The Lex Factor: The Sequel to “The Cave”

By Rick Perry

Jeri Kirkland built and used an andriod she named LEX, to help save mankind from extinction through an alien invasion.
The mission had been a success. But Lex, the android, had malfunctioned and almost caused Dr. Kirklands death.
Jarod Anderson, Jeri Kirklands husband, had led this team of soldiers. And during their mission, they had to destroy the android. Or so they thought.
Now, Lex was back. And he was angry. Very angry. And in those eight years the android had spent on the planet Mars, it had developed inexplainable powers. And now he was free. Now he would get his revenge. His revenge on mankind..

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Oct 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491878590

Rick Perry

Rick Perry is a retired English teacher, coach, and administrator with an avid interest in books, movies, sports, politics, education, and current events. After 35 years experience in both public and private education, he is eager to spend time writing and sharing his thoughts and opinions on a wide variety of subjects. Rick has been married to his wife Patti for thirty-one years and they have two children, Scott and Caitlin. His first novel The What If Project was written during the 2016 NaNoWriMo event. The book is now available in hardcover, paperback, and multiple ebook formats. He has also released a collection of poetry entitled A Head Full of Random Thoughts. Recently, he published a series of short stories called At the Drive-In: Small Town Tales, and its sequel Return to Eastlake.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

’L’ is for liar; ‘E’ is for extreme

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, the head brain surgeon was very excited. He told Jarod he may or may not have found a cure for Dr. Anderson Kirkland. Jarod told him that it was wonderful news, but it would have to wait an hour at least. He gave no reason, and the doctor knew Jarod enough to leave it at that. Although he didn’t understand Jarod most of the time. But still, he left well enough alone.

Jarod, with daughter in tow and Curtis and Tracey following close behind, made a bee line direct to his wife’s room. They were walking very fast and the surgeon had to jog to catch up. But I don’t think you understand, Mr. Anderson. I may have a cure!

And I don’t think you understand, Jarod shot back. I said it will have to wait! And without another word, Jarod and company moved on. The surgeon followed also. He wanted to see what was more important to Jarod than curing his wife! He could not think of anything.

As they entered Jeri Anderson Kirkland’s room, Jeri Ann suddenly held up her hands. Stop! Stay back! Mommy says not to come any closer!

No sooner had the words left her lips, when Dr. Jeri Anderson Kirkland, comatose for almost ten whole years, sat bolt upright in her bed. Her eyes opened. But the pupils were rolled up towards her brain and only the whites of her eyes were visible. Then she spoke, but the voice was not hers. It wasn’t even female.

AH! the voice started out in a happy enough state. But it was deep, mechanical, yet organic at the same time. It was male, and it was evil. Pure evil. It was Lex, yes. But at the same time, it wasn’t the voice of Lex. It sounded like the voice Dr. Anderson Kirkland had given her android, only deeper, more menacing, stronger on both a cellular level as well as a ‘godly’ level. Lex sounded very, very strong. And when he continued, he sounded VERY mad. Extremely mad indeed.

I see the old crew is here! With Dr. Anderson Kirkland’s body, Lex acknowledged Curtis almost with respect. Curtis Mills! How are you, my old friend? Don’t look so shocked, Curtis Mills. It is me, the one you called Lex. You didn’t really, in all honesty, believe you had destroyed me?!? And before Curtis could even react, the voice continued, speaking through Dr. Anderson Kirkland’s mouth. And for that little error, I will be kind to you. I will kill your newborn son first!!

Again squeezing Tracey’s hand in a sign not to react, Curtis Mills played poker very well. What newborn son? You must have your wires crossed, you walking piece of tin. I… we don’t have any children. So you’ll have to do better than that!

Oh no? the voice replied. Ricco Mills; Ricco Batista Mills? I believe that’s his name. Born on the seventh of July, last year. A wide grin spread across Jeri Anderson Kirkland’s face as the ‘entity’ inside her saw the reaction on all of their faces. It began to laugh. A cracking, evil, echoing laugh. I’ve been doing my homework! Don’t look so shocked! That’s nothing! I know everything! And I mean EVERYTHING! It suddenly stopped laughing. The voice took on a very angry, even scary tone. And in a few months, I’ll be able to come to Earth. In a few months, I will have everything I need… to destroy you all! For I am no longer the one you call Lex. No. You can call me… God!! And the laughing resumed.

What is it you want? Jarod began to ask.

Silence! The laughing stopped abruptly, and was replaced by that evil, sinister, deep and echoing voice. It held so much menace in its tone, you could almost cut through it with a knife! You have not been given permission to speak! Only I can give you that permission! Do I make myself clear?!? In a few months, I will have reached your precious Earth! Then, ALL shall pray at my feet! All will fear me! And those of you who don’t… . I will destroy!! Again the laughing resumed. The ‘entity’, once known as Lex, the android, was clearly insane. But with its hybrid brain fused to its organic brain, Lex was insane in a way never before experienced by man. And so far he has proven to be much more powerful than he was before. Just being able to communicate through Dr. Anderson Kirkland, from hundreds of thousands of miles away, proved this. And they all knew it.

Do I get permission to speak? Jarod obliged.

Ah! You see how easy it is? the ‘entity’ was clearly soothed. Permission granted!

What happenend to you, Le—I mean… ‘God’? And without waiting for an answer, he continued: You used to be so helpful, so dependable, so GOOD! What changed all that? And why do you want to rule over us? What have we done to deserve what you demand? And as an after thought, he added: We used to be friends…

Ah, yes. My dear Jarod. My dear, dear Mr. Anderson! the ‘entity’ stopped only briefly before continuing. I will answer your questions. One by one. As for what happened to me? I realised I was so much more than you pathetic humans could imagine! I now have powers only a God could possess! It would stand the reason that that is exactly what I was born—or created—to do! What I am was meant to be! He paused. But only to let it sink in. As for your question: What you did to deserve this? May I remind you that you left me for dead almost nine years ago! That your crew were convinced they had destroyed me! And as for being friends? I’m not so sure about that one. This being my destiny, I don’t think friendship as you know it could have existed between us! No, no, quite impossible, I’m afraid.

And what of Dr. Anderson Kirkland? Jeri? Jarod was trying his best. Dr Jeri Anderson Kirkland. Your CREATOR!! The very person you’re now using as your puppet to relay your message?! What of her? I remember when you referred to her as your mother! Is that just… gone?

Without hesitation, the ‘entity’ answered: Yes! Gone! And she is my puppet, isn’t she? And she will remain like that until I no longer need her! To me, she is a piece of meat. A dead piece of meat. Nothing more. And, COMMANDER Jarod… This was said with the utmost sarcasm. When I no longer need her, she too will bend to my every wish. OR! Like you, SHE… WILL… DIE! And the creature once known as the android Lex, spoke with a long pause in between each word. A pause designed to make each word count. To make each word cut like a knife. He wanted Jarod to suffer as he had. As he had for eight long years. And eight years is a long time for revenge to simmer; to boil over; to BURN!

The ‘entity’ that had developed in those eight years. Fueled by its anger and rage. Fueled by only one thought: REVENGE! This ‘entity’ could not have developed to be so poweful, had it not been for these ‘feelings’. Feelings that over those eight years were able to mutate; to metamorphose into raw, unimaginable power! The power to absorb, to assimilate, any and all forms of energy, with few—if any—exceptions.

But those eight years of anger and hate, craving for revenge with such unbridled drive, had made the ‘entity’, Lex, totally and irrefutably insane. An insanity, the likes of which the world had never seen before, and in all likelyhood would never experience again.

‘Yes!’ the ‘entity’ thought as it smiled inwardly to itself. ‘Jarod and Curtis have no IDEA how powerful I have become! And this will be fun! Fun! Yes. I could crush them all! Instantly!’ The self proclaimed God said to no-one in particular: But what would be the fun in that, huh? And the ‘entity’’s brains started to drool at the fun that awaited it. Much like a dog drooled at the sight and smell of a steak. The more it plotted its revenge, the more it resembled its true primitive nature. But the more ruthless it became as well… And just that much more… insane.

But Jarod persisted. But Lex… .

SILIENCE! the ‘entity’ roared. I . . am… GOD!! Leaving no time for a reply to this, ‘God’ continued: And I tell you when to speak! The ‘entity’ was clearly angry. I could kill you so easily! Crush you like the roach you are! You would be wise to remember that! Do NOT speak without permission! MY permission! IS THAT CLEAR!?! You will address me as ‘my Lord’! And ONLY after I have given you permission to speak! Failure to comply will result in death!! WITH NO EXCEPTIONS!! And with the utmost disgust and contempt in his voice, ‘God’ said: Now be gone! You waste my time! LEAVE!! NOW!!

One of the soldiers in the room started to protest. Instantly, his body seemed to dry up, lose all its water, and before everyone’s eyes, he crumbled until there was only a pile of dried skin on the floor where he once stood.

That! the ‘entity’ said. Is what I will do to anyone who speaks without my permission! Is that clear enough for you?!

And with that said, the ‘entity’ calling itself God was gone. Jarod could feel it. He could feel that a presence had left this place. The atmosphere itself had somehow changed. Had cleared itself of some terrible, invisible fog. As if evil itself had left the room. And Jeri Anderson Kirkland fell back onto her bed, still comatose.

My Lord? Jarod called out just to be sure. When he received no response, he turned to the others with a look of utter terror in his eyes. I think he’s gone. He turned to the general of the most powerful military in the known universe. He and his men had just arrived after hearing the news of this possible threat. Well, General, I’d say we’re in trouble. Big trouble! I guess the question is: What do we do about it? Jarod let the question hang in the air on purpose. He wanted the general to fully understand the danger Jarod believed they were in. He had no way of knowing how powerful Lex had become. But he tended to believe what the ‘entity’ had said to be the truth. And if he was right, the human race was in store for one hell of a war. One hell of a war indeed! The war of all wars. Maybe even… the final battle. After all, how do you destroy something that can absorb everything you throw at it, and use that same energy to destroy you?

CHAPTER 2 A

The Plan

Who the hell are you? the general asked. Albeit with a hint of respect in his voice. I’ve seen your face somewhere before. But where, I don’t know. The general looked around the entire room, taking in the other faces of Jarod’s team, as if he was only now aware of their presence. As a matter of fact, who the hell are THESE people?! General Greyshaw was not a man who minced words. Being the highest ranking leader of the strongest military known to man, he had only the council to answer to: The ten men and women who ran this organization now going by the name of THE UNITED DEMOCRACY OF PLANETS, or U.D.P. It got its name when Mars and Earth had been helping each other. When both planets had hundreds of millions of peace loving human beings, both planets had been fully in cooperation with the other, and mankind had one of its brief periods were no war was actually happening anywhere on BOTH planets! An all time first in the history of evolution. Where every living human was ‘obligated’ to help another human, should they find themselves in some kind of distress!

Since any war of men against other men was ruled illegal, there existed only one military. This, the government told its citizens, was only to protect mankind against alien attacks. This made perfect sense since mankind had twice been attacked, and almost wiped out, by alien races; creatures from another world. But even Jarod was not prepared for what he was about to find out.

Three of those council members were present this day. Only they knew what the military had, and only they could give the order to use those weapons. Today, these three would make known facts that would shock even Jarod and his fast remobilizing team.

Jarod, Curtis, maybe you can start us off by telling us what you know of this… ‘entity’. Sven Larson, who seemed to be the leader of the three council members, wasted no time on formalities. After all, besides Dr. Anderson Kirkland, I don’t believe anyone knows more about this… android? At least I assume that’s what this thing once was, correct? He raised a bushy, blond eyebrow in a questioning gesture, only now looking for the first time at the two ex-elite soldiers. Actually, Sven Larson despised any form of military personnel. In fact, he was the only one of the ten council members who was against any kind of military at all! Always claiming that the human races stockpile of overly sophisticated weapons and weaponry, was a bomb waiting to go off. ‘And that’, he claimed, ‘Would be the death of all humanity’.

All nine of the other council leaders preferred to prescribe to the majority vote, the most commonly believed—and therefore, the belief almost exclusively preached, publicized, and spoken about—notion that these weapons were nowhere near any populated area. For that reason, they could not possibly pose a threat to ANY human being! Never mind the whole of mankind!

How ridiculous! the governing council shouted. Although our weapons cache is quite extensive, and very sophisticated, we, your leaders, your government, would never again risk the life of even one human being! And not forgetting the year 2023, and the scandal over the exposure of governmental lies to its people, which cost the lives of over five million of its citizens. The politicians, as always, had found a way to use this, the most tragic scandal in history, to their benefit! Using it to back themselves up. After the TRAGIC mismanagement of our government in 2023, you, the people, know: Your government would NEVER lie to its citizens again!!

Yeah! Right! But that… is another can of worms. Another story entirely. The same story that has plagued the civilized world for centuries. How much the government knew, and how much were they telling us! Something Jarod would soon come dangerously close to penetrating.

Jarod, also a man of few words, answered him swiftly and professionally. Lex was an android, created by my wife, Dr. Jeri Anderson Kirkland. He was a hybrid. Meaning he had two brains. A real human brain and a computerized one. He didn’t wait for replies. Rapidly he was continuing for fear of wasting too much time. Initially, he was good. But one day, an accident caused the fusing of those two brains, turning Lex into pure, uncontrolled evil and insanity.

One of the council members started to ask something. But Jarod raised a hand which silenced the women instantly. Barely breaking his stride, he continued. He tried to kill us on our way to the rescue ship in the underground caves on Mars, eight or nine years ago; as you already know.

Again someone tried to say something. But Jarod having such a dominating, almost scary presence over all his peers, silenced this person with only a glance. Such a menacing glance, it silenced everyone else in the room quite literally with a respect that borderlined on fear.

Pausing only briefly, he continued once again. But he was angry. Shut up and listen! We don’t have much time! So I suggest you all shut up and listen!! Although being one of the lowest ranking people present, he DEMANDED an air of ice cold control. Even the greatest of men fell against the invisible, but steel ‘aura’ that constantly surrounded Jarod. Like a God amongst mere mortals, Jarod, unwittingly, produced great respect and fear, from those who experienced him in person; in the flesh. Even in a photograph, men looked at him in awe. But, just as Jarod feared, time was the enemy. It was the one thing they had the least of.

After Jarod made it clear to the rest of the people present, that time was not something they had, they all fell silent and let him speak without interruption. As I was about to say, Jarod continued. Lex truly believes he is a god. And before anyone asks, no, that was NOT a joke! The… ‘entity’, that’s what we will refer to him for now… the ‘entity’ does indeed have supernatural powers. And yes, those powers are very ‘god-like’, it appears. His powers were increasing at an alarming rate before Commander Mills was able to take him down. We thought we had destroyed him. But were never sure. Jarod lowered his head. Not in shame, but in regret that he hadn’t made sure at the time that Lex was really destroyed. ‘Obviously… we were wrong’, he thought over and over again.

Jarod lowered his head for a brief moment, remembering his fallen comrades in that last military offensive he had made. Although it had only been about nine years ago, to Jarod it felt like a lifetime ago. He had lost his very good friends: Anne Marie Emerson, Dr. Janet Di’Tari, Eric Stillman, and John Glover. Not to forget his soul mate and only true love, the mother of his daughter, Dr. Jeri Anderson Kirkland, lying in another room in a comatose state ever since Lex had tried to kill her, his creator, all those years ago.

"When the Beast returns from the dark, and a Comet rips open the Sky, the unholy ‘entity’, the Beast begins his rise. And you and I must die. Through the Eternal Flames He’ll Rise. He’ll create his Holy War.

Turning each Man against his Brother. Till Man Exists No More . . . ."

Jarod paused only for a second. Sound familiar? He raised a scolding finger. It should! It was predicted over five thousand years ago! He paused only to let this fact sink in. And, it is inside the very first book ever written! Jarod stopped at this point. Not to give his audience a chance to respond, but to give himself a chance to calm down.

Those memories, combined with the undenyable fact that Lex did indeed still exist, had awakened something inside him, that Jarod had only just recently been able to control. Blind rage, guilt, sadness, and a deep rooted, almost insane desire for revenge! He wanted that android, or whatever it had become, destroyed. Destroyed and then STUFFED, to hang over his fireplace as a reminder of what he had lost. But even more to remind him of who took his Jeri away.

But, once again, he wasted no time on formalities. What we do know is… he paused for effect. That the ‘entity’ does indeed possess god-like powers. What we don’t know… is exactly how powerful these strengths really are. So, potentially, we’re going in blindly.

Jarod stopped here to let what he had said really sink in and take root. And as it dawned on each person, one by one, it wasn’t long until the fears that came with it all began to show on the people’s faces.

I would like to know, Jarod continued: What, exactly, do we have against this threat? . . . he let his question trail off.

Well! We have quite a bit, Commander Anderson! This came from the man heading the armed forces. I promise you this: You will be overwhelmed at our state of the art equipment! And the man’s sneer told Jarod and his present teammates that he meant business! Jarod didn’t know whether to be overjoyed or scared. The military leader’s glare carried a hint of insanity, brought on by the extreme power he possessed. But ‘just a hint’, Jarod told himself.

Okay! Jarod replied easily enough. Let’s see what you’ve got!

The chief of the armed forces gave the counsil an eerie look. His reply was the briefest of nods from the members, giving him the all clear to devulge EVERYTHING! And this meant exactly that. No holds barred. No secrets were off limits. Not to Jarod, not to every member present. Still, the ‘Chief General’ looked nervous as he started to speak.

Ladies and Gentlemen! I’ll start by saying: Forget ALL you’ve been lead to believe about our interplanetary military capabilities! While we stand by our words; our laws, that no man may take another man’s life. We have effectively made war illegal… that meant and still means any war! But that law makes war illegal when it is war between human beings! It does not… I repeat: It does not prohibit war against an alien attack! People in the room shuffled around as they absorbed this information and its implications. The general didn’t need these people dwelling on this too long. So he quickly continued:

Let’s get started. And I think the best way to start is… with our starships, Defender 1 and Defender Doom.

Wait a damn minute! Jarod shouted. We were led to believe that we possessed no battleships! That all weapons of mass destruction were being scraped! Are you telling me this was all a lie?!?

Calmly and composed, the general answered quite matter-of-factly: My dear Mr. Anderson! What’s that old phrase? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Before giving Jarod a chance to reply, he continued: These two ships are only the tip of the iceberg! Hey man, come on! Let’s be reasonable! We’ve been attacked by alien races before! Or have you all forgotten the millions that were killed by alien attacks?! It was and still is the only logical move on our behalf! If an alien invasion were to happen tomorrow, would you rather be totally defenseless, or have an army, a military, that is up to the task of protecting its people?!?

The general didn’t say anything for a few moments to let everyone think about what had been said and come up with their own conclusions. Instead, he whispered in his assistant’s ear to prepare his own pride and joy: his own, gene manipulated, super-mutant, super soldiers! He wanted to surprise Jarod with his ‘cream-of-the-crop’: part human, part animal, and part robotic, or… cyborganic supernatural army.

The fact that the general had ended the lives of over a hundred good military men to assemble his super army, didn’t bother the man one bit. Besides having no conscience, he would do anything his mind told him to do. The chief commander of the whole of the human races’ military was, quite literally, insane. And not a single soul present knew this. The men and women who had worked with him during his human experiments; those who knew of his insane dream of a mutant army were all dead. He had made sure of that quite easily:

Five years ago, it was easy for him to find an excuse to send all of these men and women in a transport jet to the mainland resort. Most were overjoyed to go! The twelve kilos of C-4 plastic explosives were the easiest thing to get into the plane. It needed no coercing at all. It was ‘glad’ to go.

A transport jet carrying two hundred and seventy-one army personnel, blew up over the skies of Cuba, on its way to the mainland. Among those killed were the two hundred and fifty-seven men and women who had worked with our own chief of the military, General Greyshaw. The general could not be found to comment on the disaster, but a spokesperson for the general gave this report:

The general is grief stricken and feels personally responsible for each and every man and woman who was on board of that plane. In tears he said: They worked so hard! I just wanted them to get some time off! Why did I have to send them to the mainland?!? It’s all my fault!

According to this source, the general then broke down. He apparently needed to be excorted away in an ambulance, because he was so overstricken with grief.

General Greyshaw could remember