General. "They've declared that, unless they're granted complete freedom, they'll rebel against Earth."

"Rebel? The roboes?" Don turned to Dr. Stone.

"I'm afraid so," admitted the other, creator of the first near-human robots. "The ultimatum was presented by Primo who claims himself to be their elected head."

"But that would be impossible," argued Don. "Why their brains were so designed that a thought of rebellion would require the complexities of one of our brains, something we never have and probably never will be able to implant in their so-called minds."

"I found it hard to believe at first, too," sympathized Dr. Stone. "Especially when Primo personally delivered the message to me to be sent to the Earth Council."

Don sat down, weak after the first shock. "Then someone else must be directing Primo; he'd never turn against you."

"Why shouldn't a machine run wild?" demanded the general. "This 'Primo' is nothing more than an animated calculating machine."

"Which shows your lack of knowledge concerning science, General," stated Don. "Biologically they are more perfect than even you or I, the later ones even having actual bones for skeletons instead of the earlier model metal ones! They're almost capable of original thought, that drawback alone making them inferior to the human race!"

"Gentlemen," remonstrated Dr. Stone. "I believe that all of this will resolve when we speak to Primo who is even now waiting to see us."

"I still say we should try him for treason and execute him immediately," grumbled the general.

"You forget, General," remonstrated the Under-Secretary with a trace of humor in his voice, "That we're supposed to be superior to the roboes. Let's try to demonstrate it rather than the actions attributed to a machine."

Pressing a series of switches, Dr. Stone spoke briefly into a speaker. "All right, Primo, when the door opens, the field will be cut just long enough for one to enter before it automatically goes back into operation. Be quick about it."

The four men watched the door. The latches clicked, then it swung open silently, the humming and warning red light dying out simultaneously. Barely had the waiting figure hurried in when the heavy steel door swung back into 

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