For 0.2 seconds, I analyzed 1.7 million options. I picked the most likely one. “A shaved gorilla.”

Emma’s features twisted. “Okay, not cool!”

SkD’s screen offered its visual response.

“Exactly.” Ceeron nodded. “Gorillas cannot speak.”

The giant bot was correct. So I offered the second-most-likely solution.

“She is a robot,” I said. “A robot disguised as a human.”

Ceeron stared at me. “Why would a robot disguise itself as a human?”

“It could be a test.” I crossed my arms with a soft metallic clank. “What if we are being evaluated by the Hive? To see how we respond to a highly unusual situation?”

Ceeron considered this. “If she is a robot, then wiring will be under her skin. Just to check, maybe I should pull off one of her arms.”

“NO!” Emma yelped.

“Do not worry,” Ceeron said. “I will leave the other arm attached.”

But Emma still did not seem pleased with this idea. “You don’t need to check anything! I’m human! I promise!”

I analyzed this response. “If what you say is true—if you are truly a human—then that leaves us with only one choice.”

I unlatched a small black device from my waist. Raising the barrel, I took aim at Emma’s chest.

“You must be eliminated.”

00010011

A formula took shape in my head.

Emma is a human.

Humans are a threat to our world.

Therefore:

Emma must be eliminated.

The formula made perfect sense. It was logical. The ideal approach.

I kept the small black device aimed at Emma. My finger tightened over the trigger.

“WAIT!” Emma’s hands shot up above her head. “Please don’t kill me!”

“I am not going to kill you,” I said.

Emma exhaled. “You’re not?”

I shook my head. “This is not a gun. It is a tracking device. It allows me to classify you as a target.”

“A target for what?”

“HunterBots.”

Emma took an unsteady step backward. I kept the tracking device aimed at her chest.

“So as you can see,” I helpfully explained, “I am not going to kill you. The HunterBots will.”

“Y-you can’t do this,” Emma stuttered. “I’m not a threat to you.”

She glanced frantically at my coworkers. Her voice tumbled out.

“Guys? Help me out. Please. I’m just a kid.”

“You are a human,” Ceeron clarified. “Humans are dangerous.”

“I totally get where you’re coming from.” Each word trembled as it left Emma’s mouth. “Humans messed up. But that was a long time ago. Years before I was born.”

SkD swiveled in my direction, its screen glowing.

“I know she has a point!” I replied. “But what if she repeats the mistakes of those who came before?”

Emma shook her head. “I won’t.”

“How can we be sure?”

The human’s features sharpened with thought. “Okay, um. Think about it. This whole robot civilization thing you’ve got here—it’s going pretty well, wouldn’t you say?”