Cold Machines
Chapter7
Oh my God is that another chapter? Yes, Yes it is boys and gals. BattleUnit3 is still alive. Bet you all thought i was dead and the story was dead as well!
Still alive and kicking! Tests, exam they wont keep me down from delivering to you!
Enjoy!
"Hello. We are Geth."-came a synthetic voice grabbing the attention of the three men.
"Whhaaaaaaaaa?"- came the ever intelligent Leon.
"In the name of all that is warm!"-exclaimed Jacob.
"Hello. I am Ivan Michailovich. The one to my left is Leon Briste and to my right is Jacob Nash."- Honestly I didn't expect it to learn our language so fast. Thankfully I was to keep my composure unlike my compatriots. How advanced is this automaton truly? To be able to learn a language so fast just by listening. It already knew the written part, yes ,but to be able form a sentence after a few minutes.
"Hello Ivan Michailovich."-turning to Leon "Leon Briste"-then to Jacob "Jacob Nash. We are Geth we seek assistance." – the entity said.
"Leon go alert the Captain, we should have done this immediately actually."- Jacob said the other half more to himself. Leon quickly left towards the tunnel.
" Welcome to New London. It would preferable if we enter the guard house to continue our discussion further, its warm inside."-offered Jacob.
To say the Geth were surprised to be an understatement. The humans had not only accepted their offer of dialog but also invited them into their shelter. A quick calculation later it was discovered that refusing would be considered rude.
"We accept"- Came their short reply.
"Follow me"-said the one named Jacob Nash. The terminal followed the two humans inside the tunnel where the third human had disappeared to report to the now their referred as "The Captain". A leader of some sorts no doubt. The word meant a leader of a seafaring vessel or a military rank. Maybe Both? Massive gate doors retreated to the sides. The tunnel was interesting it was dug out from the ice and metal supports on the sides to keep it from collapsing. It was 10 meters wide and 5 high. The floor was covered in metal plating and the walls were covered by wires and pipes. The humans didn't go to the end of the tunnel, half way they went to the side and opened a metal door. Inside was a corridor with 4 doors 2 on each side.
"Through here"-said Guard Jacob opening the first door on the right while Radio Operator Ivan continued forwards towards the second on the left. The room we were lead in was a small with a simple table with 4 chairs in the middle. To the left there was what the Geth would assume is a kitchen with a cooking stove doubling as a heater. Jacob sat and gestured to them to do as well.
"Ivan went to leave the radio, since we don't need it anymore. Now this is quite unusual for us. Actually we never expected to come to us. Not since the storm, at least. So you must understand that we don't have any protocols so we will stay here until Leon comes back with orders from the Captain, alright?"-Said Jacob.
"We understand."-answered the Geth. They were letting the human lead the conversation even though they had plenty of questions. They would reserve such question to the Captain. They didn't want their first impression to the organics to be that of demands.
"Thank you, so I have questions and no doubt you do too. So here is how we are going to do it, if you agree of course. I ask a question you answer. Then you ask a question and I answer. Simple enough I think. Do you agree to this method?"- continued Jacob.
"We accept."-came back the answer from the Geth. It seemed fair towards both sides.
"Good, Good. I will start. What are you?"- asked Jacob. The human knew what they were but he may have asked to make sure.
"We are Geth. We are synthetics or as you may call us automatons."-answered the Geth truthfully.
"Just making sure we are on the same page here. OK. Now it's time for you to ask?"-said while smiling Jacob.
The Geth had many questions of course. But which to ask first was a serious problem. So a consensus was prepared. After entire 3 microsecond a decision was reached.
"What is New London?"
"Ahh well We are the last city on this planet. You see 3-4 years ago the planet began a slow drop in temperatures. Many denied it at the time but eventually it became painfully obvious. So the British Empire, one of the political entities, spent a great amount of resources to design, build and transport to the North. The reason for it was because it was obvious the temperatures will drop below anything ever experienced. The nations near the equator were the first to fall and fast. The North was chosen due to the massive abundance of coal from which provides almost everything. Also the fauna was more resilient to cold climates. We left London. The Capital of the British Empire and settled here in hopes to weather out this Ice Age. Nobody know why it began and honestly nobody these days care. It's not going to change knowing anything. I hope that answers your question. Now my turn. Now wh…"-Jacob was cut off by Ivan entering the room and saying.
"Where do you come from?"
"Where do you come from?"-I asked as I entered to room. I already knew the answer but I had to be certain.
The automaton stood quietly for a few second before answering.
" We come from a place known as Rannoch"
„Is Rannoch on this planet?"-I pushed.
The machine looked me directly in the eyes. Or eye it only had one after all."No"
"I knew it"-I muttered to myself. Jacob of course had his mind blown. Poor kid.
"Wait…What?"-Jacob suddenly said.
"The Geth are not from here Jacob. It was obvious; the British Empire was leading in the automatization technology. But even they had to build massive automatons. Babbage calculation engines are as big as this room. Not to mention the humanoid shape, the three fingers, the weird legs, the smooth unknown material. Humanity is at least a century away from anything close to that. Plus even if we did build something like we would build it in our own image."- I said as memories of Orthodox priest preaching resurfaced "And God made man in his own image". Had they been playing Gods with automatons? Anger began rising. No. God had abandoned them. The old world is dead. Had they remained there, leaving it all into his omnipresent hands they would be all dead. They live because of their own choices, own work, own creations. No longer is humanity obeying the will of the one up high. Humanity will no longer be a toy in the hands of others. They would never abandon their automatons like that. Humanity will stand alongside their creations. Because without them what are we truly?
"Wow."-Jesus kid I am having a crisis of faith here and you are acting like a woman just showed you here naked chest.
"Sorry about the 2 questions? It's your turn and you can have 2 questions as well."-I finished.
"Who is the Captain?"-asked Geth.
"Yes, an important question. He was the Captain of Dreadnought that brought us here. After we reached the Generator he led us to building a New London. He made the choices nobody wanted to make. A good man, but a man that knew when things needed a heavy hand. I personally don't know much about him. But I don't know one thing. You must never lie to him because he will know."- I answered the question as Jacob was still recovering for the revelation. I could swear and saw smoke coming out of his ears.
"He saved Eli."-suddenly added Jacob while looking at his hands."My family had a way on the dreadnought, hers didn't so when we were preparing to leave, I opened the hatch and let her in. The rest of her family couldn't get past the police cordon. But the guards found us. They pointed their guns at us and demanded her ticket. I stood in front of her. They were going to kill us both. Then the Captain entered. He had this stern look on his face as if someone had shat in his coffee *chuckle* but the moment he laid his eyes on us, his eyes immediately softened, he adopted the look my father had whenever me and Eli were caught sneaking around by him. He understood what had happened immediately. Still remember his words today "Stand down man. One more in is one more saved" and left."-finished his story Jacob. He stood up and asked" Anyone want some tea?"
At that moment Leon entered the room and said "Captain said to bring the Geth to him. We have to go too. Mark and Bryan are going to take over."
"Well Looks like we have to go. We will answer your question on the way."- I stood up from the wall I was leaning on. "Let's go".
The Geth wanted to continue asking question but they needed to go to the leader of this settlement or city as they called. In their opinion the entire thing was too small to be called a city. Hopefully the Captain would answer all their questions.
The Geth and the 3 humans left the side room continued down the tunnel. At its end there was a metal half box to its sides massive gears stood in its center a lever. They entered it and Leon reached for lever. He asked " Are you ready?"- with a wide smile. Ready for what the synthetics questioned themselves? " Just go."-answered Jacob exasperated.
Leon pulled the lever and the room began descending. An elevator. Suddenly the grey metal walls were replaced by an incredible site. A city. A massive tower going all the way to the top connecting to the roof. Around it all they were all kinds of structure. Some were small the Geth assumed they were house other massive in size factories and different industries.
"Welcome to New London. The last beating heart in a cold dead world!"- announced Leon as he moved his hand to show the city with a dramatic flare.
Sooooooooooooo? How did you like it?
Disclaimer: I do not dislike religion and faith. You are free to believe in what you want and i will not do or say anything against you. The Part with Ivan becoming angry at god is something that happens. When faced with loss and extreme conditions people often become angry. Sometimes having something to hate is as good as having something to believe in. The world has fallen to eternal winter. Millions if not billions lie dead. Some people will feel abandoned. IF you have a problem the way i portray it I am sorry .
Now to answer the reviews shall we? Ha you dont have a choice
SaddyFics: The Entire chapter 3 answers your question. By using translation programs, logic and the books in the research station he learns WRITTEN ENGLISH.
Wolfund: BUT I AM LAZY! Uhh fine one day in 20 years i will probably rewrite it.
MrMorriss: Order is best. Humanity would be able to colonize almost every world considering what they survived they wouldn't be exactly picky. Plus there is always Terraforming.
