Armitage: Dual Matrix Page #2

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The real criminals

are the humans!

...and Mr. Oldman has gained

an amazing amount of support...

...as the vanguard of those

who believe in Robot Rights...

...and desire a new social order

which denies human supremacy.

Furthermore, the incident is

expected to have a large effect...

...on the upcoming Chicago Summit

between Earth and Mars in 2 weeks...

...which will address

the Robot Rights bill.

We have an analyst

here with an opinion.

Should robots be granted

the same rights as humans?

Most of Earth had been

against it and would say no...

...but the more liberal

Martians had favored it.

Because of that, the bill was

expected to go nowhere...

...but the aftermath

of the First Error...

...slightly moved Martian

public opinion against it.

However, this latest incident has

revitalized Robot Rights activities.

Well, our focus

now will be on...

...how this all affects

the upcoming summit.

You really did it this time, Kevin.

Or should I say Ross Sylibus?

I'm sorry, all of the robot

doormen were let go.

Let me get that

bag for you.

Who are you?

You're Strings, right?

I came to ask why

you killed those robots.

What?

I'm talking about all

those robots you killed.

Killed? Robots?

Don't you mean "destroyed?"

Does that include

the humans, too?

You probably know that 18% of

that plant's staffwas human.

You act as though you

were there yourself.

For the sake of humanity, for the

sake of our righteous goal...

You...! You're a robot?!

You're garbage!

Some sick monster

who gets off on killing!

You killed them all to hide the existence

of the Third Project, didn't you?!

Third? What are

you talking about?

Don't play dumb!

Hold it!

Hold it right there,

Naomi Armitage.

Demitrio...

I can just see

tomorrow's headlines:

"Hero of the First Error suppression,

murdered by robot assassin."

What?!

Sorry to have exposed you

to such unpleasantness.

How do you

know my name?

Well, well, well!

Has life on the run dulled

your detective's intuition?

My name is Demitrio Mardini.

Executive Vice President

of Earth Robotronics.

And you're the daughter of the great

genius, Dr. Asakura, are you not?

I've so looked forward to

meeting you. This is an honor.

Welcome to Earth, my dear!

Now, shall we get

down to business?

I've brought him, sir.

It's been a long time,

Ross Sylibus.

Mr. Chairman...

I called you here for a reason.

I need a favor, Ross.

Y- Yes, sir...

Would you go

to Earth, please?

I want you to attend

the Chicago Summit.

As the representative

of me, Frederick Ohara...

...chairman of the Martian

Development Foundation.

You'll go, won't you?

Me, sir...?

To begin with,

the remarkable advancements...

...in robot production techniques on

Mars have been driven by necessity.

The birth rate has been

dropping dramatically...

...since the fourth

generation of colonists.

And there's a labor shortage.

That, in turn, led to a need for

robots to be dependable partners.

If they're to be partners,

they need to be given rights...

...protected by law as good

citizens and good neighbors.

It's the only logical

outcome, isn't it?

But it's an outcome

I can't allow.

Demand for the Seconds

imported from Mars...

...is slowing my company down.

And if the Robot Rights bill goes

through, things will get worse.

It could shake every union

to its foundations.

As a businessman,

I want to prevent that.

So, you're spinning

a new scenario.

You made up the First Error,

the robot uprising.

Not quite. The uprising

did actually happen.

If you made it all the

way to Earth like this...

...you must know

about that already.

I don't just know

about it! I saw it!

I'm carrying the memories of a

Third who was built in that plant!

I see. It's fascinating how

you robots communicate...

Listen to me. You Thirds live

a very sad existence.

No one will acknowledge you exist,

and so you're doomed to be forgotten.

What I want is to give you all a

clear and specific purpose in life:

The creation of human beings!

A most honorable

purpose, is it not?

Oh, that's bullshit! Why do

you think the Thirds rebelled...

...when they were forced

into that research?!

Well, I can't believe it.

Your friends tried to escape

from the Garden of Eden.

Listen, this is a wonderful

operation I'm proposing.

From time immemorial, the most

difficult task has been...

...the creation of humans

you can manipulate freely.

Now you can do it.

You can make a cheap labor

force who will never complain.

Or produce soldiers

who aren't afraid of dying.

Creating people to simply love

would be nice, too, wouldn't it?

The ultimate product,

wouldn't you say?

You...

You want to play God?

Not quite...

Perhaps just have the

power of one of His chosen.

And that's why you killed the

human staff members as well.

Yes, that's right.

So, won't you come with me?

To my Garden of Eden?

If you have that other Third's

memories, you must understand.

I need your power.

I need you...

The original Third.

Go to hell.

You disappoint me.

Grab her!

You seem to be in pain

all of a sudden.

So, how do you like

its jamming functions?

All right! Take her!

What's wrong?!

This date's over.

You're just not my type!

Did she get away?

Or is she dead?

No...

She's a Third, after all...

Oh, I found a

real beauty here!

This isn't some consumer model you

can get off the assembly lines!

Skeletal frame says

"Made on Mars."

Well, let's ask this little

stranger who she is...

These are her

latest memories.

I doubt it misfired...

Oh, I see...

She took over its power systems

and then must have activated...

...the gun's safety and its

proximity fuse at the same time.

Well, that's how you use

telepresence abilities!

Hey!

Quit poking around

in my memories!

Didn't mean any harm!

I'm Mouse, a repairman.

And you, my dear, are a mess.

Your main autonomous nerve lines and

vital parts are completely severed.

If you went to a dealer...

...they'd tell you to forget about

repairs and just buy a new body!

Unfortunately, I'm kinda

attached to this body.

Anyway, I need to move again.

Can you do that?

CAN I? I am a genius!

However, it'll cost you.

Payment to be made in

Earth dollars. And no IOUs!

We will soon be arriving

at the orbital station.

The following connecting shuttles

are scheduled to leave from there:

Chicago, flight 102,

departing at 13:
00.

Daddy, it's just like

you said! It's so pretty!

Toronto, flight 618,

departing at 14:
10.

Yeah...

Would you go

to Earth, please?

We've worked so hard on...

...the Robot Rights summit

and have gotten so far.

I naturally intended

to attend it myself...

...but in light of what happened

to you, I've changed my mind.

Earth is very nervous about...

...the rising drive for

Martian independence.

They're threatened

by the pressure for...

...the Zephyria terra

forming project.

And now they're

telling us to accept...

...40 million immigrants during

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