Colossus One had spent the entire night running. He had covered hundreds of miles, and now he neared the capital, London. He knew he would have to slow down as it was nearly dawn. The people would be very suspicious of someone running along at a hundred miles an hour.
Within a minute of entering the city he slowed down. The streets were just beginning to come to life. Old tramps and vagrants were waking up, preparing to move on for the day. Colossus observed one old man gather up his few belongings and start to move on. The man then let out one huge cough. This fascinated Colossus. He had never seen anyone do this before. So he placed his hand to his mouth and let out a slight cough. It sounded nothing like the cough of the old man, so he tried again. He coughed and he coughed until he sounded exactly like the old man. Then he looked at the clothes the tramp was wearing. He then looked at his own clothes. He was still garbed in the jumpsuit he had been given by Muir. It looked out of place compared to the clothes of those around him. He knew that if he was to stay among the humans he would have to emulate them in some way, and he would have to try and act like them.
General Billiar sat in his military staff car. A small military convoy consisting of two more cars, a troop carrier and a surveillance van were behind him. Suddenly a call came through from the van.
“We’re picking up a signal from the android’s tracking system. He’s on the outskirts of London.”
“That’s all we need.” said Billiar. “Our task will be more difficult with civilians in the way.”
A Rolls Royce arrived in the grounds of the Anglo-Force mansion. It pulled up to the front door and stopped. Standing in the doorway was Dr. Magus. A few seconds later Jock Muir got out of the car. He approached Magus, and the two old friends shook hands. Magus showed Muir into the building.
“You sounded most worried on the phone Jock.” said Magus. “What’s wrong?”
“Do you remember me telling you a few weeks ago that I was on the verge of a tremendous breakthrough? Well I made that breakthrough. I did it, Phineas, I created an artificial life form, an android!”
“Congratulations Jock, but what has all of this got to do with me?”
“After I finished my work I contacted the government. It seems that the lads from the M.O.D. have different ideas about my work. While I created Colossus One to work in the field of science they wanted to turn him into a blasted weapon!”
“So you want me to have a word with the government?”
“No. I want you to help me find him. Last night he escaped from the military research place up north. He must have heard Billiar telling me about the army’s intention for him. That’s why he took off.”
“Come with me Jock. I’ll alert the others, and you can tell us all about your android.”
Colossus One walked through the streets of Knightsbridge. He kept gazing around at those about him. They were giving him strange looks. He put this down to the strange clothes he was wearing. He knew he had to do something about this. Just down the street he saw what he though was the answer to his problem, a clothes shop. A few minutes later he entered the shop. He stood in the doorway looking at the many items of clothing that lined the walls of the shop. Then a man with grey hair and wearing a black pinstripe suit approached him.
“Are you being served sir?” he asked.
Colossus gazed down at the man.
“I want clothes.”
“Very good sir. Now what are you looking for?”
Colossus looked out of the window and pointed to a man who was walking past the shop.
“Like him.” he said. “Make me look like him.”
“Ah, a nice grey number. I’m not sure we have exactly the same suit as that gentleman, but I’ll see what I can do.”
The assistant walked to one of the rails and took off a grey suit.
“How about this one?”
“Give me those clothes.”
“Now now sir. I’ll have to take your measurements first.”
“Measurements? What are measurements?”
“Why your chest size, your waits size, you know, that sort of thing.”
The assistant walked over to Colossus and began taking his measurements. After about half an hour Colossus stood looking at himself in the mirror. He was pleased with the way he looked. Gone was the jumpsuit that had been given to him at the research facility. He now looked like your normal everyday type of person. Colossus looked down at the assistant.
“Thank you for your help.”
He then began to approach the door. The assistant began to go after him.
“What about payment sir? That suit and shirt are very expensive. They cost three hundred pounds.”
Colossus continued to walk towards the door. Suddenly he froze in his tracks. What he saw outside made him stop. A Sherman tank was moving down the street and drawing to a halt outside the shop. It was soon joined by two Jeeps and the staff car of General Billiar. Soldiers began to surround the shop and clear the streets. One of the soldiers then handed a megaphone to Billiar.
“All civilians please clear the area.”
The shop assistant looked scared out of his skin. Quickly collecting his coat, and the money from the till, he soon ran around Colossus and out of the shop. Once he was clear the tank moved into position, as did the soldiers. Billiar had his arm in the air.
“Open fire!”
The soldiers did as they were ordered as bullets ripped into the shop and Colossus One’s body. Then the tank opened fire, and the shell caused a huge explosion. The shop was in a ruin. The body of Colossus One lay motionless on the floor near the door. Almost every major system had been damaged by the bullets and the explosion. For all intents and purposes he was dead.
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