After the End - Chapter 18
Lucas struggles to wake through a muddled haze. As the blurriness clears around him he discovers he's back in the tank again. He seems to remember having been out of it for a while, but now he can't be sure. His head hurts. He looks sullenly around the room. Then his gaze falls on Cybersix and his vision clears rapidly.
She's standing in the corner of the lab. Her injuries appear to be completely healed; Lucas breathes a sigh of relief. But then he looks closer and notices the utterly blank expression on her face. He racks his brains, trying to remember what's happened. He thinks he remembers VonReichter doing some kind of surgery on her... something to do with the back of her neck... or was that just a dream, a hallucination brought on by all the drugs he's been given?
Lucas clenches his fists and his teeth in frustration, even though it makes his head throb. Here is Cybersix in trouble, and he's helpless to help her.
"Master. " A deep voice rumbles from the door to the lab. A fixed idea enters... carrying a human body like a big log. Lucas stands up and pushes against the glass, recognizing who it is.
"Found him snooping. " The fixed idea explains simply.
"Well, well," VonReichter critically examines the man in the fixed idea's grasp. "Whom do we have here?"
"A friend of Cybersix. " Yashimoto grits out. The fixed idea is holding him awfully tightly.
"Is that so?" VonReichter asks, a note of disgust entering his voice. "My, she does get around, does she?"
Craning his neck, Yashimoto notices Cybersix standing in the corner. "Cybersix! Help me!"
She remains motionless as stone, her eyes and her face dead.
"Ah," VonReichter says satisfactorily. "Thanks for your help. That was a very valuable test." He turns to the fixed idea and asks very clearly: "Have you seen Data 7 around here?"
The fixed idea shakes his head.
"Then just hold onto that man for now. Sylvester should be here soon." The exterior alarm goes off and the monitor flicks on to show Sylvester approaching the lab. "Well. Speak of the devil and he appears!" VonReichter laughs, apparently finding this very funny.
A moment later Sylvester walks in the room. "Good evening, Sly. Look!" VonReichter motions theatrically toward Cybersix. "My implant was a complete success."
"Excellent, Master." Sylvester replies emphatically. There's a particular and rare mood his master has to be in order to call him "Sly." It's going to be an entertaining night, he thinks.
"Did you bring the disguise I asked for?"
Sylvester wordlessly hands VonReichter the robe.
"Excellent. Excellent." He walks over and puts the robe on Cybersix's unresisting body. It is black, long and loose; when he pulls up the hood it makes her look like the Grim Reaper.
"Now all she needs is a scythe." Sylvester observes.
"She doesn't need a scythe." VonReichter answers. "All right, let's move out. Techno 20, you're holding down the fort. Keep that fixed idea guarding the prisoners. The types outside have their orders to watch for Data 7. I have no doubt he'll show up, but hopefully I'll be back before he does."
"Yes Master." The techno says uncertainly. She's more than a little apprehensive about having to deal with an irate panther, even with the help of several types.
"Let's go. Cybersix, follow me." VonReichter turns and leaves the lab. Her face still blank, Cybersix obediently follows.
A short time later VonReichter, Sylvester, and Cybersix arrive at the gate of Jose's mansion. The eyes of the fixed idea standing on guard widen as they approach.
"Silence." VonReichter says.
The fixed idea obediently makes no sound and opens the gate for them. VonReichter strolls up the walk as if visiting his next-door neighbor for a get-together on the patio. When all three of them arrive at the front door he stops and arches and eyebrow suggestively at Sylvester. Raising his arm with a theatrical flourish, he makes a show of slowly and deliberately poking the doorbell. Then he casually clasps his hands behind his back and waits.
Soon a young techno opens the door. His eyes also widen when he sees who's there. "Master. You've come." He sounds awed.
"Indeed I have. " VonReichter replies haughtily. "Now go and get him, and bring him here. Spread the word throughout the house; tell everyone to come to the foyer. I want everyone to be present for this."
"Yes Master. Right away." The techno bows and scurries off.
VonReichter struts into the mansion, interestedly looking around at the decor. Soon his creatures begin to gather around the room, watching from the top of the stairs or standing beside the doorways. All of them are silent and still. They haven't seen their creator since his apparent death. One can feel the sense of breathless anticipation in the air - which of course pleases VonReichter greatly.
"I want to know who's so important I had to stop my game." Jose's voice is heard approaching from the hall.
"Just come and see, sir. " The techno answers pleadingly.
"Grrr."
The techno enters the room and moves aside. Jose follows him in, fuming, angry at having been interrupted and ready to let the cause of said interruption have it. Then he stops in his tracks. His expression turns stunned as his face bleaches to ash white.
"Hello, son. " VonReichter emphasizes the word darkly. "How's business?" He makes a show of looking around again. "I do love what you've done with the place. You have my style, boy. " He walks over to an antique couch and sits down, raising one leg and placing the ankle on his opposite knee. He spreads his arms on the back of the couch and sighs. "What? No words of joyous greeting for your estranged father's return?"
Jose stands rooted to the spot, his eyes bugged out and his jaw hanging. It takes a minute for him to collect himself enough to say: "F-F-Father."
"Very Good. " VonReichter observes dryly. He looks around a everyone watching. A dozen technos, ten fixed ideas and two types look on anxiously. "Well, it looks like the entire household's here. Let's get started then, shall we?"
"H- how?" Jose stammers.
"Oh, come on now. You didn't honestly think a sub-nuclear explosion could get rid of me, did you?"
Miraculously, Jose manages to get over his shock and think on his feet. He snaps to attention and salutes, then speaks in German: "Glad to see your well, Father. What are your orders, Sir?"
VonReichter snorts derisively. "Don't insult my intelligence." He says, switching back to Spanish so everyone can understand. Then he turns in his seat and beckons at Cybersix. She approaches to stand beside him, still shrouded in the disguising robe. "I've brought along some one you'll be anxious to see, Jose. Remove your hood, dear."
"Cybersix!" Jose exclaims when her face is revealed.
"Right again. That's two for two."
Jose looks as if he's about to run.
"Now now, there's no need to be concerned. " VonReichter assures him. "You see, she's with me now." He puts an arm possessively around Cybersix's waist.
After having only just getting himself together, Jose's jaw drops and his eyes bug out once again.
VonReichter is clearly enjoying himself. "Now what you have to say for yourself boy, trying to knock off your poor old man like that?"
Jose stammers for a moment. Then, slowly, anger bubbles up in him. His fists clench and his teeth start to grind. Finally the steam rises to the top and he blurts out: "Fixed ideas! Get this imposter!"
None of the commanded creatures move a muscle. They know who their true master is.
"That," VonReichter says very quietly. "Was your second fatal mistake. No more delays! Cybersix! Kill him!"
Cybersix proceeds mechanically toward Jose. He turns and tries to run. The types standing near the door move in to block his escape. "Cybersix! Listen to me!" Jose begs. "If you help me we can take him!"
She ignores him. VonReichter sighs and shakes his head ruefully. Sylvester quickly moves to the other side of the room to get a better vantage point.
Her expression still blank, Cybersix puts her hands around Jose's neck. He struggles futilely. She begins to squeeze. It doesn't take long for his body to go limp. She drops the body to the floor and looks to VonReichter for further instructions.
VonReichter gets up from the couch. He is no longer smiling, and in that one moment, the observant could have noticed a flash of regret on his face. "Let this be a lesson to all of you." He walks around, looking at all the spectators. "I don't tolerate disobedience and I certainly don't tolerate treason. Now then," He claps his hands together, smiling again. "Changes are about to be made. You and you." He points at a techno and a type. "You are going to stay here along with three fixed ideas. I will be in contact with you. The rest of you, start packing: Gather up all your clothes and anything of value you can carry. We're going home. Techno 55 will be here shortly to fly us all to the compound." He starts toward to the door. "I will be back in about an hour, and I expect all of you to be ready. Cybersix! Sylvester!"
The two whom VonReichter has called follow him from the mansion.
*****
A while later Sylvester stops the car at the end of the dead-end street. The three of them get out and begin the walk back to the underground hideout. One of the types posted as a lookout steps out of the brush when he sees them approach. He salutes VonReichter.
"Any sign of him yet?"
"No Master. We've been watching carefully, but nothing. Maybe he doesn't know we have her?"
"Don't be a fool. " VonReichter continues past him. "Now get back to your post. "
They walk on in silence for several minutes. Cybersix's disguising robe gets caught on a briar and rips; she ignores it.
"Oh, we can remove that now. It's no longer necessary." VonReichter takes the robe off her and puts it in her hands to make her carry it. They go on.
The wind blows from behind them.