“Tomorrow?” interjected Chesterton. “Mr. Adler, I'm sorry if I didn't make myself clear. I said we should delay. Let me restate it. I'm ordering a delay on all tests until we can guarantee that this creature can't escape the Containment Cavern.”
Adler raised a hand. “Yes, yes, Colonel. I know how you must feel. Especially after today. But we were all aware of the risks involved. And after careful consideration, I've decided that we must—”
“Mister Adler,” Chesterton stressed, muscular forearms flexing without effort, “let me clarify something for you.”
Adler stared, frowning.
“There is no question that your company, Stygian Enterprises, owns this facility and funds this billion-dollar project,” Chesterton continued. “And it is not within the bounds of my authority, nor do I possess any desire, to terminate the experiment. But the United States Government—and I am the United States Government—is in absolute charge of security.” Chesterton paused, frowning. “Understand me, Mr. Adler. I am not a flexible man. My orders are not flexible. I am required to ensure that there is no penetration of this underground facility by hostile forces, that the personnel at this station are shielded from harm, and that this creature does not escape the Containment Chamber. I have three platoons of Rangers to achieve this objective and I will achieve it. But it is going to take at least two months to make adequate preparations. First, we have to cement all the corridors leading into the Containment Cavern. And my men aren't qualified for that work. Connor and his civilian ground crew will have to do it.”
Adler's brow furrowed. “Cement?”
“Yes, Mr. Adler, cement. That thing can melt steel. It might even be able to melt titanium. But it can't melt cement. A nuclear weapon can't even melt cement. Once that creature is safely sealed inside cement walls, this place will be secure again. Then you can run all the tests you want.”
Frank felt a distance from the conversation. He watched the ceiling lights that had begun blinking more steadily. It seemed like the electrical system was slowly recovering from the shock wave.
There was a silent conflict of wills until Adler finally nodded. “Very well, Colonel,” he submitted. “I recognize, and defer to, your ultimate authority in these matters. But once adequate safety measures have been completed, I will insist that we finish all tests.”
Frank decided it was time. “I think there's something else we need to consider, Mr. Adler.”
A receptive smile. “Yes, Doctor?”
“We're entering a crucial stage with this creature that is obviously beyond predictability.” Frank didn't blink as he spoke. “For example, this attack today was completely unexpected. This creature should never have done anything like this. An attack against the Containment Cell is completely outside its programming. So I think... I think that we should make a hard decision.”
Adler's brow lifted. “What kind of decision, Doctor?”
“The data we've received from quantitative analyses are far beyond any anticipated results,” Frank said. “Our equipment isn't even capable of measuring this kind of power. Even now, this thing's physical speed is tenfold any projections. So let me stress, Mr. Adler: We are dealing with a very, very dangerous creature – a creature that is far more dangerous than anything that has ever lived. We don't know its true potential. I don't think it even knows its true potential. But it will. Because it's neurally programmed to test itself more and more as it nears maturity. And as it begins to detect increases in its cybernet levels, it will begin searching for ways to expend the extra energy. And that is a significant threat.” Frank stared, took a breath. “With the creature's newfound ability for projected combustion, combined with its rapidly increasing strength and speed and this unexplainable hostility against facility personnel, a tragedy could occur.”
“What kind of tragedy, Doctor?”
“The creature could escape,” Frank answered. “It might even become ... uncontrollable.”
“And then, Doctor?”
Frank waited, staring. He shifted, speaking with an almost frightening resignation. “I suppose that it would kill everything on Earth, Mr. Adler.”
Adler seemed struck. “So,” he responded finally, “you are saying we should terminate the life of the creature?”
“I'm saying, Mr. Adler, that the experiment is already a success,” Frank answered. “Those final tests were designed only to determine if the creature is strong enough to withstand heavy weapons fire and to see if it is smart enough to defeat humans in combat. But after what we saw today, I think that we all agree that it's capable of doing both.”