Free Running With The Horde (Book 2): Delusions of Monsters by Joseph K. Richard Page A

Andrew was sweating again.
    “Is that thing…alive?” he asked.
    “Alive as we would define it? I would say no but it certainly isn’t all dead,” Dick replied.
    “So it’s undead?”
    “Andrew, let’s not be childish, it just exists at a level we haven’t been able to understand yet. Not for lack of trying, mind you.”
    Andrew turned to look at Todd and Dick, “So here we are, deep underground with proof that we are not alone in the universe. Why are you just sitting on this? Why not tell the world?”
    “It’s not a UFO, Andrew. That much I promise you. This gentleman and his ship originated on Earth. Just a very long time ago.”
    “Okay so you found proof of some highly advanced civilization from our past. It is still a major find. Seems terribly selfish to keep it quiet.”
    Dick laughed, “You really are naïve, Andrew. Can you imagine the panic if a discovery like this was made known to the public? We are talking about rioting and looting in the streets at the global level. No, the world couldn’t handle this kind of truth. Don’t look so shocked and don’t worry, the sheep all benefit. Most of the leaps forward in innovation the last few decades can be traced right back here to Area 51.”
    Andrew was disgusted with the man’s take on the world but the scientist in him couldn’t help but wonder if he wasn’t at least partially correct in his assessment of what the reaction would be. Those blood-red eyes really were terrifying.
    “Okay, fair enough,” Andrew said with a nod and then glanced around the lab, “I don’t understand what you expect me to do here.”
    “You certainly are an impatient little cuss, Doc,” said Dick. “You and Todd are here to continue the very important work of Dr. Farnsworth.”
    Andrew looked at the older man in the corner who glanced up at him with a sad smile.
    “Before you ask,” Dick said with a grin, “he is retiring after many years of distinguished service. Isn’t that right, Teddy?”
    “Looking forward to the golden years,” Dr. Farnsworth said. Though he didn’t seem very excited about it. More like resigned to his fate. Andrew, didn’t like the implications of that but he held his tongue as Dick continued to explain what he’d be working on.
    “The ship you saw and this fellow here, we were able to determine years ago that they operate on a symbiotic relationship. You see, they are both alive in a way, both organic. Like any vehicle, the ship would respond to commands given to it by its pilot. But in this case those commands were given through a mental connection,” he said, gesturing to the creature in the other room. “Through many years of study and experimentation, we’ve been able to determine how. Furthermore, we are very close to being able to duplicate that technology for use in humans.”
    “So we can fly gross looking planes with our minds?” asked Andrew.
    “No, dummy, so we can deliver world peace,” Dick snapped, “I told you that already.
    Andrew stared from Dick to Todd in complete confusion until it hit him. “Are you talking about mind control?”
    “Ding! Ding! Ding!” yelled Dick while Todd clapped. “Hence the name, Project Simon, after the children’s game. I named it myself!”
    Andrew was stupefied, “That is not only impossible and preposterous but it’s also evil. You want to take away free will, like for the entire world? Are you out of your damn minds?”
    “Calm down, Sally, and think about it. With a simple command we will be able to take away all sadness, all pain, make everybody happy, and instantly impart the wisdom necessary to end hunger and poverty all across the globe. The possibilities are endless! I’m talking about the kind of collective global unity and productivity that hasn’t been seen since the Tower of Babel.”
    Andrew started laughing, quietly at first but then from the belly, loud and obnoxious. “It is madness,” he said between breaths, “Complete and utter insanity. Sorry