by Paul Centeno
Another steam-fueled entity appeared from behind, trying to catch Jai’ryndar off guard when Rah’tera uncloaked and attacked it. The uganda bowed at him with gratitude and then jumped high, kicking the pincer near him while in midair; his strength smashed through its hull, rendering it lifeless.
As the uganda landed, one last crawler emerged. Before it could harm him, Dojin blasted it to the ground. The renegade searched about on his hover bike. He could see only fallen pincers and crawlers that had just been destroyed by his comrades. Unable to find others approaching, he came to a stop.
“This is exhilarating,” Xorvaj said, sheathing his axe. “Remind me to thank whoever sent you here.”
“I haven’t the slightest fuckin’ clue.”
“In any case,” Yarasuro began, “we should continue traversing these dunes to reach the coordinates you received.”
“Once there, we shall certainly discover the reason,” Jai’ryndar said.
“Let’s hope,” Dojin responded, replacing an empty cartridge in his shotgun with a new one enchanted with the power of frost. No longer in a rush, he finally activated his KLD and programmed the shuttle he’d rented to pick his comrades up. “My ship’s responding. It should be here soon.”
“Good,” the sandstalker said. “This desert is uncanny to Yevis…it is making me feel rather uncomfortable.”
Vokken abruptly manifested on the renegade’s screen. “Explain why you’re on a backwater planet like Gritu.”
“I ain’t explaining shit to your bitch ass.” The renegade turned off his kinetic link device, scowling at the cybernetic image of the AI before it was wiped clean from the screen. “Cyber fag is a freakin’ trip ‘n a half.”
“You don’t have to tell me,” Yarasuro replied.
“Is it true?” Rah’tera said. “Upon your first encounter with the arcane intelligence, you fought against it?”
“Yeah,” the mutant answered. “And we barely survived, too.”
“With all due honor and grace,” Jai’ryndar started, “why have such a formidable entity as a member of our crew?”
“Because we’re foolish and desperate for allies,” Yarasuro said.
Rah’tera crossed his arms. “Even if he may be a pseudo ally?”
“I say we all deserve a second chance,” Xorvaj commented.
“True,” the renegade said with a nod. “Each of us is fucked up in our own way. Though, I must admit that the AI douche is the worst of us. As always, it’s Shira’s call.”
Moments later, the shuttle arrived and descended toward the group. As it landed, the mercenaries heard reverberations from the hazy heavens. At first, they thought the sounds were due to an apocalyptic thunderstorm. Gazing up, however, they saw shadows of distant airships closing in on them.
“Here comes the shitshow,” Xorvaj said.
“By the Goddess,” Yarasuro muttered.
“Get to the shuttle!” Dojin said, reactivating his newly found hover bike. “Hurry the fuck up and follow me!”
There was no time for hesitation. The group entered Dojin’s rented ship behind him, pursued by an armada of steamships whose cannons opened fire. Rah’tera took the helm and managed to evade the devastating attacks. Dojin, meanwhile, flew at maximum speed on his hoverbike and entered a valley.
Surrounded by canyons, Dojin descended several kilometers from the sky and accelerated between escarpments. Being attacked, he signaled Rah’tera to fly ahead of him. Slowing down, Dojin allowed a few airships to pass him. As they did, he ported out his emergency bazooka and launched a missile at one of the vessels that exploded in an instant.
Not having any more ammo for the devastating weapon, he switched to a plasma rifle and fired at a ship flying alongside him. He took aim at the lower level, and, by a stroke of luck, or so it seemed to him, he destroyed the vessel’s engine. Increasing his speed, he rejoined his fellow mercenaries and continued to lead the way.
“We’re still being pursued,” Yarasuro said.
“Kind of hard not to notice,” Rah’tera said, checking the radar that revealed a dozen ships closing in on him.
“Kill them!” Xorvaj demanded.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible,” the sandstalker responded. “This is a mere shuttle, not a battleship.”
“Should we call for reinforcements?” Jai’ryndar said. “I am sure Eladoris can assist us.”
“We can’t,” Yarasuro said glumly. “She’s only loyal to Vokken, and Dojin’s apparently on to something that neither of them should be aware of. We must trust Dojin’s instincts. Keep your KLD off, no matter the situation.”
“In that case, brace for assholes,” Xorvaj said.
As the airships chased them, more cannons fired. One of the projectiles hit the vessel; its simple force field was the only reason they didn’t explode. The barrier, however, malfunctioned when it received a direct hit. Dojin grimaced as he reloaded his plasma rifle with an enchanted clip of incendiary ammo. He then unloaded the magazine on a nearby aircraft whose destroyed engine caused the ship to explode.
This time, most of the vessels backed off. Dojin smirked at their withdrawal, pleased at his success. Almost there, he thought to himself. Entering another ruined city, the mercenaries flew amid sunken towers. Below them lay a derailed steam train whose tracks were mostly blanketed by sand.
Despite the fallen city enveloped in dunes, Dojin happened to spot a tunnel that hadn’t been covered yet. Gesturing at the entrance, he and his comrades made their way into the hole. The lights of their vehicles activated, illuminating the passage ahead. The airships that pursued them had no choice but to turn away, unable to enter the narrow tunnel.
Closing in on the coordinates, the renegade decelerated his bike. He could see an intricate design of gears embedded across each wall, including the ceiling. Locating a hatch, he came to a stop and landed just a few meters from it. The other mercenaries followed his lead, also landing and disembarking.
Dojin swung off his bike, approaching the hatch. “What do we have here?”
“Careful,” the mutant said, unsheathing his sword. “Do you realize that whatever brought you to this place could want you dead?”
“He’s got a point,” Rah’tera said. “This might be an elaborate trap.”
“Trap for what? I already killed all those heist dipshits who wanted me dead. Whatever this is, it isn’t a ruse. It’s something else.”
“You may be right, noble Dojin,” Jai’ryndar said. “Still, tread lightly for your own sake.”
“For my own sake,” the renegade grumbled with impatience, flinging the hatch open and descending a rusty ladder.
IV
Cybernetic Rebirth
The passage brought Dojin to a deep subterranean zone. All the lights were noticeably dim, the lower depths clearly receiving less power than the surface. Upon reaching the base, he found himself in a cavernous tunnel where a derailed train lay smashed against a partially crumbled wall. His comrades followed him, scouting the area.
“No sign of hostiles,” Jai’ryndar said.
The uganda’s words didn’t stop Dojin from keeping his itchy finger on the trigger of his weapon. They advanced farther through the dark passage, passing overturned trams. Crossing an unfinished railway, they found themselves at an intersection. With the exception of Dojin, they stopped, eyes fixed on their kinetic link devices.
“Don’t even fucking think about it,” the renegade warned, glaring at his comrades. “We need to get there without using our KLDs.”
“I’m aware of that,” Rah’tera said with a frown.
“Now would be a good time to have Myris,” Yarasuro said.
The ghensoth agreed with a grumbling sigh.
Refusing to activate his KLD, Dojin decided to go left. The others followed him down the passage. After walking two kilometers, they reached a zone where the ceiling had collapsed. Forced to backtrack, Dojin chose the rightward passageway at the original junction. The path, however, also led them to a
dead end.
“Bullshit,” the renegade muttered to himself.
Turning around, they came across several crawlers scuttling along the walls. Pincers approached as well, blocking their path. Xorvaj hurled his axe at one while sprinting toward another, curling into a ball and smashing it with his shell. Straightening back out, he grabbed his axe and cleaved through the others with ease. In the meantime, Dojin blasted crawlers off the walls with his gun. More pincers advanced, at which point Yarasuro struck with his sword, slicing five machines into pieces.
Rah’tera uncloaked himself, stabbing one of the clockwork entities in vital spots until it malfunctioned. He then cloaked himself again and snuck up to three other mechanical beings, repeating his tactic. Jai’ryndar focused his attention on those that remained. Conjuring augmented power, he punched the air and released his inner dhi-cha—a burst of kinetic energy that destroyed most of their cogs and upper frames. With overwhelming power, he kicked another across the chamber, its dented body smashing against a wall.
“Behind you!” the mutant shouted.
The uganda performed a split, evading a pincer’s blade. Narrowly escaping decapitation, Jai’ryndar rose back to his feet and rapidly punched the machine; each hit severely dented its corroded frame. While the clockwork being was stunned, Jai’ryndar used all of his implants to replenish his inner dhi-cha, releasing an augmented sphere of energy from his palms that blasted it apart.
“Thank you, venerable Yaro.”
Yarasuro nodded at the martial artist.
“Let’s hurry before more of these dicknuts come,” Dojin said.
Sprinting north, they made their way to the original intersection. It was a narrow footpath where lights flickered and failed. In time, the group entered a massive chamber where another derailed train lay east of them. The mutant saw pincers patrolling inside the trams and gestured at his comrades to steer clear of that area.
Locating a hole in the nearest wall, Dojin bent through it and found another hatch. He opened it as quietly as possible and descended the ladder within. The others followed him. Reaching the base, they found themselves in a dimly-lit room that appeared to have once been for the purpose of controlling trains.
“What manner of place is this?” Jai’ryndar asked.
“Yet another fallen civilization,” Yarasuro responded. “As for this facility, I do not know its origin or purpose.”
Rah’tera observed a corner containing a multitude of broken cogs. “We’ll find out one way or another.”
“Just point me in the direction of carnage,” Xorvaj said.
In the meantime, Dojin glanced at the image from his visor. “We freakin’ made it,” he announced, confirming that they finally reached the coordinates. He promptly approached a blank computer screen. “I’m here,” he declared to it. “Now tell me…who are you and why did you want me to come here?”
There was no verbal response, but a concealed door opened behind them. Dojin turned, ready to fire his weapon. His comrades stood firm, also ready for battle. When the entryway was clear, they stepped into the hidden room. Ceiling lights turned on, followed by a monitor that hung on the wall in front of them.
Just then, a trapdoor opened. Steam filled the air as a carriage-shaped armchair emerged from the depths. The seat’s surrounding wires and cogs automatically linked to a mainframe that stood before the mercenaries. Shortly after, the screen activated. Dojin took a step forward, his heart pounding.
“Zadoya?” he muttered. “Is that you?”
The screen hummed. Moments later, words appeared: I am what remains of her memories. Rah’tera appeared intrigued. The uganda never had the chance to meet Zadoya, so he remained neutral to the situation. Yarasuro, on the other hand, grew even more pale than he already was; he sheathed his swords, gawking at the message. Dojin was the only one who approached the monitor, extending his hand.
“How? How is this possible? Where are you? What’s happening?”
Vokken, the screen replied. He hacked the androids that took my body out of the arena and found a way to revive me. But I still do not know his purpose. All I know is that I am losing myself with each passing second. My Emotions. All my feelings. They are vanishing.
“What do you mean, vanishing?”
It feels as if my identity is gradually being deleted. I can only assume that it might be an anomaly…some sort of glitch due to this unnatural resurrection. Or it could be—
“Vokken,” Dojin assumed, his brow furrowed. “What can I do to help you?”
The monitor shut down before he could get a response. At the same moment, however, lights illuminated by the carriage. Dojin opened the door and glanced inside; only one seat had been placed in the roofless contraption. He turned his attention back to the other mercenaries, all of whom looked just as surprised as he did.
“Bring her back,” Yarasuro said, shaking his hand.
Dojin nodded. He stepped inside the machine-like vehicle, at which point it rotated and descended. Steam filled the area again. Then, the carriage accelerated through a circuit of rails within a cavernous chamber where a network of cogs reverberated. The renegade recharged his gun, his eyes gazing upwards and out through the exposed top.
“Is it really possible?” he said aloud.
The carriage picked up speed, forcing Dojin to remain seated. Its railway curved and brought him outside. The track stood five hundred kilometers above ground, where upon the carriage accelerated from one mountain to another. Caught off guard by the height, Dojin stiffened.
Pillars jutting from the subterranean depths were what kept the railway in one piece. Each time the renegade passed a column, the cog-built carriage shook due to the track’s slight incline and sudden decline. Dojin had a distaste for this method of travel and felt the urge to vomit, but he breathed deeply and dealt with it.
Dust devils swirled, scattering throughout the dunes. The renegade could barely see due to the sandstorm blanketing the region beneath him, but it was at least clear enough for him to spot an approaching steamship. As it moved skyward in his direction, he entered a cavern in the adjacent mountain.
Riding through the pitch-black cave, Dojin fired his plasma gun several times. Although momentary, the beams lit-up the eerie passage ahead. Despite having no control over where the contraption led him, he felt relieved at being able to see his surroundings. Most important to him, there were no enemies in sight.
In due time, the contraption he rode on slowed down and then ascended. A small part of the ceiling opened as he approached it. Dojin found himself in another mechanized room. This time, everything remained active. He climbed out of the carriage and walked up to a collection of monitors on the wall in front of him. Observing the room, Dojin saw a wired seat where a lifeless pincer sat—deactivated. His index finger cradling the trigger of his gun, he examined it with great vigilance.
Do not harm this machine, the screen before him commanded. It was the only one that I was able to hack. It will help you find me.
“How?”
Its intelligence has different coding than the usual ones Vokken uses in other worlds. This one will link you to my realm, showing you as an anomaly. Whether Vokken is on our side or not, a stealthy approach is necessary to find me.
“Tell me more about Vokken’s place in all this.”
I cannot remember if his intention to resurrect me was pure. It is possible he brought me back because he felt that I am an asset to the team. In theory, you could confront him about it. Then he might have an elaborate excuse for what he has done. We need to find out the source of his intention without him knowing.
“Right.”
The bottom line is I am forgetting my identity. This can either be a glitch or some malevolent design to make me your enemy.
“Shit. Well, you best tell me how I can pull you out of that fucked up cyber world.”
My memory of your foul language will probably never be erased even if Vokken tried. In any case, I will move the pincer. Take i
ts place and allow me to control the entity so I can link you into the system that Vokken created.
“Creepy as hell, but whatever.”
Thank you. I will now activate the pincer. Please trust me and do not attack it no matter what.
“Uh-huh...”
The mechanical being sprung to life, rising and moving away from the seat. Dojin kept his guard up but eventually sat down, at which point the cog-composed entity inserted a tiny chip into the system before him. Not a second later, a semitransparent particle beam of neon blue light shot into Dojin’s forehead that immediately caused his head to throb. Cursing at the top of his lungs, he felt as though his skull were about to split open. His eyes reddened before he blacked out.
V
Collateral Damage
Dojin awakened after what seemed like a week, finding himself enveloped in a force field. Half his body was stuck inside a virtual wall made of pure energy. He attempted to move but found himself in a paralyzed state. Panicking didn’t help him. Realizing that his actions were futile, he stopped struggling.
After a few seconds of not resisting, Dojin’s imprisoned body somehow slipped out of the energized wall. Landing on a prismatic floor, he groaned and got to his feet. Focused on his surroundings, the renegade acknowledged that he was definitely within some kind of cybernetic landscape.
“It worked. I’m inside her realm.” By habit, he glanced at his KLD. Peering closer at the screen, he stiffened, his eyes fixed on the date. “What the fuck? Two weeks passed? That’s not possible.”
From a corner ahead, a beam discharged at him. Caught off guard, it struck his shoulder. Despite falling, he managed to roll aside. Taking cover, he promptly ported away his shotgun and materialized a rifle instead. Loading it with a clip enchanted with the element of lightning, he counterattacked with the hope of destroying whatever had attacked him.
The enemy darted out into the open, revealing itself to be a quadrupedal pod akin to the machinery from the ancient Nempada Empire. Dojin had never seen anything like it before. Nevertheless, he didn’t hesitate to fire rapidly at the intimidating entity. High voltage bullets from his weapon caused it to stagger, but not before it struck him with a beam that knocked him off his feet.
