Even Odds
She woke to the sound of thunder in the distance. Odd thunder, it kept coming and coming. She jerked as memory flared, but nothing hurt now. She stared around, looking for the kind soul in the dark and scary suit who had helped her, but he was nowhere to be seen. She felt… odd. Everything felt… not quite right.
"Easy." A soft voice sounded from nearby and she jumped as a piece of the landscape came alive. What she had taken for an oddly shaped rock turned out to be another being in an odd suit. The voice was female and kind. She relaxed a bit. "I won't hurt you." The female said softly.
I… She went still. How was she speaking? She couldn't. When she tried to breathe in and speak normally, it didn't work, all she produced was an odd rasping whine. Fear rose. What?
"It's okay." The female said gently. "I know you are confused. I know you are scared. But there is no reason to be now."
Monsters. Monsters had me… They hurt me… She stared down at her form and shuddered as she saw four legs curled up around herself. What am I?
"You are a Kubrow." The kind woman said with a nod. "A canid life form. Based on old Earth dogs." She chuckled a bit. "But not a dog." A rumble in the distance sounded and the Kubrow stared off to where light was flashing in odd patterns. "It's okay." The woman reassured her. "My clan are here, they are fighting."
Fighting the monsters. The Kubrow asked, slowly coming to grips with her odd speech patterns. But… They were horrible. Not humans…
"No." The woman said sadly. "No, they are not." She shook herself. "Um… I didn't introduce myself. My name is Kori. Do you have a name?" She asked.
One of the monsters called me 'Lilly.' The Kubrow said after a moment. That… doesn't seem right. And I do not want to be theirs! She said fiercely.
"You are not." The other woman said calmly. "You are your own person. They made you, but you broke with them."
Did I? The Kubrow asked after a moment. Or is this some kind of monstrous trick? Some way of hurting people? Is that why you are here? Watching me? The thought… did not bother her.
"Partly." Kori replied. "But also to make sure than none of their minions stumbled across you while you slept. Now that you are awake… You can do what you wish."
You were… protecting me? Drawn by some instinct she couldn't quite define, the Kubrow rose to all four feet. She marveled that the pain she had been feeling was all gone. These were good people. Not at all like the monsters. I…
"Easy." Kori said quietly as the Kubrow walked up to her and nuzzled her. The armor that Kori was wearing felt nothing like the armor that the others had worn. It was alive, alive and warm under the Kubrow's nose. Then she jerked and gave a small cry. The Kubrow retreated a step.
What? The canid inquired.
"The battle… it does not go well…" Kori swallowed hard. "My kin need me."
You helped me. The Kubrow said slowly, but with gathering surety. I will help you.
"You have been abused and hurt." Kori said as she rose slowly. "You need rest and… if we fail… You need to flee."
Then you must not fail. The Kubrow said firmly. I feel… Something impinged on her awareness. An oddity. A small metallic form was flying in the near distance. She focused on it and froze as it did. A torrent of information flared in her brain and she could not restrain a whine of pain as she collapsed. Kori was right beside in a flash.
"What happened?" The armored woman asked, worried.
I don't know. The Kubrow replied. She nodded to where the flying machine was hovering immobile now. The machine… I…I can feel it… Others are approaching. Many others… She went still as Kori inhaled in horror.
"Oh no…" Kori leapt to her feet. "The Corpus! They will attack while my kin are distracted!" The Kubrow stared at Kori and then focused on the machine. It hovered for a moment and then shot off. "That tears it! We have to retreat."
No. The Kubrow said softly. They were going to, now they will not. Reinforcements are en route. Your kin need help, yes? She rose to stand by Kori.
"What?" Kori stammered, confused.
I don't know how. But I just took control of every one of the machines in the area. The Kubrow said, unease percolating. If the monsters made me, then this is why they did. But they had to control me… They couldn't. Or… I don't think they could… I was built to control these kind of machines. To kill… to kill people…
"Oh." Kori knelt down and held out her arms. "What a horrible burden." The Kubrow came close and Kori threw her arms gently over the canid who leaned into the embrace gratefully.
Watch me, Kori. The Kubrow said quietly. If I turn on you…
"You won't." Kori's faith touched the canid and she nuzzled the armored woman's face affectionately. "My clan need help."
Then let us give it. The armored woman started off, the four legged female at her heels. They ran lightly and quickly over the landscape until they came to a small valley. In it was a dry streambed that held… horror.
A dozen armored forms struggled against a horde of nightmarish forms. For every one that the armored forms cut down or gunned down, two more seemed to arrive. The enemy's ranks were swelling. Not that they seemed to need it. Many of the armored form's bullets either bounced off or passed through the enemies without causing harm. Blade strikes as well seemed to do little damage.
"Enough!" Kori screamed and a pulse of power swept from her.
The Kubrow paused, stunned as half of the enemies turned on each other. But only for a moment. Then they returned to fighting the other armored forms. But that moment of respite had given the armored forms time to regroup. Several of them showed signs of damage or injuries. One was down. Hurt or slain, the Kubrow did not know. Kori screamed, a heartwrenchign sound of pure agony, but when the Kubrow turned to look at her, nothing had hit her. But she was clutching her head.
A massive explosion sounded nearby and the Kubrow ducked as the ground heaved. Kori was tossed away to land in a heap. A huge enemy moved towards them, it's massive weapon almost the same size as the enemy himself. She growled in warning, but he ignored that, reaching for her with the hand that was not on the control of the weapon.
Obey. The word sang through her body and soul. But she would not submit. She could not. She would not. She snarled and backed up a step. Then another, as the huge form closed the distance.
Back off! She screamed in her mind and the huge enemy paused for a moment, then started to close again. She stared around wildly, looking for the black armored one who had helped her before. But… She couldn't see him. Indeed, she couldn't see anything now, but the huge hand that was moving towards her. To take her. To enslave her. Never! She screamed in the silence of her mind.
You belong with us. The voice was calm and cold. You are ours. But then massive explosions started in the enemy ranks as a dark from swooped down from high above. Some kind of machine.
The Kubrow darted away from the enemy who was raising it's weapon now to fire on the odd machine that was hovering now. But then, she felt something else. A line of code in her mind. Code she understood!
Command and Control protocols recognized. Raptor online. Orders? The machine was talking to her. It was awaiting her commands. What the hell was a Raptor? The machine spoke again. Proxies inbound. Designate targets.
Help me! The Kubrow commanded, her near panicked flight slowing and stopping as she turned and saw… a horde of machines sweeping down from one wall of the valley. Somehow, she blinked and a red box covered the huge enemy with the large weapon. Target priority. Destroy.
Acknowledged. The Raptor Drone replied and then the Kubrow recoiled as the area around the huge enemy erupted in explosions and fire. Dozens of machines moved to fire at the same target and he screamed shrilly in the firestorm. But he was standing near where Kori lay still!
Kori! The Kubrow screamed as she ran back towards where the kind woman lay. No! Defend that human! A phalanx of machines moved to stand between the unconscious female and the enemy who were slowly retreating.
The other armored forms redoubled their efforts and several more of the enemy fell before they finally started running. The last two, the one called Nemesis and another who was swinging a vicious whip, paused at the top of a hill.
"You have won nothing, Tenno." Nemesis called. The Raptor swooped down and she fled, the machines following. The white armored form of the leader looked around and then at the Kubrow who was moving to where Kori lay still.
"I assume you did that?" He said calmly. The Kubrow nodded. "Thank you." He said with a nod. "Pull them back." He said as he strode to where the Kubrow was now nuzzling Kori, trying to wake her. "The enemy have hacking ability. If they get too close to the ship, they can hack the machines and thus you." The Kubrow paused, swallowed hard and nodded again.
You helped me. The Kubrow replied, fear in her voice. I wanted to help you. Kori… She said weakly. Please wake up.
"She tried to mind control one of the enemy." The white armored form said softly. "The backlash hurt her."
She can't die! The Kubrow begged. She is kind…
"Everything dies, darling." The Kubrow gave a soft bark of relief as the black armored form rose from where he had been lying and shook himself. "Lousy stinking back biters… I must be getting old. Haven't been blindsided that bad in decades." He bent down and picked up a pair of weapons that he holstered.
"You okay, Nikis?" Karl asked softly. Others of the armored forms were moving about, finishing off wounded enemy and checking their fallen. "That scum with the whip hit you hard."
"Hurts, but I am intact." The one called Nikis knelt by where the Kubrow was trying to get Kori to wake. "Darling… She may not wake. And if she does? She may not be the same. What she did was brave but foolish."
I… The Kubrow whined sadly. I understand. She was kind to me. I wish…wish I could help her.
"You can." Nikis said gently. "Be here for her. She will need care and comfort. She needs to know that she is not alone. That is the enemy's greatest weapon, fear."
I will not leave her alone. The Kubrow said firmly. And… The machines around the valley arrayed themselves in a battle formation and an alert pinged into her mind. The Raptor's scanners had picked up new contacts. Humans approach! Armed humans! Friend or foe?
"Not sure." The white armored form said with a wince. "Alicia! Get everyone patched us to travel. Nikis…" He paused as the black armored form scooped Kori up and hefted her easily. "Never mind." He said dryly. "I will see what they want."
"Be careful, Karl." Another voice that the Kubrow sort of recognized spoke and she looked to where a blue and white armored form was doing…something to another that lay still. "Come on Will, don't be lazy."
"Frack that thing hit hard…" A dazed voice sounded and she helped another armored form up. "Never been hit that hard before. Even Krill doesn't hit like that…"
"Come on, darling." Nikis said quietly as the white armored form moved to stand near where the humans would enter the valley. "We need to go."
I should stay. The Kubrow temporized. If the machines are needed to fight the humans…
"The machines belong to the humans, girl." Nikis said softly. "If they discover what you just did, there will be hell to pay. Come on." He urged her.
I don't know what to do. The Kubrow admitted. But you and Kori were kind. You saved me. She protected me while I was unconscious.
"I find your kind a lot easier to deal with than Tenno or humans." Nikis admitted as they walked. "Uh oh…" He said softly as the machines around eth area suddenly turned and aimed their weapons at the armored forms. "Um… darling…?"
That wasn't me! The Kubrow had frozen in place. She tried to access the odd link she had managed before but it didn't work. I can't access them now!
"I bet you can, just not the same way." Nikis said quietly. "But we are in trouble. Half the clan is hurt. Most of us are low on ammo. If they start shooting… Run."
I won't leave you! The Kubrow declared with a growl.
"Let's hope it doesn't come to that." Nikis said softly. "Here come the boxheads…" Indeed, the Kubrow stared as she saw the humans. Their helmets did look like boxes.
"Well, well, well…" One of them declared. "What have we here?" None of the armored forms deigned to reply and he snorted. "A pack of Betrayers, all nicely caught. I smell profit."
Lilly. The Kubrow went still. There was a voice in her head and it was not hers! It's okay, Lilly. I am a friend.
I don't know you! The Kubrow snapped, trying to growl, but she made no noise. She tried to move and couldn't.
I know. The voice was female, kind and sad. I need you to do something for me, Lilly. I need an open com channel from one of the proxies.
What good will that do? The Kubrow demanded as Karl slowly unholstered his long bladed staff.
We need the Tenno alive and fighting, Lilly. The voice said gently. Try channel Nine, they rarely block that one. The Kubrow snarled mentally, but did as instructed. She went still as every single machine in the area… powered down. The flying ones sank to the ground and folded up on themselves. Thank you, Lilly.
One of the machines -the flying one called Raptor- moved forwards, a holo emitter shining. A hologram of a robed woman appeared in the middle of everything. She looked around and nodded.
"Executive Nishon." The woman said calmly. "Stand down."
"I don't take orders from…" The human who had spoken before snapped, only to pause as one of the others grabbed his arm, obviously saying something that even the Kubrow's sharp ears could not catch. A soft exclamation was heard and the human sounded scared when he spoke again. "Reverend Mother… this is unprecedented."
"The threat we face is unprecedented." The holo replied evenly. "We are at a cusp, Executive. If we fail, if we serve only ourselves, we lose everything. Humanity as whole will die. Stand down. Now." She commanded.
"But…" The Executive sputtered and then froze as the Raptor rose into the air, it's missile banks opening. The target was clear and every one of the other humans moved away from the executive who had frozen in place. "I…"
"Obey or die, Executive Nishon." The holo commanded. "We do not have time for this! Your successor might be more amenable to common sense!"
"I… I will obey." The executive said after a moment. "But I will lodge a protest with the Board!"
"Protest away." The holo replied evenly. "At least you will be alive to do so. Which is more than would have been the case if these had not stopped the enemy." The executive bristled. "Shut up, Nishon." The holo said before he could speak again. "I am sure you and your men would have fought bravely. But you would have all died. For nothing. Go back to the outpost. If the enemy has not leveled it as they fled. Maybe if you are not stupid enough to pick fights with Tenno, you will live to see another day." She sounded…remarkably unconcerned with his fate.
"Ah… Reverend Mother…" The executive stammered. "The proxies…?"
"I don't trust you." The holo said flatly. "Get lost. Now." The Kubrow watched with no small amusement as the humans almost ran from the valley, the mechanical forms watching them like… well, a horde of death machines. Only after they were gone did the holo turn to where the white armored form stood. "Tenno. They did it. They made a Command and Control form…" Her voice was sad and sick now. "Ah, Lilly…"
Who are you? The Kubrow demanded.
"Once… I was your friend and mentor." The woman replied. "You were my agent. But you do not remember. I…" She seemed to slump. "Go." She said to the Tenno. "Take Lilly and go."
But… The Kubrow looked at the machines arrayed around and whined a bit.
"Lilly, you do not remember me." The woman said softly. "I could gain limited access, but no more. I could feel no trace of who you were. They killed you. The enemy killed you. We shared thoughts often enough while I trained you. But… You are not her. Not anymore. I must return the proxies to the base. But I can delay their return. Tenno. Please…" She begged. "Take Lilly and go. If the Board find out she exists… A Command and Control form… They will kill her and dissect her to try and build more abominations. Please." She begged. "You can protect her. I can't."
She… wasn't just a friend, was she? The Kubrow asked, stunned as the armored forms started moving. All of them held weapons ready, but none of the machines as much as twitched. Lilly?
"No." The Reverend Mother of the Corpus Clergy admitted. "Before that? She was my daughter."
