Chapter 2: Raise The Stakes
A key facet of the functionality of any army is a central headquarters: a site where the leaders of that army discuss war tactics, gather and process intelligence, and plan their next assaults against the enemy.
The Traitors – a small band of Creators that decided to turn to the side of evil - and their Machines knew where the Precursors had built theirs: Rio de Janeiro.
The Traitors penultimate base was stationed in a spacious city in the Texas Panhandle. The city once known as Amarillo, Texas had been converted from a vibrant artery of commerce in the north of the state to a place where the truest evil resided.
The Traitors had to unite somewhere following their defeat in Rio in 2090 at the hands of the Precursors, and what better place to do just that than a meager city of just over 700,000 people? The battered and broken remnants of the Machines' army forced every living soul out the city, and those who opposed were slaughtered.
The greatly reduced army set about converting the city into a powerful military base, and several locations in Amarillo proved to be of great value for them.
A large building called Westgate Mall – a sprawling artifact with many thousands of square feet of space and dozens of stores – became the factory where more Machines were created and repaired, and also as a research and development area.
The downtown area bore a cluster of towering skyscrapers, and the largest – as evidenced by the shattered and time worn sign near the top of the facade – was the Chase Tower. The multi-story structure was formerly the city's premier banking center, but the Traitors had remodeled the interior for their own diabolical needs.
It became the place where the Traitors had installed their radar equipment and their meeting rooms, and the place where they coordinated their war efforts and processed all the data they received.
The re-sculpturing of the city took fifteen grueling years, for the Great Distortion in 2100 halted their progress ten years into the construction. Amarillo was finally converted into a fully operational offensive and defensive expanse by 2105, and by that time, the army of evil Machines had risen to well over five thousand members.
With their success, the human leaders of the army handed over the reigns to their mechanized equals – a pair of sadistic Lear's Macaws – and went into hiding.
They were just as fearsome and imposing as the Precursors, since the human Traitors had spent a great many years perfecting them using the knowledge they had stolen from the Creators.
They were deemed to be an even match with the Precursors, and they were the only ones capable of taking them down; no other entity could hope to survive in full-on combat with those two Spix's Macaws.
The two Lear's Macaws possessed twisted Scions inside their tungsten carbide bodies; mechanized evil of the truest form. They ruled their subordinates with iron claws, nothing like the controlled strictness that the Precursors utilized.
They tolerated zero dissent or disrespect: their punishments were severe for first offenders, and downright diabolical for the soldiers that dared to wrong them twice.
They believed this harsh treatment tempered their soldiers and allowed them to perform better in combat. The back-and-forth war between them and the Precursors had been going on for decades, and if they were to see its end, their soldiers needed to be lethal and cunning.
The two Spix's Macaws - their mortal enemies and the greatest afflictions to their goal of world supremacy - had only one thing they desired: the duplication method thatwould allow them to create as many Scions as they wanted, without fear of degrading the copies.
The Lear's Macaws would do everything in their power to get that secret, and the only way to accomplish that was to capture one of the Precursors.
That idea arose in 2130 and had been pondered many times since then, but getting past all of the defenses in Rio de Janeiro and still managing to snag one of the Spix's Macaws was a mountainous order. In short, it had never been attempted, for the casualties would have been many.
It was now the year 2140, and the macaws felt that the stakes needed to be raised... drastically.
The Lear's Macaws were discussing a plan to do just that in the highest floor of the Chase Tower, along with one of their most trusted compatriots.
As the crimson Sun crested over the southern horizon and drilled its light into the Tower, signaling the beginning of a new day, their devilish computerized brains felt a spark of grim confidence. Today was the day that – with proper planning and a shred of luck – some of their elite soldiers would capture one of the Precursors.
Once that goal was accomplished, the war would swiftly be brought to an end.
"So tell me, Daniel, how do you suggest we conduct this plan, a plan which has remained dormant in our minds for so long?"
The Military Macaw known as Daniel stood up straighter and stared back at the macaw sitting across the steel table from him.
"It comes in three operations, Hannibal, Sir. The first entails sending a fairly large force, in two waves, to Rio de Janeiro and stationing itself in the jungle. You and Lizzie will land first and draw the enemy out of their base with your presence. If the Precursors are drawn out as well, then our chance of success is near guaranteed.
You and your mate will keep the enemy talking, and stall them long enough for the rear wave to show up. Once they do, we will trap them, along with any soldiers they have, and leave them with no means of retreat.
You and Lizzie will demand that one of the Precursors be handed over in exchange for their release. Once the victim is led away, the trapped soldiers will be slaughtered without hesitation.
If we can accomplish that, our enemies will not be able to react fast enough and come in pursuit of us. If we can make it out of Rio and leave Brazil relatively undetected, it will be too late for our enemies.
We will have in our possession the duplication secret, and the Precursors' army will meet a swift end. The only sticking point is whether or not the Precursors are threatened enough to investigate. We must make absolutely sure that they fall into our trap. That is all, Sir."
Hannibal glared at Daniel fiendishly, a delightfully evil glint his eyes. Lizzie, Hannibal's mate, seemed wholeheartedly intrigued by this cunning plan.
"A very devious strategy, Daniel! I feel it may be the one we've been looking for. What do you think, dear?"
"I agree, Lizzie. This just may be what we need to finally end the Creators and their oh-so-righteous army of bastards!"
Hannibal stood up and walked around the table, placing himself a short distance away from Daniel.
"Listen here, Daniel. Lizzie and I will evaluate the logistics of your proposal in private. It is now... 0715 hours. Return at 0815 hours to hear our decision. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Sir. Perfectly clear, Sir."
"Good. Now begone! Surely there is some other matter in this building that requires your attention. Go tend to it."
"Right away, Sir! I will return at the scheduled time..."
Daniel whirled around and entered the main elevator of the tower, disappearing behind the gleaming doors as they slid shut.
Lizzie came up on Hannibal's right side and said, "I admire his plan, my love. I do think it will work. We just need to address the possible problems and inconsistencies it comprises before implementing it."
"That we do, Lizzie. Well, let's begin, shall we?"
Buried in the wash of light from the rising sun, Daniel's plan was dissected in every possible way by Lizzie and Hannibal, every detail scrutinized.
The Precursors were vastly intelligent, and the plan needed to be near perfect for them not to realize the disaster they were leading themselves into.
Nonetheless, Daniel was a very gifted thinker, and that's why he was second in command to only Hannibal and Lizzie. He took orders obediently and carried them out obediently, and his two superiors knew it was mostly out of fear rather than out of loyalty.
They took secret pleasure in bending others to their will using the power of fear. They needed to be in control, and making sure that the lesser soldiers bowed in their presence assured them that they were in control.
Daniel's plan was more or less feasible, and only a few details needed to be clarified. Hannibal and his mate decided that the ambush would be carried out tonight, under the cloak of darkness, so that the Precursors had as little clue as to what was going on as possible.
The two Lear's Macaws were just wrapping up their discussion when Daniel returned, right on time, to his superiors.
Daniel stepped from the elevator and came face-to-face with his leaders.
"What have you decided upon?"
"Your plan was very thorough, Daniel. We will assemble the strike team and carry out the mission tonight. Congratulations on a job well done!"
Hannibal gave the Military Macaw a powerful slap on the back with his wing. A loud clang resounded, but Daniel remained unaffected.
"Would you like to come along and join the raid? It is your idea, after all."
"Yes Lizzie, Ma'am."
"Good." She flashed the macaw a grateful smile before meeting her mate's gaze. "Should we announce the raid right now, or should we wait for a few more hours?"
"We will wait, Lizzie. We still have to assemble the strike team, and that takes time. Plus, the journey will consume even more time, and we will have to plan our departure so that it is night in Rio by the time we arrive."
"Very well, then. Is there anything we can do until then to pass the time?"
"Yes there is, my love. Daniel, how is construction coming along on the assault cyborg?"
"It was sixty percent complete last week, Sir. It is bound to have progressed since then. Why do you ask?"
"I would like to pay a visit to it. In the off chance that your plan fails, I need to know how soon the cyborg will be completed."
"Why is that, Hannibal?"
"You see, in the off chance that Daniel's plan fails, I need to know when the cyborg will be able to serve as backup."
It took Daniel only a few seconds to decipher the veiled meaning Hannibal's words.
"Do you mean that the Machine will be sent to Rio?"
"Exactly, Daniel. If our tactic fails tonight, as soon as the Machine is finished, it will be sent to the Precursors' base to finish what we started!"
Hannibal laughed maniacally as he boarded the elevator with his mate and Daniel, his Scion churning with pleasure as he imagined the sight of the completed cyborg tearing through his enemies and capturing one of their leaders with ease...
They descended quickly down the interior of the tower and exited the building, emerging out from under the supporting arches of the structure and ending up on the warm pavement.
The downtown area had favored much better than the outlying areas in the campaign that drove the citizens of Amarillo away from their city. The myriad of buildings stood tall and proud, albeit shining strangely in the reddish light of the Sun above.
The factory where the deadly weapon was housed for construction lay a few miles to the west, hence its former name of Westgate Mall.
Being as the Traitors had stolen much of the Creators' work when they defected, the technical design of their Machines was nearly identical to the latter's Machines.
The three birds drew out their turbofan engines and rose into flight, steadily increasing their velocity to a comfy eighty miles an hour. They sped between the buildings with ease and merged into open sky after but a minute of flight. As they sped off towards the west, their brains were brimming with excitement at what they would find hiden deep in the factory...
They sliced through the air with little effort, for their feather-laden bodies gave them all the aerodynamic properties of a normal bird. They traveled the few miles to their destination in a few short minutes, and as they came in for landing, they slowed themselves to a stop by digging into the pavement with their greatly lengthened talons.
"Don't you just love the feel of being able to spread your wings and fly as fast as you wish, my dear?"
"I do, Hannibal! Our new lives sure do have their perks."
She and Hannibal exchanged proud smiles.
"Well, enough talking for now. We need to be on our way. I am eager to see how near to completion our new... toy is!"
Hannibal strode off toward the nearby entrance doors at a brisk pace, and the two remaining macaws rushed to catch up. A steel overhang jutted from the brickwork a few feet above their heads, casting a cool shadow over the doorway.
A pair of Blue and Gold Macaws stood on either side of the steel doors, and they saluted Hannibal and Lizzie immediately.
"Good day, Sir. Good day, Ma'am." greeted the macaw on the right.
"Thank you, Saul. Could you let us in?"
"Right away, Ma'am."
He lifted a hidden flap in the wall behind him and pulled a lever down. A sound akin to steam being released was emitted, and the pair of steel doors parted to allow them in.
"Enjoy your stay Sir, Ma'am."
The trio of birds walked past the two guards and entered a narrow hallway, forcing them to walk in single file down the dimly-lit path. An automatic door slid open at the end of the hall, and they stepped into the interior of the building.
Even though the mall had been converted and remodeled extensively, the inner space was not dark by any means. A large portion of the ceiling above still retained the glass windows that let in copious amounts of natural sunlight.
The deep red glow flickered and danced about the large open space that surrounded them, and they felt as if they had walked into a harmless fireplace.
However, that was not the only source of illumination present.
The factory branched off on different directions, and all along the walls of those branches were a myriad of rooms that poured out varying colors of light. In some places the light was steady, in others erratic.
"Follow me, and I will lead you to the assembly room of the cyborg."
"Agreed, Daniel. Just make it quick!" declared Lizzie.
"Yes Ma'am..."
Daniel walked briskly down the east branch, weaving his way around the soldiers that blocked his path as they went from room to room.
All sorts of wires stretched across the floor haphazardly, following dozens of mysterious paths as they went.
The odd multi-hued glow from the rooms lining the walls made them feel like they were trapped in an advanced technological rave.
In addition, it was far from quiet; talon-clicks, electric buzzing, and the drone of chatter was constant.
The trio of Machines quickened their pace until arriving at a dead-end.
"What the hell? Is this a trick, Daniel? I'll have your head if it is."
"In no way is this a trick, Sir."
His steady voice belied the fear that gripped his senses; Hannibal was always quick to jump to conclusions, and he had never gotten used to it.
"Just behind this door is the assembly room. You haven't been here for three months, Sir. It seems you've forgotten the layout of this building."
"I'll believe it when I see it. Come on, what's taking so long?"
Daniel drew up to the left side of the doorway and used the deep red shine from his eyes to reveal a hidden panel. He flipped the panel up with his talon and punched in the security code, a thirty digit monster.
The single slab of metal rose from the ground and hid inside a groove in the wall. A torrent of soothing neon-red light followed in its wake dramatically, and the room before them was equal in size to a cavern.
"Come, so that you can inspect the Machine and see its progress..."
As they ambled deeper into the sea of light, they discovered it was streaming from regularly-spaced cylinders suspended from the domed ceiling by tiny cables, which were actually Cores.
On both sides of the room, searing metal glints caught their eyes regularly, and the Lear's Macaws deemed it to be issuing from the pieces of the "toy" they had come here to see.
The engineers that were milling about the room stopped to give a salute to their leaders before continuing on with their tasks.
Daniel took them halfway into the spacious room and whirled around after stopping.
"The legs are on the that side of the room," stated Daniel as he pointed with his left wing, "and the head is on that side..." concluded the macaw as he pointed with his right.
"I want to see the legs first."
"Very well, Sir. I assure you, they are in most exquisite condition."
They walked towards the left wall of the space and came upon a long rack shrouded with black cloth.
Hannibal walked up behind a Scarlet Macaw and grabbed him around the neck with his massive right foot. He threw him towards the rack, and the macaw skidded across the floor alongside it.
"Remove that material at once!"
The stunned macaw stood up and replied, "Y-yes... Sir."
He pinched his left foot around the edge of the sheet and dragged it off gently but quickly. As the strong red light fell upon the once-hidden objects, Hannibal's robotic eyes took in what they saw with awe.
Long rods of metal lay side-by-side one another, and they bore round knobs at regular intervals along their length.
Hannibal walked over to the front of the rack, where the somewhat wider ends of the rods lay and said, "Amazing! How long are these legs?"
"Eighteen feet, Sir." replied the Scarlet Macaw.
He walked down the right side of the rack and arrived at the other end of the legs... the business end. The tips of the legs were not blunt; each one culminated in a wickedly-sharp point like a spear. Hannibal moved his head back and forth just to catch the glints of light that bounced from the polished metal.
Perfect for impaling those fool enemies of ours! Oh how they will feel when their bodies are pierced by this eighteen foot needle of death!
Lizzie made her way over to her mate and pulled him close with one wing.
"Aren't they just so sleek... and deadly?"
"Just what we need to strike dread into our enemies, dear. The quality is impeccable, I must say. Well done!"
"Thank you, Sir!" intoned the Scarlet Macaw.
"You've had your praise, so get back to work!"
The macaw scurried off and resumed working alongside next to his partner a few feet away from the rack.
Daniel carefully replaced the heavy cloth sheet, and after he was done, he spied his leaders on the other side of the room, gawking at the other half of the incomplete war machine.
The two Lear's Macaws stood before a massive head modeled in the shape of a spider, a tarantula more specifically. Two beady eyes glared back at them from just behind another fearsome feature: two grisly fangs.
The fangs were each four feet in length and bore pronounced curves. Just like the legs, their tips were honed to near-perfect sharpness.
A group of welders were behind the head a few feet away, fabricating the abdomen of the tarantula with blinding torches. The crackling sound of metal being fused was constant, and showers of sparks blasted into the air like fireworks in miniature.
A geyser of pride surged within Hannibal and Lizzie, for this Machine had been conceived by them, and now here it was in physical form. They were the ones responsible for dreaming up this feat of engineering, and they shuddered in anticipation at the coming siege it would lay upon their enemies.
Lizzie walked around the right side of the head and tapped one of the welders on his shoulder, causing him to shut off his torch.
"How near is this contraption to completion?"
"I would say its at eighty percent completion. Once we finish the abdomen and attach the legs, all of the outside work is complete. After that, we will install the Scion and weapons, wire everything together, and then implant the Core. We'll be conducting a test run then."
"Wonderful! Can you have this finished within five days?"
An incredulous wave of emotion soaked his face.
"Only five days! We planned to have it finished in a week. Five days is pushing it, Ma'am."
"That's too long."
"Why so soon, Ma'am?"
"You do not need to know my reasoning! Five days, or I will tear your Scion from your chest and crush it with my bare talons, along with anyone else who is involved. Am I clear?"
"Yes Ma'am. Five days. I understand."
"Perfect! Now get back to work!"
The macaw hurriedly flicked his torch back on and resumed welding with increased fervor.
"Isn't just wonderful?" asked Hannibal as he approached his mate.
"Indeed, dear."
"Oh the terror in our enemies' eyes when they come face to face with this... monstrosity! I doubt they will be in any mood to come after us and try to retrieve what was stolen from them."
"What do you mean by that?"
"After we have one of the Precursors in our talons, and as soon as our Machine is up and running, we will send it to Rio at once! Any efforts they may attempt to come after us will most certainly in vain. This war is almost over. I can feel it in my Scion! Ah ha ha..."
Being as there wasn't much else to survey in the assembly room – or any other place in the compound, for that matter – the three macaws trudged back through the factory of evil and turned their sights toward home.
The landscape rushed on by beneath them, and in mere minutes they were back inside the Chase Tower, on the topmost floor. The Sun had ascended much higher in the sky by the time they returned, and it was now 1235 hours.
They still had a good eight hours to kill, so after a brief discussion regarding the release of the Machine in five days, they left their private room and traveled up and down the building.
They stopped at as many of the floors that needed their attention, or when they felt the need to inspect the work being done on those floors.
On the 29th floor, a Blue-throated Macaw had been discovered napping in a corner. Hannibal and Lizzie grew furious, and the female Lear's Macaw decided to wake him by tearing his wings from their sockets. The agonized macaw was thrown through the glass window and left to die from his impact with the ground.
The stunned birds in the room had little time to stay that way. After a harsh announcement about slacking off and its immediate consequences, the room quickly returned to normal, as if nothing had ever happened.
Though it pained them to witness the loss of one of their friends, it was a far more terrifying prospect to suffer the wrath of their leaders, and so they quickly forgot about it.
That is how things were ran in this particular army. Make a mistake, and you paid for it with your life. It was that simple.
Things were very hectic on this particular day, and Hannibal and Lizzie spent a great deal of time jumping between the myriad of floors and dealing with any problems and concerns their subordinates had.
It was past 2000 hours by the time they gained respite, and they immediately set about assembling the strike team for tonight's raid. They made one last run throughout the tower and hand picked as many fitting soldiers as they could.
They waited under the supporting structure that held the tower up and waited for the chosen birds to show up. The tower only had so many elevators, and thus it took several minutes for all of the birds to arrive.
The team consisted of fifty soldiers total; a large enough number to pose a noticeable threat to their enemies and be easily picked up on the Precursors' radar.
The almost 5600 mile journey would have taken nearly half a day – if they had to fly, that is. No, this was 2140, and long-distance travel had long-since been a time-consuming ordeal. They used a pair of devices called "Jumpers" to allow them to cross vast distances relatively quickly.
The "Jumpers" were stationed in the basement of Chase Tower, and they had been used several times over the course of the war. One of the devices was fixed, and the other was mobile.
The latter of those two was on its way as Hannibal began his short briefing of the soldiers.
"I have gathered you all here to announce a plan to lure one of the Precursors into our clutches. The operation is remarkably simple, but there is no room for error.
Here's what Lizzie and I have decided. She and I will Jump first and land at a point several miles outside of Rio and remain completely still. We will then fly the rest of the way in the direction of their headquarters and attract the attention of our enemies.
This is where you need to pay utmost attention. The rest of you will then Jump to the exact same spot as us and fly immediately to our location. We will stall the Precursors until you arrive, and once you do, surround the site completely and allow them no means of escape.
Bring out all your weapons and make your might known in full. Lizzie and I will then offer the Precursors a deal: hand one of them over, or be slaughtered. We will tell them that we have brought an army strong enough to lay siege to their base, which is a lie that they will most surely believe.
Once we have one of our targets safely in our possession, open fire on the remaining fools. Leave no survivors. We will then jump back to this town and celebrate our victory!"
A hearty tsunami of applause and whistling greeted the three macaws. They beamed proudly and allowed the cheering to persist for several moments. Lizzie then called for them to be quiet so that any questions they had could be answered.
"You there, state your name and then your question." declared Lizzie as she pointed at a Chestnut-fronted Macaw.
"My name is Logan, Ma'am, and my question is this: what if our plan fails? What then?"
"A wise concern, Logan. In the off chance that happens, we will retreat immediately. Following that failure, we will unleash our secret weapon, a mechanized tarantula. We will have it Jumped to Rio and have it capture one or both of the Precursors with unparalleled force."
"Thank you, Ma'am."
"I have a question."
"What is it, soldier?" questioned Hannibal.
"My name is Alexander, and what do you plan to do with our hostage?"
"Ah, that is quite simple, Alexander. We will have him or her subdued and kept prisoner in our private room. We will use any and all means possible to get our victim to divulge the duplication secret. Once we have acquired that, Lizzie and I will gladly dispose of that pathetic Machine with our bare talons!"
Another burst of commendation resounded, and Hannibal and Lizzie swelled from the fawning they were receiving.
Daniel felt proud, for it was his plan that had caused the riot, but his leaders did not acknowledge him in any way. He felt a flash of anger and confusion ignite within him.
Why didn't they give me the proper respect and praise? Do I really mean that little to them? Surely not! I am their most trusted helper. Surely not...
His disconcerted thoughts were cut short by the female's prideful query.
"Are there any more questions?"
A tense silence resounded, and that very silence provided the answer.
"All right then! Let's take the first steps onto the path of victory!"
The Jumper had been placed out in the street during the briefing, and the two Lear's Macaws approached it without delay. Two Hyacinth Macaws stood next to it and saluted their leaders.
"What is your destination, Sir, Ma'am?"
"Five miles north of Rio de Janeiro." replied Hannibal.
The pair of macaws nodded and punched in the target coordinates into the Jumper's on-board computer. A metal disk studded with a series of blades rose from the top of the machine, attached to a thin cylindrical shaft.
"All set, Sir, Ma'am. We will head to the basement and activate the main Jumper. You will be transported shortly..."
The macaws scurried off and vanished into the tower.
"You will Jump no later than ten minutes after us. Am I clear? This entire mission depends on that delay!"
The throng of macaws – which had moved out into the street and paused a few feet away – all nodded simultaneously.
"Good. We will see you all again shortly."
Daniel edged closer to them and asked, "Aren't I going with you? You said I could come-"
"I've changed my mind, Daniel. You will remain here and watch over your fellow warriors."
Daniel grew flustered and disheartened.
"But... but... Hannibal! Why do I have to stay behind and perform such a menial task?"
"Because I said so!"
He shot his foot out and gripped Daniel's neck like a vice, lifting him off the ground with ease.
"Never call me Hannibal again! You will refer to me as Sir."
He threw Daniel across the street and over the heads of the other stunned soldiers. He slammed into one of the brick arches that supported the tower, falling to the ground in a shower of dust and rubble.
"That is settled then. Never contradict me again, you fool!"
As Daniel struggled to get up from the blow, the five foot high contraption began to buzz, and the propeller-like disk on top revolved faster and faster. Beams of odd lightning arced from the propeller and contacted the two macaws, who disappeared in a flash of light.
That is it. They have gone too far! I do not deserve this treatment. Status is not an excuse! Curse you, Hannibal and Lizzie! I am no longer in your service, and I will do all in my power to stop your fiendish plan to win this war...
Right then and there, he swore to thwart his leaders' evil plans and give the Precursors a chance to wipe them out. While they were gone, he would formulate a hidden plan of his own, and he knew it would involve the victim they brought back...
A rift of electricity crackled through the air, and two macaws plus the Jumper were dropped gently onto the damp jungle ground.
They dusted their cloak of feathers clean and assessed their surroundings. The last slivers of sunlight had apparently left the horizon, for the cloudless sky above was a sensuous purple-black, studded with thousands of stars.
The still form of the jumper device lay just behind them, with the blade-studded disk hidden away.
"Well, it seems we have arrived, my dear."
"And at a most advantageous time of day!"
"Come, Lizzie, our destination is but a short flight away."
The whine of their mini turbofans broke the silence, and after rising a few feet into the air, they jetted off towards the south, a deadly joy pooling inside them. They skimmed the canopy at a brisk one hundred miles per hour, and thus their flight lasted just over three minutes.
They stowed their turbofans back inside their Shells and flared their wings to reduce their velocity. They skidded to a stop inside a small grove of berry bushes, at which point they proceeded to walk around and make sure their radar echoes were as clear as possible.
After a minute of prancing around, they searched for a clearing in which they could wait for their enemies to greet them. They found one such clearing a short walk to the south, and they stood conspicuously a few paces away from the center.
"They should be storming in to meet us in a few moments, dear."
"Indeed, Lizzie! This space is perfect for the ambush. It's as if it was designed for us..."
The soft ambiance of the jungle filled their senses, comprised of frogs croaking, macaws screeching, and monkeys cackling. Three minutes had gone by, and not one of the enemy birds had showed up.
"I'm getting worried, Lizzie. If we can't stall them long enough, they will call for backup, and our goal will be shattered..."
She placed a morbidly sweet wing on his back.
"Be patient, my dear. They'll come soon enough."
After another sixty seconds of unnerving waiting, they heard a plaintive rustle bounce across the clearing. Its source lay across the open space, and they spied a pair of tiny macaws stepping out of the undergrowth.
The night sky was moonless, and so the two macaws knew not who the unknowns were.
The macaws faced away and yelled, "Hey, we found two birds out here! The radar was right!"
More macaws melted from the jungle ahead, but none of them were comparable in size to the Precursors.
"Who are you?" asked one of the macaws from across the way.
"I am Hannibal, and this is my mate, Lizzie. We come in peace..."
Some of the macaws dashed back into the jungle, and when they returned, two massive Machines accompanied them.
Perfect! So they did come after all... mused Lizzie with satisfaction.
Even though the smaller macaws could not recognize them, the large ones did, and they immediately grew hostile. They marched up to the Lear's Macaws and stopped just one foot away.
Their weapons were drawn, but Hannibal and his mate did not react negatively.
"What the hell are you two doing here?"
"Patience, Jewel! We have come alone, for we need to talk to you and your mate."
"Really? You've got to be joking! Why would two abominations such as you come to just 'talk?' You're usually too busy scheming and plotting back in Amarillo, not to mention killing your own soldiers. What business could you possibly have with us?"
Hannibal was desperate to silence the callous female, but since he was outnumbered, he managed to control himself.
"Is this how you treat your guests, Jewel? It does not become you at all. I presumed you and Blu were noble and respectful leaders. Perhaps I am mistaken..."
Blu and Jewel's soldiers had formed themselves into a ring around the suspicious party, and after seeing that their leaders' arms were deployed, they followed suit.
"Just get to the point, assholes!" declared Blu forcefully.
"Fine. My mate and I have now understood the futility of this war, and we wish to discuss a truce. I am sure you and Jewel have had the same thoughts. Why else would we come alone and keep our arms hidden when you so openly brandished yours?"
Lizzie's reply unsettled the macaws and caused them to blink in consideration.
Lizzie and Hannibal were telling the utter truth. Only two unknowns had shown up on the radar, and here they were.
As foul and villainous as they were, Blu and Jewel were hard-pressed to believe that they had come to organize a conflict. There was simply no indication of that at the moment.
"Hmmm. Well then, let's hear the details of your so-called 'truce.'" said Blu curiously.
"You see, neither of us has made any progress against the other, and so we should resolve to end this war peacefully, rather than with violence.
Perhaps the Traitors were deluded by power, and that is why they defected. I believe that we could get them to dissolve those notions of power and be subdued. If you can do the same with the Creators, a common peace will ensue. Isn't that what you've been seeking all along?"
"I see. You have certainly done your homework, Hannibal. But I am still skeptical about all of this. Why so sudden? Is there something you're not telling us?"
He paused for several moments, as if contemplating his reply.
"Do you really want the answer?"
"Of course."
"Well then, here it is, Jewel. This war has gone on for too long, and Lizzie and I want to see it end very soon. And yes, there is something we are not telling you. We do want the war to end, yes, but we have made sure that we will be the ones who will live to see that happen. Come, Traitors! Surround them and draw your weapons!"
As his command curled out into the sky, the entire border of the clearing shook as if it was alive.
A vast ring of birds stepped from the shadows, arranging themselves in a second ring around the soldiers. Blu and Jewel quickly realized what had happened, and they suddenly grew furious.
"You bitch!"
"No, I think you deserve that title, Jewel. I thought you and your mate were the two smartest beings on this planet. It turns out that you are nothing but a pair of impetuous fools!"
Jewel lunged at Hannibal, but he dodged the attack and revealed his own weapons.
"I wouldn't attempt that, Jewel. My soldiers outnumber yours two to one. We could have you all slaughtered with merely a command. Now, here's the real truce I intend to offer you: Either you or Blu hand yourselves over to us, or we dispose of you and move on to plunder your home base. This is but a small sample of the force we have brought along, and I can call them in within a minute. Make your choice."
Blu heard his subordinates say, "What do we do, Commander?" and "I'll take down a few of these bastards before I die! Just give me the order." or "Can we fight our way out?"
Blu knew he was at a loss. He had been led into the most deadly of traps, and if that wasn't terrible enough, his two mortal enemies had orchestrated it.
His soldiers continued to plead and shout bravely, but he would not allow them to risk their lives in a pointless battle.
"Quiet, all of you! No one will do anything until Jewel or I says so!"
He would have no choice to comply, and he cast a frantic glance at Jewel. Beneath the mask of bewilderment on her gorgeous face, he noticed a bottomless ocean of dread and loss.
"Fine, Hannibal. You win. I will not allow my soldiers to be slaughtered due to my folly. If you must, take me away and leave them unharmed."
Jewel took a defeated step towards her enemy, but an outstretched wing blocked her path.
"What the? Blu?" He stepped in front of her and declared, "No Jewel, you stay. I'll go with them."
"But Blu!"
"Don't argue with me, Jewel. I love you too much to see you sacrifice yourself like this..."
If she had the ability to cry, the ground would have been soaked with her tears.
"This is goodbye, Jewel. I am so sorry, but I think we've lost the war. We may not ever see each other again. I love you..."
Blu leaned in and gave his mate a tender kiss on the cheek.
"I... love you too, Blu. I'll never forget you. I never knew it would come to this..."
"Enough wallowing in remorse already! You lost the damn war, so take your loss like the brave Machines you are! Or at least the brave Machines you once were..."
Hannibal stepped between the two macaws and began leading Blu away.
Lizzie trailed behind her mate, flashing Jewel a sinister smirk as she turned away.
In one last act of violence, Jewel would give her something to remember her by, even if only for a few hours.
"You'll pay for that, you whore!"
Jewel flung herself forward and tackled Lizzie to the ground. The force of the impact sent tremors through the ground.
Before the female had a chance to recover, she raised her right foot and raked it across her back. The sword-like edges of her talons scored into Lizzie's body and left three jagged tears in the metal.
She screamed in agony, and Jewel raised her foot for another strike.
A loud thud traveled up Jewel's body, and when she looked up, he saw her mate lying on the ground, belly down.
"I see you still haven't learned your lesson, you witless wretch. Let me see if this helps..."
Hannibal placed his foot on Blu's back and inflicted upon him the exact same wound that Lizzie had received.
"Ahhh! My back! Oh God, please stop!"
Blu writhed from the mind-numbing pain while still in Hannibal's grasp, but he could not break free.
Once he was able to speak, he fixed Jewel with a tragic glare and moaned, "Let... her go. I'm begging you..."
Stricken with grief, Jewel removed herself off of Lizzie and retreated rapidly.
"That's more like it! Know your place, cretin. If you don't mind, I will be leaving now, with your precious mate as a token of accomplishment. I do believe it will be very hard for you to follow..."
Hannibal brought Blu to his feet and aimed the barrel of his Assault Rifle at his eye as they walked away.
Lizzie limped along behind.
Blu managed to cast one last glance at his mate, and the look she returned seemed to say, "I'll come back for you. I'll get you back to Rio or I will die trying..."
Once they vanished beyond the border of the clearing, she heard Lizzie shout, "Feel free to kill them all!"
Just great! I have to get out of here with as many soldiers as possible. No, I can't do that. I'll have to fight these Traitors to the death!
Jewel aimed her weapons at as many enemies as she could target and yelled, "It's time to show these Traitors who's boss! Tear them apart..."
They were barely past the clearing, and Blu was still reeling from the pain of the attack by Hannibal, and he found it hard to walk. He realized that some of the wiring just below his back had been cut, and his legs were partially paralyzed.
"What the hell is your problem? Can't you walk any faster?"
"Some of my wiring is damaged! I can't control my legs properly..."
"I wonder who's fault that is? Perhaps your mate should learn to keep her talons to herself."
Hannibal stopped and turned around.
"Are you okay, Lizzie?"
"I'm fine. That Precursor slut gave me a nasty wound."
"You can be repaired back at home. Why don't you give the order to our soldiers to finish off the others?"
"With pleasure..."
She returned to the edge of the clearing and shouted, "Feel free to kill them all!"
A limitless dread overtook Blu.
"No! You said you weren't going to harm them!"
"Do you not know what a lie is, Blu? I tend to tell them quite a lot. Now, can you still fly?"
Blu hung his head like a deflated balloon and replied, "Yes."
"That's yes Sir, cretin. Now, deploy your engine so we can head back to the Jumper. I am already feeling homesick."
Blu did as he was told and languidly revved up his engine.
"Excellent. Follow me or suffer the consequences..."
Hannibal jetted off towards the north, and Blu trailed a few feet behind. The injured Lizzie brought up the rear.
Before he could even climb above the canopy, Blu heard the sounds of laser fire and gunshots echo from behind him, a deafening chorus that shattered his world.
I love you, Jewel. I'll miss you. If you're still alive, I'll wait for you to come back to me... however long that takes...
At precisely 0700 hours, Blu and Jewel had their Cores replaced by the pair of snakes, ending their Shut-down and bringing therm to full alertness.
"Good morning, Commanders." said Nixus.
"Likewise, friends." replied Blu.
"Today is going to be a busy day, for there are several matters that require your attention."
"Is that so? Why don't we get started then?" asked Blu rhetorically.
He and Jewel ambled across the room, leaving Nixus and Raxus to follow behind. They emerged into the decently-lit hallway and continued on until they found one of the elevators.
They crammed themselves into it, and Jewel punched the button that signified the lowest level of the base. The elevator rumbled slightly, and after coming to a nearly perfect stop, the curved doors parted and allowed the group of Machines out into the hall.
They trekked down the narrow passage, earning proud salutes from the passers-by. They came to the entrance of the Control Room, and Gabriel and Andrew were planted on either side.
"Good morning, Commanders. I trust you and your mate have recovered from the turmoil of the previous day."
"Indeed we have, Gabriel. Your concern for us is most pleasing."
"Thank you, Commanders. Come, your children await you..."
He parted the doors with a press of a button, and the two Scarlet Macaws walked into the fluorescent Control Room calmly. The rest of the party followed, leaving the sea of light behind them and traveling down the hall from the left side of the room. A third set of doors they came upon, and the two guardians resumed their stone-still poses.
"Here we are, Commanders. Please proceed."
"Thank you, Andrew. Your services to us make us proud."
Andrew nodded to Jewel while Blu clicked his talon against the keypad. A soft grating sound was heard, and the group of Machines walked past the entrance and into the oh-so-familiar workplace of their children. The entrance was sealed off with a thump, and all six of Blu and Jewel's offspring stood before them happily.
"Did you sleep well, Mama? Papa?"
"Yes we did, my dears. Did you six manage to sleep last night?" replied Blu.
"Actually, yes," stated Liliana. "The radar screens showed nothing out of the ordinary, and the cameras showed nothing other than regular animal life. We went to our quarters and began our sleep at 2200 hours. It was a well-deserved break, one we haven't had in over a week."
"Before we move on to the real business, there is something we need to ask you."
"What is that, Stefano?" queried Jewel innocently.
"Since nothing hostile has been detected since yesterday's ambush, we would like to have today off from our surveillance duties. We know it our task to make sure the base is safe, but we need to get away from it all for a while."
Blu and Jewel fixed each other with delicate gazes. Their children had proven their dedication by watching the screens for a week straight, and if anyone deserved a temporary reprieve, it was them.
There were times in war when action must be taken, and there were times in war when relaxation was required.
Blu and Jewel did not enjoy enslaving their children to the rigors of work, for they had just as rigorous a duty as they did. They turned back to their children with caring expressions, and the answer was conveyed before Blu even spoke.
"Of course, my children! I see nothing wrong with that."
"Thank you, Papa!"
Ricardo rushed forward and slammed into his father excitedly.
"Oh! You're welcome, son."
"Nixus and Raxus told us that there are a few things we have to deal with today. What are they?" asked Jewel.
"First off, we learned from Base 107 that the assault Machine is only a few days away from completion. They asked that you come by and assess the condition of the Machine before the final construction begins.
Second, the Creators have learned about the ambush that occurred yesterday, and they would like you to meet with them in a week. They sent us a transmission at 0530 hours. They say they have drafted plans for a ship that will help end the war, and they would like to hear your thoughts. They are also concerned about your well being."
"Did they go into any details about it in the transmission?"
"No, father, "countered Vicente. "They didn't want to risk having the plan discovered, should the Traitors decide to tune in and try to intercept the message."
"I see."
"Oh, one more thing, father. A scouting party is scheduled to leave at 2030 hours and conduct a sweep of Sectors J1 through J20. That is all."
Blu and Jewel paused to soak in the information and evaluate their responses.
"Send a message back to the Creators and tell them that we will meet them in one week. Ask who they want us to bring along."
"Right away, father."
Vicente broke away from his siblings and walked towards the rear of the room, towards the communication panel.
"Jewel and I will lead the sweeping operation. What group has offered to conduct it?"
"Division Four of the 2nd Enclave." stated Ricardo.
"Very well. See to it that they are gathered in the Control Room by 2000 hours. We will join them shortly after and begin the sweep."
"Yes, father." replied Josefina.
"Is there anything else you want to know, Jewel?"
"I think we've covered it all for now. Why don't we head over to Base 107 and see how things are going?"
"Sounds good, Jewel."
Blu turned away from her and faced his children once again.
"Can you handle things here while we're gone?"
"Yes, Papa. We'll take care of everything that you asked us to do. You won't have to worry." replied Esperanza.
"How could I expect anything less from my wonderful children? You all are free to roam about the base, but make sure everything stays in order. We will return in a few hours."
"Okay, Papa. We love you."
He received powerful hugs from his children, and then they moved on to hug their mother.
"Goodbye, my dears. Stay safe, okay?"
"Sure thing, mother!" they all replied confidently.
Blu, Jewel, and the pair of snakes left the room and paused just outside the entrance.
"Gabriel, Andrew?" asked Jewel.
"Yes, Commander?"
"Our children have been granted the day off from their duties."
"Very well." replied the two macaws evenly.
"On second thought, you two can have the day of as well. Find two others to serve as your replacements, and then you may go where you wish."
"Oh! Why thank you, Commander!"
The Scarlet Macaws bowed gratefully to Jewel, and she smiled widely.
"You must stop that, you two. You make me feel like a dictator!" she exclaimed mockingly.
"Oh, but you deserve it, Commander. You are our leader, and your position warrants respect."
"I guess that's true. Well, being as you have the day off, we do not mind if we do not receive that respect. For today, feel free to be yourselves! That's what life is all about, whether we are natural animals or... something more."
"As you wish, Commander, I mean Jewel!"
"That's a start, Andrew. That's a start..."
The quartet of Machines walked back down the hall and emerged into the Control Room. They turned to the right and marched towards the exit labeled "Tunnel B3."
The remote-controlled doors slid open, and the four Machines began the long walk down the tunnel, towards the beach. They stepped from the end of the path after a five-minute walk, the ancient sand crunching and shifting beneath their feet.
Raxus slithered up beside Jewel and tapped her wing with his head.
"Yes, Raxus?"
"Where is Base 107 located? I don't think I've ever been there."
"It's located near the western edge of Brazil. It's about a thirty minute flight at top speed, but since you two came along, it might take an hour or two."
"Do you want us to stay behind then? We don't mean to delay you."
"Not at all, Raxus! We enjoy your company, and since you haven't seen the base, you should come along."
"I see you point, Commander. Very well then. Let's be on our way!"
"Wait!" shouted Blu.
"What is it, honey?"
"How about we spice up our journey with a little game?"
The other three creatures were intrigued, their expressions curious.
"What sort of game, Commander?"
"Simple, Nixus. You and Raxus will race to Base 107, and my mate and I will fly behind you as judges."
The two serpents looked first at Blu and then at each other, a competitive fire flickering in their eyes.
"That sounds attractive, Commander. Just tell us when to be off!" declared Nixus.
She and Raxus coiled their tungsten carbide bodies and awaited Blu's signal. He deployed his Short-Range Laser and spun the barrel. He fired off a volley of pulses towards the west and yelled, "Race!"
The snakes lunged forward and churned the sand, throwing up walls of the material on either side of them and streaking towards the jungle.
"Quick, Jewel. We can't lose them!"
"Right!"
The dual whine of two turbofans echoed across the bay, and the two Spix's Macaws rose into flight and followed the scar on the ground below. Blu and Jewel boosted their speed to catch up with the racers, and then dialed it back to match.
The snakes below were hardly visible through the canopy, but the rumbling and tearing sounds of their ten-foot Shells allowed for easy tracking.
The racers were traversing the jungle at seventy miles an hour, weaving and dodging trees, ponds, and the occasional animal that happened to be in their path.
Ten minutes into the competition, it seemed that Jewel's protector had pulled ahead. She was smirking at Blu while they flew, and he affected a distraught gaze.
He pointed his head down and screamed, "Come on, Nixus! Don't let him beat you!"
Hoping his voice had cut through the air and reached his comrade, Blu refocused on flying, albeit slightly slower than before.
"What's the matter, Blu? Is Nixus falling behind? I wish there was some way you could help. Oh wait, that would be cheating!"
"You just wait, Jewel. Nixus will catch up when Raxus least expects it!"
"We'll see, Commander!"
In the midst of their conversation, they had let their speed decrease significantly. The chorus of heaving metal and foliage tearing had become quite faint to even their advanced sense of hearing.
"We better catch up, Blu. We don't want to miss seeing who is the true victor!"
Jewel zoomed away from her mate in seconds, leaving a wake of heated air behind her.
"Hey! They're the ones racing, not us!"
Blu tore after her at one hundred and thirty miles an hour, his brain churning with anxiety at who would reach their destination first: his comrade or hers...
The event continued for another thirty minutes, and off in the distance, a great dome could be seen shadowing the jungle. It was about half the size of the headquarters back in Rio, and it had good reason to be.
Base 107 was one of the major assembly and storage locations of the army. Many of the soldiers had had their Shells constructed here, along with their weapons and engines.
The monochrome black shape – painted that way to allow it to be hidden in the nighttime hours – quickly grew larger, and the two Spix's Macaws opted to drop down to the floor and see who had won.
They dropped roughly to the ground outside of the base, and Jewel's expression quickly turned from smug to shocked.
It was not Raxus who was coiled up in a victory pose, but Nixus.
"What! How did you beat him!"
Jewel stormed up to Nixus, barely struggling to contain her disappointment.
"I managed to distract him with a well-timed shout, and he lost focus. He barreled into quite a sizable tree and toppled it over. He was never able to recover the lead."
Blu joined the snake and wrapped his wing around her limber body.
"Way to go, my friend! You put a lot of effort into this challenge, and you won. Congratulations."
Moments later, the churning form of Raxus exploded from the trees and skidded to a stop before them.
"She beat me fair and square, Commander. Nonetheless, it was a very thrilling experience!"
His upbeat tone instantly lightened Jewel's mood. She was mildly upset by the loss, but as long as he was cheerful, she had no reason to spoil it.
"I understand. You can't win all the battles! Let's head inside now. I am very eager to see how the assault Machine is turning out!"
Jewel broke into a steady sprint and grabbed Blu's wing as she passed by.
"Woah! Hey, what's the rush?"
"Such a lively pair, aren't they, Nixus?"
"Indeed, friend. We better not keep them waiting!"
The two snakes dashed off towards the entrance and slipped through the doors, hot on the tails of their leaders.
The interior of the Base was not organized like the others; it was a massive open space with a domed ceiling, just how it appeared on the outside. A ring of spotlights bolted high above, near the apex of the dome, cast a wash of sky-blue light over the entire floor of the Base.
At least two hundred engineers, welders, and scientists occupied this space, all involved in one task or another. It was like a secret society, a melting pot of different individuals and species all devoted to one common goal.
A large frame encircled the perimeter of the space, used to ferry excessively heavy objects from one area to another via a crane.
This was one of the very few times either Blu or Jewel had ventured here, and they had no clue as to where the cyborg was being built. A Military Macaw who was busy scribbling notes on a blueprint noticed their confusion and came over.
"Can I help you with something, Commander?"
"Yes. I was told that a large Machine was being constructed here. Could you show me where it is?
" "Yes of course! Follow me..."
They weaved their way throughout the dome, and it seemed as if the macaw was leading them nowhere.
Finally, as they neared the side of the dome farthest from the entrance, they came upon a collection of structures that gave them pause.
On a large platform rested four towering legs, bent backwards in the middle. Just behind them was something that awed them completely: the snarling gaze of a massive metal wolf's head, complete with visible teeth and a highly polished nose.
"What the! This is... amazing! Who is responsible for this?" exclaimed Blu.
"I can gather them here if you wish, Commander."
"Please do! Thank you very much!"
The Military Macaw vanished into the sea of bodies without a sound.
"It's a... giant wolf! Is this thing actually going to fight with us?"
"Of course it is, honey! It may look deadly now, but just wait until it's powered up."
Blu shuddered with the thought of having this cyborg wolf along side him in battle or for a patrol.
He walked around to the front end of the platform and drew right up to the legs. Two of the legs possessed five deadly claws, while the two others sported four. The sickle-like claws bore a slight curve, and their tips glistened in the bluish light raining down from above.
One of these could easily tear me wide open with one swipe! Damn, this thing is going to be deadly! I want to have it up and running as soon as possible.
"We've got company, Blu. Look over here!"
Jewel's sensuous voice caused him to jerk his head up.
"What is it? Oh."
"These are the workers who have been building this... thing."
He strode over to them and smiled with pride.
"Greetings, Commander. I see you are quite surprised by our accomplishments." said the Scarlet Macaw at the front of the group.
"Yes I am! You and your co-workers have certainly built a very deadly cyborg! How close is it to completion?"
"We have but four days of construction left, Commander. As you can see, the legs and head are already finished. We have to fabricate the body, bond all of the parts together, and then go inside and install the wiring. Following that, we'll install the Core and the various weapons and conduct a test run. If no problems arise, then it will be fully combat ready."
"Excellent. Once the cyborg is functional, can you have it escorted to the HQ?"
"I don't see why not. My team and I will personally transport it from here to Rio de Janeiro once all testing is complete."
"Good. I have a few questions that need answers."
"What might those be, Commander?"
"How tall will it be?"
"We estimate it will be sixteen feet tall. The legs are eighteen feet tall, but since they are never fully extended, some of that height is lost."
"How long will it be?"
"Thirty-six feet from nose to tail. Would you like to know the armaments it will carry?"
This was perhaps the most exciting bit of information Blu would ever find out, and so he replied, "Yes!"
"We will mount a rocket launcher on each shoulder, two six-inch guns on the back, and install an internal one barrel laser that fires from the mouth."
"Amazing! You are a very talented group of workers, and I congratulate your dedication to this project."
"Thank you, Commander!" intoned the Scarlet Macaw. "It is our pleasure to be able to design such a lethal feat of engineering. This will certainly strike terror into the Scions of our enemies!"
"It sure will! You are all free to go, but this Machine must be completed in four days. No exceptions."
"As you wish, Commander. We shall see you in four days' time..."
The batch of fifteen engineers dispersed and faded away into the dozens of other birds. Blu stared long and hard at the disassembled wolf that lay before him.
From the most gifted of minds come the most sinister of artifacts. This Machine will certainly give us an edge over the Traitors. If we can somehow bring the fight to their home base and wipe them out, the rest of their army will have little power to resist! This war could be over within the year! Still, I wonder what plans the Creators have drawn up for us. What kind of ship do they want us to build? I guess we will find out soon enough.
After Blu shook the anticipation from his body, he drew up beside Jewel and said, "I think we should head on back to Rio. Our children may have it under control, but you never know what could be going on in our absence."
"Are you trying to say that our kids aren't mature enough to handle the HQ? That is one of the last things you should be worrying about! They can take care of things."
"Whatever you say, honey. Maybe it's because I miss them."
Jewel softened her expression and wrapped one of her expansive wings around Blu.
"I miss them too. But hey, they're practically immortal!"
"Yeah, that's true."
"Still, you do have a point. Everything seems to be going just fine here, so we might as well head back."
Blu and Jewel turned away from the hulking group of parts and returned to the entrance from which they came.
Right before they passed through the exit doors, they stopped to wave goodbye to the Military Macaw, who was still scribbling away on the sheet of paper with the outline of a wolf on it.
They exited Base 107 and found themselves in the middle of a glorious Rio afternoon. The blood red orb of the Sun was suspended high above, barely visible through the thick canopy.
It was reasonably warm outside, and a cool breeze was dancing throughout the rain-forest.
It was hard to believe that such melancholy could reside in a state torn by war, a place where factories of death were nestled in the peaceful jungle. It served to remind the four cyborgs that war was a diabolical concept, and everything suffered as a result.
The sky suffered from pollution, the land suffered from construction, and the animals and plants suffered when guns were fired.
The only hope that Blu, Jewel, and the two serpents could glean from the situation is that the suffering would end once they destroyed the Traitors. They contemplated this hope for several minutes, but they soon brought themselves back to the present and began the journey home.
Nixus and Raxus slithered their way across the jungle floor while their two winged companions soared above.
Maybe, just maybe, the war had entered its final stage, and within a few years, all would be well once again with the world. The future past that point was unknown, but they could not worry about that at the moment.
They had to focus on the present to make sure that they would even have a future...
The trip back to HQ was relatively quiet, since the moods of the four Machines had been soothed by the sweet aura of the rain-forest, carefree and joyous.
They crossed the bay on foot using Tunnel B3 and were swallowed by the neon glare of the Control Room. Nothing seemed out of place, and Blu and Jewel caught sight of Stefano on the opposite side of the room, consulting with one of the soldiers who sat in front of a camera feed.
They motioned for him to come over with their wings, and their method of garnering his attention worked well. He jogged across the room and met their cheerful expressions with his own.
"How are you, son?"
"Just fine, mother. How was your little trip?"
"It went pretty well. Our two friends here raced each other to the Base while we followed behind. Nixus won, but it was still a lot of fun! We got to see the unfinished cyborg, and it was so awe-inspiring. It may give us a decent edge in the war. Now tell me, how were things over on this end?"
Stefano straightened his posture and replied, "Just fine, actually. My brothers and sisters decided to take a nap in their quarters. They left me to handle this place all by myself! How's that for friendship? Oh, that reminds me! Two macaws named... Sarah and Hector wanted to speak to you, mother. They're in the Scion lab upstairs. How do they know you?"
Blu and Jewel were beside themselves with elation. The Blue and Gold Macaws had already been placed in their own Shells and had been given new lives!
Just two days ago they had been found by Jewel in a less-than-pleasant state. They were scared, alone, and unsure of where to go. Only to add to that, the female was injured and her prognosis was grim.
They had elected to be Reborn, the process in which they were killed and given their own brand-new mechanical bodies.
"I found them the day of your father's ambush when I went on patrol in the city. Sarah was injured, and the medics didn't think she'd ever fly again. They decided to join our lifestyle, and I didn't know they would be living again so soon!"
Stefano had been temporarily stunned by his mother's tale. He had undergone the same process many decades ago at the hands of the Creators. It was not an easy one, having to give up your natural life for a life more immortal, but a life without children. He knew what they had gone through, even if it was a long-forgotten memory.
"Wow, that's wonderful! They must be so happy, and you must be so... proud."
"I truly am, Stefano. Oh, I can't wait to see them again! They might become my best friends and my favorite soldiers."
"I won't keep you, mother. I have more business to attend to. I'll see you later. I love you!"
"I love you too, son. Take care."
Once Stefano had vanished from their side, Blu took hold of his mate's wing and led her out of the Control Room.
Nixus and Raxus followed amiably.
He was beaming with pride, but she was mostly confused. Nixus had no clue who Hector and Sarah were, but she would soon find out.
After a tense elevator ride and a trip down a gloomy hall, they all emerged into the blinding light of the lab. Before Jewel could even search for her friends, she was squeezed in a smothering hug by both of them.
"Woah! I know you missed me, but..."
"Oh, sorry, Jewel! I mean... sorry, Commander."
"It's okay, Hector. I would've acted the same way. So, how does it feel to be part animal and part Machine?"
"It's so... liberating! No more earthly problems to worry about. I just wish that we could've had children before all of this. That's the hardest thing to deal with right now..."
"I know that it pains you to lose that ability, but you must focus on your new lives. We are still at war here, and you are now two faithful soldiers. You can still be together of course, but a higher calling awaits. You must be expected to fight alongside us if need be, and if the situation arises, give your life for another. This life does have its liberties, but also its vices. Are you both prepared to handle that?"
"Yes, Commander!" they assured her in unison. "It may take us some time to adjust, but we will do our best. We promise you that."
"That is all I can ask of you. I am glad to welcome you into my ranks, and I know that you will make me proud."
"Are you ready to go out and blast some holes in the Traitors' heads? Show them some Brazilian muscle?"
Blu's insensitive outburst caused Jewel to whip around.
"Really Blu? They just got their new bodies, and you're already talking to them about killing? Don't you have an ounce of self-control?"
"Hey, I'm just excited, that's all!"
That was not the response she was looking for, and her hostile glare continued.
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to them."
Blu brushed past Jewel rather sluggishly and stood in front of the two macaws, who were noticeably shorter than he was.
He extended his foot out and muttered, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. If you haven't heard, my name's Blu."
Hector shook his talon feebly, and then Sarah followed suit.
"It's okay. It is an honor to meet the mate of our savior. Maybe one day Hector and I will be able to actually fight some Traitors."
"Let's hope the war isn't over before then! No, I'm only joking. Perhaps it is better if you two never have to fight. It is not glorious or something to grow prideful over. Taking the lives of others is not easy, for whatever reason you had to take their lives in the first place, and it leaves a stain on your soul. I do not want to see you or Hector come to believe that killing is okay. Just live one day at a time, and pray that Jewel and I find away to bring this war to a halt."
"As you wish, Commander." they replied dutifully.
"I assume that you two are very busy learning how to control your new bodies, so we will leave you in peace. Or would you rather us stay and keep you company?" asked Blu innocently.
"Oh, would you mind staying, Blu and Jewel? And maybe the snakes can stay too. You're the only friendly faces we know right now..."
"Perhaps spending a few hours in here won't be so bad, right Blu?"
"Not at all. We'll stay with you."
He turned away from the delighted macaws and faced the pair of snakes behind him.
"Why don't you go and help Stefano run things downstairs? He just can't stop working and helping out the other soldiers, and he's doing it all by himself. Such a devoted son..."
"Right away, Commander. We will alert you if anything major comes up..."
Blu and Jewel's bodyguards bent their bodies around and slithered through the exit.
"You can go back to whatever you were doing before we joined you. Don't worry, we won't interrupt!"
Hector and Sarah retreated to the far wall of the room and joined a pair of Blue-winged Macaws.
"Remember Blu, we have that jungle sweep to carry out this evening."
"I remember. I just hope that it goes well and we don't find anything hostile. I've already been killed once this week. I don't want it to happen again..."
Blu and Jewel stood by and listened to the lecture given to their Blue and Gold Macaws friends about how to adapt and control to their mechanical bodies and the limits it had. They also participated in some short training exercises to see if they had understood the plethora of knowledge bestowed upon them.
They performed quite well for being so fresh, and even Blu and Jewel were impressed.
The entire ordeal spirited away the hours, and the two Spix's Macaws were so pleased with their friends' progress that it drew alarmingly close to the operation time.
One of the lab workers told them casually that it was 1945 hours, and they quickly said goodbye to Sarah and Hector before dashing from the room.
Once in the Control Room, they came upon Division Four grouped loosely in the center of the room. Blu and Jewel's rather hasty entry caught their attention, and they did their best to compose themselves.
They were known to be very punctual leaders, and this near-miss left them feeling slightly ashamed. Granted, they had a valid reason to be tardy, but only they knew what that reason was. Even so, they stood at the head of the group with confidence and cool expressions.
The looks they were receiving convinced them that their subordinates did not think any less of them.
Jewel stamped her talon for silence and said, "You have been gathered here, Division Four, to be escorted on a sweeping operation, which you already know about. Blu and I have elected to lead the operation, but only by choice, not by necessity.
You are all brave and worthy fighters of the 2nd Enclave, and we are glad to have you as part of our army. The operation will most likely be a peaceful one, but do not lower your guard. Each and every one of you needs to be calm, and yet ready for action. That is all for now. We will depart at-"
A strong male voice cut through Jewel's from a few away.
"Commander, our radar has picked up movement!"
Jewel stepped away from the soldiers and over to the bank of screens. She located the source of the noise and squeezed in beside the Hyacinth Macaw's chair and the one to the left of it.
"How many and in what Sector?" demanded Jewel.
The deep blue macaw pointed with his left wing and replied, "Two hostiles in Sector J17. They seem to be stationary."
Well, what do you know. They're right in one of the Sectors that we were going to cover! Might as well go see what the hell they're up to...
She forced her way out from between the chairs and drew close to her mate.
"What is it, my love?"
"There's two hostiles in Sector 17. We should head over there immediately. Might as well start the night off with a bang."
"Alright then."
Blu returned his gaze to the soldiers before him and declared, "It seems that two hostiles have invaded the area. We will go meet them at once, and if any trouble rises, we have enough firepower to take care of it. Turns out this may be an exciting trip after all. Let's move, Division Four!"
Blu and Jewel ambled down Tunnel B3 with the line of soldiers in tow, their mechanical bodies brimming with a sense of dark anticipation.
Once on the beach, they rose into flight and opted not to use their engines, since the target sector was only a few miles outside of Rio.
The night sky was sprayed with stars, but the lovely afternoon breeze had vanished.
As they drew ever closer to the disturbance site, their anticipation grew in direct proportion. They hoped to be able to brandish their weapons and even fire off a few shots.
It was like they had been in an immobile state, and their atrophied muscles could now be flexed. Oh how they longed to feel the recoil of their Assault Rifles and sense the heat flowing from the red-hot barrels of their Lasers.
Eventually, Blu and Jewel dropped to the ground after descending through the layers of air in a tight spiral, ending up in a dense cluster of vines and berry bushes.
All of the soldiers who couldn't fit in the bushes gathered just outside, keeping Blu and Jewel's voices in range.
"Two of you need to go and meet the unknowns and see if they pose a threat. Call us at once if they do anything suspicious!"
A Scarlet Macaw and a Blue-throated Macaw trudged past them and out of hiding. After a short wait, they heard one of the macaws yell, "Hey, we found two birds out here! The radar was right!"
Blu turned around in the darkness and whispered, "I want more of you to go out there. Back up the others."
A small group of macaws left the shadows and vanished from sight, the leaves and vines rustling as they passed.
"Who are you?" asked one of the hidden birds just past the screen of plants.
A much more gruff voice replied, "I am Hannibal, and this is my mate, Lizzie. We come in peace..."
Those words triggered a feral reaction in Blu and Jewel, and they nearly flung themselves from their spot.
Those names belonged to the two most hated Machines on the planet. They were to the Traitors what Blu and Jewel were to the Creators: the leaders of their respective armies and the sole reason the other side had not won the war.
It was them: the scourge of Earth and the reason why thousands of individuals on both sides had lost their lives.
Blu and Jewel's sole mission was to eradicate them from Earth, and here they were, all alone save for themselves and surrounded by a throng of enemy soldiers.
The opportunity was perfect.
But something wasn't adding up. Hannibal and Lizzie were by no means stupid; they had been designed in the exact same way as Blu and Jewel, and thus they possessed the exact same supercomputer brains.
Why would they come alone? Why would they blatantly announce their presence on radar? Why were they not fleeing, when they were clearly outnumbered?
No, something was very wrong here, and the two Spix's Macaws were bristling with uncertainty and anger.
A quintet of macaws burst through the wall of plants and faced their leaders questioningly.
"Who are Hannibal and Lizzie? Do you know them?"
"Of course we know them! They are the leaders of the Traitors!" fumed Jewel. "We might as well see what those two demons want. They probably already know that we're here."
"Let's go then. But we have to be careful, more careful than we've ever been before! Tell all of our soldiers to surround them completely."
"Right away, Commander!"
Blu and Jewel followed the other macaws from their spot, and they found themselves in a small clearing. They caught sight of their archenemies just across the way, and they felt their emotional control slip.
They stormed up to Hannibal and Lizzie, and Jewel declared, "What the hell are you two doing here?"
Both she and Blu quickly brought out all five of their weapons and aimed them right at the two macaws, but that action had no effect on them.
"Patience, Jewel! We have come alone, for we need to talk to you and your mate."
Jewel was incredulous, and she made her emotions known.
"Really? You've got to be joking! Why would two abominations such as you come to just 'talk?' You're usually too busy scheming and plotting back in Amarillo, not to mention killing your own soldiers. What business could you possibly have with us?"
She noticed Hannibal shift, as if her words had stung him internally. But beyond that, he did not react.
"Is this how you treat your guests, Jewel? It does not become you at all. I presumed you and Blu were noble and respectful leaders. Perhaps I am mistaken..."
Blu and Jewel heard a multitude of clicks and shuffles as their soldiers drew their weapons.
Jewel cut into them with a knife-like glare, and Blu demanded, "Just get to the point, assholes!"
Hannibal stood up a little taller and replied, "Fine. My mate and I have now understood the futility of this war, and we wish to discuss a truce. I am sure you and Jewel have had the same thoughts. Why else would we come alone and keep our arms hidden when you so openly brandished yours?"
Blu and Jewel blinked; they had not expected this! As far as they could tell, he was telling the truth. They, in all their unreal intelligence, could not think of a single way to dispute his statement.
"Hmmm. Well then, let's hear the details of your so-called 'truce.'" announced Blu.
"You see, neither of us has made any progress against the other, and so we should resolve to end this war peacefully, rather than with violence.
Perhaps the Traitors were deluded by power, and that is why they defected. I believe that we could get them to dissolve those notions of power and be subdued. If you can do the same with the Creators, a common peace will ensue. Isn't that what you've been seeking all along?"
Hannibal's eloquent speech carried great weight, but something in his words sounded off.
Jewel stared at Blu as he replied, "I see. You have certainly done your homework, Hannibal. But I am still skeptical about all of this. Why so sudden? Is there something you're not telling us?"
"Do you really want the answer?"
Jewel cut in and replied, "Of course."
"Well then, here it is, Jewel. This war has gone on for too long, and Lizzie and I want to see it end very soon. And yes, there is something we are not telling you. We do want the war to end, yes, but we have made sure that we will be the ones who will live to see that happen. Come, Traitors! Surround them and draw your weapons!"
Before they could react, the edges of the clearing shook and trembled, and a large force of enemy cyborgs hemmed them in. In that moment, their gut feelings flooded them with a wave of scorching shame and utter defeat.
They had been duped; Hannibal had kept them talking until his backup forces arrived.
It was impossible to believe, but yet here they were; trapped, outnumbered, and furious.
"You bitch!" yelled Jewel.
"No, I think you deserve that title, Jewel. I thought you and your mate were the two smartest beings on this planet. It turns out that you are nothing but a pair of impetuous fools!"
Blu watched as Jewel lashed out at the male, but he easily sidestepped the attack and revealed his own weapons. His face was smug and calculating.
"I wouldn't attempt that, Jewel. My soldiers outnumber yours two to one. We could have you all slaughtered with mere a command. Now, here's the real truce I intend to offer you: Either you or Blu hand yourselves over to us, or we dispose of you and move on to plunder your home base. This is but a small sample of the force we have brought along, and I can call them in within a minute. Make your choice."
Blu and Jewel's soldiers started talking, their frantic and defiant voices echoing all around them.
"What do we do, Commander?" queried one. "I'll take down a few of these bastards before I die! Just give me the order." proclaimed another. "Can we fight our way out?" pleaded a third.
Both Spix's Macaws knew it was hopeless. Trying to break free would only result in complete eradication of them all.
"Quiet, all of you! No one will do anything until Jewel or I says so!" shouted Blu.
Jewel caught his terrified gaze, and she returned one of her own, mixed with loss and dread. She would not jeopardize the lives of her comrades by giving the command to attack.
She would offer herself up in return.
She hung her head and muttered, "Fine, Hannibal. You win. I will not allow my soldiers to be slaughtered due to my folly. If you must, take me away and leave them unharmed."
Before she could take two steps toward the vicious male, her mate's cold wing stopped her.
"What the? Blu?" He brought his entire body around in front of her defiantly.
"No Jewel, you stay. I'll go with them."
"But Blu!"
She didn't want him to go. She needed him, and now he was giving himself up in her place.
"Don't argue with me, Jewel. I love you too much to see you sacrifice yourself like this..."
A crushing sensation welled up inside her, as if she wanted so desperately to cry, but was unable.
"This is goodbye, Jewel. I am so sorry, but I think we've lost the war. We may not ever see each other again. I love you..."
A soft kiss from Blu concluded his tragic announcement.
If it was all she could do to ease his loss, she replied, "I... love you too, Blu. I'll never forget you. I never knew it would come to this..."
The guttural screech of Hannibal murdered the kind words that hung in the air.
"Enough wallowing in remorse already! You were so casually outsmarted by us, so take your defeat like the brave Machines you are! Or at least the brave Machines you once were..."
The unforgiving male thrust himself between the two victims and yanked Blu along, towards the opposite end of the clearing.
Lizzie came up behind him and threw Jewel a venomous glare, as if to say, "Sucks for you..."
That was it. She had crossed the line, and she was going to feel the consequences of her action.
"You'll pay for that, you whore!"
Jewel tensed her body and leaped forwards, slamming her chest into Lizzie's back and driving her into the ground.
The collision of their massive bodies rumbled through the damp earth.
While Lizzie was still dazed, Jewel scoured her open talons across her back, ripping into her like a saw and exposing some of her internal wiring.
Her agonized yell filled Jewel with sadistic pleasure, and she raised her foot for a second blow.
She would never get the chance.
A dull thud registered in her tungsten carbide bones, and she raised her head instantly. Hannibal had thrown Blu to the ground and was now standing over him like a predator would stand over its kill.
"I see you still haven't learned your lesson, have you, bastard? Let me see if this helps..."
Hannibal imitated Jewel's attack on Lizzie, and Blu's bloodcurdling scream froze Jewel completely.
"Ahhh! My back! Oh God, please stop!"
He squirmed like a dissected snake and could not get to his feet. He fixed one eye on Jewel and pleaded, "Let... her go. I'm begging you..."
Jewel unfroze her paralyzed body and stepped away from Lizzie.
"That's more like it! Know your place, cretin. If you don't mind, I will be leaving now, with your precious mate as a token of accomplishment. I do believe it will be very hard for you to follow..."
As Hannibal's taunt curled out into the night, he jerked Blu to his feet and dragged him away. Hannibal's mate staggered to her talons and limped along like a homeless child.
Jewel noticed Hannibal's Assault Rifle resting right up against Blu's left eye, and she knew to stay put.
His right eye turned back to her briefly, and the beam of emotions it shot out was stupefying. Jewel resolved right then that she would, in time, do her best to retrieve her mate, even if it meant her death.
She masked these words in the glance she returned to Blu: "I'll come back for you. I'll get you back to Rio or I will die trying..."
The foliage at the edge of the clearing swallowed them up, but the enemy fighters did not leave with them.
One deadly shout filtered through the plants, courtesy of Lizzie: "Feel free to kill them all!"
Jewel no longer had no choice. Fleeing was not an option. If she wanted to uphold her vow to her mate, she had to escape this clearing alive.
Her powerful brain quickly calculated the most vulnerable targets, and her weapons automatically swiveled to face them.
She cocked her Assault Rifle, charged up her Volt Cannon and Extended-Range Laser, and spun the barrel of her rapid-fire Short-Range Laser.
She braced herself for the coming battle and issued one last order to her subordinates: "It's time to show these Traitors who's boss! Tear them apart..."
Her ring of soldiers rushed outwards, directly at their enemies, and fractured the night with a chorus of death.
The enemies fired back, and as the bullets and laser beams streaked by in all directions, Jewel discharged all of her weapons in unison.
Jewel swore to bring her dear Blu back home, no matter how astronomical the cost, and she would rather take her own life than fail him now...
