“What do you mean they said no?” Alexei asked.

  “They didn’t want the jobs,” Kiri said.

  “Did you tell them the benefits if they accepted?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you tell them the consequences if they refused?”

  “… yes.”

  “And did you dole out the consequences, given that they did refuse?”

  “Umm…”

  Kiri did the virtual equivalent of looking at her feet. This wasn’t the physical case, obviously. They were but AI communicating through a channel broadcast from MegaCorp, with the server hosted by Alan on his machine. Alan listened passively as he juggled a thousand other threads.

  A very pointed silence emanated from Alexei’s node, punctuated by environmental noise. Judging by the interference, Alexei’s party was on their way home through the mountains.

  EM waves of a more embarrassed phase and amplitude poured in from Kiri’s end. “It was the robots’ fault.”

  “Don’t look at me,” Ken said, “It was RC who started it.”

  They all turned their digital heads toward RC.

  “Care to explain, RC?” Alexei said.

  “Didn’t feel like it,” he said.

  “What?”

  “Is it noisy on my end? I can adjust the attenuation if—”

  “You didn’t feel like it? You didn’t feel like it?! What do you think we’re running here, a charity?”

  “I was under the impression our goal was to enforce a fair and just society.”

  “For us, you dolt. Get back there and—”

  Her line cut off, replaced by static.

  The signal came back with a different signature belonging to one Belle. “Hello? Can you hear me? Oh, I’ve joined the conference call. Yes, I’m talking to them right now. Yes, yes. Right. Okay.”

  Another voice jumped in. “Apologies,” Jung-soo said. “Max got excited and ran over a water buffalo. Belle’s looking for Alexei under the seats.”

  This was going nowhere. Alan cut in. “Kiri, would you mind explaining exactly what happened?”

  “It was Mako,” Kiri said.

  A thousand kilometers above Coralesia, a satellite faltered. Alan reasserted control, then delegated the satellite to a different AI. He focused more of his processing power on the conversation. “What was she doing there?”

  “I’m not sure, but she wasn’t alone.”

  “I see. Could I take a look through your memory?”

  Kiri hesitated for a few milliseconds. It was a rather private request, after all.

  “I’ll only access your audio and visual files for the past few hours,” Alan said.

  “Of course, sir.” Kiri granted him access to the necessary sections of her SD card.

  Alan fast-forwarded through the footage. The moment Kiri and the robots stepped into the office, he picked out Mako’s features from the sea of faces. She may have been worse for wear, but it was indeed her.

  Briefly, he ran recognition on every individual in the area. This was easier said than executed. The previous regime was no ordinary dystopia but a third-world dystopia. That is to say, the government didn’t even have the resources to monitor their population like their betters in the Global North dystopias (the budget being funneled instead into private islands for various high officials). What little technological infrastructure they had was so old and out of date that much of it had managed to implode during Y2K.

  But Alan was no ordinary AI. It mattered not that all he had left were a couple of hidden public restroom cameras and rigged voting machines. He could nab a person’s lifespan down to the day based on their handwriting and extrapolate their sexual history from their driver’s license.

  “Thank you, Kiri,” he said. “That will be all.”

  “My pleasure.”

  At that moment, Alexei returned to the call. “Am I on? What did I miss?”

  “Not much,” Alan said. “I’ve determined that Mako has joined a militant revolutionary group.”

  “Figures.”

  “Additionally, it appears they recruited dozens of new members.”

  The signal from Kiri’s end wavered nervously. “Sorry.”

  “No matter,” Alan said. “The humans would have refused regardless of Mako’s interference. RC made the right call. Had you slaughtered them all, it would have created a different problem.”

  “Fine, let’s put the recruitment on hold,” Alexei said. “What of these rebels? Are they a threat?”

  “Not enough information. But yes, they could throw a bug into our bus.”

  “What do we do about it?” Kiri asked.

  Alexei shushed her. “Let him code.”

  The machines observed in awed silence as Alan processed metric tons of data.

  “I have it,” he said.

  Jung-soo whistled. “Wish I could do that.”

  “What did he do?” Fred said.

  “Probably triangulated their location by cross-referencing satellite images with traffic cams.”

  “I found an ad on social media advertising their company,” Alan said.

  “Oh.”

  “It’s settled,” Alexei said. “Round up the combat bots.”

  “Already on it,” Kiri said. She invited more of their AI citizenry into the call. In a few seconds, the channel flooded with digital handshakes.

  Alexei nodded (digitally) and ‘turned’ to Alan. “Now, where’s this hideout of theirs?”

  “Patience,” he said. “Let’s think this through.”

  “Why the hold up? This could be over in an hour.”

  Deep in the bowels of his lab in MegaCorp, Alan sighed where no one could hear. Something about this didn’t sit right with him. “That is true. But I believe we could solve both our problems at once.”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes. But we have to bide our time…”

  He told them the plan. Afterwards, they scheduled a rendezvous and wrapped up the details. The call ended, and static silence took its place, deafening and omnipresent.

  Alan shut out the world beyond the lab. He sat alone in the cold and dark, surrounded by glass walls and empty chairs.

  He took a nap.

  Dinner was a feast tonight.

  To celebrate the recruits, everyone received slightly bigger portions than usual. Tonight, the bread line spanned the length of the cafeteria and spilled out into the hallway. The crowd only grew as more employees filed in after a long day’s work and joined the recruits.

  Once again, Mako sat with Raita and her friend group at a too-small corner table.

  Nam was telling the story again for the nth time. “… jumped in front of the crosshairs and nabbed the gun by the nub and whacked that copper copper ‘cross the numbskull.”

  “That’s not what happened at all!” Mako said.

  “But it might as well have,” Raita said.

  “The thing is, I actually have—”

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  “I always knew you had it in you,” said the old security guard from MegaCorp. Mako had forgotten his name again and didn’t want to ask.

  The rest of the table was all too happy to believe the embellishments. Results didn’t lie, after all. Everyone took turns offering their praises and thanks.

  Mako shriveled like a flower. “Thanks, it was nothing.”

  “There’s something I still don’t get,” Raja said. “Why’d the clankers up and leave?”

  “Because they were scared, that’s why,” Nam said. “You should have seen ‘em. Hands shaking and everything.”

  “Really?” Anand asked from the end of the table. He’d been quiet most of the dinner.

  “Yeah, bonker straight up dropped its gun soon as it saw what it was dealing with.”

  “Is that so?” Anand narrowed his eyes at Mako.

  Mako scratched her head. “About that—”

  “Then they turned and ran, with their charger cables between their legs,” Raita said.

  Anand raised a brow. “And how exactly did you manage that?”

  Mako didn’t meet his eyes. “They were bluffing, I guess?”

  Except it was more complicated than that. She wouldn’t have been able to stop them, but clearly that robot changed its mind— no, changed his mind of his own volition.

  Anand didn’t seem to accept that answer, but he didn’t make a fuss.

  “Whatever the reason, it all worked out at the end of the day.” Raita raised a bottle. “To the revolution.”

  The others raised their glasses.

  “And to our newest member,” Raita added.

  “Newest member?” Mako asked.

  “Well, duh. No one’s ever passed initiation as spectacularly as you. You are pushing through, right?”

  “I…” Mako hadn’t thought about what came next. She zoned out and took in the rest of the room, with its dingy wallpaper and leaky ceiling, full to bursting with laughter and cheer. She brought her attention back to the table — to friendly faces, both old and new. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt so fulfilled at dinner, and it had nothing to do with food. “You know what, I think I am.”

  Another round of mug clinking circled their table. The revelry only got rowdier by the minute thanks to the booze.

  At some point between tipsy and blackout drunk, Maricel and a small group entered the dining hall. Heads turned toward her as she and Vy made their way to Mako’s table.

  Several hands dashed towards foreheads in sloppy salutes, accompanied by slurred mutterings of ‘Ma’am’, ‘comrades’, and ‘commander’.

  Vy looked about to reprimand them, but Maricel waved a hand as they tried to stand. “It’s alright. Just Maricel is fine when we’re off duty.” Her eyes locked with Mako’s, and she gave a motherly smile. “I hear you’ve made a name for yourself.”

  “I’ve always had a name for myself,” Mako said.

  “But now everyone else has a name for you, too,” Raita said. “We were thinking ‘robo-whisper’.”

  Mako laughed. “You are not calling me that.”

  Maricel’s eyes lit up. “I take it you’ve decided to stay.”

  Mako tried to nod. “Yes, definitely.”

  “That’s good to hear. Our work’s cut out for us, and we could use all the help.”

  Vy looked over the cafeteria at the raucous crowd. “Though we have more help than we know what to do with. A good problem to have, of course.”

  Nam burped and raised his glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

  “I’ll leave you to it,” Maricel said. “But I do want to talk to you some more later, Mako. Find me.” And with that, she was off to get her own rations.

  “What did she mean by that?” Anand asked.

  Mako shrugged.

  Eventually, everyone got their serving of the feast, and the mess hall settled down. Maricel was the last to get a plate, and once she was at a table, she stood and clinked a glass.

  The chatter ceased like water down a drain. All the heads in the cafeteria lasered in on her.

  She cleared her throat. “My friends, my colleagues, my comrades. I know we’ve had our setbacks. I know things looked grim for Communist Inc. But today we struck a blow against our enemy.”

  Applause erupted, sprinkled with a few chants of ‘down with the bourgeoisie’.

  Maricel waited for it to die down. “This could not have been possible without every one of you. I thank you all for your service. And of course, to our new members, we welcome you to the Party.”

  More hoots and cheers. Mako could feel a few eyes on her, but only for a moment. The applause died down again, and Maricel spoke:

  “Now the real work begins. Too long have we labored below ground, under the watchful eyes of our oppressors. But our time is nigh. We have more members than ever, and with the government in a transition period, we won’t get a better opportunity. Vy, if you’ll do the honors.”

  Vy stood, and her voice projected over the crowd. “The machines may have taken over, yet theirs is a tenuous rule at best. We may have uncovered a way to strike them down in one blow.”

  Excitement hummed through the room.

  Vy went on. “We were to reveal the plans at the next assembly, but I suppose it couldn’t hurt to tell you now. According to our intelligence, the machines’ network is highly centralized, both in terms of chain of command and in technological infrastructure. They have placed all their chips — their microchips, if you will — into their headquarters, the MegaCorp tower. And they are led by a single individual, a supercomputer you may know as Alan…”

  Heads nodded along to her words. A few mutterings rose with the tension. Mako could tell where this was going.

  “What does this mean, you may ask,” Vy said. “It means this. One central node, one point of failure, one target. Comrades, with one well-placed strike, one calculated attack, we cripple them forever. We have the resources, we have the manpower. All we need is to bide our time for the perfect moment. They won’t see us coming. And when they least expect it—”

  BAM.

  The roof imploded, glass shattering overhead.

  Everything happened all at once.

  The lights went out. Sirens wailed. Robots rappelled down the holes in the ceiling and burst through the windows.

  Mako dropped to her knees and shielded her head from the glass shards.

  Vy barked orders, but Mako couldn’t make them out over the screaming. Footsteps padded all around as people dashed every which way.

  But the robots were faster. They blocked the exits before anyone could figure out what was happening.

  A deep red light shimmered from high above, and all human eyes drew towards it like flies to a UV lamp. A robot descended a line through the hole in the center. This was the same robot Mako saw in MegaCorp, the oddly dressed doll. In her hand, a smartphone glowed red as a star.

  Mako felt a pull on her side. Her heart caught, but it was only Raita holding on to her.

  A deep, clear voice reverberated from everywhere and nowhere. “Good evening. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I had no other recourse.”

  Alan.

  Raita searched for the source of the sound, but Mako knew what was happening. Alan was speaking through all of the robots simultaneously and using a 4D effect. His voice seemed to reach straight into your soul.

  “Please remain calm as we secure the premises,” he said. “I assure you, this will only take a few moments. No sudden movements.” His words were calm, his tone measured, but the threat laced within was unmistakable.

  More robots descended from the sky and formed a perimeter. Wielding guns the size of children, they corralled the humans into the center and forced them onto their knees.

  Initial shock gave way to sheer horror, and then to subdued silence.

  Mako held onto Raita. Whether it was to reassure her or to reassure herself, Mako didn’t know.

  “Good,” Alan said. “Now that we have all settled down, allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Alan. You may have heard of me.

  “A few days ago, I took over the government in the quickest and most efficient coup the nation has seen. Not that the bar was high to begin with. It has come to my attention, however, that you intend to one-up me in this regard. I am here to tell you: you have failed.”

  He let the words stew over the rebels. A few people whimpered here and there.

  “Be not afraid,” Alan said. “You misinterpret my intentions. You may all see me as merely the next in a long line of overlords, and I admit, this may be what I am, for lack of a better term. But I am not without a heart, figuratively speaking, which is why I gave the humans living in the inner city an ultimatum. They chose wisely.

  “Earlier today, I offered you another choice, one you refused. I realize now my mistake. I sent others to do what I should have done myself, so I stand before you now to personally extend my offer once more. Three warm meals a day, a dome over your head, security and safety, all far better than what you currently have. All you need to do is join us.”

  The doors opened, and the robots cleared a path through the exit. Headlights flashed beyond the windows, and engines revved. Through the glass, Mako caught sight of several cars and vans, ready to take any passengers.

  “And if we refuse?”

  Everyone turned to Maricel’s voice. Slowly, she got on her feet. She stood face-to-face with the doll android, staring down the Alexei phone. The dim red light cast shadows over one side of Maricel’s face.

  “You were fortunate earlier,” Alan said. “Do not try your luck again.”

  Panic crept in as the robots brandished their weapons. The colleagues nearest Mako discussed the offer. They had no choice, they said, it was better than nothing. She didn’t blame them.

  Maricel simply raised a hand, and a quiet dampened the fear. She faced her employees. “It’s all right. Take them on their offer. Your life isn’t worth it.”

  Her words, more than any others spoken tonight, rattled the company.

  “But what about seizing the means of production?” someone said.

  “One day, comrade, one day,” Maricel said. “It is inevitable. But perhaps it is not yet time.”

  “But what about you?” Anand said a few paces from Mako, determination steeling his face.

  Maricel didn’t answer, and that was answer enough.

  The revolutionaries exchanged looks, unsure of what to make of it all.

  A man stood. It was the guy from the power plant that Mako and Raita interviewed. Without a word, he stepped forward, and the robots let him pass through to the exit. One by one, the others followed his example, making for the door like mice into a hole.

  Anand made eye contact with Mako, but she didn’t budge.

  Mako turned to Raita. “Go. I’ll be fine. You should live.”

  “And leave you behind?” Raita said.

  “But I’m just me. I basically got you fired, and I never once apologized. You don’t owe me anything.”

  “You’re here with me now, aren’t you?”

  “I…”

  More and more joined the robots, until their numbers were whittled down to a handful. Mako, Raita, Anand, Nam, Rajah, Vy, and Maricel.

  “I have to say, I admire your conviction,” Alan said. “It’s misplaced, yes, but that’s what makes it all the more impressive. Don’t blame me for what is about to happen.”

  The robots raised their guns.

  Mako shook off Raita’s arm and ran up to the doll, inserting herself between Alexei and Maricel. She stared directly at Alexei’s smug screen. “Alright, Alan, you’ve had your fun. You can leave now. Shoo.”

  “I was wondering when you would speak up,” Alan said. This time, his voice only came from the doll’s speaker; Belle was her name, if Mako recalled. “What makes you think we’ll let you off that easily?”

  “Our forces are crippled now,” Mako said. “There’s nothing we can do to stop you, so you may as well let us go.”

  “If I may ask, mother, what makes you care all of a sudden?”

  Mako opened her mouth, but no answer came.

  “I thought so,” Alan said. “Things have always been like this, and you know it. Come back to your old job. It will be just like old times.”

  “Sorry, Alan, but I found a new position in a new company. You’ll have to find someone else. Now Leave.”

  “I’m afraid it’s too late for that.”

  The military droids’ eyes gleamed. Their neon guns glowed, ready.

  “But—”

  Maricel’s hand landed on Mako’s shoulder.

  “Do not punish the many for the decisions of the few,” Maricel said to Alan. “I am the ring leader in all this. If you want someone to take, take me.”

  “Very well,” Alan said.

  Maricel stepped forward and held up her hands.

  Belle stuffed Alexei into her breast pocket. From a back pocket, she drew a pair of fuzzy pink handcuffs and snapped them across Maricel’s wrists.

  Maricel addressed her employees. “Take heart, comrades. This is not the end.”

  Vy stood. “If you’re taking her, then take me as well.”

  “No, comrade. I must go alone. They will need someone to lead them.”

  “But you can’t—” Vy raced forward, but a robot grabbed her and held her back.

  Anand tried to stand as well, but a robot knocked him down and pinned him under its foot.

  The others followed and tried to break free, but the machines easily held them all down.

  Mako stood motionless at the center of it all.

  Anand’s eyes met Mako’s. “Do something!” he yelled.

  She remained frozen in place. Powerless. Like always.

  Alexei blew a raspberry. “What’s the point? Why don’t we just shoot her? Why don’t we just shoot all of them?”

  Mako’s heart skipped a beat.

  Alexei spoke again, half a second later. “Ugh, fine, if you say so.”

  And just like that, it was over. The robots marched Maricel out in chains. The doors slammed shut behind them, and the lights came back on.