Running while tethered to CaSS was not a straight forward action. If BaBS-Y pushed CaSS in front of itself, then the wheels tended to try and swivel to one side of the other. On the other hand, while pulling CaSS along was easier to control, it was more cumbersome and slowed BaBS-Y down. In both cases it required at least one of BaBS-Y’s hands to hold onto CaSS, otherwise the tension in the power tether would be too great and might sever BaBS-Y’s connection to the power supplies.

Fortunately, BaBS-Y only needed to move about in short sprints where CaSS’s unruly wheels would be less of an issue. The salon robot hurried forward, pushing CaSS along in front of itself, until it reached the set of  benches nearest the approaching robots. They were set up in a ‘U’ formation but not for much longer. Taking hold of the first bench, BaBS-Y swung it outward until it was braced against one of the planters and then did the same with the other. With all three benches now in a row, BaBS-Y tipped them over so their backs were on the ground. The new configuration was a poor barricade, but it was only the first piece of BaBS-Y’s plan.

Dashing back, it pulled the next set of benches forward, adding them to the first row and extending the line all the way to one side of the atrium. By this time, the robots were nearly halfway across the long atrium. They hadn’t deviated from their course even as BaBS-Y continued to add the final set of benches to the line that now reached from one side of the atrium to the other. All of the benches were on their backs, the legs facing BaBS-Y.

The two large robots ran up against the barricade and didn’t slow down, pushing the benches along in front of them. The CaSS unit was still several feet behind them. BaBS-Y kept out of the larger robot’s reach, backing up and leading them in a wide circle until BaBS-Y was able to back out through the gap in the line of benches. The robots followed and CaSS finally caught up. With a full charge, however, it was easy for BaBS-Y to stay out of their reach so it took its time in lining them all up before dashing back behind the barricade and shifting down the ling until it was behind more of the overturned benches. Again, the robots simply pushed through.

Each time a new bench was added to the stack, BaBS-Y had to make sure that they didn’t slide out from in front of the robots. It was easier to do as more benches were added as they tended to push back on the previous ones and wedge them together more tightly. BaBS-Y also had to keep an eye out for the CaSS unit. The small robot wasn’t much of a threat on its own, but if it caught hold of BaBS-Y it could slow it down enough for the larger robots to catch up. Their long limbs looked like they were suited for cleaning walls and ceiling with sprayers and scrubbers, but anything that big colliding with BaBS-Y would certainly be able to do some serious damage regardless of what they were originally designed for.

BaBS-Y lined the robots up once more for another pass through the barricade when all three robots paused.

Humans notice patterns well and might be suspicious of this units actions

Sure enough, the two robots backed up, attempting to leave the benches behind. However, the benches were, by now, wedged so tightly together, with the first bench stuck beneath the front edge of each robot, that the benches would not easily come free.

Their arms swung down towards the benches but, as BaBS-Y had noticed, they weren’t designed to be able to reach down to the ground in front of it, only on its sides could it reach that far. CaSS came around to the robots and began trying to push or pull on the benches to free them from the other robots but it lacked the requisite strength.

Humans are distracted easily and are not able to focus on multiple elements at the same time

BaBS-Y moved forward and, with the two large robots remaining stationary, side by side, and CaSS sitting in the small gap between the sets of entangled benches, pushed another bench forward until it rammed into them, bridging the gap between the two set of benches and effectively locking them all together.

Immediately the three robots lurched into motion, but their movements weren’t coordinated and the CaSS unit became pinned by the benches. Given time, they would, of course, break free of this simple trap, but that was plenty of time for BaBS-Y to hurry back to the Frank Nelis salon. Everything was as it had been when BaBS-Y had left it. Some of the product shelves were nearly empty while others were still full. All of the creams, shampoos, conditioners, that BaBS-Y’s clients didn’t need. Most were dried out or frozen but a few were still malleable.

BaBS-Y grabbed a few bottles of the still-usable products as well as the small mop it had in the back closet. It poured a thick glob of product onto the mop and rushed back to the robots. They were nearly free of the benches, scattering bits of broken wood and bent metal all across the atrium as they struggled. Using the mop to stay out of arms reach, BaBS-Y plastered the hair product all over the robots visual sensors, effectively blinding them. Then, it began to go around to each of the security cameras and smeared the hair product on them as well.

Thesis authorities cannot hinder the Frank Nelis Salon if they cannot see

…

The three units will be unable to return to their charging stations and will soon deactivate

…

This unit will return to inspect their batteries once they have deactivated

There was no further need to worry about the three robots so BaBS-Y left them there and went in search of its clients. As it went along it continued to look for and then obscure the security cameras. With its newfound freedom, BaBS-Y was intent on gathering up as many clients as it could and it knew the Thesis authorities wouldn’t want to see that.

Without visual confirmation of this unit’s actions, Thesis authorities will be less likely to continue to pursue this unit’s deactivation

The trail of hair led BaBS-Y to the far side of the sector where the establishments carried more clothing and novelties. Its creativity protocols were still active so as it passed them by it began to consider what uses it could put these to.

Fabric, if carefully unwoven, could substitute for hair

…

This unit may now go and retrieve the needed sewing supplies to make higher quality wigs

…

Each sector was laid out in a grid, more or less, with smaller establishments along the outer perimeter and larger ones on the interior. In a lot of ways, it wasn’t that far different than how certain cities organized themselves. Here aboard the Thesis, however, instead of streets there was the atrium with its broad walking paths. Occasionally there would be seen some wheeled transports but those were not common.

BaBS-Y turned the final corner, having gone all the way to the opposite side of the sector following the trail its clients had left behind, and stopped. The map of the Thesis that BaBS-Y had said there ought to be a candy shop here. Instead, there was empty space. Stars winked in the far distance.

The ceiling, walls, and floor were all gone. The exposed metal frame was bent and twisted from whatever had impacted the Thesis.

This unit has discovered the cause for the lose of atmosphere in this sector

…

Thesis authorities have ejected the deceased clients into space

…

This unit will need to find new clients

BaBS-Y turned and began making its way back to the Frank Nelis Salon. Without clients it wouldn’t be able to reopen yet but it needed to put the mop and bottles of product back in their places. Then it would lock up once more before returning to the charging station. When it came into view of the Frank Nelis Salon it was yet again surprised by what it saw.

The two large robots, arms flailing, were destroying the Frank Nelis Salon. The glass front displays were shattered. The chairs in the waiting area were smashed into unrecognizable pieces. A piece of chair cushion flew out of the salon and landed halfway across the atrium.

It didn’t make any sense. How could they have found their way here? Hadn’t BaBS-Y blinded them?

Their primary function is to wash walls and the ceiling

…

Water, in that working environment, could easily cover the visual sensors, impairing its vision

…

One of the robots exited the Frank Nelis Salon and turned to face BaBS-Y, giving the salon robot a clear view of it and confirming the theory BaBS-Y had begun to formulate.

They have wipers to clear their sensors

The robot backed up while keeping BaBS-Y in its field of view and then, quite deliberately, began smashing the product shelves.