SaveMart 2141 was closed. Like greater than 95% of similar grocery stores, SaveMart 2141 had been closed for 1,321 days. Like 100% of similar grocery stores, SaveMart 2141 was staffed exclusively by robots.

Required regulations stated 50% of robot staff must have human recognition software, and SaveMart 2141 was in compliance with these regulations. StockBot2, the bearer of such software, paused in its work when it detected the frenzied, erratic sound of something pounding on the door. It rolled out from behind the silent, darkened aisles and its cameras registered two moving shapes. StockBot2 did not register the shabbiness of the clothes, the different sizes of the two shapes (tall and very short), nor did it bother to compare their incredible thinness to the round and padded human customers it had stocked among only three years ago. It simply registered that they were humans.

"Customers," StockBot2 reported. It conveyed this information electronically, and made no sound. "Customers at door."

Required regulations stated 50% of robot staff must have managerial software giving them the ability to make executive decisions, and SaveMart 2141 was in compliance with these regulations. StockBot1, the bearer of such software, paused in its work at StockBot2's report. StockBot1 checked this new knowledge against its knowledge of store protocol.

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"Incorrect," StockBot1 responded. "We are closed. They are not customers."

"Non-customer humans at door," StockBot2 corrected himself, and returned to work.

Moments later, both robots paused again in their work at the sound of a crash. StockBot2 rolled out and surveyed the door again. The tall human had thrown a non-store object against the glass doors. The glass was unaffected. The tall human had picked up the non-store object again.

"Humans disobeying store protocol at door," StockBot2 noted, updating his assessment.

StockBot1 heard this second piece of information and considered his managerial software. It weighed what it had learned against what it was programmed to do. It was dealing with humans who were not customers, and these humans were disobeying store protocol. StockBot1 made an executive decision, the third in his 762 days.

"They are trespassing." StockBot1 decided. "Security systems alerted. Return to work."

StockBots 1 and 2 returned to work. They did not pause in their work at the sound of the security systems, nor did they record any of the sounds they heard from SecurityBots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, nor did they record any of the sounds they heard from the trespassers. StockBot2 checked once to see if the glass was unaffected, which it was.

Soon there was no more noise, and StockBots 1 and 2 completed their work, returned to their charging receptacles, and slept.