Author's Note: Holy formatting batman! I think I overdid it with the horizontal lines in this chapter. Anyway, welcome to the dramatic climax of the story, where everything finally comes together and makes a really impressive mess. Enjoy!
I've done a piece of artwork for this chapter. You will find it along with my other story-related bits at sanctuscecidit at deviantart. I can't type the address directly in here because this website is a meanie.
Saving Private Soldierbot
Chapter Sixteen: Exhausted
"How dare..." Dell said, certain that whatever was sticking into his neck would knock him out if Albrecht pressed the plunger. Hopefully, all it would do was knock him out. Medics had a strange sense of humour, after all. He froze in place.
"Vlad and I overheard zhe Twin Scouts and Scoutbot talking about zhis." Albrecht explained. "Apparently, zhis Soldierbot has lost most of zhe programming Gray Mann gave him due to Scoutbot's tinkering."
"Yes, but..."
"We fought many robots. But do not make mistake of thinking all robots are bad. Scoutbot is not bad robot." Vlad said solemnly. "And one robot- even if he is murderous, is not big threat. Engineer is overreacting, I am thinking."
"Overreacting?" Dell took a deep breath and suddenly broke free, spinning and pointing a mechanical finger at Vlad. The tiny man went cross-eyed, trying to focus on the digit the same size as his head. "You think I don't know these robots? You think I don't trust Scoutbot? Sure he's been actin' out recently, and I thought... but now, well, I know he had his reasons. Sure, I might not trust him with my wallet, but I'd trust him with my life. If he says this robot is safe, I'd give it a chance. We got respawn, after all."
"So vhat is zhe problem zhen?" Albrecht asked, still holding his syringe uncertainly. A bead of fluid glistened on the tip of the needle and Dell found it hard to look away.
"The 'problem', is exactly the reason we were able to use this robot to find Gray's base in the first place. It has a radio transmitter. How can I explain this for a person of the medical persuasion like yourself? It's like a... a... carrier of a virus. Typhoid, or somethin'. Right now, right this very minute it'll be transmitting signals to the other robots whether it knows it or not. This robot was in the ol' workshop back in Alaska. That's a shielded room, no signals on the robot's frequency got out or in. I realise now that what that meant is that when Scoutbot shut down the rest of the robots by fryin' that control panel of Gray's, the shutdown command didn't reach it. It stayed active."
"...And?" Vlad prompted.
"...And those signals it's sending- they'll wake up the robots stored in our basement. All the robots. At once."
"Ah, alright, I admit zhat is bad." Albrecht said, tucking the syringe away. "It could get very messy...but ve defeated zhe rest of the zhe robots, vhat's a few more? If zhey were a serious zhreat, ve vould have destroyed zhem already."
"Heck no, that's not the problem!" Dell shouted. If he had hair he would have been tearing it out by now. He did not have time for this right now, but unless he fully explained the problem, he was sure Medic would just walk away-or worse, knock him out. He took a deep gulp of air. "Scoutbot, see, he was made for use indoors. That's why he's electric. But Gray's robots run on gas, since they're made for use in rough terrain. So, tell me: what's gonna happen when 157 robots all start their gas-powered engines in the basement, right next to the building's air conditioning?"
Medic's face was a picture of shock, lengthening as his mouth dropped open. "Exhaust...zhe building vill fill vizh motor exhaust. Carbon monoxide, plus various sulphides and carcinogens..."
"Everyone'll suffocate while a whole load of angry is tryin' to get out of the basement and kill 'em." Dell said sourly. "So, is that bad enough for you? Think we can kill a few hundred robots while we're chokin'? Think respawn can handle a few hundred deaths, all at the same time? You reckon the power supply'll hold out?"
"Er...maybe not?" Medic straightened his tie as the lift stopped with a ping.
"Da, this is bad." Vlad agreed.
"So, let's go." Dell broke into as fast a run as he could manage with his toolbox on his shoulder. "We get the rigid inflatable, and we get to that robot. Then... dag nab it, we gotta shoot it. It's not right, it's not good, but we ain't got no choice."
"Vone life, for many." Albrecht said with a serious nod, picking up his pace to keep up with Engineer while Tiny Vlad held onto his hair and tried not to fall off. "Sacrifices have to be made."
They raced to the boathouse, and sure enough Sniper Lawrence was there, wearing his wetsuit as always. They quickly summarised the problem and pressed him into action, although he grumbled and protested the entire time.
"Got somethin' to shoot with?" Dell asked, dragging him along by the arm.
"Yeah, but..."
"You can drive this thing?"
"Yeah, but..."
"No buts. Let's get goin'. Head to 4b." The four people hopped into the boat and it sped off, with Dell giving directions. Sniper muttered to himself and then shrugged in resignation.
...Startup Command Received...
...Running Diagnostics...100%...
...Power at 100%...
...Connected to network...
...Warning: Signal Strength 23%...
...Downloading...
...All Hail The Maker!...
...Our Work Must Continue...
Demobot 3723a4d received the activation signal and left shutdown mode. His engine roared into life, as did the engine of several robots near him. Grey smoke from badly-maintained two-stroke engines filled the basement as he tried to figure out what had happened.
He looked about in bafflement. Why was he active? What were his orders? Where was he? All he could see were other equally bewildered robots.
Motors roared and the air filled with a blue haze as the confused robots staggered around and bumped into each other in confusion, groping for weapons they no longer had...
They had to open the door.. He had to open the door.
The mass of robots surged forward towards the heavy steel door, metal hands screeching and scraping across its riveted surface.
Emily Pauling paused at her work and pinched the bridge of her nose. She felt tired, and had a sudden headache. She hoped she wasn't sickening for anything. For a moment there, she had been sure she could smell burning oil...
The rigid inflatable sped across the sparkling sea, spray catching and sprinkling damp spots on the clothing of the four people as they left a stream of white foam behind them. As they got closer to the rusty metal supports of the half-built bridge, they heard the explosion and saw the tiny dot soaring into the sky against the sun, leaving a trail of smoke behind it as it rocket jumped from one of the supports to the next. Dell rummaged in his toolbox and got out a megaphone.
"Robot! Can ya hear us?"
No reply. The robot leapt to the next support. Dell motioned the boat to speed closer.
"You do realise that if it fires that rocket at this boat, we're completely buggered, right?" Sniper Lawrence grumbled, swinging the steering wheel and causing the boat to swerve and circle the metal pylon the robot stood on. As they got closer, it pointed the rocket launcher down as if to fire and then stopped, watching them carefully. It shifted from one foot to the other, almost looking as if it was afraid of the humans. They heard it say something in its metallic voice, but it didn't carry over the waves.
"Sniper, shoot. Aim to disable. No headshots!" Dell ordered. "It's not really done anythin' wrong, just needs to be stopped."
"Well, you asked for it..." Sniper hefted his weapon, aimed and fired. The projectile flew straight and true- and clanged off the robot's torso. It gave a bark of surprise, and aimed its gun at the boat. There was a bang, and the water erupted into a geyser near them.
"Vhat zhe hell..."
"I tried to tell you wankers," Sniper said angrily, diving for the steering wheel again. "I was carryin' a harpoon gun! If you'd given me a chance to get a word in edgeways, I'd have told ya! I can aim it but it won't do buggery to a metal robot. It's just pissed 'im off! Look, I got a better idea." " The robot jumped to another pillar, obviously trying to get some distance from its attackers. Sniper quickly spun the wheel and revved the engine, swerving and taking a new course to the pillar. The boat rocked, and waves sloshed over the side briefly. Medic swore and started to try and bail out with his bare hands while Vlad swam back through the water inside the boat and climbed up his coat. Sniper kept one hand on the steering wheel and reached into the boat's locker, rummaging with his spare hand for a moment. There was an overwhelming smell of ammonia, and Lawrence gave a toothy grin as he removed an ancient dead fish from the cabinet and handed it to Dell.
"What the hell is this for? I know Scout hits people with a fish, but..."
"Just chuck it near the robot!"
Dell shrugged and threw the fish towards the robot, who had knelt down and was reloading its launcher. It looked up at the fish in puzzlement as it plopped into the water beside it.
Pyro Tianlong looked up in alarm. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. The beautiful bright colours were fading. Ugly brown snakes twisted through the air and he broke into a run...
There was a moment's calm. The boat continued to circle uncertainly, and the robot stood and watched it warily. A couple of fat bubbles popped on the surface of the water nearby.
The sea suddenly boiled and blue tentacles shot out wrapping themselves around the robot's legs and arms, holding it tightly above the water. The metal man screamed and thrashed in the grip, obviously genuinely scared now as Jacques's head emerged from the water with a toothy grin.
Demo Tavish stretched and yawned. It was no good, he could barely stay awake. Odd, that- he hadn't drunk nearly as much as usual, but he felt pure sozzled. It was then he realised Soldier had passed out leaning against his shoulder, and he chuckled.
"Eh, Sol, you yanks can't take yer ale, eh?" He said with an idle yawn, before closing his eyes to join Soldier in unconsciousness.
What he did not know was that there were many people in the centre who were suddenly feeling tired or nauseous and developing odd headaches. Many slumped over desks or tools and decided it was time for a power nap as a faint blue haze filled the air.
Others just dropped to the floor where they stood.
"Did you forget about me?" Jacques asked with a sharp-toothed grin.
"Never, fish-face." Sniper said with a smile, bringing the boat closer. "Now, just hold it there until we get close."
"Fear not, Sssoldierbot. I mean you no harm." Jacques told the robot, but it did not cease its panicked attempt to escape.
"Monster!" Eagle yelled. "Let me go! I'm scared!"
The boat came in closer.
Eagle managed to get his metal hand around the trigger of the rocket launcher and fired wildly, barely aiming it. There was a bang, and Jacques screamed in pain, his tentacles writhing as the water turned red. The robot staggered back, one of its armoured panels falling into the water with a splosh. Smoke arose from its scorched and battered frame, but it kept a firm hold on its launcher.
"Jacques!" Sniper called, his voice cracking with concern. He clutched the steering wheel tightly. He snarled and shot another harpoon at the robot, but it bounced off harmlessly once again. "Jacques!"
The remaining tentacles around Eagle went slack and he struggled free, firing another rocket towards the boat. It rocked dangerously and Albrecht only just managed to grab Tiny Vlad before he went overboard.
"Engin...eer..." Jacques' head bobbed up and his clawed fingers scrabbled at the edge of the boat, blood streaming from his face.
"I got ya, fishface." Lawrence grabbed the flailing hand firmly, still holding the steering wheel with his other hand. "Don't let go now." The wet fingers slipped through his grasp though.
"Sssapper..." Jacques gurgled, leaving a trail of red behind him as he fell back into the water. Sniper snatched a flailing tentacle and wrapped it firmly around his arm. The appendage clung tight reflexively and Lawrence winced in pain.
"He's right." Dell muttered, rummaging in his toolbox. He produced a small disc and rammed a battery into it. "This ain't truly a sapper, but should have enough of a pulse to knock out that danged robot for a few seconds, at least. Problem is..."
"What is problem?" Vlad asked.
"It's not waterproof." Dell admitted. "I din't have much time to prepare, as y'all know...so how the hell will we get it to that machine over there?"
Bobby Ford looked at the blurred ceiling for a moment before groaning, curling up on his side and coughing. His head pounded, the world spun and his stomach felt like someone had filled it with angry hamsters. He gasped and tried to get some air into his tortured lungs.
What happened?
He sat up with some effort and looked around blearily at the white tiles surrounding him. Respawn. This was respawn. He was in respawn. Why was he in respawn? No way the pneumonia could have killed him- he was getting better!
Wasn't he?
He took a deep, wheezing breath and hauled himself upright against a wall. The world spun and slid sideways and his eyes refused to focus. He could hear his gasps for breath and it didn't sound good. Fear was starting to creep up on him as his skin went cold and prickled.
"D...Doc!" It seemed difficult to get enough air to talk as he wobbled out of respawn. Everything was sliding sideways and he toppled back to the floor...
"Scrrh." A pair of arms caught him and a mask was pressed against his face. "Hrr rr hrrs brrrn. Uh hrrrv mrrrn uh shhrr plrrrhn."
Everything faded into an aching twilight as Pyro Tianlong gently picked him up and carried him away.
"I could tie the sapper to a harpoon." Sniper suggested, swerving the boat quickly as another rocket exploded nearby. Jacque's tentacle still clung to his wrist tightly, now more grey than blue.
"No good. It needs to be activated while in contact with the robot." Dell said. "Fellas, I'm open to ideas here."
"Toss me."Tiny Vlad said suddenly.
"Uh..." Lawrence's eyebrows grew together in puzzlement. "Don't think you mean what you think you..."
"Throw me. And Sapper. I make it work. You have good aim."
"Vlad! It is dangerous!" Medic said in alarm. "Ve don't know if respawn vould even vork for you! Sniper could miss...or you could get shot...or... I don't...I don't vant..."
"This is my choice. One person for many, Doktor." Vlad said calmly.
"But..." Albrecht picked Vlad off his shoulder, cupping his hands around the miniature man. "Vhen zhat person...is you..."
"We got no choice." Dell said quietly. "If...well, I won't forget this, Vlad."
"You remember me as big man, da?" Vlad said with a grin. Sniper sighed, shook his head, and gingerly picked the small man and the sapper up.
"Alvays, my dear friend." Albrecht murmured. "Alvays."
"And also as man who found out that using teleporters in thunderstorm is bad, very, very bad idea." Vlad said with a sad chuckle. He looked up at Sniper. "Do it."
Sniper pulled back his arm and let fly. Vlad clung on tightly to the jury-rigged sapper as he soared through the air. The wind ripped at his wet clothing until he landed with a clang on the robot's chest. There was just enough time for Eagle to give a surprised cry before Vlad flipped the switch. The air crackled and tasted of ozone, and both the robot and the tiny Russian dropped to the surface of the metal support as the electric charge passed mercilessly through them both. Both of them spasmed for a moment, and the lay still. Too still.
Everything was quiet except for the sound of the waves sloshing peacefully. A gull cried overhead.
The boat was silent as Sniper piloted it closer. Engineer leapt onto the support, pushing Medic firmly back into the inflatable. Dell took a deep, hissing breath, and then he handed over Vlad's limp body to the doctor before turning to the robot with his tool kit.
"Scheiβ..." He heard Medic mutter. Dell yanked the radio transmitter from the robot's head and then hurriedly snipped it free.
"There." Dell said, fiddling with the transmitter before putting it in his toolbox. "That's the shut down code transmitted. They should all switch off now. That was... close..." He slowed down as he realised Albrecht was leaning over Vlad, his head close to his small chest, and Sniper was trying to haul Jacques out of the water, his hands slippery with blood.
"Gimme a hand here, ya wankers!" Sniper snapped and Dell hurried over to help haul the injured octopus man into the boat.
"Don't worry, stretch." He said soothingly. "Worst comes to the worst, he'll always respawn."
Sniper turned and glared at him, his eyes wide and red-rimmed. "Will he?"
"Well...surely...he..." Dell sputtered to a halt, realising an unpleasant truth:
He didn't know if Jacques was registered with the respawn system.
None of them did.
"Help him," Albrecht said distantly, cutting Vlad's shirt off with a scalpel. "Lie him on his side and put pressure on zhe vounds."
"Uck." Jacques coughed up a mouthful of bloody water and opened cloudy yellow eyes.
"S'alright, Haddock-breath." Sniper said soothingly, holding his hand and knee firmly against two different severed tentacles to stop the bleeding. "We got a Medic right here."
"Ah, merde." He said with a sigh, and passed out.
"How's the little fella doin'?" Dell asked, taking the steering wheel. The boat revved up and he set a course back to the Institute.
"Electrocuted, burnt... but breazhing." Albrecht replied with a relieved sigh. "Let's get zhem both to my infirmary straight avay."
"Hey, who's that?" Dell asked, pointing at a large truck drawing up by the bridge to the main building. Two people climbed out of the cab and walked to the back just as the boat crunched onto the pebbled beach. "Oh! It's them two. Fellas! Need your help here!" Dell waved urgently to Gerhardt Weiss and Sergei Cherny as they walked to the back of the truck and let down the tailgate. There was a low rumbling noise from the back of the truck as it was opened.
A large, reptilian head looked out. It had bright, intelligent eyes and a crest of red feathers. Gerhardt patted its chin and motioned the beast to come out of the truck.
"Vhat zhe hell..." Albrecht muttered.
The creature came out further, walking on two muscular feet and looked around cautiously. As it came out, it reared up to stand a clear few feet taller even than Sergei. The arms were small but sinewy, and ended in wicked clawed hands. Dell's jaw dropped open.
A dinosaur. It's a Goddamn dinosaur.
"Zhis is Petunia." Gerhardt said proudly, patting her flank. Galileo flew out of the cab behind him and landed on the dinosaur's head. "She's from zhe Natural History Museum in New York. She's a clone, just like us."
"So," Sergei walked up and tickled Petunia's chin. She rumbled approvingly and pushed her head into his scratches. "What did we miss?"
In Chapter Seventeen: The damaged is reckoned up, and Jacques finally can't avoid seeing a doctor...