"Zenbot. Its foot is in my bag." He patted his bundle.
"Damn, deadly thing. I'd stay clear of that one. Though if you've got her foot, maybe she won't be so tough to take down. She was a woman in the Game. Seen her cut clear through a platoon of mine though back at the cafe. Next, you've got Sergeant Freedman of the rebellion." Jack's opened his eyes at the mention of Freedman. "Never dealt with the man myself but from what I've understood the man's a lucky idiot of some sort. He actually attacked Zenbot in the Kafe Fabulueuze - sorry on MO4, and survived. Bastard was made the lady's student, after being kidnapped. Can you believe that?"
Jack smiled, "Sounds like my Zenbot." He said.
Loveless continued, "next is the other student. We had an entire portfolio on that one. Mancy made us keep tabs on him especially to make sure he didn't jump from a building or into traffic or end his Game early. Nothing particularly special about him, though Mancy wanted to make sure he stayed put. He's a coward though. The pilot woman I didn't have the pleasure of meeting in the Game but from what I could see when she got the jump on us twice is that she's nothing to ignore."
"And the cryptographer?" he asked.
"Oh, VII. She's the worst of the lot. Nothing but self loyalty in that one and she'll do whatever she can to survive. Whatever." She stressed.
"Very good." Jack stubbed the cigarette out on his wooden sandal and threw the butt away. "Loveless. Ya wanna be my right hand woman?"
Loveless stood flabbergasted by the sudden invitation. "I….I…I'd love to, sir. What's your rank if I may ask?"
Jack squinted his eyes, confused, and then when he understood he chuckled again. "Rank? I'm rank-less but you can choose whatever rank you want for yourself. All that matters is that all these people out here," he nodded towards the mercenaries and bounty hunters, "listen to you and know that if they don't they'll wish they had. I've got to go think about what you've told me and to read up on the dossiers I have of my own. Might take a nap while I'm at it. For now, Loveless make sure these people don't stop at that door or at the code, and are ready to breach should either open up."
"Yes, sir." Loveless clicked her heels in attention, giving Jack a salute. She turned on those working on the gate. "You heard'em boys, back to work." The mercenaries who'd chosen to take a rest grumbled back to work.
Captain Pippy stopped on top of a hill, cocking her ear in the air. "Did that sound like a scream, Freedman?"
"Not entirely sure, Captain. Can you do it again?"
"It wasn't me y'idjot. There, son of a gun. There it goes again. Y'heard that didn'chya?"
"Yeah, that's definitely a scream, Captain."
"Alright, so that's your question from before answered. Luck's interested in the phy-sic-al. You stick with me now alright. We're gonna head back to the team."
"How?"
"Just follow the screams, hon'. We'll just follow the screams. Now luck or no, ya got to empty yer mind, just like ol'Zenny said. Empty it and let's hope yer luck holds up. There go the screams again. Does that sound like Mr. Qruise to ya? I wonder what in the sam hell he's screaming about."
"WILL YOU STOP SCREAMING MR. QRUISE!"
"I have, Mancy." Mr. Qruise was doubled over panting. "I'm not screaming anymore." Pant. "I'm just running." Pant. "What was that bloody thing?" He asked.
"What was it? What was it Mr. Qruise?" Mancy stopped running. She still carried half of VII over her shoulders. Sweat rolled down over her perfectly made face. "That was your bloody imagination gone wild. You tell us what in the world that was. Zenbot, I need to take a break. Let's put VII down for a while." Mancy gave VII to Zenbot entirely, and then sat on the ground. "Mr. Qruise isn't the only one out of breath."
"I understand, Ms. La2x." Zenbot took VII completely in its arms and threw her over its shoulders. The inorganic didn't sit down. "But I think it unwise to stop right now. The blasticore is on our tail and taken the shape of a large cat like creature."
"Fair enough." Mancy stood up again, wincing in pain.
She led the way through the dense forest they found themselves in, walking at a slower pace than before, catching her breath.
Mr. Qruise followed behind lost in thought with Zenbot in the rear. Mr. Qruise stopped in his tracks. "Oi, Zenbot. I'm not afraid of cats. Well, I wasn't before… but now I can see why you should fear the damn things. That damn growl, it sends shivers done your spine."
The blasticore's growl echoed throughout the forest on cue. Mr. Qruise shivered in his place, his spine quivering like thin paper in the wind.
"It's getting closer." Mancy whispered.
"It's tracking us, Ms. La2x." Zenbot stared into the distance. "Circling around us and figuring out which is the weakest to pick out. Probably VII, given her dead weight." Zenbot patted VII gently. "Once it's satisfied we can't see it, it'll pounce. I doubt I am any match for the thing in my present state. By my observations the blasticore's approximately half a ton in weight in its current shape."
"How can you be so sure?" Mr. Qruise asked.
"I can see it, Mr. Qruise"
"Right now?" Mr. Qruise looked around the dense forest. All he could see were the trees and the shadows. The artificial sky was hidden by the foliage.
"Right now and as long as we've been running. The fact that I see it and am not afraid is the only reason it hasn't attacked us yet. The beast is right behind you, a few leaps behind you, in fact." Mr. Qruise jumped and turned behind him. "But the blasticore is ironically a timid creature," Zenbot continued, "It won't take any risks in catching its prey."
"Can you slow it down?" Mancy asked.
"I can. But I'll probably lose an arm, or another leg, or my head and I'll be of no use to you going forward. Also I'm carrying VII. It's not a recommended course of action. No, we must address the fear at its root. Whoever is causing the manifestation must calm his, or indeed her," Zenbot looked at Mancy, "mind."
"It's not me." Mancy said defiantly.
Mr. Qruise gave that off-balanced grin. "It's not me either. Could it be VII?"
Zenbot rubbed its jaw with its free hand, all the while staring towards the same shaded spot behind Mr. Qruise. "Doubtful. She is unconscious at the moment and probably in a pleasant field sitting in the sun, or more likely a nest of cables, knowing her desires."
"Then who Zenbot?"
"I have a theory, Mr. Qruise. It is after all a half ton tabby cat."
"A pet cat? Who'd be afraid of that?"
"There is missing member of our party, that we often forget." Zenbot put down VII, its eyes moved around the forest tracking the invisible blasticore in its restless pacing. "Please take Algy out of VII's pocket."
"You must be joking." Mr. Qruise, however, complied with his master's order. The little mouse squirmed with fear when he took it out of VII's breast pocket. The blasticore let out another fearsome growl. "Should we….should we kill it?" Mr. Qruise asked.
"No. Mr. Qruise I won't allow it. Pacifism is pacifism regardless of the life involved. Besides VII would never forgive us. I have another solution in mind. It's riskier than I would like and will be the first time I try something of the sort. Mr. Qruise look behind you. Yes, towards the dark spot. Right there." Zenbot tilted Mr. Qruise's head a bit to the right. "Don't look away. I may be distracted for a few seconds while I'm doing this. That is all the time the blasticore will need. Remember show no fear." Zenbot petted Algy gently. "Don't worry Algy. You'll be my third pupil." Zenbot placed its hand on the mouse's nape. The inorganic's eye slits went that familiar shade of orange.
Mr. Qruise stared at the dark spot pointed out by Zenbot. "Show no fear. Show no fear. The mind is empty. The pot is empty. Show…no..no…no-"
Zenbot dropped its crutch and fell on the ground.
Mr. Qruise looked behind him for a moment. A moment in which the blasticore emerged from the shadows and leapt towards the back of Mr. Qruise's head. A large striped tabby cat, double the size of a tiger, its fangs bared and its claws extended.
Mr. Qruise's
hand rose up to snap his fingers and pop but his hand was still rising by his waist when the fanged beast fell on top of him.
The blasticore's claws were halfway through Mr. Qruise's shoulder when the beast froze suddenly, shrinking in size and mass to a small rabbit like creature, floppy eared and furry. The small blasticore's eyes twitched in fear for a second or two before it ran back to the cover of the forest.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Blasticore
The second gate cracked open with a hiss. The large black doors swept back with the audible moan of broken hydraulics.
Mercenaries and bounty hunters flooded through the open door. Jack and Loveless brought up the rear.
Jack waded through his soldiers shouting orders. "Be careful there ya fools, there's a blasticore in there. I can smell the fear on you. Ya'll be the end of us all. Loveless, control this rabble. We've got to make it to the third gate before them."
Loveless walked among the mercenaries arranging them into battle formation, heavy guns in front, ready to swoop through the forests.
When everyone was arranged she walked back over to Jack. "So what's the plan?"
Jack chewed on his straw. "Ya know how they got the blasticore in here, Loveless?" He asked.
Loveless scrunched her face in thought. "I've been thinking about that. It's no easy feat."
"They sent me." He cocked a thumb to his thick chest. "They're not aggressive creatures, but they are territorial. Ya've gotta empty yer mind, and then ya can go up to them and put them in a basket or whatever you fancy. But show a little fear and those bunnies turn into death itself. With these bunch of hooligans running around there's no telling what form it'll take."
"Do we leave them behind?"
Jack smiled at Loveless. "When ya can't be surgical Loveless sometimes a hammer'll do. Send them and let the blasticore tear the place up. At least that way Zenbot'll have its work cut out for it. Ms. La2x and their team have been doing too well for Mr. La2x's liking. I might get reprimanded." Jack's eyes went serious. Loveless shuddered. "I don't like bein' reprimanded."
"But the men'll be torn up like confetti."
"And?" Jack said, looking silently at the landscape.
"Nothing, sir. I'll tell them to go ahead."
Loveless raised a fist and spread her fingers outward towards the forest. The assembled army of mercenaries and bounty hunters, clad in their armor and heavy weaponry, marched out into the forest.
"Besides Loveless," Jack added, "Mr. La2x'll appreciate the reduced payroll."
"What the hell happened back there, Zenbot?" Mr. Qruise had his left arm in a makeshift sling. The back of his white-brown robes was shredded. He'd torn the robes off and used the rags as bandages. The third gate lay there above them at the top of a ridge. A large set of golden doors twinkled down at them.
"It seems I convinced Algy that there was nothing to be afraid of from cats just in time. It was admittedly one of the stranger interfaces I've ever done, Mr. Qruise. A mouse's mind is a jumbled mess. I honestly can't remember much except the overriding fear of cats and the desire for some old cheese, preferably forgotten behind some nook. It hasn't been a total waste, however. I've seen an entirely new point of view on the 'verse. Did you know mice think in binary? Eat or run."
Mr. Qruise began struggling up the ridge with his good hand, hunched over and grabbing onto large boulders as hand holds. "Good for you. Is the blasticore gone?"
"For now yes. I'll carry VII." Zenbot, with VII on its back, hobbled up the ridge, back bent. It stopped and helped Mancy or Mr. Qruise whenever the terrain became difficult. "You seem to be distracted, Ms. La2x."
"Ms. La2x, is everything ok?" Zenbot asked again. Mancy was following Mr. Qruise up the ridge in a daze.
"There are a couple of things on my mind, Zenbot." She said finally as Zenbot extended the rifle-crutch for her to grab onto. "I don't believe that was our final encounter with the blasticore. Jack should be breaking through the second gate by this time. Daddy doesn't hire bad help."
"Is that all?"
"I'm also thinking about what could be past that gate." She pointed up towards the looming golden door panels. "I…I don't like not knowing."
When they reached the top of the ridge they found Captain Pippy and Freedman sitting by a small bonfire. The flames danced wildly in tune with a strong wind at the top. Captain Pippy and Freedman shared a small flask, passing it between them in front of the fire.
"W'll hullo folks. What took you so long?" Captain Pippy offered them the flask. "Do any of y'all have anything to do with all that there?" She pointed over the horizon to a large cloud of dust and colors erupting faraway in the distance. The glare of lasers flared through the dust. Through the dense fog of war Mr. Qruise thought he could see tentacles writhing.
"That'll be Daddy's men." Mancy said taking swig from the offered flask. "How did you guys get here?" She asked.
"Well…." Captain Pippy looked over to Freedman. She kicked a few pebbles off the ridge. "We got lost. And then we heard ya screaming so we came to help. But it seems Freedman's luck's gonna keep him safe no matter what. I don't know what it could'a been but we heard the screams coming from up here and soon enough we were by the gates. Must'a been an echo."
Zenbot put VII down and squeezed the same place behind her ear lobe which had put her to sleep. She woke up startled. "Where am I? Where's Algy?" She calmed down when she found the mouse safe and unharmed in her pocket.
"No time for questions, VII. We're at the last door, get in and do your stuff. The less you ask the better." Mancy said.
VII still groggy lurched towards the final gate's panel. "Alright, boss. How much time do we have? If I can ask that question."
Mancy looked over the horizon and the approaching dust cloud. "I'd say five minutes."
"That's tight, boss." VII began plugging cables into sockets inside the panel. She took Algy out of her pocket and plugged a small thin cable into a socket behind Algy's ear. The mouse went limp, asleep. "See you on the other side." She plugged one of the cables into a socket on the curve of her spine and went out like a light.
VII, clad in gleaming white armor, sat atop a giant golden mare. In the distance was a shining castle in the clouds.
The mare reared up. "Woah there, Algy. Easy there, girl." VII petted the horse Algy, calming it down. "This is the fun part. No idea how they got us here but they did. We finish this and we can go home. Let's go see what kind of defenses this here door's got."
Algy trotted in the direction of the castle.
"Don't you just love how the subconscious works, Algy? I mean castles in the clouds, and here we are a knight and horse in shining armor. You like being a horse, don't you Algy? And this, this whole thing is what the AI thinks of itself? What do you think the AI sees itself as, ay Algy? I mean if we keep going with the theme, it'll probably be a big old troll."
Neigh.
They continued through a winding road in the middle of a pleasant forest. As the trees thinned the castle gates appeared. A large heavyset one-eyed giant stood in front of the castle holding a club in its hand, naked as the sun but for a small rag skirt around its midriff.
"Well, can I pick'em or what, Algy? Sure as snow, there's our troll."
VII dismounted and sat down next to Algy to watch the troll from afar as it walked back and forth in front of the gates.
"Got to study the thing, don't we, Algy? Got to understand it before we meet." VII lay down on the ground and enjoyed the view.
Mercenaries and bounty hunters from all across the galaxy swore in their different dialects as they charged the blasticore.
"By the Great Whisker!"
"Ran'jamb's Beard!"
"Dip the toe in the water of nothingness!"
The swearing was followed almost immediately with screams in the unified dialect of pain and fear, "Arrgghhhh!!!"
The untrained minds of the bounty hunters and mercenaries oozed their fears into the world, transforming the blasticore into v
arious hideous shades from the beyond. All of which ripped the fear out of the soldiers, literally.
Jack and Loveless skirted the battle towards the ridge, the golden doors viewable from the distance. They could see the crew gathered around the bonfire on top.
"That's them, Jack. We're close." Loveless said.
"Yes we are, Loveless. Get the remaining men and women to lure the blasticore towards them." Jack pointed towards the ridge. "Watch out, Loveless." He put a leg out and gave Loveless a shove, tripping her on the ground. A tentacle swooped in and swiped at where her head had been a few moments before. "Where was I? You really should be more observant, Loveless. Yes, I remember now. Have them lure the blasticore up there."
"You really have no idea what's on the other side, Mancy?" Mr. Qruise took a swig from the flask and shared it around the fire.
"For the last time, Mr. Qruise, no I don't. Why would I lie?"
"Cos' you're a lyin', theivin', no-good shell'of a woman, hon'." Captain Pippy, was grilling a couple of sausages over the fire.
"You have lied and put us in danger several times, Ms. La2x, this is an accurate observation." Zenbot added. "Captain where did you get the sausages from?"
"Always keep provisions handy, hon'." The captain patted her trouser pockets.
"Master's got a point Mancy, you've lied to us all, in things big and small." Said Freedman. "Sometimes it seems for no reason. You ain't a good woman."
"And you, Mr. Qruise, you got anything to say against me?" Mancy was staring into the fire, pursing her lips.
"I just want to know what's on the other side, Mancy."
"Mr. Qruise, you see that approaching ball of fury and death, it's getting closer every minute. They're bringing the fear and the blasticore to us. At this point in time there's no point in worrying over 'what's on the other side'. Whatever it is I can assure you it's worse than the blasticore. Does that make you feel any better?" Mancy's eyes teared up.
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