Leviathan(17)

“I understand quite well, Doctor, how you used the electromagnetic pulse focused through the sphere to genetically alter what was once a Komodo dragon. I understand how the amino acids in the dragon's dual-strand DNA chromosomes were molecularly altered by the pulse to replicate in a mutated form. Your formula to determine the amount of power necessary to accomplish the task was fairly simple: M equals £ squared times T-I.”

He smiled, almost laughing. “M is the manipulation-mutation of amino acids in the chromosomes, £ is the electromagnetic energy pulse wave, and T-I is the niobium-titanium intensification required for enhancing electron transference. Of course each factor had to be perfected individually before it was inserted into the formula. But it is the combination that achieves the desired effect.

“And to prevent current loss you used the niobium-titanium superconductors with a 50,000-ampere charging field. The current was stored magnetically in a battery thirty meters long and 3.5 meters wide, discharging an electromagnetic pulse echoed through the center of the sphere every 25 hundredths of a second.

“When the dragon was three weeks old, cellular impact began on tissues—first with compressed air, then sand, then larger objects that caused a rapid mutation of high-tensile armored scales. And when the creature was four weeks old, you magnetically supported its regenerative abilities, enhancing endocrine systems and tripling the molecules used for mitosis, or healing.”

Frank didn't move. “It was a little bit more complicated than that, Mr. Adler.”

“But of course it was, Doctor,” the old man returned. “I speak only in layman's terms. Yet the truth remains. You gave the dragon a phenomenally enhanced healing factor, an ability to survive virtually any wound. At five weeks, the healing factor was permanently set and a computer-aided Neural Control Program was bio electronically installed. Or in other words, Doctor, you planted the seeds of the infamous Hunter-killer Mode, the instinct to hunt and kill every other living creature on the face of the earth.

“You used cyberspace functions in GEO to remove the locus that produces a-calcium calmodulin kinase, the chemical which would have allowed Leviathan to recognize fear, and in this way made it into a creature without any fear whatsoever. Only a cold and calculating instinct to kill. Then you neurally encoded tactical and strategic military data directly onto its cerebellum, which was in turn inlaid at ten weeks of age.

“Then, in one of your most remarkable alterations, you increased brain synapse current levels until Leviathan's mind speed was at least five times faster than a human's. Also, the creature's newly generated brain cells, cells which have no memory at all, are continuously overlaid with an electronic echo-pulse from the chip which gives them instant memory. That is how Leviathan can never forget the Hunter-killer Mode or any of its tactical knowledge.” He paused. “I applaud you, Doctor. You deserve it.”

Frank was unimpressed. He didn't need accolades.

“You're pretty caught up on the creation process, Mr. Adler,” he said slowly. “Can you tell me how Leviathan developed the rest of its altered weapons system? Including the ability to generate an inhibitor and catalyst to cause combustion?”

“No,” Adler replied, a slight laugh. “Why don't you tell me?”

“Because Leviathan is innately polyploidal in its genetic makeup, Mr. Adler.”

The old man said nothing, waiting.

“Meaning,” Frank continued, “that we discovered late in the process that Leviathan had more than the usual number of chromosomes for a Komodo dragon. A great many more chromosomes, actually. Some of which we still can't identify. They don't match the molecular encoding of any identified vertebrate. And their unexpected structure created unexpected mutation.”

Confusion registered on Adler's severe face. “Exactly what kind of chromosomal structure are we discussing, doctor?”

Tired, Frank shook his head. “I don't know. I determined that it was just some kind of recessive genetic pattern remembered and made dominant by the chromatic manipulation process waves. Some kind of genetic code that nature somehow piggybacked inside random members of this species for thousands of years. It was deeply submerged but it survived in the chromosomal makeup of the Komodo dragon. And the electromagnetic manipulation didn't actually alter this particular dragon's chromosomal makeup as much as it ignited the rapid development of this unidentified, recessive genetic code.”

Adler's interest spiked. “Thus the explanation for why you renamed the project ‘Leviathan' at the fifth week of development?” he asked, keenly alert.

Dismal, Frank nodded.