Edward was awakened by a knock on the door, quickly put on his trousers and went to the door, made sure that Curie was asleep and that she was covered with a duvet, and opened it.
John was standing in front of the door.
- Conrad want to see you. He said and left.
He dressed and grabbed his gun and headed to the kellog standing next to the water pump.
- What's going on? He asked as he approached.
- There's a federal supply depot nearby... Kellogg said... He's planning on going there. I'd like you to go with me.
- Just the two of us? Edward asked.
- No point in putting more people at risk than necessary. he said .
- Are you afraid to go alone? he asked, leaning over, he was a foot and a half taller than Kellog.
- I'm not afraid of Ghouls... He started... I'm afraid of Assaultrons. I saw one there.
Edward nodded.
After a while they set off, with two large backpacks on their backs, walking through the trees, passing an abandoned church.
- Your son learned to shoot after the Ghouls appeared? the kellog asked.
- Before. We went to the shooting range on average twice a month.
- That's good. It's important now to know how to shoot. His mother is dead?
- Unfortunately... Edward sighed heavily... She was in court, it was on live TV, the horde showed up and they got her. Unfortunately, Shaun saw it too.
- My daughter and wife were bitten, I couldn't let them turn.
- I'm sorry. Edward said.
- Thanks.
They came to the warehouse. It was a concrete building mostly underground. They entered through the door, several dead ghouls lay dead on the ground.
They entered the underground part, started packing supplies into backpacks when they heard metal footsteps.
Assaultron passed through the corridor, patrolling the area, it was the version without the powerful laser mounted in the head.
They both hid on opposite sides of the corridor behind boxes. Kellog started to show something with his hands, Edward realized after a while that it was sign language.
- What we do?
- I'll distract him, you pack as much as you can.
Edward jumped out of cover and ran past the robot, which immediately gave chase.
Edward jumped behind cover and hid, the assaultron entered and looked around, his hands spinning, electricity sparking between his fingers, searching for him.
He was pulling a shotgun. He jumped out of cover and fired twice. The first shot hit the left arm, ripping off the armor, the second hit the torso, making several holes and dents.
Assaultron leapt forward, hands shot forward, Edward dodged his right hand but the left hit him on the shoulder, he dropped the shotgun and drew his automatic pistol, squeezed the trigger, twenty-four rounds fired, lighting up the room.
The armor on the torso did not hold and tore off, several bullets penetrated the mechanisms underneath. Injured but still alive, the assaultron moved forward, Edward dodged the attack and drew his sword, the assaultron gave him no time to attack, he continued to attack with a determination that only machines have... And Ghouls.
Edward pulled out a second pistol, and shot the robot's leg, causing it to fall to one knee, Edward took advantage of the moment and jumped at it with a big swing, the assaultron tried to get up as its head was cut off.
Edward was panting a bit, never liked fighting robots, they were worse than Ghouls, dangerous, charging forward regardless of their own lives, and they're also armed.
- Are you ok? asked Kellog, who ran into the room.
- Yes. Edward replied, something unsettling, but what?
He looked at the assaultron's body and that's how he understood, his blood turned ice cold as he realized it. This one had no swords, and the dead ghouls at the entrance had blade marks and laser marks.
He felt a gust of air behind him and had time to turn and shout a warning to Kellog.
- Assaultron dominator!
A powerful kick sent Edward flying, crashing into several crates along the wall, shattering them to pieces.
Kellogg, seeing the characteristic outline of the figure, fired. Three of the six bullets hit the target, the assaultron appeared with swords instead of one arm, and a laser in its head.
He was quick, jumped on Kellog while he was still loading his weapon, jumped back, the tip of the sword knocked the weapon out of his hand.
He dodged several swings with his sword, drew his knife and locked the sword, dodged to the side and tried to stab him in the exposed mechanisms but the robot was too smart for that.
He grabbed Kellog by the throat and pinned him against the wall, Kellog dropped the knife and grabbed his arm trying in vain to free himself, his legs didn't touch the floor.
Assaultron tried to drive his sword into his head but he pushed head , so the sword stuck in the wall and refused to come out. Kellog kicked him, causing the robot to let go.
A shot rang, swords flew from the assaultron's hand, Edward knelt beside the crates, clutching his shotgun.
Kellog made the mistake of turning eye away from the assaultron, which grabbed him again, pinned him against the wall, and began charging his laser. Edward, seeing this, rushed for his sword.
Kellog stared blankly at the charging laser, his whole life flashing before his eyes. Youth, school, the army, meeting his wife, the birth of his daughter... He closed his eyes.
Edward jumped on the assaultron and impaled him with his sword but it still worked and kicked him again, Kellog grabbed the hammer from the desk and hit him over the head with it, he let go and before he could up, Edward lunged at him, holding a long Ripper, the blade came to life and the assaultron lost its head.
They took the supplies and headed back, taking the blade stuck in the wall and the head with the laser.
When they returned, he walked over to Preston.
- Good news... He said as they walked through the door... This soldier woke up.