Old-timer’s snarl returned as he looked down at the unconscious android. “I’m going to disengage the magnetic field to give us a bit of room. Keep your distance. When I wake this ugly piece of filth up, he’s not going to be happy.”
Djanet nodded. “Okay.” She engaged her magnetic cocoon in preparation.
Old-timer disengaged the Planck platform’s magnetic field. Djanet floated a few meters away, while Old-timer remained crouched above the unconscious body. He placed his hand flat on the metal chest. A second later, he sent a jumpstart of magnetic energy into the body, instantly jolting the creature to life. Its eyes opened wide before its hand reached up to grasp Old-timer’s throat. A second after that, the android screamed out in excruciating pain.
Djanet gasped as she watched Old-timer’s violent response to the android’s aggression. Instantly, its body was impaled from dozens of the tendrils that Old-timer’s new body controlled and that had unfurled from his torso, and struck like an army of cobras all going in for the kill at once. One of the tendrils had driven itself like a spike into the back of the android’s neck, jamming up into its artificial brain.
Finally, Old-timer stood, floating above the platform, the tendrils having impaled the android in so many places that he looked like a marionette—and Old-timer was his puppeteer. “It’s safe now,” he said to Djanet. “I’ve got control and I’ve opened up a line of communication with him. I’ve got access to the collective.”
Djanet’s mouth was agape for a moment before she asked, “How? I didn’t know—”
“It’s a feature James suggested when we designed my body,” Old-timer replied. “The appendages can connect on a nano scale to communicate with anything computerized. Comes in handy.”
“That boy thinks of everything,” Djanet commented. Then she considered the fact that James had disappeared. “Usually,” she amended. “So where does that leave us?”
“Daniella, can you give me an update?” Old-timer asked his wife through their mind’s eye connection.
“They’re crossing to the house. I’m going to lock myself in the old storm shelter.”
“Okay,” Old-timer replied. “Djanet’s on her way. Daniella, I love you. Stay safe.”
“I love you too. I’m going to go quiet now. They’ll be tracing for communication signals. Djanet, get your ass down here,” Daniella replied before rushing to the hidden entrance, several meters away from the main house.
Old-timer turned to his wife’s would-be rescuer. “Djanet, there’s an android mothership, they call it the Constructor. It’s where they construct the bodies of the people they assimilate. That’s where we’re headed.”
“You found that out…” she reacted, pointing to the android’s head, “…by connecting to his brain?”
Old-timer shrugged, as though the answer were obvious. “Of course. Yours and my brain are connected right now by the mind’s eye. It’s basically the same thing.”
“Except you didn’t jam a tendril into my brain—”
“It’s a little unorthodox,” he admitted, “but the situation’s gotten a little unorthodox.”
“Earth’s at least twenty minutes away,” Djanet pointed out, “and Daniella says she’s only got minutes. So…”
Old-timer waved her over to the Planck. “It’s safe,” he reassured her when he noticed her hesitation. “I’m in complete control of his nervous system. His name is Anisim, if you’re wondering.”
“I wasn’t,” Djanet replied as she hovered above the platform, just inches from the gruesome spectacle of the duo. “You’ve really got your hooks into that guy, huh?”
Old-timer ignored her dark humor and reengaged the magnetic field. “We’re going to use the Planck to give us a boost. It’ll take us into a random parallel universe, then return us a second later, next to Earth’s orbit. From there, I’ll make my way to the Constructor and it’ll be up to you to get to Daniella and help her get off the surface before it’s too late.”
“Where will I take her?” Djanet asked. “Daniella had a good point. Nowhere’s safe.”
“Just get her off the surface,” Old-timer replied. “Worry about where to take her after that. Venus is an option, if it’s not already under siege.” He locked eyes with her earnestly. “Djanet, I’m counting on you.”
“I’m counting on you too,” she replied.