Darkscape: The Rebel Lord by R. Garland Gray

Author:R. Garland Gray [Gray, Garland]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-60542-971-7
Publisher: Medallion Press
Published: 2008-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

WITH HIS GUARD ESCORT STOPPING OUTSIDE THE DOOR, Lachlan entered the High Council’s quarters with strong expectations. “Sir?” he called out.

“In here,” came the command from his right.

Lachlan turned and walked into a small sitting room of blue walls and comfortable seating.

The older councilor sat in a high-back chair of massive proportions, his features unreadable. Brown sleeves were pushed up thin, veiny arms in a composed gesture of authority. “My lord, if you would please order your matrix to come and stand before me.”

Lachlan turned toward his new shadow. “Kim, stand before him.”

The matrix obeyed him with a poise and balance so similar to Kimberly that he again experienced a prickling of unease.

The councilor edged forward on his chair and inspected her arms and hands. “Lord Lachlan, did you have any notion of this gift?”

“No, sir. I am surprised by Commander Rama’s generosity.” He stressed the last word. “One does wonder why he did not keep such a valuable asset for himself.”

“Agreed. Some deranged plan of his, no doubt.”

Lachlan quirked a brow at the revealing statement.

“Is Dr. William de Douglas on board the Claymore?” the councilor inquired in a nonchalant tone that was anything but.

“Yes, sir.” Lachlan knew both men were experts on the highly classified matrix technology. “Dr. William apprenticed under you, didn’t he, sir?”

“Yes.”

Lachlan wanted more of an explanation. “If the matrix robot theories are classified, why did you teach him?”

“William showed signs of brilliance and common sense, a rare combination of qualities. A select few must always be taught so we can preserve the knowledge for future generations.”

The answer annoyed him. “If the knowledge has been banned, why preserve it?”

“That is on a need-to-know basis.”

He exhaled loudly. “Who decided whom the select few would be?”

“I am not at liberty to discuss that.”

That answer really annoyed Lachlan. “Was Rama among your select few?”

“No, I did not teach him, but it seems someone else did.”

“So it would seem.” The man definitely knew more than what he was telling. “Your precious secrets are not so closely guarded.”

“That will be corrected, I assure you. My main concern at the moment is for Kim.”

Lachlan looked at the matrix with a critical eye. “Why? She is not a living being.”

“She lives, in her own way.”

“Does she?” He should have known there would be a hitch of some sort. “Lives, as in how?”

The older man reached for the matrix’s arm and she stepped back in avoidance.

“Well, that was unexpected.” The councilor sat back and rubbed his chin. “For one thing, she does not act like the others.”

How encouraging, Lachlan thought darkly, his annoyance growing by leaps and bounds. “How did the others act?”

“They were weapons, fiercely loyal to an imprinted master, remote, and unnaturally intelligent in the ways of destruction.” The councilor’s thoughts drifted back to Logan’s data library. Rachel, Lisa, Wendy, Jocelyn, and Katrina had been young women, probably like this Kim. After years of experimentation, Dr. Logan had been able to transform them. But this one, this Kim, did not respond like the others at all.

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