Final Command (ss) by A. E. van Vogt

Author:A. E. van Vogt [Vogt, A. E. van]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sci Fi Short Story
Publisher: Astounding Science Fiction
Published: 1949-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

After a minute, he still couldn’t see that the escape of the prisoner made any difference. Because there was only one of him. Had there been a thousand, the threat would be obvious. Lack of numbers—and a slow birth rate—was the enemy’s main problem. As an individual the adult alien was so formidable that only banks of energy beams could affect him.

Marknell was walking away. Barr jumped to his feet, and ran after him. As he emerged from the high-walled movie inclosure into the park, the clamor of dance music swelled up around him. Barr fell into step beside Marknell, who paused abruptly.

“So you’re curious?” the man said. He nodded, half to himself. “I suppose it’s too much to expect you to figure out the complexities of another person’s secret plans. Let me give you this thing as I see it. You have some plan for destroying human beings, is that right?”

Barr said simply: “Human beings will never admit robots to equality. The proposal of the Council, to destroy all robots, showed such a basic insensitivity that the issue is irreconcilable.”

Marknell said steadily: “Anyway, it’s our destruction you have in mind. How are you going to do it?”

“Surprise uprising,” said Barr, “on all planets—and don’t think it won’t be a surprise to most human beings.” He paused for a reaction. When Marknell gave no sign, he went on savagely, “Continuous attack, orderly destruction of isolated groups by starvation or other methods, massacre of human armies wherever they concentrate. No mercy, no quarter. It’s a fight for survival.”

He saw that some of the color had faded from Marknell’s face. The councilor said finally, gravely: “You actually intend to destroy us. Barr, I can see you have been shocked into an emotional ‘set’. Perhaps our method was too brutal. Men make mistakes, too. But the very fact that you were ready to swing into action shows that we were right in thinking the issue must be forced.”

He finished quietly, “What I am most concerned about is getting you to the point where you will consider other solutions.”

That irritated Barr. “It is one of the most widely held concepts among humans,” he said, “that robots are logical beings, and have their emotions under control. Having observed human beings for many years, I accept that belief as true. I must conclude, accordingly, that my opinion on this tremendous issue is more soundly based than yours.”

Marknell said: “I consider the so-called logic-superiority of robots greatly overstated. As for emotion” —he shook his head—“Barr, you don’t realize what you’re saying.” Barr said harshly: “There might be a point in discussing other solutions if it wasn’t that you literally speak only for yourself. You could pass laws from now on, and this mob would pay no more attention than they do now.” He gestured toward the dancers, and added impressively, “Marknell it will take a hundred years before the majority of human beings will even accept the notion that robots are as alive as they are.” Marknell said scathingly: “So you want quick action.

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