Bradley

During those five years Bradley had taken the opportunity to sift through his own internal data banks. He had no reason to do so other than something to occupy his thought processes. As standard he had been programmed with vast libraries of medical knowledge to cater for any eventuality.

Bradley's analysis had drawn some startling conclusions that only he himself would probably know about. He had began to study his own brain patterns. The way he functioned and the processes his mind undertook in certain situations.

In the time since his imprisonment his operating procedures had altered. His general operating speed had slowed somewhat, this he deduced was not necessarily a bad thing. A slower speed meant less strain on components in all areas. However he did notice that his speed was starting to drop into regions of human activity.

Bradley also studied all references in his data bank to dreams. He had concluded that it might be constructive, in such a closed and non stimulating environment, to attempt dreaming himself.

As weeks went by Bradley began experimenting with his own internal systems. He soon discovered that by introducing random imagery and sound from his memory cells directly into his positronic brain and then significantly reducing the power feed to the brain itself, he would enter a state he came to refer to as 'dreamlike'.

The images and sounds were all those contained within his memory but in this new environment the memories had tendencies to become skewed and distorted.

When this happened Bradley began to experience unexpected surges in power through the pathways of his brain. Bradley likened this to a self preservation mode, after all he was bound by the three laws. Although upon later perusal Bradley began to wonder if he himself was capable of feeling fear.

Bradley's dreams started to become involuntary, whenever he entered a low power usage mode which had become most of the time. His memory cells would fire and Bradley would be treated to truths and half truths from his own existence.

The most common image was his activation day, not the first one at the factory but his first true activation day at the Anderson Cale household. The weather on that day had been fine, as it always was when the weather satellites dictated it should be.

Bradley had been assembled on the back lawn of the house by an engineer called Dwight from U.S Mechanicals while Anderson and Eve watched.

The activation had been painless enough with Dwight performing the normal test routines that all robots had to endure. He swept his hands in front of Bradley's eyes and checked for any illogical or inappropriate movement. He tested reactions with a simple 'catch the ball' scenario and about a dozen other exercises until he was satisfied Bradley was in working order.

After he left, Anderson Cale seemed keen to take over. He extended his hand to Bradley and shook it firmly. Bradley returned the gesture. His programming had not prepared him for this type of activity. Instead his programming had instructed him that as an artificial being he was to take no liberties in the greeting of humans.

As the weeks moved by Bradley's learning capacity tripled. He began to learn human behavioural patterns, although his core programming meant that he would never overstep any boundaries that had been set within him. His patterns of speech began to relax and become less formal and without realising it Bradley began to evolve...

...which is what made being confined in a box in a dozen pieces so unbearable. Bradley had become a creature of evolution. Whether artificial or not, it seemed he had brought about a change through his own actions.