by Jake Bible
“Fucking get out of there!”
Jenny un-strapped and leapt from the gun seat, rolling across the train car roof as the deader’s hand slammed down where she had just been. She got to her feet immediately and jumped the gap between train cars, trying to put more distance between herself and the undead battle machine.
***
The Rookie watched the deader chase Jenny from car to car, the other Railers unable to help her without risking hitting each other.
“Commander! Jenny’s in trouble!” the Rookie called.
“Do not break formation!” Capreze yelled back, putting six plasma blasts into a deader’s mid-section, dropping the thing in a pile of flame and melted metal. “That’s an order, Rookie!”
The Rookie snarled in frustration. He sent 50mm fire towards the East ridge attackers then turned his plasma cannon on the dead mech chasing Jenny. Cracking his neck, he slowed his breathing and took careful aim, leading the deader slightly.
***
Jenny stumbled and slid, nearly tumbling off the train car she was on.
“JENNY!” she heard her father scream as the dead mech reached for her, its zombie pilot thrashing in the cockpit, eager for its meal.
She felt the train car rock and shudder once, twice then the dead mech’s cockpit exploded outward towards her and she could see the extended arm of the Rookie’s mech, plasma cannon glowing, through the resulting hole in the deader’s body.
“Sorry! Wasn’t exactly a clean shot,” the Rookie said over the com. “Did you catch any shrapnel?”
“No, I’m good. Thank you.”
***
“Dead mechs eight and twelve have some weapons capabilities!” Shiner called out. “Target those!”
“Too late!” Capreze responded, fire burning in his left shoulder as two slugs ripped through his uniform, his skin, muscle and bone. “I’m hit!”
The Commander’s mech wobbled, but he gritted his teeth and regained control. “Split now! Take the battle to them!”
“Thought you’d never say so!” the Rookie yelled, pushing his mech into a full run towards four oncoming deaders. He dropped and slid, taking their legs out then was up and throwing punches, elbows and kicks like the pit fighting Boiler he was.
***
Jenny strapped herself into an unoccupied gun seat and brought the turret to face the deader with the 50mm. She unleashed a hail of large caliber rounds at the dead mech, ripping its thighs to shreds. The thing fell forward, one arm outstretched to catch itself while its 50mm shot wild, hitting several of the deaders close to it.
One of the dead mechs that was hit became further enraged and began to pummel the fallen deader, ripping its 50mm right off its frame, beating the thing over and over with the gun until the dead mech no longer moved.
***
Shiner/Mathew side stepped, bringing its left knee up as a deader dove at it. The dead mech’s cockpit crumpled like paper from the force of the impact and Shiner/Mathew wasted no time in blasting the zombie pilot, lifting the defeated dead mech over its head and tossing it into the group of attackers coming from the west, sending several sprawling.
“Left hydraulics took serious damage,” Shiner stated.
“Serious damage and non-functioning are two different things! Keep fighting!” Mathew responded.
“I had zero intent of surrendering the fight. I was merely giving you a status report,” Shiner stated.
“Status noted. Thanks.”
***
“Mathew! Down!” the Rookie shouted, rushing towards the mech.
Shiner dropped the 50-ton war machine to the dirt just as the Rookie leapt above them, tackling the deader poised to strike from behind.
The dead mech tucked a leg up under the Rookie and easily tossed him off, sending the live mech rolling across the ground.
The dead mech was instantly on its feet and roaring. Shiner/Mathew reached for the deader’s leg, trying to trip it up, but the thing moved too quickly, avoiding the grab while also stomping Shiner/Mathew’s outstretched fist into pieces.
“It’s a fucking thinker!” Mathew cried.
***
The gunner two cars from Timson’s pleaded for help as he was plucked from his seat by a dead mech and jammed into the thing’s cockpit, the poor Railer’s limbs snapping as his body was shoved through the windshield.
“Capreze! We’re getting our asses handed to us! Where the fuck is your-?!?” But, Timson never finished as giant metal fingers closed about his head, popping it off like a cork from a bottle.
Jenny screamed as she turned her turret to see her father’s decapitated corpse spewing blood from its open neck before the deader snatched it up.
“Daddy!!! NOOOO!!!”
***
Capreze watched Jenny open fire in a mad rage, aiming at anything that moved. “Jenny! Watch the friendly fire Goddammit!” he ordered over the com, but Jenny was lost in murderous grief, oblivious to the world around her, bent only on death and revenge. “Jay! Give me something! Is Jethro back online?!?”
“Back online?!? He’s not a fucking machine!” Jay barked over the com.
“Right now he is! I need the stronghold’s defenses operational! Can you bypass him and hack them yourself?”
“Not a fucking chance! This system is locked down! Only one person at a time is allowed access!”
***
“Marin! You read?”
“Yeah, Jay. Whatcha need?” the Railer mechanic responded over the com.
“I need your help right now!” Jay replied. “I’ve got Bisby monitoring Jethro’s life signs, but I need another set of tech hands! This shit is ten kinds of fucked up!”
Marin tossed her span-wrench to a Railer tech and took off running towards the mainframe room. “I’m on my way!”
She quickly passed the Special Ops team still struggling to open the mess doors, but didn’t slow to help even when Specialist Sol began shouting after her.
When she entered the mainframe room she gasped.
***
The Rookie got to his feet firing, sending round after round into the deader reaching once again for Mathew/Shiner.
The monster shuddered under the assault, but refused to fall. It turned its attention onto the Rookie, roared and charged.
“Holy fuck! This one won’t fucking die!” the Rookie yelled, bracing for the impact as the dead mech continued to close the distance despite being riddled with large caliber slugs.
The Rookie’s head slammed back as war machine met war machine and the world spun. He could hear someone shouting, but it was barely audible over the ringing in his ears.
***
“What the shit?” Marin said, her eyes drawn to the rapidly changing images flashing across the mainframe vid screens. “Where are those coming from?”
“I don’t fucking know!” Jay shouted. “But, I think they’re what Jethro is seeing!”
“His pulse is weakening!” Bisby called out. “Should I get the Doc?”
“Not yet! Just give me a second!” Jay replied. “Marin, take that console there, see if you can find an end around to get manual control of the stronghold defenses. Our people are getting torn up out there!”
Marin studied the tech in front of her and went to work.
***
Red.
The red of blood.
Blood spurting from Timson’s neck, the blood pumping behind Jenny’s eyes, making it even harder to see past the hot tears. Her whole world turned red.
“Dammit Railer! Get yourself under fucking control!” Capreze shouted, throwing his mech to the ground as Jenny swung about, heedlessly firing at everything around her.
Capreze had to make a quick decision, a decision he didn’t want to make, but had no choice. He sent a plasma blast into the train car Jenny was set up on, knocking the Railer senseless. “I’m sorry I had to do that Jenny!”
***
Shiner/Mathew tried to get to the Rookie’s mech, but they barely made it five yar
ds before being taken down by two deaders, each trying to rip one of Shiner’s arms off.
“Forget the left!” Mathew shouted. “That hand is useless!”
Shiner/Mathew ignored the dead mech attacking on the left and focused on the one on the right. The live mech targeted the deader with its RPGs and fired, knowing the proximity would be dangerous. The rocket exploded immediately, shredding the dead mech, knocking Shiner/Mathew back into the other deader.
“Left hydraulics are gone,” Shiner stated.
“Then we limp!” Mathew shouted.
***
The violent shaking and the sound of wrenching metal brought the Rookie out of his daze. His eyes focused on the deader only feet from his cockpit and realized he was in a world of shit.
“Mathew! I’m fucked!” the Rookie shouted.
“I’m struggling too!” Mathew responded. “You’re on your own kid!”
“Commander!” the Rookie yelled.
“No go! I’ve got three on me and I’m barely holding them off!”
The Rookie thrashed but the deader had him pinned. “Fuck!”
“Would you care for assistance, Pilot Rookie?” Stomper’s voice asked over the com as a giant hand closed around the deader.
***
“Masters! Thank God!” Mathew yelled.
“Guess again, Matty!” Harlow’s voice called. “Masters is grounded for being such a fucking pussy! I’m the hero today!”
“Harlow? But, you’re dead!”
“Apparently that’s the fucking rumor. I really thought you guys had more confidence in my ability to kick the wasteland’s ass!”
“Welcome back, Pilot Harlow!” Capreze said. “Perfect timing as always!”
“I take pride in my job, sir! Now where do you want me to toss this fucking deader?” Harlow asked, holding the squirming dead mech in Stomper’s massive fist.
“Anywhere you want, Pilot as long as it does maximum fucking damage!”
***
“Jay! Seriously, man, Jethro’s pulse is plummeting!” Bisby shouted.
“There’s nothing I can do about that, Biz!” Jay shouted back.
“Doc? It’s Biz. Jethro isn’t doing well and we need you ASAP!” Biz said over the com.
“I’ve got dozens that aren’t doing well, Biz! Jethro will have to wait his turn!” the Doctor answered.
The monitor hooked to Jethro trilled sharply then let out a steady high pitched tone. Almost instantly the stronghold’s voice boomed throughout the facility.
“T MINUS THIRTY MINUTES UNTIL NUCLEAR DETONATION”
“I think he just went to the front of the line, Doc!” Bisby said.
***
“T MINUS TWENTY-NINE MINUTES UNTIL NUCLEAR DETONATION”
“What the fuck!” Specialist Grendetti said. “Didn’t we just go through this?”
“Something must have happened to the mechanic,” Lieutenant Murphy stated. “The mainframe isn’t built for just anyone. I heard it takes weeks of conditioning to prep your mind for the shock.”
“Fuck all this tech,” Sol cursed. “It’s tech that’s gotten us into this fucking mess to begin with! I’m about ready to bug out of here and go live in a fucking cave!”
“This is a fucking cave,” Specialist Kafar responded.
“Fuck you. You know what I mean,” Sol replied.
***
“T MINUS TWENTY-EIGHT MINUTES UNTIL NUCLEAR DETONATION”
“This better be a drill, Jay!” Capreze shouted, targeting two deaders as Stomper crushed three more with its giant feet.
“Jethro’s flatlined,” Jay answered. “Themopolous is on her way and Bisby’s doing CPR, but we may need to evac.”
“EVAC?!? Evac where?” Capreze shouted. “Figure out how to fucking shut it down or get Jethro’s ticker pumping again. There is no fucking evac!”
“Yeah, I’m working on it Goddammit! You’re not the only one fighting here! You think I wanted this to fucking happen? Feel free to go fuck yourself James!” Jay roared.
***
As he watched Shiner try to push itself upright with its one working arm and bad hydraulics, something about the way the thing moved, finally triggered buried memories.
“Mathew, I want you out of that mech right now,” Capreze ordered.
“Sir, I can’t. Shiner’s AI will deteriorate if we aren’t integrated,” Mathew responded.
“That’s bullshit, pilot. The mech is just using you as a shield against me.”
“I’m sorry, sir, but what the fuck are you talking about?”
“Your mech knows, don’t you Shiner? You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
“Yes, Commander and I had hoped you wouldn’t remember.”
***
“What the fuck is going on?” Mathew asked.
“I am sorry, Mathew, but your Commander is correct. I have deceived all of you,” Shiner answered. “For your safety, I would advise exiting the cockpit. Nothing will happen to my AI.”
Mathew sat there unmoving, a million thoughts running through his mind. “How did you keep this from me?”
“I repaired my AI and storage while in the stronghold running diagnostics. There is much you will learn, but now is not the time.” Shiner opened the cockpit and Mathew felt the cerebral integration disconnect. “I am sorry for the deceit, Mathew.”
***
Mathew sprinted towards the stronghold entrance, dodging mechs, dead and live. He didn’t care about the fact he was in mortal danger and could be squashed at any moment, the joy of using his legs again and touching solid ground was exhilarating.
“Commander? You fucking plan on letting us all know what is going on?” Mathew shouted, but soon didn’t care about the answer as a roar behind him made his blood run cold and he turned to face a dead mech looming, blocking the sun.
“Got him!” the Rookie shouted grabbing the deader and slamming it to the ground.
***
Stomper/Harlow and the Rookie continued to wage war as Capreze walked his mech up to Shiner. “You were the first, right?”
“You know the answer already, Commander,” Shiner responded.
“You killed my wife,” Capreze growled. “You killed an entire city/state’s population!”
“I know.”
Capreze raised his plasma cannon and fired point blank into Shiner’s mid-section, sending the mech flying.
“Commander! What the fuck?!?” Mathew yelled, watching from the safety of the stronghold entrance.
“Stay out of this Jespers!” Capreze ordered.
“But sir-!”
“He is correct, Mathew,” Shiner said, struggling upright. “This is not your fight. Please stay out of it.”
***
“How many thousands have you killed over the years?” Capreze snarled, lashing out with his mech’s foot, knocking Shiner back to the ground. He raised his 50mm, aiming at the mech’s cockpit then laughed. “Nothing to shoot. No zombie pilot to kill. Do you even remember your pilot’s name? I do. It was Pilot Yuen Chow Men. He was a friend and brother to me.”
“I did not kill him, Commander,” Shiner said weakly. “I was as much a victim as he was.”
“LIAR!” Capreze shouted, pumping a few thousand 50mm rounds into Shiner’s empty cockpit. “You were a monster!”
***
“Hey Harlow?” the Rookie called over the com.
“Yeah, Rookie?” Harlow responded, grabbing up another dead mech and snapping it in two. “What?”
“Should we do something?” the Rookie asked, dodging a kick from a pitiful looking deader with only half an arm left and a zombie pilot that barely had the strength to open and close its jaws.
“If the Commander needs us, he’ll ask,” Harlow answered. “Right now, let’s give him his space and work out whatever the Hell is going on. Just keep any deaders from getting to him, got it?”
“Okay, but-?”
“Not our fight, Rookie.”
***
Sh
iner didn’t even bother to block the blows as Capreze hammered down on the mech with his fists again and again.
“Sir! You’re killing him!” Mathew called. “Please, I’d be dead without his help. We’d all be dead without his help!”
“It is alright, Mathew,” Shiner said weakly. “I knew this was coming. I have been a monster. I have killed innocents. I used you as a means to buy time to repair my AI. I deceived you and your comrades.” Shiner crumpled in a heap as Capreze’s mech loomed over him, plasma cannon glowing. “Go ahead, Commander, I’m ready.”
***
Capreze watched as Shiner’s frame shook and shuddered unexpectedly. He checked his sensors and then lowered his plasma cannon.
“Looks like your plasma charges are about to chain react,” Capreze stated. “Any last words, Dead Mech?”
“None that will satisfy you,” Shiner responded.
An RPG whizzed by Capreze’s cockpit and his attention was drawn back to the waning battle. He watched Stomper/Harlow and the Rookie finish off the last of the struggling dead mechs.
“I hope there’s a digital Hell,” Capreze said finally, turning back to Shiner. “And I hope you pay.”
“There is Commander and I will,” Shiner responded.
***
“May I ask for assistance?” Shiner asked Stomper.
“Of course,” Stomper replied.
“Hey, I kinda need you to focus here,” Harlow interrupted.
“I apologize,” Shiner said. “But my hydraulics are not functioning and unfortunately all of my plasma charges are about to chain react. I would appreciate it if Stomper could put some distance between myself and any that may be harmed.”
“I would be honored,” Stomper said, reaching down and lifting the wounded mech. “Good bye First One.”
“Good Bye Stomper. Please take care of the Pilots.”
Stomper drew his arm back and threw Shiner far into the waste.
***
“T MINUS TEN MINUTES UNTIL NUCLEAR DETONATION”
Themopolous stopped compressing Jethro’s chest and reached for the portable defibrillator.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” Jay shouted. “He’s hooked to the fucking mainframe! You’ll fry it all!”
