Chapter Two
So it was Dr. Selig all along, Agent Bennet thinks as he sits at his desk. He has just finished locking away Titus Sweete, who even behind bars was gloating over destroying the Nosis and shooting down Dr. Selig. He has the gall to call himself a martyr. All the while Bennet thought Zeta was reprogrammed by Brother's Day, it turns out his own creator had him reprogrammed from the very beginning.
.I never had the stomach for building weapons, so I put an extra module in Zeta. A conscience, to make him rethink his programming. Imagine if the government knew what I was doing on their time. They'd have stopped me.
Bennet couldn't argue with that. Selig may have been Zeta's creator, but Zeta was, still is, government property. That kind of tampering would have been seen as espionage, treason. Being arrested would have been the least of his worries.
.The module never activated. Zeta became a killer like the rest of them. It's a shame. I had plans for that one.
Those may be his last words. If he only knew. It was that module of his that kept the scientists from reprogramming Zeta when they finally had the chance. Bennet remembers that incident all too well. All attempts to work around that module led to Zeta going out of control. He broke loose and went on a rampage, destroying everything in his path. All that high-tech, expensive technology at our disposal, and what did it take to stop him? It took the Rowen girl, of all people, screaming at me over the loudspeakers.
.I'm alive because of him. Zee is gentle and kind.
Your voice. I heard your voice.
How was Bennet supposed to explain that? What kind of control does that girl have over Zeta? It made no sense to him then, but now, he wonders. If that module gives him a conscience, could it be giving him emotions as well? After all, didn't Zeta beg and plead with us not to erase his mind, like a man afraid for his very life.?
No! Don't do this to me... Please don't take my memories away!
There was fear in Zeta's voice, no doubt about it, and he fought the erasure at every step, determined not to be reprogrammed. It seemed he especially wanted to hang on to his memories of Rowen. He shudders to think about the ideas she's been putting into that robot's head. It's amazing how a simple street kid was able to infiltrate a top-secret base and subdue a malfunctioning robot all by herself. He'd never admit it out loud, but she'd make a really good spy.
But still, how was she able to do it? How could she have such an effect on a machine, even one with a conscience? Could it be possible that they've formed a bond? If he can understand fear, could he also.? No, that's crazy! Zeta is a robot, for crying out loud. It's just not possible. is it? If only Selig was still alive, he'd be explaining about that module of his to Commander Lemac right now.
Bennet's train of thought is interrupted by the phone's ringing. "This is Agent Bennet. Are you sure it's them? Well, just observe for now. You heard me! I said 'observe'. Do not even think about going near them until I say so, understand?" He nearly slams the phone down.
One thing is for certain: Bennet has to think long and hard about what he should do now. Commander Lemac is going to want answers, and he needs to make a decision real soon.
So it was Dr. Selig all along, Agent Bennet thinks as he sits at his desk. He has just finished locking away Titus Sweete, who even behind bars was gloating over destroying the Nosis and shooting down Dr. Selig. He has the gall to call himself a martyr. All the while Bennet thought Zeta was reprogrammed by Brother's Day, it turns out his own creator had him reprogrammed from the very beginning.
.I never had the stomach for building weapons, so I put an extra module in Zeta. A conscience, to make him rethink his programming. Imagine if the government knew what I was doing on their time. They'd have stopped me.
Bennet couldn't argue with that. Selig may have been Zeta's creator, but Zeta was, still is, government property. That kind of tampering would have been seen as espionage, treason. Being arrested would have been the least of his worries.
.The module never activated. Zeta became a killer like the rest of them. It's a shame. I had plans for that one.
Those may be his last words. If he only knew. It was that module of his that kept the scientists from reprogramming Zeta when they finally had the chance. Bennet remembers that incident all too well. All attempts to work around that module led to Zeta going out of control. He broke loose and went on a rampage, destroying everything in his path. All that high-tech, expensive technology at our disposal, and what did it take to stop him? It took the Rowen girl, of all people, screaming at me over the loudspeakers.
.I'm alive because of him. Zee is gentle and kind.
Your voice. I heard your voice.
How was Bennet supposed to explain that? What kind of control does that girl have over Zeta? It made no sense to him then, but now, he wonders. If that module gives him a conscience, could it be giving him emotions as well? After all, didn't Zeta beg and plead with us not to erase his mind, like a man afraid for his very life.?
No! Don't do this to me... Please don't take my memories away!
There was fear in Zeta's voice, no doubt about it, and he fought the erasure at every step, determined not to be reprogrammed. It seemed he especially wanted to hang on to his memories of Rowen. He shudders to think about the ideas she's been putting into that robot's head. It's amazing how a simple street kid was able to infiltrate a top-secret base and subdue a malfunctioning robot all by herself. He'd never admit it out loud, but she'd make a really good spy.
But still, how was she able to do it? How could she have such an effect on a machine, even one with a conscience? Could it be possible that they've formed a bond? If he can understand fear, could he also.? No, that's crazy! Zeta is a robot, for crying out loud. It's just not possible. is it? If only Selig was still alive, he'd be explaining about that module of his to Commander Lemac right now.
Bennet's train of thought is interrupted by the phone's ringing. "This is Agent Bennet. Are you sure it's them? Well, just observe for now. You heard me! I said 'observe'. Do not even think about going near them until I say so, understand?" He nearly slams the phone down.
One thing is for certain: Bennet has to think long and hard about what he should do now. Commander Lemac is going to want answers, and he needs to make a decision real soon.