Copernick’s Rebellion

Heinrich Copernick and Martin Guibedo come to the United States as penniless refugees after World War II. By 1999 they had made huge fortunes in the field of medical instrumentation. But Heiny and his Uncle Martin were not just filthy rich, they were also the world’s best gene engineers. And their latest inventions could free Man from want and oppressive government forever. At least, that was the plan.
Imagine: free homes with all the furnishings and utilities! Free food! Even free babysitters! Heiny and Uncle Martin even thought they should give their inventions away. Free.
That’s when their troubles began.
An excerpt:
“So what’s your specialty?” Guibedo asked the creature.
“Unarmed combat with a minor in sociology, my lord.” The Labor and Defense Unit crowded closer to the left-hand wall of the tunnel. Other LDU’s with empty baskets were passing them at an astounding speed.
“Pretty quick your buddies are. But I don’t understand the ‘unarmed combat.’ If you were expecting trouble, why go unarmed?”
“My Lord, I meant no external armament.” From a slot above each wrist, a bayonet-like claw extended out to a foot past the knuckles.