Asimov’s Future History Volume 6 Read online

  Asimov’s Future History

  Volume VI

  All stories copyright Isaac Asimov and the Estate of Isaac Asimov, unless otherwise noted below.

  All other stories copyright by the respective authors listed below.

  Cyborg-By William F. Wu. First published as Isaac Asimov’s Robot City, Book 3: Cyborg, November 1987

  Prodigy-By Arthur Byron Cover. First published as Isaac Asimov’s Robot City, Book 4: Prodigy, January, 1988

  Refuge-By Rob Chilson. First published as Isaac Asimov’s Robot City, Book 5: Refuge, March, 1988

  Perihelion-By William F. Wu. First published as Isaac Asimov’s Robot City, Book 6: Perihelion, June, 1988

  Changeling-By Stephen Leigh. First published as Isaac Asimov’s Robot City: Robots and Aliens 1: Changeling, August, 1989

  This ePub edition v1.0 by Dead^Man March, 2011

  Layout and design by Dead^Man

  Cover art “2028_City” By Knesya of DeviantArt

  Future History inlay “Summer days” by Talros of DeviantArt

  Cover design by Dead^Man

  Chronology of events in Isaac Asimov’s positronic robot and Foundation stories, compiled by Johnny Pez.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  3604 AD Cyborg

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  3604 AD Prodigy

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  3604 AD Refuge

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  3604 AD Perihelion

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  3605 AD Changeling

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Sources of dates

  Cyborg

  3604 A.D.

  Chapter 12

  TEAMWORK

  ARIEL SCOOTED OVER to Derec with a look of concern. Even in his stunned condition, he appreciated it.

  “You hurt bad, Derec?”

  “No.” His voice came out in a coarse mutter. “Got the breath knocked out of me, but that’s all. How about you?”

  “I’m all right. Thanks for getting in his way.”

  He grinned. “Any time, just so it isn’t too often.” He inhaled deeply a couple of times.

  She took him under one arm and helped him to his feet. “Have you ever seen anything like that before?”

  “Never. The positronic brains have always been totally reliable. That record is known everywhere.” He dusted himself off. “I think the shock is worse than getting knocked down.”

  “This one’s not reliable, that’s for sure.”

  “Did you see where he went?” Derec looked down the street.

  “No, but a couple of other robots went chasing after him. They must have been close enough to see what happened.”

  “I guess I heard a few footsteps. Let’s go inside. I want to get on the console and find out if there’s been any warning about a rogue robot.”

  She followed him inside. “The robots chasing him weren’t shouting or anything. I suppose they were all talking through their comlinks.”

  “I guess.” He rubbed the back of his head where it had hit the wall, and winced. “I wonder what kind of insults robots exchange among themselves.” He sat down at the computer and called up a variety of subjects — including warnings, city alerts, and suspected malfunctions. Nothing turned up.

  “Maybe the malfunction just occurred,” Ariel suggested. “We’ll be the first ones to report.”

  “I’ll do that. Let’s see.... Malfunctioning robot does not obey the Laws. Since he actually attacked us, the rest of the robots will make searching for him a top priority. I imagine they’ll even leave their regular jobs.” He entered a description of the pertinent events.

  “Doesn’t it seem odd to you that he came here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We’re the only people on the planet, that anyone can find. The others are lost. And this city is huge.

  Isn’t it kind of strange that the one robot here who goes berserk just happens to wind up at the only apartment with humans in it?”

  He paused for a moment at the keyboard. “I see what you mean. Of course, since the positronic failure involves the Laws, maybe he was drawn somehow to humans.” He shrugged and continued on the console.

  “They did know! Look at this — I got it when I entered the subject of searches.”

  She leaned down close, reading over his shoulder. “Wait a minute. What kind of weird robot are they searching for?”

  “I’m not sure he’s exactly a robot at all. It says: see Human Experimental Medical Team. Let’s see.”

  A moment later, he was reading in fascination. “He’s human! Or at least, his brain is.”

  “His brain?”

  “Look at this!” Derec pointed out the summary of the surgery on the computer’s screen. “Unbelievable!”

  “That’s impossible,” Ariel said, “transplanting a brain into a robot body.”

  “Everything’s been impossible since we got here.” Derec shook his head, as though to clear it. “We should be used to it by now.”

  “If you can ever get used to being surprised. What do we do now?”

  “I’m trying to get the central computer to put me through to one of the robots on the medical team through their comlinks.”

  “Yes?” said a voice through the console.

  “I am Derec, a human male. Please identify yourself.”

  “I am Human Medical Research 1, the Director of the Human Experimental Surgical Team.”

  “I have some information regarding a robot who doesn’t obey the Laws of Robotics.”

  “Excellent. We have been conducting a pattern search from the perimeter of the city inward, with the help of many robots. Can you narrow the focus of search for us?”

  “I’d like to see you and your team in person. Please come meet with Ariel and myself.”

  “We will do this. May I ask why you are delaying in providing me with helpful information?”

  “
This problem may be larger than it appears. The robot in question seriously disobeyed our instructions and physically attacked us. I think a major consultation is in order, don’t you?”

  “We will come at once.” The robot’s voice was suddenly formal and expressionless.

  “Say — tell me one thing now. Has this guy’s spacecraft been located? What kind of shape is it in?”

  “It was destroyed on impact. What is your location?”

  Disappointment struck Derec like a physical blow, but he gave them the information. Then he began pacing restlessly, trying to keep his spirits up.” At least the medical robot can tell us if he was traveling with the other two we’ve been looking for. It isn’t over yet. We’ve made some kind of progress, believe it or not. It’s about time.” He slapped a fist into his other palm. “We still just might learn something we can use.”

  “You think this guy is one of the humans we’re looking for?” Ariel, too, was crestfallen.

  “I think so. Remember the third visitor, who just vanished after a certain point? This must be the one. I figure the reports of him stopped because he was in a robot body.”

  “I was hoping he had arrived on another ship. It would give us an extra chance.” Disappointment was evident on her face.

  The medical team arrived shortly. Derec told the three robots what had transpired and then asked for the relevant information they possessed. They briefed him on what they had told Jeff.

  “So it’s not a failure of the positronic brain,” Research 1 finished. “However, we have consulted among ourselves and have concluded that we must enter a repair facility to have our brains removed and destroyed.”

  “What?” Derec cried. “You can’t do that. We need your help.”

  “We created a situation in which a robot body violated the First Law by attacking humans. This is a violation of the First Law on our part. We would have reported immediately after the transplant~urgery if we had understood where it would lead.”

  Derec looked at the two robot surgeons, who nodded in agreement. The three of them were standing together in a line, as though prepared for law-enforcement questioning. Maybe that was what they expected from a human, after violating the First Law.

  “But you didn’t attack anybody,” said Ariel. “You were one step away from the situation. You can’t take responsibility for what he — you said his name was Jeff? — decided to do.”

  “Besides, he didn’t hurt us,” said Derec. “It just surprised us. Well — totally shocked us, actually.”

  Surgeon 2 shook its head. “The extent of the harm is not a factor, since the Laws do not make allowances for degree. Nor is our ignorance of your presence a factor. The fact that we are one step removed from the incident is the only reason that we did not shut down upon learning of this violation of the First Law. If we had directly harmed a human, the trauma to our systems would have completely neutralized our functioning. However, this individual would not exist in the unusual form he does without our contribution. He is unique, and is our responsibility.”

  “Look at it this way,” said Ariel anxiously. “We need help. If Jeff is still out there running around, he could conceivably do more harm to us. Doesn’t the First Law require you to cooperate with us?”

  “We have proven our judgment irresponsible,” said Surgeon 1. “You cannot rely on us. Therefore, we should be destroyed.”

  “You haven’t violated the Laws any other time, have you?” Derec pointed out.

  “No, but we have no other history of contact with humans,” said Research 1. “In our initial contact with humans, we contributed to a violation —”

  “Of the First Law, I know. You don’t have to keep repeating it,” said Derec. “But I shouldn’t have phrased the question that way. You still haven’t broken the Laws. Jeff did, sort of. Only, since he doesn’t have a positronic brain, that doesn’t really count.”

  “Our information about human behavior is apparently incomplete,” said Research 1. “We did not understand the likelihood of Jeff’s attack on you. In fact, the central computer did not even inform us of your presence. We felt his medical condition was such that the First Law required our attempting the transplant. However, one purpose of the First Law that I infer is to preserve humans from the greater strength of our robot bodies. So to us, Jeff in this case counts as a robot, despite his lacking a positronic brain. This judgment will not be imperative on his brain, of course.”

  “If the First Law required you to perform the transplant, how can you blame yourselves?” Ariel asked.

  “That seems like a real contradiction. One that I wouldn’t expect from the logical mind of a robot.”

  “The logical contradiction has only become evident now,” said Surgeon 1. “In the sequence of events as they unfolded, the First Law has made clear requirements of us, including our elimination.”

  Derec looked at them helplessly, unable to think of an argument against their destruction that they had not countered already.

  “Postpone your trip to the repair center,” Ariel suggested. “If you think it’s required, you can do it later.

  Right now, we really need your help, like we said.”

  “That’s right,” said Derec quickly. “How about this? The First Law requires that you help us catch Jeff and, I don’t know — stop him somehow. Then you can destroy yourselves.”

  The three robots hesitated long enough to reveal that this argument had carried some weight.

  “Isn’t it your responsibility to help clean up the mess?” Ariel added, with a triumphant smile. “The Second Law requires that you follow our orders to help. Since you have never directly violated any of the Laws, including the First, you’re reliable enough for us.”

  “This is acceptable to me,” said Research 1. “We shall retain the option of having our brains destroyed later, in any case.”

  “I find it acceptable, also,” said Surgeon 1. “Unnecessary destruction of our brains would be an inefficient handling of material, energy, and experience. We should logically establish the necessity of this move beyond any doubt, with as much gathering of relevant evidence as possible.”

  “Whew,” said Surgeon 2. The robot looked at Derec. “That is the human vernacular appropriate to the occasion, is it not?”

  “Sure is.” Derec laughed in relief. “Okay. That problem is solved. Next problem. We want information from this guy about getting off the planet. You just want to make sure he can’t violate any of the Laws.

  What’s our plan of action?”

  “You will have to take the lead in direct confrontation,” said Research 1. “Any plans will have to take this into account.”

  “What do you mean?” Ariel asked.

  “Since we know that Jeff has a human brain,” said Surgeon 1, “we are subject to the Laws when dealing with him. We could not disobey his instructions, for instance, if he told us to leave him alone. Or worse, to forget that he exists at all.”

  “Hold it,” said Ariel, holding up a hand. “You’re upset about his breaking the laws because he’s a robot, but now you say you have to obey the Laws where he’s concerned because he’s human. Aren’t you contradicting yourselves?”

  “No,” said Research 1. “In regard to the Laws, he is both human and robot. We cannot deny him the combination of traits that we ourselves gave him. All the advantages are therefore his. This makes him very powerful.”

  “What about that pattern search you told me you started?” Derec asked. “How were you going to catch him when you located him?”

  “Our only hope was to talk him into cooperating. We could not use violence in contradiction to the Laws. However, he will at some point be in danger to his health. At that point, of course, we would be able to force our aid on him.”

  “What kind of danger?” asked Ariel. “He’s got a robot body.”

  “His robot body is powered by a standard energy system,” said Surgeon 2. “However, his organic brain requires nutrition and oxygen. We installed a co
ntainer of vital nutrients and synthetic hormones in the lower portion of his head, and part of his neck, and a routing system to his brain. These chemicals are delivered to his brain through its existing circulatory system by synthetic blood. Oxygen is also delivered this way, supplied by the breaths he will take from time to time.”