entry_31
0621 hours, Wednesday, February 14, 1973.
Hopefully I will be able to complete this entry. I am having trouble focusing on the task at hand. Given the circumstances, I think I can be pardoned for distraction.
I found that Herr Engineer and myself had been placed in a windowless room when he switched me on again. There were no light fixtures; I was only able to see by the combined glow of our eyes and a square of gray light shining at the other end of the room. I did not know what it meant. I immediately tried to stand, but Herr Engineer placed his remaining hand firmly on my shoulder.
E-001: Just sit tight for now. Let me do the talking.
There was a tension in his voice that I did not like, especially as I began to remember why we were in this cell. I started to ask him what the situation was, but there was no need. We were interrupted by a third voice.
Adversary_1: I do not see what you hope to accomplish by powering it on, Mister Conagher.
I knew that voice all too well from the old days when I fought alongside the other robots. It caused my limbs to shudder without my volition; she may not have screamed or even, so far as I could ascertain, sounded angry, but that did not make her any less menacing.
She was not physically in the cell with us. Her words had come from the box of light, which upon closer inspection was a television sitting on a chair. I could see her on its screen. She looked old, almost as old as Herr Gray, and something about her eyes reminded me of his though they were quite dissimilar in color and shape. The rest of the screen was taken up by the high-backed chair she was seated on, and smoke wafted in curls from the cigarette in her hand. She seemed to be watching Herr Engineer. How, I cannot say; I did not see any video cameras in the room with us.
Herr Engineer turned to face the screen. He stood, but I followed his advice and remained seated.
E-001: Sorry ma'am, I just thought Steve would appreciate being conscious for this.
Adversary_1: Steve.
E-001: Yeah. That's what I'm calling the robot.
She leaned back in her chair. I did not know what emotion was on her face.
Adversary_1: I'm going to be upfront with you, Mister Conagher. You have violated your terms of contract by not only abandoning your post but actually assisting an enemy for several months. Moreover, you have contacted this enemy in the past without my approval.
Smoke curled out of her nostrils.
Adversary_1: I would be fully within my rights to have you executed on the spot. As a matter of fact I would have done so immediately upon your arrival if it were not for one factor. Do you know what that factor is?
He met her gaze unflinchingly as he thought. I don't know how; my limbs rattled against each other like bits of scrap metal being poured into a recycling chute. Finally he spoke.
E-001: You need me.
She scoffed. It was like hearing someone being slapped.
Adversary_1: None of you are needed. It does not matter how skilled you are personally, I could always replace you. However, your family has rendered services to TF Industries for three generations. I would not prefer to end this long-standing professional relationship without first being assured of your treachery.
E-001: Oh.
She bridged her fingers and watched him closely. Herr Engineer had lowered his gaze again. I was looking at the floor myself, and I think wringing my hands. I don't remember, and it probably doesn't matter much.
E-001: Is there anything I can say to, well, reassure you of my position?
Adversary_1: I'm not sure that there is, Mister Conagher, but by all means try to prove me wrong.
I glanced up at him. Herr Engineer's head was still down, and one of his legs had begun to bounce in a fashion I took to indicate anxiety. That was worse than the Administrator's words, simply seeing Herr Engineer in such a position. And then I did something stupid.
0031: Frau Administrator, please do not be too hard on Herr Engineer.
Adversary_1: What?
Her eyes narrowed to slits in an instant. Herr Engineer jerked his head up so he could stare at me.
E-001: Steve, let me handle this.
0031: No, I wish to speak. Frau Administrator, Herr Engineer is no friend of H- of Gray Mann's.
She smiled. I didn't think it was a nice smile.
Adversary_1: Really now.
E-001: Steve-
Adversary_1: Quiet Mister Conagher. It's caught my interest.
Herr Engineer shifted his weight uneasily, but he did not say anything more. The Administrator leaned forward in her seat, watching me.
Adversary_1: You claim, robot, that you hold no loyalty to Gray Mann.
She was quiet, and I realized I was expected to answer. I nodded vigorously.
0031: Yes Frau Administrator.
Adversary_1: Why should I believe you?
0031: Er...
I thought carefully over what I should say next. Lying seemed far too risky, but at the same time explaining the exact circumstances that had led to me being before her now would be foolish. I fidgeted.
0031: When the Scout was captured during the siege, Herr Engineer attempted to kill Gray. He very nearly succeeded, but ah...
Herr Engineer was watching me very closely.
0031: Unit 0484 intervened. He is a Soldierbot und quickly overpowered Herr Engineer. He tore his arm off and would have killed him on Gray's orders. So... so I put a gun to his head, und we escaped. If we were to go back now-
Adversary_1: Did you eliminate him afterward?
Herr Engineer turned his gaze back to the Administrator. I faltered.
0031: Ah... ah, was, bitte?
She rolled her eyes.
Adversary_1: Did you kill Gray once he was no longer needed?
0031: I, well, no. I did not.
Herr Engineer made a groaning sound as the Administrator tapped ash from the end of her cigarette.
Adversary_1: And why did you fail to do so if you are no longer loyal to Gray Mann?
My shaking intensified.
0031: I-I promised 0484 that I would not kill him. I do not like to break my promises.
Adversary_1: Do you really expect me to believe that, robot?
I quailed at the sudden aggression in her voice.
0031: But it is true! I did not-
Adversary_1: You are a machine that was designed to kill and assist in killing humans. What use would Gray have for a robot that holds loyalty to any person or ideal aside from himself?
0031: I-
Adversary_1: The answer is that he would have no use for such a machine. That is the entire point of robots, that they obey commands fully without remorse or any delusion of morality.
0031: Bitte Frau-
Adversary_1: Which brings us back to where we started: why are you here if not because Gray Mann wants you here?
E-001: Because I want him here.
Herr Engineer's words were a growl. He stepped sideways in front of me, and I could not see the Administrator's face any longer.
Adversary_1: You are treading on thin ice, Mister Conagher.
E-001: Then go ahead and kill me. I've made a lot of stupid decisions lately; I probably deserve it. But Steve ain't done nothing wrong. He's the only reason I'm standing in front of you now. What he told you about saving my life is true, and what's more he's the only reason I was able to escape from Gray in the first place. Steve's put himself in harm's way on my account numerous times in the past month, and I'll be damned before I stand by and let you tell him he's just a tool of that bastard Gray.
Silence overtook the conversation. I did not even try to look past Herr Engineer to the Administrator. Her reply was at least calm, though she sounded more dangerous than ever.
Adversary_1: Do you mean to say that you consider this device your friend, Mister Conagher?
But he did not have time to answer. The door's lock clicked, and to my astonishment Miss Pauling bustled into the room. Her lip had been tidied up but her appearance was in a disarray.
Adversary_1: What is the meaning of this interruption?
Miss_Pauling: Sorry Administrator, but this couldn't wait. The Spy managed to do some recon before he came back from the tank, and some of the information he found was, er, immediately relevant.
Engineer opened his mouth as thought to speak, but Miss Pauling looked at him and she was quiet. The behavior seemed strange to me somehow. I peered further around Herr Engineer's legs to the television screen. The Administrator's attention was focused fully upon Miss Pauling.
Adversary_1: Relevant in what way?
Miss Pauling spoke slowly. Perhaps she was taking time to process her words carefully, or perhaps that was just something I thought that wasn't true.
Miss_Pauling: There was some video footage in a file marked with the Engineer's name. He... well, it along with some papers on his arrival at Gray Gravel Company headquarters indicate he didn't go of his own volition.
One of the Administrator's eyebrows rose. I think we were all three watching her at this point, because if anything was true it was that Herr Engineer had come to Herr Gray in the end, not the other way around.
Adversary_1: Is that so.
Miss_Pauling: According to the Spy, yes. He arrived through respawn, so he wasn't able to bring any of the files with him. His track record though...
Adversary_1: Well. The Spy has done nothing to make me think he isn't trustworthy.
She turned her attention to Herr Engineer again. Her face was just as lacking in expression as his, and she let out a long slow stream of smoke from her mouth.
Adversary_1: But if this is true, it is extremely curious that you haven't brought it up before now.
He shrugged.
E-001: I kind of assumed you already knew, ma'am. It never exactly came up, and given what Gray did to me-
Adversary_1: Hmm.
E-001: I just didn't want to sound like I was making excuses.
Adversary_1: That was probably wise on your part, Mister Conagher.
And then she looked at me. I made myself look back. It was like staring into an intense light without being properly calibrated for it. Like I was in front of Herr Gray again.
Adversary_1: What am I supposed to do with this, Mister Conagher? I have no use for a robot as a hostage. Regardless of your feelings about it, it will be perfectly replaceable in Gray's eyes, especially given its current condition.
My hand went to my ruined eye without me wanting it to. Herr Engineer shook a little.
E-001: Ma'am, I... I reprogrammed him. That's how I got away.
Adversary_1: Evidently.
E-001: We, uh... well. We could always use another Medic, right? And he could help me out. Please.
Her nose wrinkled, and she turned from me to Miss Pauling. She did not look at Herr Engineer.
Adversary_1: What do you think of the situation?
Miss Pauling hesitated as she looked at me. I was still trembling; I'm sure I looked quite pathetic.
Miss_Pauling: I think, with the proper precautions, we might be able to work something out. I mean, he's right. We could always use another Medic. Besides he might have some knowledge of Gray's tactics we could learn from.
The Administrator did not reply immediately. The rattling of my limbs was the only sound I could make out. Finally she sighed.
Adversary_1: I will be talking with the rest of your teammates to see what they think of the situation.
Herr Engineer perked up immediately.
E-001: Yes ma'am.
Adversary_1: You will both be under close surveillance until I decide upon an exact course of action.
E-001: I understand.
Adversary_1: And neither of you are going onto the field unless we can fix that.
The Administrator gestured to all of Herr Engineer, I assume because of this robotic exterior. He simulated a chuckle.
E-001: I hear you loud and clear.
Adversary_1: Well then Miss Pauling, escort them to holding cell B and send in the Spy. I would like to hear his account from his own lips. And Mister Conagher?
Herr Engineer paused in the act of pulling me to my wheel to listen.
Adversary_1: Happy Valentine's Day. You get to keep your life, for now.
He nodded, and the three of us left the cell. Miss Pauling closed the door behind her.
We did not speak until we were in front of holding cell B. Herr Engineer turned to Miss Pauling.
E-001: Miss Pauling, I-
Miss_Pauling: Save it.
The door swung open and she stepped back. If I had to analyze her expression, I would call it tired and perhaps a little annoyed. She kept her voice low.
Miss_Pauling: I don't want to hear anything about this. So far as I'm concerned, what I just told the Administrator was what happened, and it would be best if you started thinking along the same lines. Got it?
Herr Engineer nodded.
E-001: Yes ma'am.
Miss_Pauling: Good. Now get inside. I need to go rehearse a witness.
She pushed her glasses up before ushering us into the cell. The lock clicked audibly behind us.
0031: She did not have to do that.
E-001: No, she didn't.
Herr Engineer and I haven't said much to each other since. I am still shaky, and his shoulder keeps dripping onto the floor, but I feel- I feel completely overwhelmed.
We are not going to be killed. I am still having trouble processing this one indisputable fact; it seems like nothing short of a miracle has occurred for Herr Engineer and myself to be spared. All I can do is repeat it to myself wonderingly lest I forget that it is true.
We are not going to be killed.
/entry_31