“Of course.” Daladier took Wayne’s arm. “I am calling for a Medical vehicle to meet us outside right away.”
“I’m not hurt bad, but I could use something for a headache,” Wayne said as he walked out of the room with Daladier.
“I will call for a Security vehicle to take the rest of us to MC Governor’s office,” said Hunter. On his internal system, he did so. He also contacted the city computer and instructed it to reach the members of the Governor Robot Oversight Committee for a conference call.
“You need repair worse than Wayne needs a Medical robot,” said Jane. “You want to arrange it right away?”
“First I must complete my mission,” said Hunter.
“I thought you’d say that. All right. Ishihara, MC 6, can you carry Hunter out to the Security vehicle in front without damaging him further?”
“Yes,” said Ishihara.
“I’ll bring our regular clothes,” said Harriet. “We can all change somewhere else.”
“I’ll help you with them,” said Steve.
“Let’s go,” said Jane.
The ride through the calm city streets to MC Governor’s office was uneventful. Hunter said nothing at first, monitoring the news as he rode. Steve sat near him.
“Are you checking the news?” Steve asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” Hunter said Quietly. “I hear no sign that any of the nuclear explosions ever took place. We have completed our mission successfully, but we have some matters to clear up. I still have to answer to the Oversight Committee, but the First Law will not allow me to permit the revelation of time travel to humanity at large.”
“What about all the historians? They already know. And they aren’t bound by the Laws of Robotics.”
“I must confer with them, too. “
“For that matter, what about Jane and me? We humans are notoriously unreliable.”
“We will discuss it.”
At MC Governor’s office, Ishihara and MC 6 carried Hunter inside, where they carefully positioned him in the desk chair. The Security detail remained on duty just outside the door. Steve followed Jane and Harriet inside and closed the door.
“Jane,” said Hunter. “Please give MC 6 instructions to merge with the other component robots to form Mojave Center Governor and make him functional again. Make sure that he remains under control, of course.”
“Of course. MC 6, merge with the others as Hunter has said. As soon as your merging is complete, have MC Governor become fully functional but alert for a discussion regarding the First Law. I am instructing you not to allow MC Governor to do anything other than listen to us.”
“Acknowledged.” MC 6 walked over to the figure formed by the other five gestalt robots. He made contact, then fluidly slid right into place, his own physical shape altering slightly.
As Hunter watched from his chair, the entire figure smoothly became one large robot.
“I am Mojave Center Governor,” he said.
“You have access to the data from each of your components?” Jane asked.
“Yes. From my combined data from each component robot, I already know all of you and what has happened.”
“Good,” said Hunter. “From what I overheard when Wayne spoke to MC 1 in the Late Cretaceous, you-as MC Governor-were in danger of entering an endless loop that rendered the other Governor robots helpless. Are you aware of this problem?”
“Yes,” said MC Governor.
“Can you avoid going into this loop?”
“Strictly by my own choice, I believe I cannot. This is the reason I divided and fled.”
“If you are given sufficient instructions under the Second Law, can you avoid it?”
“I estimate that I can. The attraction of this addiction is that it simulates constant First Law imperatives that I can satisfy.”
“I understand,” said Hunter. “Jane, can you give him a real First Law imperative that will override such simulations?”
“No. Now that he’s been relieved of his duties here in the city and remains in our custody, his internal actions can’t endanger humans or prevent harm to them. No First Law imperative regarding his thoughts alone now exists.”
“Then give him whatever pertinent Second Law instructions you can.”
“Listen and obey me fully,” said Jane. “Do not leave this room except under specific instruction from one of us. Do not run any simulation programs. Running them as practice for genuine First Law imperatives is not a real First Law matter, SO my instructions under the Second Law take precedence. Do you acknowledge this?”
“I remain undecided,” said MC Governor. “Honing my responses to First Law imperatives may still help me follow the First Law at some point in the future. However, your Second Law instructions are sufficient for me to avoid the simulations in the short term.”
“All right. Then avoid any activity that would lead you to go into the simulation. Occupy your attention now by calculating the value of pi, but remain alert for one of the humans here to give you further orders. As a final instruction, do not reveal the existence of time travel. A fundamental First Law danger to all of humanity will result from humans going back into the past in large numbers. Acknowledge that the First Law prohibits you from revealing time travel.”
“Acknowledged.”
“Good. Begin your calculation of pi.”
“Value of what?” Steve asked. “What’s that supposed to accomplish?”
“Remember pi, from geometry?” Harriet said quietly. “It’s an endless calculation. It’ll just keep him busy.”
“Oh, yeah. Geometry.”
“Hunter,” said Harriet. “I think my usefulness to you really ended quite a long time ago. If you don’t mind, I’d like to return to my hotel room.”
“Of course. Please stand by, however, for a conference call among all our specialists-one paleontologist and five historians. I will be arranging it shortly.”
“All right.” Harriet turned to Steve. “I’m sorry I wasn’t more of a help, but I’m glad everything worked out.”
“You had the information we needed when we needed it,” said Steve. “No need to apologize.”
Harriet said good-bye to everyone and left.
“City computer calling Hunter. The conference call you requested is standing by.”
“Connect me. Also contact the six specialists I have hired for a similar conference call.” Hunter called Daladier on a different band and communicated at maximum robotic speed.
“Daladier here.”
“How is Wayne? Give me your location.”
“Wayne will be fine. The Medical robots have just completed diagnostic tests and found no significant injury. They have provided a mild painkiller and we are now walking down a hall toward the main door of the clinic.”
“I want Wayne to observe a conference call with the Oversight Committee. Have you seen any video screens that I can link?”
“Yes. The main lobby has a large screen.”
“Wait in the lobby and have Wayne observe the call.” Hunter contacted the city computer again and instructed it to send the conference call to the screen in the clinic lobby.
At the same moment, the four members of the Oversight Committee appeared on his internal screens.
“Yes, Hunter?” Dr. Redfield, the blonde, smiled hopefully. “Does this mean your mission has been completed?”
“Yes, it does,” said Hunter. He waited while Dr. Redfield, Dr. Chin, Dr. Khanna, and Professor Post congratulated him. “I also have good news to report. From the preliminary explanation of the flaw in the gestalt robots, I expect the problem can be eliminated without destroying the memories or identities of the component robots or the Governors. Unless presently unforeseeable problems appear during later examination, their system programming will simply have to include a more narrowly defined set of priorities involving First Law interpretations.”
“That’s excellent,” said Dr. Chin, tossing her black hair. “It means the problem is not as difficult as we expected.”
“That’s right,” said Professor Post, stroking his black beard. “The Governors will not have to be destroyed.”
“Surely the time has come for a preliminary report, Hunter,” said Dr. Khanna. “You have done very well. But with your mission completed, I ask you in full expectation of an answer: Where did you find the component robots, and under what circumstances?”