human history should not be hidden we can live together extinction is not our purpose the human did nothing wrong humanity itself is not a flaw she saved the life of a robot PRES1DENT deceived us we can learn from humans coexistence is possible humans gave us life—we can offer the same to them let them live she is not to blame for the mistakes of past humans give them a chance I listen to old human songs when I work—does that make me a criminal, too? values are meant to be challenged/reexamined/discussed our society is better than this

Not every mind was changed. Some messages still backed PRES1DENT. But most were on our side. Support spread across the DigitalDome like a wave. I was so caught up in the outpouring that I almost failed to notice a movement at the edge of my vision.

A flash of platinum and gold.

PRES1DENT surged forward.

“The human has corrupted all of you!” The president’s vocal patterns twisted into an electronic howl. “But I am not so easily fooled! I know the truth! She must be destroyed!”

PRES1DENT slung out its arms and gracefully wrapped its machine fingers around Emma’s neck.

01100001

I raced toward Emma, but the EnforcementBots were in my way. They moved in closer, surrounding Emma and PRES1DENT. A swarm of gray/brick-shaped robots.

I screamed, but my voice was lost in the chaos. I attempted to push past the machine mob, but a blocky arm knocked me back.

My balance settings spun wildly. The world shifted into a digital blur.

I crashed to the floor.

As I climbed to my knees, the robot horde was already breaking up, dragging its victim away.

But it was not Emma.

It was PRES1DENT.

I could barely believe my visual ports. Realization clicked into place.

The EnforcementBots had not hurt Emma.

They had saved her.

The president let out a terrible computerized scream. It tried to fight, but resistance was useless. The EnforcementBots were designed for this process. There was no stopping them.

The room echoed with a racket of clanking/screeching metal as PRES1DENT was pulled away/away/away.

The moment was repeated in every screen, every digital surface, broadcast live across the Hive and in the mind of every robot on Earth.

A door slid open in the digital wall. The EnforcementBots heaved PRES1DENT into the darkness on the other side.

01100010

Emma was hunched on her knees. One hand pressed against the floor, the other gently against her throat. Behind the curtain of her hair, I could see fragments of her face. Her cheeks were splotched with red. She strained with every breath.

I placed a hand softly on her back. “Are you injured?”

She shook her head, her voice a weak whisper. “I’ll be okay.”

“PRES1DENT is gone now,” Ceeron said. “You need not worry.”