Chapter 5:
"Alpha should be here any minute" a STRI-KR said. Professor Darrin was still knocked out. The STRI-KRs had sat him up on a bench inside one of this squads' transport trucks, searching for his records so they could identify who he was. "The computer is still searching for his file, it may take another minute" another STRI-KR replied. In a few seconds, Alpha's group of transports arrived. , as Alpha along with a couple more STRI-KRs entered the truck. "Who is this man?" Alpha asked. The computer had finally pulled up his file. "Professor Robert Darrin, sir" the STRI-KR at the computer replied. The computer pulled up his mug shots and other information about him. "Ex-Buy N' Large Laboratory researcher" the STRI-KR continued. "Went rogue in 2105 along with a group of others months before the citizens were evacuated." Alpha looked at the computer then back to Darrin, who was still unconscious. "He's just another vermin, sir,'' the STRI-KR concluded. "We apologize for wasting your time." The robot got up and aimed its gun at Darrin's body. Alpha's left katana blade shot out of his arm and in front of the gun, stopping the robot from killing him. "I'd like a word with the sergeant of this sector, first." Alpha requested.
"I am the sergeant, sir," the STRI-KR holding the gun at Darrin said. "What did he do?" Alpha asked. The STRI-KR looked back onto the computer screen and pulled up his history. "Defended a large supply of water somewhere out in Canada, along with a host of others," the STRI-KR told Alpha. Alpha pondered this for a while. "That convoy was going north," he thought to himself. "And this old city is exactly north of where we lost them in the sandstorm." Suddenly, everything clicked. "So it's water they're after," Alpha said to himself. "Not only will we be able to find where that supply is kept, we could find out where that convoy is based out of!" The STRI-KR heard Alpha's muttering. "Is everything alright, sir?" he asked. Alpha turned back around. "When will he wake back up?" Alpha asked. "He should be coming around in a few minutes." The STRI-KR responded. "Good," Alpha replied. "Keep your weapons down no matter what he does. I have an idea."
Soon, Professor Darrin's eyes slowly opened, his vision was blurred and hearing muffled, though everything cleared up in seconds. He wanted to rub his throbbing head, but he couldn't. The professor groaned in pain as he regained consciousness. "Ugh, where am I?" he asked. Darrin soon found out as there in front of him was Alpha and the other STRI-KRs in the truck with him. Darrin desperately struggled to move but failed to do so as he was heavily restrained. Alpha kept his composure and began talking in a warm, welcoming tone, something no other STRI-KR is capable of doing. "Professor Robert Darrin, I presume?" Alpha asked. "Y-yes…" Darrin stuttered. "Please excuse my STRI-KRs" Alpha reassured. "I hope they didn't alarm you too much. I mean, they need to stay vigilant in these trying times!" The STRI-KRs in the truck were confused about Alpha's sudden change of mood, and Alpha knew it. "Leave us," he ordered the robots. The two did as they were told and Alpha closed the door of the truck, then he turned back to the professor, still restrained.
"I'm going to try to not waste time, as we do not have much," Alpha began. Darrin looked at the STRI-KR as it floated back and forth in front of him with his hands behind his back. "Buy N' Large is in need of water," Alpha explained. "The reserves on their starliners are running low. They have enough time however to get water from this planet to their starliners before they can reach the Kuiper Belt." Darrin was surprised that Alpha knew right away his group's secret, and this emotion didn't go unnoticed by Alpha. "Yes, we kept those records," Alpha said. "That's not important right now though. Buy N' Large needs access to that water soon or else their people are going to die of dehydration!" Darrin laughed. "You must be crazy to think I will just give you a damn bit of information about that water I and my friends had fought with our lives to protect from Buy N' Large polluting it to keep with their little 'trash narrative!'"
Alpha did not like the remark he was just given, yet continued to keep his composure. "Buy N' Large understands that they've made a mistake to attack your group," Alpha said. "As a way of extending their utmost apologies, they want to offer you and your group the chance of a lifetime!" Darrin just glared at Alpha, skeptical yet intrigued. "Buy N' Large has been exploring the stars for around five years now, and there is much more out there to be discovered by mankind, and they are in need of top scientists for research. If you give us the water supply, I'll have you and your friends sent up to the government flagship starliner Horus." Darrin's worry slowly began to fade as Alpha explained his offer. "So, what do you think, Professor?" Alpha asked. Darrin was at a loss for words, but the expressions on his face spoke louder than his stammers as he tried searching for what to say. "I know it's a bit much to take in, but you'll be making history out there!" Alpha exclaimed. He paused for a moment. "You were a boy once, am I correct?" Darrin looked up at the robot. "You must've dreamed of reaching the stars at one point in your life." Darrin looked down. "Yes," he sheepishly replied. "I have." "And you had the opportunity in the beginning of the twenty-second century," Alpha continued. "But you instead wanted to stay on this planet! Haven't you taken a look around? The world is dead, and the opportunity to leave the beauty of space behind for Earth has dashed for you…until now!" Alpha placed his hand on his shoulder. Darrin and him looked directly at each other. "Professor, I have the power to grant you that opportunity once again! Whatever you did in the past has been pardoned, if it was you wouldn't be talking to me! All you have to do is get my troops to the water."
Darrin gave it some thought. The thoughts of him conducting research in space made him feel as giddy as a young boy, so much so he had forgotten about the reasons why he was fighting in the first place. "What about my friends?" he asked. "They've all been pardoned too," Alpha replied. "Starliner Horus needs as many scientists as they can find!" Darrin paused for a moment then smiled. "It's a deal!" he said with confidence. With that, Alpha unrestrained him and allowed him to stand up. Darrin stretched and then started searching his pockets. "Aw, damn!" he said. "I don't have the map! I must've left it in that semi!" "Do you at least remember specific locations you have to reach?" Alpha asked. "Oh, yes! The bridge over Lake Superior!" Darrin said. "Glad you remember!" Alpha said as he patted him on the back. He opened the back of the truck. "You just stay right in the cab of the truck as I organize the rest of the crew," Alpha said as he left. "Thank you, Darrin!" Darrin sat in the cab, still as giddy as before, thinking about what he will discover in the vastness of space. He didn't realize that everything Alpha had said was nothing but an elaborate lie.
Elsewhere, miles away from the city where Darrin went missing, Slayer and his small group of marauders rolled through Wisconsin making great time. Not a single attack from the STRI-KRs had taken place yet and everyone was hoping it would stay that way. Slayer was at the cab of Gatecrasher, partially glaring at the filthy terrain and small bits of trash scattered across the landscapes as they pass by. The rest of the time, Slayer had his eye on the female STRI-KR, Valkyrie, who was sitting in the back of Gatecrasher's trailer against the wall. Her design and her personality infatuated the Wall-E. Here was a female version of a killing machine, yet with no weapons and no known intent on exterminating anybody Buy N' Large deemed an enemy. Bone was focused on driving, but couldn't help but notice Slayer staring at the robot in awe. "Feeling alright, Slayer?" Bone asked as he continued driving. "I'm ok," Slayer quietly replied. "Its just…Valkyrie." Bone glanced back and then looked back at Slayer. 'What do you mean?" he asked. "Something about that robot fascinates me," Slayer said. "I just can't seem to take my eyes or my mind off her."
"Fascination, huh?" Bone sarcastically replied. "Were you at all 'fascinated' by that fucking sandstorm that could've killed us all?!" Slayer looked at Bone angrily, not at all impressed with his attitude. "Just drive the truck!" Slayer ordered as he got up from the passenger seat and made his way to the trailer. Valkyrie sat at the back against the wall of the trailer alone with her head hanging low. Nobody on board appreciated her presence and were trying to stay as far back as they could, worrying if she was going to start killing them off. She understood their actions, but still felt misjudged. Slayer could see she felt dispirited and decided to keep her company. He stopped in front of Valkyrie as she slightly looked up, facing the warrior Wall-E.
Slayer glanced at the empty space next to her. "That spot taken?" he asked. "No," Valkyrie replied. Slayer went ahead and sat next to her, much to some of the crew's surprise. Slayer scowled at them, making them turn away and leave the two alone. "I'm sorry about my crew," Slayer apologized. "The STRI-KRs destroyed their lives along with millions of others." "I knew they wanted to snuff some people out, but I never thought Buy N' Large would go this far!" Valkyrie exclaimed. "One of the guys said you were a product of the mega-corporation's propaganda," Slayer went on. "And you were made only to please feminists?"
"My leaders didn't tell me much, but I think that was their goal. All they told me to do was to shut up and pose for cameras," she replied. "I've only been seen at celebrations, on posters, television and billboards promoting the STRI-KR forces. I was never deployed and was the only one of my kind. I have the same chips as a STRI-KR but with very minor modifications to fit with the body they gave me." "Do you know you're programmer?" Slayer asked curiously. "I never knew my programmer," she answered. "But I heard through the grapevine some were arrested and tried for sabotaging robots. I guess one of them might've given me the red pill so to speak." "I never knew mine either" Slayer replied, "Only his brother, whom I was allies with in 2109. I think he may still be alive, probably up on the starliners." "Looks like we got something in common," Valkyire said. "Yeah," Slayer replied. The two shared a short awkward silence and looked away from each other's eyes. A minute later, Valkyrie had scooted closer to Slayer, feeling a bit more secure and reassured around the Wall-E. Their motherboards and circuitry were running high, like human hearts beating fast.
The group of vehicles soon were driving through an area with a large hill on their left and a small downward slope to the right. While driving, they passed by a couple of large canvas trucks, which had been destroyed for some time. They were burnt to a crisp, but certain things could be seen on the trucks' cabs. Bone noticed one of them had a light green plant logo. "That's odd," he thought to himself. "Wasn't that on the professor's clothing?"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a plasma pulse struck the land a few feet away from Gatecrasher after the group of vehicles passed the burnt trucks. Bone was taken by surprise and swerved the truck to the right away from the blast, causing many in the trailer to sway or fall to the floor from the sudden maneuver. Slayer got up and rushed back to the cab while Valkyrie looked out the narrow window where one of the gunners had their gun sticking out of. "The hell was that?!" Slayer asked. "I don't know," replied Bone. "I didn't even see where that came from!" Another blast suddenly struck closer to the truck, causing shrapnel from the blast to shoot through the front grille like a rocket and into the truck's V12 motor. The truck spluttered to a stop with white smoke beginning to fly out from under the hood. "We're hit!" Bone yelled. "Where in the hell are these shots coming from?!" Slayer yelled as he got out of the truck to investigate along with the others.
Valkyrie was still looking out the window, and soon saw something on a hill thanks to her enhanced vision. After looking closer, she saw it was a strange vehicle-looking object with a cannon sticking out of its front. It was covered with a well put together piece of camouflage. "Traverse turret to the left and aim at the middle of that hill!" Valkyrie ordered the gunner. Slayer heard her order and looked out at the hill. "I don't take my orders from STRI-KRs!" the gunner snapped. "Don't argue and fire!" Slayer ordered. The gunner sighed and fired where Valkyrie said. The twin cannons fired out a strong plasma pulse and decimated the hidden object shooting them down. Slayer and the rest of Gatecrasher's crew jumped when the explosion went off and looked towards the hill. Valkyrie flew out of the truck along with Slayer and Bone, who were looking at the explosion. "That's who was shooting at you," she said. "I have no clue what it was, it looked like it had wheels or something." "Good eye!" Slayer exclaimed.
The group suddenly heard strange motor sounds coming from over the same hill. Everyone clinched their guns as there, going over the hill and down towards them, was a small band of barbarians in dirt bikes and strange silver custom-built cars racing towards them. They were all wearing helmets and were wearing nothing but white with black stripes on their shoulder pads and down the sides of their pants. "Barbarians!" Slayer called out. "Take cover!" The semi's crew got some cover behind their truck and the other two canvas trucks while the drivers raced after some of the silver cars as the plasma shootout commenced.
The barbarians began trying to surround the group by having their vehicles drive in a circle around them. The dust beneath their wheels began to kick up and formed a small cloud. The marauders in their cars tried smashing into the silver cars, but with little success as the barbarians' cars were quick and nimble. One marauder was trying to shoot down a barbarian on a dirt-bike shooting and racing after him. They both ended up shooting each other, the marauder got knocked back and smeared blood against Gatecrasher's trailer, and the barbarian fell off the bike. Valkyrie was nearby and picked up the dead marauder's rifle and immediately started firing away at the barbarians running after the group with all guns blazing. She began shooting them down rapidly and managed to take out one of the cars racing behind them, incinerating the drivers as it exploded. Bone followed behind her, firing away at the raging barbarians.
Slayer was fighting off barbarians trying to gang up on him. Slayer swung his right tread into one of the barbarians causing him to fall over. Slayer then grabbed him by the mouth and swung around to shoot down more barbarians who had begun shooting back, using the barbarian in his hands as a body shield. The barbarian he had was still alive despite being shot several times and bleeding heavily, so Slayer snapped his neck. Another barbarian cyclist raced past Slayer, shooting his laser pistol right into Slayer's left eye. The blow knocked the warrior to the ground hard, shaking up his motherboard, making him unconscious. The cyclist was then run over by one of the marauder's armored cars, squashing him and his bike to a pulp. The driver however didn't notice Slayer lying almost lifeless on the ground as they had driven off to attack another bunch of barbarians.
Bone and Valkyrie had now taken cover behind the two burnt up canvas trucks. "Good effort, Val! We may just make it out of this one alive!" exclaimed Bone. "I'm sorry for doubting you!" "Nevermind that," said Valkyrie. "Let's just get rid of these guys!" They both turned the corner of the back truck and shot down several more barbarians to the ground. "Hang on," Bone said. "Where's Slayer?" Valkyrie suddenly noticed Slayer was lying unconscious in the dirt out in the open.
As of now, only one car was running. It swerved around facing Slayer's unconscious body, and out of its front came two horizontal buzz saws spinning at a tremendous speed. The car started to race right towards Slayer as he just regained consciousness and was struggling to pick himself back up. Valkyrie wasted no time and immediately flew after Slayer and managed to pick him up out of harm's way, just as the buzz saws were inches away from him.
"Are you alright?!" Valkyrie asked. "I can't see out of my left eye," Slayer said shakily. Valkyrie quickly placed him by the entrance to Gatecrasher's trailer. "Lieutenant!" Valkyrie called. "Slayer's badly hurt! Someone's gotta tend to him!" Bone heard this and without question ran back to take Slayer into the truck as Valkyrie flew back off to take out the car that was trying to run over Slayer. She was ready to gun them down but realized she was out of ammo. The robot decided to fly straight towards the car at an outrageous speed as the gunner standing at the back of the vehicle began shooting at her. In a flash, she swooped in behind the car, and ripped off the gunner's head as she struck down. His head rolled down next to the driver's lap, startling the barbarian. Valkyrie jumped in next to the driver and kicked his head which killed him instantly. She pushed the driver out and turned the car back towards the group.
She stopped by Gatecrasher and hurried out of the car and into the trailer to check on Slayer. Several marauders were checking if anyone else was left as Bone had started to open the semi's armored hood. Slayer was shut down and laid down on a table as their medic and robot mechanic was tending to his eye as Valkyrie flew in. "Is he ok?!" Valkyrie asked. "He's alright, just shaken up from the blast," the medic replied. "His left eye and what it connects to is gone though. He'll need a new head." Valkyire stayed at Slayer's side as the mechanic continued working on him.
Outside of the truck, the rest of the marauders were regrouping as Bone inspected Gatecrasher's motor. "How's the rig?" one of them called. "The radiator is damaged at the core, the injector line is broken, etc," replied Bone. "What does that mean then?" asked another. "Seven to eight hours maybe, I'll see what we can salvage from those other canvas trucks," replied Bone. "We're gonna be here for a while, so buckle down. After she's fixed we're off! Also make sure Slayer knows when he's fixed!" Everyone understood as Bone and a couple others began working on the semi's motor, while everyone else kept their eyes on the area, making sure nobody else was going to attack.