The now-famous prototype of the highly successful “Hunter” class robot first demonstrated his remarkable abilities in the Mojave Center Governor case. The following images are drawn from the Robot City archives of Derec Avery, the eminent robotics historian.
R. Hunter in the Process of Bifurcation.R. Hunter’s specialized skills include the ability to alter his shape and size to adjust to different environments or cultures.
Completed Bifurcation.Here R. Hunter has completed his facial changes and now resembles a Caribbean freebooter.
Hunter Sensenet Configuration.Underneath R. Hunter’s synthetic skin is an advanced sensory network which augments his tracking and survival abilities. In emergencies, R. Hunter can dramatically increase his sensory input, although it drains his power supply rapidly.
Dr. Nystrom Negotiates with Roland.By recruiting a local buccaneer to aid in his attempt to steal the robot R. Hunter was tracking, Wayne Nystrom risks changing history-potentially wiping out millions of lives.
Bargaining for a Boat.Part of the unique value of the “Hunter” class robots is their ability to quickly and easily immerse themselves into human societies. Here, R. Hunter bargains for a boat in the local manner.
R. Hunter Shifts his Appearance.“Hunter” class robots are able to alter their appearance at will, within certain limitations. The largest limitation is mass: no matter how much the robot metamorphosizes, he always maintains the same body volume.
R. Hunter on his Way to Rescue Rita.Powered by solar cells integrated into the fabric of his skin, Hunter is capable of remarkable feats of strength and endurance-such as climbing the slippery side of a seventeenth century warship.
R. Hunter in a Barroom Brawl.The trip to the violent seventeenth century Caribbean presents particular problems. Despite his enormous strength, tracking abilities, and predatory name, R. Hunter-like all robots-is unable to harm human beings or allow them to come to harm.
R. Hunter BuildsJamaica Jane.Robots of R. Hunter’s class possess not only extraordinary strength, but extraordinary knowledge. Their memory banks hold more information than most libraries. Here, R. Hunter draws on that information to build a boat fast enough to catch a buccaneer fleet.
Rita and Dr. Nystrom Aboard theOld Laughing Lady.Dr. Wayne Nystrom, though a brilliant robotics designer, was a dangerously unstable man. Here he resorts to kidnapping to try to thwart R. Hunter and his team on their mission.
The Fight at the Beach.When a buccaneer takes Rita hostage, R. Hunter is caught between his need to complete his mission, his need to preserve human life, and his inability to injure humans. Moral complexities have always been a stumbling point for robots, and R. Hunter is no exception.
Beyond the Hunter Class Robots.Following the success of “Hunter” class robots, “Seeker” robots were invented. “Seeker” class robots (example shown above) have all the features of “Hunter” class robots in a body roughly two-thirds as large. There are numerous small improvements: their eyes see farther into the infra-red spectrum, and their hands and feet feature an extra-sensitive sensor array for minute detail work. They are also fully functional in the vacuum of space.
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Wayne picked his way quickly through the debris and knots of arguing, yelling, whooping buccaneers on the Cadiz. As quickly as he could, he dodged a couple of sword fights and one wrestling match to reach the other side. As he drew closer to MC 2 and the buccaneer with him at the rail of the adjoining ship, he reached inside his shirt for the control device that would carry him and anyone within a meter or so back to his own time. He would have to get MC 2 away from the others for just a moment.
“You!” Wayne pointed at MC 2 as he shouted, still running forward toward the rail of the Cadiz. “Come over here! To this ship! Under the Second Law, do what I say!”
“Don’t move!” The buccaneer next to MC 2 grabbed his arm and held him. “Remember your priority.”
Wayne realized from the voice, suddenly, that the buccaneer was a woman. “MC 2, I’m Wayne Nystrom, your creator.” He could see indecision in the robot’s face.
“Roland! Help!” The woman waved her arms frantically, looking behind Wayne.
Just as Wayne whirled around, Roland swung toward him on a rope dangling from the rigging overhead. His booted feet struck Wayne on the chest with a painful thud and threw him backward onto the deck, hard. With the wind knocked out of him, but otherwise not hurt, Wayne lay motionless, gasping for breath. He waited helplessly, half-expecting the buccaneer to finish him off, but instead Roland leaped back aboard the Hungry Hawk.
On the Cadiz, the buccaneers continued to loot and celebrate.
As the little Jamaica Jane whipped across the waves toward the three ships grappled together in the distance, Hunter could hear the sounds of men fighting hand to hand. He sat up straight, magnifying his vision to the maximum. However, he could not see any details that his hearing had not already identified.
“What is it?” Jane also peered at the distant ships, but of course he knew she could see even less. “What’s wrong?”
“The fighting has begun,” said Hunter. “I am worried that MC 2 will interfere with the fight and change the course of history. His presence and perhaps Rita’s could alter the behavior of the buccaneers.”
“We knew a fight was coming,” said Steve. “Weren’t you ready for this?”
“I anticipated it, of course.”
“Listen, Hunter,” said Jane. “Are we proceeding as quickly as possible?”
“Yes. I have the tack and the tiller at the optimum angles for speed under current conditions.” He quickly reappraised the direction of the wind to double-check.
“Then you are doing everything the Laws of Robotics require at the moment. Acknowledge your agreement.”
“Acknowledged.”
“And if you experience indecision or if you shut down, Steve and I will suffer even greater harm. Right?”
“Right.” Somewhat reassured, Hunter turned his attention back to the three ships ahead.
Twilight was falling by the time the Jamaica Jane drew near the three ships. Even Steve could hear the singing and shouting of a drunken celebration. The ships were still grappled together, swaying on the open sea, with their sails furled. None of the buccaneers noticed the small craft as Hunter sailed up to the stern of the Cadiz.
“What do you want to do?” Steve turned to Hunter.