Prometheus Afterlife
"The Web"
Author's note: Plot thickens!
Author's second note: introducing story intrigue that will both baffle and pose questions to fan-fic readers, I hope? I am always surprised as to seeing how well readers can see where a story arc is headed. Although I tend to drop hints along the way, there are some readers that know where the story is going! Maybe with this chapter I can confuse folk a bit. See if they can figure it out. Are you up to the challenge? Think you have the answers? Thanks again for the continued support of both fan-fiction members, and guests readers. I really do enjoy the responses, Z.
PS: My gosh, I never intended this to turn into a book! But being that I am up to chapter 10 now it looks like it's proportions are headed in that direction. I want to thank everyone for keeping up, Z
Elizabeth Shaw stood next to her android, David 8, as they watched the android, David 9, cross the threshold into the room.
"Well isn't this cozy?" David 9 remarked.
He had noticed the two harboring rather closely together as he'd entered the support chamber. Were they telling secrets? He smiled inwardly knowing that once he'd installed the BIO chip into his brother's emotion control center, any secrets that they were sharing would soon be his, and his authority, Miss Vickers'. Liz made note of his comment and the tone at which it had been applied. It seemed that David 9 was a fast learner when it came to imitating human sarcasm. He preformed it well!
"Miss Shaw, I apologize for the interruption," the droid spoke, "but I do need to get to work."
The look on his face was expressively cool, it was hard to read. What was he thinking? Was he aware that she, and David 8 were hiding something? Did he know about the red chip?
Elizabeth had been noticing for some time his manner towards her. At moments it was cold and bitter. She had been perplexed by this at first, then she realized that David 9 was demonstrating symptoms of jealousy! It humored her to think that androids could develop such a trait. But if she had learned one thing being on the engineers' spacecraft alone with David 8 for so long, it was that androids could surprise you.
People had personal issues, why wouldn't that apply to mechanized equipment as well? If one didn't keep a machine oiled, wouldn't it break down on you? Why would androids different? Not that they needed constant lubrication or maintenance, but since they were a thinking, operating units, couldn't they become vexed by the human element? Did human emotion confuse them? Welcome to the real world, Elizabeth thought.
David 9 had already expressed an opinion of being irritated with the closeness Liz shared with David 8. Maybe it was something that he himself desired. A closeness with Meredith Vickers. Elizabeth could see Vickers shunning the bot if he courted such a manner towards her. An idea came to her head. It set a plan into motion.
David 9 again explained his reason for the interruption.
"Restoring his functions to full capacity before we make landing tomorrow is something that he, and you have been awaiting for some time now Miss Shaw, isn't it?" David 9 addressed the others in the room.
"It should take no longer than an hour or two at most. Then you can return, and resume any discussion that you were engaged in before my interruption. Is that acceptable?"
"Of course," Liz said.
Elisabeth turned to look down upon David 8's handsome face. He gave her a reassuring smile and a wink that told her everything would be fine! She leaned in close as if to whisper something to him, but before the bot knew what was happening Liz had slipped down and was sliding her warm, most lips across his own.
The android's eyes opened wide in the realization that he was experiencing his first kiss! It was very pleasurable! It was passionate, yet not a kiss that extended beyond limits. Still it wasn't a friendly peck on the mouth either. It tasted delicious!
Liz had softly laid a hand upon the bot's chest as she continued with the union of their mouths. She could have sworn that while their lips pressed sweetly together, she could feel the warm pulses of a pounding heart in the android's chest! Although it may have just been his circuits amping up! Their lips held together for more than a moment, but that was all it took to throw the android, David 9, into utter SHOCK, figuratively speaking.
Liz eased up and away from the tender moment she had shared with her beau, David 8. She looked up to see that his eyes had closed. A grin passed upon her lips. When David's eyes did open the whites around his deep blue irises could be completely seen, and the bot looked as stunned as if he'd seen a ghost!
"Rest well and recover quickly my friend," she spoke softly, she leaned in close to his ear, "meet me in the meal chamber this evening after surgery." This time it really had been a whisper. A communication shared only between herself, and her man-bot!
Liz turned and began to exit the room. She noticed David 9's eyes held the same surprised look as she'd seen in the eyes of David 8!
"Restore ALL of his motor functions to peak performance," she stopped just in front of the other android, "and make damn sure you get the one's of special interest UP, and working properly. Get my point?"
Without waiting for an answer Liz turned and left the room. She knew David 9's eyes followed her all the way out!
Just on the other side of the door the archeologists barely made two steps before she nearly slammed into the wall. Her hand came up to quickly cover her mouth before uncontrollable laughter came busting out.
*The look on their faces! My God, I wouldn't take a million credits to change them! Boys will be boys, mechanical or not!* Liz thought.
She continued down the corridor and out of sight before she lost control and flooded the entire tunnel with hysterical laughter! Maybe she could sneak in a little witch's brew herself. Start a little unrest between David 9 and his Mistress master Meredith Vickers? That thought made the archeologist feel like an evil bitch herself….. but the feeling was uncontrollably fun as well!
Elizabeth Shaw journeyed towards the more operational parts of the ship . She wanted more answers about this mission, and she was determined to get them. She found Meredith Vickers sitting at the table in the meal chamber courting a cup of honey sweetened tea. Liz prepared herself a cup as well and joined the "guardian".
"Meredith I need answers!"
Again the ship's appointed commander was taken back by the boldness and straightforward request of the scientist/archeologist. She both admired, and felt it an irritation with Shaw at the same time.
"What is it you want to know?" Meredith spoke bringing her cup of tea to her lips.
"The mission, details, I want to know what's really going on! I am tired of getting some trumped up replies stating that I'm here to find answers for Weyland Industries. That's just not working for me anymore! I want to know more about what you know!"
Vickers tilted her head, forwarding a contemplating expression towards the archeologist. She sat affixed with a stare at the scientist for a more that a solid moment, which puzzled Elizabeth. Vickers finally spoke.
"Ok, so you want answers. Are you prepared Miss Shaw?" there was a bit of hesitation to see if the archeologist would affirm, or cancel her request. Liz said nothing. Meredith started again, " the vessel pods that are located in the bottom of this ship… of course you are aware that there are still many more contained within the hives of "Bee Valley" back on LV-233."
Of course Liz knew of the others, she had been there when they were found. She affirmed to Meredith that she was aware of the facts. The guardian continued…
"The stygian fluid contained within those vessels is something of a mystery. It has qualities both that enhance certain organic properties, and, or destroy it as well. As far as humans are concerned, research shows that introducing it into the human body destroys the host property. Yet there are creatures that can tolerate it's infection. These beasts will mutate and become bigger and more aggressive." Meredith paused to let Liz catch up with the implications of what she was saying.
"Take this liquid lets say, and combine it with the DNA of certain creature on Earth. One could build an almost indestructible army! A war machine that would be almost impossible to stop. The military would pay enormous amounts of fortune to get their hands on such a weapon!"
Vickers may not be a scientist, but she'd been around enough of them to know that this was exciting news.
"Maybe this is what the engineers might have done? Created an animal that could be set loose on civilizations of their creation that could eliminate that world of it's dominate life forms. In retrospect, letting them start over again." Vickers took another sip of her tea.
"The scientists onboard the Tirpitz are making some headway at determining the dark liquid's chemical structure, but those advances are coming slow. They need help, that's why you're here. My father, I mean, my employer, has sent out many ships into the void. He is a pioneer, an explorer. It's what made Peter Weyland wealthy. He doesn't sit still to let scientist make their own discoveries, that could take too much time! Instead he inspires, encourages, moves them to produce results. Provides financial resources."
Meredith stopped. She inspected Liz to see if she was understanding past events,… or those that may transpire in the future? She was happy to see that Liz had a very good understanding of what she was headed for!
Elizabeth Shaw was getting a clearer picture of what was going on here. Peter Weyland was Meredith Vickers father. She'd already made subtle claims to it before. Father and daughter had set out on a quest into the unknown, each with their own set of agendas. Weyland, searching for the fountain of youth, and his daughter, upping bids to become rich by supplying the military with cosmic bio weapons. In others words, daddy setting up his offspring in her own business!
Liz could see the writing on the wall. Peter Weyland had a WEB of ships scouring the cosmos for secrets. Weyland wasn't concerned with Earth, or whether humanity learned the secrets of their existence or not! With his fortune he could buy the planet. What he was concerned with was advancing his domain into the stars, and he could only do this if he lived long enough to see it through.
Liz took a sip of her honey sweetened tea and nodded that she understood Meredith perfectly.
END PART 10