by Jake Bible
Shiner/Mathew blasted a path to the helpless machine and began tossing deaders aside by the handful until the mini-mech was free enough to right itself and continue fighting.
Mathew was puzzled by the lack of digital communication between Shiner and the mini-mech.
“Why don’t we command it by com?” Mathew asked.
“Because, that would open a path that must remain closed and guarded,” Shiner responded.
***
“When my people were first driven deep into the wasteland we became savages, worse than the dead things even. We turned on our own, committing unspeakable atrocities,” Mastelo paused, looking each person seated in the eye. “We broke into different groups, splintered until we were just small tribes battling each other for the tiniest bit of the meager resources the wasteland held.”
“But, wouldn’t it have made more sense to band together against the deaders?” Rachel asked.
“Let him continue, Baby Girl,” Capreze said.
Mastelo smiled. “Of course, but sense was sorely lacking during those times. Madness was what ruled.”
***
“A path to what?” Mathew asked Shiner while still annihilating the swarming zombies. “No, that’s not it is it? I should ask a path from what?”
“The Outsider,” Shiner responded, switching back to the plasma cannons, giving the 50mms a chance to cool down. “Its mind isn’t like mine or like yours or like ours. It’s different, dangerous…” Shiner searched for a nanosecond. “It’s off.”
Mathew laughed. “Off? That’s a good one coming from a deader!” Mathew felt the offense. “Sorry, former deader.”
“I was never dead. My pilot was. Can you imagine what that was like? Born into death.”
***
“One tribe figured out how to hide from the dead ones. By becoming the dead ones,” Mastelo continued.
“Camouflage? By wearing their skins?” Rachel asked. “How’d they avoid contamination?”
“Trial and error, unfortunately. But, eventually they figured out how to cure the skins and piece them together,” Mastelo extended his arm towards Rachel and the pilot pulled back instinctively. “I assure you there is zero risk. This skin was worn by my father and by his father before that. With some tailoring and repairs, of course.”
Rachel reached out tentatively and stroked the skin.
“That’s tough!”
Mastelo smiled. “Like armor.”
***
The zombies began to retreat, falling back deeper into Windy City, but Shiner/Mathew pursued with One taking point.
“This Outsider? Does it have anything to do with the dead mechs starting to think?” Mathew asked.
“No, that process had already begun. But, it used the mechs to link across the wasteland,” Shiner responded, sending three RPGs ahead of the zombie horde, cutting off their retreat, forcing them back towards the new mech.
“Link?” Mathew asked, firing up the 50mms again.
“Communications. It used the dead mechs as relays, boosting its signal.”
Row upon row of zombies fell, finally, truly dead.
***
“But the physical protection the skins afford is secondary to the sensory protection,” Mastelo continued.
“Sensory?” Jethro asked.
“Yes. The dead ones can’t tell us apart from their own while we are dressed this way. They cannot smell us or see the physical differences. We blend with the dead.”
“That’s pretty freakin’ cool,” Jethro said. “Analog stealth wear.”
“Which is why we haven’t known about the tens of thousands of your people residing out here,” Capreze smiled. “Unless captured, your people appear to be just more zombies roaming the wasteland.”
“Exactly,” Mastelo.
“That’s all good, but so what?” Bisby interrupted.
***
“Looks like we got them all,” Mathew said.
“Readings do confirm this,” Shiner responded.
“Good, because I have to take a leak,” Mathew said, reaching to un-strap himself.
“That I cannot allow,” Shiner responded.
Mathew took a mental step back. “Um, what?”
“If you disengage, I will cease to exist,” Shiner answered. “I do not want to cease to exist.”
“Um, are you saying I’m stuck in you forever?”
“No, not forever, only until we can get assistance with our problem.”
“Our problem? Sounds like your problem. I’m sorry, but I’m not pissing in a mech cockpit my whole life.
***
“Maybe take your head out of fight mode and start thinking tactically,” Rachel scolded Bisby over the com. “It’s right in front of your face.”
“In front of…? Oh, I get it,” Bisby responded looking at his scanners. According to the equipment, he was looking at thousands of zombies standing about the camp, not thousands of people. “An invisible army.”
“You may be dumb, but you sure are slow,” Rachel quipped.
“Ha ha, girlie. You seem to forget that I was squashing deaders while you were wearing your first training bra. So feel free to have a cup of shut-the-fuck-up.”
***
“I’ve observed the comings and goings of your base and believe you have a person qualified to fix our problem,” Shiner said.
“You what? Right, you are invisible to sensors. Did you program those modifications yourself?’ Mathew asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Of course you did,” Mathew said. “And you think Jay, I assume that’s who you are talking about, can help us?”
“Yes,” Shiner answered.
“Well, then we need to find Jay.”
“He would back at your base, wouldn’t he?”
“Um, no, well, I don’t know. He was in Foggy Bottom last I knew.”
“But, Foggy Bottom fell,” Shiner responded.
***
Capreze looked at Mastelo carefully. “So this is the part where we figure out what each other has to offer.”
Mastelo grinned. “Yes, I believe it is.”
The two leaders eyed one another, each carefully sizing up the other. Rachel and Jethro looked from Capreze to Mastelo and back to Capreze.
“Okay, and?” Rachel interrupted. “They have an army of thousands we could use to take our base back. What do we have to offer them?”
“Mastelo? I guess that’s for you to answer,” Capreze said.
Mastelo laughed. “Well, a future for my people outside the deep waste, of course!”
***
“Foggy Bottom fell? You mean, like Windy City?” Mathew asked, horrified. “I’m from Foggy Bottom. I still have some family there, some childhood friends… It couldn’t have just fallen.”
“Not like Windy City. Windy City refused to cooperate and they were destroyed for it,” Shiner responded. “Foggy Bottom was inoculated. That is what I have been able to gather when I have checked the relay net. Before finding you, there was an incident with mech pilots. They escaped, but all trace was lost when the UDC transports pursuing them were destroyed and the waste storm hit their last known coordinates.”
***
“And how can we help you achieve that future?” Capreze asked.
“For generations we have been beset upon by other denizens of the wasteland,” Mastelo said.
“Yeah, but you easily outnumber them,” Bisby said over the com.
Mastelo looked at the conference disc and leaned in. “Yes, but we are not a warring people. We have hidden our society underground to avoid direct conflict.”
“So what good are you to us?” Bisby snapped.
“Pilot…” Capreze growled.
“It’s a valid point, Commander. We will give you our numbers, and you will teach us to fight, in exchange for sanctuary and protection.”
***
“Hey, can we use the mech relays ourselves?” Mathew asked.
“Not without the Outsider taking notice,”
Shiner responded as the new mech left the Windy City rubble and headed out into the wasteland.
“So? What can it do? Does it control the dead mechs?”
“No, but it controls the people,” Shiner answered.
“People? What do you mean?” Mathew asked.
One took its place next to Shiner/Mathew, its weapons ready. Shiner/Mathew placed a massive hand upon One’s frame, calming the twitchy mini-mech.
“Those inoculated. They are under direct control of the Outsider. That is why it needs the relays,” answered Shiner.
***
“Sounds pretty one sided, if you ask me,” Bisby said.
“Pilot Bisby, please get off the com,” Capreze ordered.
“But, sir! We’ll do all the work, they get trained and then we trust them to help us? Come on!”
“Get off the com,” Capreze growled.
Busby grunted. “Yes, sir.”
“He does have a point,” Rachel said.
“Not you too, Baby Girl.”
“Commander, I do not want to create strife amongst your people,” Mastelo said, standing and nodding to Rachel and Jethro. “I must check on my wounded. Good evening to you all.”
Mastelo left Rachel and Jethro to Capreze’s glare.
***
“Listen…,” Mathew started.
“I’m always listening, there is no separation of our thoughts,” Shiner interrupted.
“It’s an expression. Anyway, maybe we can tap into the relay net and find my friends. It’s worth a shot.”
Shiner paused for a millisecond. “It may be worth the risk.”
“I still don’t see what the risk is,” Mathew said, frustrated. “If the Outsider can’t control us then what’s the worst it can do?”
“It can send UDC transports after us. We are just one mech. With enough transports, the Outsider can take us down.”
“Well, they’d have to catch us first, wouldn’t they?”
***
Rachel spoke first, ignoring her father’s glare. “We know nothing about Mastelo and those, those… Skinners.”
“I trust him,” Capreze said.
“Why? Because he didn’t kill you? Come on, Papa Bear! This isn’t smart!”
Capreze stood suddenly, anger clouding his features. “It’s all we have! We lost the fucking base! Had to tuck tail and run like a bunch of bitches! I’m not a bitch and if there is a chance to march back there and fucking kill every goddamn last one of those Rancher mother fuckers and take our base back then I’m willing to take that fucking chance!”
***
Shiner/Mathew broke into a run, quickly upping the pace until they were sprinting across the nighttime landscape of the wasteland.
“We hook into the relay net while we’re moving. As soon as we have the info we need, we disconnect then adjust course. The Outsider may have a general idea, but the wasteland is a mighty big place and we’ll be miles away before anything gets remotely close to us.”
“Fine. But, if the Outsider sees us it will be angered. It holds grudges. It will not rest until it finds us and destroys us,” Shiner warned.
“Welcome to life.”
***
Themopolous held her head in her hands, not bothering to remove the surgical gloves, blood smearing her face and hair.
Mastelo approached and touched her shoulder. Themopolous jumped, falling from the bench she sat upon and onto the hard ground.
“Forgive me,” Mastelo said. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was…” He trailed off seeing the blood stained sheet covered silhouette on the camp table. “She has passed?”
“Yes,” Themopolous answered quietly. “I am sorry. I did what I could, but she bled out too quickly.”
Mastelo lifted the body into his arms and walked quietly into the dark.
***
“How do we connect?” Mathew asked, barely containing his excitement at the sensation of night running without feeling blind.
“We already are,” Shiner responded. ” I have been conducting a systematic search of all information relating to your friends while you have been busy…” Shiner searched Mathew’s mind. “…joyriding.”
“Well, move that brain over Shiner, my boy and let’s see what we can find together.”
Mathew opened his consciousness to the relay path Shiner had opened. He instantly cringed at the death and decay the relay net was built upon. “Jeezus, how do you stand this?”
“I try not to.”
***
Jethro looked away while Rachel stood and crossed to her father. “Hey, I understand, I truly do. That base was my home, too. The only home I’ve ever known. I want it back, but rushing into this is not the way to do it.”
Capreze snorted. “Really? Are you expecting a different army to fall into our laps?”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Mister,” Rachel scolded playfully, teasing a slight smile from the Commander’s lips. “I’m not saying it isn’t a good idea, but let’s not sign the treaty right now. We ALL need to talk this plan over.”
***
The pain came sudden and strong, making Mathew take a mental stumble. “What the fuck?”
“Ignore it,” Shiner said. “It isn’t real.”
“It felt fucking real! Ow!” Mathew responded. “What was that?”
“The Outsider. We’re being tested. I assure you the pain isn’t real, it’s just your human brain’s way of interpreting the data.”
“A digital bitch slap?”
Shiner processed. “Yes, that would be a good way of putting it.”
The attack came again, but Mathew was prepared, seeing it for what it was.
“Whatever the Outsider is, it’s fucking big,” Mathew stated. “And…”
“Insane,” Shiner finished the thought.
“Yeah.”
***
Harlow sat next to Themopolous. “I patched the kids up. They’ll be fine. Their people already took them home.” Themopolous didn’t respond, her head back in her hands. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”
Harlow went to stand, but Themopolous slumped against her, shaking with sobs. “Oh, Doc… Shhhhh…,” Harlow soothed, putting her arm about Themopolous’s shoulders, hugging her. “Shhh… You did what you could.”
“I’m not cut out for this,” Themopolous cried. “I’m a Doctor. This is war, this is hell!”
“Bullshit,” Capreze said, stepping from the transport. “You’re as much cut out for this as I am.”
***
Mathew scanned the relay, cringing less and less each time his consciousness brushed against a deader’s. The Outsider remained an ever looming presence, prodding and testing Mathew/Shiner, trying to figure out the new mech.
“God, that’s just fucking annoying,” Mathew said.
“Yes, it is,” Shiner agreed. “And it’s getting closer to tracking us down. We cannot keep searching blindly for information. That could take a lifetime.”
“You’re right,” Mathew sighed. “You take over physically, I’m diving into the data.”
“I am quite against that, it is too dangerous,” Shiner warned.
“Hey, I’m human. We’re stupid when it comes to danger.”
***
“We are all here because we are made of something different,” Capreze said, approaching Themopolous and Harlow. “I don’t disagree, Doctor, this is hell. But, it is what each of us was born for. This is our moment in time. We make the future. And while the future may not be completely dead, it’s on its way and it’s up to us to keep it alive.”
Capreze turned and looked up at Bisby’s mech then at Rachel as she helped Jethro wheel out of the transport.
“We write the history people will remember. So let’s write it as a win.”
***
This must be what it’s like to fly, Mathew thought as he surfed the relay data, looking for any sign of what may have happened to Jay and the others.
He dove into each dead mech’s con
sciousness, just as he would in battle, blasting and slashing his was way through the info until he was sure there was nothing there.
“Be careful, Mathew,” Shiner warned. “You’re enraging half the wasteland right now.”
“Yeah, well, I’m a bit pissed off too. So fuck ‘em.”
He was moving so quickly now he almost missed the faint consciousness that was barely hanging on.
***
They all watched Capreze. Bisby looking down from his mech, Rachel and Jethro by the transport, Harlow and Themopolous seated on the camp bench. And Capreze locked eyes with each of them in turn.
“I know you’re all scared. Hell, I’m shitting bricks right now, but ever fiber of my being is saying this is the right decision. This is the only decision,” he said, shoulders square, back straight, the picture of confidence. “But, I will not commit any of you to something you are not committed to yourselves.”
He looked at each again and strode back to the transport.
***
“Whoa. That’s different,” Mathew said, exploring the weak consciousness. “Is it a deader?”
“I’m not sure,” Shiner answered. “You’re assessment is correct, this one is different.”
“Is it the Outsider?”
“No.”
“Well, I’m going in.”
“Be careful. It does not feel like a trap, but it’s foreign enough that I may not be able to extract you if needed.”
“Understood,” Mathew said as he pushed forward. Immediately he saw that there were two consciousnesses present. One a very stripped down, basic dead mech, and the other a human mind.
A human mind that Mathew knew very well.
“Holy shit! Masters?”
***
“Hold on, Commander,” Bisby grumbled. “As much as I don’t like this. You’re right. This is the only decision before us. I’m in.”
“Me, too,” Harlow said.
“I ain’t got nothing better to do,” Jethro added.
“You know I’ll always have your back, Papa Bear,” Rachel smiled.
Capreze turned to Themopolous. “Doctor? What do you say?”
Themoplous wiped at her eyes and took a deep breath. She stripped the bloody gloves from her hands and tossed them on the ground, looking Capreze squarely in the eyes. “Well, someone has to patch you idiots up when this all goes to shit.”
Part Two- Bargains & Balls
