by Greg Sorber
Mechs consumed the drinks in various ways, depending on their design. Openings that functioned as mouths enabled some mechs to drink like humans. Others poured their drinks into various ports designed for fluid replacement. Some used their fingers as probes and ingested the liquids that way. Where there was a will, there was a way, he supposed.
The Black Hole was neither established by nor sanctioned by the Accords. Even with Misty’s blessing, The Black Hole remained an unofficial gathering place and didn’t have an official budget. Dennis made do with their regular supplies for his concoctions. For the more specialized ingredients, he bartered with the independent suppliers who visited Mechhaven. There were merchants who were official suppliers, while others skirted the line between privateer and pirate.
No money exchanged hands at The Black Hole. Dennis didn’t charge for his drinks, but mechs who imbibed often brought Dennis gems, raw ore, finished metals, or other scraps to trade with the merchants for any needed ingredients. The mechs who enjoyed Dennis’s chemical wizardry wanted to keep him stocked and in business.
From the outside, The Black Hole didn’t appear very crowded. Ajax glanced at his datapad to check if any other social activities were scheduled for the evening.
“I thought there’d be more mechs here to introduce you to, but there’s an art exhibition happening tonight,” Ajax said.
“That’s probably for the best,” Angel said. “I’m not used to interacting with other mechs. A smaller crowd is better.”
“I’m sure there’ll still be someone here. Not everyone likes art,” Ajax said.
“I didn’t realize any mechs were interested in art,” Angel said.
“Mechs on Mechhaven have many interests. I told you about karaoke and golf. If you take war away from warriors you have to replace it with something else, otherwise what’s the point of existing? At least, that’s what Misty says.”
“Wise words. What art are they viewing? Did you humans create it, or is it art from off-world?”
“I do have an artistic side project I’m working on, but no, this is mech created art,” Ajax said.
“Art made by mechs? That’s not something I would have imagined.”
“You might enjoy it, or you might not. Art is subjective. Mechs from the Village are working on some relief sculptures in Draeger’s Canyon. I think they’re magnificent. Connie is in charge of the project. She’s amazing. I bet she’d give you a tour.”
“I don’t know what I expected to find when I came here, but mechs singing karaoke, playing golf, or creating art weren’t on my list.”
“From the outside looking in, Mechhaven can seem kind of boring, but I’m here to tell you that with two hundred mechs running around, there’s always something interesting happening.” Ajax reached for the access panel and activated the door. “We’re here. Welcome to The Black Hole.”
The hangar that housed The Black Hole was huge. If it didn’t go against the laws of physics, Ajax would say it looked even bigger on the inside. Empty conduit spools tipped on their sides served as tables. Metal crates and other containers were used as benches and chairs. Spools of various sizes accommodated the many sizes of the mechs and humans. Ajax noticed Dennis had added three targets on a wall. Dartboards? Mechs throwing metal darts? Indoors? Was Dennis insane? He groaned. How many dings, dents, and punctures would result from this new game? Of course, he would be the one fixing them all.
There were areas designated for other games spread throughout the hanger. A game called wormhole was the most popular. In that game, two platforms with holes were placed a specific distance apart. Teams of players tossed chain mesh bags of metal bearings between the two platforms. A scaled-down version was available for the humans and the human-sized mechs. Ajax had spent many hours perfecting his wormhole skills, and based on the last tournament, he reigned supreme as the champion.
Just as he’d expected, there were few mechs present, only half a dozen. Three sat together; Ash, Sparky, and Flint were originally from TexaNova. He nodded in their direction, and they raised their mugs in greeting. Ajax was born in TexaNova, but his parents were diplomats and traveled so much during his youth that he spent equal time in regions controlled by all four governments. That’s why he didn’t have an accent and got along so well with everyone.
Another pair, Archer and Vigilant, were from the Arcturan Monarchies. They waved. The two put their heads together as soon as he and Angel passed. Let the gossip begin.
One mech sat alone on the other side of the hangar. His head was lowered and focused on his drink. Brutus was the second-in-command of the Imperium faction of mechs that everyone referred to as the Legion. In his few interactions with Brutus, Ajax found him to be a miserable, sullen bully. It was best to leave him to his drink and not engage with him.
Loud music blared from speakers placed throughout the hangar. Ajax didn’t recognize the genre, but it had a heavy beat, strong electric guitar riffs, and occasional yowling in a language he didn’t understand. He’d have Dennis fill him in on the band’s details later. Dennis was a connoisseur of alien music and would talk his ear off for hours about any new music files he’d discovered.
Dennis stood behind the bar, concentrating on the concoction he was preparing. With the goggles, mask, lab coat, and protective gloves he wore, it was impossible to tell if it was even his friend. Ajax chuckled. Dennis looked the part of a mad scientist from one of the old videos. Based on what he was creating, he was a mad scientist.
Dennis placed a mug on the bar top and yelled, “Hey Sparky, your Warp Core is ready. Come and get it.” Dennis didn’t notice Ajax and Angel. He grabbed a towel and wiped down the bar built from the side of a discarded transport container. He needed to keep the workspace clean to avoid any unintentional reactions from the chemicals he poured.
Sparky, one of the TexaNovan mechs, walked over to the bar and grabbed the mug. He lifted it to his face and took a sip. “Warp Core, my favorite. This is going to mess me up!” He nodded to Ajax and Angel. “Is this the new mech?”
“Hey Sparky,” Ajax said. “You can call him Angel. But yes, he’s the new mech.” Angel and Sparky nodded. Word about new arrivals traveled fast on Mechhaven.
Sparky pointed to the other mechs sitting his table. “Those are my friends Ash and Flint.” They waved.
“Join us for a drink sometime,” Sparky said, and walked back to the table.
Dennis had finished cleaning the bar when he realized Ajax was staring at him. He flipped off his mask and goggles, revealing the short-cropped hair of a career soldier. “Ajax? How long have you been standing there? Why didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to interrupt you. I’ve seen how volatile your concoctions can be.”
Dennis looked over his shoulder at an electronic display and the wall and said, “I haven’t had an unintended reaction in—”
He stopped, looked at Angel, and then turned back to Ajax. He lowered the music volume and whispered, “Is that—”
“He sure is. Dennis, meet Angel. Angel, Dennis.” Dennis extended his fist in greeting. Angel returned the greeting with a gentle tap of his fist. Because of the size difference between humans and mechs, handshakes weren’t practical, so a fist bump had become the common form of greeting.
“Angel, huh?” Dennis asked. “Misty?”
Angel nodded. “Yes.”
“That figures. When did you arrive? I didn’t receive any messages. I bet no one has mentioned this, but I’m the only person or mech around that she hasn’t given a nickname.”
Before Angel could answer Ajax said, “He arrived late last night. He had a hard landing, and DECOM was trickier than usual.”
Dennis looked at the power siphons on Angel’s chest. “If you’re using those, it was tricky indeed.”
“You know, that’s not true what you said about the names. Misty has many nicknames she calls you now. I just can’t repeat any of them in public,” Ajax said.
“Is she still mad at me?” Dennis asked. “
That woman can hold a grudge.”
Dennis turned his attention back to Angel.
“Can I get you something to drink?” He motioned to a digital display showing the menu of mech-specific brews available. “I’d recommend the Nova Bomb. We have just enough ingredients for one more, but since you’re new, I’ll whip it up for you.”
“No, thank you,” Angel said. He gestured to his body. “Closed system. No way for me to ingest fluids.”
“Really? Too bad. Everyone says the Nova Bomb is da bomb.”
Ajax rolled his eyes.
Dennis looked closer at Angel. “No fluids, huh? That’s a challenge. Still, I bet I can come up with something for you. I’ll need a few details on your systems, though.”
“Most of my specifications are top secret, so I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but thank you.”
“I’m sorry, Angel,” Ajax said. “I just wanted to introduce you to Dennis and some of the mechs. If I’d have known you can’t consume fluids, I’d have taken you somewhere else.”
“Don’t worry about it Ajax, I—”
A metal hand grasped Angel’s shoulder and spun him off balance. Ajax was knocked backwards in the commotion. When he looked up, Brutus was standing in front of Angel, holding a vicious metal blade pointed at Angel’s neck.
Dennis reached beneath the bar.
“What is he doing here?” Brutus asked. Angel remained still, but stared hard into Brutus’s ocular sensors.
Ajax hopped to his feet. “He’s declared Pax Machina. The same as you.”
“Pax Machina?” Brutus asked. “How can one of his kind claim asylum? Do you know how many legionnaires his kind slaughtered?”
“It was a war, Brutus. Both sides committed atrocities. I’m sure you don’t want everything you’ve done dragged out into the open. Mechhaven is a sanctuary from all that.”
“Is that a weapon in my bar?” Dennis asked.
Brutus glanced at Dennis. “It’s a tool, not a weapon. For mining ore.”
“Interesting tool. I’m sure Misty will want to hear about it.”
“Oh? Are you going to turn your girlfriend loose on me, pretty boy?”
Dennis’s face turned red. “She’s not my girl—”
Angel spoke for the first time. “Leave him be. Your problem is with me.” His voice was icy and determined.
Brutus turned his full attention back to Angel.
“Look here, Angel.” He said the name as if it were a curse. “I know what your kind are and what they did. Regardless of the consequences, I wouldn’t regret carving up your nice shiny frame.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Imp.”
Brutus glared at Angel. He tapped the four power siphons on Angel’s chest with his knife. “With these installed, you should be.”
Angel laughed. “Even with these power siphons on, I’m more than a match for you.”
Angel’s change in demeanor was stark. Until this point Angel had been polite, even friendly. Now Ajax witnessed a different side. Sparky, Ash, Flint, Archer, and Vigilant stood, ready to intervene. They were fortunate there weren’t any more legionnaires present. Otherwise, there would have been a brawl. Somebody needed to stop this before it escalated.
Dennis appeared between the two mechs and forced them apart, an impressive feat considering the size difference between mechs and humans. He gripped a large pistol in each hand. One was pointed at Brutus’s face, the other at Angel’s.
“Brutus, back off!” he shouted. His voice softened, but was still firm. “Angel, I just met you, so I will ask you nicely, but you need to back off, too. This place—The Black Hole and Mechhaven—are places of peace and refuge. There are no weapons and no fighting.”
A few moments passed. Each of the mechs took a step backwards.
Angel raised his hands. “I’m sorry.”
Brutus looked at the guns Dennis was holding. “No weapons, huh?”
Dennis shrugged. “They’re tools.”
“Doesn’t matter, those puny guns wouldn’t even scratch my paint,” Brutus said.
Dennis redirected the pistol aimed at Angel and pointed it at Brutus. Now he had two pistols aimed at the legionnaire. “Don’t try me, Brutus. With the concoctions you’ve seen me make, don’t you wonder if I have something special loaded in these babies? Mess with me in my bar—and I’ll ruin your day.”
Brutus grunted and inserted his knife into a compartment on his arm and said, “For a flesh bag, you’ve got some bolts.” He turned and stalked out of the hangar. He paused and looked back at Dennis, Angel, and Ajax. “Gladius will hear about this.”
After Brutus exited the hangar, Ajax asked, “Do you have any special ammo for your pistols?”
Dennis laughed. “No, these just have basic rounds for taking out growlings and xenrats.”
Angel shook his head. “I don’t know if you’re courageous or crazy.”
Dennis shrugged and said, “Both, if you ask me. Brutus is a typical bully, though. If you show him fear, he goes in for the kill. Stand up to him and he’ll give you respect. Gladius is the truly dangerous one.”
“Angel, can you give me and Dennis a minute?” Ajax asked, “I need to talk to him in private.”
“Sure. I’ll go talk with Sparky, Ash, and Flint,” Angel said.
Ajax turned to Dennis. “That was close. If legionnaires are carrying around weapons, that’s bad news. Do you think they all do? Can you create that special ammo for our weapons? We might need it someday.”
“To be honest, I’d be more surprised if they didn’t. All the mechs here were soldiers. It’s hard to take that out of them. With the Legion, that discipline is ingrained even deeper. Even after declaring Pax Machina, old habits are hard to break. But yeah, I’ll start working on something.”
“I have another question for you. Misty wanted me to check on the special projects. How are they coming along?”
“Slow. I could use some more help. Can you swing by the workshop later?” Dennis asked.
“Sure, just say when.” Ajax said as he turned to leave.
Dennis grabbed Ajax’s shoulder. “Hey Alejandro, level with me, how’s Misty doing?”
Ajax brushed Dennis’s hand away. He turned around, looked Dennis in the eyes, and said, “She’s okay, Dennis. But what you did really hurt her.”
Chapter Five
Sub-Archivist Juliet Montero’s testimony on the expulsion of TexaNovan colonists from Feron-1
Tensions between the colonists of the Imperium and TexaNova were not unknown, especially in the border settlements. Yet the bounty of Feron-1 was so plentiful that most colonists coexisted in peace. The Imperium’s unprecedented increase in resource extraction and industrial production caused great concern about the balance of power on Feron-1. They barred TexaNovans from regions once freely shared. Those who were brave enough to stand up against the closures disappeared. That was when the purges began.
Sub-Archivist Juliet Montero
TexaNova
Angel rode in the bed of the hover truck as it sped along the highway. He was scrunched up tightly and barely fit in the cargo bed. It would’ve been easier for him to run, or even fly alongside, but with the power siphons installed, he didn’t have enough power to keep up. The position he was in, however cramped, gave him a chance to observe the landscape and chat with Ajax during the ride.
Ajax piloted the craft with the side window down and his elbow resting on the edge. The human had a smile on his face. The star that Mechhaven orbited was visible as a pale disk behind layers of clouds. The morning had a slight chill to it, but was well within optimal environmental operational conditions. The humans considered it a pleasant day on this world, though Angel wasn’t sure he’d agree.
Earlier that morning, Therapy had tracked him down and pressed him for more details on his specifications, claiming that he and Misty couldn’t submit an asylum request without them. Misty intimated that Therapy was annoying, and she was correct. While Angel respected Therapy for his p
rior service and the role he played in founding Mechhaven, the attaché mech was full of himself. He had the audacity to claim that by working with General Dirksen, his level of clearance was higher than Angel’s own, thus giving him the authorization to know all of his specifications. Angel refused to provide the information. Therapy left their meeting flustered and annoyed.
“Where are we going?” Angel asked Ajax, who was enjoying the drive.
“To the front,” Ajax said.
“The front of what?”
“That’s what the everyone calls it. We’re going to where the highway ends. The mechs are expanding it. Someday it will circumnavigate the entire planetoid.”
“That’s an ambitious project.”
“Misty keeps as many mechs as she can busy on projects. It helps keep everyone out of trouble. She doesn’t force anyone to work who doesn’t want to, but you’ll see dozens of mechs taking part. Those that don’t are free to pursue other endeavors. The only stipulation is they don’t violate the Accords or cause trouble with other residents.”
“Did mechs build those also?” Angel pointed to the buildings they passed along either side of the highway.
“Roger, that,” Ajax said, “those were the first homes built.”
“Are there that many mechs here?”
“Yes and no. Originally, shelters were built for all the mechs, with plenty of extra leftover for newcomers. But the Legion decided they wanted to live apart from everyone else and built their own barracks near the Foundry. Now there’s a huge surplus of homes. I imagine Therapy will assign one to you soon.”
“Having space to call our own is not something we’re used to.”
“I can understand why the Legion stays as a unit,” Ajax said.
“There is a strong camaraderie in billeting together. But it doesn’t help them integrate with everyone else, does it?”
“The Legion is an insular group. Some of them act like the war never ended,” Ajax said. “As you found out yesterday, there’s bound to be trouble when they come to the Main Compound. If more than a handful come in together, there’s almost always an incident. So far it hasn’t gotten out of hand, but I’ve had to repair my fair share of dents and scratches.”
