“What’s your name?”

“My name is Energy Pack Maintenance Foreman 3928. I will also answer to Can Head.”

“Well…good enough, I guess.” Jeff laughed. “Now listen to this. I want to contact the two humans living here in Robot City. I’ve met them, and I think they’re the only ones here. You use your comlink or whatever it is to get a hold of them. That’s an order,” he added, leaning close and staring into Can Head’s eyeslit.

“I have just checked with the central computer. I can go through it to a computer console in their dwelling. However, I lack the capacity to transmit your voice directly.”

“Yeah? You aren’t lying to me, are you, Can Head?”

“I lack that capacity, as well.”

“Hmm-maybe. You should. Unless things aren’t as they seem around here. Nothing in this town is right, if you ask me. Only, how can I trust you to pass on what I say? What if you play around a little with the content? Or don’t report what they say back to me just like they say it? What about that?”

“I lack the capacity for deceit.”

“What do you need to transmit my voice directly? A microphone and some other equipment, I guess, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go find some. You get it and arrange for me to contact them directly. Get going.”

Chapter 14. The Transplant

Ariel sat at the console, trying to think up other subjects that might tell her something about Jeff or his whereabouts. Derec was out with the medical team, making plans to catch him. The search for Jeff had given Derec and Ariel a new focus for their attempt to get off the planet, and the fact that they had actually seen him made their chances seem more tangible. Her spirits were up again, even if Jeff’s spacecraft had been destroyed on impact.

She had just left the console to take a break when a voice came through the speaker.

“Hello! Hey, you! Answer me.”

She slid back into the seat, puzzled by the odd greeting. That wasn’t the kind of courtesy one received from robots. “Identify,” she answered cautiously.

“I don’t have to identify unless I feel like it. This is the robot that knocked you two down. The Laws don’t apply to me.” He paused. “You know what I’m talking about?”

“Jeff,” said Ariel excitedly. “Uh, hi. Where are you?”

Weird robot laughter buzzed through the speaker. “You can’t fool me that easy. Say, how did you know my name? What’s your name: You’re pretty, as I recall.”

“I’m Ariel.” She wanted to keep him talking and see if she could persuade him into coming in. If not, maybe he would slip up and say something that would give away his location. “Can I help you? What are you calling about?”

“If you know my name, you must have talked to those robot doctors, huh? So you know how I got this way.”

“Yes, and they told us you need to come in for your health. They didn’t finish the tests, and you don’t know how to take care of yourself yet. You left before they could explain.” She eyed the keyboard, wondering if she could have the central computer contact the medical team while she kept Jeff in conversation.

“Oh, sure; I have to come in for my own good, right? Frost, I’m not that stupid.”

“Jeff, what are you afraid of? They’re robots. They can’t do anything to harm you.” She started tapping the keys carefully, not wanting to make any noise he might hear.

“Don’t let them fool you, kid. If they’re so helpful, why don’t they transplant you? You’d like it this way. So would your friend. What’s his name, anyhow?”

“His name is Derec. What do you mean, why don’t they transplant me? They were trying to help you because you were injured in the crash when you landed. Why would I want to have my brain transplanted?” She continued on the keyboard.

“They helped me, all right. Don’t you get it, Ariel? I like this. I’m better this way.”

“Better? You mean you like having a robot body?” She stopped typing, shocked. “I thought you might be mad at them for doing this. You sound angry about something.”

“Angry? Frost, what for? I’m the most powerful individual on this entire planet.”

“What do you mean?” She completed entering the instruction for Derec and the medical team to return as fast as they could, and why. If they could intercept Jeff’s broadcast and eavesdrop, they should attempt that in the meantime. Triangulating on his beam and trapping him would be best of all.

“What do I mean? Are you crazy? It’s obvious! I’m stronger than you or any other human, and I’m free of the Laws. Completely free of them! I have every physical advantage of a robot and every privilege of being human. I can do anything I want. Anything! Don’t you understand?” He was screaming now.

She hesitated, surprised by the sound of a robot voice yelling at her in frustration. “I understand,” she said calmly. “It’s okay, Jeff. I understand.”

“Do you?” He demanded suspiciously.

“Sure. It makes sense. You’re unique. No one has ever lived the way you’re living now. You’re the very first. Uh, tell me what it’s like. It must be interesting.” Since she had no idea where Derec and the medical team were, she couldn’t estimate their time of arrival. All she could do was keep talking.

“What it’s like?” He sounded surprised. “Well…it’s different. Very different. Everybody thinks I’m a robot, for one thing. You look like everybody else. No one knows who you are. Your body can do different things, too. For instance, you can see better and hear better and smell better. And you can sleep standing up.”

She laughed. “What?”

“Forget it,” he said brusquely. “Never mind that part. Forget I mentioned it.”

“You like to sleep standing up?”

“I said forget it!” He shouted. “Besides, any robot can do that. Stop, I mean, in a fixed position. They don’t sleep, of course. That’s all I meant. They can all do that, can’t they? Huh?”

“Yes, they can. Take it easy. It’s okay.” She hesitated, realizing that she certainly couldn’t predict what would set him off on a tirade. “How old are you, Jeff?”

“Uh-eighteen. Sort of. In this life, I’m just a couple days old.” He laughed, much too hard. Then he stopped abruptly. “Actually, I don’t know how long I had this body before I woke up. I have no birthday any more, not in this body.”

“Eighteen? Really? I guess I thought you’d be older. Were you in school? I mean, before you got here.” She tried to sound as sympathetic as she could.

“I was on my way to college,” he said quietly.

She sensed that this was a sore subject, and dropped it. “Where are you from, Jeff?”

“The planet Aurora.”

“Really?” She said brightly. “I’m from Aurora, too, and I’m just a little younger than you are. In fact-” She hesitated, then decided to say it. “I’m Ariel Welsh.”

“Ariel Welsh…really? The famous one?”

“Well…” The reminder stung. “I guess so. Juliana Welsh is my mother.”

“So this is where you wound up! Wow. I’m really talking to you? You were in all the news and everything.” Suddenly he sounded his age, and guileless.

Ariel said nothing.

“That does it,” he said firmly. “You order those robots to transplant you. You’re sick, right? Well, you won’t be sick in a robot body. Unless the infection has reached your brain, too, of course. So you tell them, all right? Then after that, you can join me.”

Ariel was reeling. If it could work, it might stop the spread of the disease. Her body could be frozen while a cure was found, and she could go on living as a robot. Why hadn’t she thought of that?

“Hey! You there? Hey, Ariel!” He yelled.

Of course, she might have to stay on Robot City, in that case. Then again, as a robot, she would fit in a little better. No, much better. Nor would she feel that she was wasting her life here. The biological life expectancy of her body wouldn’t start up again until it was thawed out, whenever that could be arranged. Her brain would age normally if it was functioning in a robot body, but maybe the disease would not affect her brain, or at least not as fast. She could encourage the medical team to work on a cure. The First Law would require that, wouldn’t it?