kstclair@odo.CSOS.ORST.EDU (Kelly St.Clair)

     GENOM Tower sat on the Neo-Tokyo skyline like a brooding giant, its
massive conical shape outlined against the night sky by office windows 
and aircraft warning lights.  Only a few other buildings could match the
height of this monolith of corporate power, constructed not only of steel,
glass, and concrete, but of driving ambition as well.
     In a darkened office near the top of the Tower, a silent figure sat
in a high-backed chair, looking out over the city.  He owned the city.  He
owned the construction companies that had rebuilt it after the Quake; he
owned the utilities that were its breath and blood; he owned the city
government, who danced like puppets on their invisible strings.  He owned
the media that told the sheep what to buy and what to believe.  He owned
their pathetic lives.
     The fact that certain people refused to recognize this was a source 
of frequent irritation to him.
     A soft chime sounded from his desk.  Without looking away from the
window, he spoke in a quiet, perfectly controlled voice.  
     "Come."
     The door opened, silhouetting one of his executive assistants in a 
rectangle of light.  The man stepped forward nervously, his footfalls 
almost silent on the office's lush carpeting.
     "What is it?"
     "Both Sectopod prototypes have been reported destroyed, sir.  One 
used its self-destruct after being incapacitated."
     The still-shadowed figure nodded to himself.  "By the AD Police?"
     "Not exactly, sir."  The assistant tugged at his collar, sweating;
this was the part he'd been dreading.  "AD police units were at the 
scene... I have casualty and damage reports, if you're interested..."
     "The point."  The voice was still quiet, but had an impatient edge to
it now.
     "Both Bumas were engaged by... the Knight Sabers."
     A pale fist clenched tightly.  As the silence dragged on, the young
executive hoped that he wouldn't lose this job for bringing the Chairman
bad news.  He was not aware that his employer had already considered, and
rejected, more extreme and permanent measures.
     The Chairman was icily calm when he spoke again.  "Very well.  Have
the legal department issue a press statement and take the usual steps to
protect us from any liability.  Leave the file on my desk, and go."  He
steepled his fingers, sounding more contemplative.  "I must make plans for
tomorrow night."
     The assistant turned to leave, but paused on the threshold.  Curious-
ity battled with common sense, and finally won.  "Why, sir?  What are we
going to do tomorrow night?"
     Slowly the chair turned, bringing its tiny occupant into the shaft of
light from the doorway.  The dim glow shone on his round, white forehead
but left his face in shadow.  His albino eyes blazed with a pinkish fire
as he replied earnestly:
     "The same thing we do every night, of course... try to take over the
world!"


---------------------------
Kelly St.Clair (Daydreamer)    "I'm speaking with Brian Mason of GENOM..."
kstclair@kira.csos.orst.edu    "That's 'Brain'."  

Anyone have a clue as to where I got the idea for my Pinky and the
Brain BGC fic?  *grin*

Damon Casale, scyth@prolog.com / scyth@andrew.cmu.edu
You have entered the dimwit zone...