Nigel underestimated how strong these robots were. The cleaning robot was rolling back and forth into his shins. Nigel looked back, and Jony was trying to push the larger robot back. He seemed to be losing the battle. Nigel tried climbing over the robot, but the tray elevated to block his advance.

I need to deactivate them—but how? Nigel thought in a panic.

Nigel got an idea. He reached into his backpack for the screwdriver he had brought just in case he needed to take apart something.

“Got it!” Nigel said.

“What’s that?” Jony asked.

Nigel jammed the screwdriver into the robot’s access panel with one hand while steadying the robot with the other. After a few tries, the panel opened. Nigel could see a circuit board. He hit the board with the screwdriver. The only effect he could discern was that some LEDs went out. Then he saw it: a thick wire running down the inside of the chassis. Nigel hit the wire as hard as he could, several times. The robot responded by backing up.

Nigel ran after it.

I must have hit a nerve. Damn! This thing is fast, Nigel thought.

Nigel caught up to it at the end of the catwalk, and it zipped out of sight. He looked back. Jony was running toward him; the robot was still trying to take a piece out of his backside. Slots containing folders and various papers were moving in and out like a psychotic metal beast. Jony reached the end of the catwalk and the mail robot kept moving down the hallway.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“What the bloody hell was that?” Jony said, panting.

“I believe that Delta has become self-aware,” Nigel said.

Nigel followed the featureless hallway until it ended, no signs of robots or anything else.

“Looks like a dead end!” Jony said.

“The robots had to go somewhere!” Nigel said.

Nigel touched the smooth walls, which were cold to the touch. He rubbed his hand alongside the entire wall. Jony was sitting on the floor, laptop open.

“Looking for the free Wi-Fi?” Nigel said.

Jony laughed.

“No access points in range, but I see a Bluetooth connection just on the other side of this wall. The signal is weak, but I can boost it.”

Jony took out a small cylindrical antenna in a clear plastic tube and plugged it into his laptop.

“I performed a blue bug attack on whatever I connected to. Performing scans now.”

Nigel continued to look for an opening.

“Jackpot! Someone left an open Bluetooth connection on the computer that controls security of the facility. Amateurs!” Jony said.

“Can you find out what system controls the robots? Also, open the main door,” Nigel said.

“I’m unable to find the robot system, but I’ve opened all doors on this level. Wait! My computer froze.”

Jony tried holding down the power button—nothing. Then, to his astonishment, several command windows opened. Someone was trying to access AlphaFour, the Black Iris AI! Something has locked me out of my computer. “Bollocks!” Jony shouted.

“Looks like your computer has been owned,” Nigel said.

“That’s impossible. I . . .” Jony trailed off.

“It’s your hardware controller. Several wireless vendors got their firmware compromised. When’s the last time you performed a BIOS update?” Nigel said.

“AlphaFour connection granted. Thank you for your participation, Mr. Clarke,” a female voice said.

“It’s screwing with you! Pull the battery . . . now!” Nigel said.

“I can’t! It’s integrated,” Jony said.

Nigel pulled out a set of small screwdrivers and motioned for the computer. Jony handed it over. Nigel took out as many screws as fast as he could, and then he ripped off the back cover and pulled the battery connector out.

“That should do it!” Nigel said.

He gave the computer back to Jony and started walking down the hallway.