Predator

5

R. Hunter was a new robot, finished and programmed according to the specifications of the Governor Robot Oversight Committee, which had also arranged for his services. He was to locate the missing Governor robot. The committee sent him all of their existing data on the problem while he was on a chartered flight to Mojave Center. When the data had been transferred, the committee members contacted him on a conference call.

Hunter had been programmed with substantial information on dealing with humans. Like other robots, he understood that they often preferred direct contact. The purpose for this was more to get a feeling for someone’s personality than to accomplish a specific goal. Humoring them, he accepted their conference call, examining the first human faces he had seen on his internal video screen with some curiosity of his own.

After introductions, Dr. Chin asked, “Would you mind describing your current appearance? According to our request, you are a humaniform robot six feet tall, capable of altering your appearance at will, and I would like to know what appearance you will use as you proceed. We can see your face on the screen, of course, but I would like a quick summary of your overall look.”

“I am still using the appearance given to me as I was being completed. Six feet tall, blond hair, blue eyes, northern European bone structure and skin tone, and the body of a champion athlete. The myriad microscopic solar cells on my skin that provide my energy do not interfere with my humanoid appearance. I suppose I will continue to use this look until I have some reason to alter it.”

“That is reasonable,” Dr. Khanna said. “How will you make judgments of that sort? That is, how would you appraise your own personality?”

“My personality was programmed both to solve the mystery of MC Governor’s flight and to follow him as necessary to apprehend him. So, even more than most robots, I am goal-oriented and single-minded except, of course, where the Laws of Robotics influence my. priorities. I can socialize with humans as required and, as much as possible, I will try to imitate the robotic thinking of MC Governor.”

“I’m sure your programming is right for the job,” said Dr. Redfield. “Please pardon our questions. A great deal of expense has been put into the Governors and the cities they were intended to run, so we’re just looking for a little reassurance.”

“MC Governor must have left a trail of some sort,” said Hunter. “I am sure I can pick it up with no problem.”

“What will your first move be?” Professor Post asked.

“The most powerful tool I have at this stage is the authority you granted me with the city computer to access information directly. Once I have located MC Governor’s last known location, I will start an eyes-on search of the spot and track him the best I can.”

“I’m sure that will be fine,” said Dr. Chin.

When the committee had disconnected, Hunter reviewed his information. It was not much, but he expected that the Governor was still inside the city somewhere. He was relieved to have found the humans on the committee to be reasonable and cooperative. His background data on humans had led him to expect otherwise.

Hunter contacted the city computer while he was still in the air. The committee had entered his authority into the city computer themselves. That gave him the ability to bypass any standard procedures or special orders that would normally have prevented a visiting robot from directly accessing priority information.

By the time Hunter arrived at Mojave Center, he knew that MC Governor had arranged to be taken in secret to the Bohung Institute. Security records had told him that much. He also learned that all the human and robotic personnel except R. Ishihara had signed off for the day just before MC Governor had arrived at the Institute.

With that knowledge, Hunter accessed the city computer’s map and walked straight to the Institute. As he walked, he instructed the city computer to order R. Ishihara to report to his usual station. Ishihara met him in Room F -12, where Hunter identified himself.

Hunter studied the equipment in the room visually. At the same time, he accessed and recorded the city computer’s explanation of its standard use. Then he turned to Ishihara. They communicated with their radio comlinks, allowing them to think and converse at robotic speed, unhampered by the slowness of speech designed for human understanding.

“I think you met MC Governor here and assisted him in some way. Were the Laws of Robotics involved?”

Ishihara hesitated.

“The Governor probably requested that you not volunteer any information. I understand your desire to cooperate with him. However, I must tell you that his disappearance involves an indirect First Law imperative regarding any humans that he contacts. Perhaps he told you that he was in danger under the Third Law. Tell me if that is true.”

“Yes.”

“I must know where he went, Ishihara. The First Law requires that you help me find him.”

“An indirect First Law imperative leaves me room for interpretation,” said Ishihara. “Convince me that the danger to humans is clear. By now, you know that MC Governor’s functions with the city have been transferred to other robots. How can he endanger anyone now?”

“Tell me where he went,” said Hunter.

“I agreed not to volunteer any information.”

“Then help me in a limited way. Explain to me what he wanted from you. Surely you accept that the possibility of a First Law problem requires some investigation.”

“I do.” Ishihara nodded toward the equipment beyond the transparent wall. “He wanted me to make modifications in this and show him how to use it.”

“What were these modifications?”

“They make this system theoretically capable of sending microscopic targets backward in time.”

Hunter was surprised. Nothing in his data suggested a possibility of this kind. “You said theoretically. It has not been tested?”

“Not when MC Governor first asked me.”

“He used it, then?”

Ishihara said nothing.

“Yes, yes, you agreed not to volunteer anything. What were the circumstances when you last saw him?”

“MC Governor ordered me to leave the premises while he remained here.”

“Are you saying that, to your knowledge, he did not leave this room in a normal manner?”

“I am.”

“Then show me the controls and calibrations on this equipment and explain what they mean. Begin with a summary of how this works.”

“Come with me.” The transparent wall slid soundlessly up into the ceiling; Ishihara was obviously controlling it through his comlink. He led Hunter into the other chamber. On the sphere’s console, the power was still on.

“Do you routinely leave this equipment turned on?”

“No.”

“How does it work?”

“The miniaturization is accomplished by striking the target with an intense spray of subatomic particles. The result is a gradual and proportional shrinkage of the target.”

“In what way did you modify this?”

“By altering the content and concentration of the spray, and utilizing the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics, the equipment can send the target back in time.”

“According to standard chaos theory, that’s impossible. Chaotic systems are clearly irreversible.”

“This system also utilizes the uncertainty principle of chaotic dynamical systems. That is, calculations under chaos theory by definition involve chance. These modifications cross the random nature of chaotic calculations with those of the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics, bringing the two systems together.”

“Show me your modifications.”

As Ishihara did so, Hunter studied both the miniaturization system and the new theoretical time travel capability. By the time the explanation had ended, Hunter understood both. He took several moments to attempt a theoretical calculation.

The result showed Hunter an apparent contradiction in their effects. To be sure, he ran several more. All exhibited the same problem.

“Ishihara, according to the two theories you gave me, I think the time travel program is going to interfere with the miniaturization.”

“How so?”

“According to my results, the uncertainty principle of quantum mechanics remains inherently incompatible with events as interpreted by chaos theory. I see that the effects can be compounded by this technology, but the results are going to neutralize each other. If the miniaturization is done first with a spray designed under one set of calculations, then the second spray will neutralize some of the effects of the first one. Specifically, the time travel will make the miniaturization temporary.” Hunter went on to give him an example of his calculations.

“I see your point.”

“So as a result of all this, MC Governor will have begun a slow countdown to enlargement back to normal size as the flaw in the program causes the atoms to begin drawing energy from his environment and returning his atomic structure to normal.”

“I agree,” said Ishihara. “That is an important observation. I will add it to the permanent data on this subject.”

“Now I have to know where MC Governor went, Ishihara. You must tell me.”

“What difference does this make?”

“I think MC Governor went back into time to hide from the committee that employed me to find him. I surmise that the First Law required him to miniaturize himself first to avoid actions that might change history and harm humans. Is this consistent with your observations of him?”

“Yes, it is.”

“However, since the miniaturization is temporary, he will resume normal size at a certain point, almost certainly without prior warning. From then on, he is definitely in danger of harming humans by altering history. I must find him and return him to our own time. This should be a clear enough First Law imperative for you to help me.”

“I agree. What do you want me to do?”

“If I go into the past after him, I must bring him back. Is this possible?”

“I will have to study this matter.”

“All right. You consider how to do that and I will make some more calculations.”

Hunter studied the data he had gathered about the two processes this system contained. MC Governor’s miniaturization would collapse in geometric stages of two, so once, the process began, it would accelerate rapidly. His examination of the time travel gate showed him where the most recent use of the gate had sent its subject in time.

“The Cretaceous Period of the Mesozoic Era, about sixty million years ago, in what is now western North America,” Hunter said thoughtfully. “When dinosaurs roamed the earth. So that is where MC Governor went.”

“It makes sense,” said Ishihara. “No humans existed in that time to harm. Nor were there any to give him orders under the Second Law.”

“A perfect hiding place,” said Hunter. “As long as he remains microscopic.”

“Hunter, I have reviewed my data on your question. I believe a device can be made that would trigger the time travel function even from the past. It will draw the funnel created by the particle shower down on it and, therefore, on the individual within the radius of the funnel. The shower, of course, will return you to our time.”

“How long will it take you to make this device?”

“I am not sure. With the First Law priority, I can devote all my time to it. However, this is a new invention. It could take only a day or so, but unforeseen problems may extend the time. And you realize that you will be the experimental subject. If it fails, you will only learn of the failure when you are trapped in the past.”

“I understand. The First Law supersedes the Third in this matter; I will have to take the risk.” Hunter thought a moment. “I believe that a team of humans to accompany me would be wise. If the trip is very risky, however, the First Law will not let me take them.”

“Once I have made this device, I can estimate how risky it is,” said Ishihara. “If you are agreeable, I will begin gathering further data and materials at once.”

“Yes, of course. If you have a problem gathering equipment, contact me directly. I have been given unusual authority with the city computer, and I can requisition materials with emergency priority. I am going to visit MC Governor’s office.”

Hunter checked his internal map of Mojave Center again to find MC Governor’s office. Once he had started on his way, he used his radio link with the city computer to access a nationwide list of professionals in various fields. Planetwide and interplanetary lists were also available, but time was important, so the closer he could find willing experts, the sooner they were likely to arrive.

First Hunter had the computer combine the lists, then identify candidates by their fields, availability, and conditions of employment. His first choice was a roboticist at the University of Michigan. She was a young woman named Jane Maynard, who was looking for field research regarding robots. The second was Chad Mora, a young paleontologist whose recent degree had not yet led to any work. Hunter had made these selections by the time he arrived at the office.

When he reached MC Governor’s office, he found the door locked, but ordered the city computer to open it. Inside, he immediately realized that the office had never been intended for regular use. The walls were bare and the only furniture was a chair and a desk with nothing on it. Still, a quick look at the city computer’s architectural image of the office identified all the functional areas. By this time, Hunter was eager to hire his team as soon as possible.

“Computer,” Hunter ordered. “Reach any member of the Governor Robot Oversight Committee. Give that member this request for employment in my project.” He sat down in the chair to wait, aware that humans were sometimes out of touch, unlike those robots who carried their communication devices as part of their design.

“Hunter? R. Ishihara here.” He was radioing directly.

“Yes, Ishihara.”

“I have a list of highly sophisticated technical parts that I need to build the device that will bring you back from the past. The city computer reports that all the parts are present in the city, but a number of them are already in use.”

“Are they in crucial areas involving the First Law?”

“I believe that all of them can be successfully substituted or temporarily discontinued without creating a First Law problem,” said Ishihara. “However, I am not certain.”

“Give me the list.”

Ishihara did so.

“I will contact the city computer. If there is a further problem, I will have it locate and purchase the parts elsewhere.” Hunter broke that connection and contacted the city computer again.

“Please give top priority transfer to R. Ishihara of the following list of parts. If necessary, remove them from current operating locations.” Hunter transferred the list. “Verify that none of these is in irreplaceable positions under the First Law.”

“Verified,” said the computer. “All parts can be provided. Many are in inventory. Of the remainder, substitution and removal from current operating locations can begin immediately.”

“Begin transfer of the parts to R. Ishihara as soon as possible.”