The song for the chase is – Catgroove by Parov Stelar
watch?v=7JBEmsqxoWI&list=RDIbRxuy-S96U&index=16
Dmitri had to yell over the rev of the Jeep that was closing in on their rear bumper, "Who are these men?"
"Ah, that's right, you haven't had the pleasure." But before Peggy could explain, her eyes widened, "Mr. Jarvis, your six!"
The solid Jeep suddenly rammed into the back of the Packard. The impact was so severe that everyone was knocked forward and nearly out of their seats. Just as they repositioned themselves, the vehicle slammed into them again.
Jarvis quickly glanced into his side mirror and gulped loudly, "They certainly are tenacious buggers."
Peggy demanded, "Well, speed up, Mr. Jarvis."
Through clenched teeth, Jarvis grumbled, "This conveyance wasn't exactly built for velocity, Miss Carter!"
"Nor comfort," she muttered as the increase in speed made all the small bumps and ruts in the road feel as if they were bouncing through potholes.
They were crashed into again, and now the second Jeep was racing up along the passenger side of the Packard. Like the other enemy's vehicle, it also had two male robots. All wore army camouflage, complete with some sort of metal mesh that camouflaged their faces and covered their heads completely.
As that Jeep neared perilously close to Peggy's side of the vehicle, one of the occupants from it leaped out and landed on the running board.
Peggy felt the car dip dangerously close to the road from this sudden intrusive weight.
This was far too similar to the Nile boat attack for her liking. Snarling defiantly, Peggy aimed her gun at the male robot. Unlike then, she was better prepared. But before she could fire, it yanked open the door and shoved her forcibly against Jarvis.
The push was strong enough to cause Jarvis to swerve the steering wheel. But he got the car back under control quickly.
When Peggy targeted her weapon again, the robot pulled the front seat down, pinning her lower body and right shoulder. Just as fast, it clamored inside the vehicle and onto the folded seat.
Gritting her teeth, Peggy tried to drag her hand out so she could shoot, but the damn robot was too heavy.
Finally, she freed her weapon and aimed point-blank at the automatons covered face. The robot quickly grabbed the muzzle of the gun and raised it upwards. With his other hand, it reached for Zdenka.
While Peggy attempted to pry its bulky fingers off her gun, Dmitri placed himself between the robot and his longtime friend. He barely dodged out of the way of the automaton's brick-sized fist.
With Dmitri out of its way, the robot seized Zdenka's arm in a painful grip. The female Russian yelped in pain and anger when the automaton suddenly jerked her partially over the folded front seat.
The robot had to release Peggy's weapon to haul Zdenka out of the car with it. Peggy tried to target the automaton, but Zdenka's body now blocked her shot.
Exclaiming in anger, Dmitri lunged forward and grabbed Zdenka's legs. However, due to the robot's strength, it easily pulled Zdenka closer to the exit as it stepped out onto the running board. There were only moments left before it would have her completely out of the car.
A still pinned Peggy snarled. She would not let this sack of bolts succeed in absconding away with Zdenka.
With both Russians in the way, Peggy had to change tactics quickly. Up ahead and to the right, she noticed a dirt road with thicker trees lining it.
To Jarvis' outraged indignation, Peggy grabbed the steering wheel and wrenched it, forcing them off the interstate and onto the dirt lane. They found themselves on an even bumpier road that was dense with trees on either side.
Understanding her plan, Jarvis veered them closer to the trees.
"Don't hit the bigger ones yet!" Peggy yelled and grabbed onto Zdenka to help Dmitri pull her back in.
She and Dmitri had barely tugged Zdenka back over the threshold before the open door began to smack loudly into the weaker limbs of the passing trees. This forced the metal door to keep shoving against the robot who was now stuck between it and the vehicle.
Undeterred, the robot used its broad shoulders as a wedge. Then with the strength of one hand, it violently wrenched the door outwards as far as it would go, weakening the hinges in the process. With the door forcibly propped open, the smaller trees shattered upon impact when they slammed into the metal barrier.
Problem solved, the robot once more continued its task. Still holding onto Zdenka's arm, it stepped further back on the running board. It was an advantageous position that gave the machine better leverage. Much to Peggy's consternation, the automaton began to haul the female Russian toward it and out the open door. It took another step back.
But Peggy and Dmitri were just as determined. They both jerked Zdenka enough of the way back inside the car to safety. The Russian woman was screaming, for it felt like her arm was pulled out of its socket. Nevertheless, their success would not last long, and neither would Zdenka's limb. They had to act fast.
With both of the struggling Russians practically on top of her, Peggy ordered, "Now, Mr. Jarvis!"
After a brisk nod, he wrenched the steering wheel toward the closest oncoming large tree.
Wham! The Packard's open door suddenly struck the thick trunk. The violent impact crashed the door shut on the robot's hand that held Zdenka. The brutal hit sheared its fingers off at the knuckle. Seconds later, the automaton was brushed forcefully aside by the tree and off the running board.
Sparks flew, and Dmitri and Zdenka stared agape at the fingers that still grasped her arm tightly. Dmitri pried them free with sick fascination and then threw the metal digits out of the open door in fear and disgust. Quickly they sat down in the rear compartment, which enabled Peggy to push her seat back in its place.
Then, registering their stunned expressions, Peggy said, "Sorry, I thought you knew they were robots."
Dmitri spat, shocked, "Blyat [No fucking way]! They are synthetics? I thought they were enhanced!"
While holding her sore arm from pain, Zdenka stuttered her head in agreement.
Concerned, Dmitri asked her, "Are you alright?"
The Russian woman grimaced through clenched teeth, "I'll live."
Dmitri smiled at her stoicism, and then they both stared expectantly at Peggy.
She was about to enlighten them when Jarvis growled, "They never stop."
Following his gaze, Peggy saw that the determined robot had somehow managed to grab onto the battered car door that now hung crookedly from its frame.
By its refusal to let go, the additional weight was dragging it and the ruined door down into the loose dirt, slowing the Packard further. The only benefit was that as it gouged the earth, the dispelled soil caused a dust screen that obscured their vehicle from those pursuing them. It at least bought some time before they were rammed again by the Jeeps.
Gauging the situation, Peggy stated determinedly, "Well, since this had worked with Howard's runabout, why go against tradition." She opened the glove box. From within, she pulled out the small cylindrical device that her inventor friend had given them. Peggy clocked Jarvis' wide-eyed stare and quirked, "Well, Howard had said to use this blowtorch in case of an emergency, and I think this is it."
They shared a grin, and she added for all to hear, "So let's lose some of this ballast."
Suddenly, the busted door began to swing back toward them. This time, Dmitri dove over the seat. Just as quickly, he shoved his legs against the door to keep the robot from getting close enough to climb back aboard. The automaton began to swipe its fingerless hand at Dmitri's extended legs, and the Russian grunted from the exertion to keep the door open.
Concerned that she might burn Dmitri by accident, Peggy had no choice but to squeeze past and go outside the vehicle.
While the robot dangled one-handed from the door, Peggy clambered onto the running board. There was no time to say anything pithy, so instead, she focused on the task at hand.
Leaning over Dmitri's stretched legs, Peggy activated the device, and an intensely hot flame flared out. Quickly she lowered her sunglasses and then began to cut the doors only attached hinge free.
The robot registered what she was doing and tried to kick at her. Dmitri cried out when the door was forced against his straining legs, but he stayed firm.
Changing tactics, the robot punched its fingerless hand at Peggy and barely missed tagging her.
Undeterred, Peggy continued her work until, finally, the blow torch had weakened the metal hinge enough for it to snap off.
The door broke free, and the robot tumbled away with it. Instantly the Packard picked up speed.
Their victory was short-lived when they were once more rammed from behind by the other Jeep. Peggy nearly lost her footing. Off-balance, she leaped back inside, but this time to the back seat. She quickly tossed the small incendiary device beside her.
Suddenly, one of the Jeeps tried to squeeze its way past the Packard to cut them off, but a resolute Jarvis would not let them pass. Up ahead, he noticed that the trees were thinning out and warned, "Without this thick tree cover, I won't be able to stop them from overtaking us."
Grimly, Peggy nodded, "On it."
Grabbing her gun, Peggy leaned out from where the passenger door had once been and shot at the Jeep beside them. Her aim was true, but even after hitting the driver in the head multiple times, it did not react.
Cursing, Peggy had hoped that the bullets could pierce the male robot as it had earlier against the knees and shoulder of the female ones. But it now seemed that the camouflaged mesh covering their heads prevented such an advantage.
After motioning Zdenka to trade places with him, Dmitri fell to the back seat behind Jarvis. In seconds, he had a gun in his hand but saw that Peggy's weapon did not affect the robot. He asked through grim lips, "Can these things even be stopped?"
"On the females, it was their eyes. On the males, I do not know," Peggy replied fiercely.
"Then the Jeep it is," the Russian stated resolutely.
The Jeep swung behind their car when they both aimed for the tires. In moments the robotic driver had positioned the heavier vehicle to stay close to the Packard's rear bumper. This made any shot impossible, even for them.
Wondering where the other Jeep went, Peggy strained to see through the dust. Further back, the driver had stopped to pick up the fingerless robot who had tried to grab Zdenka.
Frustrated that her gun was no help, Peggy sat back inside the car. Though tempted to shoot out the small rear window of the Packard, she realized that it was too narrow to work for her needs.
Dmitri grumbled, "If only there were some way we could get to their tires."
An idea suddenly came to her. Smirking, Peggy mused, "Comrade, I think we can all do with a bit of fresh air."
Before he could ask, Peggy grabbed the blow torch beside her. She then leaned over Zdenka and began to burn through the upper support joist for the roof on the passenger side.
Jarvis stuttered, "What do you think you are doing?!"
"Just turning this vehicle into a fashionable convertible," she stated overly bright.
Ignoring Jarvis' grumble regarding "insanity," Peggy finished cutting through that support brace. She then tossed the cutting tool to Dmitri, who worked on the beam next to Jarvis. Peggy saw the butler flinch and then raised a hand to shield his eyes from the bright glare.
Jarvis warned, "Better hurry. Our scenic drive is about to end."
Looking ahead, Peggy saw that their tree-lined protection was almost gone. This was worrisome. Soon it would be replaced by clumps of brittle Cypress trees interspersed with thorny shrubs.
"Almost done," Dmitri growled out.
While Peggy averted her eyes from the intense flame, she noticed Zdenka was pale from pain. She was cradling the arm that the robot had squeezed tight. Frowning, Peggy asked in concern, "Did it break your arm?"
"I-I don't think so." Regardless, the woman's grimace said a lot about the agony that she was in.
Sympathetic, Peggy nodded.
Dmitri finally finished cutting through the roof's front support beam, and then he began to burn away the middle bar on his side of the car. It was a very capable little device, and he managed to cut through the smaller metal section rather quickly.
He then handed the blowtorch to Peggy, who also made short work on the central metal joist next to her. She turned to focus on the back part of the vehicle. Unfortunately, there was more metal than they had time to cut through. But luck was on their side, for the buffeting headwinds rattled lose the front section they had just sliced through.
To free up her hands, she pocketed the mini blowtorch. Then nodding to the others, Peggy ordered, "All push up on three."
Before she could count, they entered the open section of the road. Instantly, the second Jeep with the fingerless robot roared up beside them and knocked violently into the Packard's side.
Then the vehicle in the back slammed into them again. Being bashed about made Peggy feel like she was in a pinball machine, and she snarled outraged, "You bloody robots!"
After another ferocious hit, Peggy nearly toppled out the open side of the speeding Packard. There was no time for a countdown. She yelled, "Now, push!"
While Dmitri lifted from Jarvis' side, Peggy and Zdenka shoved up the passenger part of the roof. It was challenging to boost the heavy top. But once they could prop it up somewhat, the wind coming at them from the vehicle's momentum suddenly popped it upwards.
The large piece of elongated metal momentarily acted like an unfurled sail, which had them once again slowing down. Finally, the strain from the whipping hot wind and Jarvis shoving his foot down full-throttle on the accelerator had the roof ripping right off.
The heavy metal top slammed into the Jeep directly behind them.
The force of the impact sent that vehicle careening into a nearby patch of sinewy Cypress trees. Peggy watched as the Jeep tried to back up, but its undercarriage was hooked on part of the tree. As the two robots lumbered out to free it, Peggy checked them off her list for now.
Before they could cheer their success at taking out one of the Jeeps, they saw three motorcycles racing up through the trailing haze of dust. They looked female in form, and Peggy knew it was those damn robot women from Giza. Like their male counterparts, the women were also covered in camo, but they all wore motorcycle helmets instead of mesh masks.
The old Hydra adage of chopping off the head and two more would grow came instantly to Peggy's mind. At least the robot women were down to three from the original five, she thought with resolve.
Then the second Jeep took the place of the last one. Once more, they were crashed into from behind.
Suddenly, the fingerless robot leaped onto the back of the Packard's trunk, and it began to stomp toward them. In seconds it stood over Peggy and Dmitri. The two Russians gaped as the machine defied all Laws of Physics.
Dmitri looked at Peggy in surprise, and she explained quickly, "They have some sort of suctioning device on their feet."
"Oh, makes sense," was Dmitri's mumbled reply.
Eyeing the dangerous robot, Peggy growled at Zdenka, "Stay down!" Nodding quickly, the pale Russian ducked further down into the front seat.
Seeing that they were in the way of its intended target, the robot swiped at Peggy and Dmitri with its club-like hand. They barely ducked in time. Then, without hesitation, the male Russian unloaded his clip into the robot's torso until his gun clicked empty.
As Dmitri reloaded, Peggy sneered up at the mechanical menace. Hoping that the metal mesh only protected its head, she focused her fire on one of its kneecaps.
After a few precise shots, the robot's joint was soon exposed and weakened enough that it began to buckle. Sharing a grin with Dmitri, they both risked getting closer to the deadly automaton.
While dodging any swipes coming their way, Peggy and Dmitri kicked at the damaged knee. It took a few hard-placed strikes, but the joint finally snapped apart. With only one foot still adhered to the vehicle, the robot pinwheeled in trying to stay upright.
Dmitri joined Peggy in shooting at the flailing robot's other knee. As it continued to sway off balance, they unloaded their bullets into it until the metal knee was barely holding.
Then after a unifying nod to one another, the humans struck the weakened joint as one. Now without any leg to stand on, the robot tumbled from the vehicle.
There was some satisfaction that the knee-less robot wasn't picked up by the other Jeep but was instead run over by the heavy military vehicle.
Both humans checked their guns and saw that they were out of bullets. It was taking far too much firepower to take out even one of these damn machines. With four more to go, Peggy grimaced at the odds of survival that this placed them in.
They were once more slammed into from behind, and Peggy and Dmitri fell onto the passenger seat.
Glaring at the Jeep's driver, Peggy asked over her shoulder, "Any other gadgets Howard gave you, Mr. Jarvis?"
The butler shook his head, "No, I am afraid not, Miss Carter. He was not expecting this much trouble."
She frowned, "Well, that's unlike him." Usually, her friend always over packed. She snorted when she remembered that he had been rather distracted by the new blonde in his life.
Jarvis' gaze locked on hers from the rearview mirror, "But 'Bessie' is still in the trunk."
In pain, Zdenka grounded out through clenched teeth, "Whatever that is, it doesn't help us much now! We can't even get to it!" Already a deep bruise, the shape of thick fingers, had darkened her injured arm.
Confident, Peggy assured her, "Don't worry, Zdenka, I know how to reach it." She motioned for Dmitri to grab a corner of the back seat, "Help me."
Between the two of them, they struggled to pry the entire padded bench up. The job was a bit of work since the cushion was one large section. Finally, they managed to wrestle the sofa size piece free.
Exchanging a grin of solidarity, they then tossed it overboard at the Jeep behind them. The robotic driver veered barely in time to avoid the bouncing oblong object.
Since the way was no longer unobstructed, Peggy saw the small hatch that allowed entry into the trunk. Yanking it open, she then crawled halfway in. Pushing aside the emergency roadside items, Peggy grabbed her shotgun and the box of extra shells. Arms loaded, she backed out.
Then with a gleeful grin, Peggy stood. The hot wind whipped her hair as she cocked back the chamber to her beloved shotgun. Targeting the Jeep driver, she exhaled her breath and squeezed the trigger.
Her aim was true, and the robot recoiled from the hit. But still, the Jeep came at them.
Peggy fired again. But even with the peppering of multiple shots from a higher caliber weapon, the automaton would not be stopped. She tried shooting at the engine, but the hood was as fortified as the robot.
She complained, "What the hell is that vehicle made of?"
The front tires would be trickier to hit, but a shotgun blast's dispersal pattern took the guesswork out of the equation. Aiming lower, she fired. But just before the pellets could puncture the rubber, the Jeep's driver swerved out of the way. She had forgotten how quick those automatons reflexes were.
They needed to slow these robots down if she was going to be able to hit it. Peggy muttered, "Perhaps a distraction would fit the bill nicely."
After propping the shotgun within reach, Peggy once more dove into the trunk.
Desperate, she looked for anything that they could use. She grabbed a few possible items and tossed the roadside assistance gear out to Dmitri. Her muffled voice asked, "If you would be a dear, Dmitri, and throw a lit flare at the driver while I am setting this up—"
As Peggy pushed herself out, she held a spare can of gasoline. Nodding, Dmitri grabbed one of the flares and quickly lit it. He then flung it at the Jeep that was once more racing to the passenger side of the Packard.
The Jeep's driver had those marvelous reflexes and caught the flare before it could hit him. The robot then threw it at Peggy. She ducked, and it instead hit the can of gasoline she held. The outside of the container must not have ever been properly sealed, for it instantly went up in flames. Now they had a flaming can of petrol that could ignite at any moment.
Cursing, Peggy quickly chucked the burning canister overboard.
Arcing, it landed on the hood of the Jeep. The fuel and fire quickly spread across the bonnet of the pursuing vehicle. The driver still was not exposing its tires for Peggy to shoot, so she would have to try something else.
Ignoring the roar of the pursuing Jeep and motorcycles, Peggy quickly rummaged through the emergency items beside her.
The burning Jeep wasn't slowing down and moved in again to ram their bumper, flaming hood and all.
Snatching up the heavy cross-shaped tire iron, Peggy ordered, "Throw another flare at it, Dmitri."
Dmitri snarled, "I don't think—"
Over his shoulder, Jarvis snapped, "Do what Miss Carter says!"
Glaring, Dmitri did as he was told. After igniting another flare, Dmitri threw it. Because the fire on the hood blocked the robot's view, it automatically raised itself up to catch the flare.
That's when Peggy hurled the cross-shaped carjack at it. She hoped that if bullets couldn't penetrate the protective metal mesh, a heavy flung massed object with pointy ends could.
For once, their luck had changed for the better. The spokes of the spinning car jack slammed into the robot's head, piercing it.
It seemed that the metal mesh had been bulletproof but not resistant against stabbing or spikey thrown objects. Thankfully body armor can only be one or the other, but not both. Peggy recalled that Howard had once tried an all-inclusive protective vest to disastrous results.
As sparks flew, the robot wordlessly collapsed and fell out of the vehicle motionless. Without a driver, the Jeep lost speed and slowed to stop at the side of the road.
Dmitri stared at Peggy agog, and she shrugged smugly at his reaction. "Hopefully, that will keep that one out for good."
Sounding a bit wistful, he murmured, "When we get back to the boat, you need to tell who you truly are."
She nodded curtly, "Likewise, comrade." Before Dmitri could counter, she turned to see who was left to contend with. Thankfully the two Jeeps were no longer an issue so that just left the three motorcycles. Instantly, those robotic menaces were buzzing around the Packard like angry hornets.
One raced up and attempted to grab Zdenka again. Peggy yanked the loose small side window next to her free and smashed it across the rider's face. The impact did what it needed to do, and the female robot was knocked off the motorcycle.
Undeterred, the last two motorcycles raced up on either side of them.
Picking up her shotgun, Peggy ratcheted in another round. Since the nearest rider on Zdenka's side was hunched over, she could not target its more vulnerable joints. So instead, the SSR Agent aimed at the motorcycle's tires. Just as she pulled the trigger, the rider on the other side of the vehicle flung its whip at her.
Peggy barely ducked away from the snake-like tentacle in time, so the shotgun blast went wide. Instead of hitting her intended target, the pellets shot out the Packard's rearview mirror.
"Please be careful with that, Miss Carter," a shaky-voiced Jarvis quipped as he rapidly blinked his eyes a few times from shock.
Peggy mumbled an apologetic, "Sorry about that, Mr. Jarvis." That seemed to mollify him somewhat. "Now, be a dear and hold the car steady if you please," she added.
Peeved, he rebutted, "Frankly, I would be doing better if someone hadn't detoured us onto this dirt road."
Thinking that she might as well save some ammo, Peggy reminded her friend, "Mr. Jarvis, you do recall that this vehicle is heavier than theirs."
"Yes, right," Jarvis replied distractedly and swerved the steering wheel, knocking the motorcycle over that had been on Zdenka's flank. Unfortunately, it left the other one on his side unattended. In moments, it zoomed forward to ride tandem alongside the Packard.
Before Peggy could fire at the rider, the whip from the robot's wrist shot out. Instantly, it wrapped around the steering wheel. The automaton yanked, and the car swerved toward a massive thick clump of cypress trees.
It seemed that the robot had taken a page from Peggy's book and was trying to crash them into something solid.
Doing his best to counter the robot's strength, Jarvis fiercely held onto the wheel with all his might. But still, they angled closer to certain disaster.
Peggy dared not use the shotgun now. The scattershot of pellets would hit her friend, too. Instead, she leaned over from the back seat and grabbed onto the steering wheel to assist Jarvis. Dmitri joined them, and with the added help, they were able to turn the car away from danger.
Needing to change tactics, the robot reeled in the whip, which pulled her off the bike. As the automaton flew toward the Packard, it used this momentum to leap onto the running board. The abandoned rider-less motorcycle fell over.
Determined, the robot knocked aside Dmitri and threw itself at the steering wheel. Grasping the wheel firmly, the automaton turned it, and once more, the vehicle was on a collision course with the upcoming copse of thick trees. Even with the threat of its destruction, the robot was going to take them out with it. This was going to hurt.
The robot's iron grip was on the opposite side of the wheel, where Peggy firmly held, leaving the petrified Jarvis in the middle. He gulped when he stared through the shielding of the robot's protective visor and into its cold brown eyes.
As they struggled over the wheel, the robot's inhuman strength was winning. Peggy dared not let go and hissed to Dmitri, "Grab the blowtorch from my pocket."
Without any prompting, Dmitri reached into Peggy's pants pocket. She hissed when he inadvertently groped her. Affronted, she gritted, "Please, do be more careful."
The Russian was too intent on his job to apologize, and instead, a grunt was his answer.
Suddenly, Dmitri gave a triumphant cry and pulled out the blowtorch.
Needing no prompting, he tossed it to Zdenka, who was in a better position to use it. "Try its hand!" Dmitri yelled to his colleague.
He then grabbed the robot by the shoulders, trying to wrestle her off that way.
Without a word, Zdenka used the blow torch on the robot's hand, but it did nothing except cause the melting 'flesh' to smell awful.
Peggy noticed that the flame from the tool was dimmer than before and realized that they must have used most of their fuel to make the car into a convertible.
As the robot's hand smoked, they were nearly upon the large grove of Cypress trees.
"Her eyes! Her eyes are a weak point!" Peggy shouted, recalling the few places where they were vulnerable.
Zdenka did as she was ordered and shoved the lit flame thrower under the helmet's visor to reach the automation's eyes. Flinching, the robot automatically batted at the flame, which released its death grip on the wheel.
Seeing his chance, Dmitri yanked the robot off of the car.
Just in the nick of time, Jarvis wrested control, veering them away from the deadly copse of trees.
But the whip was still attached to the steering wheel, and now the stubborn robot was dragged behind. It purposely swung its body back and forth along the dirt.
Peggy frowned at the action. She then realized that though they had passed that one dangerous thicket of death, the robot was now angling itself over in an attempt to snag onto a large tree that they were about to pass.
If the robot somehow latched onto the tree, the whip would wrench the steering wheel violently to the side. Peggy doubted the Packard would escape unscathed. Surely they would then roll over due to the speed that they were going.
Their vehicle raced past the large tree. Time was quickly running out. Peggy's gaze became steel when she commanded Dmitri, "Grab the wheel, help Jarvis."
As he did so, Peggy snatched her dropped shotgun from the floorboards. Since the robots did not wear gloves, she assumed the hands were not bulletproof like their other joints.
The robot was almost upon the tree, its free hand reaching out to snag the thick trunk.
Pursing her lips, Peggy fired multiple rounds at the hand that the whip was attached to. Just as the robot grasped the tree, enough of the pellets had peppered the automaton's hand to shreds. When the slack whip suddenly tightened, something had to give. Instead of the Packard's steering wheel, it was the weakened hand that snapped free at the exposed wrist.
Before the bouncing whip could inadvertently snag on anything, Peggy reeled it into the car. Holding up the dangling hand, she chuckled, amused.
Her friends looked at her worriedly.
Grinning, Peggy explained, "Between the robot's feet still stuck to the trunk and this whip hand, Howard will be in inventor heaven. Perhaps he can reverse engineer these appendages and figure out a way to stop the robots."
The others joined her in good mood and grinned.
With the crisis now over, a relieved Peggy dropped down where the cushioned back seat had once been and caught her breath.
They all shared a relieved laugh. Exchanging pleased smiles with the others, Peggy wondered if this would be the catalyst they needed to get them to trust one another. She truly hoped that this begrudging détente would now last.
Since all the action was over, it was not difficult to hear the badly damaged Packard rattling horrendously. At least there was no one else after them. Unfortunately, it would not take long for the robot survivors to reunite and come after them again. Peggy silently prayed that they had once more whittled the numbers down enough so that the next assault would not be so brutal.
Hearing the creaks and groans coming from the vibrating vehicle, Peggy realized that the shudders she had just felt were intensifying. Calling over to Jarvis, she asked, "Think this thing will get us back to Lindos?"
No longer in danger, Jarvis had become his usual jovial self, "Barely, but yes, we will make it."
"I hope Howard didn't leave a deposit," Peggy stated cheekily.
He looked over his shoulder so she could see his grin, "Well, as the Americans would say, 'Screw 'em, they can bill us.'"
All chuckled in tired satisfaction and relaxed as best they could in the now dangerously shimming vehicle. Thankfully the main road was just up ahead, so at least it would be a somewhat smoother ride.
Left in the dust from the nearly demolished Packard, the female robot with the missing whip hand limped back to the fallen motorcycle. Propping the bike up, it then waited for the others to arrive.
It took a few minutes, but the surviving robots soon appeared.
The female automaton barely registered the two other motorcycle riders when they lined up alongside her, nor the Jeep that stopped by them. Only two of the robot men were still functioning enough to be of any use.
After a silent exchange, they soon continued the chase, albeit much slower due to the damage done to their vehicles. But they were more than determined to finish the job. Their programing would not have it any other way.