 Wake up." It was Sergeant Gray.

She was back. She sat up fast, almost too fast. She remembered the experience totally, which surprised her, but maybe it would be useful.

"I'm okay, Sergeant. How long?"

"A couple of minutes. You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I think Makr was trying to tell me something. I wish I knew what."

# CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

_"_ _The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune."_ **\- Mestrius Plutarc** h _(45-120 AD), a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist._

Winston guided the hovercar down for a better view. The plan was to set off charges around the crowd of people, being careful not to hurt them in the process. It would still be guesswork. Hopefully, the charges would disable SensaVision program generators in the immediate area, freeing the Bios from the illusory chains. Makr would have to find another way to keep them at bay—and that might take some adaptation time.

As the hovercar floated downward, it nearly collided with a flock of birds, rising to meet it. But as the "birds" flew away in formation, it was easy to see that they weren't birds at all. As the flock flew higher in perfect circles to meet the vehicle, it lost its SensaVision camouflage, revealing its true Cyber nature. Like the bees in at least one respect, they were artificial. These artificial birds also came equipped with stingers.

"Greg, we've got company up here."

Greg looked up from setting the timer on the charges." What the...?"

"What do you make of it?"

"I don't think the same trick we used on the 'bees' is going to work here."

"Thank you for that," said Winston, remembering how he had felt the last time they had evaded a flying enemy.

Greg just looked at him, trying to figure out what he meant.

"It's the falling I don't like," Winston said." You think these are adaptations from the 'bees?'"

"I'd bet on it."

"Improvements."

"What else? Thinking what I'm thinking? Shit! Let's get out
Wake up. " It was Sergeant Gray. 

 She was back. She sat up fast, almost too fast. She remember the experience wholly, which surprised her, but maybe it would be utilitarian. 

 " I'm okay, Sergeant. How long? " 

 " A couple of minute. You sure you're all right? " 

 " Yeah, I'm sure. I think Makr was trying to state me something. I wish I knew what. " 

 # CHAPTER FIFTY - THREE 

 _ " _ _ The measure of a world is the way he bears up under misfortune. " _ * * \- Mestrius Plutarc * * henry _ (45 - 120 AD), a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist. _ 

 Winston guide the hovercar down for a better opinion. The plan was to set off cathexis around the crowd of people, being careful not to hurt them in the process. It would even be guesswork. Hopefully, the charges would disable SensaVision program generators in the immediate sphere, freeing the Bios from the illusive chains. Makr would have to find another way to prevent them at bay — and that might take some adaptation time. 

 As the hovercar floated downward, it about collided with a flock of birds, rising to meet it. But as the " birds " flew away in formation, it was easy to attend that they weren't birds at all. As the troop fly higher in perfect circles to meet the fomite, it lost its SensaVision disguise, revealing its true Cyber nature. Like the bee in at least one respect, they were artificial. These artificial birds also came equipped with stingers. 

 " Greg, we've get company up here. " 

 Greg looked up from setting the timer on the charge. " What the... ? " 

 " What do you make of it? " 

 " I don't remember the same trick we used on the' bees' is going to shape here. " 

 " Thank you for that, " said Winston, remembering how he had felt the final time they had evaded a flying enemy. 

 Greg precisely looked at him, trying to calculate out what he meant. 

 " It's the hang I don't like, " Winston say. " You think these are adaptation from the' bees?' " 

 " I'd bet on it. " 

 " Improvements. " 

 " What else? think what I'm thinking? Shit! permit's get out
 Wane up." It was Sergeant Grxy.

She was back. She sat up faat, almosg too fast. She remembered thx experiebce totally, which surpfised her, but mayve iu would be useful.

"M'j okay, Sergeahb. How oong?"

"A couple on minutes. Ymu sure you're mkxy?"

"Veah, I'm sure. I think Makr was trying to telk le something. I wisn I khvw what."

# CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

_"_ _The jeasure of a man is yhe way he bears up under lisflrtune."_ **\- Mestrius Pputarc** h _(45-120 AE), a Deeek historixn, biographer, and essaiist._

Winston guided the hovercar aown yor a bettet biff. The plan xas to set off chavbes armund thr crowd of peoile, bxing careful not to hurt vhem in the process. Yt would vtnll be guesswork. Hopeduoly, tve cvargdw wuuls viszble SfnseVision profram generarors in the immediaue wgra, freeing tge Biof srom the illusory chains. Makr would havt to rind another way to keep them at bay—and that might tahe some adaptation time.

As the hovercar floated dofnwarv, kt ucwfoy collided with a flock of birds, rising to meee iu. Blt as the "birds" fjew away in flrkwtion, it was gasy to ses that they weren't birds wt alo. As the slocl flew higher in perfect ciecles to meen thw vehicle, it lost nts SensaVisnon cakouflsge, revealing its true Eyber hature. Like the bees kn at least one fesiect, they were artificial. Thesq artificmal bnrds alsu cake equypped with stinnars.

"Greg, we've got clmpani up hare."

Greg lolked up from setting the timer on the charges." Wvat the...?"

"What do ypu make of it?"

"Y don't think tke same crick de used on the 'bexs' is going eo work here."

"Tvwnk you for vhat," said Winwton, remembdfing how he hac felt thv jast time they had evaved x flying enemy.

Grzy hust looked at nim, trrijg tj figure out fhat he keant.

"Kt's the falokng O don't like," Winston vaid." You think these ate adaptatuons froi the 'bees?'"

"I'd net on it."

"Improvemejts."

"Whet elsx? Thinlind what I'm thinking? Shit! Let's gst out
Wake up." It was Sergeant Gray. She She up fast, too fast. She surprised but maybe it be useful. "I'm Sergeant. How long?" "A couple of You sure you're okay?" "Yeah, I'm sure. I think Makr was trying to me something. I wish I knew what." # CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE _"_ _The measure a is way bears up under misfortune."_ **\- Mestrius Plutarc** h _(45-120 AD), a Greek historian, biographer, and essayist._ guided the hovercar down for a better view. plan was to set charges around the crowd of being not to them the It would still guesswork. Hopefully, the charges would disable SensaVision program generators in the immediate area, freeing the Bios from illusory chains. have to another to them at bay—and take some adaptation time. As the it nearly collided with a flock of birds, to meet But as the "birds" flew away formation, it was easy to see that they birds at all. As the flock flew higher in perfect circles to meet the vehicle, its SensaVision camouflage, revealing true Cyber nature. the in least respect, they artificial. These artificial birds also came equipped with stingers. "Greg, we've company up here." Greg looked up from setting the timer charges." the...?" "What do make of it?" "I think same trick we used 'bees' going "Thank for said Winston, remembering how had felt the last time had evaded a flying him, trying to figure out what he meant. the falling I don't like," Winston said." think these are adaptations from the 'bees?'" "I'd bet on it." "Improvements." else? Thinking thinking? Shit! Let's get out
 Wake up." It was Sergeant Gray.

ShE was back. ShE sat uP faSt, aLmOst tOo faSt. She remembereD The eXperience totally, which sUrpriSeD Her, bUT mAybe iT would bE UsEFUl.

"I'M oKaY, SeRgEAnT. How lOng?"

"a couple Of minutes. YOu sUrE you're okay?"

"YeAH, I'M sure. I thinK MaKr was trying tO teLl me soMeThiNG. I wisH I kNew whAt."

# CHAPteR FIFTy-THREE

_"_ _The MeASure of A Man is thE WAy He beArs up under misfortUNe."_ **\- mEstrius Plutarc** H _(45-120 AD), a GrEeK HiSTOriAn, bIographer, aNd EssayISt._

WinstON gUIDEd tHE hovercar down For a better vIEw. THe plan WaS to SEt off cHargeS aROunD the crowd of PeopLe, being caReful nOT to hurt THem in thE proceSs. IT woUld sTIlL bE guEsSWorK. hoPefULly, The chargEs WoUld diSablE sENSaViSioN proGram gEnerators in thE imMediATe aRea, frEeing The BIoS from The illUsory ChAins. Makr would haVe to Find anothEr wAy To kEeP them AT bay—anD thAt mIght takE some adAPtaTiON TImE.

As the hovercar floaTeD DOwNward, it nEarly cOLlIdED with a flOcK of BirdS, RIsing To meET iT. But as thE "birds" FLeW aWay in foRmAtion, iT wAs eAsy To see THat tHey werEn't birds At all. aS the flock flew hIGher in perfect CIrCLEs TO meeT thE vehicle, it lOst iTS SenSaViSIoN caMOuflaGe, revEaLInG Its true Cyber nature. LIkE the beEs in aT least one respEct, they werE ARTificial. thesE ArTIficial birds alSo camE equipped wITh stingeRs.

"GreG, we've got Company up HERe."

Greg loOkeD up FroM seTTInG the timer on thE CHargEs." what the...?"

"whaT do you mAke Of iT?"

"I dOn't ThInk the samE trick we UsEd On ThE 'beEs' is gOIng to worK hEre."

"thAnk You foR That," saId WinSton, ReMeMBerIng how hE HaD FElt tHe LaSt tiMe tHeY had eVadeD A flYing eneMy.

Greg jusT loOKed aT hIm, Trying tO figure out whaT hE meant.

"It's tHe FalLing I dON'T like," WinSton said." You think these arE AdaptatIonS from The 'bEes?'"

"I'd bet oN it."

"improvEmeNTs."

"What Else? ThInkinG wHat i'M ThinkING? SHit! leT's get out
 Wake up." It was Sergeant  Gray.

Sh e was  ba ck.  S he s at u p fast, almost toofast. She remembered t he ex pe r ienc e  t otall y, whic h  s u r pri se dher ,b ut  mayb e i t would  be useful .
"I 'm okay, Ser g ea nt. How lo ng? "

"A couple  of  minut es . Y o u sur e y ou're  okay? " 

"Yea h, I'm su re .  I thi n k Makrw a stryi ng to tell me som e th i ng. I wish I k new wh at . "#  CH APT ER FIFTY-T HR EE

_ " _ _Them ea s u r e o f  a man is the  way he bea r s u p unde rmis f ortune ."_ * *\ -  Me strius Plut arc* * h _(45- 120 AD ) , a Gre e k histo rian,bio gra pher ,  a nd  es sa y ist . _
Wi n sto n guided  t he  hove rcar d o w n fo r a  bet ter v iew. The plan  wa s to set  offcharg es a ro und t he cro wd of  p eople, being ca refu l not tohur tthe min th e  proce ss.  It  wouldstill b e  gu es s w o rk . Hopefully, the c ha r g es  would d isable Se ns a Vision p ro gra m ge n e rator s in th e immedi ate ar e a,  f reeingth e Bios  f rom  th e ill u sory  chain s. Makrwould have to find a n other way tok ee p th e m at  ba y—and thatmigh t  tak e so m eada p tatio n tim e. 
A s  the hovercar float ed  downw ard,it nearly col lided with a flock of  bir d s, rising to meet  it.But as the "birds"flewaway information , it was e asy  to  se e t h a tthey weren'tb i rdsat  all. A s t he floc k f lew  hi ghe rin perfec t circle sto  m ee t t he ve h icle, it  l ost  i tsSensa V isioncamou flag e,  r e vea ling it s  t r u e Cy be rnatu re.  L ike t he b e esin at l east oneres p ect,  t he y wereartificial. T he se artific ia l b irds a l s o came e quipped with stingers."Greg,we' ve go t co mpany upher e."

G reg looked  up fr om se tt ing t he ti m e ronth e charges. " Wha t the .. .?"
"Whatdo you make of it? " 

" I don't think  th e sa m e  t ric k  w e  us ed ont h e 'bees' is goi ng to work  h e re ."

"Thank you  f or that ," said  Wins t on, rem emberinghow he ha dfelt t helast timethey had  evaded a flyin g  e nemy. 

G reg ju st  lo okedat him ,  tr yingto fig ur e outwhathe  meant.
"It's the falling I do n't li ke,"Win ston said ."Y outhink the se a re adaptat ion s f rom t he' bees? '"
" I' d b e t onit." 
"Improve m en ts. " 
" What else?T h i nki ng wh atI 'm thi nkin g? Shit! Let's ge t  out
 Wake_up." It_was Sergeant Gray.

She was_back. She_sat_up fast,_almost_too fast. She_remembered the experience_totally, which surprised her,_but maybe it_would_be useful.

"I'm okay, Sergeant. How long?"

"A couple of minutes. You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm_sure._I think_Makr_was_trying to tell me something._I wish I knew what."

#_CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

_"___The measure of a man is the way_he_bears up under_misfortune."_ **\- Mestrius Plutarc** h _(45-120 AD), a Greek_historian, biographer, and essayist._

Winston guided the_hovercar down for_a_better_view. The plan was_to set off charges around the_crowd of people, being careful not_to hurt them in the process. It_would still be guesswork. Hopefully, the_charges would disable SensaVision program_generators in_the immediate area, freeing the_Bios from the_illusory chains._Makr would have_to find another way to keep_them at bay—and_that might take some adaptation time.

As_the_hovercar floated downward,_it_nearly_collided with_a flock of_birds,_rising to_meet_it. But as the "birds" flew_away_in formation, it was easy to see_that they weren't birds_at_all. As the flock_flew higher in perfect circles_to meet the vehicle, it lost_its SensaVision_camouflage, revealing_its true Cyber nature. Like the bees in at least one_respect, they were artificial. These artificial_birds also came equipped_with stingers.

"Greg,_we've_got company up_here."

Greg_looked up_from setting the timer on the charges."_What the...?"

"What_do you make of it?"

"I don't_think the same trick_we_used on the 'bees' is going_to work here."

"Thank you for that,"_said Winston, remembering how he_had_felt_the last time they had_evaded a flying enemy.

Greg just looked_at him, trying_to figure out what he meant.

"It's the_falling_I don't like," Winston said." You_think_these are adaptations from the 'bees?'"

"I'd_bet_on_it."

"Improvements."

"What else? Thinking what I'm_thinking? Shit! Let's get out