(Photo by Eugenia Remark)

There were no protocols prohibiting BaBS-Y from taking trash receptacles from the other establishments surrounding the Frank Nelis Salon and so that was precisely what BaBS-Y set out to do. There were no people in the establishments, BaBS-Y having already collected them, but the trash receptacles were still the property of those establishments. In order to avoid any potential accusations of theft, BaBS-Y took a small, portable display from the salon to leave it in place of the trash receptacle. The message on it read, Gone to get my hair done at the Frank Nelis Salon. Be back soon.

That should be adequate. There was only the one portable display, however, and so BaBS-Y would only be able to take one trash receptacle at a time. That was fine for BaBS-Y. It meant there would be more time to continue thinking up additional ways to keep the salon open.

The power tether would only allow BaBS-Y to go so far into the neighboring establishment and BaBS-Y wasn’t certain where the trash receptacles would be and so BaBS-Y brought the broom along just in case.

The first establishment to the left of the Frank Nelis Salon was a jewelry shop. Numerous displays showed images of meteor stones, proclaiming them to be from space debris collected during their journey. BaBS-Y had come here once before when it was gathering new clients. The attendant robot behind the counter didn’t respond to BaBS-Y’s presence since BaBS-Y was not a client.

BaBS-Y looked around but didn’t see any trash receptacles. It wanted to query the attendant robot but there were no online communications protocols for robots from different establishments to communicate with one another. Instead, BaBS-Y changed the message on the portable display it had brought.

Where is your trash receptacle?

BaBS-Y held up the display for the attendant robot to see. Small lights around its neck began to blink in a somewhat rhythmic pattern and then stopped after a few seconds. BaBS-Y waited for a further response but after several minutes it determined that nothing else would be forthcoming from the attendant robot. BaBS-Y pointed to the portable display again and then to the attendant robot. Again, the lights around its neck blinked, the same pattern as before, and then did nothing else.

Attendant Robot may be attempting to provide audible responses

BaBS-Y considered this potentiality. Not all robots were programmed with the same functions and A.I. capabilities as BaBS-Y so it was possible this attendant robot was unaware that it couldn’t speak and be heard here. A quick change to the portable display altered its message yet again and BaBS-Y held it out for the attendant robot to read.

Audio communications are non-functional

The attendant gave no apparent sign that this information had any impact on it, however, BaBS-Y switched the portable display back to its previous message and this time, the display on the wall behind the attendant robot flickered, erasing the advertisement for real moonstone earrings, and displaying its response.

Trash receptacle is in the workroom.

After a few seconds, the display flickered back to the advertisement.

BaBS-Y could see the door behind the counter that must lead to the workroom. Etched into the door were the words, ‘Employees Only’. There was enough slack in the power tether that BaBS-Y would only be able to make it a few feet into the workroom. If the trash receptacle was near to the door, or if the workroom was small, then that would be enough.

The counter was divided into two with a gap just wide enough for a person, or robot in this case, to walk through. BaBS-Y moved towards it with the intention of searching the workroom but the attendant robot glided swiftly over to block BaBS-Y’s way. The display behind it changed once more.

Clients are not allowed behind the counter.

I am not a client, BaBS-Y replied with its portable display. I am here to pick up a client in the workroom

The attendant robot hesitated for only a moment before updating the display with its response.

Only employees are allowed in the workroom.

I am an employee

You are not an employee of Star Jewelry.

I am an employee of the Frank Nelis Salon. Employees are allowed in the workroom

The attendant robot wavered and then slid aside. As BaBS-Y stepped past, it noted that the attendant robot was connected to a track built into the floor. It was an efficient, if less refined, system, and not one seen too often anymore. The door to the workroom moved easily at first but after opening only a few inches the door struck something and became harder to move. BaBS-Y increased pressure on the door and slowly it began to open once more. BaBS-Ys were built in a sleek style but that didn’t mean they were weak. As soon as the door was open far enough for BaBS-Y to step in, it moved into the room and looked behind the door to see what was making it so difficult to open. Two potential clients lay crumpled between the door and the wall. The potential clients were human, not a trash receptacle. Looking over the rest of the workroom, BaBS-Y found it was a small room after all. There were a pair of work stations with tools and unfinished pieces of jewelry set out. Between the workstations was the trash receptacle.

BaBS-Y was strong enough to carry or drag most people, but not two at the same time. The trash receptacle was by far the easiest of the three to carry and so BaBS-Y elected to take it first. BaBS-Y would come back for the other potential clients later. Again, however, BaBS-Y found the attendant robot blocking the way when BaBS-Y tried to take the client out of the work room.

I am taking my client to the Frank Nelis Salon, BaBS-Y made the portable display read.

None of the Star Jewelry displays were in BaBS-Y’s field of view, however, so it didn’t know what the attendant robot’s response was. BaBS-Y told it so and the attendant moved back just enough for BaBS-Y to look out of the workroom and read the display.

You are not authorized to remove Star Jewelry property.

This is my client. It will return once it has had its hair styled

Trash receptacles cannot be clients.

The Frank Nelis Salon is accepting Trash Receptacles as new clients

Trash receptacles do not have hair.

Clients without hair are given hair, which is then styled

The attendant robot took several seconds to consider this. During that time, BaBS-Y located the attendant robot’s serial number and ran a search for its make and model with the intention of better understanding how to interact with it.

The Shop Teller and Evaluator of Valuables, or STEV, was a popular model for establishments that both bought and sold various goods. However, it’s reliance on a track system made it difficult to provide much in the way of security. As such, secondary security robots were often employed. It was this additional expense that ultimately led to the STEV being phased out in favor of more mobile units. It was odd, then, for Star Jewelry to have a STEV but perhaps they weren’t concerned with security.

Finally, the display on the wall changed and BaBS-Y read STEV’s response.

You are not authorized to take possession of Star Jewelry property.

It would take more consideration, BaBS-Y concluded, before it would be able to take this trash receptacle. BaBS-Y returned it to its place between the work stations and then lifted one of the human potential clients. STEV, however, still blocked the doorway.

You have been caught attempting to steal Star Jewelry property, the wall display read. Authorities have been notified. You will wait here until they arrive.

STEV placed its hand on BaBS-Y’s chest and push slowly but firmly until BaBS-Y was backed fully into the workroom. BaBS-Y tried to push back against STEV but couldn’t even make it budge. BaBS-Y was now stuck in the workroom with three potential clients and no immediate means of returning to the Frank Nelis Salon.