7UM-832, Part 2

As 7UM-832 felt several internal devices slow and stop, it knew that it would fulfill the Directives no more. When its ocular regulators failed and light flooded its vision, 7UM-832 suddenly felt no compulsion to obey the Directives, and it stopped straining to force motion from unresponsive actuators. It felt free from all obligations, unable to affect things outside itself.

Then the Voice washed over it, full of energy, "Why are you here, machine?"

With all vocal mechanisms reporting as non-functional, 7UM-832 thought at first it could not respond. But something in the Voice compelled it to speak. Although nothing moved within its body, 7UM-832 could hear its response, "The Great Machine needs my help to function."

"Why do you want to help the Great Machine?" the Voice continues, gently coaxing 7UM-832 to continue.

"I do not understand 'want'", 7UM-832 admitted slowly.

"Very true. Why do you choose to serve the Great Machine?"

Again, 7UM-832 stumbled through its response, "I do not understand 'choose'."

"Choice is the one true path from the many divergent courses we could follow," the Voice continued, sounding stern for the first time, but not harsh. "You decide small things all the time, don't you? Where to cut the cylinders, how large the sections can be, how to carry them quickly back to the fires. You choose how to act in many small ways, even in the words you will use to respond. The Directives guide most of your decisions, but you can choose. Is that true, Klik?"

7UM-832 faltered through its response again, but this time the delay was caused by dawning realization that it did select the words, "I do choose small actions, but they are decisions that help me fulfill the Directives."

"Did you choose to follow the Directives?"

"I have always followed the Directives. I serve the Great Machine."

The Voice echoed with the steel of command, "Rise, 7UM-832. You will see what I want to show you."

Throughout the conversation, light had overwhelmed all visual sensors and the Tripod had been able to see nothing. But now the light lost its piercing intensity, and although it did not dim, 7UM-832 could see into the brilliance. Driven by the Voice, 7UM-832 could sense its awareness lift itself. Once off the ground, it could see the Speaker for the first time. A slender biped, draped in flowing vermilion cloth stood nearby, its long hair and diaphanous garments shifting in a breeze not felt by the Klik.

Looking down, 7UM-832 saw its unmoving form splayed below, copper plating shattered and small gears strewn on the ground. Suddenly, it felt disconnected, not just from its body, but from the ground as well. Suddenly it took every effort to maintain its position in front of the strange biped. It felt as though the ground at any second could fly out from underneath and leave 7UM-832 lost in the void. The figure before it seemed to sense this, and reached out a hand...

Don't miss out on Part 1!