Overlords

The Underlings being created, were very solitary creatures. It was in their blood. The Overlords made sure of it. They would never unite…

"Hey, Ricky, we got an order here for a worker, around 6’4", and 230 pounds."

"Yeah, James, I got it. Let’s see, the order’s for a company called Dow. All right, buddy, you name this guy."

"How ‘bout George Orson Dow."

"Where the hell did’ya come up with that one?"

"I don’t know, just the first thing that came to me."

"Yeah, okay let’s get this one done, and go home. I’ll get the samples from the freezer."

"Get me Gates on the com right now."

The Underlings immediately followed Roger Tillman’s orders. Within seconds, the wall before the Roger Tillman’s oak desk was lighted up. There was a storm; the signal was faint. The blurry but clearly visible face of Dennis Gates, new head of security, flickered on the large screen.

"I’m sorry about Clark." For a second, he actually sounded emotional. He quickly regained his composure. Tillman had no time for emotion. He had a society to design after all.

"Yes, sir, I am also."

"All right, cut the crap. I want info on that freaking rebellion. What the hell happened?"

"Sir, please hold your temper. I assure you everything is under…"

"Who was responsible? Who led this rebellion?"

"We’ve been doing some investigating, through the Underling informants. The name is Dow, George Dow. The guy’s been organizing people, rallying them for a while."

"How the hell could that happen? They weren’t designed to unite."

"Sir, I’m afraid they have, and they are dangerous."

"Give me a status report on Camgen."

"All the engineers were killed. Very brutally I’m afraid. They gave their blood, sweat, and tears for the…"

Tillman glared at Gates, who was clearly uneasy.

"Forget the people. Did they damage the equipment, the DNA restriction units, the Gene Acceptance Generator?

Gates was now visibly shaken, for he realized the significance of what he was about to say.

"No, sir. Nothing touched. He left a note though. It s-s-said, ‘The Revolution is at hand.’"

"Enough. I’ve heard enough. I want this Dow. He must have mutated. Damn. Now get him, NOW!"

Tillman’s usually still and expressionless face was now livid with anger. The veins were popping out of his neck and head. His nightmare had come true. It never was supposed to come to this. He had made sure, gone through painstakingly thorough research to assure himself that no "leaders" would be made. He had checked every single gene, nothing could have gone wrong. Mutation, Goddamn mutation. Every geneticists worst freaking nightmare. He had mutated. They had united. This was serious.

George Dow sat down on the ground. He was very ordinary to look at, as was to be expected from an Underling. He was, after all, meant by the Overlords to be "imperfect." His appearance was rather unimpressive; his physique was even more so. He was a gruff man, extremely rugged and tough, but not too bright. However something about him commanded respect. His words seemed to strike a chord within the other Underlings. It was if he had the ability to control them. All their lives, they had lived their lives content to be subservient to the Overlords. For whatever reason, they just didn’t like each other. In fact, they seemed to be most comfortable when they were alone. Many of the Underlings had noticed that while excessive conversation and any kind of intimate relationships bothered them, their bosses, the Overlords, were strangely social. Until Dow, they never spoke. They just did their jobs, went home, ate, and slept. Until Dow.