Loonatics: United

Compromised system

Episode 155: Clashing flesh and metal

The Loonatics had left the toller the next day's night, en route to Rojus. They were already a couple of minutes away from the planet, Tech was piloting as usual. "Go do a last check on Edison and Vale." He asked Rev, who was sitting next to him in the cockpit.

"Yessir." Rev left in a blink, leaving his classic red trace behind.

Tech put the Leviathan in autopilot and then exited the cockpit, heading to his quarters where the battle bots were stored. In his way to the room, he stumbled upon Ace. "I'm gonna activate them already, they must engage as soon as we land."

"Alright, Doc." Ace placed a hand on his shoulder. "How are Ed and Vale?"

"Rev is checking them again, but they are in good condition…barely." Tech replied.

"Hm, I guess it's what we got." Ace sighed. "I'll tell the others to get ready."

Rev was in the infirmary, observing Edison as he did stretching exercises, groaning a bit at each rep. "How much pain?" Rev inquired.

Edison gasped. "Two or so."

"Okay." Rev patted his back amicably and left the infirmary. Akinyi entered a few seconds after so.

"Baby?" Akinyi approached him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "Are you sure you feel good enough?"

"I do." Edison smiled at her while getting both hands on her hips, then he gave her a quick and tender kiss. "Don't you worry, babe."

Tech was in the room among the dozens of black colored robots, he activated them with the press of a button on the remote, the machines emitted brief booting sounds and their eyes glowed red afterwards. "Don't let us down, boys."

Lexi knocked Duck's door strongly. "Duck! We're almost there, get out already!"

"I'm in the bathroom, let me finish my business first!" Duck yelled with annoyance. "It's a tough one, like, rock solid!"

Lexi grunted. "Man, you don't have to be so specific!" She grunted. "He's like a kid." Lexi complained while crossing her arms.

"Well, it was you who asked." Ace joked while placing a hand on her shoulder, chuckling a bit.

Lexi let out a sigh. "Whatever." She looked at him and placed a hand on his cheek. "How are you?"

Ace put his hand over hers. "I'm alright." He approached her lips and kissed her. "It's just another mission."

The Leviathan entered the atmosphere, Tech looked attentive at the radar displayed on the windshield, expectant at the possible event of several enemy ships showing up at any moment. It was nighttime, very few lights could be seen on the buildings and the streets. Tech flew under a large bridge and then landed the ship on the street between the tall white buildings. He took a deep breath, then stood up from his chair and exited the cockpit, reuniting with the team in the hallway. "We're good to go."

"Alright, this is the plan: Rev, Randy and Duck will look for survivors and make sure they are safe. The rest of us are gonna battle the AI's army." Ace looked at Tech. "Doc, you will deal with the enemy ships from the Leviathan."

"Got it." Tech nodded. "I could also start scanning the city to look for the AI's main server."

"Please do." Ace replied then glared back at the rest of the team. "Any questions?"

Vale shook his head. "All clear."

Ace nodded. "Split the robots in two groups, Tech, we'll need them to escort us."

"Yes, boss." Tech took out the remote and started to program the robots from there.

Ace breathed in and exhaled deeply. "Okay, team. Let's jet."

The heroes got off the Leviathan, except for Tech. The robots walked out from it one by one and then they formed in two groups of eighteen. "Keep contact, give us updates when you can." Ace told Duck and Rev.

"Same to you call us if you need reinforcements." Rev responded.

"Will do." Ace nodded. "Take care."

Rev and Randy rushed in opposite directions with their super speed while Duck just teleported away. Their group of robots activated their propellers and flew away, trying to stay as close to them as possible, splitting in sub groups as well to achieve that.

Tech activated the Leviathan's systems and took off, starting to fly the ship slowly over the city. He wrote some commands with the console and then the ship started to scan the city for signals. "You're no match for my software, AI, I will find you sooner or later."

Ace's team walked on the street, surrounded by their group of robots who just walked arranged as a circle. "So, we just wait for them to come?" Edison asked.

"That's the plan." Ace replied coldly, looking around with anguish.

"Have your boards ready, guys." Akinyi told Vale and Edison, they were carrying their hoverboards on their backs, which were being held by thin magnets that were part of their bodysuits, as the ship would be too far away for them to call the boards and make them arrive in time.

"Always." Vale replied, looking around with great caution.

The team reached a plaza, empty of course, with destroyed benches and artificial trees laying around, as well as broken fountains with stagnant water, dark green and pestilent. "This must have been a nice place to live before all of this happened." Vale commented.

"It looks like so." Lexi said. "Although, we have similar spots at home and, well, we all know how's the situation over there."

"Yeah, good point." Vale replied. "Looks are deceiving."

Lexi's ear twitched and she let out a gasp. "Guys wait." She stopped walking along with her teammates.

Slam snarled, asking what happened.

"We're being followed." Lexi looked around, trying to spot their stalker.

The strong and tall white tiger was hiding over a tall polygonal statue, which was shaped like a dove, he was crouching on the back of the bird-like figure, barely behind the open wings. He took a couple of steps at the front, focusing his gaze on Slam, and after a few more seconds, he jumped at him. Lexi looked up and gasped with fright when the tiger landed on Slam, tackling him and bringing him down while letting out horrible beastly growls, raising his open hand over Slam's face, taking out his sharp claws.

Slam growled back and punched the tiger on the face, barely managing to get him off him. When trying to stand up, the tiger snarled and scratched Slam's chest. A big group of enemy robots flew from their hideouts and started to attack the heroes, but their battle bots protected them against their deadly rockets, shooting at them with their laser guns and making them explode in the way. A great battle raged between the metallic combatants as the heroes dealt with this new threat.

Edison rushed towards the beast and roared at him, sending him a few meters away, but without being able to disintegrate him. "This guy's tough!"

"Not against me!" Akinyi ran towards the tiger and jumped, but before she could turn into her smoke form the tiger also jumped towards her with a quick movement, throwing a violent blow at her face, making her scream loudly by the pain and falling to the ground while covering her bleeding face.

"Aki!" Edison approached her hurriedly.

"Help me, Lex!" Ace started to shoot his laser vision at the tiger, then Lexi began to shoot her brain blast, Ace focusing on his chest while she attacked his back. The tiger growled by the burning pain but he was able to resist it, so he ran towards Ace and before he could try to punch him, Slam tackled the tiger, getting him against the ground while he sat on top of him, Slam let out a loud growl and started to punch the tiger on the face repeatedly, making him bleed slightly after several punches. The tiger then pierced his side deeply with his claws, perforating his flesh just under the rib area. Slam let out a great growl of pain but he was trying to resist, he placed his open hand on the tiger's face and started to squeeze it strongly, getting his thumb and ring finger in his eyes, trying to crush them, but suddenly he received a strong kick on his face, which sent him several meters away from the tiger. Slam covered his bleeding side while standing up with great effort, looking at the white furred deer that was walking towards him menacingly.

Ace's eyes widened as he and Edison were helping Akinyi stand on her feet. "What the hell are these things?"

Author's note: Late again! I'm so sorry guys, I got COVID and I was feeling so bad last week, it's almost over but it still sucks big time of course. But here you go, I hope you enjoy! See you in two weeks ;)