TROPHY

by Paul M. Schofield

  “Now that he is complete, Lieutenant, he deserves a name. What do you think?” Guardian VII said, turning to her.

  “I have pondered the question with no suitable results. Let's keep it honest, and call him Panther.”

  “Panther it will be,” the Guardian said. “Panther! Wake up!” She turned on his main power. They continued to watch him on the control room screen, hidden from his view.

  After sixty long seconds, his large, golden, feline eyes snapped open. He sniffed the air and stretched his powerful body. His eyes seemed to glow more golden and widen as he recognized his renewed mobility. He took a few cautious steps before bolting across a grassy meadow the way a young kitten would scamper across a green lawn in the sunlight, its tail cocked at an angle, and its fur raised in the delightful joy of life and movement. He ran, jumped, and pounced to his heart’s delight, all seemingly without effort.

  “Will he ever get tired?” Rogerton said. “I've never seen so much energy.”

  “Only if his mind becomes fatigued,” the Guardian said. They both watched him as if spellbound. “Remember, most of him is nuclear powered. We will let him run for a while. It will be a good test for his circuits and controls.”

  And run he did. In play, he attacked a fallen tree, ripping the bark to shreds with his powerful claws. Biting a large branch, he discovered that his long, sharp teeth still functioned perfectly. The Guardian and Lieutenant looked at each other wide-eyed at the forceful, deadly display.

  “I hope he still likes and remembers me,” Rogerton said.

  “We'll soon find out. At first, I will slow him down so he will not harm you accidentally in his exuberance.” She adjusted her controls. “Is your headgear tight, Lieutenant? You may enter the room when you are ready. Speak to him in your mind and reassure him. Remind him quickly who you are. His link controls are permanently wired in, but your headgear is not. If he plays too roughly, he may jar it loose or knock it from your head. If you feel it necessary, tell me, and I will shut him off. Do your best, Lieutenant.”

  With a lump in her throat and the memory of the roaring lion on Bestmarke’s ship still fresh in her mind, Rogerton entered the room.

  “Panther, it is me,” she thought, emanating love, friendship, and compassion for the great animal that was slowly walking toward her. The dream-like confusion of shared emotions cleared as the interface combined their thoughts into the same deep, clear river of consciousness.

  “Panther, it is me. I love you,” she said over and over in her mind.

  The panther continued toward her. In Rogerton's mind a black shape from deep in the river of their joined consciousness approached her cautiously, as if unsure. Steadily it began to glow with a goldenness as she reassured it of her love and friendship. At that very moment Panther reached her, rubbing his large head affectionately against her, almost pushing her over. She laughed and became joyful, stroking his head and neck, hugging him tightly.

  “I am turning up his power level to normal,” Guardian VII said to Rogerton’s side of the link.

  Panther started to run while the Lieutenant did her best to keep up. She was in excellent physical condition but no match for the powerful cat that ran and played with her. He instinctively treated her as if she was a younger and smaller cat. He tried to be gentle, but his new found mobility sometimes got the better of him, and more than once the Lieutenant went sprawling on the ground. She laughed, making a game of it, and Panther was delighted.

  He leaped and she dodged a number of times. He leaped again, she didn’t anticipate his speed, and he hit her directly, knocking off her headgear and driving her to the ground. Her head forcefully struck the ground and she lay still.

  Guardian VII watched intently, her finger resting on the control to shut off the great cat, waiting to see his response. Panther looked at her for a moment, and then walked over to her. With his large, raspy, pink tongue, he began licking her face and purring loudly. He continued until she woke up, bleary eyed and relieved with his affectionate response. Still purring, he sat next to her and she hugged him again, her head throbbing with pain. Panther curled up and went to sleep as the Guardian shut him off.

  Rogerton struggled up, retrieved her headgear, and stiffly hobbled back through the door into the control room, holding her hand against her aching head.

  “That went very well,” she said, grimacing from the pain. “He remembered me, even without the link.”

  “You were extraordinary, Lieutenant, but now you need some medical attention and rest.” The Guardian called for the medics. “We have accomplished much today, though. Our next step will be with the ancient man, Martin.”

  Two Medical Specialists in light blue uniforms arrived and gently helped the bruised and battered Lieutenant to the infirmary.

  “You appear to have been through a battle, Ma’am,” one of the Specialists said.

  “It was a battle of sorts,” Rogerton said. “But we won.”

  Chapter XXXV

  “Panther is responding well,” Guardian VII said as she settled into her large office chair. “He is progressing just as you have done, Martin. Tell me, do you ever feel tired or fatigued? Yesterday, Lieutenant Rogerton and I observed that our great cat, who is now named Panther, seems to have boundless energy reserves. Do you also experience that phenomenon?”

  “Yes, Guardian,” he said, his powerful arms crossed on his chest. “My brain seems to get worn out and my eyes need some rest for a few hours each day, otherwise they get sore and red. Physically I never grow tired. I can run and work hard continuously with no pain – and I never need to rest. I’d make the perfect workaholic, I guess.”

  “Workaholic, Martin?” Guardian VII said. She started to laugh. “I have not heard that expression before, but I get the point. Your ancient expressions can be humorous at times. However, your words last week at the presentation were very eloquent. Have you always been so gifted with your speech and manners?”

  “No, not at all. In fact, I’ve always been shy and kept to myself. I’ve had a lot of time to think since my rescue. I don’t need much rest with this new body you gave me, so I have plenty of time to ponder what I've been learning. I’ve discovered many new things reading and watching your fancy televisions. Guardian I and II have answered my questions and have filled me in on a lot of history. But I think I’ve worn them out since I never get tired.”

  Guardian VII laughed again. “I have never seen anyone wear down those tough ladies. I would love to be a gecko on the ceiling and see how you did it.”

  “I guess it’s pretty funny now that I look back. But they helped me a lot and made me look at myself in ways that I've never done before. They helped me look deep inside myself and be happy with what I saw. They also exposed things in me I didn’t like but showed me what to do about it. I've discovered how to speak my mind and show what's in my heart. They taught me how to look at people below the surface for what they really are, or what they could be, their infinite potential,” he said. “I’ve grown. Actually, I’ve been forced to grow. It’s been painful at times, but I think the results are positive. Don’t you think so, Guardian?”

  “I agree, Martin. You have impressed and charmed us all. It has been eye-opening to see your rapid progress, and to be part of it, too. I might add that you have made quite an impression on our young Lieutenant. She almost seems distracted at times,” Guardian VII said, watching him closely.

  Martin paused before speaking again. “It wasn’t my purpose to charm her. If she hadn’t taken me from Bestmarke’s ship, even unknowingly, I would have been hopeless. She saved me, Guardian. She is beautiful and has touched my heart – a remarkable woman, one that would've intimidated me before. I’ve tried to truthfully tell her that, and how grateful I am for what she did.”

  “I believe you, Martin.” Guardian VII gazed at him with affection. “And yet your sincere words have done more than thank her. You have touched her heart, too. Accept it as something good and precious. And if the opportunity
affords itself, build on it. It could bring both of you much happiness.”

  “Thank you, Guardian, I appreciate your wisdom.” Martin was quiet for a few moments. “All my life I’ve pretty much kept to myself, kind of like a hermit. Now I’ll probably be around more people – and that’s okay. I can see that I need to come out of my shell a little more. I guess what’s bothering me is – well, you know, how will people look at me? What will they think of me and Panther?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “I know that even though me and Panther are mostly machines we will be presented to the general population as total machines, as androids. I love that word – ‘android’. Maybe it should be ‘mandroid’. Anyway, I agree with that decision because time-travel must be kept secret. But how will we be looked at or thought of? Will people think we're freaks? Since Panther is an animal, he'll probably be more easily accepted. But how will people look at me?”

  “Those of us who really know you accept you as a man, Martin. Unfortunately, we are a small group. Nevertheless, we accept you completely, one hundred percent. If the general public accepts you differently it will help you learn patience and humility, traits that are essential for true growth and happiness,” she said, beginning to drum her fingers on the desk. “At times your experiences will not be easy, but at other times they will be rewarding. Life forces compromise upon us. How we deal with it reveals our maturity. You will be able to deal with this situation successfully. You have already demonstrated that to us.”

  “But what if people ask why the androids look like an ancient man and a panther? Won’t that create even more questions?”

  “The other Guardians and I had these same questions. We considered alternatives such as removing all your hair so you would appear as a typical man of this era. What do you think of that plan?”

  Martin looked away and lightly touched the top of his head and the side of his beard. With a doubtful expression on his face he turned back to Guardian VII. “No, I don’t think I’d like that. I’ve already lost enough of my body. But I’d do it if you all thought it was the best thing to do.”

  “That option would work well for you, but what about Panther? Do we remove all his hair, too?” she said, a twinkle in her eye. “Think of the attention that would draw to him – and to our credibility, not to mention our sanity!”

  “A naked panther wouldn’t inspire much fear. Maybe pity. He’d probably be pretty embarrassed, too.”

  “No doubt he would,” Guardian VII said. “We decided to keep you both as you are and be honest with your looks. We will shield you as much as possible from the general populace. We know you will stand out, but we hope this obvious difference with the rest of society will overshadow our ruse.”

  “Thanks, Guardian, I've got a lot to think about.”

  Guardian VII stopped drumming her fingers. She gazed at Martin, her smile diminished. “How are you really feeling inside, Martin? You mentioned that you were saved from complete agony and despair. Do these feelings still haunt and trouble you, even in small measure? Your recovery does seem, indeed, remarkable and swift. But are you putting on a good face for us?”

  Martin affectionately smiled at her as a son does his mother. He sat down in the chair facing her desk. He folded his hands and gazed absently at the floor, searching his thoughts. “When I first woke up in Bestmarke’s ship I was totally confused. I didn’t know where I was or if I was waking up from a bad dream. Nothing seemed real. I wasn’t even breathing and yet I was alive. The only movement I had was with my eyes and face. Once I started shouting Bestmarke appeared and gloated over me, showing me what he had done to his trophies – and to me.”

  “How did you feel at that moment?” Guardian VII said.

  Martin looked up into her caring eyes. “I was terrified and outraged, all at the same time. I have never felt so powerless. There was nothing I could do but scream at him – and then he laughed at me,” Martin said. He looked down again and sat quietly.

  “Did Bestmarke then show you your father?”

  “Yes,” Martin said, recalling the nightmare. “When Bestmarke first showed me my father, I was devastated, totally without hope, not only for myself, but also for my father and my mother. The realization of the anguish and pain that my mother must be going through was unbearable. I have only seen and talked to my father once,” he said, raising his glance. “After seventeen years I was finally hearing his voice and seeing his face, but everything was all wrong. I couldn’t touch him – or hug him – or help him at all,” Martin said, his voice trembling. “All I could do was look at him! My father was trapped in that wretched chamber just like I was, and Bestmarke laughed at us!” He looked down again, trying to calm himself. “Then Bestmarke shut us off. I haven’t seen my father since.”

  “You know we will do everything in our power to rescue your father, Martin.”

  After a moment he looked up into her eyes. “Until my awakening here at CENTRAL, I had been asleep with no thought, no dreams – totally unconscious. When the Guardians woke me up it was so different than on Bestmarke’s ship. You were kind to me. Now I dared to have some hope. I was still bewildered but you answered my questions. I wasn’t scared anymore. Once I recovered from the initial shock of when and where I found myself, I was able to think, to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. The Guardians let me stay awake as long as I wanted. Now I could finally think, and I came to the conclusion that my father could be rescued and given a new body just like me. I hoped that with time-travel my mother could be helped and the pain undone. Now I had hope, true hope.”

  “Hope can have a powerful affect on our every thought and action,” Guardian VII said. “But do you not have some despair and depression at times, Martin? Surely you realize that your efforts to restore things, no matter how noble, will be difficult and uncertain. We will help you, of course, but we do not know what the future will bring or how successful we will ultimately be. It is certainly not our aim to lead you along with false hopes.”

  “And nobody’s done that. Only possibilities have been shown me, no guarantees. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever see my father or my mother again. I’m only one person. Is there really that much that I can do to help them? If I think too hard about it I start getting depressed. Then I force myself to remember what’s already been done with me and Panther and my hope starts coming back. My gut feeling tells me we'll all be successful if we don’t give up. That’s the hope I’m sticking to. I have to.”

  Guardian VII gazed at him with affection and admiration. “That is how all the Guardians feel, too. We must be successful. Our future, yes, our very existence, depends on hope and the full realization of that hope.”

  “Thank you, Guardian.” Martin said. He gave her a gentle smile and stood up. “Please show me what you’ve done with the great cat.”

  Guardian VII moved to her controls and awakened Panther, lying curled up where he had fallen asleep the day before. On the screen in the control room they watched him run and leap, noticing the coordination and timing of his new body and mind connection. They marveled at his strength and fluid movement.

  “The Lieutenant will be here shortly,” Guardian VII said, looking over at Martin. “I talked to her earlier. She informed me she was feeling much better and would like to be here for her appointment. I asked about her head injury and she said that tests for a concussion were negative and the pain was much less. I suspect that even if she were near death she would minimize it and keep her appointment. She is a strong and determined young woman, a fine officer.”

  “Yes, she is,” he said. “I’ll be glad to see her again.”

  They continued watching the great cat enjoy his new-found mobility. Soon the door opened and in walked Lieutenant Rogerton and Star-Commander VanDevere. Martin stood at attention and bowed deeply.

  “This is an honor, Star-Commander,” Guardian VII said, shaking VanDevere's hand. “And it is good to see you again, Lieutenant. Are you in much pain?” She extended her
hand to Rogerton.

  “Very little, Guardian. Thank you, it is quite manageable.”

  “Thank you, Guardian,” VanDevere said. “I have learned that when the Lieutenant says it is manageable, it really means one step above excruciating.”

  The Lieutenant flushed slightly as she stiffly moved further into the control lab.

  “Good afternoon, Martin,” she said, smiling radiantly.

  “Good afternoon, Lieutenant. I’m happy to see you again. Good afternoon, Star-Commander. I’m glad you could join us today for our experiment.”

  “I am intrigued, Martin,” VanDevere said. “Such a dynamic team is unprecedented.”

  “Lieutenant, as soon as you are ready we can begin. Panther is already awake and active,” Guardian VII said, sitting down at her controls. “Remember, the key is to persuade him to accept Martin.”

  “Guardian, I have a question before you begin,” VanDevere said. “Will Panther sense that Martin is a hunter and possibly hunted big cats like him? Will that make Panther afraid or even hostile to Martin?”

  “The link will probably not go that deep, but we do not know for sure. There is some risk involved,” Guardian VII said. “Are you willing to take that risk, Martin?”

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Martin said, without hesitation. “For the record, I’ve never hunted any cats, large or small. I figure the playing-field is even. I’m a hunter and Panther is a hunter. And do we know if Panther has hunted or killed a human before? I’m assuming he hasn’t. Look how he has bonded with the Lieutenant.”

  “You make a good point,” VanDevere said. “Carry on with the procedure.”

  “Go ahead, Lieutenant,” Guardian VII said. “Remember, persuade the great cat.”

  Rogerton tightly strapped on her headgear. She took a deep breath and walked out the door into the jungle-like room.

  Guardian VII turned on the link that joined the Lieutenant and the great cat into a single consciousness. Panther recognized her immediately and trotted to her, purring loudly. She hugged him warmly, mentally assuring him.