Apes Chapter 17

 

17.

Lances heard the cage door closed on him. It was a huge cage compared to one for the chimpanzee. He was stripped of his weapons and his boots. The one who held him called himself Warden. He advised Lances that it was uncomfortable to move without footwear in Purgatory.

“Enjoyed your stay, Enforcer.” It was all Lances needed than to turn his body and charged at the cage door he was locked in. The charge did nothing to the cage but it took the Warden by surprise who had stepped back.

“Insolent! I will have you disciplined. The Warden withdrew the baton. He reached for his key to unlock the cage. When he was stepping in, Lances rushed at him and grabbed the warden by the neck. The Warden swung with the baton but the hold lock held by Lances was harder. He wrung it and the Warden collapsed to the flooring. Lances searched for more weapons. He found another one but it was a short handle spear.

“Always wanted one.” Lances grabbed it with the baton and ran down the path he came from. He remembered it was some corners and paths that he was he taken through then but he learned the faster way was the direct way. He rushed himself to the assumed exit to the side of the structure. He found himself on level four of the ten-level structures that reached the ceiling of the manmade cavern. He saw below him more of the odd metal outcrops and beams with the Gauntlet Drive below.

Lances reckoned he could make the jump but the fighting had spread to the drive area. The different gangs were having the shoot out there while the Independences were in retreat. It could be a ploy to get all of the others fighting and the diversion for the Independences was to move with the prized servant.

A good ploy does not mean all its plans will work.

“Chief”, The Independence warrior looked to Mel while holding the sedated chimp. “How did you get the chimp in?”

“I did not. I don’t know who or what brought in those creatures but they did the diversion well. But whatever that happened, it was good for us. I have advised the Outpost of the capture.” Mel replied while he checked his sidearm. “They are coming to get me out.”

Senior Officer Mel was in the leading cruiser with the other warrior and followed by two other modified vehicles with the Independence markings. These vehicles were salvaged from parts of discarded and modified to make those monstrous vehicles. The vehicles were surprisingly similar in design. The vehicle held the same structure as the cruiser but it held six wheels which were smaller in shape and the frame was a series of metal sheets welded to form the frame. It does however have a set of cannons on the front bonnet. The engines were modified from different parts and held a low drive power.

It was nothing compared to the brute force of a silverback in rage. The ape charged into the path of the leading vehicle from the right and jolted the vehicle. Another silverback then hit it on the right again before two more silverbacks jumped on the cruiser frame from the rear.

The two silverbacks hammered their fists onto the vehicle frame causing the driver to crash into the side. The second cruiser pulled over with the two crews but they were soon hounded by another silverback on the front bonnet. The silverback there grabbed the cannon and wrangle it off like a branch. It was a coordinated move with a dozen chimpanzees joining in to attack the other two vehicles.

“Get me out!” Mel screamed when the side door to the vehicle was sprung open. He felt his frame being yanked out by the silverback there that was bloodied from the crash. The officer was tossed to the ground before three chimpanzees went in for the kill. The chimpanzees pounded and pulled at the limbs till the flesh broke open and the blood spurted out. These creatures are carnivores unlike the gorillas; they bit into the exposed flesh. Whereas the servant gorillas were not before but their repression by the owners triggered their anger.

The howls of the servants echoed in Purgatory and the carnage continued. It started at Gate Five but the spread soon covered the entire cavern. The inhabitants there fought for their lives but they were outnumbered by the creatures from three to one.

Kill them

That was the call by the creatures.

It was not madness or animal aggression but human-induced thinking that leveled them to think like humans.

“Astrid!’ Doctor Lanceston sat upon his bedding. He was alone in his work area which was unusual for Astrid was to be around. The servant would have woken him and serving with the mug of tea. He was concerned then of Astrid missing.

“It was a dream.” Doctor Lanceston muttered. He then shook his head and muttered on.

“It was there for me to see but I missed it.” His latest programming of the chips had enabled them to think deeper and began more reactional analysis of the action to be taken. They were to be better servants with the skills to improve or anticipate moves. He had not wanted them to be than mere dumb servants but smarter ones. Of course, his recommendations were turned down by the Senate and asked to tone it down but his works had caught the interest of several parties including the Colonel of the Enforcers.

“Absurd! My findings are not to be corrupted into making them killers.” Doctor Lanceston recalled voicing his anger then at the Colonel. “I will not have you diverted my works to be your …. Special Enforcers. Yes, those tasks you mentioned are like killing.”

“Survival skills are the basis of this creature's existence before we made them servants. I just want them to make them back at it but with our control over them.” The Colonel had argued back.

“Survival was their mode of life then but with the last war, these are bred in captivity and within our walls with our food. We secured them and not the other creatures because they could be enhanced to work for us. We are fewer now and we need them to assist.” Doctor Lanceston felt his reply was shallow but his works were to make them more compliant. He was not able to dictate the later action across but the concept of serving had assisted the city in many ways.

“True but the works could be …refined perhaps.” The Colonel was ejected from Doctor Lanceston office soon after then.

“Astrid!” Doctor Lanceston called once more from his seated position on the bedding. He was truly concerned then for the servant had displayed progress in the thoughts of the mind and for some occasions had displayed it like the morning tea. It was served before he asked for it. Far worse, the servant was dictating some of his routines. And worst was the servant had disappeared on a few occasions.

“Maybe it’s learning more than I anticipated.” Doctor Lanceston smiled at the evolution of the mind.

Evolution had led to revolution before.

The Colonel was not satisfied with the evolution discussion held at the Research Centre by Doctor Julius. The panel was to discuss the recent riots by the servants. It was not yielding results and he took off to drive the cruiser to the other side of the city where it was less developed and stopped at a huge mansion there. It was unusual to have such a structure when the city was clustered with tall buildings.

He made his greeting at the huge and tall gate before it was opened for him to drive in. The driveway was short but it was made up of the mansion with its fifteen rooms, three libraries, and two dining area with three living areas that opened up to the rear lawn on the one-acre estate.

“Come in, Colonel. I believe you are here to tell me that we are in progress.” The Colonel was received in one of the libraries and was shown a book by the host. “Second Edition of 1984 by George Orwell”. It’s an extremely rare copy.”

“Emperor…” The Colonel was interrupted by the other who motioned to the rows of books in the library. There were several hundred books that were on the shelves. Written material had become extinct with the emergence of electronic media and messaging.

“I am the few that read in this mode.” The Emperor was exaggerating for the books in that mode were too expensive to read by many let alone own a copy. 

“So please do indulge me. Would you like to read Orwell's original ‘1984’ or the “Dawn of the Dead’?” The Emperor looked at the other. “Both are interesting choices.”

“Well, Emperor. I am not here to read, Sir.” The Colonel saluted the Emperor. “I am …”

“I don’t control the Senate although I sit in it as one of the seven appointees. Griffin Smith heads the Discipline Committee and he holds three others under his influence. I am not …influential although I hold the Logistics Committee.”

“Emperor, there was a shipment of weapons that arrived …”

“Secure it well. We don’t want to be without any when we take on the Senate.” The Emperor made his point. “Store it in the usual place. Now be gone.”

“Hail Emperor Caesar.” The Colonel took his leave but he was still not satisfied with the meeting. He felt as if the events were not turning for him. The General was not able to overturn the reprimand on him by the Senate. He needed more affirmative action.