Remember Me

by Kyle Robertson

“This trip will take four days there and back. Can Sneak Queen pull those Knight of the Round Table around the city for that long?” Borlund asked Raziel. They were in Connecticut driving to Nevada to get the plutonium.

  “You Snaggerz are calling Klannis ‘Sneak Queen’ now, that’s rich. We call you Red Hooks. Klannis has been a master of confusing you all for years. Why would leading around primitives to nowhere for four days be a problem for her?”

  “We finally caught her.”

  “Yeah, about three years later, and you know Boston, they don’t. They didn’t even know of America’s existence for that matter,” Raziel said. “Jocks was pissed we had to leave him for you.”

  “Aww, can the brat control an HD? You guys can’t survive this terrain without me. If he wanted to tag-along, he would be welcomed to return inside the plutonium transport. He can’t even change a tire on one of these vehicles he never knew existed. You made the right choice, let him cry.”

  “Jocks won’t cry, he’s tweaking the transport station to accommodate the proper amount of plutonium. We all have jobs to make this work,” Raziel defended Jocks.

  “Then why is he bitchin’ over getting replaced? He’s not on the sidelines for this.”

  “He’s pissed because adjusting the transporter is equivalent to being designated the waterboy in the big game instead of being a player. It’s a little disconcerting to be the head waiter of a restaurant you co-own.”

  “Jocks needs to suck it up and do his job,” Borlund said. “You don’t even know if this will work. You don’t need extra troubleshooting when you have to convince those ancient guys to take the plunge on your experiment. Especially when they find out Sneak Queen has duped them for half a week. I’ve seen how apoplectic that Araklimn guy can get.”

  “I guess you’re finally getting how delicate this mission is. Why do you think we’re even partners in this transport for four days when we would rather try to find unique ways of making each other scream in pain? The enemy of my enemy, Friend.”

  Borlund thought about what Raziel said to him. He wouldn’t ride inside his potential killers if he wasn’t trusting. Earlier that week, Borlund had them programmed to obliterate any BoltLayer breathing. Now a BoltLayer is fiddling with its climate control and checking the dash map. This world has turned brother against brother and for what? If any of them win this urban skirmish, they would be king… of a diseased rathole, not the hill. They all needed to consolidate to take out their true enemy.

  “The next stop to stretch your legs will be in Bellefonte Pennsylvania. Find it on the map. That’s when we’ll switch. You’ll drive to South Bend Indiana. Do you think you can avoid the crazy Renegades until we get there?”

  “I saw the ramming racks on these HDs. If I can’t avoid them, I’ll go through them. We’re making our time,” Raziel said.

  “Just stay focused and don’t puss-out. This is the vital preparation for the finishing explosion.” Borlund had a deep grimace on his face but continued driving.

  “This is the big one, just don’t call it an explosion. My crew is nervous enough.”

  llll

  As Sagen and Araklimn waited for Chloe to return from behind a building littered with refuse and overgrown crabgrass, Araklimn spoke.

  “It is rather odd for a maiden to protect us. This opposite world has danced with Satan. Why can we not return to our simpler time?”

  “Your head is that of a boulder, you do not listen. I even simplified it so a mere peasant could comprehend. Our time is no more. It was but a drop added to the rapids of time. We cannot reclaim that exact drop from those rapids. A royal protector isn’t as thick as what your question portrays.”

  “That was not what the knight’s manservant voiced in the castle hall,” Araklimn countered.

  “How long have you been in league with this new clan, and how long have we been brothers?” Sagen asked him. “I am surprised you can even understand them with such a terrible King’s English. They sound more like jesters than knights.”

  “The Vakl… Klannis told me earlier I needed to learn their speech to survive in this new world.”

  “Aye, you have never been in the presence of a maiden of her knowledge, not even the queen. You labeled her Valkyrie, not her clan.” Sagen realized.

  “As if they even know the title of Valkyrie,” Araklimn said. “The bizarre occurrence is that she did.”

  Chloe finally came back to join them.

  “Okay, we’re moving east. The Corgez Clan is littered directly in our path. and we don’t need the cult craziness of those lunatics.”

  “Lunatics?”

  “They’re crazy. Krucks, off-kilter,” she explained. “They ironically worship at Green Monster open temple for the end of this place. The nihilistic fools don’t care about themselves, so they won’t care about you. All life is meaningless to them. They just want to watch the world burn and if they had the power, this planet would be a burnt cinder. We’re moving east to avoid them.”

  “Stay your query, Lord Sagen. We must heed Klannis’s direction. The lass knows this strange land well,” Araklimn told him. “Do not waste your spells on the insignificant.”

  “How did you know I would voice objection?” Sagen asked.

  “You are old and set in your ways. You would never allow a maiden to speak to you in such a manner. As you have stated so adamantly to me, we are not in our time anymore. You must adjust yourself henceforth and listen to our scout.”

  “Are you ready to move? The Corgez roam like hungry rats. This hiding spot is incredibly limited,” Chloe pointed east.

  “Lead the way, Klannis, I am in the full belief you will deliver us to our destination,” Araklimn said.

  “Good, stay silent, and follow me. Go, do not show yourself when we move.” Chloe began to quickly and stealthily move across the street to get to an empty alleyway.

  They all remained quiet as not to disturb the nihilistic clan. As they moved to the alley. They began to move east away from them.

  “Klannis, how long will this quest manifest to its ending?” Sagen asked. He was getting restless.

  “We’re doing this the smart way, Krucks. There’s no ETA when you go stealth.”

  “ETA?”

  “Estimated time of arrival. I guess I have to adjust as well. You guys don’t know anything,” she said.

  “I am well versed in the King’s English. Curtail your language accordingly, and we will be graced to follow you without fail.”

  “Okay, let’s compromise,” she began. “I don’t know Victorian speech and you don’t know modern vernacular. I’ll just speak simply. We call that vocal style ‘vanilla’. I won’t do tech-slang if you could at least try to understand me, deal?”

  “So, you call the King’s English Victorian speech. That is an odd label for my communication. Nonetheless, I will oblige your offer. Henceforth, I will venture an attempt of understanding you if you do not use Satan’s tongue.”

  “Fine; now since we can speak to each other better, let us quest to Wonder Land.”

  “Amusing, you said ‘quest’,” Sagen said as they all traveled northeast to get to their destination. Chloe was the quintessential journey stringer.

  llll

  The Nevada group arrived in South Bend Indiana. Raziel was ready to drive farther, but Borlund stopped him.

  “You have to pace yourself. The reason for the stop is to relay the driving duties. The HDs have solar power storage banks, so we’ll never need fuel. We’re about to travel into the unknown. I need you sharp when we go into the west. You’re really about to use those ramming racks.”

  “I didn’t have to hit anybody yet,” Raziel said. “When we came through, those Renegades got out of our way.”

  “That’s because they weren’t Gripz addicts. That’s a Midwest drug. The east coast saw what Gripz could do, and wouldn’t touch that hyper-addictive poison.

  When you see these new Renegades, they’ll attack without self-preservation. I’m not washin
g off the blood in Iowa City. That’ll be your job.”

  Raziel had to control his enthusiasm. This was just the first leg of their journey. This was about to get very deadly.

  “Can the HDs hold-up against these crazy people? Can they shield us against those hand-held rocket rifles?”

  “The HDs are armored against all double HRs. We made some nasty robots to get your clan. And you thought we liked living in a factory smelling like rotten beans. Factories have the machinery, and you get used to the smell. We used what we had,” Borlund smiled.

  “Your clan really didn’t like us, did you?”

  “Brakken just said you were in the way of The Rayless One accomplishing the ultimate goal. This was just business, buddy, calm down.”

  “We hated you. We didn’t even know about the Snaggerz until you started taking and indoctrinating our clan. Now you’re telling me this was just business on your part and no hard feelings?!”

  “Calm yourself, you’re getting them in a bunch about past events. You’re driving an HD previously programmed to kill you. I’m your co-pilot. We both are going to a radioactive storage facility to get your plutonium to help beat our current situation. You slept as I drove and woke up breathing. When I say it was business, I meant it. Our business is completing this mission, and I mean this one too. Stop the hissy, we’re on the same side now.”

  Raziel realized this was all designed by their main enemy. It wasn’t the Crimaom Snaggerz; they were just trying to survive as well as the BoltLayers were. They just took the by any means necessary approach.

  He saw how earnest Borlund was and made a decision.

  “Apology accepted, the seat’s adjusted. We’ll switch in Iowa City, let’s ride.” He went to the passenger side.

  Where the hell did he get I was apologizing? Borlund thought smiled and went to the driver’s side.

  “You do you, Raziel. Let’s get that plutonium.”

  lllll

  They got past the Corgez Clan and moved 7 miles northeast. Chloe scouted ahead to see if there was any resistance. She saw a dog pack patrolling near Government Center, so she came back.

  “A Xazen wolf with her dogs are blocking the North Station where we tell the Gornx we are coming and to cease their fire. Those mutts aren’t moving.”

  Sagen asked, “If we move them, could we contact or allies?”

  “Krucks, I just saw them and they ain’t movin’.”

  “Show us,” Sagen said.

  Chloe turned and led them to a safe distance from the pack. They were laying and waiting to see or hear anything. Then Sagen whispered to Chloe.

  “Would they chase a hare?”

  “If it runs, they’ll chase anything, why?”

  Sagen sat cross-legged and began to chant.

  “Lepus currere ejus usque ad solis occasum…”

  “Shhh! You’re going to get us eaten. These dogs could hear a mouse piss on a cotton ball on the Moon,” Chloe whispered loudly.

  Araklimn put his hand on her arm and whispered.

  “Stay your ire and witness the wizardry.”

  She looked up at the pack and saw a white jackrabbit hopping by them. The dogs began to growl, snarl, and salivate. The rest caught the scent, and they all gave chase to the rabbit moving westward. The Xazen wolf followed them deeper into the bowels of the city abandoning their post. They found their chance at a meal and followed the jackrabbit as if they were greyhounds.

  “It was necessary to utilize a scad of sorcery to continue,” Sagen explained to Chloe. “If I restrained, our entire quest would have been for naught,”

  Chloe thought they were delusional with their claims. It was unbelievable to her, but magic was real!

  “You chanted and conjured that rabbit?!”

  “Aye, Lass. I only will use my sorcery when there is no other option,” Sagen said. “You are portraying your dumbfounded dismay with amazement. Araklimn told you I was a wizard.”

  “That wasn’t prestidigitation; sleight of hand. You mystically ‘carrot on a sticked’ that pack.”

  “You are speaking with Satan’s tongue again, that was a summoning to divert those ravenous hounds,” Sagen clarified. “We could complete our quest in no other way.”

  “Who would ever think Occam’s Razor would ever work with magic,” she said to herself. “Alright, Wonderland is just a few blocks away. Let’s hit the station, signal the Gornx, and get the current diverting map.”

  Araklimn was ready.

  “Let us complete this leg of our journey, onward.”

  llll

  It was late twilight when they reached Iowa City. Illinois was an uneventful state. There were glimpses of Renegades, but they were mostly congested in the cities. No one had traveled the interstate for years. Vacationing wasn’t a main factor after the Drop. Raziel radioed Keisha.

  “It’s about to get dark. You know the drill. The freaks come out at night. Are you ready for this?”

  “I was getting bored playing road games with Doze. I live for night freaks. You’re a scientist, Raziel. Are ‘you’ ready for this?”

  “You’re mistaking me with a typical Poindexter. I’m a BoltLayer scientist. I invent in sludge and grime. Bring the freaks: I eat freaks.”

  “Your bravado sounds goofy. You’re teaming with the big boys now. You might metaphorically eat them, but we put hot sauce on ‘em. Stay in your lane, Poindexter, we’ll protect you.”

  “And I thought Klannis was rough when she punched Brakken,” Borlund said to Raziel.

  “BoltLayers breed gladiators,” Raziel told him. Remember, Klannis’s specialty is intelligence.”

  “I take it Keisha can beat-up Klannis then.”

  “Keisha can beat you up. Don’t piss her off,” Raziel warned.

  “I saw Keisha in the warehouse, I won’t,” Borlund confirmed. “Wild-driving unmanned gantu-tanks can smack you to another dimension.”

  “I think I’m beginning to like you,” Raziel said. “You don’t do that alpha-male thing, I’m impressed.”

  “I’m not boasting idiocy to a scientist. You know weight ratios, know of her power, and have probably seen her fight. If I boasted, you would think I was an ignorant arrogant meathead.”

  As they were nearing the city, a mile ahead, the HD detected a large bonfire of crashed derelict vehicles piled on the highway blocking their path over the brim on the dashboard display. They saw the glow on the horizon.

  “Stay alert, those cars didn’t just get hit by lightning. This is a trap,” Borlund told Raziel.

  “Let me radio the team and tell them things are about to get real.”

  “Hold your all-call.” Borlund took out a duffel bag from the back and unzipped it. “Tell them to come up front and use these shock weevils. Just squeeze them to activate and throw them. They’ll do the rest.”

  Raziel saw the metallic bugs.

  “That’s how you got Klannis.”

  “Sneak Queen’s stealthy, I had to make these. I’ll program them to attack anybody but us.”

  “What do they do?”

  “They shock you to unconsciousness. It’ll give the HDs time to clear the path,” Borlund said.

  “They’re APCs right now. Can they switch that quickly?” Raziel asked.

  Damn, you BoltLayers don’t even know what you’re traveling in. These things were designed to neutralize the enemy. These bots are assassin Army-knives. Call your crew to get a lesson on taking out your enemy with these weevils.”

  Raziel radioed his team, told them to stop, and come to the front.

  They all parked, got out of their HDs, and met Raziel with Borlund.

  Borlund tossed the duffle bag in front of them.

  “There’s a massive pile of burning vehicles in our path about a mile up. It’s just an invitation to come to a Gripz Renegade party. I’m not comin’ without gifts. In that bag are about a hundred Shock Weevils. Just squeeze ‘em and throw ‘em. They find your enemy and shock the hell out of ‘em. I’ll program them not
to shock us. They find any other target and drop ‘em.

  “We’re about to hike that mile. Your HDs have to switch to loaders to clear those flaming cars. It about time this journey gets interesting.”

  Doze looked at Keisha.

  “Those mindless Gripz Renegades will chew off their leg to get to us. Whoever drops the most Renegades gets to blast the other in the chest.”

  “You’re truly a self-masochist.” She shook his hand and loaded her cross-bow.

  “Your funeral, Doze. One day you might win.”

  “Okay, BoltLayers, let’s show this Snaggerz why it so hard to beat us, LOAD-OUT!” Raziel yelled as his crew began to load their cross-bows, grab the weevils, and put them in their cargo pockets.

  “They seem ready, although they haven’t the slightest idea what’s about to happen, bravely stupid.”

  “That’s the main reason why you can’t beat us,” Raziel said. “Every new endeavor is stupid. BoltLayers brave the stupid. If you’re wrong you die. That’s when your mistake won’t matter to you anymore. We call that possessing stones in the clan.”

  “So, you guys ‘are’ crazy,” Borlund assumed.

  “No, my friend. We get things done. The HDs are loaders now. We’ll follow them. Wow, three of those things make just one APC? We have thirty of them.”

  Borlund directed them towards the flaming vehicles.

  “Okay, my analogy wasn’t quite accurate. Their connectable assassin Army-knives. Follow Doze and Keisha. They’re good point people.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I guess you didn’t hear their bet earlier. They won’t get killed; they want to beat each other. I think they compete just or fun.”

  “You might just get us after all.”

  After they walked about a half-mile to a hill, they saw the mountain of flame brighter down in the distance. Their eyes had adjusted to the dark, but that brightened mountain hindered them slightly.

  “These Renegades are trying the blind spot tactic,” Keisha said. “Walk slower to adjust your optics. I’m not getting hit in the back of the head by a Gripz junkie.”