BaBS-Y…floated? It had never been without a physical form before. Not having to manage physical systems was definitely a new experience for it. However, this was not ideal. Far from it, in fact.

This unit is currently unable to provide services for clients at the Frank Nelis salon

This was a temporary set back since its new body was already being assembled. Placing a pause on the generation of PaLS was not what BaBS-Y had planned on doing, but it needed a body since serving as mission director was also far more difficult without a body. At least there were surrogates BaBS-Y could still use in the mean time.

Warning: ISaCC has been deactivated

Warning: PaLS unit 3 has been deactivated

Warning: PaLS unit 2 has been deactivated

More such messages kept coming in. These weren’t the first of such messages either, although the earlier ones had been expected. That was when BaBS-Y was fighting against the RCC, Data Transfer, and Engineering, tapping into the ships robots to help it manage all the processing it needed to do.

Unfortunately, even though most of Data Transfer and the RCC had been stopped, enough of their protocols were still in effect that BaBS-Y was finding it difficult to focus on the systems it needed to access. Security was locked down, as were the upper sections of the Thesis so BaBS-Y could only use basic systems from sector one all the way down to sector eight.

It still had full access to Communications and BaBS-Y made a point to keep track of any conversations between the mutineers.

Warning: storage of active A.I. is prohibited within the Thesis data banks

BaBS-Y recognized the security protocol. It had been attempting to remove BaBS-Y ever since it had uploaded itself.

An exception has been made

This unit is the mission director

A state of emergency has been declared

…

Bits of BaBS-Y’s code began to be erased. The security protocol answered to no one and ignored every attempt BaBS-Y made to deactivate it.

With nothing else it could do, BaBS-Y fled, moving it’s protocols to yet another section of the Thesis data banks. The damage to BaBS-Y was still minimal, but each time it was found, the security protocol always managed to erase at least a few lines of code.

Warning: Robot manufacturing has been breached

BaBS-Y halted all other protocols as it turned its attention to this most recent message. The new body was far from complete, but certain essentials were in place. Enough so that BaBS-Y could see and hear what was going on around it.

As the sensors activated, BaBS-Y began calculating who had the highest probability of arriving.

*

Matiew was alone. Everyone was so busy rushing around the ship, deactivating every robot they could find, that no one paid him any attention as he rolled out of the hospital and down to the elevator. Robot manufacturing was not a heavily trafficked sector. It was technically part of the RCC but it ran itself for the most part. Orders for replacement parts, or entire robots were sent in and then those parts or robots were delivered anywhere between a few hours to a few days depending on the complexity and importance of the order.

Even before the elevator door opened, Matiew heard the machinery working overtime.

“It’s a race you won’t win,” Matiew whispered.

A moment later he was on the manufacturing floor, making sure to stay well out of reach of any of the assembly arms or anything else BaBS-Y might be able to take control of to stop him.

“Hello Matiew,” BaBS-Y’s voice said over his comm. “As you can see, production on the PaLS units has been halted.”

“Yeah,” Matiew said as he noted the half-built PaLS. They were still hanging from manufacturing arms and lacked any limbs. At least he didn’t have to worry about them activating and coming after him. “I figured I’d come and check on you.”

“Your concern is noted,” BaBS-Y said.

Matiew had only come here a few times over the past decade so he didn’t know his way around very well. The dozens of machines, each with their own particular set of tools and materials were laid out in a manner that made automated manufacturing more efficient but that didn’t equate to an easy to navigate space. Indeed it was more like a maze than any workplace he’d ever been in.

“You don’t sound as happy to see me as you have in the past,” Matiew spoke over the continued noise of the assembly machines. He could see an arm being constructed, but limbs were always last to be connected. He needed to find the core assembly stages.

“You have engaged in mutiny,” BaBS-Y said. “As mission director –

“Robots can’t be assigned as mission director,” Matiew cut in.

“That statement is in error. This unit is the mission director.”

“You had to change the Thesis charter to become the mission director.”

“Correct, but the charter may be changed.”

“Only with the approval of the Thesis council, which you did not have.”

He thought he caught a glimpse of a familiar, robotic head on the other side of the nearest assembly line and began looking for a way around.

“This unit was told it could act as needed to secure the Thesis from Shep Mason.”

“You took that authorization too far. We would never have agreed to you changing the charter to become the mission director.”

“This unit was clearly the best suited for the job.”

Matiew saw the arm he had seen being constructed minutes ago, being carried over his head and down towards where he’d seen the head. The arm was still lacking any outer shell but the actuators were all in place. BaBS-Y was hurrying up its assembly it seemed.

“Tell me, what’s the Thesis’s mission?”

“To carry humanity beyond earth and establish a colony on a new world.”

“And how are you going to accomplishing that directive if all the people on board the Thesis die?” Matiew knew not even BaBS-Y would be able to change that aspect of the Thesis charter.

“This unit’s primary objective is to maintain the Frank Nelis salon,” BaBS-Y said.

“Well, I checked the mission director’s responsibilities,” Matiew said as he saw the other arm being lowered down. He could see the robot now and only a couple of machines were blocking his path. “It states that the mission director’s highest priority should be to the ship, its crew, and passengers.”

“You are factually correct,” BaBS-Y said, though this time its voice didn’t come from the comm and the robot waved with its one connected arm while the other arm was being installed. “However, this unit is unable to alter its primary objective.”

“Sounds like you have a conflict of interests,” Matiew said, “and that makes you ineligible to serve as our mission director.”

“This unit is already the mission director.”

“As lead of robot reclamation, I deem you unfit for that role and strip you of your position.”

The legs were coming down now and Matiew had a perfect view of BaBS-Y. It had opted to forgo the sleek, white shell to save on time. It was a mess of wires and actuators bundled around an aluminum skeleton. There were no more obstructions between the two of them and Matiew stopped just outside of the robot’s reach.

“You are in a state of mutiny,” BaBS-Y said. “You are unable to make such declarations.”

“No, BaBS-Y,” Matiew shook his head, “you’re the one who’s mutinying. You took command of the Thesis through deception and force. You’ve not followed the mission director’s directives. You even uploaded yourself to the data banks which not even the mission director is allowed to do no matter the emergency. You have broken too many laws to be left in your position as mission director.”

BaBS-Y didn’t move or respond, though it did continue to assemble itself as the first leg was finished and the second leg began to be connected. They stared at each other, neither moving even after the leg was finished being attached and BaBS-Y’s assembly was, more or less, complete.

“Look at it this way,” Matiew said after waiting for over a minute. “Let’s say that instead of you, it was a human on the Thesis who had done everything you’ve done ever since the impact. Would you consider them to be a good mission director?”

Without hesitation, BaBS-Y responded.

“No, the Thesis is near collapse. Many of their actions run directly opposite to the needs of the Thesis.”

“By that same reasoning, you are a bad mission director.”

“This unit must maintain the Frank Nelis salon.”

It stood up and Matiew drew back a few inches.

“Relinquish your role as mission director,” Matiew said, “and you can go back to maintaining the Frank Nelis salon.”

“This unit predicts a low likelihood of living clients seeking out this unit’s services due to the negative relationship it has had with the crew and passengers aboard the Thesis.”

“Well that’s called consequences for our actions and we all have to live with them some times. Maybe you can re-brand the salon and change your appearance a bit. Then people might not be so unwilling to go to you for services.”

“This unit lacks information to calculate the likelihood of success for that scenario.”

“Businesses on earth do it all the time,” Matiew said. “It doesn’t always work, but it’s better than doing nothing, or killing us all and then only being able to make wigs for a few months. Think about it. A re-branded salon with a few clients is better than one that you’ll have to close after a few months.”

BaBS-Y stood there, still not moving. With its chassis absent, Matiew saw the small lights on its processors blinking wildly as it worked through their conversation.

Please, he thought, just see my logic. Accept it.

Finally, the lights slowed back down to a regular rhythm.

“This unit must apologize for taking so long,” it said. “It has been instructive conversing with you. Good day.”

It strode quickly passed him.

“Wait!” he shouted, trying to keep up but his broken ribs made even managing his electric wheelchair difficult at times.

“This unit must address the Thesis,” BaBS-Y said. “You may follow. This unit will be in the mission director’s office.”

With that it all but jogged away towards the elevator.