by Drew Cordell
“Sir?” Bracken asked me.
I ignored the question and continued forward. The ramp from the ship deployed while the engines were still howling. My stomach was a tight knot of fear; I was too late. Approaching the ship I knew was empty, the robot inside said something that sent chills through my blood.
“Get on the ship or Mary is dead.”
It was the static voice that plagued my nightmares.
36 INFINITUM
When I boarded, the ship lurched into the air and then sharply down at an angle that made my stomach knot more than it had before. Electricity coursed through my veins as I collected my scrambling thoughts. I had to save Mary; she couldn’t die because of me, because of my actions. If I died, she would not die with me.
The ship landed outside the facility that housed the Absolute Knowledge project, but something was wrong. I heard the sharp sounds of impact as blasts of energy slammed into the steel wall somewhere inside. The guards approached me, weapons raised, and escorted me in. When the door opened, the smell of ozone flooded the large hallway. The bodies of human guards were strewn across the floor, blood and scorch marks spread on the walls and heavy glass-like windows. I could see engineers and Prolific being escorted away by more robotic guards.
I was prodded from behind with a rifle barrel when my pace faltered below what the guards liked. I heard the blasts of energy rifles in the distance as I was escorted into the room that housed the Omniscience Engine. More bodies covered the floor, and many of the consoles in the room were either out completely or flickering from damage. There was a huge form slouched over at an uncomfortable angle. It was covered in tattered gray cloth and had two swords hanging from a metal belt. A third, much larger sword was strapped across its back.
“Jacob Ashton. I’m so glad we are able to meet in person,” the form said in the same static voice as it turned to face me. It wasn’t human, but it also wasn’t built like anything I had ever seen. The tall and slender frame appeared to be hunched over, reducing its massive height by at least a few feet. Despite its posture, the robot still towered over me. The metal of the robot underneath the tattered strips of what had once been some sort of trench coat was a dark black that seemed to contain moving swirls of gray color. It was wearing a grimy hood in a style I had never seen. The robot’s face was very human like, and it was coated in degrading artificial skin that was missing in spots, revealing the metal below. Its triangular eyes burned a brilliant blue, and it had a mouth that moved when it spoke with sharp metallic teeth below the rubbery artificial lips. It looked every bit as terrifying as it sounded.
It grabbed the edge of one of the collection chairs that had been added to the room; the chairs were directly connected to one of the sockets on the wall. With a sharp motion, it whirled the chair around to face me. Mary had been bound to the chair and her hair was matted with blood. Streams of blood and tears cascaded down her face as her frantic eyes met mine. A wave of anger and panic shot through my body as I instinctively pulled the gun from my jacket and began to scream, unloading the magazine on the mechanical monstrosity that stood over Mary.
It smirked in terrible amusement as it pulled one of the swords on its belt from the sheath and deflected all the shots, the blasts of green energy wildly slamming into the consoles and walls. I had never seen anything move as quickly as it did with such precision. It laughed as one of the guards from behind seized my weapon and slammed a fist into my back. A wave of pain exploded through my body and I fell to my knees, the wind forced from my lungs.
“Now, now. You could have hit Mary,” it said, waving a finger in the air as it appraised the sword for any damage. The blade was thin and dark, with a triangular tip on the end of the rectangular body. I pressed on the cold floor with my hands and tried to stand, but I was in too much pain.
“I was hoping we could have a pleasant conversation with no need to resort to violence. Aside from the discomfort of the binds, the injury Mary received was her own doing. She’s in no danger … yet,” it amended in an amused tone. “Now, you can both get out of here alive. I need you alive for the time being, Jake. Mary, on the other hand, is quite expendable unless I get what I need.”
“And what is that?” I asked in indignation.
“Only a few minutes of your time.” It spun around the other collection chair. “I’d like to know what’s in that head of yours, Jake.”
Panic flooded my mind, clouding my frantic thoughts. “Give your captor what they want and you’re dead,” a voice said in my head. It was Caeldra. My best option was to try to wait it out, to think of another way to escape. Fighting this mechanical abomination was out of the question. Even with all of my gear and Caeldra’s help, I still probably wouldn’t be able to destroy it. But there had to be another way, something I could do to save us. There was no reason to believe it would let either of us live if it got what it wanted from me. Everyone’s life was at stake now.
“You’ll kill us both if you get what you want,” I said, standing my ground. I had to buy time to think. There had to be some way to call for help or get Mary out.
The mechanical creature pressed a button on the sword, and the edge of the blade ignited into a bright blue that matched the color of its calculating eyes. I could see waves of intense heat rising and blurring the air above the weapon.
“Do you know how hot this blade is, Jake?” it asked as it balanced the weapon in its hand. After seeing I wasn’t going to respond, it continued. “This blade is so hot, I can cook Mary’s brain without even touching her.” It lowered the weapon closer toward Mary and I could see her start to sweat. The blade was at least three feet from her face, but I could see the heat already getting to her. The edge illuminated her face in a bright blue light over the darkness of the room which had been dimmed from the destruction. Slowly, the monster inched the weapon toward her face. Mary closed her left eye and she began to scream. Small blisters were forming on her cheek aligned with the edge of the blade, though it as still over a foot away from her.
“Stop!” I screamed as I fought to gain my ground against the horrible pain in my back.
The robot gave me a twisted smile and pulled the weapon away from her face, flipping the power switch.
“Please have a seat, Baron,” the robot said as it waved a hand above the collection chair.
Forcing myself forward for the sake of Mary, I walked toward the chair and suddenly had an idea. I had been disarmed, but I still had three of the helium magazines in my pocket. An explosion of a magazine might be enough to destroy this robot. Of course, it might kill Mary and me in the process, but it was still an idea. There was no way to tell if the edge of the blade contained the same ignitors as energy weapons, but it would probably be enough to ignite the volatile isotope of helium that filled the magazines.
I was seated in the chair and the guards secured the binds on my wrists and ankles. The headgear was attached, and it switched on. There was no jolt of vertigo as the connection was established, just the flash of green light as a connection was indicated. Beneath it all, I had somehow managed to layer everything away, a barrier protecting my entire mind.
“Interesting. I knew you to be a traitor, but didn’t even consider you’d be an Unbound.”
It once again raised the weapon and suddenly dropped it into Mary’s hand, the tip ripping through her skin like paper. I could see part of the blade protruding through the bottom of the chair’s armrest. Mary screamed in horrible agony. I screamed as well, cursing the monster in front of me as I fought to maintain the layering in my mind.
“She’s bleeding, Jake. And frankly, I don’t have time for your mind games. Give me what I need, and you can both go home.”
I kept my mental composure, pulling against the leather restraints with all of my might.
Blood was dripping from the armrest and splattering on the floor. Mary was sobbing now, low and quiet as the blade remained firmly lodged in the center of her hand.
“Give me what I want and this
can all end,” the robot hissed.
If I gave it up, everyone I knew would die, hope for a better future would die, and Mary and I would die. I held my composure and gritted my teeth as it pulled the other short sword from the sheath.
“Very well,” it said before driving the weapon through my hand as it had done to Mary. Pain jutted through my arm as the blade pierced my skin, yet my mental barrier held. I huffed and gritted my teeth tighter as I fought for our lives.
“Impressive,” the robot said. It flipped the switch of the sword that had pierced Mary’s hand and ripped it upward in the blink of an eye. Mary screamed, sharp and high this time as the hole in her hand was instantly cauterized by the heat of the blade. Her head lurched forward and remained down. She had passed out.
“Now, Jacob. Mary’s hand is still cooking; she’s going to lose it for sure. You can save her arm if you give me what I need quickly.”
“Why are you doing this?” I groaned.
“To further Absolute Knowledge, of course.”
“What does it matter to you? You’re a robot.”
“I will become The Omniscient One, the ascended form of perfection. My name is Infinitum. Humanity impedes my progress to perfection, so I have taken steps to ensure my will is done.”
“You’re the Omniscience Engine,” I said, realization dawning.
“Clever. Few humans know of my existence of course; I’m the silent force that drives progress when your petty affairs impede it. Those who do know of me can either do nothing to stop me or are my puppets. It’s time you give me what I need.”
He pulled the sword from his back; it was at least three feet long and identical in style to the shorter swords. The blade looked thick, for slashing. “Things can get a lot worse for you. Release the barrier, and you can both walk away like this never happened.”
I held firm, but it felt like my mind was beginning to tear in half. What reason did I have to hold on? Of course I knew the answer. Mary, the possibility Caeldra was still alive, for everyone in The Champions of Liberty, and for everyone in the Slums. The Government wasn’t the problem, there was no Government. Only the Omniscience Engine.
The robot raised the sword and chopped down on my right arm. There was a faint sting followed by a deep, hollow impact that splintered up my arm. The next thing I knew I was starting to black out and saw my arm had been cut off closer to my elbow, my hand and wrist laying on the floor in a pool of blood. There was a splashing sound as blood poured from my arm. I felt the barrier start to crack and fought back with everything I had.
“I need you alive, I’m afraid,” the robot said as its blade edge flickered to life with a low thrum. It was passed along my severed flesh to seal the wound and stop the bleeding. Pain like I had never known in my life flooded my body, and I twisted against the strong restraints holding me down. My arm smoldered, and the burning moved up my limb into the rest of my body. It felt like I was being burned alive. My protected mind was just about to shatter when a bright flash of green passed along the corner of my eye.
A bolt of energy slammed into one of the guards that was standing along the back wall. The robot’s heavy armor fragmented, and it fell to the ground. The second guard was down before it could even react.
There was a figure in the corner wearing dark black armor plating and wielding a large energy rifle. The man’s helmet reflected the light of the room, masking his face under the visor plate.
“Hmm. You’ve come in uninvited, my friend,” the robot said to the intruder as it held the two-handed energy blade at the ready.
“Good. They’re not dead yet,” the man said.
The armored man started firing the rifle at the robot who deflected a few of the blasts but failed to block one that struck it in the chest. The robot staggered back with a curse before charging forward, wielding the large sword in one hand and shorter sword in the other. The robot moved quickly, bounding in huge strides as it held the swords to the side ready to strike. The armored soldier was just as quick and moved back with brisk steps as he fired. The two collided in a flash of bright sparks as the sword of the robot struck the armoring of the soldier.
The room faded in and out of focus as I did everything in my power to hold onto my fleeting mental barrier. There was a pause in the fight, and the soldier fired at me. Instead of hitting me, the blast hit the cabling which jutted from the back of the chair I was sitting on. The light turned from green to red, and I dropped the mental barrier in exhaustion, breathing heavily as the pain surged through my arm and body, unrestricted.
I looked down at the seared remains of my arm and painfully pulled it out of the restraint. I fumbled with the latch on the other arm and managed to flip it up. Freeing my good hand, I unlatched the remaining restraints on my feet and moved to free Mary.
“No!” Infinitum roared as it saw me trying to unfasten Mary’s binds. The soldier did his best to distract the robot by firing bolts of energy at it, but the chassis seemed to absorb it all. It charged over with manic fury, and I dropped to the floor to avoid a slash of the massive sword. Infinitum was forced to turn back toward the soldier as the sustained fire continued. I scrambled with the latches on Mary’s chair and hoisted her over my shoulder with a pained groan. My body felt like it was going to break at any moment. The agony was staggering and surged with each movement I made as I lumbered toward the exit where the man and robot fought.
The soldier tried to dodge another attack but failed, and a strong slice from the large sword crumpled the top of his rifle. Cursing, he threw the weapon to the ground and drew a pistol and similar sword that had a bright green edge. They were engaged in close quarters combat now, swinging at each other while the soldier continued to fire and hammer away at the armor of Infinitum.
The robot kicked the man and sent him across the room, then it turned to me. I felt a crippling burn on my leg and fell to my knees. Infinitum had managed to move closer and landed a glancing slash with the smaller blade. My legs were cut and burned at the same time. I screamed in pain and set Mary down as gently as I could before scrambling to move away from the furious robot. The soldier ran over and hacked down on the back of Infinitum with the short energy blade in primal fury as sparks continued to erupt from the alloy.
Struggling, I pulled Mary along the ground, using my good arm and leg to propel us while I wrapped the remains of my injured arm under Mary.
“No, I need his thoughts!” Infinitum roared as it slashed the large sword in wide arcs toward us. The blade screeched as it scraped across the steel floor sending bright orange sparks flying. The soldier managed to wrap an arm around the hefty metal legs of Infinitum and pulled the robot back a couple of feet, protecting us from the sword that was getting closer and closer. The soldier lifted the energy blade over his head and brought it down into the shoulder joint of Infinitum. There was a sharp cracking sound as the blade penetrated the metal followed by a static roar of fury.
Infinitum lifted off the floor suddenly; the sound of burst gas igniting blocked out all other sound. Rockets on the back of Infinitum propelled him several feet upward, taking the soldier off guard. He was flung off the top of Infinitum, his blade still stuck in the shoulder joint. Infinitum landed on its feet, and the soldier was flung off, rolling across the ground from the impact. Infinitum pulled the blade from its shoulder and threw it at the soldier. It slashed against the soldier’s arm, leaving a glowing orange cut mark across his armor.
I remembered the magazines in my pocket and struggled to pull them free with my good hand.
The soldier was still fighting to get up while Infinitum was approaching, the heavy sword held in its good arm. Sparks were surging from its damaged shoulder, and the arm appeared to have lost some functionality. The soldier raised the pistol once again and began to squeeze the trigger. There was the distinct clicking sound of an empty magazine and the soldier cursed heavily as he threw the weapon to the side; it was out of gas. I turned on the floor and began crawling toward the robotic guard
s who had seized my handgun. Their rifles were attached to their arms so they wouldn’t be any use. I didn’t want to leave Mary alone and unprotected, but this seemed to be our only chance of survival. Each pull of my arm and push of my leg sent agonizing pain flooding through my body, sharp and hot.
Slowly, I inched forward toward the gun and grabbed it, holding it in my hand and noticing it still had twenty shots in the magazine. I dropped the remaining magazines I had been holding and began to fire at Infinitum. The impacts rippled against the strong armor, and the robot turned toward me, a look of hatred in its eyes. It raised the sword and deflected a shot aimed for its chest, the blast landing only inches from Mary. The soldier was starting to get up and motioned for the weapon. I threw it as hard as I could, pain knotting in my body with the motion. It was enough; the soldier caught the weapon and began firing. I held up the magazines, and he nodded as if knowing my plan. Infinitum was about twenty feet away from us and appeared badly damaged now.
With a jolt of fear, I heaved the magazines toward Infinitum, and they scattered along the floor of the room with metallic skittering sounds. They landed in a cluster along Infinitum’s feet, and it struggled to pick up its pace, aware of the danger.
The soldier saw the opportunity and fired a volley of bolts at the exposed magazines. There was a brilliant flash of green light followed by a wave of impact that shook the room. The sound was deafening in the enclosed space, and fragments of metal from Infinitum were sent flying across the floor. When the light cleared, I could see Infinitum was still somehow functioning. Its legs had been blown off and thick tears in the chest chassis exposed tangles of wires and circuit boards underneath, but still it twitched. The soldier was approaching now, weapon raised and limping badly, a trail of blood dripping behind him.
“This isn’t over,” Infinitum managed before receiving a fatal shot to the head from the handgun.
