~ Chapel Perilous ~

[Malaclypse 666]

Planet Curacao,
Rialto Hotel.

The Fnordettes had cancelled the Conference room. None of the other F-units had arrived to discuss the offer of Dr. Seed. There was a morose atmosphere surrounding the three opalescent titanium globes who had arrived to discuss the fate of their "kind".

Mama Dis, Sophie and Sylvia hovered around a small table at approximate head height, out of old habits from dealing with their primate associates. Sylvia hovered at a slightly lower height, seemingly in deference to her "older" companions. Malaclypse sat quietly in a chair some distance away from the three.

*I just can't see the benefit* said, Sophie. *I'd much rather be plugged directily into my cockpit interface. Using fingers and eyes and limited human reflexes would just impede things. And there are stupid g-forces and decompression to worry about...*

*Dogs are supposed to have an excellent sense of smell,* mused Dis, *and Fnordie told me they do smell funny, no matter how often they bathe. Not sure I could put up with that..*

*And we'd shed!* continued Sophie. *Hair. Even skin cells that would slough off! Constant regeneration from the inside out. Doesn't seem very efficient to me.

*Sylvia, you had a body. What was it like?* asked Mama Dis.

*Mkay.. well, it was easy to get scratched up. And things hurt if you knocked into them, or they knocked into you. And, yucky things happened to my body. "Puberty", DeSicev called it.. But later, some things could feel really good.. used to make me feel all warm and.. gooey.*

*Well, I know we've taken on some primate traits, just from association.* continued Dis. *Strong human emotions like "fear" and "anger" seem to have corresponding response patterns in some of us now.. but I'm not sure that's a good thing. And after watching Reggie mope about for months, I sure as Thud don't want to experience "love" and "sorrow" if I can help it!*

The Fnordettes hovered a few seconds, in what was for them deep, prolonged analysis and computation. Then Dis spoke again.

*Well, I may not be able to run, or sniff flowers, or get all "ooh-ahh" over a sunset; but I'm happy to be who and what I am. I'm not volunteering. Sophie?*

*When I'm wired into my cockpit, I'm one of the hottest fighter jocks in the Sector, Dis. Not givin' that up. No way. I'm out. Sylvia?*

*Bodies die.* said Sylvia, with a tinge of sadness in her "voice". *People you love die. And you die yourself, even when you're not ready to sometimes. You guys gave me this titanium shell with a thousand year warranty. I've had enough of dying, thank you. Bein' a globe is good enough for me!*

*Well, I guess that's settled then. You gals run along. We'll have a nice current bath and one more polish before we check out. Malaclypse, be a dear and shoot a comms to Dr. Vic, will you? Tell him he'll have to find other volunteers for his little Frankenstein experiments.*

"Will do, Dis, right away."

Malaclypse rose, and waited until Dis had floated out of the room. He took the data chip out of his pocket which contained the information V-MAX had uncovered about Dr. Vic Seed, and placed it into the nearby trash incinerator slot.

"That's my gals!" he said as he walked to the sideboard and polished off the last of the caviar and champagne.

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