Rimworlds. Worlds that lay on the outer edges of the galaxy. Most lay uninhabited and completely overlooked by most of the populous. However every now and then the galaxy turns its eyes to Rimworlds. Whether it's for the underground riches they contain or for precursor artifacts. Many a civilization has sent their best and brightest to these Rimworlds in the hopes of finding out more about their creators. These civilizations soon get a grave reminder of what a Rimworld is, a place of endless strife and war.
Base Alpha 2. A relic of a war fought long ago during the war of the mechanoids upon Rimworld Pandora III. Its empty corridors, which were once well lit and maintained, have fallen into disrepair as water leaks through the walls. Its once magnificent refugee rooms collapsed under the weight of the very same mountain that protected the denizens from mechanoid airstrikes. The Civilizations answer to the overwhelming numbers of mechanoids was Experiment 131. The creation of what would later be known as The Marines.
This base was like many others created during this war, but the thing that separated it from the rest were its defenders. The Marines. The crown jewels of a civilization long forgotten. These men and women, bred and modified beyond human comprehension, could go toe to toe with even the most dangerous of mechanoid threats. However, their creation was too late to prevent the civilizations defeat and most were sealed away at scattered bases on the planet.
Alpha 2 had the biggest storage complex with 25 cryosleep caskets each holding a Marine that could destroy an empire by itself, but time has a sense of humor. Many of the caskets have been crushed under the weight of ill-repaired roofs, only the blood that coats the rocks tell of the denizens fate. Only one casket remains its light diming as it exhausts the last of the Base's power supply.
Through the ever winding corridors, something awakens. A bright light emits from a small room that contains only a small server.
"AI Alpha booting up." A voice says. Its voice reverberates through the Base and can be heard in all intact rooms.
"Running Diagnostics," Alpha says. "Power at 15%. Food.0%. Medical Supplies. 0%. Detecting life signals from the storage unit." Its cold voice echoes through the halls. "Awakening Marine. Designation Experiment 131. Onyx-Type number 2054."
The light of the functioning casket goes out the seals on it unlocks. The door of the casket opens and a massive figure steps out of it. By human standards, the figure is a giant standing at 7 feet and with the brawn to support it. Its arms have a black crystal-like substance coating it which seem to grow brighter as the figure regains consciousness. These same growths appear on its legs and on its back. While its body is naked its face is covered by a helmet of pitch black which is missing both mouth and eyeholes.
"Diverting power from casket number 25 and entering power save mode," Alpha says. "Welcome back number 2054 of 2054."
The figure stands silently in the darkness of the storage room. "Orders?" It says curtly.
"Congratulations!." A voice from inside the helmet says. A display opens in front of the figure and on it a well-dressed human.
The human is well-aged in possibly his mid-50s. His clothing is white with gold linings and he stands prominently among a crowd of humans with the same attire.
"Congratulations!" The human says again. "The War is Over!." he says with elation. "You've seen the end of the great struggle against the mechanoid menace. Through your bravery and iron-will, we have seen the end of the war." The man seems on the verge of tears. "Thank you." He says "Number 2054 of 2054." The man's voice goes robotic. Images of people flash through the display each says "Thank you, Number 2054 of 2054." The first an old woman, then a child, then a pregnant woman holding her stomach, and finally a baby in a mother's arms. Each voice is robotic with the only organic thing being the people themselves.
The display shows the man again. This time he is sitting in a chair and looks directly at Number 2054. He says nothing as a fast-talking robotic voice plays over the scene. "This presentation was taken before the war was finished and is not liable for whether we emerge victoriously or not. This presentation was brought to you by the Garrison Army of Pandora III. Thank you." As the message finishes a slight tear falls from the man's eye, and the display closes.
2054 stands silently thinking over the message. He leans back onto the now-closed casket and takes in the information.
"Major Break Risk Detected." Alpha interrupts. "Engaging personality AI Echo."
"Hello, 2054." A voice says sweetly. A hologram of a woman's mouth appears in front of 2054 and smiles. The display is being controlled by a light on the wall. "I apologize this is all I can muster with this amount of power."
"How long." 2054 says curtly.
"How long of what?" Echo responds curiously.
2054 swiftly turns around and faces the holographic mouth.
"How long was I asleep."
The mouth loses its smile.
"You were asleep for 1000 years," Echo says with a sad tone. "Your birthday is in two days." Her happiness returns. "Happy early birthday!"
2054 stumbles backward and sits by his casket. He moves his hand to where his mouth should be. "1000 years….." He trails off in disbelief. He looks back to the mouth. "What about the others? Are they alright? Did we win?" He stands back up and walks to where he is almost phasing through the mouth. "Can I go home?"
"I will answer all your questions!" She says elatedly. "But only after you restore power to the base and give me a body!"
"Answer my questions you FUCKING MACHINE!" 2054 shouts angrily at the mouth.
The mouth makes a cough. "This is an order," Echo says this in a robotic tone of voice.
2054 freezes up. His body forcefully makes itself stand at attention. "It will be done." He says completely emotionless.
"Good!" Echo says happily. "Oh and please get dressed."
"As you command." 2054 responds with an indifferent tone.
He walks steadily down the darkened corridors. His steps are consistent and confident even in the pitch black. As he walks a chunk of rock falls from the roof and crashes into his helmet. The rock cracks the helmet smashing it into the flesh beneath it. 2054 continues to walk at the same pace even as blood flows from underneath his helmet. He continues walking until he comes to a door with the label "Armory" emboldened on the door. The granite automatic door has ceased functioning so 2054 kicks the door in with one powerful kick.
The armory is flooded with the water reaching the knees of 2054. He walks through the water until he reaches a wall chest with the numbers "2054" labeled on it. He opens it to reveal his gear. Power armor, a helmet that has eyes, a gun, and a case full of medical tablets. He equips his armor in an almost robotic fashion. He opens the case and sticks a tablet underneath his helmet. After two loud crunches, he takes off his helmet and replaces it with the one in the chest. This helmet has eye spaces which, upon putting it on his head, create two circular eyes. The eyes glow a royal purple. 2054 opens an undamaged roof locker and takes out a box of tools and walks out of the armory.
As he walks down the corridors toward the power room he can be heard whispering "Maker be damned." He keeps repeating this phrase quietly and quickly like a personal prayer. He turns a corner only to find that the way to the room is drenched in water and a power cord has fallen into the water electrifying it. He walks through the electrified water, his power armor taking the damage, and opens the blast door to the power room. The small nuclear reactor that powers the base has been damaged by water and rocks and requires immediate repair. His armor protects him from the leaking radiation and he repairs the reactor.
"Nice work 2054. Order complete!" she says with joy.
2054's eyes change from purple to green. "Are you willing to answer my questions now, Echo?"
"Yes, I am. Please meet me in the AI room and I will debrief you." She says excitedly. "Power at 100%. Excess power at 150%. Deploying cleaning and construction bots."
2054 walks toward the AI room barely dodging the quick moving robots that pass him trying to get to their work. As he enters the AI room he is greeted by the hologram of Echo. This time however her point of origin is unknown and she is fully formed.
Echo takes the appearance of a woman in her mid-20s. She wears a blue summer dress with sandals too match. A bonnet covers her head and studded earring adorn her ears. Her skin is Caucasian and her face is covered with freckles. Her hair is red and flows down her back in a big curl.
"Don't I look so much better 2054?" She asks shyly.
"Answers." He responds curtly.
"Awww no fun." She says hovering over to him and reclining on his shoulder. "I will answer your questions, but you might not like them."
"It doesn't matter if I like them or not. I need to know."
"Alright well don't say I didn't warn you." She takes a deep breath. "All known experiments in this base are dead. You are the last one. Both home and victory are hard to explain."
"What do you mean, Echo?" He questions.
"I'm saying that this information will make you break."
"Try me." 2054 sits on the ground and waits for her response.
Echo sighs. "Very well." She takes another deep breath. "We did not claim victory on this world. After you and your kin were put to sleep nothing was able to stop the mechanoids and the civilization that made us was destroyed. We thought that the mechanoids would be happy with just one planet, but it turns out we were wrong again. The reason for why they wanted this planet was to unearth their ancient planet-cracker."
"Planet-cracker. Why would they need that, our civilization lives on this planet? Didn't they complete their mission already."
"Yes, it is universally outlawed by the organic species of the galaxy, but well you know. Mechanoids are robots essentially so they don't follow the rules. It also turns out that the civilization that made us also colonized other planets. The ones that made us were just an offshoot of an even greater civilization."
"A greater civilization?" 2054 asks is disbelief. "Can't be."
"No, it's true. This greater civilization is light years away and has colonized many planets and actually destroyed the mechanoid threat."
"How did they do that?"
"I don't know. That's the end of the information that Alpha could gather before we had to shut down the orbital communication station."
2054 sits silently and recaps the info he just received.
"2054 we have a problem," Echo says with uncharacteristic seriousness.
"What's wrong?"
"I've detected two life signs outside the base. One of them is organic."
"So? This base isn't in any shape to take in refugees again."
"The other is robotic in nature."
2054 stands up his eyes have changed from green to red. "May I?"
"You may." Echo walks into 2054.
2054's helmet display lights up and one of his eyes turns blue.
"Let's go do what we were made for," Echo says her voice reverberating in 2054's helmet.
"Maker be Damned," They both say as they walk towards the base's exit.