Stauch absorbed the news of DANA's apparent revolt with a great deal of apprehension. The androids, when constructed, had initially been programmed for combat, but due to their
remarkable reasoning abilities, had been modified to enforce Space Fleet regulations.
They'd proven themselves to be very useful members of the crew and were generally quite protective of their crew mates. The fact that they possessed super-human strength and stamina, however, made them significantly
more dangerous than their biologic counterparts. Now, the crew of the USS Escort was at risk from one of its own inventions. How ironic, Stauch mused.
"Ease hay on ay ee-thay oov may", Eve-Stay pointed out, interrupting the sergeant's
mulling.
Stauch looked questioningly at Proteau. "What'd he say?"
"That DANA is moving", Proteau explained, pulling a long, thin instrument from a pouch on his belt. "If I can get close enough", he continued, "I might be able to deactivate him."
Stauch eyed the item in the security officer's hand skeptically. "With that?"
"Yes", Proteau replied, "you see this is a impulse absorption unit. IfI can insert it into the slot between DANA's shoulder blades, the corresponding kinetic transformers will..."
"At's thay assinataing fay, er say", Eve-Stay interjected, "ut bay ee-way eed nay oo tay ollow fay im hay osely clay."
"Yes. you're right", Proteau acknowledged, "ank thay oo yay, Eve-Stay."
Stauch shook his head miserably, the Melk's intricate linguistics too complex for his understanding. "So, what the hell do we do now?!?"
"We'll follow from a distance", Proteau explained. "You and Orwig set your splazers to their highest settings. If I'm unable to deactivate DANA, he'll have to be destroyed."
Stauch nodded as he pulled his splazer and set it on "obliterate".
Orwig's movements were more subdued as he was reluctant to end the existence of the renegade android. The corporal had spent a great deal of time with the android's and had been tasked with not only their
upkeep, but also many of their hygiene needs.
"Mr. Proteau", he said softly, "couldn't we just get a big jar of peanut butter and see..."
"No, Corporal", the security officer replied sternly, "We're past peanut butter now. It's time to take some action before DANA vaporizes anyone."
"You're right, sir", Orwig acquiesced, "I guess I was just looking for an easy answer."
"On ay eye may anet play", Eve-Stay cut in, "ee-way av hay a aying say. 'Ee-thay imple say olution say is enerally jay ee-thay ong ray olution say'."
Orwig nodded solemnly. "Wow, that's deep, Eve-Stay", he replied, "thanks."
"What the hell did he just say?!?", Stauch demanded, looking around at the others. "And why am I the only one who can't understand him?"
