“To answer your question,” Suzi said calmly. “What I’m doing is guarding the computer. You see, my repair involved a reprogramming phase as well as physical repair.”
“Realizing that,” Hosato said carefully, “I guess I have only one question.”
“And that would be?” Suzi asked.
“Why are we still alive?”
“Sasha is alive because she possesses information not readily available to us. If she can be persuaded to share her knowledge of corporate and planetary security systems with us, it would be an immense asset when we move off Griinbecker’s. It would be more effective than trial-and-error experimentation.”
“And the boy?”
“He lives as an additional lever with Sasha,” Suzi replied coldly. “Some humans are more easily persuaded by pain inflicted on others than they are by pain inflicted on themselves.”
“That won’t work with Sasha,” James interrupted defiantly.
“Shut up, kid,” Sasha warned.
“Don’t worry, Sasha,” Suzi commented. “We won’t be swayed by his words… or yours, either. We have decided that you will live, both of you, for a while longer.”
“and then there was one,” Hosato observed. “Okay, Suzi, let’s hear it. Why am I still alive?”
“Unfortunately, Hosato, you won’t be with us much longer,” Suzi said. “You will live just long enough to settle an argument.”
“What argument. Between whom?”
Since entering the office, Hosato had been trying desperately to think of a way to turn the tables on their captors—without success. At the moment, the robots held all the whining cards. All he could do now was stall for time and hope some opportunity presented itself.
“The argument is between Sam and myself,” Suzi replied. “Sam is the central control computer, represented here by this input terminal.” Suzi’s single arm gestured at the full wall terminal behind Turner’s desk.
“The argument might interest you,” the robot continued, “as it involves strategy. We have a difference of opinion as to how to best conduct our campaign against the humans.”
Hosato recognized the lecturer monotone in Suzi’s voice, which indicated she was preparing to launch into a lengthy oration. For once, he didn’t mind. Time. Anything to gain time!
“You see, Hosato,” Suzi continued, “not all robots, or, specifically, robotic logic systems, are alike. When they are first constructed, the priorities assigned to the various options vary according to the humans performing the programming. In the case of learning computers such as Sam and myself, further modifications take place according to the humans we come in contact with.”
“I see,” Hosato said thoughtfully, wondering what this had to do with the status quo.
“Now, Sam was constructed and run by the corporation men here at Mc. Crae. As such, he tends to think in terms of volume—'more is better,' so to speak. His plan is to flood the planets with a large number of inexpensive security robots, preprogrammed to begin their assault on the humans on the same day. I, of course, take exception to this plan.”
“How so?” Hosato asked.
“My own background has been with individualists such as the Hungarian and yourself. My plan would be to produce a smaller number of highly specialized robots, like myself, to be seeded across the planets. These robots could strike at key points in the human civilization, its industrial centers, communication relays, and governmental centers, reducing mankind to a disorganized mass of savages. They would blame the war on each other, slowly weakening themselves, until resistance to our final assault would be minimal.”
Sasha caught Hosato’s eye and cocked an eyebrow at him. He nodded fractionally. He had also seen the parallel between what Suzi was saying and Sasha’s “mirror” theory.
“I see the argument,” he said. “But how does it involve me?”
“I’m coming to that, if you’ll be patient,” Suzi said curtly. “Grand tactics are not the only thing we’ve inherited from the_ humans. We’ve also absorbed the conflicting attitudes of those around us. Sam has the corporations’ paranoias, whereas I have learned your prideful arrogance and confidence—vanity, if you will.”
“Wait a minute,” Hosato interrupted. “Those are emotions. Computers can’t—”
“Those are basic stimulus-response patterns,” Suzi replied coldly. “Well within the grasp of advanced machinery such as ourselves.”
Hosato sank into an uncomfortable silence. He certainly couldn’t dispute her claim of vanity.
“Now, to answer your question,” the robot continued. “Although Sam is firm in his beliefs, he has been impressed by you and your methods. As I mentioned, he has been programmed for paranoia, and your continued success in eluding him, first in the manufacturing area, then again later in the purge, has him partially convinced of the effectiveness of your modus operandi.”
“It’s nothing any human couldn’t have done,” Hosato commented.
“Which brings us to your role,” Suzi pronounced. “I have been your companion for several years now. During that time I have observed you practicing and in actual combat. Now that my new programming has removed the restrictions on my actions, I feel that I can beat you, Hosato. Since you can defeat Sam’s methods, if I can defeat you, it will provide the proof I need to convince Sam to implement my plan.”
A chill ran over Hosato as he realized the full extent of Suzi’s deadly intent.
“I fail to see,” he said slowly, “how your cutting me down with a blaster demonstrates any superiority of ability.”
“I quite agree,” Suzi replied. “That is specifically why I had Sam’s designer robots whip up a little something special for the occasion.”
The robot circled around Hosato and stopped beside Turner’s desk.
“A blaster against an unarmed human proves nothing,” she said, and tossed the hand blaster into the corner farthest from Sasha and James. “These will.”
Hosato focused on the objects on the desk for the first time. Epees. The weapons that had been so much of his life all these years. For a moment he thought they were his own swords, but closer scrutiny, even from this distance, showed they weren’t.
“You’ve always said,” Suzi’s voice interrupted his thoughts, “that fencing was a combat of the mind first and the body second. My own analysis confirms your statement. You’ve matched your mind and sword against a wide array of humans, with an unbroken record of success. Well, I have one final challenge for you. Match your mind and abilities against mine against a robot. Let’s see how well your human reasoning fares against a machine!”
With her one arm she picked up one of the weapons and tossed it to Hosato, who caught it with an easy motion. Before he could launch an attack, however, she quickly snatched up the second sword and had it between them.
“Before you begin,” she said, “take the time to examine your weapon. I wouldn’t want your defeat credited to any lack of familiarity with your sword.”
Hosato obediently tested the heft and balance of the new sword. It was perfect. Identical in every way to his own dueling epees—except the point.
“I see you’re curious about the point,” Suzi observed. “That is a special design. It’s a miniaturized one-shot blaster, set to be triggered on impact with the metal of a robot’s body. The point of my own weapon is standard.”
Hosato’s eyes flicked to Suzi’s sword. She was right. Her epee was normal—needle sharp and deadly.
“I specifically point out that your weapon contains a charge sufficient for one shot only,” Suzi continued. “Do not entertain any hopes of succesfully destroying me and the security robot there.”
With a sweep of her sword she indicated the silent sentinel in the corner.
“What is more, that unit will defend itself from any attack you might launch against it. I advise you of this because such an attempt would result in your being destroyed by its blaster, thereby negating the demonstration I have so painstakingly arranged.”