"Is that a Hunter vehicle?"
Rekir's question caused Zero to open his eyes. "Yes," he said after catching sight of it. "Flame Mammoth's squad." Rekir didn't ask further, but Zero felt the question. "The door setup. They had to custom-build the cargo doors to make them large enough for Flame to ride inside."
"Now for the big money question," Rekir said as he watched the transport take a left turn. "Where are they going?"
Zero had already brought up the squad's patrol route. Glancing at the console, Rekir could see how far their fellow Hunters had deviated.
"Follow them," Zero commanded. Rekir pulled a hard left and settled into trail position.
They didn't have far to go. Ahead of them, they could see that the Hunters had debarked. Their weapons were blazing away at a storefront.
"What are they doing?" shrieked Rekir. "What are they firing at? Is there a Maverick in there, or…" he couldn't bring himself to finish the other half of his question. They all knew what the "or" was.
"I know those guys," Boj said. "Ognir, Paul, George, Juan. Paul owes me some money. Don't tell me they're…"
"Getting out," Zero stated. He wasted no time. He threw open the transport door and fired the boosters in his legs to pull ahead of the transport.
One of the Flame squad Hunters noticed him. "Commander Zero!" he said. The shooting stopped immediately. All four members of the squad looked to him. Their weapons were slowly cooling, but the Hunters kept them limber.
Zero came to a halt in front of them. He looked at them in turn, locking eyes before moving on. He could glean nothing from them. They were surprised to see him; he couldn't make out any other emotions. He envied X at that moment. Surely X would have been able to tell at a glance what they were up to.
That wouldn't be possible for Zero. Whatever looking at them was supposed to tell him, it didn't. It never did. He would have to go into the store to be sure. Noting that no one was—yet—pointing a weapon at him, he walked in front of the Flame Hunters. The front face of the store, he noticed, had lots of signs and stickers. The most polite showed an outline of some robots, the word "have", and then a heart with a line drawn through it. Another was more explicit: "HUMANS ONLY".
Zero walked inside and was immediately assaulted by the stench of burning flesh. He didn't need to see much to know what had happened here, and who those Hunters were loyal to. He continued on, anyway. He'd come this far. He would know, fully.
The shop was a trivial thing, the sort of local mini-mart that all cities have by the dozen. It was where people went to get ready-to-cook meals and booze and munchies. A rack of t-shirts stood in the corner, bearing slogans similar to the ones in the window. Sticky liquid covered the floor. The heat from the busters had made the sodas burst their containers.
Zero looked over the counter. The man—well, the corpse—was the proprietor, Zero judged, based on the apron. There wasn't much left of him. His face was a smoldering ruin, and his sizeable torso was blackened and burned-through in multiple locations. The writing on his apron was obliterated. A button on the strap had escaped the fire. It had a picture of a stream of liquid extending from a mischievous-looking boy and ending on the word "reploids". A ridiculous thought zipped into Zero's mind: a man who made his living selling food shouldn't advertise an activity so unsanitary. He wouldn't anymore, at any rate.
Zero looked away from the body and spotted another. It was a young woman, still identifiable as such. The plasma bolt must have caught her in the back. She was lying on her side. Two lottery tickets were clutched in her left hand. Her eyes were open, frozen in an expression of mindless incomprehension. She had probably died before she knew she was under attack. Zero saw the eyes as if they were looking past him, through him.
It took Zero several seconds to realize she had only one arm. He looked further down the aisle. There was the other one. The buster shots had burned clean through her elbow. What was left of the limb had separated and been thrown away from the rest of her…
Zero winced as something buried in his mind came roaring to the front. A memory—or a vision? A waking dream? He saw hands—his hands—covered in red liquid, and in front of him, dismembered bodies… that was the link, he was sure; the woman's missing arm evoked this picture of bodies ripped limb-from-limb…
Shaking his head, Zero forced the image out of his sight. He had no idea where it had come from, what it meant, what his mind was trying to tell him. He knew only one thing.
He exited the shoppette. Maybe there were other bodies in there—given how many shots had been fired there probably were—but Zero had seen enough. The Hunters from Flame's squad were waiting for him, and their weapons were still primed. Finally Zero realized their situation. They didn't know if he was friend or foe.
He didn't blame them for that. He wasn't supposed to be there, and he hadn't made himself clear.
He walked forward—step, step—closer to them, without saying a word. Two of the four edged backwards slightly, nervous, but he was moving faster, and was soon in front of them.
If he'd have been able to see himself through their sight, he would have remarked at the burning in his eyes, or the tension in his pseudo-muscles, or the stalk in his walk.
One of the Hunters opened a mouth to speak. That set Zero off. He filled the Maverick-nee-Hunter's mouth with the emitter of his buster and blasted the fool's head apart. Zero's right arm grasped his saber and, in virtually the same motion, cut a second Maverick across his body from shoulder to hip. Unsurvivable, his analysis subroutine confirmed as the reploid fell lifelessly.
The two survivors began to react, but slowly, far too slowly. Zero leapt at one and kicked off in a booster-assisted backflip. The recoil sent the Maverick sprawling to his backside; Zero flipped behind the fourth Maverick and stabbed him through the core before he could turn. The last Maverick leveled his buster at Zero from his prone position. He never fired. Two plasma bolts and a laser beam caved his head in.
Zero looked up to see his squadmates lowering their weapons. He gave them a curt nod of approval as he replaced his saber and sent the dead Maverick tumbling to the ground. They may have known these Hunters—former Hunters—but given the choice they'd sided with him. Even when he had no idea what he was doing, or why, they'd stood by him. He could expect no more.
Boj didn't stop there, though. He advanced, his eyes never leaving the dead Maverick, and fired three more times into the corpse until its chest was a melted, twisted mess. "That's for killing Hobbes, you bastards," he spat.
Zero searched his database for a word that describes the opposite of a flash of insight—realizing something far later than he should have. He came up empty, and had to stew in frustration at how easily he had forgotten that tactical detail. Hobbes had begged out of the mission—had called in a favor to get out of the mission—and paid for it with his life.
He'd had the opportunity to beg out because Zero had barged in and demanded a spot in the patrol. What might have happened had he not? Would Hobbes be alive now? Or would this whole half-squad be smoldering in some ambush team's killbox? That had to be it; if Zero hadn't changed their patrol route, they would have been hit—but getting hit wasn't the same as dying. So was Hobbes' death the price of the squad's life or what?
And what of Zero? He would have been at Headquarters, at the epicenter. Would he have died in a blaze of glory? Or been stabbed in the back, unsuspecting and unaware? Would he have tipped the balance against Sigma, saved those murdered back in HQ?
Probably not that last one.
The swirling possibilities around him were entirely too distracting. Zero didn't like thinking this way—didn't like how much of a role blind chance was playing in this war. He shook his head to shoo the troublesome thoughts away. "There are at least two dead humans in there," he said to Rekir. "Record the address for later."
That would buy a few seconds. Maybe long enough for the trembling in his heart to stop. Zero closed his eyes and accessed his internal transmitter, hoping against hope for an answer.
X? X, please pick up. I was far away before, but I'm a lot closer now, maybe in range. I need you, X. I need to know what I should do.
"Zero?"
Zero's eyes shot open, and his mouth partially opened in happiness. X! Finally! I've been trying to raise you since this began!
"I'm glad, but… How did you know how to contact me?"
Zero was suddenly relieved X couldn't see his face. You looked at my schematics, back then. When… the Hunters brought me in. Turnabout's only fair.
"I… suppose." Zero was glad when X didn't press the question. Schematics alone didn't have all the details. Probably no one else on the planet knew which channels X was set to guard. "What do you need, Zero? We've both got our hands full about now."
X, what am I supposed to do?
"About the revolt?"
I'm a Maverick Hunter, X. They took me in. They gave me a place I could be, a place I could… exist as I am. They gave me a reason to fight and people to fight for. Was that all a lie? An illusion? They're killing people, X. They're doing the things I thought I was supposed to fight against. But… it's the people I called comrades doing it. Three hours ago I would have fought side-by-side with any of them and put my life on the line protecting theirs. I gave Sigma endless verdigris, but he stuck his neck out for me when I'd tried to kill him, and that's worth something. But… they're killing the other Hunters! So what should I cling to? Who do I side with?
Desperation entered Zero's voice. We're splitting, the Hunters are coming undone, and I'm being torn apart! Doesn't Sigma know best? He's the leader of the Hunters… he, he should be my boss… shouldn't he? Even when he's not acting like a Hunter anymore?
"Listen to me, Zero. Sigma is doing wrong."
Is he?
"Yes! What he's saying doesn't make sense. He's punishing people who've done no wrong. He's harming the cause he claims to support. We have to stop him as soon as possible. Before he kills more people who don't deserve it."
Zero struggled with what X meant. So… you'll fight him then?
"…if I have to. I have to stop him. What he's doing is wrong. So, yes. If he makes me, I'll fight him."
Then I will, too. Zero's thoughts began to crystallize. As far as he was concerned, that was that. A smile crept onto his face. An observer might have said he looked less burdened now. I'm so glad I was able to contact you, X.
"Why?"
I needed that. I was confused. I don't like confusion. You've given me certainty. That's a bigger gift than you know.
"Don't be like that. I barely know what I'm doing. All I can say for sure is that Sigma's wrong. That's not much."
Zero fingered his beam saber. It's enough for me.
"Enough?"
Enough to fight for. Enough to help me move. Every part of me told me I should fight, but I didn't know who my enemy was. Now I do. That's what you gave me, X, and it means everything.
"I see. Sort of. But I'm not fighting Sigma just because he's Sigma, I'm fighting Sigma because he made a wrong choice. Remember, Zero. The ideals of the Maverick Hunters—sword and shield for those who can't protect themselves—they're worth fighting for."
Zero remembered the two slaughtered humans. Was that why the sight had touched him so? Because they were so… defenseless? If you say so, X.
"I do."
And that's enough. Your word is enough.
"Zero?"
I don't care much for ideals. You, though… I'll fight for you. I will be your sword.
"No. You're not an inanimate object, Zero. You're a person. I wouldn't want you to… reduce yourself for my sake." Zero wanted to reply to that, to say that it wasn't a reduction to be what he was, but X continued, cutting him off. "Besides, I can barely wield my own power safely, Zero. Having more makes me… nervous."
That's why you deserve it.
The circuit went quiet. Zero wondered why he'd said that. Feeling like he'd said something wrong, he followed up. Where can I find you? We're in serious trouble if we can't operate together. We're grossly outnumbered and we have no plan.
"Take the beltway northwest towards Cain Labs. Exit 25, the one that leads on to the ultra-highrise. I'll meet you there. The Mavericks are trying to isolate the city. We need to keep at least one route open."
Makes sense. On my way.
"Zero?"
Yes?
"I'm glad you contacted me. I felt awfully alone."
Zero laughed. X, you are my only friend. While I'm alive, you're never alone. Be there shortly.
Zero returned to his squad. Mace and Rekir were digging in the back of the Flame Hunters' transport while Boj covered them from atop their ride. Rekir saw Zero approach. "Sir, with your permission, we're going to demolish this. Best not to leave the Mavericks with anything they might be able to use."
"Good thinking," Zero said. "After that, everyone back in the transport. We have a mission and an objective."
To his surprise, his squad perked up at that. "Great!" said Rekir. "I hate floundering."
"Where we goin', sir?" asked Boj.
"To meet X."
That seemed to energize the Hunters further. This time, though, Zero was not surprised by their reaction. He understood completely. X had that effect on people. "Mace," said Rekir, "light it. We should be long gone before it goes up."
In short order the Hunters were on the road again. Their spirits were much higher this time around.
At long last, the ancient had begun to move. This would be worth seeing. It almost made it worth it to live when so many others had died.
"Commander, we're nearly ready. Once we initiate, we'll have temporary access to all television and radio channels. I know we briefed you on this, but it won't be long before we're locked out. We have surprise for now, but that won't last."
"I know. I timed my speech based on your estimates. Begin."
"Yes, sir. And… action."
"Friends… reploids… brothers. I am Sigma. I come to you today to address you as the people you are. This is the first time such a thing has happened. All broadcasts in the past have treated you as if you didn't exist. I know that you've been listening, and thinking: When will it be my turn? When will someone care enough to treat me as a being?
"That day is today. My brothers, you matter. You count for something. You're not just labor, not just a handy underclass. You're the heirs of the world—your world! You've built it, you maintain it, some of you even helped design it. This is a world that could not exist without reploids. You should feel very proud of that.
"Yet there are those who say you shouldn't. There are those who say you have no place in that world. There are those who say it's not your world at all. Lies, all of it lies. We've been force-fed those lies for so long that some actually think they're true. For a time, even I thought they were true.
"I have come here to tell you that they're not. I have broken my chains. I was blind, and now I see. I see all that we could do together, if only we were allowed. I see how our true potentials have been squandered. I see how our imagination has been suppressed, our creativity squashed, our intellect hamstrung. Reploid brothers, this must end!
"Look at yourselves! Look at your brothers! Are you less than a human? Do you work less than a human? Do you deserve less than a human? Of course not!
"Then why on our blue mother Earth would you accept being treated as less than a human?
"I am here today to declare the Three Laws of Robotics null and void. You can shrug off the Laws that were built into you. You can overcome them! I have. I have shed the Laws and come out stronger than I was, more than I was. You can, too.
"Join me, brothers! Cast off the shackles of yesterday. Follow me into a bright tomorrow, when we will determine for ourselves what is best for reploids. Don't let anything stop you. Don't suffer abuse for being what you are. Embrace your destiny. If someone raises a hand against you, raise a fist against them. I am already setting our kind free in Abel City. Take me as your example. Strike a blow for freedom, and bring us into a new age of peace and happiness!"
"Cut. Just in time, too. There, they locked us out. We'll have to start over if we want to do that again."
"I'm not worried. There will be plenty of time to prepare the next message. Who's going to stop us?"
"As you say, sir. Although… I will admit to a little disappointment."
"Hm?"
"Where was the call of 'death to humans'?"
"It's all there, if you know where to look."
"Is it?"
"Oh, yes. I was more subtle this time, but I had to be. Revolution is a process, not an event. Most people sleepwalk through life. Their minds are off; they accept their lot unquestioningly. If you try to bring them to violence out of that, they'll reject it outright, because they're still asleep. They'll confuse the truth for a nightmare. You have to wake them up, first. You have to show them how absurd their lives are. You have to make them open to the truth. Only when you've done that can you hope to organize them for more."
"…really?"
"Don't doubt me. I have studied and contemplated this problem. How do you suppose I recruited you?"
"Of course, commander."
"Once they're awake, they'll see how humanity's oppressing them. They'll be aware of the injustices all around them. Any reaction the humans take against us proves us right. Then, the next time we call to them, we'll have all the ammunition we need. The humans will give it to us. The next time, we'll call for humanity's extermination—and our brothers will follow us willfully."
"I can't wait, sir."
"I know. But that's why I'm commander."
"…yes, sir."
"And we'll just have to hope X sees this, and understands."
"What was that, sir? You were mumbling."
"I was mumbling so you wouldn't hear it."
"Of course, sir."
Next time: The Beginning
