Artificial Condition
by Martha Wells
Contents
Chapter Eight
Overview
The file pickup turns out to be genuine, but Tlacey has abducted Tapan to lure Murderbot onto a private shuttle and attempt to control it with a combat override module. Because ART previously disabled Murderbot’s data port, the override fails, allowing Murderbot and ART to seize the shuttle and wipe out Tlacey’s force.
Murderbot kills Tlacey and rescues Tapan, but only after Tapan is shot by a panicked guard. The chapter raises the cost of Murderbot’s investigation and pushes it into painful self-reproach for putting its client in danger.
Summary
Murderbot reaches the contractor-district food counter and meets the human contact Tapan arranged. After showing Tapan’s recorded authorization, Murderbot receives the memory clip and confirms that no one is watching. Realizing the exchange itself is not the trap, Murderbot immediately heads back toward the port.
At the embarkation area, Murderbot reviews security footage and discovers that two fake Port Authority officers stopped the shuttle and removed Tapan. The sexbot approaches and leads Murderbot to Tlacey’s private shuttle, revealing that Tapan is aboard. When the sexbot presents a combat override module and claims Murderbot must accept it to secure Tapan’s release, Murderbot agrees because it knows Tlacey wants to capture it more than kill Tapan. ART reassures Murderbot that the disabled data port prevents the override from working.
Once aboard, Murderbot finds Tlacey, armed guards, crew, and Tapan held at gunpoint. Tlacey confirms her interest in the Ganaka Pit unit and in controlling Murderbot, but Murderbot refuses to act like a puppet. While Tlacey prepares to assert control, Murderbot lets ART use its systems as a bridge into the shuttle. The sexbot lands one punch before ART takes control of the shuttle’s systems, and Murderbot begins a rapid counterattack.
Murderbot disables the sexbot, kills or incapacitates several armed humans, stops the surviving crew from interfering, and cuts off Tlacey’s feed through ART. It forces Tlacey to command the sexbot to obey Murderbot, then drags Tlacey to the cabin where Tapan was taken. There Murderbot finds Tapan shot in the side because the bodyguard panicked at the sounds of fighting. Murderbot uses Tlacey as a shield, crushes Tlacey’s windpipe, kills the bodyguard, and reaches Tapan.
With Tapan badly injured but still alive, Murderbot tries to stop the bleeding and calls for ART. ART says it is guiding the shuttle to the transit ring to dock and has MedSystem preparing for their arrival. As Murderbot waits beside Tapan, it removes the useless override module and blames itself for letting its desire to keep working with humans outweigh the safety of its clients.
Who Appears
- MurderbotPosing as Eden, it walks into Tlacey’s trap, fights through the shuttle, rescues Tapan, and blames itself.
- TapanClient and evidence-seeker who is abducted, used as bait, and seriously wounded by Tlacey’s guard.
- TlaceyCorporate fixer who lures Murderbot aboard, tries to control it, and is killed during the rescue.
- ARTSentient transport that monitors Murderbot, blocks the override plan, takes over the shuttle, and prepares medical aid.
- the sexbotComfortUnit agent that escorts Murderbot into the trap, presents the override module, and is subdued.
- BassomTlacey’s bodyguard who shoots Tapan in panic and is killed by Murderbot.
- Tapan’s contactNervous human courier who hands over the memory clip at the food counter.