Mindshadow walked through Carl's - or was it Tween's - thoughts, watching with satisfaction as the memory of the duck eggs played out in the new configuration she established. He seemed to have some identity crisis. She grinned silently to herself; that would make things oh so much easier. She looked around the various collections of thoughts, ideas and memories that formed Carl's mind and personality, every now and then pausing to mentally command a block of thoughts to shift and change at her whim. Not his recent scientific thoughts, of course; those were useful. His family problems, doubts about his new alternate identity and his many other personality quirks however were entertainment.

"Mindshadow, we have completed preliminary designs for the transport devices you have requested," Athena reported.

"Show them to me," Mindshadow commanded. In her mind's eye, a visual diagram flashed and spun around for her observation. It was far more efficient than a simple video screen; in a flash, the complete three-dimensional schematic was available at any angle or display type she desired. She nodded at the basic design and interface; the technical specifications she ignored as they were beyond her expertise anyway. "And what would be the capability of these devices?"

"In theory, they can transport you or anyone you designate anywhere you wish. Mr. Terrance's basic design is sound, but somewhat bulky. The improvements are based on the picoelectronics and power systems from Autocrat's technologies. Simply envision the intra- or inter-dimensional and chronological coordinates you wish and you will instantly shift there."

Mindshadow frowned a little at that. She understood the concept of what Athena said just fine; it was the specifics about dimensional coordinates that got her worried. "Any way to simplify the destination coordinates?"

"A portable AI unit has been installed along with the transport devices. It will maintain continuous storage of locations and translate your intentions and desires accordingly. We should still arrange to send out probes to map and lay out the dimensional-spatial grid."

"See to it. How long to make the initial devices?"

"We need to bring the replicator systems online. Once they are properly configured, actual creation should only take a few seconds."

"Good, then let's resume plundering Mr. Terrance's brilliant mind, shall we?" Mindshadow then focused her attention on the intellectual side of Tween's mind and located the specific memories she needed. Then, with a subtle nudge, she commanded those memories to the forefront. As the scene began to play in Tween's mind, Athena began to take notes.

Carl sat looking at the computer screen. The diagrams were for a replicator design that he had just finished. Now all he had to do was build it. The components had arrived through the mail. It was rather funny that most of the components need to build it were available, via mail order. Getting into the basement proved to be tough, but eventually he managed. He would have to be careful, and not make a mistake like he did when he was a child.

"How is it going Dad?"

Carl turned around and saw Becky standing behind him. She was dressed in that peculiar way again; long black gloves and boots and a skin-tight outfit. Kind of slutty, now that he thought about it. Carl thought about mentioning about how inappropriate the outfit was, but Becky made a subtle gesture and suddenly it wasn't important. "I'm going over the final specifications of a nanotech replicator. Once it's built, it will be able to create any object or device I tell it."

"Sounds fascinating. Why don't you tell me how it works?"

Carl started to tell Becky that it involved sciences that were way beyond what she could comprehend. After all, this wasn't high school physics. But something about Becky's voice compelled him to continue. "Basically, all matter is composed of the elementary particles held together by fundamental force. Different elements are simply different configurations of the same matter. By altering the fundamental forces that hold them together, it's possible to rearrange particles into more desirable configurations."

Becky leaned forward and examined the screen. Behind her, an invisible presence copied everything they saw and heard. She then gently wrapped her arms around Carl and whispered in his ear. "Gold? Complex machines? Stuff like that?"

Carl hesitated in confusion. What was going on? But before he could ponder it more, Becky lightly touched his temple with her fingers and what little doubts in his mind drained away. "Why certainly. There's no difference between gold or lead, once you get down to the subatomic level. And machines can be done just as easily as long as the specific design is fed into the computer interface."

"Let's see it. Page through the rest of this design," Becky commanded.

Carl felt numb and sleepy, like he was in some kind of trance. He watched himself hit the computer key, paging through the various schematics showing the different components and systems that comprised the replicator systems. As the computer pages flew by, he recited the technical details and explanations as fast as he could. He couldn't stop himself; he felt almost like a machine himself. Behind them both, the presence continued to take notes, recording everything for further use. As soon as the last page completed, Carl slumped over in exhaustion as Becky smiled.

"Good," Becky nodded as she checked briefly with the presence behind her. "Now let's see it built, shall we?"

Carl looked over to the boxed components with a fatigued expression. As he did an inventory, Becky levitated off the ground and crossed her legs in a hovering seated position. Carl was about to protest both the impossibility of the feat and the need to rest, but one look into Becky's green hypnotic eyes erased all doubts or protests.

Becky then watched with satisfaction as Carl assembled all the parts into their respective systems. To speed things along, boxes of parts opened themselves and levitated into position in a surreal display of make-believe. Even with the assistance however, an invention as complex as this would have normally taken days, even weeks to assemble. But Carl was unable to stop and worked for nearly sixty hours non-stop. He was compelled by a will not his own. He had never felt to exhausted in his life.

"Replicator systems complete," Carl gasped as the last component slid into place.

"And this system will create anything I desire?"

Carl nodded, not even able to dispute the incongruity of ownership from Becky's question.

"Good," Becky proclaimed and waved her hand at Carl, sending him into dreamless sleep.

"Replicator systems complete," Athena intoned as the last component slid into place.

Mindshadow watched the unconscious Carl lying on the floor and did a final check in his mind. Yes, she noted, the hypnotic command in his mind was still intact. Carl was forbidden to leave the ten-foot square she designated. In fact, he couldn't even see or hear anything outside either, unless Mindshadow willed otherwise, and then he would see and experience whatever she wanted him to. The command formed a virtual cell; a prison that he could never break or even contemplate escaping. His own mind forbid it. With that detail taken care of, she turned her attention to the workshop in front of her and the finished product installed into the wall console.

"It's smaller that the one in Mr. Terrance's mind," Mindshadow noted.

"An improvement to the design," Athena explained. "I've taken Mr. Terrance's design and improved it by incorporating Autocrat's miniaturization technologies and improved matter-energy transfer by thirty percent. We can begin testing immediately."

"Hm....how about a Tirolo and Chateau La Calisse '92?" Mindshadow watched as the new replicator hummed to life and produced German Ham and Brie Cheese sandwich on an Italian roll on a plate of bone china and a crystal glass of white wine. She took a bite and sip and gave the creation careful consideration. It was very close to the sandwich she had eaten in the Carlyle Brera Hotel in Milan not too long ago when she was busy taking advantage of the chaos after the Ireland war. But there was something still off about it. "It tastes close, but..."

"Molecular alignment is 0.0021% off of expected parameters. Organics are more challenging than simple base elements and compounds. An adjustment of the molecular coils will rectify that."

Mindshadow nodded and looked back to Carl's unconscious form. "Is he strong enough for me to pull more out of him?"

"He is strong enough for additional contact, but not much longer. The completion of the replicator took a lot out of him. I would recommend allowing him to regain his strength so we can obtain all of the nanite technologies from him in a single memory pull."

Mindshadow nodded in asset to the logic and looked down on Carl as he shifted slightly in his sleep. She shrugged and dropped the sandwich and wine into the cell. 99.9979% would be good enough for him, but she expected better for her own consumption.

Tween woke up with a groan and look around as his vision slowly began to clear. He tried to stand up, but his muscles felt weak as a kitten. It was an effort of will just to sit up on the hard, cold floor. Around him was a sea of impenetrable darkness, broken only by a single circle of light around him. The light didn't seem to have a source; it was just...there. Next to him were a half-eaten sandwich and a crystal of wine - an unusual combination that he couldn't recall eating but might have. Between the unnatural lighting and the eerie silence, the whole place seemed to have an air of unreality.

Of greater concern to Tween was the sensation of cotton and sandpaper in his head. Tween tried to shake the cobwebs loose, but his mind was like a block of Swiss cheese. Painful memories and emotional pain overlapped and mixed with fantasies to the point where he couldn't tell where reality ended and nightmares began. The only things he could recall clearly were his technical inventions, and those memories felt like they were being soaked and wrung out like a sponge from overuse.

"You really should eat, you know. I can't have that marvelous brain go to waste," a disembodied female voice chided.

"Why?" Tween mumbled.

"Oh, don't worry. I can make it taste like anything you can imag..."

"I meant," Tween enunciated with more focused strength, "why are you doing this?"

"Impressive. Your will must be stronger than I thought if you can ponder anything other than basic survival at this point. I'll have to make sure to properly suppress it."

"You use and discard people like toys. You kill them without a shred of remorse."

"Pawns are supposed to be discarded when needed. And so what if I do? It's not like anyone can stop me."

"People are not pawns! You can't just discard people's lives like junk! Don't you have any morals at all?"

"Morals are just rules imposed by society against the individuals who aren't strong enough to stake their own claims."

"Are you really as blind as that?"

"Excuse me?"

"You claim that my whole life is a fabrication. Even if that's true, even if my family isn't real, my beliefs and my values are real, no matter what else you change. How can you go masquerading as my daughter, and not have the slightest idea what it's like to have feelings for another person?"

"My feelings for other people are irrelevant. I use them just like I use you."

"And that makes you better than them? Do you see yourself as superior and other people as animals for your amusement? You're all alone, no matter how many people you control. Why do you have such a fascination on watching other people's families? Why do you like ruining other people's lives by twisting their relationships? Don't tell me it has to do with my technology; someone of your power level could just pump that information out of my head without such elaborate fantasies. You like watching because it gives you some type of connection to other people. You like ruining other people's memories because they remind you of everything we have and you don't. Because, deep down where you don't like anyone to see, you're really all...argh...!" A sharp spike of pain interrupted Tween's tirade as he bent over, clutching his head.

"I don't wish to hear any more of your nonsense," the telepathic voice intoned with an annoyed tone. "Your purpose is to serve me by providing the technology I require to spread my influence throughout the world. Such moralizing is counter-productive." The voice paused as Tween's pain faded back to normal. "At the current time, I've finished pumping the last of your known technologies. But it would be a waste to let your skills and knowledge go unused. So from now on, I will be moving you to a different part of the base, where you will use your skills and abilities to research new technologies and inventions for me. Don't bother trying to resist; I've placed powerful hypnotic suggestions in your mind, preventing any concept of escape or rebellion. As I said before, you have no outside life or family. From this time forward, your purpose is to serve me."

Tween panted as he felt the first tingles of his mind being rewritten. Though it might have rung a little hollow, with luck, a small part of him would remember this victory.

Alex walked into his flat, entering through the elevator. He was about to throw the remains of his coat a chair, when Maurice entered the main room on the other side.

"Well, sir. I'm pleased to see that you're in one piece," offered the butler with undisguised sarcasm. "Might I suggest the use of a recent invention in communications? It's called the... 'Telephone,' I believe. A marvelous device. My initial impression is that a call might have put the matter at rest a bit sooner..."

"It's very good to see you, too," replied Alex dryly. "Believe it or not, there were no telephones anywhere near... well, never mind. It's a long story and I'm sure you have a tremendous amount to attend."

"A fair amount. There are some papers that require your signature. You'll find them on the desk in your study."

"Thanks, Maurice. I'll get to th- hang on, a bit. I don't have a study," replied Alex in disbelief.

"Of course you do, sir," answered the butler condescendingly. "I believe you were using it to store some sort of tackling dummy or some such. It has been moved to quarters more suitable to something of its... stature."

Alex shook his head. He didn't know whether to be annoyed or amused. Since his arrival, Maurice had almost made the building his personal domain. Granted, it was in much better condition now, certainly neater...

"All right. I'll sign them later, Maurice. Thank you." Alex headed up to his room for a quick shower. He still felt grimy from his fight with Mr. Big, and very much wanted to get rid of that feeling. While undressing, he heard a faint sound - three short beeps followed by three more. Then silence. Fifteen seconds later, the sounds repeated.

He found the source to be the watch that had been given to him by Carl Terrance, a.k.a. Tween. He said it could be used to contact him if Alex found the need. Apparently it worked both ways. He picked it up and hit a couple of the buttons before finding the one that would play back the message. Several words scrolled across the LCD display: 'URGENT! need to talk - Wedge.'

Alex paused for a moment, wondering what Wedge could possibly need him for that Carl couldn't handle.

Alex looked longingly at the bathroom with the shower stall containing multiple nozzles and then back at the watch. With a heavy sigh, he touched the button that would "call" Wedge.

"Hello, Alex," came the response from the watch. "I'm glad you finally called."

"Now, don't you start..." began Alex, still stinging from Maurice's earlier comments. "I'm sorry, Wedge. It's been a long week. What can I do for you?"

"It's a little difficult to explain. I can't talk long like this. She might be able to track the signal..."

"She? Who are you talking about?"

"I'm sorry. It would take too long to explain," came the reply. After a second, Wedge said, "With your permission, I could modify your own computer a bit, to make our communication more efficient. It would also virtually eliminate the possibility that my dimensional bubble would be compromised. How about it?"

"Well..." began Alex reluctantly.

"Please, Alex."

The Englishman could hear a touch of desperation in his voice. Sighing, he said, "If you can do it without losing any of the files I have stored on it, go ahead."

"Great! I'll get started right away..."

"By the way, Wedge, where is Carl? Why can't he help you with your problem?"

There were a few moments of silence and Alex began to think he'd offended Wedge.

"She has him. I'll explain more when the interface is complete..."

Several hours went by while Wedge did whatever it was that he was doing. Alex busied himself by signing the documents that Maurice had for him - charitable endowments, property management issues, and a few invitations that he had to decide to accept or decline. There were a few that looked like genuine fun. He would have to call Sarah to find out if she would be available for any of them.

Finally, there was a melodic series of tones that came from his studio. Alex went in and closed the door.

"I presume you're ready to give me a few more details?"

"Yes," said Wedge simply. "You'll find several files located on your desktop. They contain all of the information I have on what Tween and I were working on, along with as much information as I could find on the person who now has him. Her name is Mindshadow."

Wedge stood by as Alex listened and watched the information on Mindshadow, play on the video screen, as well as data being read from the files in a humanized voice. Looking over the computer upgrade he had done for Alex, he hoped it would be enough, although it was not a full AI system, it had the potential if given the right storage capacity and several extra programs.

After the files had played out, Alex sat in his chair silently long enough for the screen saver to kick in.

"Alex?" Wedge said tentatively, "Is there anything wrong?"

"Sorry Wedge. I was just thinking. A very good friend of mine may have run across this Mindshadow in the recent past. The experience was unpleasant for everyone involved. If it was Mindshadow, she has a great deal for which to answer." Alex sat in the chair and stared at the screen watching the pattern. He struggled to resist the urge to call Sarah right then and there to ask her if this was the person. There was a white hot rage lurking somewhere in Alex over what had been done to Sarah, and this was the first time he'd come across evidence of a potential suspect. Still, he needed to be sure... and he had promised Sarah he wouldn't go looking for the culprit.

"I may be able to help, Wedge, but I need to know some things about Carl," he heard himself say, still distracted by his questions about Mindshadow.

"What do you need to know?" Wedge asked.

Alex had relaxed somewhat after reviewing the information Wedge had given him about Carl - information that included several video feeds of Carl at work in his lab. Not only had Carl developed several advanced technologies, but had created some new rules for physics in general... and apparently Carl liked to hum and whistle while working. There was one tune in particular that seemed to recur. Wedge said he hummed it an awful lot and, when he'd asked about it, Carl had said it was the song he and his wife had danced to when they got married.

Alex listened to the tune once more, memorizing more than just the sounds, but also the emotional responses that seemed to be reflected in the man's face, the way his posture changed, even the subsonic resonances in Carl's voice as his throat tightened at a particular verse of the song. As Alex did this, he began to get a sense of Carl's own self perceptions and, using that, Alex began to search the Symphony, starting in the immediate area and then quickly expanding the boundaries of his search. Very soon, his awareness encompassed the whole of New York. Still nothing.

Without being specifically aware of what he did, Alex continued to expand his awareness, drawing on more and more of his power. He'd promised himself he wouldn't do something like this without good cause -- the risk of losing his sense of self, of no longer being "Alex", was too great to risk frivolously. But there seemed to be something drawing him, as it had when he confronted Avatar.

Still, Alex couldn't sense the presence of Carl anywhere. Then a thought occurred to him as he searched. He was searching for Carl's sense of self, as reflected in the song he hummed. If Mindshadow had enslaved him, then Carl's self-image would be drastically altered - perhaps totally suppressed. Alex shifted his perspective to the music, accounting for the mental restraints that might be used on a mind, and Listened once more to the Symphony. Somewhere in the Listening, That Which Was Alex was submerged. Not actually lost -- he was somewhere on the edge of awareness -- but Alex became more of a background presence, much like a favorite coat that had been hung on a peg until needed once more.

He looked around and felt, more than saw, the Harmony of the Universe. However, there was something different -- a wrongness he could almost touch. He extended his presence to this wrongness and found himself standing next to the image of a man bound in chains with several gaping wounds. He had discovered the source of the discordance... No that was not quite right.

Something about him was wrong in this place.

It was as if a dark spot had attached itself to this man. Something alien. Something outside of the Symphony had attached itself to this human's pattern. He did not fully understand how this could be, for the Symphony encompassed Everything. He turned His attention from the alien presence and made a closer inspection of the human. He blinked, again surprised by what he found. It did make sense, though. This was Carl. The chains and the wounds were a representation of Carl's current self image. The chains were a dynamic thing, changing as necessary to keep Carl prisoner. The wounds represented the damage to Carl's mind, his will draining away even as the wounds bled. Somehow the chains were contributing to the sense of wrongness and that sense was somehow growing It was as if the chains were causing the wrongness to stir, to become aware. The chains would have to be removed before the alien presence could be awakened.

He Sang. The Song in question was one that would weaken the chains and heal the wounds. It would also, of necessity, strengthen the man. While it would have been as easy to snap the chains, unless he could free himself, the chains would never be completely gone. He stepped closer to get a better look at the alien presence but, before He could determine more about it...

A voice from the computer terminal was saying, "Alex, are you ok? Say something." Looking at the time, Alex determined he had been away for over an hour.

Mindshadow watched with satisfaction as the equipment around the room powered up. Seated in the middle of the circular chamber, her control chair had a strong resemblance to a royal throne; a design that was certainly not accidental. Surrounding the chair were a number of consoles that would monitor the signal and provide surveillance to the people on the streets above. Above her, a helmet came down and carefully came to a rest on her head. As it did, she could feel the sensation of energies trickling into her head as her awareness began to widen. This would be the first test for a project that had been in the works for quite some time - one that would shake the foundations of the world once it was completed.

The experiment was being done in one of the secret basements under the Prometheus buildings. No one else was even aware of these chambers; there wasn't even a passage or stairway down. The only way down was phasing; precautions to avoid any possible criminal connection to Prometheus' mostly legitimate businesses. All the monitoring for the test would be done from a separate set of rooms in one of Prometheus' secret labs, normally used for sensitive government work.

"Mindshadow," Richard Michael's voice reported through a secure-link intercom, "the video matrix is stable and awaiting your command."

"Mindshadow," Miles Fisher reported through a second intercom, "the broadcast equipment is ready. We're about to run a local news analysis show - usually 70,000 viewers."

That's sufficient for a test, Mindshadow thought to herself. She had thought about using a satellite transmission for wider coverage, but if something went wrong, it would lead to discovery and that was something she didn't want to risk. Once she started doing this for real, she would probably use something more popular among the lowly masses; "Monday Night Football" or "Friends" or some pabulum like that. She would also have to relocate the main apparatus to her Antarctic base for convenience and security.

As the power supplies hummed, Mindshadow concentrated and focused her powers, imposing her will onto a bank of powerful AI devices that translated her wishes into digital form. The digital commands were then transposed to a video matrix that was the result of months of research. The Dictator had used his previous technique of visual-based mind control and updated for the modern era. Like the previous paper versions, anyone who watched the subliminal transparent images would be compelled to obey the suggestions that were silently imprinted into their minds. These images were then secretly transmitted and blended with the television broadcasts of the Fisher media empire and transmitted via satellite to cable televisions around the world.

Despite the months of patient research that had led to this point, Mindshadow couldn't suppress a giddy feeling of excitement. More than ever before, she felt like Zeus atop Mount Olympus, looking down on mortals as they toiled away in their meaningless grind. "Olympus," she thought. How appropriate and decided on a spur of the moment what she would dub this device.

Or at least she would once it was working. Mindshadow knew not to expect complete success - this was trial by error after all. Michaels had already warned her that the video matrix might not transmit cleanly once it bounced off the satellites; distance and random atmospheric noise might cloud the video matrix a little. In addition, some of Fisher's satellite technicians who Mindshadow had hypnotized into her service informed her that standard video broadcasts might not have the bandwidth to transmit the complete matrix; some of which resided beyond the normal visual wavelength.

For those reasons, Mindshadow decided to keep her command small and innocuous for now. If it didn't work completely, she didn't want mass confusion and mindless behavior to give away her scheme too early. Despite all her powers and resources, she didn't want to repeat the same mistakes as the Royal Elite did and proclaim victory before it was won. All that did was galvanized the entire world, along with a horde of heroes and even a few villains against you. No, this would be a quiet conquest; one that would creep up on the world's feet and claim it before it was even aware of what had happened.

"Command processed," the computer console replied as Mindshadow opened her eyes. Around her, several screens came to life as sensors measured the signal strength coming from the downtown television transmitter. Mindshadow then disengaged herself from the device and phased through the walls and reappeared in one of the adjoining rooms under the Prometheus tower.

"Signal confirmed at 32%," Michaels read from the logs. "At that strength, figure you're affecting maybe one person in five."

Mindshadow frowned. "That's it? My powers can do a lot..."

"It's not your powers that are the issue," Michaels replied. "Your telepathy is more than strong enough to direct and control the AI control. But it's the video matrix that does the actual work on transmitting the suggestion into the viewer's mind. The original technique was developed to work with paper pamphlets. It just needs to be fine-tuned to work better with a raster image. For now, we can measure the affect you had. What was your command?"

Mindshadow smiled. "I implanted an image of a cigarette and a sensation of pleasure. Appropriate, wouldn't you say?"

Michaels returned the smile. So that's why Mindshadow commanded Prometheus' financial group to buy stocks from the Tobacco 7 last week. "We'll have a focus group go around and check how many people start smoking around the city. We'll cover it as a health survey."

Mindshadow nodded. She had already started scanning the minds of people around the city and having several of her mind slaves surreptitiously looking around. Already there was a slight increase of people lighting up. Not as many as she would have liked to see, but it was a start. "Start working on improving the video matrix. Maybe pull in some test subjects and call it an advertising and marketing research." After all, Prometheus did have an active marketing group, she thought.

"We'll get right to it." Michaels then paused. "There's also something else that's come up that I've been meaning to tell you. It concerns Imperious Maximus."

"Your big robot? Don't worry about it. It's obsolete compared with what we're developing here."

"Well, yes, perhaps. But I recently lost contact with it. The radio beacon's no longer active, but it was reported missing from the impound yard. That means someone else has control of it."

Mindshadow was about to command Michaels to drop the subject, but stopped herself. His mind was giving off a disturbing sense of fear and dread, something that wasn't just from losing a big clunky robot. "What have you found out?"

Michaels nodded gravely. "With Electron's help, I hacked into the NRO and got some satellite images from the heist. Here's what we found." He handed Mindshadow a set of photos. The first one showed the robot as it walked out of the impound garage.

"Why is the image so fuzzy?"

"That's not fuzz, that's sand. Specifically, a sandstorm, in the middle of a police impound yard. What's more, the police report says that the guards were all killed; specifically, their throats were slit." He handed the next photo over. "Finally, the metahuman investigators say there are signs that magical energies were involved. All this points to only one conclusion."

"The Black Priest," Mindshadow whispered. She bit her lip and felt a surge of something she hadn't felt in a long time: fear. Even the Royal Elite, for all their power, didn't evoke the same sense of dread the Priest did. His reputation and the presence of pure evil were unmatched; even Autocrat's soul hadn't felt as dark.

"Continue your surveillance," Mindshadow quietly ordered. "Find out everything you can." As her drones proceed to obey, she forced herself to shelve her fear and think things though. Why would the Priest acquire Maximus? Was it simply a case of convenience? Or was he making a direct move and challenge against her power base? Either way, she had to tread carefully; she had to come up with a plan to occupy the Priest and hopefully steer him and his plans away from her. She also knew she wouldn't be able to deceive him; with his centuries of experience, he would surely be able to spot any deception or plan she could come up with. That left direct power as her only real option. That meant that she would have to acquire a powerful pawn that would keep him busy until her power base was secure. Something to think about in the coming days.

"Mindshadow, a progress report," Athena's mental voice chimed in, interrupting her thoughts. "Tween has completed an initial design for an ESPer capable powered armor suit. Prototype components will be ready when you return."

"Something bigger's come up. I'll have to check back later. Just keep Carl busy until I return."

Athena silently acknowledged the command and prepared the first nanite replicator lathe to start building a pair of dimensional transporters into a pair of boots, identical to the ones Mindshadow normally wore. Whatever was bothering Mindshadow, at least she would be pleased when she returned from New York.

Tween sat in his cell as he watched the computer screen display schematics in front of him. He wanted to shut his eyes and refuse to do any work, but resistance was impossible. Images and commands were being beamed directly into his mind and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't resist the commands to work and develop them. He felt no better than a computer, being used like a tool without the slightest shred of interest in his dignity.

In front of him, a design for some battle armor was being reviewed. Highly advanced stuff, Tween thought. It incorporated many of the ideas he had, plus some new ideas he had picked up from Athena. The outer layer was nanite-wafer thin, but virtually indestructible. The technological devices being integrated featured some of the most powerful weaponry, surveillance and counter-surveillance systems he had ever seen. Whoever wore it would be virtually impossible for any sensor system in the world to detect, and would wield more firepower than an entire division of soldiers. Unfortunately, the shape of the armor left no doubt who it was being built for.

"Incorporate startap weapon system," Athena mentally commanded.

"It can't," Tween protested. "The armor's so thin you don't have enough room for an adequate power suppl-"

"You are not permitted to refuse commands. You will be punished."

Pain lanced through Tween's body as Athena mentally triggered one of the hypnotic commands implanted in Tween's mind. The pain blotted out everything; Tween heard himself scream for what seemed like eternity. He sobbed, staring at the computer terminal. The design flashed back on the screen as the schematics for several other weapons and support systems displayed next to the primary design.

"Now do as you were instructed."

Tween wiped the tears of pain and helplessness from his eyes as he felt his mind already being compelled to solve the problem presented to him. Was this how his life was going to end? A slave to some machine and a spoiled child? And the consequences for giving this level of technology? Would the future of mankind be ruled by that child wielding the technology that his genius designed?

Tween sat watching the screen flash by several diagrams, when suddenly, a bead of light floated across his vision and heading to the ceiling. A moment later another followed it. Tween looked around, wondering where he was, as several more little beads of light floated to the ceiling. At that moment, Tween began to hum the song from his wedding. He looked around, the screen was still scrolling schematics, but they were no longer compelling his attention as they had before. No one was in the room he was in. Just a computer terminal and the chair attached to the floor.

"Hello?" he said aloud.

"Return to the project," a synthetic voice said from above.

At that moment it all came rushing back to him; Mindshadow and her demonic computer Athena. He leaped off the chair as an electrical surge pulsed through it leaving a scent of ozone and a few sparks. The beads of light were still flowing up and around him, he reached out and touched one, and it passed through his hand.

Looking to the far end of the room that had been blocked by the terminal, Tween could see the doorway. He ran towards it, activating his nano-coating without even thinking about it. As the door to the room started to close, two well placed energy bolts melted the metal in place, giving him time to get through the now-stuck door.

"Stop!" Athena commanded, but this time it did not have the desired effect.

Entering into the hallway Tween took a left and floated off the floor, picking up speed he managed to get through two large security doors before they closed. Taking each passage at random, and the ever-present synthetic voice commanding him to stop only pushed him further. He had to get away before Mindshadow came back and ended his moment of freedom. Some of the events since his capture were cloudy, but he still looked for a way out. He found a ramp that led down, and followed it. After descending the ramp, he took the next left passage and saw a slight glow ahead.

Entering into a large cavern, the slight red glow from below cast an eerie glow over everything. It appeared that this was some kind of power facility. Tween was about to retrace his path when four flying spherical combat drones closed in on him.

"There is no escape," Athena said again.

Tween pitched himself over the railing and accelerated at the glowing areas several stories below. There was a moment where he slowed for a second, as he passed through some kind of energy barrier halfway down. The barrier seemed to be blocking the heat, from the lava flow that was being tapped for power. Hitting the cooler crust above the lava at over two hundred miles an hour, Tween shattered a large hole as he plunged into the molten rock. The flow pulled him along away from Mindshadow, even if he didn't survive, she wouldn't be able to exploit him any more.

"What do you mean 'lost'?" Mindshadow demanded as she rocketed towards Antarctica at hypersonic speed. "Didn't the will suppressor prevent any unauthorized action?"

"Unfortunately, a powerful unknown form of energy penetrated the base. This energy temporarily fortified Carl's will long enough for him to physically leave the cell," Athena explained. "The energy didn't last long enough to allow him complete freedom, but unfortunately, he managed to reach the magna vents in the base power generators and..."

"Wait," Mindshadow commanded as she changed directions, diving into the glacier ice as she approached the edge of Antarctica. Phasing through the ice, she would finish her journey, using Athena's presence as a guide beacon. Less than a minute later, she phased through and entered her base. "Do you have a fix on his position?"

"I have successfully tapped into a surveillance satellite transmission and have the entire continent in view. The magna only comes up to the surface in a few dozen locations. Once he comes up to the surface, we will have him."

Mindshadow nodded then turned her attention to the shiny new pair of boots that were waiting for her in her personal area. "Are these...?"

"The transport boots, yes," Athena confirmed. "Once you have them on, you simply envision any location, either in this dimension or any other and you will be transported there. They will also transport anything or anyone you mentally designated."

With a mental command, Mindshadow willed the new boots to flow onto her body, replacing the boots she had worn before. If Carl thought he could simply run away and hide from her, he would find himself sorely mistaken.

Tween crawled out through the molten cracks and managed to break into open air. The first thing he noticed was the sharp stab of cold, made all the more intense by his recent bath of molten rock. The nanites surrounding his body immediately adapted, speeding up the molecular motion of the air around his body before he froze. He took a panted breath and shivered despite the nanites' environmental help. Some of the molten rock flaked off into the snow.

All around him, the blinding glare of sunlight reflected off the glaciers and white snow plains, threatening to blind him as he stumbled in a random direction. He squeezed his eyes shut; was this another kind of torture Mindshadow was putting into his mind? His recent escape, if that's what it was, replayed in his mind. It had felt so comforting to have a friendly presence providing support for his mind and will, but that support had faded, leaving him on his own. Even now it felt familiar, but was almost gone, like a sweet drink of something, but just beyond your grasp. He shook his head; he couldn't afford to have doubts now. If he was to have even a slight chance to escape, he couldn't afford to second-guess his own efforts. And if this escape was another delusion, then it wouldn't matter anyway.

Right on cue, his head began to tingle as a powerful and persuasive voice echoed in his mind. "Carl, stop right there..."

Out of habit, Tween froze; part of his mind still conditioned to obey the hypnotic suggestion. But another part rallied. "Not this time!" he shouted, marshalling his will as best he could. With sheer determination, he forced himself to keep moving. He couldn't afford to just stand there and get into a mind duel with someone like Mindshadow.

"I order you to come back to me at once," the voice commanded. "Comply!"

Again, Tween could feel part of his mind submitting to the mental commands. He belatedly realized that Mindshadow must have placed some powerful mental suggestions into his subconscious that would make it easier for her to dominate his will. And with Athena providing a constant drain on his mind, he had been helpless to resist. But time and distance from the base provided his own nanites the ability to regenerate enough of his own mind to provide a defense. "You want me, come get me!" he said fighting the nausea of disobedience.

"Very well..."

Tween barely had time to turn around before he found himself launched into the sky and thrashed by shards of ice and rock. Looking down, he saw Mindshadow appear out of thin air and hover over the snow as she guided the brutal telekinetic assault. How he saw her he wasn't sure about but looking over her he noticed several things. The snow fell around her as a bubble of force held off the elements from her person. And she was wearing a black skintight body suit with a flowing red cloak behind. Tween gritted his teeth and fired a powerful blast of electricity, disrupting the telekinetic grip, causing him to fall to Earth.

"Your will is strong Carl," Mindshadow admitted as she focused her energies, causing the snow and ground to rumble. "It appears I'm going to have to break you once again, to remind you who is your master."

Tween shook his head as he pulled more energy from his nanite shell. He was risking compromising his environmental protection by pushing his offensive systems this hard, but he had to chance it. He couldn't just stand here and duke it out with Mindshadow. Defeat would be inevitable, and he would almost certainly end up back under her telepathic torture cell. "I'm no one's slave!" he shouted as the skies above him cracked with the lights of the Austalis.

"Wrong, you're my slave," Mindshadow declared as powerful energies gathered around Tween and began to crush him between the ice and rock.

Tween struggled to breathe as the pressure around his body mounted. He gritted his teeth and prayed he hadn't made a crucial mistake letting her grab him like this. But he had to take the chance; simply blasting Mindshadow wasn't going to do it, with that powerful force wall surrounding her. He had to let her grab him first, then transmit the shock up through the telekinetic wave; hopefully blanketing her with a field of electrical energy that would stun her enough to escape. All the while, he had to stay conscious enough to put his plan into effect.

"And once again, down you go," Mindshadow replied smugly. "You never had a chance Carl. Thanks to you, there's not anywhere you can go that I can't instantly appear. It's time for you to resume your place as my slave." With that, she gestured as a surge of power surrounded Tween.

Now! Tween said to himself as he pushed the electrical energy blast up against the wave of energy surrounding his body. As the electricity reached Mindshadow, it unexpectedly began to flow into her costume. What the...? Tween wondered.

Mindshadow shook as the surge of electricity arced into her costume's new circuitry. What was that fool doing? she wondered. Before she could stop it, the circuitry began to flicker and activate sporadically. Instructions that were normally coordinated between complex AI devices and her own thoughts were circumvented as the bypasses failed.

As both combatants stood paralyzed with confusion, new energies began to form and encircle them both and the surrounding landscape with a large bubble of power. Above them, the Aurora Austalis crackled as lightning began to arc from the sky and add its power into Tween's last gasp. The air itself began to split as a vortex formed, sucking both Tween and Mindshadow into the newly formed dimensional pocket. A few frantic seconds later, the pocket collapsed with an explosion that cracked and echoed through the snowy plain. On the ground, a rounded divot began to fill with snow as the perpetual winter storm slowly erased any sign of activity. Within minutes, the hole was filled and the wind began to calm down. Once again, there was no sign of life, stillness had returned to the land.

TO BE CONTINUED
 

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