21

  Routinely kicking bots out of their bodies in the dormitory, roster be damned, to operate in whichever one I fancied, I worked away at personal advancement. As that was also the focus of the daytime training sessions, I became really good with the body, and it soon became time to step out of the dormitory, for a trial run in the outside world.

  The matter of clothing came up when Martina and I were discussing the first outing. I had absolutely no clothes, and thought it would be deadly stupid to step out in T-shirt and nappy.

  Both items were practically anti-camouflage at night, diapers in white and T-shirts in light colors. Furthermore, the diapers would instantly point to a bot-controlled human wandering out of the dorm, and any such bust would straightaway confirm 2324 to be the bot inside the human.

  I could try to explain it off as an ability just then all-of-a-sudden arrived, sparking an irresistible urge to get up on my feet and wander without reason. Although they would probably, without too much analysis or thought, accept whatever I said, we still had detective work to undertake, and our plan required that I hold onto my undercover position. For that, I had to be merely one more algorithm-locked bot in a group of bots, even if at a more advanced stage of learning.

  “Who says you have to go for a stroll on the main roads and marketplaces inside the premises?” said Martina, offhandedly. “What’s important is that you step out of the dormitory, and step into the world, darling. It is basically like the moon-landing slogan – the small step and the giant leap stuff. You have to get out to prove it can be done, and give us the confidence we need to proceed to the next step.

  “Walk out in diapers, but look around carefully first, and check to select a route that will keep you out of sight. You’re ready, I’m ready, and we are all ready. Cannot delay.”

  I did not even want to argue. I would have to navigate carefully, and that was about all there was to it. In great excitement about the venture, I began setting up a route in the close-to-total darkness outside the dormitory unit.

  I had spotted one other cottage, at a little distance from the dormitory, when staff would wander into camera range of it. The cottage was off the main path, and within its own little fenced area of garden, so I had only ever seen it from a bit far away.

  I had tried at times, but had found it impossible to get into a connected device in the premises, and it became clear that some higher level of security was in place for the interior. I neither spotted a connected computer nor ever found any phone on inside the cottage, indicating that I was either too far away, or that it really was a top-secret place, and phones were just not allowed in.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  I once chanced upon a view of an ambulance going to it, and figured the place was probably some form of clinic for the rehab center, possibly for insertion of microchips into people. Anyway, the clinic cottage, or whatever it might turn out to be, was one of the targets for investigation when I became regular in my wanderings.

  There was another reason I would just have to step out in diapers. I still did not have potty control. Actually, I had little to no idea of how to regulate things going into or out of the body. I could neither eat nor drink, and I could not speak.

  The next day was a Saturday, kicking off the weekend for everyone, including the trainers. No one could grudge them the time off, it being necessary to unwind and recharge, and to simply rest their bodies. They really did toil very hard, holding backbreaking positions for long hours. In fact, because their effort was nonstop, they were worked far harder than the handlers, who were called upon mainly in pooping incidents.

  All trainers went home on Friday evenings, driving out after work, leaving generally a little early. However, handlers, guards and kitchen staff were not given weekly holidays, but were instead in a roster system of weekends off, that ensured no break in food and care for the bodies in the dorm, and uninterrupted security of the premises.

  I checked the compensation packages, and found that staff were extremely highly paid, well above average. It was obvious that nobody would have any issues about working weekends, and getting to go home according to the roster.

  My Friday night was partly passed with Martina, and I was with her when the entire group met up at mommy’s for Saturday breakfast. They talked about the detective venture for a while, and concluded that we had not really made any progress in understanding the motives and goals of either murder or brain chip project, although everyone was agreed that we had broken into a very dangerous program, being conducted for purposes unknown.

  “John has to walk out of the dorm tonight,” insisted Martina. “I don’t care whether it is poop in nappy or poop in the air, which means, John, you can step out naked if you want.”

  “Maybe he won’t get caught,” said Betts, hopefully. “It’s all very chancy, but we might have a bit of luck.”

  “Show me the body you’ll be taking out, before you take it out,” said Martina.

  “Why?” asked Linda.

  “Well, I don’t want him to be busted in one of the nice-looking ones,” answered Martina. “He must not take his regular guy out, as it will surely be better to take out one of the others. That way, he will not have to be too deeply involved in giving explanations. Simple denial should do it. After all, he’s only bot number 1234.”

  “Why preserve the good-looking ones?” asked Alice.

  “Because we don’t know what they might do to bodies caught walking unauthorized in their top-secret premises,” said Martina. “Maybe they shoot them dead, or put them in the incinerator, or something?”

  “Surely they won’t be shooting anyone dead,” said mommy. “But whichever one they shoot, if they do shoot, will make no difference to us. Or will it?”

  “It’ll make a huge difference to me,” said Martina.

  “Why?” asked mommy.

  “I want the best-looking one,” answered Martina. “Although it’s not as if any of those bodies is a really good-looking guy.”

  “What’s the plan, then?” asked Alice, grinning mischievously.

  Martina looked around at everyone, pure determination in her face. “I want the best-looking one to be John outside with me.

  “We’re going to steal a body!”