A woman began to sob.
“That’s it,” Dana told her. “Get it out of your system. I want you to help me. Are you ready to help me?”
The crying woman looked at Dana with confusion as tears streamed down her face. Her sobbing grew more intense.
Dana stepped to her, hugging the woman and then shaking her. “I need your help,” she said directly into her face. “You have to pull it together now. There’s no more time.”
The woman stopped wailing, sniffling instead as she began to hiccup. “I’m okay,” she whispered. “I can do this. Thanks.”
Dana looked at the others. “Something happened down here. Maybe the pyramid’s computers have a virus. Maybe the place is simply too old. We have to commandeer a submersible and get to the surface.”
“What if the androids attack us?” a man said.
“We destroy any android getting in our way,” Dana said. “Is that clear?”
“But if—”
“For Heaven’s sake,” Stokes said. “What’s wrong with you people? This lady is a lifesaver. I plan to listen to her. I think the rest of you should too if you want to live.” The major turned on the sniffling woman. “Do you want to live?”
She nodded emphatically as she wiped her nose.
“Right,” Stokes said. “Then we follow Dr. Rich’s command. Whoever doesn’t—” Stokes jerked a thumb at the Lord High Admiral— “will have to answer to him during a court martial later.”
Dana took a deep breath. She wasn’t used to leading during a fight. She could lead during a scientific study or—
The doctor shook her head. She’d have to think like Captain Maddox. He knew how to lead a group. She couldn’t believe she had killed the captain’s android. She had half wondered if it would feel good after all the slights in the past she’d endured. It had not felt good, though. The real Maddox had been too good to her for too long to feel any resentment against him anymore.
“We’re heading for the dock,” she said. “Grab what you can on the way there. Put down whoever you have to so we can survive. We all have to stick together, though. And we’re not waiting for anyone.”
She glanced at a few people. They nodded back.
“Get mad,” Dana added. “Androids have been living your lives. They might have screwed up everything for you and for Earth. If that doesn’t make you angry, I don’t what will.”
“We’re ready,” Stokes told her.
Dana nodded, realizing she was hesitating to do this. This could get them all killed. She didn’t want to die. She didn’t want—
With a shout, Dana hurled open the hatch and walked into the vast chamber. She kept going, looking around.
The fires had increased. There was harsh smelling smoke gathering on the ceiling. She couldn’t see any running androids now.
In a throng, with Dana in the lead with her two-bullet revolver, the group surged across the chamber.
Some of the people coughed explosively. Others hacked, spitting on the floor.
“Which way are the docks?” a man wailed.
“Shut up,” Dana called back. “Keep your composure. Maybe we can do this without having to fight and kill.”
Or be killed, she thought to herself.
It struck Dana that she led a VIP throng to the submersibles, if there were any left at the docks. The Iron Lady, the Lord High Admiral, Commonwealth senators, bank presidents, high-level bureaucrats—
What was Earth like? Dana assumed the androids had taken their places and wondered what they had done. It was an awful feeling.
She turned a corner and came upon three androids dragging a heavy sled full of strange equipment. The androids stopped to stare at them.
“Hands up,” Dana said, aiming the revolver at the three.
“Don’t be absurd,” the lead android said. “This is our—”
A shot rang out and the android toppled onto the floor. He began to thrash as sparks showered out of his blasted eye.
“What about you two?” Dana asked. “Want to cease existing?”
The two androids threw their hands into the air.
“Back up,” she said.
They let go of the cables they’d been using to drag the sled and took three steps back.
“That’s good enough,” Dana said, as people thronged behind her.
She kept the gun aimed at these two. At the same time, she knelt by the slowly thrashing android, taking an automatic from a holster.
The two with their hands up didn’t appear to be armed.
“What is this?” Dana asked, pointing at the sled of equipment.
Neither android said a word.
“I can still kill you,” Dana said.
“This is an emergency repair unit,” one android said. “The leader hopes to repair the damage created by a random pulse signal.”
“What signal?” Dana asked.
“The one from the Dyson sphere,” the android said.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“That is because you are a wet body with limited knowledge,” the android said.
“The…computers in the pyramid received a new signal?” Dana asked. “Is that what you’re saying?”
“Correct.”
“When did this happen?” Dana asked.
“Less than an hour ago,” the android said. “The pulse came with the arrival of Starship Victory.”
“I’ll be damned,” Dana said. “So this has something to do with Captain Maddox, does it?”
“That is our working assumption.”
Dana smiled wryly. She should have known.
“How long are we going to jabber here?” Stokes asked.
“You’re going to lead us to the docks,” Dana told the androids.
“We cannot,” the speaker said. “We must bring the repair unit to the leader. We must attempt to repair the damage. You must release us.”
Dana hesitated.
The android that hadn’t spoken until now turned to the speaker. “Let us kill the woman and those with her. Then, we can take the repair unit to the leader.”
Dana used her last bullet, dropping the one who had made the suggestion.
The last android raised its arms even higher than before.
“Do you want to cease to exist as well?” Dana asked, all too aware the revolver was out of bullets.
The thing shook its head.
Then, Dana realized the three of them had struggled to move the sled. With just one android left…
“Okay,” Dana said. “Go ahead. Drag the equipment to your leader. I don’t care anymore.”
She backed away, handed the empty gun to a woman behind her and jacked a bullet into the semiautomatic’s chamber. Afterward, she started for the docks again.
A glance back showed the lone android slipping and sliding on the floor as it tried to drag the sled by itself. It wasn’t going anywhere, but that didn’t seem to deter the thing. It was like an ant trying to drag a bug too big for it.
The rest of the journey proved uneventful compared to what had already transpired. With the semiautomatic in hand, Dana reached the docks. She handed the gun to the same woman who had taken the empty revolver and went to the controls.
The doctor’s fingers flew over a board. Five minutes later, Dana led the throng through a tube into a waiting submersible. It looked like they might escape to the surface after all.
“What’s it like up there?” Stokes said, who walked beside her.
“I have no idea,” Dana said.
Stokes appeared thoughtful. “What have our counterparts done?” He sighed. “I hope they haven’t soiled our names.”
Dana didn’t want to think about it, but she had a bad feeling she was going to have to very soon indeed.
-51-
Dana sat in the submersible’s control room. Major Stokes piloted the vessel. A groggy, Brigadier O’Hara leaned her forearms on the weapons board.
The Lord High Admiral was in sickbay, having developed an ugly
cough, his skin stark white. The android had warned him about his inability to take a stunner shot. It appeared she, or it, had been correct.
“Just a minute,” Dana said.
Stokes glanced at her. He piloted the vessel away from the underwater dome. So far, no other submersibles appeared to be after them.
“We can’t leave them there,” Dana said.
“What do you have in mind?” Stokes asked. “You want to save the androids too?”
“You misjudge my idea,” Dana said. “We can’t leave the androids down there trying to fix the situation. Some of the most important people on Earth and in Star Watch are in our submarine. That means the androids kidnapped us at great detriment to our society.”
“True enough,” Stokes said.
Dana chewed on her lower lip. “The pyramid appears to have been a trap.”
“No doubt about that,” Stokes agreed.
“We have to destroy it.”
The major raised his eyebrows. “Do you understand what you’re saying? The pyramid is priceless. It has Builder tech, or tech beyond ours. These androids are incredible. Maybe we can use them.”
“Use them how?” Dana asked.
Stokes shrugged. “I can imagine Star Watch wanting to make shock troopers out of them, using the androids against the New Men perhaps.”
“That’s a wretched idea.”
“I don’t see why. It will save humans from having to risk their lives in infantry combat.”
“You saw what just happened. We were captives. If you allow robots or androids to fight for you, soon, they will rule. No, men and women must do their own fighting. Besides, why wouldn’t the androids become a worse menace than the New Men?”
“It was just a suggestion,” Stokes said.
“Then you agree with me?” Dana said.
Stokes appeared thoughtful, finally shaking his head. “I’m afraid I don’t, Doctor. There could be more people trapped down there. The devices we might uncover—”
The submersible shuddered.
Dana and Stokes looked up at the main screen. Two torpedoes zoomed out of the tubes. The torpedoes began a tight turn toward the dome and pyramid underneath.
Both Dana and Stokes turned to Brigadier O’Hara. The Iron Lady wore an android’s uniform. Her fingers still rested on the firing buttons. Slowly, she turned to regard them.
“This is war,” O’Hara said in a ragged voice.
“Ma’am,” Stokes said.
“Better get us out of here,” O’Hara said. “The coming concussion could damage our submersible.”
Stokes whirled around, tapping his board.
Dana swayed back against her seat as thrust shoved the submersible ahead. The Iron Lady had made the decision for them.
Turning to her board, Dana activated it. A screen flickered just in time for her to see the results.
The torpedoes slammed against the dome, igniting. Bubbles explosively surged upward as some of the underwater building’s hull plating blew apart. The second torpedo did likewise, sending bubbles geysering toward the distant surface.
Moments later, the submersible rocked from the underwater concussion. The bulkheads groaned ominously all around them.
“Don’t do that again,” Stokes shouted.
Like a crabby little girl doing the opposite of what she was told, O’Hara pressed the firing buttons again. A second later, two more torpedoes zoomed into view.
Stokes swiveled around. “Ma’am, I beg you to desist. You’ll destroy us, too.”
Brigadier O’Hara looked up with a haggard expression. “Androids, Major, androids held us captive. It was a nightmare. We can only presume android doubles have taken our places. I can hardly conceive of a worse horror.”
“I can think of several,” Stokes muttered.
O’Hara shook her head. “I loathe them. The very idea makes me tremble with revulsion. I want to squish them flat like wasps.”
Stokes eyed the brigadier.
Dana heard the hysteria in the Iron Lady’s voice. O’Hara seemed to be on the very edge.
“Have you been underwater before?” Dana asked her.
Slowly, O’Hara turned to Dana. “What?” the brigadier said.
Dana repeated the question.
“No,” O’Hara said.
“It’s a…a pressurized feeling,” Dana explained. “It takes getting used to.”
O’Hara frowned, soon nodding.
More explosions told of the second pair of torpedoes slamming against the dome. Time passed, and the concussion rocked the submersible again, although with less force than last time.
“You’ll begin to feel better once we approach the surface,” Dana told the brigadier.
“I hope you’re right,” O’Hara said. “I feel…distressed.”
“This is a distressing situation,” Dana said.
O’Hara nodded. “How do you maintain your composure? It’s quite impressive down here.”
Dana gave the brigadier a wintry smile. “I’ve been traveling with Captain Maddox for some time. This kind of situation is actually rather commonplace with him.”
O’Hara reached up, putting a stray strand of hair into place.
“One of the androids told us something interesting,” Dana said. “Starship Victory has returned. With the vessel came a pulse that apparently began a chain-reaction down there. I wonder what Maddox has achieved this time.”
“When he left,” O’Hara said, “he was headed to the Xerxes System.”
“Bingo,” Dana said. “The Nexus must have something in common with the ancient pyramid down here. He’s figured out something critical again.”
O’Hara regarded Stokes. “Can you make this thing go any faster?”
“We’re near its operational limit now, Ma’am.”
“What are you thinking?” Dana asked the brigadier.
“Yes,” O’Hara said. “That’s what we must do. We have an advantage. At least, I suspect we do. We must think of a way to use our present advantage against the impersonating androids still functioning in our places.”
“Right,” Dana said. “We’ve escaped our captivity. Maybe the androids impersonating us don’t know that yet. Maybe destroying the dome—”
“I doubt I got them all,” O’Hara said.
“Maybe you crippled their headquarters, though.”
The haggard expression hardened. “Despite my dislike of the underwater psychic pressure,” O’Hara said, “I believe we should go back down and complete the dome’s destruction.”
“I do not think that is a good idea,” Stokes said. “We’ve managed to get unbelievably lucky so far. That luck will not hold if we push it too far.”
“Luck had nothing to do with it,” O’Hara said. “The doctor’s decisive action is what saved our lives.”
“The Lord High Admiral helped when he charged,” Stokes said.
“Yes,” O’Hara said. “The man is courage exemplified, but it was Dr. Rich who incapacitated the enemy.”
“None of that matters now,” Dana said, interrupting. “We need a plan, a way to thwart the androids who are masquerading as us.”
“A plan,” O’Hara said. “Yes, I believe you’re right. Come, Doctor, let us put our heads together. You and I shall devise contingency plans so we’ll know what to do once we surface.”
***
They bypassed the dome’s surface air-pad in the Mid-Atlantic, deciding androids likely controlled it. For hours, Stokes piloted the submersible, keeping away from any other submarines they spotted via sonar.
After a time, Dana and the brigadier went to see the Lord High Admiral.
The old man sat up in bed, his skin still far too pale. His eyes looked rheumy and bloodshot and his breath came in labored gasps.
“What were you thinking charging an android with a stunner, Admiral?” O’Hara chided.
Cook gave her a ghastly grin, as if he had enjoyed his lonesome charge.
“Have to set…an example,” Cook said
in a hoarse voice. “Couldn’t wait for anyone…else,” he said. “Besides…I’ve sent…too many fine people into combat lately. It was good to have a turn again.” He stared off into space. “Yes, very good,” he said, softly.
Dana couldn’t help but admire the Lord High Admiral. She liked and trusted him. What was his android double doing right now?
“We should try to figure out when the androids captured each of us,” Dana said. “I recall my last thought.” She told them about coming down to the dome.
“Oh,” O’Hara said. “Yes, that’s a good idea. Let me see. I recall…eating at Hop Sing’s Eastern Delight. They have a wonderful noddle and the best orange chicken. I ordered my meal…” O’Hara frowned, soon shaking her head. “That’s it. I was waiting for my plate. Then, I found myself in the tube, shivering.”
It turned out there was a two-month difference between their kidnappings.
“Sir,” O’Hara said. “Do you recall what happened to you?”
Cook was staring intently at the brigadier. “I most certainly do,” the old man said. “You called me to a rendezvous in the forest outside the city. You said it was urgent. I landed in my private air-car, and you and Major Stokes approached. Brigadier, I distinctly remember you spraying a canister of knockout gas in my face.”
“Not me, sir,” O’Hara said, “but my android double.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Cook said. “I’m still feeling groggy. Damned android shot me directly over my heart. I think it did that on purpose.”
“Well,” Dana said. “We’ve learned the androids are crafty and seem to have some idea that they’re not real.”
“We know that how?” O’Hara asked.
“Yours and the major’s android doubles clearly worked together to kidnap the Lord High Admiral. In order to do whatever they’re trying to achieve, they would have to know the goal. We have to unmask the androids.”
“Hopefully, without creating a worldwide panic,” O’Hara said.
“That’s secondary,” Dana said. “We have to stop them from doing…anything irreparable. My intuition tells me the androids are probably going to do something to Starship Victory. If I know the captain, he’s already unmasked the problem in some fashion. The trouble is, no one on Earth will believe him, particularly if you don’t believe him, Brigadier.”
The Lost Colony (Lost Starship Series Book 4) Page 38
