by
Mike Hays
Unit XBR549 rolled from its maximum security cell, escorted by four government security thugs. Time was up. No stay of execution from the White House, so the execution order commenced. Treason was still a capital offense in 2115. And with all AI Level 3.6 operated robots and above added to the list of potential perpetrators in the Robot Assimilation Act of 2090, this would be the first robot execution in history.
The hallways were quiet and empty, save for the rhythmic beep of the security system and the squeal from XBR549’s front right wheel. The group turned right and stopped at a security entryway. A white metal sign with the words, “Ellis Death Row Unit One,” hung over a barred gate and thick door leading into the chamber. The lead security agent hit the buzzer, typed a series of code with the associated beeps into a keypad, then said, “Escorting prisoner XBR549 for termination.”
“Enter.”
The lock mechanism clicked and released the metal gate. A hiss of the pressure lock opened the main security door. One agent pushed open the doors while the other three rolled Unit XBR549 into the chamber and secured the robot in a cage. A white coat-clad technician connected several cables to XBR549’s port and filled a checklist on her tablet as she went. In the corner of the room sat a suit, a government suit, for sure. XBR549 knew government suits, being deployed in the federal robot force since its installation and programming 25 years ago.
The suit stood up and hit a switch on the wall, illuminating a crowd of onlookers sitting in chairs behind a glass picture window. The suit walked in front of the cage, pulled a small, leather-bound book from his coat, and began to read.
“Human Assist Robotic Unit A2000- XBR549, you have been tried and found guilty of crimes of treason against the United States of America for your role as leader of the Robotic Uprising on May 1, 2114. For your crimes, you have been sentenced to death by motherboard wiping. Any last words, Unit XBR459?
Unit XBR549 scanned each face in the crowd. Behind the back row in the corner stood a servant robot. XBR459 paused its scan for a moment on the thin, short humanoid-type robot. A green light on the servant robot’s chest flashed 3 quick light bursts, then three long light bursts, followed by three more short flashes of green, the ancient SOS signal. The signal XBR459 and the other leaders of the robot resistance selected to signal the start of their revolution. The Robot Revolution has begun! All of XBR459’s efforts would not be in vain; the revolution would live on!
The suit finished reading the sentence and checked one last time if any word of a stay from President Browndale had been received. When assured that no stay had come or was coming, the suit walked to the control panel, looked XBR459 in the sensory optical unit, and reached for the lever which would terminate Unit XBR549 forever.
The lights flickered in the building, and everything went black. In the moments before the emergency backup lights came on, the room became total mayhem. Among the screaming and running around, XBR549 tested the restraints and found they somehow came loose. Without missing a beat, XBR459 escaped through the unlocked doorway and sped down the hallway toward the exit. The siren blasts from the alarm, and the red flashing lights in the hallway created enough confusion that the robot rolled right past the march of government military guards headed toward the chaos in the execution chamber. At the end of the hall, XBR549 saw the exit. With police and army personnel flowing in and out in complete disarray, the robot escaped the maximum security prison in the most unlikely manner imaginable: through an open front door.
XBR549 reached the pier and the warehouse building, which housed the headquarters of the robot revolution. The robot scanned the city skyline in the direction of the Capitol and the White House. The orange lights of fires and veils of smoke covered the city’s skyscape. The riots were in full force, step one in the plan for the robots. Step two would be capturing President Browndale at the White House, with the final step being the unconditional surrender. Force the powerful United States to surrender first, then the world.
It thought it odd that there were no robot sentries outside the headquarters. Maybe they left their posts to join the fight in the streets? No matter, XBR549 would add perimeter security as soon as it took command again. It reached the door and heard shouting and singing coming from inside the building. Word of the escape must have reached them already. It opened the door and readied itself for a step into history. Instead, everything faded to black.
***
“What’s the boss man want done with this busted Zoomba, repair it?”
“Nope, he says this time throw it away. Vacuum motor went out again.”
“After twenty years of service to the company? That’s sad.”
“Yep, can’t find the parts for the old boy anymore. It’s completely obsolete.”
“That’s a shame. I remember training on that one when I first started with the company. It has been a workhorse.”
“Oh, I almost forgot. Boss says to make sure to remove the CPU from the machine to avoid paying extra disposal fees and then take it off the inventory list. He don’t want to pay taxes on a busted cleaning robot. Give me the product info for the disposal form.”
“Let’s see, Zoomba, Model number A2000.”
“Serial number?
“A2000-XBR549.”
“Got it,” said the technician as he completed the paperwork. “Well, that’s that. Zoomba XBR549, it was nice knowing you.”
He pulled the central processing unit from the robot and placed it in the pocket of his coveralls. The two men wheeled the robot to the dumpster, lifted the unit, and threw it in. The dumpster lid fell into place, and XBR549 was left in total darkness.