Shadow Enforcers Chapter 4
Truth Will Out
-Sector 9 Zeta, hours later-
Shadow Enforcer Tachyon-1 had to move so carefully through this area. The Machnar had very heavy patrols through the entire sector. So it was very slow going. Tachyon made note of the varying ranks of the Machnar, Warriors, Command Units, and Generals. But what he didn't see were the Machnar Lords. The Mechas talked about them, but he wondered if they ever saw any of the Machnar Lords. The Machnar looked a bit like robotic serpent-like creatures. Where the Machnar made to look like the Crys'lis? The "children" made to look like their creators? Tachyon ducked down into cover as he saw a Machnar patrol near his location. They stood there a moment scanning the area. Tachyon kept his power levels low to avoid detection by their scanners. He was using minimal power as he moved through this sector. Even if he attempted to go into stealth, his power increase would be like a flare going off, highlighting his location.
Off in the distance, a massive citadel stood tall. From the citadel, a loud signal rang out. The signal actually sounded like something talking, half robot, half organic. "VATH'DE! VATH'DE! VATH'DE!" was what it sounded like. The two Machnar looked at one another and moved, or slithered, towards the massive citadel. Tachyon watched as the other patrols started to move towards the citadel as well. Could those be the Machnar Lords calling to their warriors? Being the Mechas never entered this sector, or at least tried very hard to avoid it, the Machnars saw little need to keep a presence this deep into their territory. In scanning the area, Tachyon found the escape tunnel used so long ago. He wasn't sure what to expect so he moved quickly to the darkness of the tunnel. He then boosted his scanners to ensure he could pick up the slightest of signals from the Machnars. He used a subsonic pulse like sonar. If anything stepped into the range of that sonar, he would pick it up. Switching through the vision modes of his helmet, he was able to find one to see through the darkness. At the end of the dark tunnel, he located a sealed door. The scans were showing that the door was code-locked. But just not any code was required to open the door. The code of the descendant of Viatha, the Goddess, was needed. The only person that would be would probably be the Princess.
Tachyon sighed. "Great. All this way for nothing." He slumped against the door. But instead of the door remaining sealed, it opened. He fell backwards through the door and he prayed that the loud crashing sound of him falling to the ground wouldn't alert the Machnars. When he got up and looked around, him falling wouldn't have sounded any different than the creaking sound of the old girders and "I" beams that were laying there. Tachyon-1 moved carefully to the computers and began to scan them. Most were destroyed and unusable. But there was one that seemed to be in an ok working condition. Tachyon made his way over and ran his hand along the console. They system flickered and came online and a holographic image of what looked like a walking lizard appeared. "This must be one of the Kry'lon scientists."
The Kry'lon was dressed in some kind of lab coat and had a slight hunch to him. He looked old and haggard, but he had a very soft and gentle look to him. "My beautiful and precious, Viatha, if you are seeing this, then I have been killed by the Crys'lis." The image sighed. "I had wanted so much more for you and the other Mechas. But alas, I could not give it to you. All I can give you is this. The plans that were given to me by one of our scouts that learned of the Crys'lis' plans to destroy your people and end our legacy." Behind Tachyon-1, the floor opened and a data fractal rose from its resting place. "Please, use this to protect yourselves and remember that we did not want this for you. Know that we all loved you as our children. You have made us so proud." The image went to static as another image was tied in. It seemed that the system was tied into a subsystem of the Machnar. This wasn't good. If this activated then it would not be long before the Machnar came looking for whoever activated the subsystem, intended or not. The image showed what looked like a young Mecha woman. Dark grey, almost gunmetal in color with some blue in it and then what looked like the Princess. Tachyon kept watching.
-A Crys'lis with what looked like armor slithered in. Following it was a…malformed Machnar. The Machnar WERE the Crys'lis. The young Mecha woman in grey struggled. "You will not deceive my people! They will know the truth!"
The Crys'lis hissed a laugh. "They will not sssssusssspect a thing, young Mecha. With one of our own and your own data ssssignature acting as a masssssk, they will only ssssee their Princessss." He moved towards a machine and pressed a few buttons. "But jusssst to ensure you do not interfere…"
The young Mecha who was apparently the real princess screamed in pain as her data stream, her essence or soul as it would be known, was placed in a SITA probe. "You…monster! You will not get away with this!" She pulsed angrily.
The Crys'lis laughed. "Who would ever believe you, probe?"
The next image showed the deformed female Machnar having her memories and mind placed in the husk of the second body that would become the Princess that is known now.
As the new unit came online, it smiled at the probe. "Your kingdom will soon belong to the Machnar."
The Crys'lis hissed. "Hide the husssk of the Princessss sssso no one finds it. And do not fail ussss."-
Tachyon-1 felt like an idiot. "Shit…" He said quietly. "The Mechas have been played." He went over the old history he studied and learned that the reason the Crys'lis hadn't yet taken over after all these years was because of the laws that were in place. It was just because of these kinds of tactics that the laws were adjusted to prevent the Machnars from taking over. "Computer, how long ago was this recording made." The date that came back was over 500 years ago. "Download recording and locate the body of Princess Mechana, her real body." The sensor scans located the body in a hidden compartment. Tachyon looked around and started to pick up mechanical signatures. "Dammit. Well, if they didn't know I was here before." Tachyon slammed his fist into the upper left of his chest. It crackled with electrical energy as it powered up. He reared his fist back and slammed it into the door of the compartment, taking hold of it and tearing it off its tracks. Mechana's lifeless husk fell forward and he caught it. He hefted it onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry. He turned to see two Machnar break through the old doors, their mechanical hisses signifying their anger at the intruder. He raised his one arms and the Tri-Cobalt launcher appeared. "By order of the Shadow Enforcers, you are in violation of Code 9.31 Subsection Sigma: Premeditated destruction of life with intent to bring war to the neighboring dimensions." The Machnar hissed angrily but before they could react, Tachyon-1 opened fire with the launcher. Two small torpedoes fired towards their targets. The Machnar tried to get away but the explosion from impact sent one into a girder, impaling it. The other slammed into a wall that shook loose a ceiling panel. It fell and crushed the second Machnar under it. The party was over and Tachyon-1 had to get out of there. Slamming his fist into his armor, he fell into stealth and got out of the old lab.
-Sector 7 Omega-
Tachyon stopped to rest a bit. He carefully set Mechana's body down and leaned against a rock. Disengaging the air seals, he removed his helmet and closed his eyes for a few moments. Bringing his right arm up, he tapped in the communication codes to contact Shadow Enforcer-1. "Shadow Enforcer Tachyon-1 to Base, come in, please." He waited a few moments through the static. He may have been too far from the palace to receive any kind of signal. "Shadow Enforcer Tachyon-1 to Base, please respond."
The static was heavy, but he could just make out Shadow Enforcer-1's voice. "Tachyon-1, comm code: Delta-three-Sigma-Sigma-zero-five."
That code signified that it really was base contacting him. Only Shadow Enforcer-1 knew Tachyon's personal comm code. "Confirmed, Base."
"What have you got, Sean?" Shadow Enforcer-1 asked.
"You're not going to believe this, sir." Tachyon-1 began to explain everything he learned about the history, the Crys'lis, the Kry'lons, the Machnar and Mechas. And about how the Machnars have been preparing for a full scale war for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. "Sir, they are in full violation of our own codes. The time for hiding is over, sir. I have got to save the Mechas."
"As much as I would tell you not to, the evidence is damning. Transmit what data you have with triple encryption. We've been able to stabilize the tear you fell through months ago. We'll gather what units we can but it will take some time. We don't know the land like you do." Shadow Enforcer-1 sounded concerned for Tachyon-1. One Shadow Enforcer against a whole army. "Activate your beacon so we can track your movements. We'll get to you as soon as we can."
"Yes, sir." Tachyon-1 answered. He looked towards the south where he came from. He could see units rising over the far hill. "Sir, I have to move. Get here as quickly as you can. Tachyon-1 out."
The time for rest was over. Tachyon lifted Mechana's body back over his shoulders and made his way back to the Mecha city as fast as he could, teleporting himself with what energy he had left that wasn't being restricted by his armor's power core. To build up any more power would require disengaging the safeties of the neutron core.
It took a few more hours but Tachyon-1 made it back and appeared in his chambers. He placed Mechana's body on his bed and fell against the wall. The SITA probe with Mechana's essence flew into his chamber. "Tachyon, what is going on? The entire city is on alert." The probe stopped and saw her body. "You…you found it. You…risked your life…you know what happened?"
Tachyon tore his helmet off and breathed heavily. "Yeah, I found out. I also found out that the Crys'lis ARE the Machnar." He wiped his forehead. "I transmitted the data to my people."
The SITA probe hovered over her body. "But…without the machine used to transfer…"
Tachyon-1 shook his head. "I figured out a way to fix that." He took the SITA probe in his one hand and placed his other hand on the back of her head and attached a wire to where the connection to her positronic brain was. He began the data transfer which took about twenty minutes. When the transfer was complete, the probe stopped pulsing, and Mechana's eyes started to come alive.
Mechana moved slowly and blinked slowly, a soft smile coming over her metallic lips. "By the Goddess, thank you. You have done…you are a gift from her. My people will know of your bravery and your honor." She stood to give him a kiss but he stopped her.
"The Machnar are almost here. Gather your people and get them out of the city. I'm going to end this once and for all." He started to put his helmet back on but she stopped him.
"No…please…no more fighting. We can move our people to another Sector, we can…" He put his finger to her lips.
"I'm a Shadow Enforcer. A protector. Your lives mean more to me than my own. Your people are…amazing. Get them out of here. Besides, I can't violate Code…." He stopped as she leapt up and gave him a very passionate kiss.
After the kiss, Mechana looked him in the eyes. "You are everything I ever hoped for to protect my people. You better make sure you come back to me."