Chapter Thirteen #2
"Unknown," said Axios. Metal tore, and a finger-sized tear appeared with grey light seeping in. One raindrop fell, landing on my forehead. "Yes."
"Okay, you two. I can't turn you into weapons, right?" I had an image of Terminator-like robots blasting away, but intuition said that wouldn't happen.
Axios' tone remained dry. "Correct. Unauthorized individuals are not allowed to command Simulacrums for battle. Only to perform basic logistics."
"Fine, Hon. So, can you each decide to protect yourselves and how to do it?"
Solis brightened. "Oh, Darling, what a marvelous idea!" The face elongated with a mouthful of curved teeth, and her hands tapered into stabby points. "Yes, Thomas! I can!"
Axios' hands morphed into blunt hammers. "The Master will destroy our memory crystals for sure."
"One more favor. Can you choose to give us armor? Something simple like claws so we can protect ourselves?"
Axios' eyes glowed green. "Repurposing nanites and separation is possible, but it would compromise our structural integrity."
"Then a small amount to cover the vital areas. As long as it doesn't hurt you."
After a moment's hesitation, Axios nodded.
Solis rested her hand on my shoulder amid the metal screeching, and Axios did the same to Parker. White and black DuraMetal appeared over our faces, hearts, and other vital organs. A video overlay flickered, highlighting hostiles screaming to get in.
A sand-colored claw reached in, and Solis stabbed it faster than I could follow. It screamed and withdrew. "It did not enjoy that at all!"
"Parker? A drone back on Earth zapped my brothers. Can this one?"
"Actually, yes," said Parker. "It's a repurposed Volardi drone with a better paint job. It's not a laser, but I can't imagine those things liking it."
"So we're not totally defenseless. Axios, can this ship fly?" I asked.
"It can, but sustained operation may compromise the more volatile components."
"That's great!"
Quickly, I told him my plan, and the transport spun like a drunk carnival ride, throwing monkey-like Zerlites into the canyon walls. My nose wrinkled at a smoky scent, as if something had burst inside the ship itself. It soon sputtered to a stop.
Axios pressed buttons in quick succession while the ship's alarm blared loudly.
Solis cut through the wreck's underside, and we hurried out.
The simian Zerlites still clambered over the upper hull, tearing at scorched metal.
Near the ground, the canine-like clay creatures prowled low and alert.
While boulder-shaped critters crouched motionless, almost indistinguishable from the sandy ground, save for their glowing orange eyes.
We all ducked behind large rocks, and I whispered. "Shouldn't something be happening?"
"Intentionally destroying a Volardi ship is not within my permitted default programming," said Axios. "I did request multiple diagnostic queries, which require intensive processing power." He frowned further. "However, it may not be enough to—"
The Zerlites flew back like rag dolls as the explosion lit the canyon.
Bloated, crab-headed ones hit the ground with wet thuds, their swollen shells splitting open in bursts of bile-colored sludge and stringy black mucus that hissed against the sand.
Even from here, the stench of something like burning hair punched my nose.
The simian types shrieked in unison. Some got incinerated mid-leap, while others were skewered by twisted metal. One clawed at its blackened skin before crumpling into the sand.
Below, the stone-bodied Zerlites cracked apart under the shockwave, molten-orange eyes flickering out. The dog-like clay ones whined and collapsed into twitching chunks.
Then, for a single surreal moment, everything went still. Just the hiss of melting alloy, falling debris, and oily smoke curling into the darkening sky.
Then, movement.
A monstrous blur of claws, bloated shells, and rocky hides charged through the fire, glowing eyes locked on us like a school of hungry piranha.
Solis leaped forward, her arms transforming further into thin, gleaming sabers. With a balletic motion, she drove one of her 'hands' through a Zerlite's chest, its screech cut short as it collapsed into the sand.
Axios followed, his shorter bulk moving with surprising agility. Hammer-fists swung down, crushing the skull of a gremlin-like creature in a single blow. "Efficient neutralization," he muttered.
I raised my clawed gauntlet as a Zerlite lunged. One upward slash tore through its gut. A shrill scream came, then a collapse. I struck again, severing its spindly arm.
Parker's drone zapped one in the face. It convulsed and dropped.
"Not bad for a camera bot," he shouted, firing again.
We held the line. Solis stabbed with a dancer's grace, and Axios crushed skulls with hammer fists. Parker electro-stunned, and I slashed.
It wasn't enough.
For every monster we killed, three more took its place.
They swarmed around, their glowing eyes reflecting rage, hunger, or both.
One of them managed to get past Axios and leapt toward Parker.
I turned in time to slash it mid-air, but the movement left me open, and another barreled into my side, knocking me to the ground.
Dry claws raked against my white armor, sending sparks.
Axios swung his hammer hand, slamming the creature off me, but he slowed. Solis' movements grew less fluid, her nanites struggling to keep up with the damage she took. Parker's drone let out a strained whine after the last energy zap.
Then, a roar cut through the chaos.
The swarm froze for a split second, their heads snapping toward the sound.
Zephyron.
***