33.
Lances
peeked around the corner when they reached the lobby to the Research Centre
where Doctor Lanceston used to work. It was cleared of any Enforcers and any
servants but riddled with debris and some corpses. Doctor Lanceston shuddered
at the sight of the torn or stomped body parts. He saw the overcoats and
uniforms.
“My
God, what did I do?” Doctor Lanceston held his right hand over his mouth. “I …”
“You
were not at fault. Something triggered the servant’s change on behavior.”
Lances assured the Doctor.
“I
brought the creatures to serve the people. If only I had done it.” Doctor
Lanceston shook his head. He then pushed his way past the Enforcers and
proceeded to the lift unit to take him up to his working level. The lift was
working but it was filled with corpses and blood inside.
“We
take the stairs. It's only three levels.” Doctor Lanceston walked towards the
stairs. Anderson overtook the Doctor and checked the stairs. It was empty
servants. They walked up with the Doctor in the middle. It was a slow climb
with careful steps for they fear any attack.
The
Colonel stepped towards the window to look out at the horizon. He had activated
the beacon and then it was to wait.
“Colonel,
we are under siege. The servants….” The Enforcer reported in.
“Don’t
worry. Reinforcement will come.” Colonel then turned to the Enforcer. “Let us
go down and fight those servants.”
“Colonel,
if I may ask. What reinforcements are we referring to? We are the last
Enforcers and the ….”
“We
are the last of our kind. The reinforcements are different.” The Colonel
replied and then took off. The Enforcers followed him and no more questions
were raised. In the lobby, he saw the arrival of more inhabitants armed with
weapons and also carrying their wounded.
“We
came as soon as we saw the flare.” The newly arrived addressed the Colonel.
“Why did you…”
“I
did it to get to the Dome to get weapons. See those armored units. They can
turn the outcome. Take to the upper levels. We will be rescued later.”
“Colonel,
the path to here was cleared of servants. I think they want us all here. I saw
a lot of servants getting here too.”
It
was then Napoleon had arrived there. The leader was armed with a rifle. It
looked to the assembled chimpanzees there hidden behind the structure.
Stay
hidden. We will let them congregate and then we will attack. Where are the
gorillas?
They
are nearby. They won’t join us. We are no more servants. We can think.
Doctor
Lanceston took his sight off the screen and sighed. He had combined his studies
with the earlier samples and then sighed.
“They
have done the impossible. They gave the servants intelligence.”
“They
are intelligent, Doctor. They bloody well planned the revolt.” Anderson snapped
back.
“You
don’t understand. Those idiots make the routines for the servants to think like
us. Or more like us. They can plan as we do. Maybe better.” Doctor Lanceston
snapped back. “They have jumpstarted the evolution into those creatures …..
while we have devolved into idiots.”
“Can
you reverse it?” Lances asked.
“I
don’t know. I thought I could but now I am not sure.” Doctor Lanceston sighed.
“Is
there a dead switch in the routines?” Lances asked.
“Yes
….. but it’s akin to murder.” Doctor Lanceston replied. “It was the last resort
I did ….”
“For
such events. Can you do it?” Anderson asked.
“Not
from here. It can be activated from the Senate Tower.”
“Then
let us move. Are you ready, Doctor?” Anderson asked.
“Yes,
I am. I think so.” Doctor Lanceston grabbed his items and joined the others.
Meanwhile, Leroy had driven the vehicle into the City with reluctance. He has
leveled the sidearm at his head. Drive-in or be left behind. They were at an
open gateway.
“You
are mad. I am not getting in there.” Leroy replied. “I left the City many years
ago.”
“You
will drive or die. We got companies behind us.” Juanico called out. Leroy
looked to the rear and saw the convoy of vehicles approaching them.
“Darn!
Those are the Outlanders. They are here to battle the servants …. I hope.”
“Whatever
it may be. I will suggest you drive.” Bernice called out. “They may not like
us.”
So
was Astrid when she approached the Packs members. It saw the gorillas were
there.
Who
invited them?
We
did. I am the Elder here, Astrid. This is no more your revolution. It’s ours
now.
The
gorillas were ….
Our
distraction? The ones to be killed? No not anymore. They are our allies now on
the same battle.
You
speak out of line, Elder. I, Astrid called the …
You
still do but the revolution is to be won with them or not at all.
Gah….
Where is Napoleon?
At
the Senate Tower. The chimpanzees are to go there. The gorillas await your
command. As ally.
I
…. Good then hear my plan. We have to defeat Napoleon and then the masters. We
will be free.
Let’s
do it.
So
was the Colonel. He had the defenses set up with some of the Enforcers in the
lobby and the area outside. They cleared a perimeter with little resistance
from the servants. He had the vehicles lined up as barricades and moved the
defenders there. Every level to the tenth was filled with inhabitants and
Enforcers. The eight armored units were kept in the lobby as the second liners
“They
are still not attacking. Are they waiting for us?” The Enforcers at the outside
were getting impatient.
“We
are told to stay here.” One of the Enforcers called out.
“Well,
not me. Those servants killed my brother.” The enraged Enforcer rushed out with
the sidearm blazing. It was to signal the attack then.
Unauthorized
by the Colonel.
“Charge
them!” Juanico called out at the perimeter with Bernice but they stood still
with Leroy. They watched the defenders of the Tower including the inhabitants
surged forward. Bernice fired a few shots to spur the attack. They had
infiltrated the line and was to join those there when they saw the entrance to
the Senate Tower was heavily guarded. They had eluded the returning inhabitants
and then joined those who were going to the Senate Tower.
“We
are told to go there. The battle will be overturned there.” The survivor voiced
to Bernice. “The Colonel has returned.”
Bernice
saw the second line of defense was also joining in then. She saw the
opportunity to slip to the rear. She moved to the rear and saw her track was
blocked by the armored unit.
“I
am a Senior Officer Bernice. Serial E78890. Let me through.” Bernice told the
armored Enforcer.
“I
have no authorization to let anyone in.” The armored unit replied. “Those were
the …”
It
was then a gorilla had slipped through the defenses and was charging for the
entrance.
“Servants
target!” The other units called out. “Fire at will.”
Three
armored units fired their weapons attached to the vambrace at the gorilla. The
combined firepower tossed the gorilla to the rear with its chest and face
bloodied and dead.
“Move
forward to battle.” The eight units moved forward firing their weapons. It was
during then the trio ran past the line and into the Tower. They were stopped by
the Enforcer there.
“Stop!”
The Enforcer called out and was shoved the sidearm into the face.
“Do
it one more time, Jason and you won’t have a face anymore.” Bernice glared at
the officer she knew from the Enforcers unit.
“Sorry,
Senior Officer Bernice. It was …”
“I
am looking for the Colonel. Now move to hold the line there.” Bernice motioned
to the Tower entrance. She did not notice Leroy missing.
“Yes,
Senior Officer.” The Enforcer took past Bernice to join the battle. On the top
level, the Colonel was reported on the battle below.
“Who
was it? I told them to hold the line. Not fight.” The Colonel then looked to
the window. “Where are they?”
So
was Napoleon at the battle scene. He was wondering why the number of gorillas was
so few.
Where
are the others?
They
won’t come. They await the Pack direction
I
am the Pack
Not
that we hear. Astrid is back.
Astrid?
I will kill that one.
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