Page 55 of Chaos Theory

FIFTY-TWO

‘This can’t be happening,’ I say for the fourth time as the three of us re-enter the robot bay.

‘He can’t do this,’ Josh says. I think it’s the fifth time he’s said it since we left Ron’s office, but it’s hard to keep track. Ron has pulled the plug on my mind, and everything I thought I knew is now spiralling downwards at speed.

I thought Josh was the only liar in my life.

I had just disentangled myself from that mess, and now I learn that Ron has been playing both of us for fools.

It’s a ridiculous daisy chain of lies. I taste a bitter irony at the realisation that my success with Kobi is being turned against me.

I was actually so good , in fact, that Ron wants to keep me at RoboTron – me, or some weird digital version of me.

I stand in front of Kobi, give him a once-over. I think back to our time on the rugged terrain of the Burren. I recall him speeding across the Cliffs of Moher car park without hesitation. And now he’s going to be shipped out, to almost inevitable destruction. It’s not right .

‘You must be in shock too, buddy,’ I say gently. ‘Did you know about any of this?’

‘Please be more specific.’

‘The military application stuff? And – did you know you had a tracking device? And that you were recording me all week?’

‘No. No, but it is unsurprising. And no, but all week I have been storing raw data files instead of deleting them. I did wonder at the reason for this change. Ron has visited me early every morning. I was pleased he was taking such an interest.’

Josh starts pacing. ‘I just can’t believe this.’

‘I can’t believe it either.’ I turn away from Kobi and feel myself harden. ‘And I can’t believe that you didn’t know about any of this.’

He stops pacing. ‘I know.’

‘You had no suspicions? There were no signs? No overheard conversations? Nothing?’

‘Well…’ he says slowly.

I sigh, roll my eyes exaggeratedly. ‘Well what?’

His voice quietens, like he’s talking to himself. ‘Certain things are starting to make more sense now.’

Now it’s my turn to slump into the nearest seat. It’s a swivel chair. I start rotating slowly, like maybe I can lull myself into some place of comfort.

‘Certain things like what, exactly?’

He turns away to make his confession. He fiddles with implements on a workbench.

‘Why Kobi always said the time in military format. Why Ron wanted him to be able to navigate all kinds of terrain. Why he had me spend months getting Kobi’s grip to be strong yet delicate enough to hold a pencil – or a surgical instrument.

Why his audio had to be so good – guess that’s useful on a battlefield. ’

‘Josh,’ I say.

‘I know, I know,’ he interrupts. ‘I should have asked more questions.’

‘ You think? ’

His voice gets louder. ‘Well, if it wasn’t for your breakthrough , we wouldn’t be in this mess.’

I stop rotating abruptly. ‘You’re seriously blaming me for this?’

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Kobi retreating towards his sleep pod.

‘Kobi, wait,’ I say. ‘I’m sorry. We’re sorry – aren’t we, Josh?’

‘Yes,’ says Josh. ‘We’ve let you down, buddy.’

I look at him askance, raise an eyebrow.

‘ I’ve let you down,’ he says.

‘We’re not going to let anything bad happen to you,’ I say, to my surprise.

‘We’re not?’ says Josh.

I extend my foot to kick him, but he’s too far away for me to connect.

‘That’s right,’ says Josh.

He moves closer to me and lowers his voice, even though he knows as well as anyone that Kobi can still hear us. He looks at his watch.

‘I probably have about five minutes before security comes to escort me from the building. Seriously, what can we really do here? And before you answer – we’re probably being recorded right now.’

‘Kobi, can you disable recording?’ I ask.

‘Negative. Manual intervention required.’

I grab a tool from the workbench. ‘Okay, come over here then.’

As I get to work, Josh resumes his pacing. ‘Maybe you shouldn’t be doing that.’

‘Why, what’s the worst that could happen? I get fired? I’m more scared that Ron won’t actually let me go.’

‘But…what if… what if Ron is right? Robots on the battlefield could save humans on the battlefield. Who’s the real bad guy here? Maybe Ron is saving lives.’ He stops pacing to look at me. ‘Are we the bad guy?’

‘Josh, you’re already the bad guy. But Ron’s even worse! If he wants to put robots in the military, he can do it without me.’ My mind clarifies and I make a decision. ‘And he can do it without Kobi.’

I’m ninety per cent sure Kobi’s recording feature is disabled when I say it.