Epilogue

 

HighTower-West Corporate. New Seattle WA. October 1. 2033

47°32'59.7"N 122°02'38.7"W

 

Electronic scraps rattled along the conveyor belt as they inched toward the furnace opening. A pair of robots scanned the components as they passed, identifying alloys and recording serial numbers. Automated mobile cranes with spindle-like pinchers swung back and forth between the belt and a towering scrap heap, delivering constant fuel to the incinerator as fragments of metal casings, processors, monitors and robotics tumbled onto the belt to be sorted by mechanical fingers. Amongst the pile of debris, lay a torso of an elite-model V29-30C administrative robot—mangled almost beyond recognition. Deep gashes in its synthetic covering left the internal display exposed, framework gaped from underneath the artificial facia, a titanium skeleton.

A buzzer rang and the conveyor shuddered to a stop. Objects on the belt vibrated as an overhead arm descended from the ceiling to pluck an item from the line, transporting it to a bin labeled “HSA contaminated waste.” The conveyor belt resumed and the scraps once again sprang into a rickety migration toward the inferno.

Jarred by the sudden movement, sensors in the administrative robot’s display panel began an erratic flicker, barely visible under the jangled mess of wiring and limbs. A faint red glow shone through the battered facial structure and digital characters—some with missing sections, read, “Priority message for Director A. Terrance: Revelations Project completed. Dr. Chen’s Aerosol delivery encryption has been resolved. Manufacturing of new batch is currently underway. Additional funding urgently required. Please respond—E. Han.”

The message continued flashing as the robot spilled into the hungry flames.