Free Leviathan by James Byron Huggins Page B

turned, saw a dozen pale faces staring at him. He licked his lips, knowing a quick nervousness, a transmitted fear that burned into him, feathering his heartbeat. He felt his breath increase, faster, and he was almost as surprised as everyone else when he asked his next question.
    “ GEO, would Leviathan distinguish at all between friendly and non-friendly organisms?”
    “ It is not probable that Leviathan would differentiate between friendly and non-friendly organisms. It would attempt to—”
    “ Terminate answer,” Frank said quickly, taking a deep breath. “GEO, if Leviathan has brought itself into a Hunter-killer Mode, what is the best course of action?”
    Instantly the computer replied.
    “Do not awaken.”
    * * *

     
    Chapter 7
     
    “Like I need a computer to tell me that!” Frank turned to see Chesterton standing in the doorway. The colonel stood for a second before he walked forward, focusing on everyone, on no one. He paused in front of Frank.
    “ I just knew ...” Chesterton said, shaking his head. “I just knew that you people couldn't control that thing.”
    Frank was motionless. His eyes darted from Chesterton to the computer panel. “But this... this wasn't supposed to happen, Chesterton. Leviathan's neural enhancement wasn't supposed to promote itself into a Hunter-killer Mode!” He looked up. “I mean, if this thing is in a Hunter-killer Mode, it's going to want to kill ... to kill everything ...”
    Chesterton stared, grim.
    “I never counted on this,” Frank whispered, bowing his head. “I never counted on any of this ...”
    “ Well you'd better count on it now, Frank.” Chesterton grimaced. “Because things have now and forever changed. And because I'm in charge of this place, I'm telling you right now that there's not going to be any more tests. At all.” He hesitated, surrendering a little of his hardened tone. “But ... try and calm down a little, son. This isn't something we can't overcome. I've been through worse.”
    Turning to the fire wall, Chesterton placed his hands on his hips. “Still, though, we're going to have to take some serious precautions. And that means I'm going to shut down this operation until I can find a way to permanently secure that thing inside that cavern.”
    “ How are you going to do that?”
    “ Honestly, Doctor, I don't know.” Chesterton continued to stare at the fire wall. “That thing is sixteen feet tall and thirty-five feet long and is without question the meanest, most vicious thing to ever walk the face of God's green earth. It's got claws and teeth that are as hard as diamond. It's armored like a tank, and it's strong enough to rip the hull out of a battleship. So containing it ain't gonna be easy. But then again, it's never been easy. We'll just have to do it. Or die trying.” He turned back. “And if all else fails, Frank, we've always got the fail-safe.”
    Frank's hand tightened on the computer chair.
    Chesterton continued, “But no matter what happens, Doctor, we've got to contain that thing inside that cavern. And we've got to kill it inside that cavern.” He stared down. “And you can tell Adler that this experiment is officially over. As officially over as it's gonna get.”
    His mind spinning, Frank whispered, “But I don't think that you can hold it, Chesterton. Not if Leviathan really wants to get out. That cavern was never designed to hold anything like this.” He trembled. “I don't think that anything can hold it. Or stop it.”
    “ Well, you're wrong about that, Frank. Because that fail-safe of yours can stop it. Dead in its tracks.” Chesterton turned again, studying the titanium fire wall. “But you've got a point. And ... maybe you did too good a job, son. Maybe even better than they wanted you to do.” He paused. “One thing is certain, though. That thing is going to sleep as long as you've got it in a nitrogen atmosphere. And nobody is going to be waking it up. Not for anything. And in the morning,