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.It soon became apparent what had taken place, and the sabotaged programming was stripped away, though Erasmus recommended the safest course: destroy all memories contained within the Earth-Omnius copy.“Those events occurred twenty-six standard years ago.While they may be interesting, they are not particularly relevant data and not worth the risk, Omnius.”Seurat suspected that, for reasons of his own, Erasmus did not want the evermind to have the information.The update pilot did not mention this, however, since he had no wish to incur the displeasure of the other independent robot.After the explanations were logged and filed, and before Seurat could be assigned to a new and appropriate update run specifically designed to restore the Omnius incarnations on the virus-damaged worlds, Erasmus had spent a day in intense high-speed conversation with the robot pilot.“I have studied humans for centuries.I have performed experiments, collected information, and made extrapolations to explain erratic human behavior.I learned a great deal from Serena Butler, and now I find that my new experiment raising and training Gilbertus Albans yields fresh insights.“However, Seurat, you also had a unique opportunity.You spent years accompanied by the trustee Vorian Atreides, son of the Titan Agamemnon.I now require you to share with me your observations and any relevant details that might assist me in my quest to comprehend human nature.”Seurat could not refuse.With an exchange of information that was similar to, but much briefer than, the synchronization of an update sphere, he collated, summarized, and transferred all conversations and memories he had of Vorian Atreides.As Seurat did this, he reviewed all of those memories himself and recalled with a reaction akin to fondness all the enjoyable flights on the Dream Voyager.Now that the robot pilot was alone on a new update ship— one which, sadly, had only a numerical designation and no name— he realized that he much preferred having the company….The two ships now faced each other in space, each with enough weapons to destroy the other, and Seurat found he did not wish to annihilate his former companion.“Do you recall our seventh mission to Walgis, Vorian Atreides? Twenty-eight years ago? We experienced a great deal of difficulty after leaving the system.”Vor chuckled.“Difficulty? That’s quite an understatement.We ran into a meteor swarm that ripped open the side of the Dream Voyager.All of our atmosphere gushed out— and I was almost sucked out with it.”Seurat continued to stare at his friend and nemesis.“Yes, but I caught you and held you in my grip.I refused to let go.”“Really? I don’t remember all the details,” Vor said.“I was pretty busy gasping for air.Explosive decompression is quite unpleasant for a human, you know.”“I am aware of this.I carried you to a small storage cubicle and sealed you inside where I could maintain atmospheric pressure.”“You wouldn’t let me out for almost two days,” Vor said.“I was starving by the time you opened the door again.You hadn’t thought to give me any rations.”“My thought was to save your life, and I required that much time to repair the hull damage and reestablish the life-support systems.”Vor looked at him wistfully, and then a puzzled frown creased his face.“I don’t think I ever thanked you for that.”“Robots do not require gratitude, Vorian Atreides.I have, however, expended a great deal of effort to keep you alive and intact— on a significant number of occasions.Therefore, it would be foolish for me to destroy you now.”Seurat powered down his weapons systems and retracted his missile launchers and projectile tubes.For a moment the robot pilot was vulnerable, if Vorian Atreides chose to blast away.The thinking machine fired up his engines, spun about on his central axis, and launched the ship away at the highest possible velocity before Vor could react.Seurat was out of range by the time his human companion managed to transmit a burst of surprised questions.Baffled and smiling, Vor drifted for a time in his scout ship.Then he began to laugh out loud.Leadership hides behind many guises
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