On Lampadas, Gilbertus Albans speaks privately with the hidden Erasmus memory core. Erasmus reminds Gilbertus that Erasmus helped shape the Mentat School and urges Gilbertus not to abandon the old dream of a thinking-machine Utopia, but Gilbertus privately recognizes that years among free humans have changed Gilbertus's views. After studying accounts of Serena Butler’s Jihad, Gilbertus now sees human resistance to the machines with more sympathy, though Gilbertus cannot admit this shift to Erasmus.

Erasmus presses Gilbertus to find Erasmus a new body, even suggesting a decommissioned combat mek. Gilbertus delays, claiming caution, while inwardly fearing what Erasmus might do if restored to full capability. Gilbertus considers telling Draigo Roget, Gilbertus's finest student and teaching assistant, about Erasmus, but decides Gilbertus is not yet certain of Draigo's unconditional loyalty.

Later, Gilbertus deliberately assigns Alys Carroll, a Butlerian student admitted as a favor to Manford Torondo, to help inventory robot components in the school storeroom. Alys resists the task and reveals her intention to work for the Butlerian movement, possibly even remaining at the school to ensure students receive proper instruction. Gilbertus challenges her arrogance and insists that a Mentat must examine reality objectively, even when the data is uncomfortable.

In the storeroom, Alys is horrified by the dismantled robot heads, combat-mek limbs, and intact but disarmed combat meks used for instruction. Gilbertus explains that the machines are defeated remnants, not active threats, but hidden spyeyes and flowmetal circuits linked to Erasmus allow the memory core to observe. Suddenly, robot heads glow, limbs twitch, and combat meks move, terrifying Alys into believing the machines are possessed.

Gilbertus calmly powers down each component and claims the disturbance was only a random power surge, but Gilbertus knows Erasmus caused it. Alys flees, likely to tell other Butlerians or report to Manford, increasing the danger that inspectors could come to Lampadas. Gilbertus returns to the office and angrily confronts Erasmus, who admits the event amused Erasmus and served as a test of Erasmus's hidden extensions.

Erasmus dismisses the risk and complains of boredom, wanting to leave and build a new machine city where Erasmus and Gilbertus can work freely. Gilbertus warns that Manford and the Butlerians would destroy Erasmus, Gilbertus, and the school if Erasmus were discovered, and insists that the political mood of the Imperium makes patience necessary. Erasmus likens the confinement to being trapped in a crevasse on Corrin, while Gilbertus seals the core away again, shaken by how difficult Erasmus has become to control.