Andromeda was terrified of meeting the big man, or machine that ruled the undersea city of the Cyclops. Upsilon kept telling him he had nothing to worry about. Andromeda was the only human in the whole of the city, so he didn't believe Upsilon. Upsilon ran up and jumped on the seated robot's lap and chirped, "Hi,Grand-father! I can't stay--Mom is in a bad way and I'm worried about her. Has ANYONE heard from my dad yet?" The Oracle fixed his fiour blue eyes on the Young Cyclops and said,"No word as yet. Thistledown is very canny. If anyone can survive, he will. Do you know why your mother spared the young human?" Upsilon paused and looked at Andromeda. Upsilon answered carefully,"Sir...I do not presume to put motives in my Mother's mouth. She and my Father and the other ranking officers discussed the matter and she made a command decision." The Oracle looked over at the young human and said,"I'm sure you have some questions. Ask them." Andromeda blinked and asked,"Why is it so cold and dark down here? What is a "Replacer"? Why are you the boss since you have such a little head? Do you keep your brain in your chest or something? What are the green glowing things and the spinning thing on the ceiling?" The Oracle laughed. "It is cold and dark to you because we have heightened senses. A 'Replacer' is one of our three political parties, alongside of 'Inheritors' and 'Co-minglers'. Yes, my central brain is in my chest. The 'green glowing things' are ancient artifacts called Probability Macroscopes. I had them moved here. The 'spinning thing' is the read-out showing glitches and strange attractors in the Probability Macroscape. Andromeda blinked and went,"Ah. Oh-kay." A gold Cyclops came in. He stared at Andromeda for a moment and said,"Oracle. I have the findings of the two Scav's blood if you are through interrogating the human." The Oracle said,"Replacers feel that it is illogical to postpone the extinction of the Human species and should make it a priority to facilitate Humanity's end. Doctor Gold , for instance, is a 'Replacer'. Report, Doctor Gold." Andromeda edged away and tried not to glare at the golden machine-life man. Doctor Gold said,"The female Scav, Martya, showed no unusual traces in her blood, however, the male Scav, 64-25518, does have alien nano-machines in his blood consistent with those you identified as belonging to Chalchilaloc and the ancient race." Andromeda exclaimed happily, "518! 518 is HERE? 64-25518 is a good guy! So is 64-25399! Can I see him? Are they alive?" The Oracle looked at the 'spinning thing' on the ceiling as the 'glitch' earmarked as Andromeda connected to 518 and several other points in the display. The Oracle paused for a moment as he stood up. The Oracle ordered,"Extract 0ne milliliter of the nano-machines and inject them at ten units strength into Capitan Rose, and all of her line here in the city." Doctor Gold flinched and asked, "Is that WISE? These are alien nano-machines!" The Oracle looked with pride at 'his' children. Upsilon was pulling on his hand and begging to leave his mother out it and pleading to be injected alone with the alien mechanisms. Doctor Gold had challenged him. The Oracle couldn't be prouder. "Do it." He ordered and stared as a new probability line came into being. He murmured to Upsilon,"Chalchilaloc was my friend. Do not fear." --TO BE CONTINUED!--