“What…is that?” He pointed at Buster.
Buster replied, “We have not been properly introduced. I am Doctor Buster VP-175, Chief Medical Officer for this mission.”
Finch’s eyes widened and one word came from his mouth, with the sound and resonance of a scolding parent. “Tucker!”
“What were you thinking?” Finch nearly blasted Tucker and Sam. “Take it apart.”
“Sir,” Buster spoke. “To disassemble me would be a great disservice to your crew’s well-being.”
Finch ignored Buster. “Take it apart.”
“No,” Tucker replied. “I’m sorry, Commander. I won’t do it. We worked for a really long time on it.”
“I don’t care,” Finch said. “I am still commander and I am telling you to take it apart.”
Sam stepped forward. “Can I ask why?”
“Why?”
“Yeah, Finch,” Nate said calmly. “Why?”
“Because it’s unnatural,” Finch replied. “And it’s…it’s freaky looking.”
“Freaky looking?” Nate asked, then shook his head. “Honestly, Finch, in all the years I have known you that is the most unintelligent explanation you have ever given. Try again. I’m sure if you give a good reason, they’ll be happy to take it apart.”
“Well…” Tucker said.
“Happy,” Nate reiterated, “to take it apart. What is the reason? Other than freaky looking.”
“Sir,” Buster said. “If this in reference to my physical disability, I assure you Tucker Freeman will be working on a solution today.”
“That,” Finch replied. “He understands everything. And…Tucker, for crying out loud, you’re running around here claiming robots destroyed all life and you build one?”
“This one is different,” Tucker said. “I think it’s a different model.”
“And you know this how?” Finch asked.
“I know, I think, yeah, I know, it’s not a killer.”
“Commander Finch,” said Buster. “I can assure you I am not programed to do any harm. You may look at my coding for reassurance. I am designed to help not harm.”
“I don’t care,” Finch said.
“You seem to be agitated,” Buster commented. “Can I offer you a mood stabilizer.”
Rey laughed and when Finch gave her a scolding look, she instantly turned serious.
“How about this,” Nate said. “How about we go to that farm today. If someone is alive there, surely they’ll know about this…model or robot, we hope. At the very least, they’re only around thirty miles out, they’ll know what happened here. Why don’t we leave it until we know if Tucker’s theory is correct. If it is and Buster is harmful, they’ll take care of it.”
“If it helps,” Sam said, “he has nothing in him that is remotely like a gun. Although I think he has a laser.”
“Oh, oh, a laser,” Finch said with sarcasm. “That’s not dangerous.”
“It is not,” Buster replied. “It will be most useful if surgery is needed.”
Finch breathed outward sounding frustrated. “We need to eat, pack up, and head out. What do you suppose we do with that while we’re gone? I don’t want it having access to anything on this ship.”
“Commander Finch, do not worry about me,” Buster said. “I can reorganize the medical bay, prepare it for mission, and see if there are items we would need to retrieve from a local medical facility.”
“No,” Finch told it. “I’m sorry but I am not letting you have access to anything onboard if one of us isn’t here.” He winced. “Oh my God, I’m talking to it.”
Sam, with a slight chuckle, lifted his hand. “I will put Buster in rest and reserve mode. Okay? I want to try to get him to full power. He’ll be outside the ship to do so.”
“That’s fine. I’ll accept that as long as you assure me he won’t wake up and destroy things.”
“He won’t,” Sam replied.
“Then that will work.”
“Commander Finch,” Buster said. “If you change your mind about the mood stabilizer, just let me know.”
Finch grumbled, swiped his mug of coffee, turned, and walked over to the ship.
Rey gave it a moment and followed.
Finch had pulled up a chair from the firepit area and sat down with his back to the ship.
Rey joined him. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you need a mood stabilizer.” She sat down.
“That’s not funny,” Finch said. “Do you think I overreacted?”
“Not at all. You’re the leader, you have taken on the responsibility for everyone’s well-being. Even though you don’t have to, you feel responsible.”
“I do. I just…it surprises me you’re good with this?”
“Remember I was up all night. I woke up hearing them talking to it. I wasn’t at first. I was freaked out. It scared me. But the more I learned about it last night, the less I feared it.”
“What the hell was something like that doing in this town and at an urgent care? I wonder if there are more—are they all through the hospital?”
“From what I learned last night,” Rey said, “and we are still learning, if there are, they are probably just waiting for patients. That’s all this thing does. For now.”
“What do you mean for now?”
“You really think Sam is gonna let it only be a doctor?” Rey asked. “And trust me, it only does medical. It insisted on examining me last night. Apparently”—she lifted her bent arm, aiming her elbow at Finch—“I have a small benign cyst right here. Strange. He offered to remove it.”
“I don’t know, Rey.” Finch shook his head. “Something doesn’t feel about right it.”
“It’s going to be hard to feel right about anything if we don’t find out exactly what happened to this town.”
“Agreed,” Finch said. “And hopefully it won’t be long before we know those answers.”
<><><><>
Nate didn’t want to be a pessimist, so he didn’t say anything. They left Fort Collins and things felt bleak as they drove north to find the town. He hoped that he would have seen signs of a quarantine, something to indicate a plague swept through town, but there was nothing.
He wanted to stop at the medical center, but Finch and the others brought up the point that they’d waited long enough to search out that farm. Answers could be there.
He didn’t think so, he really didn’t.
As they left Fort Collins they saw no more signs of life in
