The voice from the Tower had caused a real buzz amongst the city. Citizens from every district were making their way to the Tower, some to catch a glimpse of their lord and master, others feared for their life if they did not attend, and they knew that the Guardians would be on the look-out. They always found you, no matter what. The stream of people in the streets was constant, and the people were a variety of men, women and children. They were each dressed in the same hooded rag-like shirts and dirty trousers, because they had nothing else. As the crowds gathered around the Tower, the central platform was surrounded in a circle-formation by the Guardians. The people were speaking a hushed tone, trying not to alert the Guardians, in case they took their chatter in the wrong way. Within ten minutes of the initial call, everyone in the city was awaiting their leader at the Tower. Suddenly, the sound of sharp feedback was heard, and the same voice that called the people shouted down the megaphone.

"Citizens! It is time! All hail your leader, your saviour… All hail Jakob!"

The citizens burst into rapturous applause and chanted their leader's name, as Jakob appeared on the central platform in a burst of white light. He slowly scanned the horizon, before lifting his right arm into the air, to which the people reacted in a wave of excitement and passion. Jakob dropped his arm and stepped onto a podium, where he tapped a microphone three times and the sound echoed through the speakers around the city.

"Loyal citizens of Inculta, it gives me great pride to stand before you again. Today marks a special day in the history of this race! Today, your honourable leader has achieved one of his goals! Now, I have heard whispers amongst you people, talking of our new arrivals in the city."

Anyone who was talking in the crowd went quiet. Jakob appeared to smile at the complete silence he was receiving.

"It's OK, it's not meant to be a secret. I too was excited at our newest additions to the city. In fact, they have helped me achieve my goal. You see, I used these new arrivals to my, I mean, our, advantage. They have contributed to the re-design of your Guardians!"

As seen before, the very mention of the Guardians caused the people to gasp and freeze on the spot.

"As you know, your Guardians are my proudest creation. They have protected you people from outside threat, for countless generations! But, they are flawed. They are weak. They could be so much better! And now, they are…"

Jakob stopped his speech and lifted a wrist device, similar to the ones the Guardians possessed, to his mouth. He whispered into the device.

"Is it ready?"

The other voice acknowledged Jakob.

"Good. Bring it to me."

Jakob put his hand back on the podium in front of him. He waited patiently, whilst the crowd whispered to each other in anticipation, wondering why their leader had stopped talking. Their questions were answered soon enough, as a flash of white light appeared beside Jakob, who didn't even flinch or move. As the light faded, the people were left in awe, as a figure appeared beside Jakob. The figure resembled the shape of a Guardian. Although, this Guardian seemed different. It moved on its own and its mannerisms resembled Jakob's, as it looked down on the people and turned on the spot to face Jakob.

"Honourable leader, sir, I await your orders."

The citizens were in awe. This Guardian spoke on its own, without being told to. It was independent. The awe quickly turned into fear and paranoia, as each citizen watched the Guardians around them to see if they were like it too. Instead, they were still and motionless, the Guardians they were familiar with. In the distance, Jakob appeared smug and stepped forward to his microphone again.

"Do you like it? It's new and improved Guardian! All major design flaws are gone, and it means that it has no weaknesses. This is the prototype, so it is an early model, but I am close to completing the final model. So, what do you think?"

There was a mixed reaction from the crowd. Some people cheered, whereas others chatted in a fearful tone. The Guardians they were so scared of, just got worse, or better from Jakob's point of view. This reaction from his people wasn't the one that Jakob expected. He quickly turned on his people and thumped the podium with his fist. The sound travelled down the microphone and alerted the people to Jakob's anger, and they jumped in their place to face him again.

"You seem… scared. Scared of my new Guardian. Are you? Do you fear it?"

Again, the crowd remained silent. The Guardian remained next to Jakob, slowly moving his head from side-to-side.

"You people are so scared. My Guardian does not fear anything! It does not fear me! It does not fear you! It does not fear death! The perfect soldier! Well, you people better get used to this. We will soon be mass-producing these Guardians, ready for the next stage in the development of Inculta, as we travel into the heart of the universe and expand my, our, empire!"

Jakob's idea of an empire did not reflect well on the people, who started to talk amongst themselves, louder than they had before. Jakob did not take kindly to an interruption, as he pounded his fist on his podium again. The people turned to face him, who was red-hot with fury.

"DO NOT INTERRUPT ME! You do not take kindly to my plans. This offends me. But, I also pity you. You have no idea how much potential this tiny planet has. In time, it will become the center of the entire universe, with your honoured leader, Jakob, at the helm! In fact, I don't need you people! All I need for success are my Guardians! And I think it would be right to give my kingdom an active demonstration of my army! And only then, will you see the might of the Guardians!"

There was a real sense of fear amongst the citizens, who had started to tremble with each of Jakob's words. Some even started to flee the area, as they see the anger in their leader's eyes and thought it best to run. Jakob turned to the Guardian on his platform and told it something, before teleporting away from the scene. The Guardian dropped from the platform in a swift movement, the sort-of movement that the old Guardians could never replicate. It marched to the centre of the Tower's ground, before it screamed at the people, in a bone-chilling voice, which was less robotic and rusty than the others. Instead, it sounded more organic, almost human.

"Guardians! Lift your weapons…"

The Guardians lifted their weapons in a synchronised manner.

"TAKE AIM!"

The crowds of people gasped in unison, as more and more people realised what was about to happen and sprinted away from the Tower and into the maze of streets and pathways, desperate and terrified, before the Guardian screamed the order.

"FIRE!"

At that moment, the Guardians turned on their own people and their weapons launched blasts of laser energy at the now frenzied civilians. They were cut down by the lasers, which cut through their bodies and caused them to drop motionless onto the dusty ground, clutching their chests and crying out for their sons, their daughters, or just whimpering at the burning sensations passing through their bodies as they eventually closed their eyes, and stopped squirming. It took little time for the people to be slaughtered, before each Guardian disappeared in a burst of white light, leaving behind them the fallen crowds of people who lay motionless on the floor.