"We're winning," said Machiko. "As far as I can tell."

From the looks of things, there were five of the twenty hybrids down, and only a couple of Predators. The b.u.g.g.e.rs were backing up toward the exit they had come from.

This retreat could not have come from their genetic programming. Retreat was a human notion. Evanston must be backing them away, hoping to reform.

And then something odd happened. "Dammit!" said Evanston.

Sweat was dripping from his brow.

Frantically, he engaged override programs for the team of xenos he'd sent in to kill the marauders. They had to retreat, reform, and then attack again.

They would defeat these b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. They had to. The computer had predicted a 95 percent probability of victory for just these conditions. He was going to have to run strategy variations and then A blue arc of electricity snapped from the panel.

Static power frizzled through his hair, making it stand on end.

The screens blacked out for a moment, then zapped back to normal.

What they showed on the screen, though, wasn't normal.

His creations were moving of their own volition.

Those that remained operational were not merely retreating, but scattering in all directions at a speed that he had not antic.i.p.ated.

Evanston hit the control override b.u.t.ton.

There was no response.

The control signals had shorted out. This was all happening too soon. There had been inadequate preparation time, dammit!

The things were free!

He snapped on the troop-radio comm-link.

"Zorski."

"Yes, sir."

"Red alert. There's a problem here at central. I've lost control of the creatures."

"Which creatures, sir. The bugs? These Hunter things? You want to settle down and stop shouting?"

"No, Zorski. The G.o.dd.a.m.n project. I've lost control of the project."

"That's just peachy keen."

"We've no choice. We're going to have to abort. Destroy everything. Get away from the lab. I'll give you thirty seconds, then I'm going to blow the whole thing," said Evanston.

"Yes, sir," said Zorski.

Livermore Evanston knew exactly what his creatures would do.

Rampage and destroy.

Indiscriminately.

At this point Livermore Evanston realized he had little reason to feel as confident as he had about the future of this project. He'd have to sc.r.a.p it and start over.

Fortunately, he'd be able to eliminate a number of his problems with it.

His fierce little smile returned as he groped for the keyboards and began to tap in the code for the program he would need.

Chapter 28.

At the top of the b.u.g.g.e.rs' shoulders sprouted the metallic squibs and squiggles that const.i.tuted the upward portion of their cyborg attachments.

A s.h.i.+ver of sparks and power spouted from these, like fairy dust spraying over their heads. They spasmed for a moment-and then they bolted.

"Dammit!" cried Sanchez. "One of those big b.a.s.t.a.r.ds is heading this way."

Machiko had noticed, and she was up and ready.

Because the retreat had been so regulated before, despite their quick reflexes, the change in the b.u.g.g.e.rs surprised the Hunters. Several of the b.u.g.g.e.rs simply whipped through one flank, managing to injure one of the smaller warriors in the process. They were moving with a speed that Machiko had never before witnessed in another species. There was a frenzy, an insanity to their movements that was unnatural.

She could feel it in the air.

"They're nuts!" said Sanchez. He readied his gun to fire, drawing bead.

"He's lost control," said Machiko. "Totally lost control!"

She suddenly realized something else.

"No," she said. "Don't-"

"What?"

Before he could fire, Machiko jumped on him. She pushed his blaster rifle away, pushed him down behind a lab cabinet.

"What the h.e.l.l--"

"Let it pa.s.s," she said "It's not after you. It just wants to get out of here."

Even as she spoke, the creature hurled itself past, all a clatter, toward the door.

Machiko looked up.

All the b.u.g.g.e.rs were thundering away, not interested, it would seem, in fighting the yautja-except if one got in the way. In that case it was the Predator who was in trouble.

The Predators seemed as surprised as Machiko, and for the most part allowed the b.u.g.g.e.rs to race out into the night.

"We've got to get out of here!" said Machiko.

"'Why?" "What---do you think it's a trap?" said Attila.

"That's a definite possibility-what I think, though, is that Evanston has lost control and he's panicking right now-and he's going to just cut his losses and try to cut us in the process."

"How?"

"Blow this whole place up." She didn't wait to explain more. "Attila, I want you to tell the Hunters in no uncertain terms to get out of here. Right away."

Attila did not quibble.

Machiko lifted his head, and in a loud, commanding voice he made the announcement in the Predator language.

The Hunters turned to Bakuub for confirmation.

Bakuub made a definite gesture.

Out of here!

Machiko and Sanchez ran.

They ran through the door, out to where Daniels was stationed.

"What the devil is going on? Those monsters-" said the man, still behind cover. "Look!"

He pointed.

The b.u.g.g.e.rs had run straight for the security troops.

They were tearing them apart wildly, savagely, pausing in their flight to rend and mutilate. Splatters and mists of blood rose, and blasters churned with bright fire, limning the beasts in mad berserker carnage.

The Hunters started to stream out of the place.

"Trust me," said Sanchez, grabbing Daniels by the arm. "We've got to make a run for it. Now."

Daniels nodded. Unquestioningly, he followed as Machiko raced ahead, guiding them to the safe side of the insanity.

She could feel the urgency boring down upon her.

Got to get away from here.

Away.

Her breath was strained and heavy in her lungs. She could feel the deadliness in the atmosphere--- Livermore Evanston groped, found the b.u.t.ton.

Pressed it.

Spoke the voice commands, modulated on his tones alone.

Better luck next time, he thought. The biofactory exploded.

The blast emerged from the very center, like a vortex of pure energy, ripping apart every board and girder in its flash-quick pathway.

The force of the explosion slapped across Machiko's back like a hard hand, picking her up and throwing her a full two meters, trying to pluck Attila's head from her grasp.

She held on.

She held on and hit the ground, rolling and clinging to her consciousness.

Around her she could see, peripherally, the equally devastating effect that it had on the others. Several Predators who had not quite gotten out of the building were just pieces of flesh and bone and armor now, spread in clumps of gore. The others had been tossed a greater distance than Machiko had, some into unconsciousness.

Most, however, survived.

Most got to their feet immediately.

She could see them now, taking stock of things as a great wave of fire ripped and tore through what little remained of the factory.

The force of the blast had knocked over the security soldiers. Some were running for their lives now. Some were being wasted by the hybrids,- who were buzzing through them like b.l.o.o.d.y chain saws, senseless slaughtering.

"Attila?" she called.

"Still here. Getting used to this."

"Sanchez? Daniels?"

"'Fraid d.i.c.k got himself pretty well konked out. But I'm still here,"

Sanchez said.

"He'll be all right. Leave him for now. Probably he'll be safer there."

She could see Bakuub rallying his troops.

"They sure haven't quit. They're going after the hybrids."

"More power to them."

Even as he spoke, blaster fire began again, faded in the light from the fire.

"What do we do?"

"We take advantage of the chaos," said Machiko, "and we find the people who are responsible for this carnage. That might be the only way to stop it."