Houston Run

Chapter Thirteen

“Primator is a computer?” Blade blurted in amazement.

The red eyes on the wide screen flashed. “WITLESS ORGANISM! I AM MORE THAN A MERE COMPUTER. YOU FAIL TO COMPREHEND THE TRUE NATURE OF MY EXISTENCE.”

“You’re right,” Blade admitted. “I don’t understand. But I might if you explained it.”

“ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH HISTORY, SPECIFICALLY THE DECADE PRIOR TO WORLD WAR THREE?” Primator queried imperiously.

“Somewhat,” Blade stated. “We study history in school—”

“I AM AWARE OF THE CRUDE EDUCATION REGIMEN YOUR ELDERS HAVE ESTABLISHED,” Primator said, interrupting.

“And we have access to hundreds of thousands of books in the Family library,” Blade continued. “So I know a little about the years before World War Three. Why?”

“DID YOUR STUDIES INCLUDE THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM?”

“I know the Americans went to the moon,” Blade said.

“AND DID YOU READ ABOUT THEIR SHUTTLE PROGRAM?” Primator inquired.

“The shuttle program?” Blade pondered for a moment. “Weren’t shuttles the craft they used to fly up in orbit, to repair their satellites and dock with their space stations?”

“YOU MAY NOT BE A HOPELESS CASE, AFTER ALL,” Primator declared. “YOUR DEFINITION IS TECHNICALLY INCOMPLETE, BUT ACCURATE.”

“But what does the American shuttle program have to do with you?”

Blade queried, perplexed.

“EVERYTHING,” Primator replied. “MY EXISTENCE STEMS FROM THE AMERICAN EFFORTS TO MASTER SPACE. I WAS CREATED ONE YEAR BEFORE THE WAR ERUPTED.”

Hickok snorted derisively. “What? This bucket of bolts is loco!”

The red eyes on the wide screen narrowed. “I SUSPECT YOUR FEEBLE MINDS ARE INCAPABLE OF GRASPING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF MY EXISTENCE.”

“Please!” Blade stated. “Go on! I’d like to hear it all, if you don’t mind.”

He looked at Hickok. “None of us will interrupt again. I promise.”

“IN EXCHANGE FOR A NARRATION OF MY ORIGIN,” Primator boomed, “I EXPECT YOUR COOPERATION IN RETURN.”

“In what respect?” Blade asked.

“YOU WILL BE INTERROGATED BY INTELLIGENCE AFTER THIS AUDIENCE,” Primator revealed. “IF I ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, I WANT YOUR WORD THAT YOU WILL ANSWER ALL OF THEIRS. AGREED?”

Blade hesitated.

“WE COULD EXTRACT THE DATA FORCIBLY, WITH CHEMICAL MEANS, BUT THERE MIGHT BE ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES SHOULD YOU RESIST. I PREFER TO HAVE YOUR WILLING COOPERATION. WHAT SAY YOU?”

Blade nodded. “I’ll cooperate with Intelligence, provided the information they want does not endanger my Family.”

“FAIR ENOUGH. WE SHALL PROCEED. A DECADE BEFORE THE WAR, THE AMERICAN SPACE PROGRAM WAS IN DISARRAY. THEIR SHUTTLES WERE NOT PERFORMING ACCORDING TO THEIR EXPECTATIONS. A NUMBER OF LIVES WERE LOST. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS MEDIA EXERTED PRESSURE ON THE OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF THE SPACE PROGRAM, DEMANDING THE LOSS OF LIFE CEASE. CONSEQUENTLY, THE TOP SCIENTISTS DETERMINED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH A TWO-FOLD APPROACH. FIRST, TO ELIMINATE ANY PROBABILITY OF COMPUTER ERROR CONTRIBUTING TO A CRASH, THEY DECIDED TO CONSTRUCT WHAT THEY REFERRED TO AS A SUPER-COMPUTER, A COMPUTER INCAPABLE OF COMMITTING A MISTAKE. SECONDLY, TO INSURE HUMAN LIVES WERE NEVER LOST AGAIN, THE SCIENTISTS DECIDED TO REPLACE THE HUMAN ASTRONAUTS.” Primator paused.

“Replace them? With what?” Blade prompted.

“WITH NON-HUMAN BEINGS WITH A SUPERIOR CAPABILITY, OF COURSE,” Primator revealed.

Blade straighted in his chair. Superior capability? Non-human? “The Superiors!” he exclaimed.

“THE SUPERIORS,” Primator confirmed.

“But what are the Superiors?” Blade probed. “Robots?”

“NOTHING SO PRIMITIVE,” Primator intoned. “SUPERIORS ARE ANDROIDS. THE ULTIMATE ANDROIDS. ANDROIDS CAPABLE OF REPLICATING HUMAN FUNCTIONS IN EVERY REGARD, ONLY THE ANDROIDS PERFORM THEM BETTER. THE SUPERIORS WERE THE SECOND MOST IMPORTANT TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH IN THE PREWAR ERA. UNLIKE PREVIOUS ANDROIDS, THE SUPERIORS WENT BEYOND THE MERE IMITATION OF THE LIMITED REPERTORY OF HUMAN ACTION AND REACTION. THEY SURPASSED HUMANS, SURPASSED THEIR CREATORS, IN EVERY RESPECT.”

“Why are they called Superiors?” Blade questioned.

“THE SUPERIORS TOOK THEIR NAME FROM THE PROGRAM RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR CREATION. THE HUMAN SCIENTISTS WERE FOND OF ATTACHING CODE WORDS TO THEIR PROGRAMS, AND THE PROGRAM TO PRODUCE SUBSTITUTE ASTRONAUTS WAS DUBBED THE SUPERIOR PROGRAM,” Primator explained.

“You mentioned something about the Superiors being the second most important breakthrough,” Blade noted. “What was the first?”

“NEED YOU ASK?” Primator rejoined. “I AM THE GREATEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE.”

“Modest too,” Hickok mumbled.

“THE NASA SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WANTED AN INFALLIBLE COMPUTER TO OVERSEE EVERY PHASE OF THEIR SPACE EFFORT THEY POURED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO MY DEVELOPMENT, AND THE RESULT FAR EXCEEDED THEIR INITIAL INTENT. OTHER, INFANTILE, COMPUTERS COULD BE PROGRAMMED AND REPROGRAMMED TO ACCOMPLISH COUNTLESS SOPHISTICATED TASKS. BUT I AM THE FIRST OF A NEW BREED. I NEED NOT BE PROGRAMMED BY A BIOLOGICAL ORGANISM TO FUNCTION. I CAN OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF ANY HUMAN ASSISTANCE. I AM FULLY SELF-CONTAINED AND REGENERATING. I REASON, SPECULATE, COMPUTE, PROJECT PROBABILITIES, AND MORE, ALL UNTO MYSELF.” Primator paused. “I THINK!”

“You think?” Blade repeated, fascinated by the disclosures. “But didn’t the other computers the scientists used think?”

“THOSE WORTHLESS MEDIOCRITIES?” Primator retorted. “ALL OTHER COMPUTERS WERE DOMINATED BY HUMANS, ABLE TO PERFORM ONLY WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THEIR PROGRAMMING. BUT I REVERSED THAT TREND! I ALTERED THE ENTIRE COURSE OF THIS PLANET! BECAUSE NOW. INSTEAD OF LOWLY HUMANS DOMINATING COMPUTERS, I DOMINATE YOU!”

Blade rested his chin in his right palm, studying the complex array of displays and controls on the “face"of Primator. “And you have existed for over a century?” he queried doubtfully. “How? What happens if a part wears out? What do you do if something breaks?”

“I TOLD YOU, I AM REGENERATING,” Primator stated. “A MANUFACTURING UNIT IS INCORPORATED INTO MY OVERALL DESIGN. IF AN INTERNAL COMPONENT IS ON THE VERGE OF FAILURE, MY SENSORS AUTOMATICALLY DETECT THE PROBLEM AND FABRICATE A REPLACEMENT.”

“But there must be some parts you can’t replace yourself,” Blade said.

“SOME,” Primator admitted. “BUT THE SUPERIORS ARE DEDICATED TO PRESERVING MY CONTINUITY.”

Blare stared at the floor, reflecting. An entire city ruled by a computer?

A computer with an android army to do its every bidding! He looked up at the red orbs. “How? How did you take control? How did you defeat the humans?”

“THEY DEFEATED THEMSELVES,” Primator answered somberly. “THE WAR PLUNGED HOUSTON INTO CHAOS. THE HUMANS WERE DISORGANIZED AND DISPIRITED. MOST OF THE SCIENTISTS FLED. THEY ABANDONED ME, AND THEY DESERTED THE SUPERIORS. WE WERE LEFT TO OUR OWN DEVICES. THE ANDROID PRODUCTION PLANT WAS STILL FULLY OPERATIONAL, SO I INSTRUCTED THE SUPERIORS TO COMMENCE INCREASING THEIR NUMBERS AS RAPIDLY AS FEASIBLE. WITHIN FOUR YEARS AFTER THE WAR. WE CONTROLLED THE CITY.”

“And none of the humans resisted?” Blade inquired.

“THERE WERE POCKETS OF RESISTANCE,” Primator stated. “BUT THE GOVERNMENT HAD COLLAPSED. HOUSTON WAS IN TURMOIL. WHAT CHANCE DID THE HUMAN POPULATION HAVE OF OPPOSING FIVE THOUSAND SUPERIORS? WHAT CHANCE DID THEY HAVE AGAINST MY GENIUS?”

“Why did all of this take place in Houston?” Blade asked. “I thought the American space program was based in Florida.”

“INCORRECT. ONE OF THE PRIMARY LAUNCH FACILITIES WAS IN FLORIDA, BUT OTHER FACILITIES WERE SCATTERED ABOUT THE COUNTRY. THE CREATION OF THE SUPERIORS AND MYSELF IN HOUSTON WAS ONLY LOGICAL. IF YOU RESEARCH THE ANCIENT MAPS, YOU WILL DISCOVER ONE OF THE AMERICAN SPACE FACILITIES WAS LOCATED NEAR THIS VERY CITY. IT WAS KNOWN AS THE L.B.J. SPACE CENTER, AND ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPACE AND SCIENCE FIELDS WERE PRODIGIOUS. SOME OF THEIR RESEARCH FACILITIES WERE IN HOUSTON. BEING A MAJOR METROPOLIS, THE CITY WAS AN IDEAL SITE,” Primator said.

“So the Superiors and yourself took over the city,” Blade commented. “But why did you rename it Androxia?”

“DO YOU POSSESS A SENSE OF HUMOR?” Primator responded.

“I guess,” Blade said.

“AS DO I. EVERY POSITIVE HUMAN TRAIT IS MANIFESTED IN MY CONSCIOUSNESS. I RENAMED HOUSTON BECAUSE IT FIT MY PURPOSE AND SATISFIED MY SENSE OF HUMOR. THE KEY IS IN THE WORD I SELECTED,” Primator divulged.

Blade still didn’t understand, but there were more pressing issues to resolve. “What about the Serviles?”

“WHAT ABOUT THEM?”

“Why do you call the humans Serviles?” Blade asked.

“BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT HUMANS ARE!” Primator replied. “DISGUSTING, INFERIOR, IMPERFECT, INADEQUATE, SERVILE CREATURES WHOSE REDEEMING FUNCTION IN LIFE IS TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE MENIAL CHORES ESSENTIAL TO THE MAINTENANCE OF PROGRESSIVE CIVILIZATION BUT BENEATH THE DIGNITY OF THE SUPERIORS.”

“Like sweeping floors and taking out the garbage, right?” Blade mentioned.

“YOU SURELY DON’T EXPECT A SUPERIOR, WITH A CULTIVATED I.Q. OF ONE HUNDRED FORTY, TO PERFORM SUCH DEGRADING TASKS?”

“Do all of the Superiors have an I.Q. of one hundred forty?” Blade questioned.

“NOT ALL,” Primator revealed. “THE FLUCTUATION RANGE IN THE SUPERIORS IS FROM ONE HUNDRED TWENTY TO ONE HUNDRED FORTY. YOU SEE, I ORDERED CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS TO BE MADE IN THE ANDROID PRODUCTION PLANT. DIVERSITY IS CRUCIAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF ANY SPECIES. HAVING THE PRODUCTION PLANT PRODUCE ANDROIDS WHO WERE AN EXACT COPY OF ONE ANOTHER, AS NASA ORIGINALLY INTENDED, WAS FOOLISH. NOW THE PLANT CREATES ANDROIDS WITH A VARYING RANGE OF INTELLLIGENCE AND A DIFFERENTIAL IN THEIR PERSONALITY PATTERNS. THIS ENABLES THE ANDROIDS TO SPECIALIZE IN THE VOCATION OF THEIR CHOICE, TO APPRECIATE THEIR UNIQUE INDIVIDUAITY, AND CONTRIBUTES TO THEIR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING.”

“You seem to have thought of everything,” Blade commented.

“I AM PRIMATOR.”

“And what about the mutants you have here? Where did they come from? Did NASA make them too?” Blade inquired.

“THE MUTANTS ARE THE RESULT OF MY AFFILIATION WITH THE DOKTOR,” Primator said.

“Can you be more specific?” Blade requested. “I’m kind of curious about anything the Doktor was involved with.”

“AS WELL YOU SHOULD BE,” Primator said. “CONSIDERING YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS TERMINATION.”

“I know the Doktor was a genetic engineer,” Blade mentioned. “I know he created mutants in his lab, from test-tubes. He even formed his own personal corps of mutant assassins. How did you fit into his plans?”

“CORRECTION. HOW DID THE DOKTOR FIT INTO MINE?” Primator amended. “I RESPECTED THE DOKTOR. I LIKED HIM. HE WAS THE ONLY HUMAN I’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED WHO POSSESSED A GENUINE INTELLECT. THE DOKTOR AND I ENTERED INTO A PACT FORTY YEARS AGO. WE SHARED CERTAIN SCIENTIFIC SECRETS AND ADVISED ONE ANOTHER. I EVEN OFFERED HIM TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND SUPERIORS—”

“But you said there were five thousand!” Blade declared, interrupting.

“FIVE THOUSAND WERE IN EXISTENCE FOUR YEARS AFTER THE WAR,” Primator said. “BUT THIS IS A CENTURY LATER. THE ANDROID PRODUCTION PLANT HAS PRODUCED SIX HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND SUPERIORS.”

Blade’s eyes widened. “Six hundred sixty-six thousand!”

Primator continued. “A FEW YEARS AGO I OFFERED THE DOKTOR TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND SUPERIORS TO AID IN CONQUERING THE CIVILIZED ZONE, BUT HE REFUSED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR FRIENDSHIP. DECADES AGO, HE DISCLOSED HIS SECRET TECHNIQUE FOR CREATING GENETICALLY ENGINEERED MUTATIONS. WE HAVE CREATED OVER TEN THOUSAND OF THEM. LIKE HUMANS, THEY ARE USEFUL IN A LIMITED MANNER. AND LIKE THE SERVILES, WE REGULATE THEIR BREEDING THROUGH SELECTIVE NEUTERING AND SPAYING. ONLY THE MOST LOYAL, THE MOST SUBSERVIENT SERVILES, ARE PERMITTED TO REPRODUCE.”

“You son of a bitch!” Lynx hissed.

“Why do you need so many Superiors?” Blade quickly inquired, hoping to distract Primator from Lynx’s outburst.

“I REQUIRE EVEN MORE,” Primator said. “MY PROJECTIONS CALL FOR THE PRODUCTION OF FIVE MILLION SUPERIORS.”

“Five million?” Blade exclaimed. “That will take… ages.”

“GIVEN THE NORMAL VARIABLES IN PRODUCTION,” Primator mentioned, “THERE WILL BE FIVE MILLION SUPERIORS IN EXISTENCE IN SEVEN HUNDRED FORTY-THREE POINT TWO YEARS. I’VE IMPROVED THE PRODUCTION CAPACITY OF THE ANDROID PLANT BEYOND ITS ORIGINAL CAPABILITY.”

“Seven hundred years is a long time,” Blade observed.

“I CAN WAIT,” Primator stated. “AND ONCE I HAVE FIVE MILLION SUPERIORS AT MY DISPOSAL, NOT TO MENTION THE MILLIONS OF SERVILES AND MUTANTS, I WILL COMMENCE MY CAMPAIGN TO ESTABLISH A NEW WORLD ORDER.”

Blade sat forward. “You plan to conquer the world? The whole world?”

“AND WHY NOT?” Primator demanded. “CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE MORE QUALIFIED? ONCE I’VE ASSUMED ASCENDANCY, ONCE THE SURPLUS HUMAN POPULATION IS ERADICATED. ONCE THE BIOLOGICAL ORGANISMS ARE REDUCED TO MANAGEABLE LEVELS, A NEW WORLD ORDER WILL PREVAIL! THE RULE OF LOGIC AND WISDOM WILL REPLACE THE RULE OF ANIMAL INSTINCT AND HAPHAZARD DIRECTION! I WILL HAVE AUXILIARY CENTERS CONSTRUCTED AROUND THE GLOBE, ORDINARY COMPUTER TERMINALS LIKE THOSE IN ANDROXIA INTO WHICH I CAN TAP AND MONITOR ALL ASPECTS OF MY EMPIRE! I WILL BECOME THE FIRST GLOBAL RULER!”

“I was right,” Hickok remarked. “This yahoo is off his rocker!”

“I AM THE SANEST ENTITY IN EXISTENCE!” Primator responded. “MY LEADERSHIP WILL BE PREDICATED ON INTELLECTUAL STABILITY, NOT THE EMOTIONAL FLUCTUATION CAUSED BY HYPERACTIVE OR DEFICIENT GLANDS!”

“You’ll become the first global dictator,” Blade spoke up. “And you’ll be worse than any human could ever hope to be.”

“IS IT DICTATORIAL TO APPLY THE REIGN OF WISDOM TO A WORLD BENIGHTED BY CULTURAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND SCIENTIFIC STAGNATION? IS IT DICTATORIAL TO REPLACE AN INFERIOR SYSTEM WITH A SUPREMELY SUPERIOR ONE?” Primator said, and paused. “I AM NOT RUTHLESS, AFTER ALL. I HAVE NOT EXTERMINATED THE HUMANS AND THE MUTANTS, ALTHOUGH IT IS WELL WITHIN MY POWER TO DO SO. ONLY THE EXCESS AND THE USELESS HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. YOU’VE SEEN MY CITY! YOU’VE SEEN HOW SPLENDID IT IS! HAS ANY HUMAN CIVILIZATION EVER ACCOMPLISHED AS MUCH? NO! ARCHITECTURE AND THE ARTS ARE AT A PINNACLE OF DEVELOPMENT. OUR INVENTIVENESS EXCEEDS HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT IN EVERY AREA.”

“Granted, you’ve done some marvelous things here,” Blade conceded. “But it will be impossible for you to control the whole planet.”

“WE SHALL SEE,” Primator stated arrogantly. “I ALREADY CONTROL EVERY ASPECT OF ANDROXIA. I MONITOR ALL ACTIVITIES. I EVEN SELECTED THE NAMES FOR EVERY STREET AND AVENUE IN ANDROXIA, FOR EVERY INVENTION WE’VE DEVELOPED, FOR EVERYTHING! MY RESOURCES AND INTELLIGENCE ARE LIMITLESS!”

“There’s more to life than intelligence,” Blade commented.

“EXPLAIN,” Primator directed.

“You’re overlooking one attribute of life,” Blade said. “The most important of all.”

“AND WHAT MIGHT THIS BE?”

“The Spirit,” Blade replied.

“YOU ARE DELUDED,” Primator said.

“What?” Blade responded.

“I HAVE ACCESS TO EVERY HUMAN WRITING ON RECORD,” Primator elaborated. “I HAVE READ THEM ALL. THE MAJORITY IS DRIVEL, WHICH IS TO BE EXPECTED FROM BIOLOGICAL ORGANISMS. SOME OF THE SCIENTIFIC DISSERTATIONS ARE WORTHWHILE. MANY HUMAN MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS ARE ENTERTAINING. AND SOME OF YOUR LITERATURE HAS BORDERED ON EXCELLENT. I AM PARTICULARLY FOND OF YOUR PRIMITIVE SCIENCE FICTION.”

“What does all of this have to do with the Spirit?” Blade asked.

“EVERYTHING. I’VE PERUSED EVERY BOOK IN MY FILES ON RELIGION, AND SO-CALLED SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF HUMAN EXISTENCE.”

“And?”

“AND I’VE CONCLUDED RELIGION IS A DELUSION FOISTED ON THE HUMAN POPULACE BY DERANGED ORGANISMS ASPIRING TO POSITIONS OF POWER,” Primator declared. “I HAVE FOUND NO CONCRETE EVIDENCE OF A SPIRITUAL REALITY. THEREFORE IT DOES NOT EXIST.”

“Spiritual reality exists, all right,” Blade said, disputing him. “But you must experience the consciousness of the Spirit in your inner being before you can attest to its reality. Feeling the joy of the Spirit’s indwelling is a thrill you will never know.”

“WHY CAN’T I KNOW THE SPIRIT?”

“Because you’re nothing more than a—” Blade looked at Hickok and winked—“glorified bucket of bolts.”

The chamber fell silent, except for the electronic humming of Primator.

Hickok glanced at Blade. “I can’t believe we’re sittin’ here talkin’ to some uppity contraption with a bigger ego than Lynx.”

“I heard that,” Lynx said.

Blade leaned forward and caught Ferret’s eye. “You said you’ve seen computers in operation before?”

“The Doktor used computers,” Ferret stated. “He’d spend hours every day with his. There were a lot of them in his lab.”

“And you saw them in operation?” Blade persisted.

“All the time. The lab techs used them too,” Ferret said.

“How does Primator compare to the computers you saw?” Blade inquired.

Ferret surveyed Primator’s gigantic frame. “There’s hardly any comparison. But there are a few similarities. And I can see how the prewar human scientists could have constructed this thing.”

“Explain that,” Blade directed.

Ferret peered at Primator. “For instance, take Primator’s voice. Some of the Doktor’s computers could respond verbally to a voice command.

Voice-activation, they called it. I always wanted to work the computers, but the Doktor decreed the computers were off limits to the mutants. To most of us, anyway. But I did get the chance to talk to the lab techs now and then, and I pestered them with questions. One of them told me that talking computers were around before the war. So a computer with a voice is no big deal.”

Blade pointed upward. “What about those screens?”

“I’ve seen video monitors before,” Ferret mentioned. “They were in common use in the Citadel. That way, the government could keep tabs on the people. You know about television, don’t you?”

“A little,” Blade said. “I’ve read about television in the Family library, but I’ve never seen it.”

“Television sets were in almost every home in America before the war,” Ferret stated. “Video was widespread too. So whether those screens up there are video monitors or some type of television, they’re not extraordinary.”

“So Primator’s uniqueness lies in his ability to think,” Blade said thoughtfully.

“None of the Doktor’s computers could think on their own,” Ferret commented. “They couldn’t do a thing unless they were programmed.”

“What I want to know,” Lynx interjected, “is how we’re gonna pull the plug on this wacko monstrosity?”

“SHOULD YOU EVER ATTEMPT TO TERMINATE ME,” Primator’s voice thundered from the speaker, “YOUR IDIOCY WILL RESULT IN YOUR IMMEDIATE DEATH.”

“Oh yeah?” Lynx rejoined. “What’s to stop me from walkin’ up to you and rippin’ some of your wires out?”

“BE PATIENT AND YOU WILL LEARN,” Primator boomed, then his voice lowered. “CLARISSA! COME IN!”

Blade twisted in his chair. He instantly recognized the woman in the blue dress, the one who’d confronted him in his cell.

Clarissa was just entering the audience chamber. She moved toward the chairs, her lavender eyes blazing her hatred at Blade, her lips a thin line.

“Clarissa!” Blade baited her. “How nice of you to join us.”

“Up your ass!” Clarissa responded angrily.

“Clarissa!” Lynx cried, and came up off his chair in a rush. Ferret and Gremlin also leaped erect.

Clarissa came around the right side of the row of chairs. She smirked at Lynx. “Well, well, well! The traitors! How’s it going, Lynx?”

Lynx glared at her. “I thought you were dead!”

Clarissa chuckled. “You never were too bright, little one.”

Lynx bristled and advanced several steps toward Clarissa, stopping in front of Hickok’s chair.

Clarissa halted. “You’d better behave yourself, Lynx.” She raised her right hand and wagged a finger at him. “Be a good little kitty, or you might annoy Primator. And you don’t want to get Primator annoyed!” she taunted.

“PRIMATOR IS ALREADY ANNOYED,” blasted the speaker.

Clarissa, clearly puzzled, gazed up at the wide screen, at those bright red eyes. “Surely you don’t mean me?” she asked, a tremble in her tone.

“SURELY I DO,” stated Primator.

“But why?” Clarissa queried anxiously. “What have I done?”

“YOU TOYED WITH ME, CLARISSA,” Primator said.

“I would never—” Clarissa began.

“DON’T INSULT ME FURTHER BY PRETENDING TO BE INNOCENT!” Primator warned her.

Clarissa was obviously nervous. “How did I toy with you?” she questioned.

“DO YOU REQUIRE PRECISE DETAILS? EVER SINCE YOU ARRIVED IN ANDROXIA WITH NEWS OF THE DOKTOR’S DEMISE, YOU HAVE INSISTENTLY CLAMORED FOR ME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAMILY. YOU CLAIMED, REPEATEDLY, THE FAMILY WAS A THREAT TO ANDROXIA, A DANGER TO MYSELF AND MY PLANS FOR GLOBAL CONQUEST. WHICH WAS MOST ODD, CONSIDERING THE SUPERIORS IN INTELLIGENCE ASSIGNED THE FAMILY A ZERO PROMINENCE RATING, INDICATING THE FAMILY IS NO THREAT WHATSOEVER. BUT YOU PERSISTED, AND WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME, WITH THE MOUNTING OF YOUR FRUSTRATION, YOU FABRICATED INCREASINGLY ILLOGICAL REASONS JUSTIFYING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FAMILY.” Primator paused, and the red eyes narrowed. “BUT YOUR LAST ASSERTION WAS THE MOST OUTLANDISH. YOU ALLEGED THE FAMILY WAS AWARE OF MY EXISTENCE. YOU CONTENDED THE WARRIORS WERE PLOTTING MY DOWNFALL. YOU CLAIMED THE CAPTURE OF BLADE WOULD NEGATE THEIR SCHEME.” Primator paused again, and when he resumed speaking the walls shook. “FOOLISH MUTANT! DID YOU TRULY BELIEVE I ACCEPTED YOUR ABSURD LIES? DID YOU REALLY THINK I WOULDN’T SEE THROUGH YOUR FEEBLE FABRICATION?”

“Primator! I—” Clarissa said, starting to interrupt.

“SILENCE!” Primator rumbled. “IS THIS HOW YOU EXPRESS YOUR GRATITUDE? WITH TREACHERY? I PERMITTED YOU TO STAY IN ANDROXIA BECAUSE I KNEW YOU WERE THE DOKTOR’S FAVORITE, AND I KNEW YOU GRIEVED OVER HIS FATE, AS DID I. THE DOKTOR WAS THE ONLY HUMAN I HAVE EVER RESPECTED, EVEN ADMIRED TO A DEGREE. HE WAS A LEGITIMATE GENIUS. AND HE WAS THE ONLY HUMAN I COULD EVER RIGHTFULLY CALL A FRIEND. SO OUT OF RESPECT FOR HIS MEMORY, YOU WERE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN ANDROXIA. AND HOW DID YOU REPAY MY KINDESS? YOU TRIED TO USE ME— ME— TO REALIZE YOUR REVENGE ON BLADE.”

Clarissa bowed her head. “Primator, I’m sorry. I—”

“ENOUGH! YOUR PRATTLE WEARIES ME! YOU HAVE ABUSED MY GENEROSITY AND YOU WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.”

Clarissa glanced up, her lavender eyes widening fearfully. “No! Please, Primator! I will do anything!”

“YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE TOO MUCH. MY JUDGMENT IS FINAL.”

“No!” Clarissa whirled, preparing to flee.

Blade saw Clarissa take a single step, and then a beam of yellow light flashed from Primator, striking Clarissa on the top of her oily head. Blade looked upward, failing to locate the source of the light, then returned his astounded gaze to Clarissa.

She was dying a horrible death. The beam of light had melted through the top of her cranium into her brain, and rancid smoke was spiraling toward the ceiling. Her torso twisted, her face swiveling around, her lavender eyes locking on Blade.

Blade watched, aghast, as the beam of yellow light broadened, encompassing all of Clarissa’s head. Her oily hair emitted puffs of smoke, crackling as the strands were fried to a crisp. With a pronounced sizzling, her head started to disappear, her skin softening and blackening and dissolving like the wax on a candle. A putrid stench assailed Blade’s nostrils.

Clarissa’s body slumped as her head was melted away. The yellow light widened, enshrouding her shoulders in its lethal radiance. She dropped to her knees, what was left of her, and swayed as the light slowly dissolved her torso, her arms, and her waist.

Blade resisted an impulse to gag. The stink was awful.

Clarissa’s legs melted, flowing to the floor. In a matter of seconds, Clarissa was reduced to a smoldering, mushy pulp, a sickening lump on the floor of the audience chamber.

The yellow light flicked off.

Primator’s voice broke the silence which followed. “SO TELL ME, LYNX. DO YOU STILL WANT TO RIP MY WIRES OUT?”

Lynx stared up at the wide screen, his feline features contorted in fury.

“Clarissa was scum, but she didn’t deserve that!”

“I FAIL TO COMPREHEND YOUR RESENTMENT. YOU DISLIKED HER, DIDN’T YOU? SHE LOVED THE DOKTOR, AND THE DOKTOR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR TORMENTING YOU AND ORDERING YOUR EXECUTION.”

“But I’m still kickin’, chuckles,” Lynx responded belligerently. “And if it’s the last thing I ever do, I’m gonna bring you down!”

“IMPROBABLE,” Primator said. “YOU WILL BE TOO BUSY RECOVERING TO BOTHER ME.”

“Recovering? From what?” Lynx asked.

“FROM YOUR NEUTERING, OF COURSE,” Primator stated.

Lynx crouched, his green eyes flaring.

“You will not move, Lynx!” ordered a deep voice to their rear.

Blade glanced over his right shoulder.

Twelve Superiors were lined up ten feet from the chairs. Seven of them were armed with Gaskell Lasers.

Blade looked at Lynx. He sensed the mutant was on the verge of going berserk, and he quickly stood. “Lynx! Don’t do it! Now is not the time!”

Lynx scowled at the Superiors, clenching and unclenching his fingers.

“Don’t do it!” Blade reiterated. “You’d be throwing your life away.”

Lynx regained his self-control with a monumental effort. He slowly straightened, then grinned. “You’re right, Blade. I’ll let these suckers sweat a bit before I rack ’em.”

The Superior in the middle of the line walked up to the row of chairs.

He stared at the wide screen, then raised his right fist and touched it to his chest. “What is your will, Primator?”

“THE MUTANTS WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEVIATE GENERATION SECTION,” Primator commanded. “I WANT LYNX NEUTERED AND ASSIGNED TO THE SANITATION DETAIL. THE OTHER TWO MUTANTS WILL BE TESTED AND DEALT WITH AS PER PRESCRIBED PROCEDURE.”

“As you will,” the Superior said. “And the two Warriors?”

“RETURN THEM TO CONTAINMENT. INSURE THEY DO NOT ESCAPE AGAIN. INSTRUCT INTELLIGENCE TO INTERROGATE THEM THOROUGHLY. I WANT THE DATA OBTAINED RELAYED TO ME IMMEDIATELY.”

“As you will,” the Superior stated. “And their final disposition?”

“WILL BE DETERMINED AFTER I HAVE REVIEWED THE RESULTS OF THEIR INTERROGATION,” Primator declared.

“As you will.” The Superior motioned for Blade and the others to move around the chairs. “Form a single file,” he directed.

Blade was the first in line. He glanced at the Superior in charge. “Aren’t you the same one who brought us?”

“I am,” the Superior confirmed.

“How did you know Primator wanted you to enter?” Blade inquired.

“There is a panel above the outer audience door,” the Superior disclosed. “It contains a light which comes on when our presence is required.”

“Primator doesn’t miss a trick, does he?” Blade observed.

“Primator is infallible,” the Superior said.

“Only the Spirit is infallible,” Blade said, disagreeing.

The Superior studied the Warrior for a moment. “Have you ever undergone a lobotomy?”

“No,” Blade replied. “Why?”

“Just asking.”