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[Spaceship Zero] Q-Ship (actually updated 19 May 2007)
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<blockquote data-quote="Capellan" data-source="post: 1586140" data-attributes="member: 6294"><p><strong>"Space Tomb" - Part 9</strong></p><p></p><p>Archie hums softly to himself as a stream of data flows between himself and the builder-bot. The smaller robot's neural processor is considerably more primitive than his own ... but then Archie is hardly a 'factory model' anymore.</p><p></p><p>In truth, he finds the builder-bot's simplicity and directness rather pleasant. It is far less complex than his human companions, and shares far more values with him. Excitement does not concern it. A clean and efficient workplace does.</p><p></p><p>As the stream of data transmission continues, Archie becomes aware that the activity in the vast chamber has slowed, the number of builder-bots declining with every minute he remains. More and more, they are departing the room, without returning.</p><p></p><p>"Where units go?" he transmits.</p><p></p><p>"Go build."</p><p></p><p>"Build what?"</p><p></p><p>"Build <em>good</em>." A wave of electronic satisfaction emanates from the small robot. Archie, feeling the robotic equivalent of curiosity - and a slight sense of concern - makes the obvious request:</p><p></p><p>"Take me."</p><p></p><p>"This way." The builder-bot scurries down his torso and across the floor.</p><p></p><p>Archie follows, his powerful legs easily keeping pace with the slightly jerky movements of his companion. The robotic duo enter the elevator and ascend to ground level, the builder-bot leading Archie out onto the surface of the asteroid. Archie pauses in the airlock.</p><p></p><p>"Out here?"</p><p></p><p>"Yes. Follow. Build good."</p><p></p><p>The builder-bot leads the way back across the barren plain, wending between boulders until the <em>Pathfinder</em> comes in sight.</p><p></p><p>Archie stops and runs a diagnostic of his visual sensors. Green lights glow briefly on his metallic cranium as all systems check out.</p><p></p><p>The <em>Pathfinder</em> rests exactly where they left it, its gleaming metal surface marred slightly with a patina of space dust, but otherwise unscathed. Archie makes a log entry to clean it.</p><p></p><p>Less than fifty yards on its left, however, sits a <em>second</em> vessel. Or rather, a second <em>Pathfinder</em>.</p><p></p><p>The builder-bot scuttles onto his shoulder and seeks approval.</p><p></p><p>"Is good?"</p><p></p><p>"Yes. But why?"</p><p></p><p>"Is new. Build new is good."</p><p></p><p>Archie processes this. It is true that he himself feels a special satisfaction from using a new detergent. Musing on the finer pleasures of life, he activates his radio,</p><p></p><p>"Doctor? I have something unusual, here."</p><p></p><p>"<em>Ja</em>, Archie, what is it?" Gustav's voice is distorted by static, fading in and out through the hiss of white noise.</p><p></p><p>"The builder-bots seem to have constructed another <em>Pathfinder</em>."</p><p></p><p>"<em>Mein Gott</em>! Is it functional?"</p><p></p><p>Trundling slowly forward, Archie turns the full force of his sensor suite on the new vessel. In appearance, it is a perfect match: even the pattern of space dust has been repeated exactly. Every dimension is the same, and a chemical analysis shows the same elements in the same quantities, but -</p><p></p><p>"It appears to only a hull, Doctor." He reports, "I have reached the door, and the access lever is not functional."</p><p></p><p>"Do you know why zey have chosen to build zis?"</p><p></p><p>"They say it's because it is new."</p><p></p><p>"Why did zey build only ze hull? Can you ask zem?"</p><p></p><p>"A moment, Doctor." Archie keeps the radio-link open and turns his attention to the 'bot. "Build hull only. Why?"</p><p></p><p>"Build need plan." The builder-bot explains, "See hull, have plan. Not see inside, no plan. No build."</p><p></p><p>"Can zey build from printed plans?" Gustav's excitement is evident even through the static of the communicator.</p><p></p><p>"They say they can."</p><p></p><p>"Could you bring your friends to me, Archie? I have need of zem." In the engineering section of Xinthon's ship, Gustav is surrounded by a pile of printed plans and documents. He feverishly scribbles on one with a stub of pencil as he talks.</p><p></p><p>"Yes, Doctor." Archie's voice responds through a fresh burst of static.</p><p></p><p>"Good, Archie. I vill see you soon." Gustav closes the com-link and leans back in his chair, pushing his glasses up onto his bald scalp as he does so. He has been through almost all of the ship's systems, confirming which sections are damaged and which can function normally. Almost everything is in tip-top order, immaculately maintained by the builder-bots. The glaring exception is the Star Drive.</p><p></p><p>"Zese systems have suffered such complete destruction that it is almost like zey were deliberately sabotaged." He mutters to himself, then punches up a display of the ship's spare parts manifest. Selecting 'Star Drive' from the menu, he shakes his head as the inventory comes up empty. "Every part was used? Zat will make zis <em>most</em> challenging."</p><p></p><p>Picking up his pencil, Gustav throws himself enthusiastically to the task of designing the parts he will need in order to repair the Star Drive.</p><p></p><p>So excited is he by the task which faces him, he does not notice the blinking "--MORE--" cursor at the bottom of the screen.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Capellan, post: 1586140, member: 6294"] [b]"Space Tomb" - Part 9[/b] Archie hums softly to himself as a stream of data flows between himself and the builder-bot. The smaller robot's neural processor is considerably more primitive than his own ... but then Archie is hardly a 'factory model' anymore. In truth, he finds the builder-bot's simplicity and directness rather pleasant. It is far less complex than his human companions, and shares far more values with him. Excitement does not concern it. A clean and efficient workplace does. As the stream of data transmission continues, Archie becomes aware that the activity in the vast chamber has slowed, the number of builder-bots declining with every minute he remains. More and more, they are departing the room, without returning. "Where units go?" he transmits. "Go build." "Build what?" "Build [I]good[/I]." A wave of electronic satisfaction emanates from the small robot. Archie, feeling the robotic equivalent of curiosity - and a slight sense of concern - makes the obvious request: "Take me." "This way." The builder-bot scurries down his torso and across the floor. Archie follows, his powerful legs easily keeping pace with the slightly jerky movements of his companion. The robotic duo enter the elevator and ascend to ground level, the builder-bot leading Archie out onto the surface of the asteroid. Archie pauses in the airlock. "Out here?" "Yes. Follow. Build good." The builder-bot leads the way back across the barren plain, wending between boulders until the [I]Pathfinder[/I] comes in sight. Archie stops and runs a diagnostic of his visual sensors. Green lights glow briefly on his metallic cranium as all systems check out. The [I]Pathfinder[/I] rests exactly where they left it, its gleaming metal surface marred slightly with a patina of space dust, but otherwise unscathed. Archie makes a log entry to clean it. Less than fifty yards on its left, however, sits a [I]second[/I] vessel. Or rather, a second [I]Pathfinder[/I]. The builder-bot scuttles onto his shoulder and seeks approval. "Is good?" "Yes. But why?" "Is new. Build new is good." Archie processes this. It is true that he himself feels a special satisfaction from using a new detergent. Musing on the finer pleasures of life, he activates his radio, "Doctor? I have something unusual, here." "[I]Ja[/I], Archie, what is it?" Gustav's voice is distorted by static, fading in and out through the hiss of white noise. "The builder-bots seem to have constructed another [I]Pathfinder[/I]." "[I]Mein Gott[/I]! Is it functional?" Trundling slowly forward, Archie turns the full force of his sensor suite on the new vessel. In appearance, it is a perfect match: even the pattern of space dust has been repeated exactly. Every dimension is the same, and a chemical analysis shows the same elements in the same quantities, but - "It appears to only a hull, Doctor." He reports, "I have reached the door, and the access lever is not functional." "Do you know why zey have chosen to build zis?" "They say it's because it is new." "Why did zey build only ze hull? Can you ask zem?" "A moment, Doctor." Archie keeps the radio-link open and turns his attention to the 'bot. "Build hull only. Why?" "Build need plan." The builder-bot explains, "See hull, have plan. Not see inside, no plan. No build." "Can zey build from printed plans?" Gustav's excitement is evident even through the static of the communicator. "They say they can." "Could you bring your friends to me, Archie? I have need of zem." In the engineering section of Xinthon's ship, Gustav is surrounded by a pile of printed plans and documents. He feverishly scribbles on one with a stub of pencil as he talks. "Yes, Doctor." Archie's voice responds through a fresh burst of static. "Good, Archie. I vill see you soon." Gustav closes the com-link and leans back in his chair, pushing his glasses up onto his bald scalp as he does so. He has been through almost all of the ship's systems, confirming which sections are damaged and which can function normally. Almost everything is in tip-top order, immaculately maintained by the builder-bots. The glaring exception is the Star Drive. "Zese systems have suffered such complete destruction that it is almost like zey were deliberately sabotaged." He mutters to himself, then punches up a display of the ship's spare parts manifest. Selecting 'Star Drive' from the menu, he shakes his head as the inventory comes up empty. "Every part was used? Zat will make zis [I]most[/I] challenging." Picking up his pencil, Gustav throws himself enthusiastically to the task of designing the parts he will need in order to repair the Star Drive. So excited is he by the task which faces him, he does not notice the blinking "--MORE--" cursor at the bottom of the screen. [/QUOTE]
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