by David Aries
“I bet it’s those damn moons again! Filming from them ain’t enough; they’ve gotta hide there too,” Trez said.
DD14 curtsied. “I do believe that to be the case, Lady Trez.”
“See? I always said those things were filled with sick freaks getting off on our suffering.”
I also thought it was a possibility, but it didn’t stop the confirmation from leaving me short on words. After all, it meant us being here wasn’t an accident. Even if we hadn’t been chosen specifically, our time here was by someone’s design.
“Who’s up there?” Faris said. “Who did this to us?”
“I am afraid I cannot answer that,” DD14 replied.
Faris pressed her spear into DD14’s throat. “How about now?”
There was no more curtsying; DD14 stood bolt upright, head lifted as the metal tip balanced against her skin. “You misunderstand, Lady Faris. I cannot answer because I do not know, not because of any desire to hide the truth. Access to the network is done anonymously, and no personal information has been stored within.”
Faris didn’t draw her lance back.
“May I ask that you withdraw your weapon? I am afraid that this is my own body, nor does not my software allow me to duplicate my program. If you were to sever a wire, I am afraid it could be fatal.”
“And I should care about that, why?” Faris replied.
“Faris, calm down,” I said.
“What?!”
“Sweetie,” Akko said as she squeezed my arm. “Don’t let her fool you. If we let our guard down, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”
“No, she’s not going to hurt us,” I replied.
“What? H-how can you know that?!”
“If she wanted us dead, she wouldn’t have led us all the way here. She also wouldn’t have opened the door and let us in. Remember how close we close we came to being mincemeat.” Even my zerrin strength couldn’t have withstood a barrage of lasers. “I’m not saying she’s definitely our ally, but I think we can at least trust her not to attack.”
“An astute observation, Master Brandon,” DD14 said.
“Hey, don’t think this makes us chummy-chummy. We still don’t know what you want.”
However, it was enough to earn DD14 freedom from the tip of Faris’s lance. With space to move, she performed another curtsy, complete with a lift of her skirt. “It is simple, Master Brandon: I wish to help you.”
For a moment, my mind went blank. “W-what?”
She smiled. “Watching the broadcasts has led me to developing a great fondness for you all. You could say I have become somewhat of a fan.” DD14 gave another bob. “It would be an honor to assist those I have grown to admire so strongly.”
This time, my mind shut down entirely. All I could do was gawk.
“T-that’s ridiculous!” Akko said. “Are we supposed to believe such nonsense?!”
“It is the truth, Lady Akko.”
“There’s no way it could be! Helping us… y-you’re just up to something. I mean, aren’t you the overseer of this place? Shouldn’t you be working against us?”
“Yeah,” Trez said. “You’re a damn bot. Android or not, you shouldn’t be able to go against your programming.”
“That is indeed the case,” DD14 said. “However, there is nothing to worry about. My advanced AI allows me to ‘interpret’ my orders in a way other machines cannot. As long as I do not personally interfere with the security systems, I should be able to operate freely under the guise of following the proper regulations.”
There was a pregnant pause as we all stared at the smiling android.
“Is… that legit?” I whispered.
“Don’t ask me,” Trez said. “I’ve never talked to an android before, but I’m starting to see why they’re outlawed.”
DD14 giggled and curtsied. “You flatter me, Lady Trez.”
“That wasn’t supposed to be a compliment, you know.”
“I still don’t buy any of this,” Akko whispered.
“But if we don’t hear her out, however will we get out of here?” Casella said.
It was a point I couldn’t refute. “Alright, let’s say everything you’ve told us is real, and you really do want to help us. What exactly does that entail?”
“I am glad you asked, Master Brandon,” DD14 said. “If I am correct, your objective is to deactivate the jamming field blocking any possible escape from this planet.”
“That’s right.”
“Then we must travel to the Inner Core and deactivate the central terminal.”
“Wait, there’s an Inner Core now?” Trez said.
“That is correct. It can be accessed from a series of elevators located in key points around the facility. I am more than happy to lead the way.”
I folded my arms. “That’s good and all, but what about the robot guards?”
“I am afraid I am unable to deactivate them. Doing so would count as interfering with the security systems.”
“Which means we’ve got to fight them?”
“That is indeed so.”
I sighed. “Great. That’s just what we need…”
Vay laughed. “Why the long face, stud? Aren’t you eager for a chance to get some revenge?”
“Against the people who trapped us here, maybe. For now, I just want to get through this mess alive.”
“What he said!” Akko exclaimed. “We can’t fight those things.”
“Agreed,” Faris said. “Their lasers will destroy us.”
I bit my bottom lip. That was the case, wasn’t it? Even though I’d turned into some superhuman, I was still too weak to properly protect those I cared about.
Dammit! Whenever I feel like I’ve gotten strong, something new appears to put me back in my place…
Was this the way it was always going to be? Was I always going to be a step behind the competition? How long could I keep getting away with that?
How long until history repeated itself?
DD14 giggled. “There is no reason to fear. While I cannot physically deactivate the security systems myself, there is no reason I cannot offer you the tools to fight back on equal footing.”
I flinched. “What?!”
With another arm smile, DD14 moved to the wall and pressed her hand into what it turned out was a screen. It and the room lit up, drawing attention to the dismembered robots poking out of piles of scrap
Akko squealed and jumped out of her skin.
“Do not be alarmed, Lady Akko,” DD14 said. “Besides myself, none of the robots within this room are operational.”
Yep, they were all dodo-dead. They didn’t even twitch when Trez started poking around.
“Is this a repair shop?” she asked.
“Indeed so. This is one of the many stations I use for maintenance.”
I hadn’t noticed before DD14 had drawn attention to it, but she did appear to be standing in front of something akin to a workbench.
“Are you saying we can use your maintenance tools to fight back?” Casella said.
DD14 giggled. “Not quite, Lady Casella. I believe the spare parts will be more to your liking.”
“You’re telling me,” Trez said as she wrenched a pistol from a mangled arm poking out of the scrap heap. “This thing could tear one of those hunks of junk apart… if it had juice.”
“That will not be a problem. All weaponry within this facility is calibrated to the network and should work as expected once charged.”
“Seriously?” I said.
“Of course, Master Brandon. What would I have to gain from lying?”
It was hard to know, but her entire story about wanting to help us because she admired us stunk. I mean, from a person, sure, but from an android? It didn’t feel right.
If only I could think of a reason she’d let us destroy the place she was supposed to protect.
“Damn, look at this,” Trez said as she kept on digging. “Oh, this’ll be a big help. This too. And… oh my days.” She pulled
out a cannon around the size of a boombox in some 80s movie. “A railgun? Fuck, we’ve hit the jackpot. Those robots aren’t going to know what hit them.”
“I am afraid that particular weapon is inoperable,” DD said.
“Seriously? Fucking tease. Hmm… I guess the rest of this stuff’ll have to do.”
“In your capable hands, I am sure of it.”
I exhaled and looked at DD14. “You’re really willing to help us?”
“Sweetie?!” Akko said.
“Of course, Master Brandon,” DD14 replied, giving another bend of the knee.
“Are you seriously going to listen to her?” Akko continued, shaking my arm. “She’s up to no good. I’m sure of it.”
“Maybe so… but what choice do we have?” I responded. “If she claims she can help us, we can’t afford to turn her down.”
“I agree,” Vay said. “Worst comes to worst, she betrays us, and pays the price. I’ll see to that personally.”
“Only if you can beat me to it,” Faris said.
“There is no need to fear,” DD14 said. “I would never dream of betraying your trust.”
“Words are simpler than actions,” I replied before offering a hand. “But, for the time being, we’ll be counting on you.”
Her surprisingly warm hands, more silk than steel, met mine. “Thank you, Master Brandon. You will not regret this decision.”
“I better not, or Faris and Vay will be the least of your problems.” It was a claim I meant wholeheartedly, yet she didn’t so much as flinch. Her smile persevered.
I’d make sure to discover whether it was fake or not in time.
“Okay,” I said after releasing her hand. “Trez, get those weapons charged. It’s time we make this facility ours!”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Sylvetty said as she waved her hands around.
I crooked a brow. “Is something wrong?”
“Aye, just a wee little thing,” she responded. “What the feck’ve ya all been talking about?!”
I exhaled. Okay, we’d make the facility ours once Sylvetty understood what was going on.
Chapter 9
I peeked through the open doorway.
The halls were clear; there wasn’t a security bot in sight.
“So far so good,” I mumbled.
Our android companion joined me by the exit. “I did what I could to hide our presence from the sentries. However, that will no longer be possible once we start moving. I fear combat is all but inevitable.”
I sighed. “As long as we get there in one piece, I’ll give you a passing grade, D… what was your name again?”
“I am DD14-Z52X.”
“Snappy. Sounds like your creator had a real knack for names.” I said. “Alright, from now on you’ll be… DD.”
“Understood, Master Brandon,” DD replied, curtsying. “Thank you for—”
I dragged her back into the room and signaled for her to be quiet.
A security bot rolled by outside.
Once it was gone, I exhaled. “Okay… which way to this Inner Core?”
“We will begin by turning right,” DD said. “I shall provide instructions as we progress.”
I nodded before glancing over my shoulder. “Is everyone ready?”
Trez twirled her pistol around like a gunslinger from spaghetti western, finishing up with a pose fit for a movie poster. “You know it.”
Vay, on the other hand, was still hanging onto her greatsword. “Always ready, stud.”
“Alright,” I replied. “Let’s do this.”
After I was sure there weren’t any robots around—besides the one on our side—I crept into the hallway, waving for my mates to follow. Of course, I’d insisted on taking point. I was armed for the job. Along with my trusty axe, I had a blaster of my own as well as certain something I had a feeling would be very useful.
With a flex, the bracelet on my left arm lit up, projecting a blocky blue light shield in front of me.
“Awesome,” I whispered.
Now this is what science fiction is all about.
I much preferred it to stuff trying to kill us.
Once Vay had activated her own shield, and everyone else had gotten into position between us, we advanced forward with DD acting as our guide.
“Be prepared to fire at a moment’s notice,” Faris whispered, armed with both her spear and a pistol. She’d left the breathing equipment in the repair shop so there was no danger of it exploding in the middle of combat.
Akko gulped, the gun in her hands rattling. “D-do we really have to do this?”
“I am afraid so, Lady Akko,” DD said. “My presence was all that prevented the sentries from searching our location. Hiding there would be unwise without my assistance.”
“That’s not what I meant! Do we really have to go against all these evil robots?”
“It will be okay, yes?” Casella said as she swiveled from side to side, pistol primed and ready. “Look how fancy our weapons are.”
“Your weapons,” Sylvetty said. “I ain’t got a bleeding thing.”
“Are you surprised?” Trez quipped. “You think we’d trust your uncivilized ass with a gun?”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?!”
“Shh,” I said as we reached a junction. All ways were clear and that’s how I wanted it to remain. “DD?”
“Straight ahead.”
“Much obliged.”
We progressed at a steady, cautious pace, eager to avoid any confrontations. I opened my senses as wide as I could, hoping they’d keep us safe.
After ten minutes of following DD’s instructions, I froze.
“My Brandon?” Casella whispered.
“There’s some ahead,” I said. “They’re coming this way.”
“Let’s head back,” Akko said, already moving.
“No,” I grumbled. “They’ve got us beaten for speed.” It was some ways back to the last junction.
“I am afraid there is nowhere to hide,” DD said.
I clicked my tongue. “Guess we don’t have any choice. Everyone, get back.” I dropped down to a knee and rested my shield against the ground.
“Sweetie,” Akko mumbled.
“Don’t worry about me,” I said, getting my gun ready. “I’ll deal with this.”
The rollerbots soon appeared. Before they got too close, they shed their metal cocoons and transported into gun-happy spider sentries.
“Not this time,” I said as I leaned around my barrier and fired.
My lasers surged down the corridor… and flew past the robots. They responded by firing their cannons, striking me on the shield.
I jerked, bracing myself so I wasn’t knocked on my ass.
The shots had a lot more weight behind them than I presumed they would. They pinged against my sci-fi buckler, diluting its color from a blue, down to a yellow already turning orange.
“Be careful, Master Brandon,” DD said. “When a shield takes too much damage, it loses strength and eventually breaks.”
“Now you tell me,” I grumbled as I returned fire.
Once again, all my shots went askew.
The sentries didn’t.
I gritted my teeth as my shield surged through orange and hit a nice bright red that, if my video game experience told me anything, meant I didn’t have much time left.
Dammit, you lousy gun. Work!
I kept trying, but nothing changed. It didn’t matter how many shots I fired, it was like my bullets were allergic to hitting the target.
Was it possible the security possessed some laser-deflecting force fiel—
A laser barrage shot past me from behind, blitzing into both bots. It didn’t take many hits to blow them both to smithereens.
I gawked at the smoldering scrap ahead before glancing back at my saviors.
Casella, Trez, Faris, and Akko were all stuck mid-pose, smoke drifting from the barrels of their weapons. They looked like a team of hardened military vets… before Akko tw
itched and went back to squirming on the spot.
“Are you okay, sweetie?!” Akko asked.
“Fine,” I replied, brain a little slow on the uptake. “You guys did that?”
Casella giggled. “Mhm! Impressed?”
“Am I ever? I don’t think any of you missed a shot!” Sure, there were a few scorch marks littering the walls, but I was pretty sure that was all me…
She beamed. “It was sort of like using a bow, but nowhere near as tricky.”
“Yeah, this is a piece of piss compared to using a sling,” Trez said, as she twirled her pistol around her finger. “Plus, you know, what sorta ex-scumbag would I be if I couldn’t shoot?”
“Soldier for me,” Faris said. “I could make that shot in my sleep.”
That all made sense, especially Faris. However, that didn’t explain how a certain somebody had managed to keep up.
All of a sudden, everyone was waiting for Akko.
She fidgeted under the glare of the spotlight. “I… back in school, I used to sort of have a crush on this guy who liked shooting games. I thought if I got good enough and impressed him, then maybe we’d… y-you know.” Her lavender cheeks sizzled red.
I grinned. “Well, you’ve impressed me. It’s like you’ve captured my heart all over again.”
Akko tensed as the red glow spread across her face.
Vay laughed and thumped Akko’s shoulders. “Nice going, little one. To think you of all people would turn out to be a master gunslinger.”
“I… I-I’m not, really…”
“Was it really that impressive?” Sylvetty whispered.
“Totally,” Trez replied. “Trust us, we’re babes. Most people are as useless as Muscles.”
I pulled my best poker face and pretended I hadn’t heard that.
Maybe I should concentrate on a melee build from here ou—
I tensed up as my instincts detected a familiar sound: metal rolling across metal. “There’s more incoming!”
“As we speak, all sentries in the vicinity should be heading for this location,” DD said. “I suggest we keep moving, lest we end up surrounded.”
“Why didn’t you say that earlier?!” Akko squeaked.
“Apologies, Lady Akko. I presumed you had already realized as such.”
“We can point fingers later,” I said as my senses traced every incoming threat. “For now, let’s keep moving!” The path onward was clear; it was time to go.
