Machine God: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (27 page)

Two familiar faces stood out. 

Hecto and Ceedee.

For a second, all my tiredness vanished and made way for a mushy feeling. I was grateful for every recognizable face. Ceedee hugged me and pressed tighter than anyone before.

“I’m glad you came back.”

“Well, someone has to piss off Hecto.”

He almost grinned but caught himself.

“I see you’re playing hero again. You just can’t quit, eh?”

“It’s the role of a lifetime.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

Straight to business, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“We'll arm all the capable citizens and take back L4-L9. Konforma still has control over the cams, so she can guide our advance to warn us from incoming Technoids."

“Do you have a sniper rifle?” Ceedee said.

“Sorry. No special wishes at this stage. You have to stick to an AK-BL8 or a Dust Viper 15mm.”

She shrugged with a disappointed sigh.

Grabbed a 15mm from Glitch's gearback, checked the chamber, slid in a fresh mag and switched off the safety.

“At least it comes with armor-piercing bolts.”

In the midst of the short reunion, Konforma beamed herself next to our group and raised her little pinky.

“Um, citizens? I hate to break your bond, but my cameras show that every Technoid is heading toward your direction.”

Everyone nodded and behaved accordingly, i.e. gearing up and getting ready for the final shootout.

It was good being among soldiers again.

Konforma tiptoed toward my direction.

“I’ve got more bad news. I’m afraid the Technoids have captured citizen-scientist Ann-Lyze and are leaving via the Sky Gardens."

The anger cooked my composure.

“How is that possible…she was locked-in on the ground floor.”

“Not really. I opened the door and let her out.”

My mouth failed for a second.

“Why?”

“She’s a high-ranking citizen and has the permission to access every level if permissable. She said she wanted to be of use and targeted the armory. I made sure the path was safe until the fire in the commons hall broke out."

Even the AI chained herself to the rules.

What was wrong with these Bulwarks?

Bureaucratic to the bone, even the digital one.

The anger swapped for an ad hoc plan.

“I have to get her back. Who knows where they’re taking her.”

Naif lifted his arm next to me.

“I’m coming with you. We make a good team.”

I hesitated but he was right, his fire support was impeccable up to this point. Besides, there was another issue I had to take care of, but that was for later. 

My attention turned back to Hecto who had geared up.

“You take care of the commons. Konforma can update you on the Technoid’s positions.”

“I know what to do. I’m the veteran soldier around here, remember?”

Hecto was acting full Hecto again.

Ceedee pinched his biceps and played her smile.

“He just saved our goddamn lives. At least pretend to be grateful."

Hecto ain't no pretender, but he did give me a nod, probably the closest thing to a compliment.

Whatever, I left him in charge and escaped the commons with Naif. The Bulwarks had now armored up and took position near the entrances, ready to reclaim the cluster, floor by floor. 

I reached the staircase with Naif and rocketed up the stairs. 

“Konforma, give me the abductor's position.”

Roger that.

The endgame was near.

79

Up at the Sky Gardens, the chase began. We burst through the gate and sprinted over the first steel bridge. Traversed the adjacent rooftop and caught up with the Technoid fireteam. 

Three in total, two regulars and one big one, taking Ann-Lyze hostage.

Wow. 

What a sight.

The giant wore dark carapaces with at least twice the plate-coating.

Stomped like an iron statue carrying enough attitude to melt a concrete layer.

My instinct rang on high alert.

“Incoming heavy," Naif said.

He ducked near the crates.

And heavy the Technoid was. 

A freaking tank on two legs, marching toward us with a giant gun attached to his arm. An energy orb materialized in front of its barrel and spat a bright beam toward our direction. 

The two others gave him fire support.

It went ratatatatata on the rooftops.

My world erupted in flames, part two.

I rolled sideways and witnessed how my cover split in half. By instinct, I leaped to the next spot on the roof and unleashed a volley from my AK-BL8.

The shots hit the giant's armor but reflected.

Like a stone giant, he marched our way and burned our cover with his massive beam weapon.

Naif hunkered down behind the opposite crate and refused to engage with the enemies.

Fury washed my mouth.

“Shoot that sucker. What are you waiting for?”

“It’s useless. Your weapons can’t penetrate that kind of armor.”

What was the alternative? 

Become a target practice and wait till they dragged away Ann-Lyze?

No way. 

When my new cover spot melted, I waited for the giant Technoid to recharge. Then I jackknifed from my position, chose the smallest rooftop bridge made out of hull plates, guarded by a slim DIY railing, and reached the other side.

“Are you fleeing?”

Naif yelled from my ex-rooftop. 

I shouted back.

“Tactical retreat.”

When the heavy entered the narrow bridge, I rolled out my last flashbang and watched it cloud the space around him. I reentered the bridge and used the crystalline blade of my AK-BL8 to cut through the ground. The attached sword separated the plates with ease. Five cuts and the tight bridge swung sideways.

Plate pieces collapsed into the concrete abyss.

And I’m with it.

80

Good thing I carried a grapple gun.

Even better—the heavy didn’t.

During the fall, I unleashed the cabled dart and hit the ledge on the opposite roof.

The dart pulled me up via the cable. In the corner of my left eye, I saw the heavy Technoid roaring into the ground too many floors below. The forsaken streets welcomed the heavy’s fall with space wide open. 

Good riddance.

81

Back on the rooftop, Naif helped me up. He must have defeated the two other Technoids, because I couldn't see them anymore. 

Naif said,

“Only you could pull it off. Your actions amaze me with every passing moment. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at this point.”

To be honest, I was done with surprises myself. I looked up and saw Ann-Lyze running at our direction. She had tears in her eyes but looked okay, apart from her torn-apart gear and the dust smearing her sweaty face. I tried to meet her halfway, but the strength rivered out my legs. Every step felt like marching through liquid concrete, every movement hurt. I reached the limits of my body usage, Ann-Lyze and Naif needed to support me. We rested for a moment and viewed the ruinous buildings of the cluster, all connected to the main Bulwark skyscraper via the make-shift steel bridges. Silence flushed the sight, I couldn't hear any more gunfire.

Konforma updated me.

“Looks like the cluster is back in Bulwark control. Hecto and Ceedee performed admirably, but we lost many good people today.”

“Orden?” 

“Nope, she’s alive and well.”

You couldn't have it all.

Ann-Lyze hugged me and wiped her tears on my armor.

Maybe you could.

“Thank you for everything. I thought these freaks were going to take me back to their cluster. Irrgs. I don't even want to think about it."

She paused.

"Is there something I can do for you?"

“You actually can. I want you to check the medstations. You’re dehydrated and need medical attention ASAP.”

She looked at me with her deep brown eyes.

“And you two?”

“We’re going to hangout for a few minutes and have a little soldier talk.”

“Are you sure?”

“150% certain.”

She gave me another hug before she left our rooftop with a bewildered face. I hated to see her leave so soon, but it was for her own security.

Naif stood next to me and watched her go.

“A little talk between soldiers? Now you’re making me curious.”

I got up and moved around the rooftop, stretched my limbs and inhaled the fresh air. Every part of my body pained, shreds of my back plates crumbled. It was a miracle I was still alive. But this issue mattered.

More than anything.

Naif's face shield pointed toward my direction. 

I said,

“I want to personally thank you for covering my back all these times. I know we had a rough start when we blasted through the ground during our digging mission, but ever since we reentered the secret tunnels, you supported me like no one else.”

He shrugged.

“Forgive me for my initial hostility, but I had no clue that you were such a remarkable being. My ego blinded me."

"No need to excuse yourself. These are devastating times, and they push us to what is humanly possible."

I looked at the vast sky that contrasted the barren concrete jungles of the Bulwark Cluster. Whenever my breath stalled and frustration misted my mind, I simply had to look up to feel hopeful again. The firmament was my totem of freedom.

“You know, even though I just recently learned about the Technoids, I feel like I know so much about them. I believe I get them better than the Bulwark citizens."

“Interesting,” Naif said.

“Despite being technological-advanced and infusing their weaponry into their bodies, they really do believe in their religion."

Pause.

"In the beginning, I thought it was plain madness. The whole talk about the Machine God and so on. I believed the Technoids were simply looters and shooters without a cause. Foolish me."

"And now?"

"Now I believe every action they commit is geared toward their mission, their holy war or whatever they call it. There's a strategy behind it, one I haven't deciphered yet."

“Don’t worry, they’re all dead now. The Bulwark Cluster is ours again.”

“Not quite,” I said.

“At least one Technoid’s left.”

I took out my Dust Viper and pointed it at Naif.

“And he’s standing in front of me.”

82

Naif held still.

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“Then let me enlighten you. Ever since we fell through the ground on the digging site, I’ve never seen you drink or eat anything.”

“I’m a soldier, I’m trained to fight my natural urges.”

“Bullshit. You’ve been wearing that armor twenty-four seven. You never even turned your face shield off."

The soldier hesitated and moved slowly.

“That’s a tough accusation, after all I’ve done for you. I put my life on the line, at least three times.”

“Because you believe I’m some kind of chosen one, which seems to fit into your twisted religion.”

“With all due respect, I think your exhaustion has clouded your mind. I’m not a Technoid. I’m a soldier loyal to the Bulwark.”

“Then take off your helmet.”

He waited and stood around like a statue waiting to get delivered.

I repeated my demand.

“Take off your helmet and let me see your face.”

“You don’t trust me at all. I already told you my body's heavily scarred.”

“Do it.”

Pause.

Silence.

Except for the wind brushing around my ears.

And the heart drumming behind my chest.

Going ba-dump, ba-dump.

“As you wish.”

Naif's hands disappeared behind his helmet, flipped off the mechanism.

Went click-clack.

I finally got to see his head.

So that was the real Naif.

Bald.

Probably around his late twenties.

The face of a battle-worn young man.

Apart from the circuit patterns snaking through his skin, and the artificial jaw that penetrated his cheeks.

The lower part of his grimace looked like a cybernetic skull.

“You got me," Naif the Technoid said.

He sounded even more mechanical without the helmet on. My aim remained steady.

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t blast your head with a bolt.”

Naif sounded like serenity itself.

“You really want to know?"

"I'm tired of secrets at this point. Don't BS me again."

"Very well."

Naif's movement remained controlled, but I watched him with extra care.

“You think we’re a bunch of lunatics, but if you hear about the legacy, it does make sense. 

Especially to you. The signs are obvious at this point.”

“Do enlighten me.”

“Well, the legends say that a long time ago, the Machine God traveled from across the galaxy and discovered our planet. They saw what was wrong with our civilization and wanted to help us, but humanity, in its sheer stupidity, answered with weapons. It was the beginning of the Great Collision.”

“Sounds like a twisted fairy tale.”

“Oh, but it’s so much more. You see, the Machine God is kind, and they want us to guide us to the light. They have envisioned a better future where technology and organisms have merged into the ultimate life form, which they call the Promised Space. They had tried many ways to show us this sacred possibility, but communicating with a different species proved challenging, especially one as primitive as ours. They are lightyears ahead from our limited mind. That's why every dialogue between our ancestors and the Machine God ended in utter destruction."