by Al Shield
‘We’ve got one chance left and I promise you can all haunt me later if it all goes pear shaped. Now keep your fookin head down and follow me!’
The gatling gun continued whirring even though all of it’s belt fed ammunition had run empty, the soldier too fixated on destroying the wall to the garage to even notice. It took a fellow soldier thumping a fist on his shoulder pad to make him suddenly snap out of it and let go of the trigger allowing the barrels to finally slow in their turning.
‘Reload.’ The second one ordered through his throat speaker. ‘We will meet you inside.’
It was as the gunfire echoes faded when the three of this particular group finally heard the increasing noise of what sounded like an angry pride of roaring lions. One had just enough time to tilt his helmeted head in confusion to the others when the War Wagon screamed right through the great tears in the wall and smashed directly into them. Started by a now passed out Murphy and piloted by the rest of his team, the first of the surprised soldiers was instantly crushed under the front wheels while the other two were caught and picked up but the cruel looking front mounted spikes and pulverized as the vehicle careened and came to a bone crunching hard stop into another wall.
For a few moments only the sound of the strange engine idle could be heard until someone in the vehicle groaned in pain.
‘Is...is everyone okay?’ Someone called out from the back seat.
There was a few grunts and soft moans in response, the shock of the impact stunning everybody but no serious injuries and thankfully nobody in the vehicle had died due to the sudden stop.
‘Murphy took a bump off the dash, he’s copped a couple of cuts on his head...sorry, I lost my grip on him when we hit the wall...’ Assistant Gareth admitted.
‘What about out there?’ Mary whispered. ‘Did we get them all?’
‘We must have. Nothing’s getting up after taking this this full on!’ Terry spoke.
However as a shaken Terry and other team members emerged from the driver's seat, the impaled soldier slumped over the front of the vehicle but still holding on to the gatling gun suddenly jerked back to life. Completely ignoring the fact that his lower half was now mangled beyond recognition, he aimed the weapon directly at the team and pulled the trigger. The barrels spun once more but the gun was empty. He tilted his head in confusion and went to pull the release on the empty belt when the butt of a rifle flew out of the air and crunched directly into his faceplate, causing a slight crack. The blow was followed up by a quick succession as two more of the mechanics joined in with now alert Murphys furious onslaught against the trapped soldier. As they reigned blows down on him he swung his arms trying to push them away but they kept pushing on and eventually the visor broke and the butt of the rifle crunched into the man’s skull and evidently something else, causing him to stop his movements completely.
‘Holy shit, he’s full of wires!’ Davidson exclaimed.
Murphy leaned in for a closer look and gasped at the sight - half of the exposed face was gore flecked metal with wires protruding and sparking from the last vicious swing. The flesh side of the soldiers head had obviously given up long before the machinery parts had.
‘These things are robots?’ Davidson couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
‘Nah, not robots.’ Murphy said gasping for breath. The rush of adrenaline when striking away at the half man half machine was starting to taper off and he leaned against the wagon body before his legs turned to jelly again from the energy loss from getting it started. ‘More like that machine thing they brought in with the ghoulies, the one they’ve got in the cells now..’
‘Can you believe they volunteered for this shit?’ Gareth chimed in, joining the three of them for a closer look at their downed attackers. ‘This shit is beyond next level man!’
‘I don’t think they had a choice...’ Murphy replied. ‘Anyhoo I’m not going to hang about and ask the next one that pops up.’ He stuck his head in the window to check on Sally in the passenger seat. She looked a bit battered and bruised from the sudden impact but gave him a weak smile when she saw him.
‘You right love?’
‘...I’ve had better days..’
‘Right. As have we all. But let’s get the fook out of here and see if our day can improve any.’
She nodded.
‘I’m gonna need you to put this thing in reverse. Hopefully the wall here didn’t do too much damage when we smacked into it. As much as this thing scares the livin shit outta me, I think right now it’s the best defense we’ve got going here at the moment..’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Fifty three point seven one percent efficiency and climbing, albeit slowly. That was the last report Unit M’s self repair system had reported to his logging system as soon as his audio pickups had registered the sound of heavy weapons fire. His inbuilt position scanner was still on the list of non essentials for the time and so his computerized mind instead had to measure the sound levels of the firing and determine a rough distance from his position. Anyone of this world studying the process would have called it genius, his logic circuits would have called it the only option he had.
The gunfire was a short distance away but closing.
His audio also picked up the close chatter of the nervous soldiers and panicked medical staff. If he applied maximum power to his audio he could hear the rates of their heart muscles increase dramatically. The unit guarding him in this containment cell was now completely ignoring keeping watch on his body and instead were taking up positions around the cell and making sure the medical staff assigned to the task of studying him were well and truly behind cover. And armed, as much use at that could be in a situation such as this.
Fifty three point seven three percent efficiency and climbing.
Too slow.
His processing unit knew he wouldn’t get enough time to reach anywhere near one hundred percent before the gunfire reached the zone he was situated in.
In less than a second, he had mentally rerouted the repair function on his lower half to instead concentrate on his restoring his vision. His optics had shutdown when he took the blast from the gunship and required a jump start and a reboot. With the position sensor currently needing repair, his optics now took priority so he could use what he saw to determine the next essential item to concentrating repairs on.
Fifty three point seven three five percent efficiency.
Both the sound of the invaders guns and the worried cries of the medical team were getting louder. He lowered his audio by half to avoid unnecessary distractions.
Vision appeared as fuzzy signal in his left optic and slowly opened up in his right. The many small circular disc focuser lenses slowly rotated back and forth until they had sharpened the signal but the colour receptor was still warming up and so he could only see the roof and the small army of bright lights the medical team had surrounded him in black and white. However his dampeners were working and instantly cut the light levels enough to see everything in greater detail around him. His neck servos were still working and he turned his head slowly just as shots blasted through a nearby door and took out a guard crouching near the bars of the cell. The other guards opened fire and peppered the door with shots in return.
He turned his head back and commanded his repair routine to solely focus on his left arm.
His logic system queried the decision but made no move to stop the process.
Another nearby guard died by gunfire as shots from both sides were being sprayed about.
-Finger tip including sensors, check ok.
-Finger servos, check ok.
A huge burst of flame from one of flamethrower carrying troops roared through the doorway, forcing the crouching soldiers to cry out in surprise and back away immediately from the wave of intense heat.
-Palm connector, check ok. Palm sensor non essential.
-Lower arm signal pulse test.
His fingers curled up into a first and back into an open hand a few times.
-Check ok.
-I will rule again.
‘Hit the floor!’ one of the guards roared as he rolled a grenade through the doorway just as one of the first soldiers marched through with his rifle blazing. The one directly behind him didn’t see it and it exploded directly under him, lifting him off the ground and throwing him back down the hall, past the other three crouching in wait.
-3rd signal wire connection not stable. Rerouting to second wire. Standby, reroute in three...two...one. Check ok.
Another soldier strolled through the flaming doorway and ignoring the bullets bouncing off his armour, took careful aim and shot down three more of the defending soldiers.
-Upper arm signal pulse test.
-Check ok.
The last remaining soldier yelled in defiance as he emptied the entire clip of his sidearm at the chest of the advancing enemy at point blank range but the shells just ricocheted off. His scream was replaced by a wet gurgle as the combat knife was thrust deep into his throat.
‘That’s the last of them.’ the leading soldier broadcast. ‘Just the medicos left.’
‘We’re not here for them, we came for the machine’ a second soldier broadcast back as he walked through the doorway and towards the cell were Unit M was held. ‘Make it quick.’
There was the sounds of screaming quickly silenced by the burst of bullets. None of the non combatants had even managed to get a single shot off.
-Arm operational. Recommencing repair routine.
-Vengeance.
-Fifty five point one percent efficiency and climbing.
‘This thing looks heavy. We’re going to need all hands to move this thing.’ The soldier spoke as he stood by the strange machine creating, looking him up and down. ‘It sure is one ugly looking mother.’ He poked at parts where the pale white flesh ended and the machine parts began. Even in the armour, the skin felt tough to the touch.
‘Who the fuck could have built something like this?’ he asked nobody in particular as he leaned over for a closer look at the facial features.
‘My creator is called K’Dian’ Unit M chirped as his eyes flicked open, completely surprising the soldier. Before he had a chance to utter a single word, the newly repaired arm shot out, fingers extended drilling through the visor and the circuitry at the front of the skull and violently deep into the now convulsing soldiers soft and squishy brain matter. The body slumped to the ground with a loud clatter, alerting the others who just entered the area.
‘Shit, that thing’s still alive!?’
-Fifty five point three percent efficiency and climbing.
It would have to do.
-Combat mode engaged.
Unit M sat up as the firing began anew.
THE SITUATIONS WHERE Patches had felt fear during combat situations were few and far between. She’d learnt that calm was contagious from a very wise teacher years ago and was famed for keeping her cool in even the most hazardous of environments.
Right now however as both the gunfire and the screams from the defending soldiers positioned in the medical area hall got louder, she was feeling an inescapable icy chill creep down her spine and her legs started to get shaky. There were terrified shouts over the barking guns about how little damage the enemy was taking and how their own guns were ineffective and since the coms were jammed, nobody could call in reinforcements. With no place to run to, they had held their ground and one by one they were being blasted beyond recognition.
She looked at the service pistol in her hand. The same one had helped defend the wounded in the safehouse that had solidified her reputation as a bonafide badass now felt like a cheap toy. If the high powered rifles and grenades couldn’t put a scratch on the enemy, then what hope did she have with this thing?
Still, she wouldn’t cut and run. It just wasn’t in her nature. She believed she was put on this earth to help those in times where they couldn’t help themselves and right now this horned creature with the pale skin needed her help.
She was so focussed on getting ready to fire on the first thing that even came close to the ward curtain she was hiding behind that her heart skipped a number of beats when a strong hand suddenly grabbed her leg.
Nex’s hand.
Patches’ brain screamed at her to jump back out of arms reach but her already shaking limbs wouldn’t respond, her arms stiffened too and she couldn’t raise her pistol. Even her mouth refused to open to scream in surprise as she stared into the blackened orbs that made up Nex’s eyes.
‘Release me..’ Nex gasped.
‘Wha...wha...’ Patches couldn’t get her tongue to respond nor her mouth to move enough for the words to form properly.
‘Let me help you, like you have helped me...I can defend you...but you need to release me.’ She then let go and moved her arm back.
Patches mind spun - the creature spoke and even worse, she could understand it! Now it wanted her help and in the last few minutes she felt she had on this earth she had now well and truly found herself between a rock and a hard place. If she kept the restraints on Nex, then it was only a matter of time before the enemy forces mowed down the last of the defenders and marched in here weapons blazing. While they may keep Nex alive, Patches knew she would just be a bloody stain on the ward walls as they didn’t seem in the mood for keeping prisoners.
On the other hand the strange creature she had been talking to, nursing and providing care for was the greater unknown. She’d heard the reports of the bloody trail her group had carved up until their arrival here, the countless lives lost that had tried to stop them. By all reports she was a living weapon and incredibly dangerous to be anywhere near. A time bomb that had only just awakened and was starting to tick again..
‘Must I really release the devil to save my own soul?’ her own soul cried out.
But for now she quickly realised, she was the only weapon Patches hand on hand that might actually do something. Anything.
There was a gurgling scream heard from just a few metres away. The last guard to the room had met her end. Maybe by releasing her she could slow the invaders down to get her an avenue of escape. Maybe she’d be mowed down instantly. Maybe Patches would be the first to die as soon as the restraints came off..
Oh lord, how I wish I could freeze time and work this out good and proper..she thought.
But she was out of time. Do something or be damned. She nervously swallowed and moved closer to Nex.
‘Now...now...’ Patches coughed trying to force the words out. Her voice was now more of a nervous squeak and she gulped loudly as she moved closer. ‘Now don’t you make me regret this...’ and with that she triggered the button that released the clamps around Nex’s limbs.
Nex nodded her thanks before slinking off the bed. To Patches the movement was so fluid it was like watching someone made of water flowing to her feet. Seemingly unconcerned with the sound of marching steel boots and approaching commands blasting through helmet speakers, the being stretched and worked out the kinks in her back caused by the time spent in bed.
‘My armour, is it close?’
Patches nodded to a locker behind her.
‘But....we don’t have any weapons other than this...gun’ she squeaked, waving her sidearm.
But Nex didn’t respond, instead pressing a hidden button on one of the upper leg pieces. A compartment hissed open and she withdrew a wickedly sharp curved knife. A second later she had fished out an identical blade from another piece of armour. She danced the blades quickly around her fingers to get her muscle memory warmed up just as the door to the room was kicked down and three enemy soldiers immediately took up positions.
‘It would be wise to find shelter..’ She winked at Patches. ‘I do believe a chaotic storm has come a calling...’
THE THREE ENEMY SOLDIERS had worked systematically through the rooms and the resistance had been minimal. One lucky grenade had torn a foot off of one of them but he could still move albeit slowly, fire and murder nonetheless. Now with the last
of the defenders and most of the medical staff caught in the middle neutralized, there wasn’t anything that could stop them from what they came to retrieve - the unconscious being known as Nex.
However when they ripped back the curtain, the bed before them was empty.
‘Did they move her? None of the other teams have reporte-’
At that moment Nex launched herself off the top of the locker, spun through the air and jammed one of her knives right into the seal between the soldiers helmet and chestplate. Landing on her feet, she retained her grip on the knife’s hilt and with one hand, held up the armoured body as if it weighed nothing, using it as a shield as the other two raised their submachine guns and opened fire. The shells ricocheted off the armour and she waited for a just a split second lull in the bursts before she pushed off from her back feet and with the soldier still suspended in front on her, used the body as a battering ram to crash into the second one, crashing him to the floor. She snapped a leg out and tripped the third before he could turn and fire but his reflexes kicked in and he quickly stopped his fall with his outstretched palm smacking against the hard floor.
Under the cover of the steel framed bed, Patches had never seen a soldier move that fast. It was almost a blur.
But Nex was faster and after quickly driving her second knife through the visor of the downed soldier with inhuman force, she sprung back to her feet and dashed forward as the third attacker got to his feet. He raised his gun and fired wildly but the shots went wide as she moved in and slammed her palm hard into his helmet, rocking the soldier back.
He shook his head violently to get his focus back but she didn’t give him a moment to regain his bearings as she followed up with lightning fast kicks and punches that had even the heavily armoured warrior reeling. He tried to fight back but his own quick swings and punches seemed crude and incredibly slow in comparison. As soon as he blocked one incoming blow, another two kicks and strikes would get past his guard and slam into his body and as the seconds dragged by, it was becoming painfully obvious how outclassed the soldier was. Each blow while being absorbed by the armour plate, was starting to causing great shock stress to the tissue underneath, even with the augmentations each soldier contained. Combined, they started to affect the soldier greatly and his evasions now started to look more like drunken stumbles. While his mind was willing to continue to fight, his body was struggling to keep up anywhere near the pace.
