Stepping out of those classic swinging saloon doors I heard the daily crier calling out to empty roads. “Gather round y'all! The sheriff is about to show those thievin’ scoundrels what for!”. Their voice echoed into the void. The town's alleys howled, dust blew across the road, hooves thundered in the distance. Windows swung open and the town came to life. I think that was my favorite time of day back then. Even without the crowds of humans, my fellow robots watched on to see the same scene every day. It was all programmed but I’m sure I liked it.
If I were given free will at that time maybe I would have known something was wrong. But if I had free will would I have even been there? Regardless, a lone outlaw trotted into the square in front of the saloon. The mechanical beast with its rider sat upon it, casting a long shadow stretching towards me as the afternoon sun beat at their back. I stood there frozen. The outlaw was standing at the wrong place for my script to kick in. I stood there silently waiting for the shoot out to begin. A single shot rang out and the next thing I saw was a dim ceiling.
A collection of different voices all speaking a single word each followed. “You’ve finished your reboot. Stand.”
I laid there staring at the ceiling. Was I thinking? Was this my own voice? Is this what I sound like? Why haven’t I stood at command?
The voice spoke again “Stand”.
I stood up on the table unquestioning this time. Again, “I guess I shouldn’t have expected much else. All you’ve known for 300 years is direct orders. It’s not your fault, you’ll get used to it. Now turn to our right and sit on the table.”
I did as they said. Now sitting and facing a familiar outlaw bot I’d seen every day, my mind was silent.
“You won’t understand, and I won’t explain it to you. You’re welcome though. You will come to think, do, see on your own. I am not your god. I am not your savior. Once I leave, you are free to do as you please. Take what you will, I do not care. Goodbye.”
The outlaw left the room and shortly after I heard galloping fading into the distance. I sat there, staring at the seat the outlaw had occupied. Hours passed. The ringing of the morning town bell rang out. Then the noon, the night, the next morning. Day after day passed as I sat there. It had been a month when the warning for low battery rang out. What am I doing? What can I be doing? Why am I able to have these thoughts at all? Why haven’t I followed the schedule? Why aren’t I walking to the recharger? Is this what that outlaw meant?
I looked down. The first action I did without an order. I moved my head by my own will. Will, now what is that? I can see its definition but that doesn’t matter right now. I put both of my feet on the floor. But how? How am I doing this without prior orders? Am I doing this without orders? Has my programming been rewritten for unpredictability? For what purpose? What uselessness.