“Hello,” Cy said, greeting the two men that appeared from the woods, entering the front yard.
“Hey,” Deines responded, holding his hand up in a friendly gesture.
Soldiers, Clio thought.
Keeping their barrels pointed at the ground, Woolridge and Deines approached the front porch.
“What are you guys doing out here?” Clio asked as if she were the boss in these parts.
“It’s a long story,” Lance Cpl. Woolridge stated. “Real long,” Petty Officer Deines confirmed.
“Are you men in need of aid?” Cy asked.
“Well… as you can see, we don’t have much to our names,” Deines said.
“Where did you come from?” Clio asked, wondering if one of them might know her dad.
“California… RMB Pendleton.”
“That’s quite a long journey,” Cy commented as he looked toward the west horizon.
“Yeah… Vulcan ran out of fuel and we put her down a ways out,” Deines explained.
“Lost our pilots on foot… on our way to RMB Jackson,” Woolridge added.
“Lost?” Cy asked.
“This thing… it came out of nowhere and attacked us. Killed them,” Woolridge said, still not believing what he witnessed on the road.
“You guys were going to RMB Jackson? That’s where I’m from… used to be anyway,” Clio said.
Woolridge looked at the girl, feeling her pain. “We saw it. I’m sorry,” he said.
The cyborg reached out his hand. “I’m Cy.”
“Petty Officer Deines, call me Gary if you want,” he said, reaching his hand out to shake.
“Lance Cpl. Woolridge, United States Marine Corps,” he said reaching out to shake Clio’s.
“All that, really?” the SEAL asked, shaking his head at the Marine.
“I’m just Clio.”
“Jimmy works,” the Marine stated, looking over at Deines. “Better, SEAL Team?” he mocked, smirking.
The four finished shaking hands as Clio opened the front door to let a scratching dog outside. “This is Lady,” the thirteen-year-old announced.
Lady wagged her tail and instantly liked the two new warriors, nosing and moving around them in circles.
Squatting down, Deines gave her a big hug and ran his fingers through her fur. He missed having a dog around. All the SEAL trained K9’s were lost in the war. Lady barked. “She likes you,” Clio announced. “Good enough for me,” the girl confirmed.
“Shall we go inside? Are you hungry?” Cy asked.
“We could eat,” Deines responded.
The Marine was the last man to enter the front door. “Hell yeah, I’m hungry,” he affirmed, looking around the living room.
After walking in the kitchen, Clio tossed two protein bars out. “Thanks,” they both responded.
“Welcome.”
“So what’s your story?” Deines asked, referring to Cy.
Clio’s eyes went wide as she thought wait till they get a load of this…
Woolridge noticed the girl’s expression change after Deines asked the question.
“What’s the deal?”
“Miss Clio is referring to the fact that I’m not fully human Lance Cpl. Woolridge.”
“Come again?” Woolridge asked.
Petty Officer Deines made sure his weapon was ready to go after the comment. This guy a nut or something?
“Please don’t be alarmed by my comment,” Cy requested.
Clio nodded her head. “Telling the truth… He’s not a real person…”
“So what are you?” Deines asked, moving his eyebrows high.
“Well I’m part man and part machine.”
“You’re a fucking cyborg?” Woolridge asked, shouting it as if Cy just announced he was made of anthrax.
Cy’s face changed. Visibly, he was taken aback by the remark. It was the first time the cyborg ever heard a human refer to him as being something that sounded negative.
“Easy there Devil Dog,” Deines requested, placing his hand on the Marine’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, that comment just caught me off guard,” Woolridge explained.
“It’s quite alright Lance Cpl. Woolridge. I’m sure that news does sound shocking,” Cy said.
“Eh, just a little,” Woolridge, responded.
“Sarcasm. That’s one of my favorite things about human communication. Dr. Marcus teaches m…”
“Marcus… Dr. Marcus Pressfield?” Deines asked.
Cy’s eyes lit up. “You know him?”
“Yeah I know him,” the SEAL answered. “Nice guy.”
“How do you know my master, Petty Officer Deines?”
“Worked with him on a defense project quite a few years back… before all this,” Deines said looking up through the ceiling.
“He’s close by at DARPA,” Cy affirmed. “Were leaving to go there this morning.”
“Will you both come with us?” Clio asked both men.
“Might as well… don’t have anywhere else to go,” Woolridge announced.
Deines and Woolridge both realized that they really didn’t have anywhere to go. No home. No family. Nothing was left for them to return to. And no one was waiting for them if they did.
Their mood became somber. Nothing… It was a hell of a thing to realize.
“Let’s get ready,” Clio announced.
“Good idea Miss Clio. Dr. Marcus is probably worried sick right now.” The fact that Dr. Pressfield hadn’t tried to contact him through his communications system worried Cy too.
The four prepared for their trip to DARPA and left the farmhouse after raiding Russ’s weaponry.
CHAPTER 53 - FANTASTIC FOUR AND THE FUR
“The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.”
― Phil Jackson
They found a vehicle that got them halfway before running out of power. Cy led the team toward DARPA as they approached on foot a few miles out.
Scanning, the Ker guard stood outside of the facility.
The young cyborg halted the patrol. “What is it Cy?” Deines asked. The cyborg downloaded information and saw a clear image appear in his viewer.
“Ker, Petty Officer Deines.” Cy responded.
“One? How close?” Woolridge asked. “One, yes. It’s at DARPA,” Cy answered, fearing for his master’s life.
Deines looked at his GPS. “We’re less than a mile. No talking from here on out,” Deines ordered.
“Keep her quiet,” Woolridge ordered looking at Lady and then Clio. The girl nodded.
They patrolled out of the woods and made it to the edge of the city. DARPA was in sight. “Wait here,” Deines whispered to Cy and Clio. “Keep hold of that dog till this is over.”
“Ready?” Deines softly asked Woolridge. He nodded yes. Closing on the Ker, the SEAL and Marine quietly moved between the buildings. Engaging the men without warning, the machine turned and fired. Chunks of building knocked Deines to the ground and he immediately looked up at the Marine. “I’m good. Kill it!” he ordered.
Turning and aiming, Woolridge shot from a knee and pierced the Ker’s armor, dropping it into the rubble. After jumping to his feet, the Marine ran forward blasting away at the robot. The Ker attempted to get up and reached for its cannon, struggling. Woolridge closed, fueled with anger, aiming and firing his weapon, pounding his shoulder like the hammer of Thor. Standing over the metal bastard, he unloaded into its face shield. Dimming, the Ker’s blue eyes faded dark.
Cy raced to Deines with Clio trailing behind. Lady arrived first and started licking the SEAL’s face. “I’m alright girl,” he said, shaking the cobwebs out.
After realizing the SEAL wasn’t injured, Cy ran for DARPA. Arriving, he raced down the steps. “Dr. Marcus!” Cy’s scanners didn’t pick up a life form and the young cyborg worried his master was dead. The rest of the team went down the steps and entered the facility.
“He’s gone,” Cy said. He went up the st
eps and ran outside.
The others followed the cyborg out. “What’s he doing?” Woolridge asked. “Don’t know…” Deines responded.
After scanning the area, Cy inspected the ground. “There were two Sentinels here,” Cy said squatting down, running his hand over the road. “They were driving a Hum-Z and headed off in that direction,” the cyborg stated as he looked south.
“You sure?” Deines asked.
“Positive,” Cy responded.
Deines shook his head yes and noted the information. “Makes sense.”
“Why’s that?” Woolridge asked.
“Yeah, why?” Clio asked.
“Cause the son of a bitch is in Atlanta somewhere.”
“You’re right Petty Officer Deines. Dr. Marcus believed the same thing.” Cy confirmed.
Clio thought about her mother. “What are we waiting for?” she asked.
“I’ll find transportation,” Cy said scanning the area. “There’s a working vehicle a few miles down the interstate.” the young cyborg announced.
“Roger that,” Deines said. “Let’s go.”
The team marched down the interstate gaining on the SUV. “That one,” Cy affirmed.
Cy opened the door as Deines and Woolridge scanned the area and held their weapons out. Clio’s face grimaced at the pile of bones that the cyborg began scooping out. Leaning in the passenger side, Woolridge flipped the reserve power switch.
“Load up,” Deines ordered. Lady jumped in first and the rest began climbing in behind her.
“Might I drive Petty Officer?” Cy asked with an excited expression on his face.
“You know how?”
“Of course, Petty Officer Deines. I’m an excellent driver.”
“Ok,” he answered shaking his head. “Just take it easy… Don’t crash,” Deines ordered. As much as possible, the SEAL wanted to devote his undivided attention to scanning the area and checking for danger on the way to Atlanta. Wanting Woolridge to do the same, he let the cyborg drive.
“Of course not Petty Officer Deines,” Cy responded.
With Deines eyeballing him, Cy put the Suburban in gear and drove off.
“Do we know where we’re going exactly?” Woolridge asked.
“Intel thought Dr. Pavlov might be held up near the CDC,” Deines suggested.
“That makes excellent sense, Petty Officer Deines,” Cy announced.
***
As the team drove toward Atlanta, two Super Destroyers made their way across country heading for the same location. Most of Seth Pavlov’s warrior machines were sent to RMB Pendleton. Also heading for Atlanta, a small group of surviving Ker trailed behind the faster bionic bugs.
Feverishly working to build more metal warriors, four Ker and two Sentinels remained inside his CDC factory. Now that RMB Pendleton was destroyed, only tiny pockets of the Resistance remained. Pavlov was now close to achieving his goal of being the last man standing.
***
“There it is,” Woolridge announced. The Atlanta skyline was in the distance.
“How you doing Cy?” Deines asked.
“Good Petty Officer Deines. My scanners aren’t picking up any Ker.”
“Good,” Clio said from the backseat.
They stopped a few miles out from the CDC. “Let’s move out on foot from here,” Deines ordered.
After climbing out, the team headed toward the CDC amongst the desolate remains of the city of Atlanta.
The SEAL glanced down at his GPS. “We’re a few clicks out,” Deines quietly confirmed.
“Wonder how many Ker are going to be waiting for us?” Woolridge quietly asked.
“Six,” Cy responded.
Denies and Woolridge looked at Cy. “Not bad,” the SEAL suggested.
“I can live with that,” Woolridge confirmed.
Lady barked. “Quiet Lady,” Clio ordered.
“We’re two hundred yards away,” Cy softly announced.
“What’s the plan?” Woolridge asked.
“Yeah what’s the plan?” Clio asked.
“The plan? Go in and shoot like hell… that’s the plan,” Denies said. He looked over at Clio and Lady. “You too are going to stay put though,” he ordered, pointing at the girl and the dog.
“I don’t want to stay here,” Clio begged.
“It’s too dangerous kid,” Woolridge said, looking at Clio.
“I know how to handle myself,” Clio responded, louder than she intended to.
“He’s right. It’s too dangerous,” Deines confirmed.
“My mother is in there. I know it. I’m going! I’m not just going to sit here!” Clio announced in a loud voice.
This kid’s not going to take no for an answer Deines thought. “You’re not going to take no for an answer are you kid?” he asked.
“Nope.”
“Ok, relax… you can go…”
“I guess the damn dog is going too,” Woolridge stated shaking his head back and forth.
“Alright… Jesus this is a bad idea… Well stay behind us and keep low,” Deines ordered. Clio looked down at her photon pistol. “Ok,” she answered. Lady wagged her tail as if she was ready to go.
CHAPTER 54 - DO OR DIE
“Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your
ultimate achievements.”
-Napoleon Hill
Atlanta:
Inside the CDC:
Two Sentinels dragged out an Asian woman from the holding office.
“I need information. Tell me what I want to know and I won’t hurt you… like the others,” Dr. Pavlov said, looking over at the President’s dismembered body and another that lay next to him.
“I don’t know anything,” the women responded.
The Sentinels pulled on her arms. She screamed and begged. “Please don’t hurt me,” she begged.
“Where are the others hiding?” Dr. Pavlov asked.
“What others?”
“The Resistance you stupid woman! Tell me!”
“I don’t know anything… I promise,” she answered with tears streaming down her cheeks.
***
The team moved outside the CDC. “Cy, you want a weapon?” Deines asked.
“I’ve only fired a rifle once. Sadly my master didn’t program me on how to use a pistol,” Cy responded.
“Might be a good time to learn,” Woolridge suggested.
“If you can drive a car, you can shoot a weapon,” Deines explained.
“I can do it Petty Officer Deines,” Cy announced reaching out for the backup weapon the SEAL was now handing him.
“Just aim and squeeze the trigger, simple,” Deines said, showing him with his rifle.
“I’ll do my best Petty Officer Deines,” Cy said, inspecting the photon pistol.
“Good,” Woolridge responded. “Think we should give the dog a weapon too?” he asked.
Deines rolled his eyes and put his game face on. “Everyone ready?” he asked.
The rest of the team nodded.
“Roger that… Let’s move,” Deines ordered.
Cy went first and stood outside the door of the CDC. Deines was right behind him. After scanning through the wall, the cyborg turned back to the SEAL
“Dr. Pavlov is interrogating a woman. My sensors indicate he’s going to kill her soon,” Cy stated.
“Get ready,” Deines said looking back at the rest of the team. “On my mark…” The SEAL held up his hand and counted to three with his fingers. “Go!”
Cy burst through the door and the rest followed.
Deines aimed and shot at the Sentinels holding the woman. They released their grip and charged forward. The SEAL hit one in the chest, dropping it to the ground and mangling the man-sized bot.
Four Ker crashed through the assembly line doors as Deines and Woolridge fired in their direction. Man and machine raged in a violent firefight that splintered pain through the dog’s ears. “I’m out!” the SEAL shoute
d, dropping to a knee and ejecting his magazine. Sprinting forward, Cy broke far out ahead of the others, diving and sliding for cover.
Woolridge fired in a hail of bullets concentrating on the four heavily armed Ker while Deines hurried to reload. Neither man noticed the incoming Sentinel. Springing like a kangaroo, the human sized robot bounded and flew in the air toward Deines.
After picking up the threat, Cy twisted around and aimed his pistol from his belly. The cyborg squeezed the trigger and hit the Sentinel while it was still airborne. The machine flew to the side spinning out of control while Cy kept the trigger squeezed. Pieces of roof fell down before the cyborg finally let go.
“Mom!” Clio screamed as she watched her mother struggle to her feet. Peppering the office, Ker rounds whizzed over the team’s head in a smoke screen. “Stay down Mom!” Clio shouted as she watched the Ker bound forward.
Reloaded and still on a knee, Woolridge ripped shots toward the Ker and scored a direct hit, knocking one to the floor. “I’m out!” the Marine shouted, ejecting his magazine and squatting low.
Standing back up, Deines fired a kill shot. Then another. Cy aimed for the two remaining Ker and fired, keeping the trigger squeezed, missing and sending a ray over the machines’ head’s. Dust flew out from where his blast hit, sending ceiling and walls tumbling around the Ker.
Emerging from the storm, the two remaining Ker kicked pieces of the falling building out of the way, firing at the team scattering for cover. Dr. Pavlov crawled on his belly under a table like a coward.
The team traded shots with the Ker, popping up and ducking behind furniture.
“Clio! No!” Deines shouted as the girl crawled toward her mother who was caught out in the open.
After getting to his feet, the Marine bound forward, spraying and shooting from the middle of the CDC office. With no cover to protect him, Woolridge was hit in the leg and went down, screaming. Time to return a favor, Deines ran toward the Marine and slid to his side. Both were in the open and Deines covered Woolridge’s injured body, shielding him while firing back. They weren’t going to last long.
Cy raced forward and launched his body over both Ker, firing while airborne. The cyborg scored a hit and sent one Ker stumbling back as its weapon flew out of its hand and smashed against the wall. Cy landed hard and his momentum carried him through the double assembly line doors, tumbling. The uninjured Ker fired at the careening cyborg, shattering the doors and sending them flying inside the factory. The Ker marched inside and searched for the cyborg amidst the smoke and dust. No luck. Cy was gone.
Clio and Cy: The Apocalypse Page 24
