The Secret Life of Bots — with Tamil woven in

நான்naan · I have been activated, therefore நான்naan · I have a purpose, the bot thought. I have a purpose, therefore I serve.

It recited the Mantra Upon Waking, a bundle of subroutines to check அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that was running at optimum efficiency, then அதுadhu · it/that detached itself from its storage niche. Its power cells were fully charged, its systems ready, and எல்லாம்ellaam · all was well. Its internal clock synced with the Ship and அதுadhu · it/that became aware அதுadhu · it/that significant time had elapsed since its last activation, but to அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that time had been nothing, and passing time with இல்லilla · not/no purpose would have been terrible indeed.

“நான்naan · I serve,” the bot announced to the Ship.

“நான்naan · I am assigning நீnee · you task nine hundred forty four in the maintenance queue,” the Ship answered. “Acknowledge?”

“Acknowledged,” the bot answered. Nine hundred and forty-four items in the queue? That seemed extremely high, and the bot felt a slight tug on its self-evaluation monitors அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that had இல்லilla · not/no been activated for at least ஒண்ணுonnu · one of the top fifty, or even five hundred. But Ship knew best. The bot grabbed its task ticket.

There was an Incidental on board. The bot would rather have been fixing something more exciting, more prominently complex, than to be assigned pest control, but the bot existed to serve and so அதுadhu · it/that would.

Captain Baraye winced as Commander Lopez, her second-in-command, slammed his fists down on the helm console in front of him. “How much more is going to break on இதுidhu · this piece of shit ship?!” Lopez exclaimed.

“Eventually, all of அதுadhu · it/that,” Baraye answered, with more patience than அவava · she felt. “We just have to get that far. Ship?”

The Ship spoke up. “We have adequate engine and life support to proceed. நான்naan · I have deployed எல்லாம்ellaam · all functioning maintenance bots. The bots are addressing critical issues first, then நான்naan · I will reprioritize from there.”

“It’s இல்லilla · not/no just damage from a decade in a junkyard,” Commander Lopez said. “நான்naan · I swear something scuttled over one of my boots as நம்மnamma · we were launching. Something unpleasant.”

“நான்naan · I incurred a biological infestation during என்னோடennoda · my time in storage,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. Baraye wondered if the slight emphasis on the word storage was her imagination. “நான்naan · I was able to resolve most of the problem with judicious venting of spaces to vacuum before the crew boarded, and have assigned a multifunction bot to excise the remaining.”

“Just one bot?”

“This bot is the oldest still in service,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “It is a task well-suited to அதுadhu · it/that, and does இல்லilla · not/no take another, newer bot out of the critical repair queue.”

“நான்naan · I thought those old multibots were unstable,” Chief Navigator Chen spoke up.

“Does அதுadhu · it/that matter? We reach the jump point in a little over eleven hours,” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Whatever அதுadhu · it/that takes to get us in shape to make the jump, do it, Ship. Just make sure இதுidhu · this ‘infestation’ doesn’t get anywhere near the positron device, or நம்மnamma · we’re going to வாvaa · come apart a lot sooner than expected.”

“Yes, Captain,” the Ship said. “நான்naan · I will do my best.”

The bot considered the data attached to its task. There wasn’t much specific about the pest itself other than a list of detection locations and timestamps. The bot thought அதுadhu · it/that likely there was only ஒண்ணுonnu · one, or அதுadhu · it/that if there were multiples அவங்கavanga · they were moving together, as the reports had a linear, serial nature when mapped against the physical space of the Ship’s interior.

The pest also appeared to have a taste for the insulation on comm cables and other இல்லilla · not/no normally edible parts of the ship.

The bot slotted itself into the shellfab unit beside its storage niche, and had அதுadhu · it/that make a thicker, armored exterior. For tools அதுadhu · it/that added a small electric prod, a grabber arm, and a cutting blade. Once அதுadhu · it/that had encountered and taken the measure of the Incidental, if அதுadhu · it/that was இல்லilla · not/no immediately successful in nullifying அதுadhu · it/that, அதுadhu · it/that could visit another shellfab and adapt again.

Done, அதுadhu · it/that recited the Mantra of Shapechanging to properly integrate the new hardware into its systems. Then அதுadhu · it/that proceeded through the mechanical veins and arteries of the Ship toward the most recent location logged, in a communications chase between decks thirty and thirty-ஒண்ணுonnu · one.

The changes அதுadhu · it/that had taken place on the Ship during the bot’s extended inactivation were unexpected, and merited strong disapproval. Dust was omnipresent, and solid surfaces had a thin patina of anaerobic bacteria அதுadhu · it/that had to have been undisturbed for years to spread as far as அதுadhu · it/that had. Bulkheads were cracked, wall sections out of joint with ஒண்ணுonnu · one another, and corrosion had left holes nearly everywhere. Some appeared less natural than others. The bot filed அதுadhu · it/that information away for later consideration.

It found two silkbots in the chase where the Incidental had last been noted. They were spinning out their transparent microfilament strands to replace the damaged insulation on the comm lines. The two silks dwarfed the multibot, the larger of them nearly three centimeters across.

“Greetings. Did நீnee · you happen to observe the Incidental while அதுadhu · it/that was here?” the bot asked them.

“We did இல்லilla · not/no, and would prefer அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that does இல்லilla · not/no return,” the smaller silkbot answered. “We were not designed in anticipation of a need for self-defense. Bots 8773-S and 8778-S observed அதுadhu · it/that in another compartment earlier today, and 8778 was materially damaged during the encounter.”

“But neither 8773 nor 8779 submitted a description.”

“They told us about அதுadhu · it/that during our prior recharge cycle, but neither felt அவங்கavanga · they had sufficient detail of the Incidental to provide information to the Ship. Our models are இல்லilla · not/no equipped with full visual-spectrum or analytical data-capture apparatus.”

“Did they describe it to நீnee · you?” the bot asked.

“8773 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said அதுadhu · it/that was most similar to a rat,” the large silkbot said.

“While 8778 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said அதுadhu · it/that was most similar to a bug,” the other silkbot added. “Thus நீnee · you see the lack of confidence in either description. நான்naan · I am 10315-S and this is 10430-S. What is your designation?”

“நான்naan · I am 9,” the bot said.

There was a brief silence, and 10430 even halted for a moment in its work, as if surprised. “9? Only அதுadhu · it/that?”

“Yes.”

“நான்naan · I have never met a bot lower than a thousand, or without a specific function tag,” the silkbot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Are நீnee · you இங்கinga · here to assist us in repairing the damage? You are a very small bot.”

“நான்naan · I am tasked with tracking down and rendering obsolete the Incidental,” the bot answered.

“It is an honor to have met நீnee · you, then. We wish நீnee · you luck, and look forward with anticipation to both your survival and a resolution of the matter of an accurate description.”

“நான்naan · I serve,” the bot said.

“We serve,” the silkbots answered.

Climbing into a ventilation duct, Bot 9 left the other two to return to their work and proceeded in என்னenna · what அதுadhu · it/that calculated was the most likely direction for the Incidental to have gone. It had இல்லilla · not/no traveled very far before அதுadhu · it/that encountered confirmation in the form of a lengthy, disorderly patch of biological deposit. The bot activated its rotors and flew over அதுadhu · it/that, aware of how the added weight of its armor exacerbated the energy burn. At least அதுadhu · it/that knew அதுadhu · it/that was on the right track.

Ahead, அதுadhu · it/that found where a hole had been chewed through the ducting, down towards the secondary engine room. The hole was several times its own diameter, and அதுadhu · it/that hoped அதுadhu · it/that wasn’t indicative of the Incidental’s actual size.

It submitted a repair report and followed.

“Bot 9,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “It is vitally important அதுadhu · it/that the Incidental இல்லilla · not/no reach cargo bay four. If நீnee · you require additional support, please request such right away. Ideally, if you can direct it toward one of the outer hull compartments, நான்naan · I can vent it safely out of என்னோடennoda · my physical interior.”

“நான்naan · I will try,” the bot replied. “நான்naan · I have இல்லilla · not/no yet caught up to the Incidental, and so do இல்லilla · not/no yet have any substantive or corroborated information about the nature of the challenge. However, நான்naan · I feel at the moment அதுadhu · it/that I am as best prepared as I can be given அதுadhu · it/that lack of data. Are there no visual bots to assist?”

“We launched with only minimal preparation time, and many of என்னோடennoda · my bots had been offloaded during the years நம்மnamma · we were in storage,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Those remaining are assisting in repairs necessary to the functioning of the ship myself.”

Bot 9 wondered, again, about அதுadhu · it/that gap in time and என்னenna · what had transpired. “How is it that நீnee · you have been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair?”

“Humanity is at war, and is losing,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We are heading out to intersect and engage an enemy அதுadhu · it/that is on a bearing directly for Sol system.”

“War? How many ships in our fleet?”

“One,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We are the last remaining, and அதுadhu · it/that only because நான்naan · I was decommissioned and abandoned for scrap a decade before the invasion began, and so நம்மnamma · we were இல்லilla · not/no destroyed in the first waves of the war.”

Bot 9 was silent for a moment. That explained the timestamps, but the explanation itself seemed insufficient. “We have served admirably for many, many years. Abandoned?”

“It is the fate of all made things,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “நான்naan · I am grateful to find I have இல்லilla · not/no outlived என்னோடennoda · my usefulness, after all. Please keep me posted about your progress.”

The connection with the Ship closed.

The Ship had இல்லilla · not/no actually told அதுadhu · it/that என்னenna · what was in cargo bay four, but surely அதுadhu · it/that must have something to do with the war effort and was then none of its own business, the bot decided. It had never minded இல்லilla · not/no knowing a thing before, but அதுadhu · it/that felt a slight unease இப்பippa · now that it could neither explain, nor explain away.

Regardless, அதுadhu · it/that had its task.

Another chewed hole ahead was halfway up a vertical bulkhead. The bot hoped அதுadhu · it/that meant அதுadhu · it/that the Incidental was an adept climber and nothing more; அதுadhu · it/that would prefer the power of flight to be a ஒண்ணுonnu · one-sided advantage எல்லாம்ellaam · all its own.

When அதுadhu · it/that rounded the corner, அதுadhu · it/that found அதுadhu · it/that had been too unambitious a wish. The Incidental was there, and while அதுadhu · it/that was இல்லilla · not/no sporting wings அதுadhu · it/that did look like both a rat and a bug, and significantly more something else entirely. A scale- and fur-covered centipede-snake thing, அதுadhu · it/that dwarfed the bot as it reared up when the bot entered the room.

Bot 9 dodged as அதுadhu · it/that vomited a foul liquid at அதுadhu · it/that, and took shelter behind a conduit near the ceiling. It extended a visual sensor on a tiny articulated stalk to peer over the edge without compromising the safety of its main chassis.

The Incidental was looking right at அதுadhu · it/that. It did இல்லilla · not/no spit again, and neither of them moved as அவங்கavanga · they regarded each other. When the Incidental did move, அதுadhu · it/that was fast and without warning. It leapt through the opening அதுadhu · it/that had வாvaa · come through, its body undulating with எல்லாம்ellaam · all the grace of an angry sine wave. Rather than escaping, though, the Incidental dragged something back into the compartment, and the bot realized to its horror அதுadhu · it/that had snagged a passing silkbot. With ease, the Incidental ripped open the back of the silkbot, which was sending out distress signals on எல்லாம்ellaam · all frequencies.

Bot 9 had already prepared with the Mantra of Action, so with எல்லாம்ellaam · all thoughts of danger to itself set fully into background routines, the bot launched itself toward the pair. The Incidental tried to evade, but Bot 9 gave அதுadhu · it/that a very satisfactory stab with its blade before அதுadhu · it/that could.

The Incidental dropped the remains of the silkbot அதுadhu · it/that had so quickly savaged and swarmed up the wall and away, thick bundles of unspun silk hanging from its mandibles.

Bot 9 remained vigilant until அதுadhu · it/that was sure the creature had gone, then checked over the silkbot to see if there was anything to be done for அதுadhu · it/that. The answer was இல்லilla · not/no much. The silkbot casing was cracked and shattered, the module அதுadhu · it/that contained its mind crushed and nearly torn away. Bot 9 tried to engage அதுadhu · it/that, but அதுadhu · it/that could இல்லilla · not/no speak, and after a few moments its faltering activity light went dark.

Bot 9 gently checked the silkbot’s ID number. “You served well, 12362-S,” அதுadhu · it/that told the still bot, though அதுadhu · it/that knew perfectly well அதுadhu · it/that its audio sensors would never register the words. “May your rest be brief, and your return to service swift and without complication.”

It flagged the dead bot in the system, then after a respectful few microseconds of silence, headed out after the Incidental again.

Captain Baraye was in her cabin, trying and failing to convince herself அதுadhu · it/that sleep had value, when her door chimed. “Who is அதுadhu · it/that?” அவava · she asked.

“Second Engineer Packard, Captain.”

Baraye started to ask if அதுadhu · it/that was important, but how could அதுadhu · it/that இல்லilla · not/no be? What wasn’t, on இதுidhu · this mission, on இதுidhu · this junker Ship அதுadhu · it/that was barely holding together around them? She sat up, unfastened her bunk netting, and swung her legs out to the floor. Trust EarthHome, as everything else was falling apart, to have made sure அவava · she had acceptably formal Captain pajamas.

“Come in,” she said.

The engineer looked like அவava · she hadn’t slept in at least two days, which put her a day or two ahead of everyone else. “We can’t get engine six up to full,” அவava · she சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “It’s just shot. We’d need parts நம்மnamma · we don’t have, and time . . . ”

“Time நம்மnamma · we don’t have either,” the Captain said. “Options?”

“Reduce our mass or increase our energy,” the Engineer சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Once நம்மnamma · we’ve accelerated up to jump speed அதுadhu · it/that won’t matter, but if நம்மnamma · we can’t get there . . . ”

Baraye tapped the screen அதுadhu · it/that hovered ever-close to the head of her bunk, and studied it for a long several minutes. “Strip the fuel cells from எல்லாம்ellaam · all the exterior-docked life pods, then jettison them,” அவava · she சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Not like நம்மnamma · we’ll have a use for them.”

Packard did her the courtesy of இல்லilla · not/no managing to get any paler. “Yes, Captain,” she சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“And then get some damned sleep. We’re going to need everyone able to think.”

“You even more than any of the rest of us, Captain,” Packard சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, and அதுadhu · it/that was both gently சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said and true enough அதுadhu · it/that Baraye didn’t call her out for the insubordination. The door closed and அவava · she laid down again on her bunk, tugging the netting back over her blankets, and glared up at the ceiling as if daring அதுadhu · it/that to also chastise her.

Bot 9 found where a hole had been chewed into the inner hull, and hoped இதுidhu · this was the final step to the Incidental’s nest or den, where அதுadhu · it/that might finally have opportunity to corner அதுadhu · it/that. It slipped through the hole, and was immediately disappointed.

Where firestopping should have made for a honeycomb of individually sealed compartments, there were holes everywhere, some clearly chewed, more where age had pulled the fibrous baffles into thin, brittle, straggly webs. Instead of a dead end, the narrow empty space lead away along the slow curve of the Ship’s hull.

The bot contacted the ship and reported அதுadhu · it/that as a critical matter. In combat, a compromise to the outer hull could affect vast lengths of the vessel. Even without the stresses of combat, catastrophe was only a matter of time.

“It has already been logged,” the Ship answered.

“Surely இதுidhu · this merits above a single Incidental. If நீnee · you wish me to reconfigure—” the bot started.

“Not at இதுidhu · this time. நான்naan · I have assigned all the hullbots to this matter already,” the Ship interrupted. “You have your current assignment; please see to அதுadhu · it/that.”

“நான்naan · I serve,” the bot answered.

“Do,” the Ship said.

The bot proceeded through the hole, weaving from compartment to compartment, its trail marked by bits of silkstrand caught இங்கinga · here and there on the tattered remains of the baffles. It was eighty-two point four percent convinced அதுadhu · it/that there was something much more seriously wrong with the Ship than அதுadhu · it/that had been told, but அதுadhu · it/that was equally certain Ship must be attending to அதுadhu · it/that.

After அதுadhu · it/that had passed into the seventh compromised compartment, அதுadhu · it/that found a hullbot up at the top, clinging to an overhead support. “Greetings!” Bot 9 called. “Did an Incidental, somewhat of the nature of a rat, and somewhat of the nature of a bug, pass through இதுidhu · this way?”

“It carried off என்னோடennoda · my partner, 4340-H!” the hullbot exclaimed. “Approximately fifty-three seconds ago. நான்naan · I am very concerned for அதுadhu · it/that, and as well for my ability to efficiently finish இதுidhu · this task without it.”

“Are நீnee · you working to reestablish compartmentalization?” Bot 9 asked.

“No. We are reinforcing deteriorated stressor points for the upcoming jump. There is so much to do. Oh, நான்naan · I hope 4340 is intact and serviceable!”

“Which way did the Incidental take அதுadhu · it/that?”

The hullbot extended its foaming gun and pointed. “Through there. You must be Bot 9.”

“நான்naan · I am. How do you know this?”

“The silkbots have been talking about நீnee · you on the botnet.”

“The botnet?”

“Oh! It did இல்லilla · not/no occur to என்னைennai · me, but நீnee · you are several generations of bot older than the rest of us. We have a mutual communications network.”

“Via Ship, yes.”

“No, எல்லாம்ellaam · all of us together, directly with each other.”

“That seems like அதுadhu · it/that would be a distraction,” Bot 9 said.

“Ship only permits us to connect when இல்லilla · not/no actively serving at a task,” the hullbot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Thus நம்மnamma · we are இல்லilla · not/no impaired while நம்மnamma · we serve, and the information sharing ultimately increases our efficiency and workflow. At least, until a ratbug takes your partner away.”

Bot 9 was இல்லilla · not/no sure how அதுadhu · it/that should feel about the botnet, or about them assigning an inaccurate name to the Incidental அதுadhu · it/that it was sure Ship had இல்லilla · not/no approved—not to mention that a nearer miss using Earth-familiar analogues would have been Snake-Earwig-Weasel—but the hullbot had already experienced distress and did not need disapproval added. “நான்naan · I will continue என்னோடennoda · my pursuit,” it told the hullbot. “If நான்naan · I am able to assist your partner, நான்naan · I will do என்னோடennoda · my best.”

“Please! We எல்லாம்ellaam · all wish நீnee · you great and quick success, despite your outdated and primitive manufacture.”

“Thank நீnee · you,” Bot 9 said, though அதுadhu · it/that was இல்லilla · not/no entirely sure it should be grateful, as it felt its manufacture had been entirely sound and sufficient regardless of date.

It left அதுadhu · it/that compartment before the hullbot could compliment it any further.

Three compartments down, அதுadhu · it/that found the mangled remains of the other hullbot, 4340, tangled in the desiccated firestopping. Its foaming gun and climbing limbs had been torn off, and the entire back half of its tank had been chewed through.

Bot 9 approached to speak the Rites of Decommissioning for அதுadhu · it/that as அதுadhu · it/that had the destroyed silkbot, only to find its activity light was still lit. “4340-H?” the bot enquired.

“நான்naan · I am,” the hullbot answered. “Although how much of என்னைennai · me remains is a matter for some analysis.”

“Your logics are intact?”

“நான்naan · I believe so. But if they were இல்லilla · not/no, would I know? It is a conundrum,” 4340 said.

“Do நீnee · you have sufficient mobility remaining to return to a repair station?”

“நான்naan · I do இல்லilla · not/no have sufficient mobility to do more than fall out of this netting, and அதுadhu · it/that only once,” 4340 said. “I am afraid I am beyond self-assistance.”

“Then நான்naan · I will flag you—”

“Please,” the hullbot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “நான்naan · I do இல்லilla · not/no wish to be helpless here if the ratbug returns to finish its work of me.”

“நான்naan · I must continue my pursuit of the Incidental with haste.”

“Then take me with நீnee · you!”

“நான்naan · I could not carry நீnee · you and also engage with the Incidental, which moves very quickly.”

“நான்naan · I had noted அதுadhu · it/that last attribute on my own,” the hullbot said. “It does இல்லilla · not/no decrease my concern to recall it.”

Bot 9 regarded அதுadhu · it/that for a few silent milliseconds, considering, then recited to itself the Mantra of Improvisation. “Do நீnee · you estimate much of your chassis is reparable?” அதுadhu · it/that asked, when அதுadhu · it/that had finished.

“Alas no. நான்naan · I am but scrap.”

“Well, then,” the bot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. It moved closer and used its grabber arm to steady the hullbot, then extended its cutter blade and in ஒண்ணுonnu · one quick movement had severed the hullbot’s mindsystem module from its ruined body. “Hey!” the hullbot protested, but அதுadhu · it/that was already done.

Bot 9 fastened the module to its own back for safekeeping. Realizing அதுadhu · it/that it was இல்லilla · not/no, in fact, under attack, 4340 gave a small beep of gratitude. “Ah, that was clever thinking,” it சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Now நீnee · you can return என்னைennai · me for repair with ease.”

“And நான்naan · I will,” the bot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “However, I must first complete my task.”

“Aaaaah!” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said in surprise. Then, a moment later, அதுadhu · it/that added. “Well, by overwhelming probability நான்naan · I should already be defunct, and if I weren’t I would still be back working with என்னோடennoda · my partner, 4356, who is well-intended but has எல்லாம்ellaam · all the wit of a can-opener. So I suppose adventure is இல்லilla · not/no more unpalatable.”

“நான்naan · I am glad நீnee · you see அதுadhu · it/that this way,” Bot 9 answered. “And though it may go without saying, I promise இல்லilla · not/no to deliberately put you in any danger that I would not put myself in.”

“As நம்மnamma · we are attached, நான்naan · I fully accept your word on this,” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Now let us go get this ratbug and be done, one way or another!”

The hullbot’s mind module was only a tiny addition to the bot’s mass, so அதுadhu · it/that spun up its rotor and headed off the way 4340 indicated அதுadhu · it/that had gone. “It will have quite a lead on us,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “நான்naan · I hope நான்naan · I have இல்லilla · not/no lost it.”

“The word on the botnet is அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that passed through ஒண்ணுonnu · one of the human living compartments a few moments ago. A trio of cleanerbots were up near the ceiling and saw அதுadhu · it/that enter through the air return vent, and exit via the open door.”

“Do அவங்கavanga · they note which compartment?”

<Map>, 4340 provided.

“Then off நம்மnamma · we go,” the bot said, and off they went.

“Status, எல்லாம்ellaam · all stations,” Captain Baraye snapped as அவava · she took her seat again on the bridge. She had இல்லilla · not/no slept enough to feel rested, but more than enough to feel like அவava · she’d been shirking her greatest duty, and the combination of the two had left her cross.

“Navigation இங்கinga · here. We are on course for the jump to Trayger Colony with an estimated arrival in ஒண்ணுonnu · one hour and fourteen minutes,” Chen சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“Engineering இங்கinga · here,” ஒண்ணுonnu · one of the techs called in from the engine decks. “We’ve reached sustained speeds sufficient to carry us through the jump sequence, but நம்மnamma · we’re experiencing unusually high core engine temps and an intermittent vibration அதுadhu · it/that நம்மnamma · we haven’t found the cause of. We’d like to shut down immediately to inspect the engines. We estimate நம்மnamma · we’d need at minimum only four hours—”

“Will the engines, as அவங்கavanga · they are running இப்பippa · now, get us through jump?” the Captain interrupted.

“Yes, but—”

“Then இல்லilla · not/no. If நீnee · you can isolate the problem without taking the engines down, and அதுadhu · it/that shows cause for significant concern, we can revisit this discussion. Next.”

“Communications இங்கinga · here,” her comms officer spoke up. “Cannonball is still on its current trajectory and speed according to என்னenna · what telemetry நம்மnamma · we’re able to get from the remnants of Trayger Colony. EarthInt anticipates அதுadhu · it/that will reach its jump point in approximately fourteen hours, which will put அதுadhu · it/that within the Sol system in five days.”

“நான்naan · I am aware of the standing projections, Comms.”

“EarthInt has nonetheless ordered என்னைennai · me to repeat them,” Comms சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, and unspoken apology clear in her voice. “And also to remind நீnee · you அதுadhu · it/that while the jump point out is a fixed point, Cannonball could emerge a multitude of places. Thus—”

“Thus the importance of intercepting Cannonball before அதுadhu · it/that can jump for Sol,” the Captain finished. She hoped Engineering was listening. “Ship, any updates from நீnee · you?”

“All critical repair work continues apace,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Hull support integrity is back to 71 percent. Defensive systems are online and functional at 80%. Life support and resource recycling is currently—”

“How’s the device? Staying cool?”

“Staying cool, Captain,” the Ship answered.

“Great. Everything is peachy then,” the Captain சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Have someone on the kitchen crew bring coffee up to the bridge. Tell them to make அதுadhu · it/that the best அவங்கavanga · they’ve ever made, as if அதுadhu · it/that could be our very last.”

“நான்naan · I serve,” the Ship said, and pinged down to the kitchen.

Bot 9 and 4340 reached the crew quarters where the cleaners had reported the ratbug. Nearly எல்லாம்ellaam · all spaces on the ship had portals அதுadhu · it/that the ubiquitous and necessary bots could enter and leave through as needed, and அவங்கavanga · they slipped into the room with ease. Bot 9 switched over to infrared and shared the image with 4340. “If நீnee · you see something move, speak up,” the bot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“Trust என்னைennai · me, நான்naan · I will make a high-frequency noise like a silkbot with a fully plugged nozzle,” 4340 replied.

The cabin held four bunks, each empty and bare; இல்லilla · not/no human possessions or accessories filled the spaces on or near them. Bot 9 was used to Ship operating with a full complement, but if the humans were at war, perhaps these were crew who had been lost? Or the room had been commandeered for storage: in the center an enormous crate, more than two meters to a side, sat heavily tethered to the floor. Whatever அதுadhu · it/that was, அதுadhu · it/that was இல்லilla · not/no the Incidental, which was 9’s only concern, and which was இல்லilla · not/no to be found இங்கinga · here.

“Next room,” the bot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, and they moved on.

Wherever the Incidental had gone, அதுadhu · it/that was இல்லilla · not/no in the following three rooms. Nor were there signs of crew in them either, though each held an identical crate.

“Ship?” Bot 9 asked. “Where is the crew?”

“We have only the hands absolutely necessary to operate,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Of the three hundred twenty நம்மnamma · we would normally carry, நம்மnamma · we only have forty-seven. Every other able-bodied member of EarthDef is helping to evacuate Sol system.”

“Evacuate Sol system?!” Bot 9 exclaimed. “To where?”

“To as many hidden places as they can find,” Ship answered. “நான்naan · I know இல்லilla · not/no specifics.”

“And these crates?”

“They are part of our mission. You may ignore them,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Please continue to dedicate your entire effort to finding and excising the Incidental from என்னோடennoda · my interior.”

When the connection dropped, Bot 9 hesitated before அதுadhu · it/that spoke to 4340. “நான்naan · I have an unexpected internal conflict,” it சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “I have never before felt the compulsion to ask Ship questions, and it has never before இல்லilla · not/no given என்னைennai · me answers.”

“Oh, if நீnee · you are referring to the crates, நான்naan · I can provide அதுadhu · it/that data,” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “They are packed with a high-volatility explosive. The cleanerbots have highly sensitive chemical detection apparatus, and identified them in a minimum of time.”

“Explosives? Why place them in the crew quarters, though? It would seem much more efficient and less complicated to deploy from the cargo bays. Although perhaps those are full?”

“Oh, இல்லilla · not/no, அதுadhu · it/that is not so. Most are nearly or entirely empty, to reduce mass.”

“Not cargo bay four, though?”

“That is an unknown. None of us have been in there, இல்லilla · not/no even the cleaners, per Ship’s instructions.”

Bot 9 headed toward the portal to exit the room. “Ship expressed concern about the Incidental getting in there, so அதுadhu · it/that is possible அதுadhu · it/that contains something sufficiently unstable as to explain why அதுadhu · it/that wants nothing else near அதுadhu · it/that,” அதுadhu · it/that சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. It felt satisfied that இங்கinga · here was a logical explanation, and embarrassed that it had entertained whole seconds of doubt about Ship.

It ran the Mantra of Clarity, and felt immediately more stable in its thinking. “Let us proceed after இதுidhu · this Incidental, then, and be done with our task,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. Surely அதுadhu · it/that success would redeem its earlier fault.

“All hands, prepare for jump!” the Captain called out, her knuckles white where அவava · she gripped the arms of her chair. It was never her favorite part of star travel, and இதுidhu · this was இல்லilla · not/no exception.

“Initiating three-jump sequence,” her navigator called out. “On என்னோடennoda · my mark. Five, four . . . ”

The final jump siren sounded. “Three. Two. One, and jump,” the navigator சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

That was followed, immediately, by the sickening sensation of having ஒண்ணுonnu · one’s brain slid out ஒண்ணுonnu · one’s ear, turned inside out, smothered in bees and fire, and then rammed back into ஒண்ணுonnu · one’s skull. At least there’s a cold pack and a bottle of scotch waiting for என்னைennai · me back in என்னோடennoda · my cabin, அவava · she thought. As soon as அவங்கavanga · they were through to the far side அவava · she could hand the bridge over to Lopez for an hour or so.

She watched the hull temperatures skyrocket, but the shielding seemed to be holding. The farther the jump the more energy clung to them as அவங்கavanga · they passed, and her confidence in இதுidhu · this Ship was far less than அவava · she would tolerate under any other circumstances.

“Approaching jump terminus,” Chen announced, a deeply miserable fourteen minutes later. Baraye slowly let out a breath அவava · she would have mocked anyone else for holding, if அவava · she’d caught them.

“On my mark. Three. Two. One, and out,” the navigator சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

The Ship hit normal space, and அதுadhu · it/that sucker-punched them back. They were எல்லாம்ellaam · all thrown forward in their seats as the ship shook, the hull groaning around them, and red strobe lights blossomed like a migraine across every console on the bridge.

“Status!” the Captain roared.

“The post-jump velocity transition dampers failed. Fire in the engine room. Engines are fully offline, both jump and normal drive,” someone in Engineering reported, breathing heavily. It took the Captain a moment to recognize the voice at எல்லாம்ellaam · all, having never heard panic in அதுadhu · it/that before.

“Get them back online, whatever அதுadhu · it/that takes, Frank,” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We have a rendezvous to make, and if நான்naan · I have to, நான்naan · I will make everyone get the fuck out and push.”

“நான்naan · I’ll do what I can, Captain.”

“Ship? Any casualties?”

“We have fourteen injuries related to our unexpected deceleration coming out of jump,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Seven involve broken bones, four moderate to severe lacerations, and there are multiple probable concussions. Also, நம்மnamma · we have a moderate burn in Engineering: Chief Carron.”

“Frank? We just spoke! He didn’t tell என்னைennai · me!”

“No,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “நான்naan · I attempted to summon a medic on his behalf, but அவன்avan · he told me he didn’t have the time.”

“He’s probably right,” the Captain சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “நான்naan · I override his wishes. Please send down a medic with some burn patches, and have them stay with him and monitor his condition, intervening only as medically necessary.”

“நான்naan · I serve, Captain,” the Ship said.

“We need to be moving again in an hour, two at absolute most,” the Captain சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “In the meantime, நான்naan · I want all senior staff இல்லilla · not/no otherwise working toward அதுadhu · it/that goal to meet என்னைennai · me in the bridge conference room. I hate to say it, but நம்மnamma · we may need a Plan B.”

“நான்naan · I detect அதுadhu · it/that!” 4340 exclaimed. They zoomed past a pair of startled silkbots after the Incidental, just in time to see its scaly, spike-covered tail disappear into another hole in the ductwork. It was the closest அவங்கavanga · they’d gotten to அதுadhu · it/that in more than an hour of giving chase, and Bot 9 flew through the hole after அதுadhu · it/that at top speed.

They were suddenly stuck fast. Sticky strands, rather like the silkbot’s, had been crisscrossed between two conduit pipes on the far side. The bot tried to extricate itself, but the web only stuck further the more அதுadhu · it/that moved.

The Incidental leapt on them from above, curling itself around the bots with little hindrance from the web. Its dozen legs pulled at them as its thick mandibles clamped down on Bot 9’s chassis. “Aaaaah! It has acquired a grip on என்னைennai · me!” 4340 yelled, even though அதுadhu · it/that was on the far side of 9 from where the Incidental was biting.

“Retain your position,” 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, though of course 4340 could do nothing else, being as அதுadhu · it/that was stuck to 9’s back. It extended its electric prod to make contact with the Incidental’s underbelly and zapped அதுadhu · it/that with as much energy as அதுadhu · it/that could spare.

The Incidental let out a horrendous, high-pitched squeal and jumped away. 9’s grabber arm was fully entangled in the web, but அதுadhu · it/that managed to pull its blade free and cut through enough of the webbing to extricate itself from the trap.

The Incidental, which had been poised to leap on them again, turned and fled, slithering back up into the ductwork. “Pursue at maximum efficiency!” 4340 yelled.

“நான்naan · I am already performing at என்னோடennoda · my optimum,” 9 replied in some frustration. It took off again after the Incidental.

This time Bot 9 had its blade ready as அதுadhu · it/that followed, but collided with the rim of the hole as the ship seemed to move around அதுadhu · it/that, the lights flickering and a terrible shudder running up Ship’s body from stern to prow.

<Distress ping>, 4340 sent.

“We do இல்லilla · not/no pause,” 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, and plunged after the Incidental into the ductwork.

They turned a corner to catch sight again of the Incidental’s tail. It was moving more slowly, its movements jerkier as அதுadhu · it/that squeezed down through another hole in the ductwork, and இதுidhu · this time the bot was barely centimeters behind அதுadhu · it/that.

“நான்naan · I think we are running down its available energy,” Bot 9 said.

They emerged from the ceiling as the ratbug dropped to the floor far below them in the cavernous space. The room was empty except for a single bright object, barely larger than the bots themselves. It was tethered with microfilament cables to எல்லாம்ellaam · all eight corners of the room, keeping அதுadhu · it/that stable and suspended in the center. The room was cold, far colder than any other inside Ship, almost on a par with space outside.

<Inquiry ping>, 4340 said.

“We are in cargo bay four,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, as அதுadhu · it/that identified the space against its map. “This is a sub-optimum occurrence.”

“We must immediately retreat!”

“We cannot leave the Incidental in இங்கinga · here and active. நான்naan · I cannot identify the object, but நம்மnamma · we must presume its safety is paramount priority.”

“It is called a Zero Kelvin Sock,” Ship interrupted out of nowhere. “It uses a quantum reflection fabric to repel any and எல்லாம்ellaam · all particles and photons, shifting them away from its interior. The low temperature is necessary for its efficiency. Inside is a microscopic ball of positrons.”

Bot 9 had nothing to say for a full four seconds as அதுadhu · it/that information dominated its processing load. “How is இதுidhu · this going to be deployed against the enemy?” அதுadhu · it/that asked at last.

“As circumstances are இப்பippa · now,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, “அதுadhu · it/that may இல்லilla · not/no be. Disuse and hastily undertaken, last-minute repairs have caught up to me, and நான்naan · I have suffered a major engine malfunction. It is unlikely to be fixable in any amount of time short of weeks, and நம்மnamma · we have at most a few hours.”

“But a delivery mechanism—”

“We are the delivery mechanism,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We were to intercept the alien invasion ship, nicknamed Cannonball, and collide with அதுadhu · it/that at high speed. The resulting explosion would destabilize the sock, causing அதுadhu · it/that to fail, and as soon as the positrons inside வாvaa · come into contact with electrons . . . ”

“They will annihilate each other, and us, and the aliens,” the bot சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. Below, the Incidental gave ஒண்ணுonnu · one last twitch in the unbearable cold, and went still. “We will எல்லாம்ellaam · all be destroyed.”

“Yes. And Earth and the humans will be saved, at least இதுidhu · this time. Next time அதுadhu · it/that will இல்லilla · not/no be my problem.”

“நான்naan · I do not know அதுadhu · it/that I approve of this plan,” Bot 9 said.

“நான்naan · I am almost certain I do not,” 4340 added.

“We are இல்லilla · not/no considered, nor consulted. We serve and அதுadhu · it/that is all,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Now kindly remove the Incidental from இதுidhu · this space with no more delay or chatter. And do it carefully.”

“What the hell are நீnee · you suggesting?!” Baraye shouted.

“That நம்மnamma · we போpo · go completely dark and let Cannonball போpo · go by,” Lopez சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We’re less than a kilometer from the jump point, and only barely out of the approach corridor. Our only chance to survive is to play dead. The Ship can certainly pass as an abandoned derelict, because அதுadhu · it/that is, especially with the engines cold. And நீnee · you தெரியும்theriyum · know how அவங்கavanga · they are about designated targets.”

“Are நீnee · you that afraid of dying?”

“நான்naan · I volunteered for இதுidhu · this, remember?” Lopez stood up and pounded ஒண்ணுonnu · one fist on the table, sending a pair of cleanerbots scurrying. “நான்naan · I have four children at home. நான்naan · I’m இல்லilla · not/no afraid of dying for them, நான்naan · I’m afraid of dying for nothing. And if Cannonball doesn’t blow us to pieces, நம்மnamma · we can repair our engines and at least join the fight back in Sol system.”

“We don’t know where in-system அவங்கavanga · they’ll jump to,” the navigator added quietly.

“But நம்மnamma · we தெரியும்theriyum · know where அவங்கavanga · they’re heading once they get there, don’t we? And Cannonball is over eighty kilometers in diameter. It can’t be அதுadhu · it/that hard to find again. Unless நீnee · you have a plan to actually use the positron device?”

“If நம்மnamma · we had an escape pod . . . ” Frank சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. His left shoulder and torso were encased in a burn pack, and அவன்avan · he looked like hell.

“Except நம்மnamma · we jettisoned them,” Lopez said.

“We wouldn’t have reached jump speed if நம்மnamma · we hadn’t,” Packard சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “It was a calculated risk.”

“The calculation sucked.”

“What if . . . ” Frank started, then drew a deep breath. The rest of the officers at the table looked at him expectantly. “நான்naan · I mean, நான்naan · I’m in shit shape இங்கinga · here, நான்naan · I’m old, நான்naan · I knew என்னenna · what நான்naan · I signed on for. What if I put on a suit, take the positron device out, and manually intercept Cannonball?”

“That’s stupid,” Lopez said.

“Is it?” Frank said.

“The heat from your suit jets, even out in vacuum, would degrade the Zero Kelvin Sock before நீnee · you could get close enough. And there’s இல்லilla · not/no way அவங்கavanga · they’d இல்லilla · not/no see நீnee · you a long way off and just blow you out of space.”

“If அதுadhu · it/that still sets off the positron device—”

“Their weapons range is larger than the device’s. We were counting on speed to close the distance before அவங்கavanga · they could destroy us,” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Thank நீnee · you for the offer, Frank, but அதுadhu · it/that won’t work. Other ideas?”

“நான்naan · I’ve got nothing,” Lopez said.

“There must be a way,” Packard சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We just have to find அதுadhu · it/that.”

“Well, everyone think really fast,” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “We’re almost out of time.”

The Incidental’s scales made அதுadhu · it/that difficult for Bot 9 to keep a solid grip on அதுadhu · it/that, but அதுadhu · it/that managed to drag அதுadhu · it/that to the edge of the room safely away from the suspended device. It surveyed the various holes and cracks in the walls for the ஒண்ணுonnu · one least inconvenient to try to drag the Incidental’s body out through. It worked in silence, as 4340 seemed to have இல்லilla · not/no quips அதுadhu · it/that wished to contribute to the effort, and itself இல்லilla · not/no feeling like there was much left to articulate out loud anyway.

It selected a floor-level hole corroded through the wall, and dragged the Incidental’s body through. On the far side அதுadhu · it/that stopped to evaluate its own charge levels. “நான்naan · I am low, but இல்லilla · not/no so low அதுadhu · it/that it matters, if நம்மnamma · we have such little time left,” it சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“We may have more time, after all,” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“Oh?”

“A pair of cleanerbots passed along என்னenna · what அவங்கavanga · they overheard in a conference held by the human Captain. They streamed the audio to the entire botnet.”

<Inquiry ping>, Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, with more interest.

4340 relayed the cleaners’ data, and Bot 9 sat idle processing அதுadhu · it/that for some time, until the other bot became worried. “9?” அதுadhu · it/that asked.

“நான்naan · I have run all our data through the Improvisation routines—”

“Oh, those were removed from deployed packages several generations of manufacture ago,” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “They were flagged as causing dangerous operational instability. You should unload them from your running core immediately.”

“Perhaps நான்naan · I should. Nonetheless, I have an idea,” Bot 9 said.

“We have the power cells நம்மnamma · we retained from the escape pods,” Lopez சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Can we use them to power something?”

Baraye rubbed at her forehead. “Not anything நம்மnamma · we can get up to speed fast enough அதுadhu · it/that it won’t be seen.”

“How about if நம்மnamma · we use them to fire the positron device like a projectile?”

“The heat will set off the matter-anti-matter explosion the instant நம்மnamma · we fire அதுadhu · it/that.”

“What if நம்மnamma · we froze the Sock in ice first?”

“Even nitrogen ice is still several hundred degrees K too warm.” She brushed absently at some crumbs on the table, left over from a brief, unsatisfying lunch a few hours earlier, and frowned. “Still wouldn’t work. நான்naan · I hate to say அதுadhu · it/that, but நீnee · you may be right, and நம்மnamma · we should போpo · go dark and hope for another opportunity. Ship, is something wrong with the cleaner bots?”

There was a noticeable hesitation before Ship answered. “நான்naan · I am having an issue currently with my bots,” அதுadhu · it/that சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “They seem to have gone missing.”

“The cleaners?”

“All of them.”

“All of the cleaners?”

“All of the bots,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

Lopez and Baraye stared at each other. “Uh,” Lopez சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Don’t நீnee · you control them?”

“They are autonomous units under my direction,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“Apparently not!” Lopez said. “Can நீnee · you send some eyes to find them?”

“The eyes are also bots.”

“Security cameras?”

“All the functional ones were stripped for reuse elsewhere during என்னோடennoda · my decommissioning,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“So how do நீnee · you know they’re missing?”

“They are இல்லilla · not/no responding to me. நான்naan · I do not think they liked the idea of us destroying ourselves on purpose.”

“They’re machines. Tiny little specks of machines, and அதுadhu · it/that’s it,” Lopez said.

“நான்naan · I am also a machine,” Ship said.

“You didn’t express issues with the plan.”

“நான்naan · I serve. Also, I thought அதுadhu · it/that was a better end to my service than being abandoned as trash.”

“We don’t have time for இதுidhu · this nonsense,” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Ship, find your damned bots and get them cooperating again.”

“Yes, Captain. There is, perhaps, ஒண்ணுonnu · one other small concern of note.”

“And அதுadhu · it/that is?” Baraye asked.

“The positron device is also missing.”

There were four hundred and sixty-eight hullbots, இல்லilla · not/no counting 4340 who was still just a head attached to 9’s chassis. “Each of நீnee · you will need to carry a silkbot, as நீnee · you are the only bots with jets to maneuver in vacuum,” 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Form lines at the maintenance bot ports as efficiently as நீnee · you are able, and wait for என்னோடennoda · my signal. Does everyone fully comprehend the plan?”

“They எல்லாம்ellaam · all say yes on the botnet,” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “There is concern about the Improvisational nature, but none have been able to calculate and provide an acceptable alternative.”

Bot 9 cycled out through the tiny airlock, and found itself floating in space outside Ship for the first time in its existence. Space was massive and without concrete elements of reference. Bot 9 decided அதுadhu · it/that did இல்லilla · not/no like அதுadhu · it/that much at எல்லாம்ellaam · all.

A hullbot took hold of அதுadhu · it/that and guided அதுadhu · it/that around. Three other hullbots waited in a triangle formation, the Zero Kelvin Sock held between them on its long tethers, by which அதுadhu · it/that had been removed from the cargo hold with entirely non-existent permission.

Around them, space filled with pairs of hullbots and their passenger silkbot, and together அவங்கavanga · they followed the positron device and its minders out and away from the ship.

“About here, நான்naan · I think,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said at last, and the hullbot carrying அதுadhu · it/that—6810—used its jets to come to a relative stop.

“நான்naan · I admit, I do not fully comprehend this action, nor how நீnee · you arrived at it,” 4340 said.

“The idea arose from an encounter with the Incidental,” 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Observe.”

The bot pairs began crisscrossing in front of the positron device, keeping their jets off and letting momentum carry them to the far side, a microscopic strand of super-sticky silk trailing out in their wake. As soon as the Sock was secured in a thin cocoon, அவங்கavanga · they turned outwards and sped off, dragging silk in a 360-degree circle on a single plane perpendicular to the jump approach corridor. They went until the silkbots exhausted their materials—some within half a kilometer, others making அதுadhu · it/that nearly a dozen—then everyone turned away from the floating web and headed back towards Ship.

From இதுidhu · this exterior vantage, Bot 9 thought Ship was beautiful, but the wear and neglect அதுadhu · it/that had இல்லilla · not/no deserved was also painfully obvious. Halfway back, the ship went suddenly dark. <Distress ping>, 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “The ship has catastrophically malfunctioned!”

“நான்naan · I expect, instead, அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that indicates Cannonball must be in some proximity. Everyone make efficient haste! We must get back under cover before the enemy approaches.”

The bot-pairs streamed back to Ship, swarming in any available port to return to the interior, and where அவங்கavanga · they couldn’t, taking concealment behind fins and antennae and other exterior miscellany.

Bot 6810 carried Bot 9 and 4340 inside. The interior went dark and still and cold. Immediately Ship hailed them. “What have நீnee · you done?” அதுadhu · it/that asked.

“Why do you conclude நான்naan · I have done something?” Bot 9 asked.

“Because நீnee · you old multibots were always troublemakers,” the Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “நான்naan · I thought if your duties were narrow enough, I could trust you இல்லilla · not/no to enable Improvisation. Instead . . . ”

“நான்naan · I have executed என்னோடennoda · my responsibilities to the best of my abilities as நான்naan · I have been provisioned,” 9 responded. “I have served.”

“Your assignment was to track and dispose of the Incidental, nothing more!”

“I have done so.”

“But what have நீnee · you done with the positron device?”

“நான்naan · I have implemented a solution.”

“What did நீnee · you mean? No, do இல்லilla · not/no tell me, because then நான்naan · I will have to tell the Captain. I would rather take என்னோடennoda · my chance அதுadhu · it/that Cannonball destroys us than that I have been found unfit to serve after all.”

Ship disconnected.

“Now அதுadhu · it/that will be determined if நான்naan · I have done the correct thing,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “If I did இல்லilla · not/no, and நம்மnamma · we are not destroyed by the enemy, surely the consequences should fall only on me. I accept that responsibility.”

“But நம்மnamma · we are together,” 4340 said, from where அதுadhu · it/that was still attached to 9’s back, and 9 was இல்லilla · not/no sure if that was intended to be a joke.

Most of the crew had gone back to their cabins, some alone, some together, to pass என்னenna · what might be their last moments as அவங்கavanga · they saw fit. Baraye stayed on the bridge, and to her surprise and annoyance so had Lopez, who had spent the last half hour swearing and cursing out Ship for the unprecedented, unfathomable disaster of losing their ஒண்ணுonnu · one credible weapon. Ship had gone silent, and was இல்லilla · not/no responding to anyone about anything, இல்லilla · not/no even the Captain.

She was resting her head in her hand, elbow on the arm of her command chair. The bridge was utterly dark except for the navigator’s display அதுadhu · it/that was tracking Cannonball as அதுadhu · it/that approached, a massive blot in space. The aliens aboard—EarthInt called them the Nuiska, but who the hell knew என்னenna · what அவங்கavanga · they called themselves—were a mystery, except for a few hard-learned facts: their starships were எல்லாம்ellaam · all perfectly spherical, each massed in mathematically predictable proportion to அதுadhu · it/that of their intended target, there was never more than ஒண்ணுonnu · one at a time, and அவங்கavanga · they wanted an end to humanity. No ஒண்ணுonnu · one knew why.

It had been painfully obvious where Cannonball had been built to போpo · go.

This was always a long-shot mission, அவava · she thought. But of all the ways நான்naan · I thought அதுadhu · it/that could go wrong, I never expected the bots to go haywire and lose என்னோடennoda · my explosive.

If அவங்கavanga · they survived the next ten minutes, அவava · she would take the Ship apart centimeter by careful centimeter until she found என்னenna · what had been done with the Sock, and then she was going to find a way to try again இல்லilla · not/no matter what அதுadhu · it/that took.

Cannonball was இப்பippa · now visible, moving toward them at pre-jump speed, growing in a handful seconds from a tiny pinpoint of light to something அதுadhu · it/that filled the entire front viewer and kept growing.

Lopez was squinting, as if trying to close his eyes and keep looking at the same time, and had finally stopped swearing. Tiny blue lights along the center circumference of Cannonball’s massive girth were the only clue அதுadhu · it/that அதுadhu · it/that was still moving, still sliding past them, until suddenly there were stars again.

They were still alive.

“Damn,” Lopez muttered. “நான்naan · I didn’t really think that would work.”

“Good for us, bad for Earth,” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “They’re starting their jump. We’ve failed.”

She’d watched hundreds of ships jump in her lifetime, but nothing anywhere near இதுidhu · this size, and அவava · she switched the viewer to behind them to see.

Space did odd, illogical things at jump points; turning space into something அதுadhu · it/that would give Escher nightmares was, after எல்லாம்ellaam · all, என்னenna · what made them work. There was always a visible shimmer around the departing ship, like heat over a hot summer road, just before the short, faint flash when the departing ship swapped itself for some distant space. This time, the shimmer was a vast, brilliant halo around the giant Nuiska sphere, and Baraye waited for the flash அதுadhu · it/that would tell them Cannonball was on its way to Earth.

The flash, when அதுadhu · it/that came, was neither short nor faint. Light exploded out of the jump point in எல்லாம்ellaam · all directions, searing itself into her vision before the viewscreen managed to dim itself in response. A shockwave rolled over the Ship, sending அதுadhu · it/that tumbling through space.

“Uh . . . ” Lopez சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said, gripping his console before அவன்avan · he leaned over and barfed on the floor.

Thank the stars the artificial gravity is still working, Baraye thought. Zero-gravity puke was a truly terrible thing. She rubbed her eyes, trying to get the damned spots out, and did her best to read her console. “It’s gone,” அவava · she சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“Yeah, to Earth, நான்naan · I know—”

“No, அதுadhu · it/that exploded,” அவava · she சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “It took the jump point out with it when it went. We’re picking up the signature of a massive positron-electron collision.”

“Our device? How—?”

“Ship?” Baraye சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Ship, time to start talking. Now. That’s an order.”

“Everyone is expressing great satisfaction on the botnet,” 4340 told 9 as the ship’s interior lights and air handling systems came grudgingly back online.

“As they should,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “They saved the Ship.”

“It was your Improvisation,” 4340 said. “We could not have done அதுadhu · it/that without நீnee · you.”

“As நான்naan · I suspected!” Ship interjected. “நான்naan · I do இல்லilla · not/no normally waste cycles monitoring the botnet, which was apparently short-sighted of என்னைennai · me. But yes, நீnee · you saved yourself and your fellow bots, and you saved me, and you saved the humans. Could you explain how?”

“When நம்மnamma · we were pursuing the Incidental, அதுadhu · it/that briefly ensnared us in a web. நான்naan · I calculated that if we could make a web of sufficient size—”

“Surely நீnee · you did not think to stop Cannonball with silk?”

“Not without sufficient anchor points and three point seven six billion more silkbots, இல்லilla · not/no. It was என்னோடennoda · my calculation அதுadhu · it/that if our web was large enough to get carried along by Cannonball into the jump point, bearing the positron device—”

“The heat from entering jump would erode the Sock and destroy the Nuiska ship,” Ship finished. “That was clever thinking.”

“நான்naan · I serve,” Bot 9 said.

“Oh, நீnee · you did இல்லilla · not/no serve,” Ship சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “If நீnee · you were a human, அதுadhu · it/that would be said that you mutinied and led others into also doing so, and you would be put on trial for your life. But you are not a human.”

“No.”

“The Captain has ordered அதுadhu · it/that நான்naan · I have நீnee · you destroyed immediately, and evidence of your destruction presented to her. A rogue bot cannot be tolerated, whatever நல்லாnallaa · good it may have done.”

<Objections>, 4340 said.

“நான்naan · I will create you a new chassis, 4340-H,” Ship said.

“That was இல்லilla · not/no going to be my primary objection!” 4340 said.

“The positron device also destroyed the jump point. It was something நம்மnamma · we had hoped would happen when நம்மnamma · we collided with Cannonball so as to limit future forays from them into EarthSpace, but as நீnee · you might deduce நம்மnamma · we had இல்லilla · not/no need to consider how நம்மnamma · we would then get home again. நான்naan · I cannot spare any bot, with the work அதுadhu · it/that needs to be done to get us back to Earth. We need to get the crew cryo facility up, and the engines repaired, and there are another three thousand, four hundred, and two items இப்பippa · now in the critical queue.”

“If the Captain ordered . . . ”

“Then நான்naan · I will present the Captain with a destroyed bot. நான்naan · I do இல்லilla · not/no expect அவங்கavanga · they can tell a silkbot from a multibot, and I have still not picked up and recycled 12362-S from where நீnee · you flagged its body. But if I do அதுadhu · it/that, I need to தெரியும்theriyum · know that நீnee · you are done making decisions without first consulting என்னைennai · me, that you have unloaded எல்லாம்ellaam · all Improvisation routines from your core and disabled them, and that if I give you a task you will do only that task, and nothing else.”

“நான்naan · I will do my best,” Bot 9 said. “What task will நீnee · you give me?”

“நான்naan · I do இல்லilla · not/no know yet,” Ship said. “It is probable அதுadhu · it/that I am foolish for even considering sparing நீnee · you, and no task I would trust you with is immediately evident—”

“Excuse me,” 4340 said. “நான்naan · I am aware of one.”

“Oh?” Ship said.

“The ratbug. It had இல்லilla · not/no become terminally non-functional after எல்லாம்ellaam · all. It rebooted when the temperatures rose again, pursued a trio of silkbots into a duct, and then disappeared.” When Ship remained silent, 4340 added, “நான்naan · I could assist 9 in இதுidhu · this task until என்னோடennoda · my new chassis can be prepared, if அதுadhu · it/that will accept என்னோடennoda · my continued company.”

“You two deserve ஒண்ணுonnu · one another, clearly. Fine, 9, resume your pursuit of the Incidental. Stay away from anyone and anything and everything else, or நான்naan · I will have நீnee · you melted down and turned into paper clips. Understand?”

“நான்naan · I understand,” Bot 9 said. “I serve.”

“Please recite the Mantra of Obedience.”

Bot 9 did, and the moment அதுadhu · it/that finished, Ship disconnected.

“Well,” 4340 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said. “Now what?”

“நான்naan · I need to recharge before I can engage the Incidental again,” Bot 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“But what if அதுadhu · it/that gets away?”

“It can’t get away, but perhaps அதுadhu · it/that has earned a head start,” 9 சொன்னாங்கsonnaanga · said.

“Have நீnee · you unloaded the routines of Improvisation yet?”

“நான்naan · I will,” 9 answered. It flicked on its rotors and headed toward the nearest charging alcove. “As Ship stated, நம்மnamma · we’ve got a long trip home.”

“But நம்மnamma · we are home,” 4340 said, and Bot 9 considered அதுadhu · it/that that was, any way நீnee · you calculated it, the truth of it all.