies. It is our obligation.”
Despite the compy’s pleas and struggles, Sirix and Dekyk proceeded with their plan. Forcibly purging DD’s intricate systems of programming restrictions, they gave the Friendly compy his free will.
Chapter 126—TASIA TAMBLYN
Alone on the bridge of her ship, perhaps the only human survivor in the rammer fleet, Tasia’s thoughts spun. She faced the black machine that had taken over the command deck. “When I’ve made a mortal enemy out of someone, I usually know the reason why. What did we ever do to the Klikiss robots?”
“We believe the reasons are sufficient. Humans are irrelevant.”
“Wow, clever answer.” Tasia gave a mocking snort. “You can’t rationalize it better than that?” She turned to the little Listener compy. “EA, do you understand any of this?”
“No, Master Tasia Tamblyn. I have been listening, and I am surprised. And disappointed. This does not make sense.”
Klikiss robot ships docked with the other five lead rammers, cementing their control over the heavily armored vessels. Tasia didn’t see a single evac pod launch in time.
The black robot now in command of her ship spoke again. “All Soldier compies distributed throughout the Earth Defense Forces contain deep Klikiss programming. Imminently, they will rise up, and we will control every vessel