I forced a smile, my body trembling in pools of sweat. “That’s right, Creator, you forgot about my biological chip, didn’t you? Touch me, and ABE will flood my testes with lethal levels of sperm-killing enzymes. Attempt to remove or disrupt ABE or render me unconscious and the same thing will happen. Spare my life and I’m willing to negotiate a stud fee; otherwise I’ll fry the little fellas in a blink of thought. Now, free my bonds.”

GOLEM hovered over me, its cornea displaying radically different patterns of color as its mind processed every potential response to my last chess move—a move that, at least for the moment, had resulted in a stalemate.

Thirty seconds passed; I could feel my resolve weakening.

“ABE, I’m going to count down from ten seconds. If my bonds still have not been removed by the time I count to one, institute Sperm Toxicity protocol, then accelerate my blood pressure until my aorta bursts. Ten … nine … eight—”

Moving at inhuman speed, the two robotic hands tore the straps loose from my wrists and ankles.

I rolled off the table, backing away from the surgical arms. “Okay then, let’s discuss this civilly, without any sharp objects—”

“Does Robert Eisenbraun still desire Andria Saxon as a mate?”

“I desire the real Andria Saxon, not her clone. By the looks of this complex, I’m a few hundred thousand years too late.”

“Incorrect. The real Andria Saxon is alive.”

“How is that possible?”

“The real Andria Saxon was cryogenically thawed six weeks ago in order to extract tissue samples for a new line of first-generation clones.”

“Prove it! Where is she?”

“She is performing her duties in the genetics lab. Follow me and I will lead you to her.”

An enormous camouflaged panel parted along a section of curved wall, revealing a dark corridor. The floating orb accelerated through the passage, forcing me to jog at a brisk pace in order to keep up, the forced activity making it impossible to organize my thoughts.

Thankfully, I had ABE.

WARNING: GOLEM IS ATTEMPTING TO DISTRACT ROBERT EISENBRAUN WHILE IT PROBES FOR A WEAKNESS.

Suggestions?

GOLEM’s “Creator” persona is unfamiliar with resolving conflicts when forced into a subordinate role. Reestablish control by responding to GOLEM with unanticipated illogical reactions.

Following ABE’s advice, I ceased running after the glowing orb, allowing the heavy darkness to envelop me. I stood and watched as GOLEM grew smaller in the distance. It finally stopped about a hundred feet ahead, pausing to allow me to catch up.

Do the unexpected …

Sitting on the cold slate floor, I waited for the deranged supercomputer to come to me while I parodied an old Stones’ tune. I sang, “Under my thumb … a computer who … once had me down. Under my thumb … a computer who once pushed me around…”