Man and Machine 20
[Good news, I figured out how this story is going to end… but it won't be in this chapter]
Sitting on an old metal trashcan lid, with Twiki and Theo on his lap, Buck found himself sliding down the inside of a steep sewage pipe at breakneck speed, with sparks trailing behind him. Wilma was running right behind him, her legs just barely keeping pace with the speed her upper body was falling down the steep incline, just barely keeping her from an embarrassing fall on her face… but at her speed, she was so out of control, there was no way she would be able to stop gracefully.
Behind them, making a slower, but more graceful descent, Starbuck and Apollo trailed. They would provide covering fire, turn and follow a few leaps, before stopping to fire again, they maintained a steady progress by leapfrogging, one would fire, while the other descended; Warrior training in action.
With a loud clang, and several grunts and 'oofs' Buck and Wilma reached the bottom, they were just brushing themselves off when Starbuck and Apollo joined them.
Apollo glanced down at the two Earthers but declined to comment on their near comical condition, Starbuck who would have commented, kept his attention up at the top of the darkened pipe they had just reached the bottom of.
"I think we lost them," Starbuck said.
"All the same, lets not go back up that way," Apollo said.
Buck groaned again, fully regaining his feet, "We can follow these old sewer pipes, they are bound to lead us to another exit."
"Are you sure, Buck?" Wilma asked.
"Of course, Wilma, this is my home town, after all," Buck shined his light down the tunnel that was much larger than any he remembered, noting the crisscrossing pipes and debris that lay along it. "Just watch out for Alligators."
It had started out as such a good day. They had made hesitant, but peaceful contact with the Mutants that lived in the Old City, and had even started bartering for wares with them at one of their markets. They had put up some initial objections to the presence of Theo and Twiki, but the presence of their weapons had kept things peaceful. Theo was the one who first broke the peace by announcing the arrival of some new hunters that were tracking them.
The situation quickly degenerated into mass hysteria. Silver hovering hunter killer drones descended upon the market from all sides, Buck and the others tried to find cover while the mutants ran in a panic, half running for cover, the other half brandishing their own weapons of various levels of technical sophistication to fight back against the machines. Buck started to wonder if their resentment towards Theo had nothing to do with his golden circuitry. One of the Mutants who had been friendlier to them, motioned them over to an old Manhole, which seemed like a great option at the time, but, of course the Drones had found a way to follow them.
"Bididid-bidi," Twiki said.
"I had nothing to do with that attack. I did try to warn everyone," Theo said.
"Yeah, well, could one of you map our progress? It's easy to get lost under here," Buck said.
"Which way?" Starbuck asked.
"Will we find more answers by going up or down?" Apollo added.
"Up will lead us out, right?" Wilma said.
"Won't they still be looking for us?" Starbuck pointed out, "Cylons… and other machines, tend not to give up."
"Good point," Buck said, "down should still lead us to wherever the water was supposed to exit, so it should still be a way out."
They began their trek, lit by small survival flashlights. Even with the lights, the tunnels seemed to get darker the further they went. Mile after mile they walked, the tunnel going deeper, and more cluttered with scrap.
"These tunnels go on forever," Wilma said.
"Reminds me of the catacombs on Paradeen," Apollo said.
"Nah," Starbuck disagreed, "those were less round, and cleaner."
"Bidbidi-bidi-bidi, what's that?" Twiki said.
"What is what?" Buck asked.
Apollo and Wilma held their lights up higher straining to see further down the tunnel. "Something is over there," Apollo said.
"Looks like a ship," Wilma said.
"As long as it doesn't come alive and try to kill us," Starbuck said, "lets go take a closer look."
They spread out and surrounded the ship. "It looks like either a boat or a space craft. Did they use to send ship down in these tunnels back then, Buck?" Wilma asked.
"Not during my time. This thing looks like it's been ripped apart," Buck said.
"What are these?" Apollo picked up an elongated piece of metal from the ground.
"That's a bullet," Buck said, "we used them before laser guns."
"Huh," Apollo said, "looks more effective than the old Numo ammunition."
"I have never seen one before," Theo interjected, "but this is a combat vessel used by the human resistance before the Truce resulted in the creation of New Chicago. The disks on the sides were a primitive and energy wasteful form of antigravity drive that allowed this type of vessel to travel these tunnels to reach virtually any place in the world."
"City sewer systems aren't that extensive," Buck protested.
"Not to contradict your expertise, Buck, but we are not in the old Chicago sewer system, but below it in the tunnels used during the fight between humanity and Skynet," Theo said mater-of-factly. "Some of these tunnels were constructed by the resistance, but I believe that this one was constructed by the Machines for the humans to use."
"Wait, wait, wait… why would they do that?" Starbuck asked.
"I shall attempt to use a movie reference, so that Buck will understand in order to explain it to the rest of you," Theo said. "It's like the old Star Wars movies… when the Emperor came to power by controlling both sides of the battle."
"I saw those movies," Buck said. "What do you mean when the Emperor came to power? Are you saying he wanted to blow up his own Death Star?"
Wilma whispered to Apollo, "As usual, I have no idea what Buck is talking about. I don't even understand what a movie is, despite Bucks attempts to explain them."
"Bidi-bidi-bidi," Twiki said, "after his time."
"I apologize, Buck, while I have longed for the opportunity to admit to knowing more about your ancient culture than I let on, and discuss movie plots with you, I forgot to factor your departure date. You only got to see three of those movies. I fear I may have spoiled the plot for you," Theo said.
"Don't worry about it, Theo, I haven't been able to find copies of many old movies anyway."
"If we continue to follow this path, I believe I can show you more of what I am trying to explain."
"Any way we can get this old vessel to work?" Starbuck asked, "It would be a lot easier to ride than walk."