Shadow Enforcers: Chapter 2
Station and Rank
Tachyon-1 slowly started coming to. The computer systems in his armor had finally rebooted, but he still had one hell of a headache. "Ok, that wasn't one of my best ideas." He grunted as he sat up in a bed. As he looked around, he wasn't in a cell like he thought he would be. He apparently attacked the royal guards if they called the woman he was trying to protect princess. The room was made of smooth metal. The computer determined it was nearly three feet thick. There was no way he was breaking out of here. He had to bide his time. What he did notice was that the signal to reach the Shadow Enforcer base back on Earth was very strong. This place was acting like an antenna. He made sure no one was coming and opened a channel. "Shadow Enforcer Tachyon-1 to base. Come in." He spoke quietly. If someone was going to be listening, better to make sure they couldn't understand him. He began to encrypt the transmission. It took a few tries but he finally got through.
"Shadow Enforcer Tachyon-1 this is base, we've got you." A female voice said.
"I need to speak to Shadow Enforcer-1, pronto." He kept checking over his shoulder.
"Sean, this is Bryan. Where the hell are you? We lost contact with you three days ago." Shadow Enforcer-1 came over the line.
"Sir, you are not going to believe this. I'm in some kind of…I guess robotic city. I can't find a better name for it. These people look like human robots, I mean, their form is human but they have metal skin." He was trying to ramble off as much information as he could.
"Slow down, Tachyon-1. What can you tell me about them?" This information had Shadow Enforcer-1 intrigued.
"They act like us, sir. I know that sounds cold. And they think I'm some damaged warrior unit of theirs. I guess I met their ruler by accident. And attacked some guards. Don't say it…I know." Tachyon-1 shook his head. "I don't even know how I got to this world, sir."
There was silence for a moment. "Alright. Learn what you can from them. Learn about their culture. But make sure you don't violate Code 3."
"Understood, sir." Tachyon-1 heard the door being coded to open. "I have to go. I'll try to keep you updated. Tachyon-1 out." He turned towards the window of his room, looking outside. As the door opened, the princess stepped inside. Tachyon-1 blinked under his helmet. If she was beautiful before, she was damned gorgeous now. The three crystals in her forehead shimmered in the light of the room. At her hips, gold lace was draped down the side of her legs, going to just below the knees, as well from her shoulders down the side of her arms and connecting at the wrists. She had a very sweet smile to her and her hair was gold plated and went down to just below her shoulders. But it moved like human hair. Tachyon-1 caught himself staring at her and pulled himself back. "Ma'am?" He asked officially as he could.
She giggled a bit. "Were my captain of the guards here, he would question you speaking to me so informally."
He noted this. "My apologies, your majesty."
She nodded. "It's alright. It's not every day that an Enforcer/Warrior unit fights so hard to protect the Princess of the Meckas. But you must have been heavily damaged to not be able to tell the Royal guards from normal Machnars. What sector were you stationed in?"
'Oh no…' He thought. He had no idea how they classified their sectors but he had to think quickly. "Sector Nine, your majesty."
She turned as she heard that. Her expression changing to one of horror. "Oh gods. It's a wonder you survived!" She exclaimed.
"I'm a prototype, your Majesty. My schematics were lost in a fire fight with the Machnar Lords." He hoped she would buy that.
"Then we're very fortunate you returned to us. What is your designation?" She took a few steps over to him. She took his hand and scanned it.
He hoped her scan's couldn't bypass the inner sheathing of his gauntlet or this whole ruse would be for nothing. "They designated me Tachyon."
She looked up at him. "Peculiar they would name you after our most sacred deity."
This was getting worse and worse. But he noted what they called their god. "I was named that because of a fight I was in. They say I fought with the valor and strength of Tachyon himself."
She smiled. "After last night, I can see why." She finished her scan and looked up at him. "Your repair subroutines seem to have done well. I'm detecting no more damage." She took a step closer to him.
"Am I your prisoner then, your Majesty?" His question was a bit sarcastic.
"Not at all. In fact, I'm considering making you my Primary Enforcer." She ran her finger along his chestplate. "There's something very special about you, Tachyon. And I can't help but feel drawn to you. And I would have you as my protector."
Tachyon-1 didn't want to consider what would happen if he declined. But he couldn't violate Code 3. He had to ensure that their ways of life were not altered. "Very well, your Majesty, I accept your offer."
She leaned up and kissed the cheek area of his helmet. "Good. Now come, I have to attend a treaty signing. There are a few people that would enjoy not seeing this treaty signed."
"By your command, Princess." Tachyon-1 fell into step behind her. At least he was still going to be in a defender role.
-Hours later-
Tachyon-1 remembered why he hated politics. It was long, dull and nearly put him to sleep every time. But for some reason, he was able to focus on what the princess was doing. He was reading over her shoulder while looking to be at attention. The arguments between the parties present had gotten heated.
"Princess Mechana, you honestly are not falling to this slag about fair rights from the Machor party are you?" The leader of the Tungsten party asked indignantly. "They are mere workers and not worthy of your consideration."
If one thing bothered Tachyon-1 more than anything, it was a sect of people being treated as a lesser to a more popular party. And he thought the politics back home was bad. Tachyon fought hard to not speak up. It was not his place. But it was getting very hard to hold back. He quietly, or so he thought, clenched his fist. Give him one chance, one reason to lash out.
Princess Mechana shook her head. "Why should I ignore a people when they have proven to be the backbone of our society?"
The leader of the Machor party, a young female Mecha bowed her head. "You are very kind, your Majesty. Our male units will know of your generosity."
The leader of the Tungsten party scoffed. "That is all your units have ever done was rely on the generosity of the Majestrix unit. You barely deserve it."
Tachyon-1's eye slat flashed red angrily. He slammed his armored fist down and sparks scattered on the table. "You arrogant, self-absorbed, rust pit! If it wasn't for their people you would be nothing!"
The princess jumped at Tachyon's outburst. But she could detect the elevation in his electrical pulses, symbolizing that he was quite angry.
The Tungsten party leader stood and pointed at Tachyon-1. "Know your position warrior unit. You are below me, remember that."
Tachyon couldn't take anymore. He swung his armored fist and backhanded the leader of the Tungsten party, sending him flying backwards over his chair. "I serve the princess. I do not answer to you. Remember that, you useless cog."
Mechana walked over to Tachyon and placed her hand on his arm. "Enforcer, stand down. I think you have made your point." Her voice was authoritative, but her eyes told of something else. Pride in Tachyon-1? Concern?
The female Mecha in the other chair couldn't believe that the Princess' enforcer stood up for her party. The look on her face was one of sheer shock and amazement.
Mechana looked at the parties gathered. "We will reconvene tomorrow once everyone has settled down."
The leader of the Tungsten party glared at Tachyon-1. He was the first to leave and soon after the leader of the Machor party left. It was not just Mechana and Tachyon-1. "Is your circuitry faulty? Why in the name in Seni-Matrix One would you attack one of the most influential party members of our people?"
Tachyon-1 didn't look at Mechana, he walked over to the window and scanned the area outside. "Units like him are the reason I became a warrior unit. My counterpart unit was part of the Machor party. A laborer unit. And I lost her to one of the Tungsten party type units in Sector 9." Not entirely true but close enough to explaining how he lost Angel-1. He looked over at Mechana. "If you will excuse me, your Majesty."
The princess just nodded. She was starting to understand. Perhaps he wasn't a faulty unit. He was upgraded to protect that which he loved the most. He became the experimental unit after he lost his counterpart.
Tachyon-1 walked outside to what looked like a cemetery for the fallen Mechas. He looked behind him to make sure no one was around. The air seals hissed quietly as he removed his helmet. He kneeled down and looked up. Remembering her funeral.
-It was raining as Tachyon-1 was trying to fight back the tears of losing Angel-1. He looked at the minister that performed the eulogy. "Reverend, was this some conspiracy? Am I being crucified for no sins? This image beneath me, the plans we had for our life together?" He shook his head. "This all seems so unreal. I'm a man cut in half in this world and left to my misery."
The reverend placed his hand on Tachyon-1's shoulder and gave a somber smile. "She is with our Lord now, my son. But she will always be in our hearts."
Tachyon looked at the headstone. He would destroy those that took her from him. When the reverend left, Tachyon fell to his knees and cried. He promised he would be strong for her. But he couldn't, right now, he was the weakest man.-
A lone tear fell down his cheek. He was still looking up. "Are you still watching over me after all these years, Angela? Are you still in Heaven being my guardian angel? God what do I do?"
Looking on from the corner of the palace was the leader of the Tungsten party. He narrowed his eyes at Tachyon but did not show himself. 'So, you are no Mecha, but one of the weaker species. Your time will come when you will come to heel, fleshling.' He thought to himself as he slinked back into the shadows.