by Mark Lingane
“They might empty their inside mess as we go through,” said @summer.
“You mean they’re going to poo on us?” Isaac said.
“Don’t be stupid, Isaac. They’re machines,” replied Melanie.
“It’s brown, slippery and smells bad.bad.” @summer paused. “Bad.”
“Cyborg poo?” Melanie said.
She nodded.
“Surely it’s just oil and gunk?”
“No. They were once people.”
“What!” Isaac said.
Sebastian turned pale. His recollections of his violent clashes with the dragons now had a human face.
“That’s modification gone insane. In fact, I can’t believe it,” Melanie said.
“The dragons were once people who had bad.bad trouble when they were born, missing arms or a leg. They had bad.bad chance of living, so everything was cut off and dragon skeletons built around them.”
“I’m not sure if I feel sick or not,” Isaac said.
“No. It’s a good thing,” Gavin said. “Imagine, you have a terrible life ahead of you but then you’re given you a second chance at something amazing. Imagine being able to fly.”
Melanie looked at him. “Are you serious? What if they don’t want that life?”
“Can we focus?” Sebastian said. “Let’s get over there.”
They crept around the rocks and made their way over to the great doors. Melanie was fully suited up, with her combination Gatling guns attached. They whirred quietly as she moved. Everyone else carried as much weaponry as they could, which amounted to two guns and a backpack full of ammunition each.
They watched the doors slide open and a great dragon glide up into the air. It beat its huge wings and lurched dramatically into the sky.
“See the little red light underneath that came on?” @summer said, pointing to a barely visible spot. The others craned to see. “That means its perimeter sensors are active. They only work once the dragons have taken off.”
“So they can’t detect us?” Melanie said.
@summer nodded.
“Okay, we go on the next one.” Melanie noticed the expression on Sebastian’s face. What’s up?”
“I can sort of already feel the deadness.” His shoulders sagged.
@summer gave him a quizzical look.
“You know how I could sort of do stuff out there on the plains?”
“Yes. It was good.good.”
He smiled. “Yes, well, the thing is, I can’t do any of that in here.”
She looked at him expectantly.
“Something in the Hive blocks my senses.”
She looked at him expectantly.
He struggled for an explanation. “I’m just normal.” He shrugged, hoping that would mean something. The look of desperation on his face seeped into the rest of him and he sagged.
“You’ll never be normal.” She smiled at him, leaned forward and gave him a kiss. She turned and ran down the air vent.
“Hey, what was that? Why did you do that? Hey, wait up.”
“Fast.fast,” @summer shouted as she waved them through. “Doors are fast.fast.fast. Strong enough to cut you in half.” She brought down the side of her hand into her palm. “Then electricity.”
They stepped through the concealed doors with renewed urgency. Melanie’s boot dragged over the metal and snagged on a shard that stuck out. Gavin grabbed her leg and twisted it in an effort to help. She shouted at him, but she collapsed over the other side. Gavin freed her leg then leapt over the metal door, quickly followed by Sebastian.
Isaac started to climb. He was halfway over when there was a deep, resonating beep.
46
@SUMMER LEAPED FORWARD and grabbed Isaac, wrenching him away just as the top door speared upward. The electric current kicked in and his body convulsed, throwing him into the air. @summer had him in her grasp so the current stopped at her thick boots. The door slammed down again, cutting into the corner of his backpack. A few bullets spilled out, tumbled to the ground and slid down the steep slope, rattling noisily as they picked up speed.
Isaac stood there shaking and slightly charred. He stared at some distant point and for a few moments was oblivious as the others tried to bring him back into the world.
They made their way down the slippery slope, gripping tightly to a small bar that ran down the side, gagging on the nearly intolerable putrid smell. Their feet kept sliding and losing traction, often knocking down the person in front. Occasionally there was another beep, and they lay in the fetid mess beside the train tracks as another dragon zoomed over them. Sometimes a splattering of dragon poo would land on them.
At the base of the slope they rested. It had been an ordeal that had taken several hours. They were sore, tired, and smelled disgusting.
They looked up at the rise in front of them. It was about half the height and twice the steepness of the slope they had just descended, but it was going to be four times as hard to get up.
They toiled up the hill, fighting against the smell and the slippery slope, sweat pouring off of them and making it harder to grab hold of the thin handrail. They finally crested the top, and the sight in front of their eyes made them forget their exhaustion.
Inside a huge underground cave, so large they couldn’t see the other side, hung hundreds of dragons. The dragons were moving around on a conveyer belt and being picked up by a large claw that twisted and placed them in a launch chute. The dragons’ claws were wrapped around a long thick chain, which winched them up to the launch position. Like a giant slingshot, the chain whipped them down the slide and launched them into the outside world.
Off to one side they saw what @summer had described earlier. Mutilated bodies were lying in a series of metal casings. Very few of the bodies had arms or legs. Other cyborgs and machines worked around them, drilling into the bodies and cracking bones. Blood was thick on the ground. The air was strangely silent. The bodies appeared to be staring at the sky as the horrific acts were performed upon them.
Some bodies were halfway through the process, and long talons now existed where the limbs had been. One was being wired into a dragon skeleton. Great needles had been stuck into various parts of the body and head, which was convulsing vigorously. The final panel was placed over the body, sealing the machine closed and the body inside.
There was a bloodcurdling scream, followed by a deep and sorrowful howl that wrenched the gang’s insides.
All except Melanie. She stood there staring, with fire in her eyes. She rocked back her Gatling gun and stepped forward.
@summer lunged after her and pulled her back out of view. “The warcraft does not lie here.”
Melanie turned to face the young cyborg, full of disgust, with a tear rolling down her face. “How can you … ” She stopped. Her voice caught in her throat and she blinked the tears away. “How can you do this to each other?”
“They don’t know what they’re doing. They’re only following orders from Iris. Remember, Iris is our target. All this will fall once Iris is kill.kill.”
“You won’t be able to say that word enough times by the time I’m through with Iris.”
The floor of the factory was as busy as the roof. Teams of cyborgs roamed around pushing various carts. Other patrols worked their way around the facility, checking random carts. Rows of scrap metal were distributed across the floor, towering high over the workers. Large cranes swung overhead, pivoting with pinpoint precision.
Great fires were embedded in huge furnaces in the right-hand rock face. Sparks flew high into the air at regular intervals in time with the deafening ring of enormous hammers crashing down on molten metal. And it was boiling hot.
“It reminds me of home,” Isaac said. “Sort of.”
The way ahead looked blocked from all angles. Only a path straight through the center would get them across.
“Okay, who’s got any ideas?” Melanie said.
“Do we disguise ourselves as cyborgs and sneak across?” Isaac said.<
br />
“If you’re not going to be serious we might as well give up now.”
“How about we jump into one of those big carts and @summer pushes us across?” Gavin said.
Melanie surveyed the scene. She turned to the others. “Unfortunately that seems like the only logical way. Gavin proves himself to be more than a pretty face.”
@summer pointed to a nearby collection point full of carts of various shapes and sizes. “I’ll get one from there and bring it back.” She vanished down the small pathway.
The others huddled out of view, waiting for either discovery by the enemy or a squeaky cart. They sat with their backs to the wall. The sounds of industry rolled over them, and they tried not to think of some of the more horrific aspects of what was happening inside the cave.
“This is where we learn to trust her or not,” Melanie whispered. She reached out for Gavin’s hand and held it tightly.
“I’m sure it’ll be all right.”
“I wish I had your confidence. Just in case it all goes bad.” She leaned over and kissed him, then hugged him tightly. He smiled back at her, and the two embraced until Isaac and Sebastian started to make comments.
@summer’s head appeared around the wall and she whispered for them to follow. They piled after her in single file as she led them to a large rectangular cart. It had a large metal plate welded on the front, wire fencing on the remaining sides, and was covered with a thick, dark blue sheet.
They climbed in and @summer tied up the sheet to enclose them. She started to push the cart down the slight slope onto the dragon factory floor. Movement was slow, marred by one endlessly squeaky front wheel, which was slightly bent.
@summer made her way through the maze of aisles, keeping away from the main thoroughfares. She continually struggled with the weight as she turned each corner, making the journey seem unbearably long for the gang huddled inside.
She passed a small group of cyborgs sitting together around a small table. Various weapons were scattered on the tabletop. She glanced at them as she pushed past. As she rounded a corner, one of the cyborgs stood up.
“Stop where you are,” said the cyborg.
@summer slowed, but kept moving down the aisle.
“I said stop.”
“I have done as you instructed.” She turned to face him.
“Where’s your helmet?”
“It’s being upgraded.”
“Directive?”
“Overnight.”
“Produce your tinyIris.”
@summer smiled at the cyborg. “Certainly, I have it here.” She started to pat her body.
“Hurry. You’re delaying the line.”
“What’s the hurry?”
“You’ll find the reason on your tinyIris. Check your messages.” The cyborg took a step closer. “Where is your tinyIris?”
“I have it.”
“You are slow.slow.”
His hand started to move toward his weapon.
@summer reached for the dagger concealed at her wrist.
Melanie prepared to jump out.
47
A KLAXON SOUNDED. The cyborg looked up. A message was rolling across a large display.
He turned back to @summer. “Form up in line. Then see me directly afterward with your tinyIris.”
“I will do as instructed,” she replied.
The cyborg gave her one final look before stomping away.
@summer steered the cart into a small area surrounded by discarded and broken carts piled a dozen feet high. She opened up the sheet and was instantly presented with several weapons aimed at her. The gang lowered them when they saw she was alone.
“Is everything okay?” whispered Sebastian.
“I said something that wasn’t sanctioned by Iris. I … ” she fumbled for the word.
“Lied?”
“Yes,” she squeaked. “It was so exciting.” She was having trouble containing her joy, nearly skipping off the ground.
“Calm down. You could draw attention to us.”
“But, I’ve never done that … lie … thing before. I’m eight foot tall. You are green. Melanie is thin.”
“What exactly are you implying?” Melanie said.
“Look,” Sebastian said to @summer, “lying’s all well and good at the appropriate time, but most of the time it’ll get you into trouble.”
“Really, Mr. I-Fought-Off-Zombie-Mermaid-Vampires?” Melanie said.
“You heard about that?”
“Who didn’t?”
He looked at @summer. “See? Best not make it into a habit.”
There was a loud scraping to one side.
@summer looked startled. “I’ll line up with the others or management will be suspicious.suspicious.”
Isaac groaned and was instantly shushed by everyone. He folded his arms and looked grumpy.
@summer closed up the sheet covering the cart, maneuvered it behind some others, and went to join the assembled cyborgs. They stood in long lines, equidistant from each other. As her view changed, the symmetrical lines swept past in a mathematically pleasing way. She took her place at the end of the line. The cyborg next to her gave her a quick look before returning his focus to the great telescreen in the roof.
The screen flashed white, and a loud, long beep rang out over the assembled masses.
Images flashed up on the screen accompanying the voice that rumbled over the loudspeakers.
[Engage Babel Translation].
“Battle endures in the disputed area to the north with progressive success, but today we have had a decisive victory against the east. The resurgence of the eastern totalitarian state is weakening as we have secured their military strongholds. Everyone must contribute to the push for victory. No sacrifice is too great.”
Images of a victorious skynet of cyborgs raising a flag against the bloodied background of the Steam Academy scrolled past. The smiling warriors, polished and gleaming, turned to face an unseen camera and gave a celebratory thumbs up.
The voice continued. “Remember, war means peace. War is peace. Iris loves you all, and is watching you for safety and happiness.”
The screen flashed again.
[Disengage Babel Translation].
The cyborgs nodded in unison and muttered various derivations of the message that they loved Iris back.
With an open mind for the first time, @summer had to wonder at the insanity of it all. She returned to the cart. She was so lost in thought she didn’t notice the cyborg following her.
She placed her hands on the cart and started to edge it out from the surrounding ones. As she wheeled it toward the service exit in the far left corner, there was a cough behind her.
She wheeled around and came face to face with a laser gun. Her eyes widened as she gasped.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m returning the cart for service and upgrade. It has a defective wheel.”
The cyborg peered around @summer at the cart. His eyes squinted. “It looks heavy.heavy. What’s in it?”
“Nothing.”
“You looked away when you said that. There’s a chance you’re not complying with the instruction to present accurate information. Are you stealing from Iris?”
“No!”
He carefully examined @summer. The small camera on the side of his helmet buzzed as it zoomed in and out, focusing on her face. “You are @summer14rose. Your connection has been terminated. You are un.Welcome.”
The cyborg didn’t pause. He thrust her aside and untwisted the rope holding the dark sheet around the cart.
“An alpha has returned,” he dictated to his device.
A large camera descended out of the impossible heavens of the factory roof and twisted to examine the contents of the cart. As the camera turned, a solid object crashed into its side.
The cyborg’s head collided with the camera, making it swing wildly about. @summer grasped a handle on the base of the dolly mechanism and smashed it repeatedly into the cyborg.
She took out a thin blade and stabbed it into his stomach. She gave his head one final kick and jumped onto the cart, pushing off as hard as she could.
She looked up at the telescreen and was shocked to see a pixelated version of herself, with her details and a photograph of her attacking the camera. There was no sign of the fallen cyborg.
She pushed the cart into the long alley and jumped onto it. There was an explosion by her head on the corner of the cart. She looked back over her shoulder. She was being chased by several cyborgs on foot. Their aim was poor and their speed was hindered by their heavy boots.
@summer slammed her boot into the ground and heaved the cart around so the solid face of it was facing the pursuers. Laser fire shot past, and the cart was repeatedly hit.
“What’s going on?” Melanie shouted from inside the cart.
“Nothing to worry about,” @summer replied. Her voice failed to carry her conviction.
Melanie stuck her head out. A laser blast narrowly missed her and she collapsed back inside.
“I thought you had lots of friends,” she shouted.
@summer didn’t reply. She was rapidly approaching a T-junction. She rammed her boot into the ground, twisted the cart to the left, and pushed. Metal exploded around her and sparks rained down as she became momentarily visible to her pursuers. Again she pushed off down the alley and hoped she had chosen the fastest way to the service exit.
Her breath was ripped away from her as the ground fell away dramatically, and the cart began to pick up speed. It was soon out of control. She suppressed the urge to scream. The cart barreled down the steep slope, crashing into a small pile of rusting metal. The pile deflected the cart and it veered off to the left and plummeted down another steep slope, then up a short rise. The cart lifted off the ground and went over a ledge, falling face first into another pile of scrap and sending it flying over the ground.
They all staggered out of the cart, disoriented and bruised.
“What the hell happened?” Melanie managed to squeak. She soon refocused as a laser came slicing in and bounced off her back. “@summer,” she yelled, “where do we go?”
