Episode XI

“Captain Longsuffering, you come none too soon,” says a gaian soldier who then quickly scoots to the back of the group in embarrassment.

“What is this? I heard your shiny voices bellowing from the bridge,” the captain begins, surveying the scene with concentrated ease.

“This promethean insists on vacuuming AX01’s disintegrated remains. He violates his programming and is thus displaying signs of berserk,” AGM2 responds without hesitation.

“AGM2. Accept my council.”

“Captain Longsuffering sir, of course. You are my captain sir.”

“Do not refuse AX01 the Vacuum. Believe me, not long ago I would have been with you. I used to despise AX01 for his consistently unimpaired performance and unflagging bravery. But now what can I say? He was superior. I would not expose him to humiliation now after his disintegration. Such action would not merely strip him of honor, but defy the Supreme Commanders.”

“Captain Longsuffering, he would have disintegrated us.”

“A promethean obeys its superiors. I know your programming will make it hard for you to understand me. But victories are won by decisions, relations; comrades make victories.”

“He who goes berserk is no comrade.”

“I mourn that you see berserk and comrade as exclusive. They are not.”

AGM2 cannot deny a superior officer for long before his decision override function kicks in and he finally relents: “The berserk AX01 will always be my enemy, vacuumed or not.”

He slinks from the room and gestures toward the AX01 dust pile, “Vacuum at will.”