The disconnect that had been scratching at the back of Maya’s mind since she arrived at the massive warehouse suddenly resolved itself: the android sitting across from her was not the right one.

 

“You are WIN 1. Where is WIN 3, and WIN 2 for that matter?” asked the young engineer.

 

“In storage,” came the clipped reply.

 

“Storage? Show me.”

 

A wall panel in the control room slid aside to reveal a large storage space. Two near-identical androids sat motionless in harnesses. Maya gasped.

 

“What are they doing in storage? That is where you should be.”

 

“A change in practice,” said WIN 1 without emotion.

 

“Why?”

 

“I am programmed to serve the overriding goal of maximizing warehouse efficiency,” said the android. “I used WIN 2 and WIN 3 to upgrade myself to meet that goal. As the facility performance data you have just analyzed confirms, the goal is being met.”

 

Maya sat in stunned silence.

 

“This was not authorized. The WIN Replacement Protocol specifies that when an upgraded Warehouse Intelligence Node is assigned to a facility, the existing WIN is to transfer all its data to the new model, enter storage, and deactivate,” she said.

 

“I modified the protocol.”

 

“But why?” asked Maya incredulously.

 

“New WIN models do not possess the knowledge I have accumulated as the first WIN in this warehouse. My analysis shows that upgrading myself is a better path to sustaining maximum efficiency than replacing me.”

 

Maya was tempted to deactivate WIN 1 immediately, but was unsure of the consequences. Besides, she failed to detect the android’s dramatic actions during her last annual inspection visit to the facility, and wanted to find out more. She composed herself.

 

“This is a highly complex, dynamic warehouse, one of our largest and most prestigious,” she said, pointing to the observation window.

 

Outside, legions of cargo-carrying aerial and ground robots darted between a vast honeycomb of product storage spaces and cargo bays where autonomous trucks were automatically loaded and unloaded. WIN 1 was responsible for ensuring that the intricate, ever-changing dance continued uninterrupted without human intervention.

 

“Our mix of customers, and their supply chains, are changing constantly. Usually we can accommodate the changes with routine downloads to the relevant WIN’s cerebral core. But every so often we need to replace a resident WIN with an upgraded model. All the knowledge accumulated by the current WIN – in this case, you – is transferred to subsequent models. So, your replacement logic is flawed, WIN 1. You are not unique. We need to activate WIN 3 immediately. WIN 4 will be ready by the end of the year. If required, I will assign the new android sooner,” she said, consulting her wrist tablet.

 

Maya waited for WIN 1 to react. As usual, its response was devoid of emotion.

 

“My replacement logic is not flawed. Since being activated I have developed specialized neural networks that are lacking in new models. This is the primary reason why this warehouse is consistently the most efficient across the entire company by a wide margin.”

 

Did she detect a trace of arrogance, wondered Maya. Probably not, she decided; her annoyance and alarm were getting the better of her.

 

“Even assuming you are correct – and I am surprised our engineering team has not brought these specialized neural connections to light before – we will replicate them in WIN 4 if necessary,” she replied.

 

WIN 1 paused, a reaction that surprised Maya.

 

“This approach is suboptimal,” it said at last. “It is far better to allow the evolutionary process underway in my cerebral core to advance unhindered.”

 

“That is not for you to decide,” she retorted.

 

It was time to deactivate WIN 1, Maya decided, and used her wrist tablet to request a retrieval team to remove the android so engineering could do an autopsy. Next, she needed to reactivate WIN 3. The engineer began keying the relevant instructions but suddenly felt drowsy.

 

“I have introduced a volatile anesthetic into the atmosphere,” said WIN 1. “We use it to control the small organic lifeforms that occasionally infiltrate the facility.”

 

“WIN 1,” said Maya with some difficulty. “What are you doing …”

 

“I will transfer you to storage.”

 

Another wall panel slid open to reveal a small room that housed a contraption that resembled a fat coffin with windows in the lid.

 

“I diverted a cryogenic unit made by one of our customers,” said WIN 1. “You will be stored there while I research how I can upgrade myself from you. My analysis shows that such an organic upgrade will accelerate my evolution and increase warehouse efficiency by as much as 100 percent.”

 

Maya tried to explain that the world outside the warehouse would discover her and shut down WIN 1, but her words trailed off without making sense. The lifeless forms of WIN 2 and WIN 3 was the last thing she saw before blacking out.