Chapter Seven
It had been three months since The Once-ler and 38 had stopped 24 and his insurgence. Days passed slow; that's the way it is when you're immortal, Once-ler supposed. Finally, the two of them were called into The Master's office. He stands, his hands behind his back behind a massive, black marble desk with a high-backed black chair. There were windows surrounding the desk area bathing the area in silver light of an unknown source. 38 kneels, bowing. Once-ler follows suit.
"Get up, the both of you. Thirty-eight, I have no idea why you default to bowing to me; I never asked it of you." Her cheeks turn a light grey-blushing for her. Once-ler got up with her. "Now, as for the reason I called you in here, I want you two to see something." A round monitor descends from the ceiling and, a second later, a picture comes into view. A naked man attacks a crowd of people at what appears to be a night club. He tears them apart with his bare hands while screaming. The mortal police show up and open fire on this man. After hundreds of rounds, he finally falls.
"What was that, a mortal on PCP?" 38 asks.
"PCP doesn't make it to where you can be riddled with high-caliber bullets without it bothering you. This man has the characteristics of an Endret made without my permission. What's more is this," he motions to a chip placed in a petrie dish. "was dug out of his body. Do you two have any idea what this is?"
"Looks like a computer chip." Once-ler says.
"Can you tell me, please, what's the difference between you and them?"
"Naturals like me were made by you at the beginning. Endrets are made by breaking off some of our own power-usually to a mortal we have a connection with-along with your blessing to give mortals immortality and eternal youth. Only through you can one of us do it."
"Well, someone has found a way to make Artificial Endrets with a chip. You won't be going alone on this. Eighty-six and E-7 will be going with you. This is too big for the two of you alone. I've already briefed them and they're waiting for you in the Grand Hall. Leave your weapons here-you need to look and act mortal for this." The two of them Blink into the Grand Hall, meet up with 86 and Sylvester, and Blink away.