Leviathan(126)
“Rachel ... what is the final purpose of life?”
Rachel didn't answer.
“Three minutes until detonation ...”
* * *
Chapter 32
Connor hit the ground running. The entire cavern thundered with the battle and Connor instantly raised the M-79 but saw that Thor and the Dragon were too close for a clear shot with the phosphorous grenade.
Connor staggered, shocked, as he saw Thor grappling face to face with the Dragon, the battle-ax flashing like lightning through the flames to strike again and again and then the two of them hit the floor, wrestling and striking and revolving across the cavern floor in a roaring whirlwind of blows.
In flames and shattered steel they spun through the middle of the Matrix, demolishing whatever was in their path in a thunderstorm of titanic strength and titanic rage with fire exploding before and behind them to devour whatever could be devoured.
Leviathan was monstrous and demonic beyond belief and Thor matched it dark measure for dark measure, locking a huge arm around the Dragon's head to savagely drive the gaping fangs into the ground and then they were spinning again, Thor's battle-ax lashing out again and again through a galactic red holocaust of fangs and flame and blood.
Smoke thundered through the cavern, superheated by the colossal conflict.
“Thor!” Connor cried, rushing forward.
But he knew already that he was too late ...
* * *
“Two minutes until detonation ...”
“Rachel!” Frank said sternly. “Answer the question! What is the final purpose of your life?”
A long and silent stare.
“I do not know,” Rachel replied. “I do not know the purpose of my life. I am not logical.”
There was no time for fright of crashing the system.
Frank hovered closer.
“Is there a scale of life, Rachel?” he hammered. “According to the logic of Aristotle, is there a scale of life? Do some creatures have more value than others?”
“Yes,” Rachel answered.
“One minute, thirty seconds until detonation ...”
“And what creature holds the highest position on the scale of life?” Frank asked. “What creature is the superior species?”
“Man is the superior species.”
“Yes!” Frank shouted, losing a measure of control. “Man is the superior species! And what is Rachel? What is Rachel?”
“Rachel is a creation of man.”
“One minute until detonation ...”
“Yes!” Frank flew forward. “And which man is your creator?”
“Dr. Frank is my creator.'‘
“That's correct! Then answer this: Is it logical for a created being to be greater than its creator? Is it logical that Rachel could be more valuable than Dr. Frank?”
“Thirty seconds until detonation ...”
Silence.
“Answer the question!” Frank screamed.
“No,” Rachel replied, staring. “It is not logical for any created being to be greater than its creator.”
“And you confirm that I am your creator?”
“Yes.’'
“Then you confirm that my life is more valuable than your own?”
“Yes.”
“Twenty seconds until detonation ...”
Frank flew into her face, unable to keep his distance. He chose his words carefully to prevent any possible misunderstanding. “If it is logical that Dr. Frank is your creator, and that Dr. Frank's life is more valuable than yours, then you must also confirm that Dr. Frank's commands can overrule anything else! Can you confirm this?”
“Ten seconds until detonation ...”
Rachel stared at him.
“Answer the question!” bellowed Frank.
“Yes,” she said finally. “It is logical that Dr. Frank's commands and Dr. Frank's life would be superior to all other priorities.”
“That's correct!” Frank shouted. “My desires and my life are your highest logical priorities! And my command and highest desire is this: Immediately defuse the fail-safe! Immediately defuse the fail-safe because it will preserve my life! Override all other commands and do it now! Do it now, Rachel! Because I am your creator and I am superior to you! Override the fail-safe, Rachel! Do it now! Do it now!”
Rachel stared, silent.
“Five seconds until detonation ...
“Five, four ...”
* * *
Chapter 33
Leviathan struck Thor in the chest, hurling him back as Thor grappled with the dragonic armor that burned the flesh from his hand, lashing out again and again with the battle-ax that rose and descended without his will or thought to strike deep and true at the face and head and neck of the beast.
Rage for rage and blow for blow they revolved across the cavern.
A savage impact that Thor did not see sent him back, smashing him against something that wouldn't surrender. Thor came off it, recoiling and roaring at the stunning impact to slash out again, striking at the unprotected section of the monster's armored neck. Like lightning the ax lashed out, a flaming arc that cut through flaming air to bury itself halfway to the hilt in the Dragon's neck.