Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe Part 18

NowNow it starts.

He waited until the sounds were closer, then stepped around the corner, his weapon leveledAs his eyes took in the figure in the corridor, his fingers froze on the firing lugsIt was..

"Suzi!" he exclaimed.

"There is no time to lose," Suzi replied briskly"Follow me-quickly!"

The robot spun about and started back down the corridor.

A thousand questions flashed through Hosato's mindThen he forced his frozen limbs to move and sprinted after the retreating robot.

"Suzi!" he gasped, drawing up with her"I've got to-"

"-create a diversion by attempting to attack the Central Computer Building?" Suzi finished for him"ImpossibleThe entire building has been perma-nently sealedThis way!"

She turned up a small flight of stairs, leaving Hosato to follow in her wake.

"Where are we going?" Hosato asked, trying to re-member the; complex floor plans as he overtook her again.

"Turner's office," she replied"Sasha and James need your help."

"But the security devices-"

"-have been deactivatedI must insist that you hurry."

The robot increased its speed as they reached the landing, forcing Hosato to half- walk, half-run as they headed down the deserted corridor.

"Why how come you're here?" he asked"We thought the ore scout caught you with its slicer."

"Obviously it didn't," Suzi retorted with her famil-iar sarcasm"Our breach of communications was the result of an unfortunate accidentOne of the scout's near-misses triggered a rockslideI was temporarily pinned and my communications equipment damagedWhen that happened, the ore scout treated me like it would any other piece of damaged machineryIt brought me back here, where I was repaired."

"Then what?" Hosato queried"What are you do-ing hereNow?"

"That question will have to wait for a moment," she replied"We're here!"

The door to Turner's office stood open just aheadHosato brushed past Suzi and rushed through the door ahead of her.

Sasha and James were standing against the wall.

"What ?" he began, then he saw the security robot standing immobile in the corner.

"Look out, Hosato!"

James's warning cry came a split second too lateAs Hosato's arm came up, the blaster was plucked from his grasp by a powerful mechanical arm.

For a frozen moment the scene hung in suspended tableauThen slowly Hosato turned to face his at-tacker.

"To answer your question," Suzi said calmly"What I'm doing is guarding the computerYou see, my re-pair involved a reprogramming phase as well as phys- ical 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 usIf she can be persuaded to share her knowledge of corporate and planetary se-curity systems with us, it would be an immense a.s.set when we move off Griinbecker'sIt 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 per-suaded 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, eitherWe 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 itWhy 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 argumentBetween whom?"

Since entering the office, Hosato had been trying desperately to think of a way to turn the tables on their captors-without successAt the moment, the robots held all the whining cardsAll he could do now was stall for time and hope some opportunity pre-sented itself.

"The argument is between Sam and myself," Suzi replied"Sam is the central control computer, repre-sented 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 con-tinued, "as it involves strategyWe 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 orationFor once, he didn't mindTimeAnything to gain time!

"You see, Hosato," Suzi continued, "not all robots, or, specifically, robotic logic systems, are alikeWhen they are first constructed, the priorities a.s.signed to the various options vary according to the humans per-forming the programmingIn the case of learning computers such as Sam and myself, further modifica-tions 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 corpo-ration men here at McCraeAs such, he tends to think in terms of volume-'more is better,' so to speakHis plan is to flood the planets with a large number of in-expensive security robots, preprogrammed to begin their a.s.sault on the humans on the same dayI, of course, take exception to this plan."

"How so?" Hosato asked.

"My own background has been with individualists such as the Hungarian and yourselfMy plan would be to produce a smaller number of highly specialized robots, like myself, to be seeded across the planetsThese robots could strike at key points in the human civilization, its industrial centers, communication re- lays, and governmental centers, reducing mankind to a disorganized ma.s.s of savagesThey would blame the war on each other, slowly weakening themselves, until resistance to our final a.s.sault would be minimal."

Sasha caught Hosato's eye and c.o.c.ked an eyebrow at himHe nodded fractionallyHe 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_ humansWe've also absorbed the conflicting att.i.tudes of those around usSam has the corporations' paranoias, whereas I have learned your prideful arrogance and confidence-vanity, if you will."

"Wait a minute," Hosato interrupted"Those are emotionsComputers 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 silenceHe cer-tainly couldn't dispute her claim of vanity.

"Now, to answer your question," the robot contin-ued"Although Sam is firm in his beliefs, he has been impressed by you and your methodsAs I mentioned, he has been programmed for paranoia, and your con-tinued success in eluding him, first in the manufactur-ing 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 p.r.o.nounced"I have been your companion for several years nowDuring that time I have observed you practicing and in actual combatNow that my new programming has removed the restrictions on my actions, I feel that I can beat you, HosatoSince 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 ex-tent 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 some-thing special for the occasion."

The robot circled around Hosato and stopped be-side Turner's desk.

"A blaster against an unarmed human proves noth-ing," 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 timeEpeesThe weapons that had been so much of his life all these yearsFor 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 secondMy own a.n.a.lysis confirms your statementYou've matched your mind and sword against a wide array of humans, with an unbroken record of successWell, I have one final challenge for youMatch your mind and abilities against mine against a robotLet's see how well your human rea-soning 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 motionBefore he could launch an attack, however, she quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed up the second sword and had it between them.

"Before you begin," she said, "take the time to examine your weaponI wouldn't want your defeat credited to any lack of familiarity with your sword."

Hosato obediently tested the heft and balance of the new swordIt was perfectIdentical in every way to his own dueling epees-except the point.

"I see you're curious about the point," Suzi ob-served"That is a special designIt's a miniaturized one-shot blaster, set to be triggered on impact with the metal of a robot's bodyThe point of my own weapon is standard."

Hosato's eyes flicked to Suzi's swordShe was rightHer 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 itI advise you of this because such an attempt would result in your being destroyed by its blaster, thereby negating the demon-stration I have so painstakingly arranged."

The remaining object on the desk caught Hosato's eye.

"Why the camera unit?" he asked.

"It is there for two reasons," Suzi replied"Both involving my own vanityFirst, I wish a record of your defeatSecond, there may be times in the action when your colleagues' view of the battle might be obscured by our movementWhen combat begins, I will activate the viewscreen on my back, which will provide a view for them at all times."

She turned slightly toward Sasha and James.

"Might I point out that it will therefore be unneces-sary for you to shift position say, to move closer to the blaster in the cornerAs such, any motion on your part will not be interpreted as innocent curiosity, but as an attempt to counterattack, and the unit there will defend itself accordinglyIs that clear?"

"What happens if he wins?" Sasha asked, ignoring the threat to her own person.

It was a good question, one that had not occurred to HosatoHe was busy preparing himself mentally for the duel.

"In the unlikely event that that should occur," Suzi said levelly, "the security robot will immediately de-stroy him with its blasterHe is far too dangerous to allow his continued existence."

"If that's the case," Hosato asked, "why should I fight at all?"

"Again, there are two reasons," Suzi replied"I know you, HosatoThe first reason is timeYou'll stall for more time, just as you've been doing, hoping for a miracle to save youYou'll fight for more time, even if it's a matter of minutesThe second reason is your prideYou'd rather be killed in a fight than standing meekly to the slaughterBesides, right now you want nothing more than to prove, even with your dying breath, that you can beat me, that a man is better than a machine."

Hosato let out a long breath.

"You know me pretty well, Suzi," he said"Or at least you think you doSince there seem to be no fur-ther questions to be answered, shall we begin?"

So saying, he extended his sword and settled into his en garde position.

Suzi also extended her sword in preparation.

"You forgot to salute." she pointed out.

"No I didn't," Hosato replied"The salute is a sign of respect for one's opponent."

"Your attempts to arouse anger in me are quite uselessHosatoA robot-"

Hosato attacked.

Darting forward in a long, low glide, his blade hung in the air until Suzi began her parryThen, in the blink of an eyehe deceived her blade and tried for the hit.

Suzi's sword was a blur of motion, striking his blade once, twice, and finally wrenching it from his grasp to send it clattering to the floor.

Hosato froze, his eyes focused on the glittering point of Suzi's sword poised inches from his heart.

"-is not dependent on normal conditions for effi-cient operation," Suzi said, her train of conversation uninterrupted"That attack was so elementary as to be insulting, HosatoPick up your weapon and try again."

Hosato stooped slowly and regained his swordAs he didhe shot a glance at Sasha and JamesThey were staring fixedly, not at himbut at Suzi's backIt took him an instant to recall that the humiliating in-cident was being recorded and displayed on the ro-bot's viewscreen.

He returned his thoughts to the duelSuzi would not be easy to beat, if she could be beaten at allWhat was it the maestro had always said"Fence with your head, not your heart." He needed to think, to planUnfortunatelySuzi was apparently unwilling to allow him the necessary time to organize his strategyAs soon as he regained his upright position, she moved forward, sword extended for the killHosato parried reflexively and attempted a counterthrust.

What followed was a blinding display of swordwork as the weapons darted back and forth at dazzling speeds, now blocking a thrust, now probing for the exposed targetIn the end, the result was the sameHosato's sword clattered to the floor and Suzi's point stopped inches short of its target.

"Much better," Suzi commented"You haven't used that combination since UranRememberWhen your opponents hired a maestro to represent them in the duelIt worked there.but not here."

Her voice hardened.

"Pick up your sword, HosatoGive it your best shotThis time I won't stopThis time, when the ex-change ends, you'll be dead."

Hosato took his time retrieving his weaponThis was the only planning, time he'd be allowedHow to beat the robotCorrection, robotsHis eyes darted to the security robot poised in the cornerThey were stronger, faster What was it his grandfather had saidUse the enemy's strength against himHow did that apply hereThere were two of them and only one.

A germ of an idea came into his mindHe exam-ined it.i.t would be close, but it just might workHis fingers closed around the handle of his sword and he straightened again.