Beyond Mars Crimson Fleet by RG Risch Page A

in
thought. Then, the machine turned his head to gaze at a wall next
to him. For an instant, the dark pool began to glow and swirl in
bright red. Laser beams were then emitted from the android's
induced face. They danced upon the wall in a high-speed sequence of
blinking codes; and in return, the wall fluttered in liquid
waves.
    Logos indicated by a hand
motion for Quinton to walk through. With reluctance, Quinton
stepped through the liquefied metal, followed by the android. Like
a stone vanishing beneath the stillness of a pond, they each
displaced the wall as they went.
    For a moment, there was
only a noiseless dark void. Then suddenly the blackness leaped to a
blinding white light, which emanated from a platform that appeared
as if in a dream. Quinton drew an arm up to block the brilliance
from his vision.
    The platform held four huge
curved electrodes that generated a burning orb of white light
between them. It cast off rays like a burning sun, yet the room was
filled amazingly with a biting coldness. Quinton became more
anxious.
    The metal
platform itself was barely visible in the radiance, but it
stretched out into a chamber that was larger than a stadium and
completely circular. Added to its oddity, the walls were erected
totally in huge black plastic panels. Red neon lit the panels
created by electronic circuits that were encased in each
rectangular cell. The circuits, however, were not of a static
nature. They were forever changing their connections and
configurations from moment to moment. This was the heart and the
mind of False Star 6 : a living, evolving, bio-machine that called itself
Ektos.
    Quinton walked forward a
few steps with his arm still raised as Logos stood by the entrance.
The man's eyes glanced away from the blinding light that held
covert thoughts, and the combined essences of human and
reversed-engineered alien design.
    "You seem a bit on-edge,
Armon, but then you always are," a pleasant multitude of male
voices resounded from every direction.
    "It's just a little nerve
racking being so near to panels holding enough of your hybrid
flesh-eating bacteria to kill an entire city. I'm always afraid
that one of them might crack open," Armon confessed. "Why our
scientists insisted on using them for your circuits is beyond
me!"
    "They're
actually very practical," Ektos answered. "They can transfer
signals faster then your human brain and are extremely energy
efficient. This is true of each of the many bacteria variants I
hold, regardless of their different morphologies , they work
together through electrical stimuli to mimic your brain structure,
creating my consciousness. But you did not come here to discuss my
technology, have you? So why did you come?" the bio-machine
questioned.
    "Ektos, I came to tell you
that the Crimson Fleet is now in pursuit of the Martians," Quinton
spoke, reluctant to confront Ektos with his real
complaint.
    "I know. I have been
monitoring all transmissions. This Martian problem is nothing more
than a trivial diversion. Their blight will soon be eradicated from
the universe. But then, you know all this. So what is the real
reason for your presence?" Ektos grew a little impatient at
Quinton's deceit.
    Armon dropped his head
momentarily, but then it swiftly lifted. "Councilman Blake's
daughter!" Quinton's voice exploded. She was one of your latest
victims! He's looking for her and has demanded that the Global
Investigation Bureau find her! And he's not the only one! With so
many disappearances, others in the government are beginning to
notice and ask questions too! Soon, it will all unravel! I can't
see why you have to abduct so many conspicuous people, when I can
supply you with others who won't be missed!" Quinton concluded his
grievances.
    "It is a matter of genetic
attributes, DNA linking, and the physical quality of their bodies.
The ones that are selected are the most compatible as well as being
the most desirable. They must have the right amount and type of
chemical