Chapter 10- The Robot
Hey there guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Tardispilot297 here bringing you the latest chapter of Godzilla: New Dawn! Now this chapter actually holds a very special place in my heart for several reasons. If you can guess why then once again, you're all psychic! Lol. Anyway I hope you guys all enjoy reading this as well as have a great Star Wars Day. And also I managed to get a new laptop so I won't have to post on the app anymore. (which frankly I am really glad about.) That said, ON TO THE CHAPTER!
The sun rises on another day as the group continues their long journey north. With Maya's help, finding food in the wilds has been made much easier thanks to her skills in tracking and with a bow. Over the course of two days they have walked along an old railway line using it as a marked path. At night they find a secluded, easy to secure spot to camp. Thanks to Maya showing them how to make a fire pit, they can even build a concealed fire so as not to attract unforeseen nearby threats.
The sun shines directly above when the group follows the tracks until they reach a large bridge spanning across a wide and deep gorge with a river at the bottom. They all stop and look at it with a few of them turning around and looking behind. Jaime notices how hesitant everyone looks and becomes confused.
Jaime: So what's wrong? Can't we cross here?
Rodney: Not unless you know when the next train comes through.
Jaime looks at Rodney in surprise.
Jaime: Wait, there's a train?
Goji: Yep.
Jaime: Like an actual train?
Rodney: Yep.
Jaime: Since how long?
Maya: A few decades ago when food was becoming scarce and they needed to quickly transport fresh supplies between cities they repurposed all the freight trains into automated supply runners that could travel at high speeds from one side of the continent to the next in a matter of days. They could even travel over oceans using newly built metal bridges to move across the planet.
Jaime's eyes grow wide as her mouth hangs open.
Jaime: No way.
Goji: It's true. Even now about a dozen of those trains are still moving across the planet.
Jaime: You think one of them could get us to where we're going?
Goji shakes his head.
Goji: Not a chance.
Jaime: Why not?
CeCe: Two reasons. 1. The trains never stop, and 2. They move at such high speeds that they'll rip you apart if you so much as try to grab onto them.
Jaime scoffs, finding CeCe's explanation unbelievable.
Jaime: Bullshit.
Rodney turns to her.
Rodney: Actually she's telling the truth. I remember hearing about a guy who tried to get on a train using a grappling hook and tying some rope around his waist. A week later the top half of his body ends up three states over from his other half.
Jaime makes a gulping sound with her throat.
Jaime: Aw sick.
She looks back at the bridge in front of them.
Jaime: Okay well what about going along under the bridge? You know jumping in between the supports?
Goji walks over to the side and looks down.
Goji: No good. Supports are too far apart to jump. Plus there's not a lot to grab onto.
Jaime looks over at Rodney and Maya.
Jaime: Well how about Maya and Rodney try to fly us over one at a time?
Rodney looks down at the ravine below. He immediately takes a step back.
Rodney: (shakes his head) Yeah, that's not happening.
Jaime: Why not?
CeCe: Because one of us weighs about the same as a small tank.
Angelo: (turns to CeCe) Very funny.
Rodney: Well I mean that's partly the reason.
Jaime: What's the other part?
Rodney looks between her, Goji, and Maya and then looks away.
Rodney: (whispers) I'm afraid of heights.
Goji and Jaime look at him in surprise.
Goji: Say that again?
Rodney: (shouts) I'm afraid of heights! There, you happy?
Jaime: Since when?
Rodney: Since I was a kid ok? One day when I was still learning how to fly a huge gust of wind blew me about 50 feet in the air. Scared the living shit out of me so much that I nearly broke my neck on the way back down.
Jaime: You're kidding.
CeCe: He's really not. Guy refused to go outside for over a month after that day.
Jaime: But I've seen you fly around over a dozen times.
Rodney: I mean yeah I'm able to fly at least 20 feet off the ground but not at a height like this.
Rodney stretches his hand out to the gorge.
Rodney: I try flying over that, My vision is going to get dizzy and I'll end up crashing into the rock wall on the other side.
Jaime: Wait, but what about that time you flew me down from that spider cave?
Rodney: That was different. It was a life or death situation. I didn't have a choice.
Jaime: I mean yeah but it was still much higher than 20 feet in the air and you landed us just fine.
Rodney: Yeaah, I gotta confess to you kid. I had my eyes shut the entire time.
Jaime looks at Rodney shocked.
Jaime: Wait, seriously?
Rodney: I mean the fact that we were able to land on the ground without serious injury I consider to be complete fucking luck.
Jaime: Holy shit.
Rodney nods his head again. Jaime turns and looks back at Goji.
Jaime: So if we can't go under it or over it, what do we do?
Goji looks over at everyone.
Goji: Let's take a look at the map.
They all gather around a nearby rock as Goji takes the map out of his pack. He spreads it out over the rock to allow everyone to see it. Goji examines the map until he stops and places his index finger onto a certain spot.
Goji: Well there's an old highway bridge further down the river. We can cross there.
CeCe looks at the spot on the map.
CeCe: What are you cracked? That's 50 miles down the river. You walk 50 miles down the river you have to walk 50 miles back. It'll be dark by then. (gestures back to the bridge) If we cross here, we can get to the same place in less than 10 minutes.
Angelo: Yeah, but if a train comes there's no place to go.
CeCe: The hell there isn't. We'll just jump.
Maya: CeCe, it's over 250 feet. We'd be like eggs smashing against concrete down there.
Angelo: Yeah CeCe.
CeCe lets out an annoyed sigh as she looks between everyone.
CeCe: Okay look, you guys can do what you want, but I'm crossing here. And while you guys are busy dragging your candy asses halfway across the wastes and back, I'll be sitting waiting for you all on the other side… relaxing with my thoughts.
CeCe starts to walk forward until Jaime asks her a question.
Jaime: Do you use your left hand or right hand for that?
CeCe stops walking while the rest of the group smiles or stifles laughter. CeCe turns around back to Jaime.
CeCe: You wish, shrimp.
CeCe continues walking towards the bridge away from the Group. Rodney and Angelo look at each other before turning to Goji. Goji looks between them, Jamie, and the bridge. CeCe made a strong argument. Walking down and back up the river would take a whole day. And with the limited timetable they have they couldn't afford to lose anymore time. Crossing the bridge was still risky, but at this point they had very little choice. He lets out a deep sigh and turns to Maya.
Goji: Stick close to Jaime. If something happens, fly her to the other side.
Maya: (nods her head) Understood.
Goji: (to the rest of the group) Go on ahead. I'll hang back for a second and catch up with you.
Everyone silently nods and proceeds to follow CeCe across the bridge. Goji crouches down and places his hand on the tracks. He stays there for a minute paying close attention for any signs of subtle vibrations. After a few more seconds of stillness he stands back up and proceeds to cross the bridge. The group walk along the old bridge with CeCe and Rodney in the front, Jaime and Maya in the middle, and finally Angelo and Goji lagging behind in the back. The reason for their sluggish pace is due to the fact that Angelo is crossing the bridge along his hands and knees. This causes Goji and Angelo to drop back because they're slower.
From time to time they look up to see the others surging further and further ahead. Under the burning sun sweat runs in rivulets off the group's bodies and their breathing comes strained and harsh. CeCe, Rodney, Jaime, and Maya pass the midway point. Beneath the bridge ties the river rushes two hundred and fifty feet below them. As Angelo continues his crabbing motion tracks something small and thin works its way out of his shirt pocket. He notices this and throws his right hand up to stop it. This only succeeds in knocking it completely out of his pocket. It hits one of the ties. Angelo stretches his hand out for it, but it trickles off his fingers and falls into the river below.
He slumps his body down on the ties and groans in disappointment. He lifts himself and turns to look up at Goji standing behind him curious about what had happened.
Angelo: I lost my toothbrush.
Goji looks down at him and makes a neutral expression while placing a hand on his shoulder.
Goji: Forget it, Angelo.
Up ahead, Maya and Jaime stop and turn around to check on Goji and Angelo. After confirming that they both seem to be fine and they continue on their way. Angelo and Goji finally pass the midway point. Goji knows there's no turning back now. Slowly, he becomes aware of the noises around them - the hot hum of a locust, the sigh of the wind, the racket of a bluejay, the tumble of the water below, each sound getting bright and clear.
Up ahead Jaime lifts a hand to wipe the sweat off her face. The motion temporarily throws her off balance. She teeters toward the edge, then stumbles three bridge ties forward before she gets caught by Maya and pulled back to safety. Breathing hard, Jaime stops. Sucking deep breaths of air, she does her best to compose herself.
Jaime: Thanks for the save.
Maya: Just take it slow okay?
Jaime nods her head and continues forward. Goji lets out a quiet relieved sigh and continues taking another step, then another and another, until suddenly he then stops again. His head comes up as his eyes widen in shock. A new noise enters his hearing range. It's a distant, low rumble. Goji's head swivels, as if testing the wind, then he slowly crouches down to bend over and make a fist around the rail on his left. Unlike last time, It vibrates and thrums in his hand. He turns his head back around and makes out a small flash of light in the distance behind him. Like a reflection of the sun off a pane of glass. His mouth opens but no sound comes out. Goji tries to rise. lt seems to take him forever, straining and straining upward. Finally, he stands up and releases a loud shout.
Goji: (screams) Train!
The others' heads snap around, checking Goji to see if what he screamed is true. That question is answered immediately by the engine of a large freight train that hurtles into view a few miles out behind them and heading straight for the bridge they were on. Angelo looks forward and starts to panic.
Angelo: Oh, shit!
Maya quickly wraps her arms around Jaime's waist and unfolds her wings to take off and fly her swiftly to the other side. Rodney and CeCe take off running across the bridge. Behind them, Angelo breaks into a clumsy, shambling crawl and attempts to increase the speed of his trek across the bridge. Unfortunately it's not fast enough. He looks over his shoulder. The train is getting closer and closer to the bridge.
Angelo: Ohhhh, shit!
He straightens up and begins his own shuffling run as Goji runs close behind him.
Goji: Go, Angelo! Go!
Angelo is holding his own when his left foot almost slips in-between the ties beneath him. He flails his arms, stumbles again, and falls full length on the tracks. Goji runs over to Angelo and crouches down to him.
Goji: (screams) Angelo!
Angelo curls himself into a ball and begins to shake in terror. Goji grabs his shoulders and tries to lift him up and continue running.
Goji: Come on, Angelo! Get up, Let's go!
Angelo just shakes his head in terror. Goji looks back to check on the train behind them. Its massive size continues to get bigger and bigger. He starts pulling at him again.
Goji: Get up, Angelo!
Angelo: I can't! I'm gonna fall!
Goji takes one last look at the train getting closer behind them.
Goji: We're gonna die Goddamnit! Now let's go!
He finally pulls Angelo up and pushes him forward.
Goji: (shouting) Goddamnit, let's go!
Goji pushes Angelo forward as they start running. Instinctively, Angelo swings out a foot, it finds a tie, his other follows, it finds a tie, again and again until he's running at a faster pace.
Goji: (thumping Angelo on the back) Run damn you! Run!
Goji looks ahead to check on how far he has to go and sees Rodney and CeCe step off the bridge onto the embankment. Maya and Jaime run over to them and watch Goji and Angelo continue running as the train gets closer.
Rodney: (shouting) Run, Ang! Run, Move your ass!
CeCe: (holds her head while mumbling) Come on, come on.
Goji and Angelo continue to run. Their muscles clench and loosen, clench and loosen. The sound of the train gets louder as it reaches the other side of the bridge.
Goji: Run! Go! faster, Angelo!
Angelo almost misses a track tie. He lunges forward, his arms out. Goji grabs him and pulls him back up as he whacks him on the back to keep him going.
Goji: Faster! Go faster!
Angelo: I am Goji!
The sound of the train is very loud now. The two of them look back to see It's coming onto the bridge. Jaime, Rodney, and CeCe all scream at them from the embankment.
Jaime: Run!
Rodney: Run, Goddammit! Run!
CeCe: Run! Run! Run!
The train's electric horn smashes the air into a hundred pieces with one, long, loud blast.
Goji: Go, Ang! Go!
The bridge begins to shake under their feet. Goji looks over his shoulder. The front of the train just a few meters away from them and gaining fast. He and Angelo are seconds away from death. With a split second to act and with maximum effort, Goji grabs Angelo and throws both of them off the tracks toward the embankment. With metal squalling against metal, the train strobes by. The others stand speechless in shock. The train eventually passes, allowing the rest of the group to run over to where Goji and Angelo fell. They all look down to see both Angelo and Goji laying in the dirt groaning and coughing as they both slowly turn over and sit up. Jaime looks relieved as Rodney grins and calls down to them.
Rodney: Hey, least now we know when the next train comes through.
Goji and Angelo look up at him unamused. An hour or so later each member of the group is holding hamburger balls on the end of forked sticks out over an enclosed fire. Their harrowing near death experience now nothing more than a fun campfire story.
CeCe: Man, that had to be without a doubt the all-time train dodge. Too cool. Angelo, you were so scared you looked like that fat guy from that old movie we once found when he saw the monster.
Angelo: I wasn't that scared.
Most of the group responds with groans of disbelief.
Angelo: No, really, I wasn't. Sincerely.
Jaime: In that case you won't mind if we examine the seat of your shorts for any hershey kisses, will ya?
Angelo: Go screw.
CeCe chuckles as she pulls his hamburger in, slips it on some bread, and pulls out the stick. Goji glances over and notices Angelo's ball is hanging precariously over the fire.
Goji: Hey you might wanna think about turning yours over, Angelo.
Angelo: This is the way I like to do it.
Goji: (shrugs his shoulders) Fine.
A few seconds later with a loud PLOP, Angelo's hamburger ball falls into the fire. The others immediately burst into laughter.
Angelo: (poking stick in the fire for it) Awww. oh no, man. You got any more, Maya?
Maya tries desperately to stifle her laughter.
Maya: Sorry, Angelo.
CeCe's cackle rises above the others' laughter.
Angelo: That's not funny. What am I supposed to eat?
CeCe: Why don't you cook your dick?
Rodney: (to CeCe) It'd be a small meal.
Another round of laughter commences as Angelo manages to spear an ash~covered nugget of meat out of the fire.
Angelo: Ah ha! Screw you guys. I got it. Heh heh.
Before long the sun rises and the group sets out again across open grasslands and small hills. All the while Jaime and Angelo try to stay off boredom by Angelo teaching Jaime how to play an old travel game.
Angelo: And that's pretty much it. Get it now?
Jaime: Sure, I guess.
Angelo : All right. I'll go first.
Jaime: OK.
Angelo: (looks around) I spy something green.
Jaime: (looks around) Tree?
Angelo: Yep.
Jaime: So, My turn now?
Angelo: Yeah.
Jaime: OK, I spy something tall.
Angelo: Tree.
Jaime: Dang.
Angelo: OK. I spy something with bark.
Jaime: Tree?
Angelo: Aw.
Jaime: OK, I spy something uh, a vertical log.
Angelo: …. Tree?
Jaime: Yeah.
Angelo: Are you sure you understand how this game works?
Jaime: Of course I do.
Angelo: Alright fine, I spy something...
Jaime: Tree. OK, my turn.
Angelo: Tree.
Jaime: No, I got...
Angelo: It counts.
Jaime: I didn't even spy anything.
Angelo: It counts!
Jaime: (groans) Fine…. Tree.
Angelo: On second thought, Let's play something else.
A few more hours of walking later a heavy, pungent smell begins to fill the air. CeCe sniffs and waves her hand in front of her wincing face.
CeCe: Phew! Ang, did you do that? You know you gotta warn a girl before you just crack one off like that. Ugh, my mouth was open and everything.
Angelo: That wasn't me!
CeCe: Uh-huh. Sure.
Goji raises his fist to signal everyone to stay quiet. He starts carefully sniffing the air. Maya gestures for Jaime to stay put and walks over to Goji.
Maya: Goji?
Goji sniffs the air a bit more.
Goji: Something's wrong.
They both turn their attention to the hill ahead of them where a dark cloud of smoke looms overhead in the sky. Goji looks back to the rest of the group and gestures for them to move quietly. Everyone nods their heads while CeCe and Rodney both ready their weapons. Goji turns his head forward and takes out his pistol before slowly walking up the hill. He soon reaches the top and his eyes grow wide at the scene before him. The others join him at the top and each one looks out in shock at the land below.
As far as their eyes can see, entire buildings stand either on fire or destroyed. Plumes of smoke nearly blot out the sun while the stench of charcoal and burning wood is carried on the wind. The group walk down the hill and investigate the ruins of what was once a thriving village. Everyone keeps their heads on a swivel as they walk along the road. The damage of the buildings beyond description. However they find no signs of life anywhere. They turn a corner and soon find to their horror dozens of dead bodies strewn across the ground.
Most of them lay in pieces or with metal throwing stars sticking out of their corpses. While others show signs of being shot or sliced apart by a sword. A few others also lay burnt to a crisp, their faces nearly unrecognizable. It wasn't uncommon for settlements like this to be attacked by raiders and the like, but this level of carnage and destruction seems different. As if whoever did this wanted nothing more than the complete and total senseless slaughter of the people living here. Maya continues to stare out at the destruction when she feels her foot brush up against something.
She looks down and sees something laying on the ground covered in ash. She reaches down and picks it up. While brushing off the ash she turns it over and discovers the object to be that of a child's doll. A small side of it stained red with blood. Maya looks down at it and brings it close to her chest. She offers a silent prayer to the original owner and hopes that their death was quick and without pain.
Suddenly one of CeCe's ears shoots up and prompts her to quickly turn her head in a certain direction. Without saying a word she runs towards one of the destroyed buildings and starts to dig through the rubble. She then shouts out to the others.
CeCe: Over here! We've got a live one!
Everyone immediately rushes over to help CeCe dig out the survivor from under the rubble. Angelo lifts up a heavy slab of concrete as Maya and Goji reach under and carefully pull the person out. They lay them out onto the ground and Maya begins to examine their wounds. Most of the bones inside their body appear to be completely shattered, most likely from the building collapsing on top of them. Their breathing is ragged and slow. Upon further examination Maya finds clear signs of physical mutations across the person's body. Their physique resembles that of something close to an amphibian or a frog. A large gash over the left eye indicating a cut from a blade or a saw. Maya carefully lifts their head and offers the person a small sip of water from her canteen.
Maya: Here, drink slowly.
The survivor does so, nearly coughing after drinking some. Goji looks at Maya and can tell right away from the expression on her face. This person didn't have much longer to live, and there was nothing they could do to save them. Maya looks back down at the survivor.
Maya: What happened here?
The survivor coughs a few more times and then slowly opens their eye to look up at them, gasping in-between sentences.
Survivor: They came…out of nowhere… attacked us… without provocation. (coughing) We tried to… defend ourselves… But we were… no match… for them…
Goji: Who were they? Where did they go?
The survivor turns their head to Goji and desperately grabs the collar of his jacket. They pull him in close to whisper in his ear with one final breath.
Survivor: They're still here.
Goji's eyes widen as the survivor falls back and goes limp on the ground. The last ounce of life finally leaves their body. Goji turns to the others but before he has a chance to say anything a loud sound rises over the wind. Almost like the roar of a large engine. Suddenly several objects crash into the ground all around the group. No, crashing wasn't what Goji would describe it as. More like something landing. Eight large, metal something's in point of fact. A large cloud of dust covers the entire area causing the group to cover their faces and hold their collective breaths. Eventually the dust cloud finally disperses and they begin to get a clear look at their new arrivals.
Each one stands at about 7 feet/12 inches tall and completely covered in armor. Of course they look more like humanoid, bipedal robots then just people in suits. Every one of them resembles a mole with square feet, a saw blade on their back, a drill on their nose, and a short each have yellow eyes and a singular antenna atop their heads. The only discerning features about them were the colors of their respective armor and their sets of weapons. One is colored Red with a pair of incredibly powerful looking flamethrowers instead of hands. Another is colored Green with bladed claws. One is colored Pink with seemingly no weapons of any kind. One is colored Yellow and also appears to have no weapons. One is colored Blue with their entire arms from the elbow down being that of powerful looking gatling guns. Another is colored Orange and is equipped with large buzzsaws the same way the flamethrower bot's arms are. One is colored Black with large gauntlets for hands. And the final one is colored White and carries a high-tech looking jet back katana.
All eight robots seem to glare at the group in silence. Like hunters sizing up their prey. Everyone slowly moves instinctively around Jaime. Goji looks over each one of them while trying to come up with the best plan for them to escape. Maya looks toward the White robot, seemingly the leader of the group, and addresses them.
Maya: Why? Why did you attack these people?
The White robot just stares at her in silence. From its point of view it begins scanning her body on a molecular level. The other robots do the same with the others, scanning each one of them from head to toe. Until finally they complete their scans and White finally utters a few words in a deep, monotonous voice.
White: KK DNA identified. Commencing Extermination.
In a split second the Green robot thrusts one of its hands, which launches from its wrist on a long chain, towards Goji who manages to jump out of the way. Maya leaps at Green while unsheathing her sword and proceeds to slash at them with incredible speed and ferocity. However, instead of falling to pieces like she anticipated, Green stands without even a hint of a scratch on its armor. Maya stands shocked for a brief moment before dodging another strike from Green. Goji manages to dodge a heavy punch from the Black robot and pulls out his machete intent to cut its arm off. Instead the blade bounces off with no damage to the gauntlet. Goji doesn't have long to process what just happened before he barely dodges the spinning saw blades of the Orange robot.
The Red robot spews fire from its flamethrowers at Rodney who quickly leaps up and glides through the air to avoid the flames. The Yellow robot raises both its arms toward him. In a bright flash dozens of metal shuriken come flying out of the tops of the robots hands. The flurry of blades fly through the air and make cuts across Rodney's flesh and wings. White raises its katana and charges towards Goji who brings up his machete to barely block White's swift strikes. Until finally the next strike completely shatters Goji's machete to metal shards. The force of the strike sends Goji flying back and has him fall on his back to the ground.
Goji dodge rolls a downward stab from White and gets back on his feet. Only to have his chest slashed by one of Green's claws. Goji cries out in pain while CeCe moves to strike Green with her pipe weapon. Before she gets close enough however she feels an invisible force heavily beat into her and make her cough up blood. She takes a few steps back while grasping at her stomach. She looks up in time to see Black appear right in front of her seemingly out of nowhere. It takes her a few seconds to put two and two together, Black has built in camouflage.
CeCe: Oh son of a–
Before CeCe can finish her sentence, Black delivers a heavy uppercut to her chin and sends her flying into the air and crashing through a roof of a nearby building. Inside she slowly starts getting back up while groaning in pain. Out of the corner of her eye she spots through a large hole in the wall the Pink robot holding out one of their hands. Suddenly the palm opens up and a long metal cord shoots out through the air towards the building. As soon as it hits the ground the cord detaches and explodes with the force of around 20 grenades. CeCe moves fast and jumps out a nearby window just before the building gets completely destroyed.
Unbeknownst to anyone, the scene unfolding is being witnessed through a set of binoculars held by an unknown stranger a mile or so away.
Stranger: Run, you fools! Run! Run!
Back in the ruins Angelo picks up Jaime and proceeds to run in between buildings to avoid getting shot by the Blue robot firing its gatling guns at them. Rodney glides through the air to try and drop a nailbomb down on them from above but is intercepted by Red and Yellow who both fire their weapons and knock him out of the sky. As soon as he hits the ground Pink fires another cord in his direction. Rodney gets up and tries to run but gets pushed forward by the ensuing blast behind him.
Green launches both claws at Goji who narrowly avoids them and grabs hold of the chains, only to get pulled off his feet towards Green which delivers a swift and heavy kick to his midsection, effectively cracking his ribs and sending him crashing into the ground. Goji gasps out in pain but ends up choking on blood, an effect of one of his lungs having been punctured by a rib. He tries to sit up but gets pinned down by Orange which thrusts its buzzsaws down on him intending to cut him to pieces. A move which would've finished him, had he not managed to catch both arms with both hands and effectively halting the attack. However such a feat only slows the blades as they start to slowly move closer towards Goji's head. The speed of the spinning blades blowing a small breeze into his face.
Angelo makes it into another building and further avoids the storm of bullets from Blue. Still carrying Jaime in his arms, He makes a mad dash for a back entrance of the building. He makes it a few feet until he suddenly gets his face smashed in by an invisible fist which knocks Jaime out of his arms and him crashing through a small table to the floor. Jaime turns over and sees Black deactivate its camo and turn to look straight at her. Jaime desperately skids backwards along the floor with her hands and feet trying to keep herself away from Black which marches menacingly towards her with its heavy feet. It raises one of its gauntlets, getting ready to smash her into pulp when Angelo manages to tackle it from the side and push it against a wall with all his strength. He looks back at Jaime and shouts at her.
Angelo: Get out of here!
Black regains its posture and places both hands on Angelo. With seemingly little effort, it pushes Angelo back leaving scrape marks across the floor. It then manages to shove Angelo off of itself and faces off against him as he raises his fist to punch it. Black catches his first fist with its gauntlet and then the second with the other and applies massive pressure to Angelo's fists, causing the bones in his hands to crack and break under the strain and Angelo to cry out in pain and fall to one knee.
Maya meanwhile stands her ground against White, which swings strike after strike with its katana against her. Maya manages to block each one and after blocking the last strike splits her sword in two and attempts a sideways slash to White's waist. Instead the blade breaks in half upon hitting the metal armor and the top part imbeds itself into the ground a few feet away. White pushes Maya back and delivers a swift slash across her abdomen. Had Maya not instinctively used her wings to pull herself further back she would've been immediately cut in half. However while not deep enough to disembowel her, the cut left behind certainly causes a significant amount of her blood to spill out onto the ground. Maya falls backward against a wall and looks over to see White swing its katana to remove the blood stains from the blade. It begins to march slowly towards her. Taking its time killing her almost like it's enjoying it.
It raises the katana above its head and proceeds to swing downwards, aiming to split her head open. Instead of Maya's skull however, the blade makes contact with CeCe's pipe weapon effectively blocking the attack. CeCe grunts with blood trickling from her mouth as she struggles against the superior strength of the robot.
Each member of the group stands at the edge of death with Red, Yellow, and Pink closing in on a wounded Rodney as Blue stands over him aiming one of its gatling guns which starts to spin slowly. All Jaime can do is watch helplessly as Angelo continues shrieking in pain with blood oozing through the fingers of Black's gauntlets. Memories of what happened to her father begin pouring into her mind. Back when Eddie and that KK pack had come for them, all she could do was watch from her hiding place as her dad fought bravely to protect his daughter. Only for him to be ripped apart limb from agonizing limb as they tortured him for information of Jaime's whereabouts. When he refused to tell them anything Eddie turned to the Gas Mask KK with a sneer.
Eddie: (flashback) Our friend here looks rather thirsty. Go ahead and give em a "drink".
As Eddie stood there laughing, Gas Mask lifted up his mask and proceeded to spew black acid from his mouth and down Jaime's father's throat, causing him to shout as his body began to slowly melt from the inside out. The sight of it had caused Jaime to cry out which alerted them to her presence. She managed to narrowly avoid Eddie's large claw as it forced its way through the wall. In a panic she emptied the small gun her dad had given her through the wall and slipped away to the outside and made a run for it. She must've ran for what felt like days until she eventually collapsed from exhaustion and fell face down on the ground. By the time she woke up the sun was already hanging over head and beating down on her with intense heat.
She probably would've died out there in the wastes if not for the small town that was nearby for her to go to get water from.
The feelings of loss and helplessness she felt that day were beyond any pain these robots could deal to her. And Jaime is not about to stand by and watch as the closest thing she's had to a "family" dies trying to protect her. Never again! She reaches over and grabs a leg from the broken table on the floor and stands up ready to charge at Black. Obviously she has doubts about actually beating this thing. She's not a total dumbass after all. Still if it means making sure her friends get to live for at least a few more moments, then she's prepared to give her own life in return. She raises her makeshift weapon and gets ready to run right at the robot. Her battle cry is getting ready to shake the very wasteland itself. She takes the first step forward in her charge to save her friends.
When all of a sudden, something flies in through a hole in the roof and lands on the floor next to Black. Jaime stops mid charge and falls face first onto the floor getting Black's attention away from Angelo and back to her. She looks up and spots the object sticking out of the floor. From first glance it looks like that of a small missile. That is until it opens up and sets off a strong pulse of energy which causes Black to seize up and release Angelo who falls to the floor. Jaime looks on in confusion when she starts to hear a nearby voice talking to her.
Stranger: What are you waiting for?
She looks over to where the voice is coming from and sees not a person, but a small flying robot hovering in the air. Its shape is that of a small stingray with two small lights and a camera lens in the front. A pair of small jet engines under the wings propels it in the air. Jaime just continues staring in confusion until the voice speaks to her again.
Stranger: Get your friend back up and move your ass!
(A few minutes earlier)
It has barely been an hour since the village was attacked. And while the locals had put up a brave fight, they were sadly no match for the robot's more advanced weaponry. Even at a distance the cries of those poor souls down there were deafening. This new group that had wandered in would be no different. If only there were some way to warn them beforehand or to chase them off, but instead the only thing the old man could do was sadly watch through his binoculars at the slaughter that lay before him.
For years he had watched this same scenario play out over and over with each settlement that was attacked. And each time he continued to feel nothing but guilt about being unable to stop such a thing from happening again and again. The only difference this time was that this new group had managed to last a little longer than most who went up against the robots.
Old Man: Brave souls every one of them. (sighs) Such a tragic waste of precious life.
His sights turned back to the one pinned down by the Orange robot whose buzzsaws were inching closer and closer to the poor man's face. Out of all of them he had fought with the utmost courage and will to survive. And that despite the wounds that had been inflicted upon his failing body his spirit refused to give in. He was willing to continue fighting until his very last breath.
Old Man: The true embodiment of a samurai. I only wish that I could've— Wait, WHA!?
Just as it seemed that it was over, the man opened his mouth which started to glow a bright blue color along with his eyes. A sight the old man had not seen since….
Old Man: It can't be… IT CAN'T BE!
Such a sight had changed the old man's mood from hopeless sorrow to shocking excitement. A feeling which only grew once the man unleashed a powerful beam on Orange. The impact of the blast sent Orange flying off him and propelled it into a building which collapsed on top of them. The old man just couldn't believe what he had just seen. Suddenly for the first time in over a decade a spark of inspiration reignited in his eyes.
Old Man: Yes… Yes!
The cogs within his brain worked overtime to make all the calculations for what he had in mind. The plan that once seemed scientifically impossible now had a chance of succeeding after all this time.
Old Man: IT! COULD! WORK!
Without missing a beat he lept up onto his feet and ran straight back down the other side to his van waiting at the bottom of the hill. Attached to the back is a large metal trailer which he quickly opened up and reached inside. He pulled out a small mounted mortar along with a metal box. He opened the box to reveal several modified missiles inside. He grabbed the mortar and started to angle it to a certain degree. He then pulled out one of the missiles and started tinkering with it before loading it into the mortar. He then immediately covers his ears as the mortar fires. He continues this process several times until he goes back to the trailer and pulls out a small drone which he activates.
As the drone whirs to life he grabs the headset and controller for the drone and has it fly off towards the destroyed village. Meanwhile the missiles fly through the air before finally hitting the ground near each of the robots and opening up to emit a massive pulse that renders them immobile. The old man then flies the drone over the village to each member of the group, shouting orders to run as it flies over. The drone then flies over to the inside of one of the buildings where the big one and the little girl are. Timing is everything, and they were running out of it fast.
(Now)
Old Man: Come on! That's not going to keep them down long!
Jaime just continues staring at the talking drone hovering in front of her. Until finally her attention gets pulled away by the sounds of whirring machinery and turns her head back to see the Black robot slowly starting to move again. Thinking fast on her feet, she runs over to Angelo and pulls him up to his feet. She turns back to the drone which is still hovering nearby.
Old Man: Through here! Quickly!
The drone turns and flies off around a corner with Jaime and Angelo stumbling to catch up. They make it outside and start to see Goji and the others running towards them. Each one looking beat up and barely able to stand. Goji carries Rodney, unconscious, over his shoulder while Maya and CeCe lean on each other to keep the other from falling to the ground. Jaime tries to shout over to them but is drowned out by a loud noise like a large horn. Suddenly a large bright red van pulling a larger trailer behind it comes practically flying from over the top of a nearby hill and speeds its way down towards Jaime and Angelo.
It pulls up to them and stops abruptly while kicking up dust. Jaime and Angelo cough while trying to wave away the cloud which clears enough to allow them to see a unique looking logo painted on the side of the van. The logo depicts a cartoonish-looking robot smiling with a fist raised and the words "Otaki Factory" written along the bottom. The side of the van flies open and inside an old man sitting at the wheel. He's wearing white work gloves, a red, aqua, and white-colored jacket over a faded white shirt and tan pants. On his feet are a pair of Geta while a white headband with a blue stripe is wrapped around his bald head with white hair sprouting out from the sides. He looks over at Jaime and shouts at her and Angelo.
Old Man: Get in!
Without hesitation Jaime helps Angelo into the van which creaks a bit at the additional weight. Jaime climbs in after and looks back to Goji and the others. She waves her arms and shouts over to them.
Jaime: Guys! Over here!
The others quickly make their way over to the van and pile in one after the other. Once everyone is on board the Old Man presses his foot to the gas pedal and the van makes a wide U-turn back over the hill.
Not too far off White and the rest of the robots start to regain their mobility and recalibrate themselves. White scans the area for signs of their prey. Its scans soon pick up on the blood trail left by Maya and follow it to a point before the trail stops near the hill. It scans further until it finds the tire tracks left behind by the van. White sends this information to the other robots via computer messaging and looks straight up while bending its knees. The sound of an engine builds up as flames and smoke erupt from under White's feet. Within a few seconds it launches into the air like a small rocket. The others start to follow suit and fly up into the air.
Back in the van speeding away from the area, CeCe's ears pick up on the roaring of the robot's take-off and pokes her head out through the side window to look behind them. She looks up at the sky and sees the robots leaving smoke trails behind them as they fly through the air.
CeCe: You've gotta be shittin me!
Jaime hears CeCe's shouting and pokes her head out the window to look as well.
Jaime: These guys can fly!?
The robots then begin tilting themselves into a slightly downward angle and start flying in their direction, the van directly in their targeting sight as they scan the inside. The Old Man sees this from his side mirror and quickly reaches down to pull a small lever built in next to his seat. Suddenly the roof of the trailer springs open and a small cannon pokes out aiming straight up. The Old Man then grabs a small device connected to a small cable with a little red button on the top and stares intently back into the side mirror as the robots hone in on the van.
Old Man: Steady…
The robots get closer and closer. The Old Man's thumb twitching over the red button.
Old Man: Steady…
The Blue robot raises its arms straight forward to aim its gatling guns at the van while Pink, Red, and Yellow do the same with their own arms. From the robot's point of view a targeting system begins to zero in on the van with a small bullseye. The symbol soon stops on the van as a set of words reads "Target Locked".
Old Man: GOTCHA!
At the Old Man's shout the cannon starts firing shots straight into the air with a loud whistling noise. The shots make a few feet before blowing up and causing huge bursts of bright light. The robots' vision becomes static and disrupts their targeting. This allows the van to evade the incoming fire as the Old Man makes a quick turn and pulls the van away from the robots which continue to fly straight onward. The cannon retracts allowing the roof of the trailer to close back up. The Old Man takes one last look in the side mirror before letting out a relieved sigh.
Old Man: Okay, we should be safe for now. (looks back at the group sitting wounded in the van) You there. The little one.
Jaime looks over to him and points at herself in confusion.
Old Man: Yeah, you. Over in the box back there should be a few STIMs left. Hand them out to your friends.
Jaime looks over and spots a small metal box with a red cross on it. Most likely a first aid kit. She crawls over and opens the box to find a set of weirdly colored injectors inside. She takes one out and looks it over with curiosity unsure how to use it. Goji sees this and holds his hand out to her.
Goji: Give it here.
Jaime turns to him and hands him the injector, which he brings over to his arm and injects the needle inside, wincing only slightly at the discomfort. He then tells Jaime to give him the rest as he does the same for the others. He carefully chooses which parts of their bodies to inject into before administering the chemicals inside. Angelo and CeCe shout in pain while Maya just groans after being injected. Then as the pain subsides all of their respective injuries seem to miraculously vanish and self repair almost instantly. Each of them stare in shock.
Angelo: (flexing his fixed hands) Whoa. My hands feel brand new.
CeCe: (cracks her neck and stretches her arms) Damn. I haven't felt this good in years.
Jaime: What is that stuff?
Goji: They're Stim Packs or STIMS as most people refer to them. They're autoinjectors filled with a mixture of healing agents and stimulants, allowing the user to boost their own body's natural regenerative functions.
The Old Man glances at Goji through the rearview mirror as he injects Rodney with the final STIM.
Old Man: You're a soldier then?
Goji looks over at him.
Goji: I used to be.
Old Man: I thought as much. Only people who know how to use STIMs are either doctors or soldiers. And you don't look like much of a doctor to me.
Goji just stares at the Old Man who looks closely at his eyes that are now slightly golden-yellow in color. Another sight the Old Man hasn't seen since…
Jaime: Anyway thanks for the save back there gramps.
The Old Man turns to Jaime with a slight scowl.
Old Man: (shouts) Don't call me Gramps! The name is Ibuki Otaki. And don't thank me.
He turns back to look straight ahead as he drives the van.
Otaki: After all, I'm the man who created those metal monsters in the first place.
Jaime: What?
CeCe immediately grabs her pipe weapon and swings it to smash open Otaki's skull like a watermelon. Or it would have, if not for Goji grabbing one end of the pipe and stopping her from swinging it. CeCe glares at him.
CeCe: Let go dammit! I'm gonna kill this son of a bitch!
Goji: CeCe calm down! Killing him won't solve anything.
CeCe: Like hell it won't! It's his fault that those people were killed!
Maya: That doesn't mean he deserves to die.
CeCe: That's exactly what it me-
Rodney: CECE!
Everyone turns to Rodney who starts to slowly sit up with his wounds now fully healed.
Rodney: Just take a breath. We don't know the full story. Besides, if he really was that bad he wouldn't have risked his own hide trying to save us. (looks over to Otaki) Let's at least hear him out first before we decide to put him in the ground.
After a few moments of silence CeCe and Rodney exchange looks until she finally lets out a heavy sigh and sits back down. They continue to drive a few more miles until they come to a stop next to a giant rubber band ball near a small abandoned building. They each get out of the van and take a seat at a few round metal tables with tattered umbrellas. All eyes fall upon Otaki as he clears his throat to begin telling them his story.
Otaki: It was about 20 years ago, just after the titans had been wiped out…
(Flashback)
Otaki had just started a small robotics company dedicated to helping make people's lives better. It didn't matter to him whether they were human or KK. Then when the first ferals started appearing and attacking people, he got to work on a special project, dubbed Project: MOGUERA, that would protect smaller settlements from feral attacks. The only problem was that he lacked the necessary resources and funding to make it work. That is until one day some people paid him a visit. They were representatives of a company called Apex Cybernetics. Word of Otaki's project had apparently spread and the CEO of Apex wished to offer his assistance in making it a reality.
Naturally Otaki agreed without hesitation and accepted Apex's offer and got straight to work. He had worked tirelessly, day and night, until finally his machines of peace were completed. Each was designed with a unique weapon to help combat any and all variants of feral KKs. Countless days were spent programming the central processing units to be able to analyze and identify KK DNA. They were, not to sound too close to bragging, the deadliest machines ever created, and their power source came from the world's oldest form of energy: concentrated radiation from Hollow Earth.
Before all known entrances had been sealed off, Apex had managed to send down a team to harvest as much of the energy as they could. The energy was then stored in specially designed capsules that could be inserted into the chests of each robot in order to power them up. When the day came to activate the robots Otaki was filled with pride at seeing his dream become reality. The CEO of Apex gave Otaki nothing but congratulations when the robots came online.
CEO: You have absolutely outdone yourself, Otaki.
Otaki: Yes well I couldn't have done it without your support, sir.
CEO: A fair point. But now I believe it's time to test the full capabilities of your wondrous creations.
Otaki looked at the CEO in slight confusion.
Otaki: Test them? How?
CEO: By having them exterminate all of the ferals in this area.
The CEO typed in some coordinates into a computer and a large map came up on the screen. Otaki recognized the area as one of the designated KK settlements Monarch had established for the safety of civilian KKs.
Otaki: But sir, there hasn't been any reports of ferals in that area.
The CEO just looks at the map and smirks.
CEO: And there aren't going to be any reports. Not when it's all burned to the ground.
Otaki stares in shock at the CEO's words.
Otaki: But you can't. Those people are innocents.
CEO: Wrong. The creatures living there are nothing more than mutated ticking time bombs just waiting to go off. Monarch foolishly believes that humanity can somehow coexist with such beings, but the longer we wait, the more human lives are at stake from another onslaught of feral attacks. And so with support from the JDF, Apex will use these new weapons to destroy the KK threat once and for all. And at long last, humanity will once again become the rightful dominant species of this planet.
Otaki couldn't believe what he had just heard. He created Project: MOGUERA to protect both humans and KKs from feral attacks, not to wipe KKs out entirely. When he tried to make the CEO see reason he was forced out of the room and locked away in a secure area. When word got to him about the genocide that took place and the war that broke out soon after his heart practically shattered. His joyful pride was now replaced with shameful guilt.
(Present Day)
Otaki: The CEO told me that Apex would use the robots to protect the innocent if I helped to build them. I was a fool to trust him. After the war Apex was all but destroyed. However the robots continued to fulfill their primary directive: To seek out and eradicate all beings with KK DNA. They have been attacking settlements and villages ever since.
Otaki turns back to the group with a look of determination and anger.
Otaki: So now I want to correct my mistake. I want to destroy the very monsters I helped bring into this world!
Otaki stands up and walks over to the large trailer and opens up the side.
Otaki: To that end, I created this!
Otaki stands aside to reveal another robot standing in the trailer. The robot stands at about 6 feet/10 inches in height. Its face consists of square eyes which are bright blue, a triangular nose, rectangular jaw, and a vent that resembles a smiling mouth across its face. Its head is shaped almost to a point with cream white-color armor with bolts visible on much of its body. Its torso is barrel-shaped with a red, yellow, and white color pattern, while its arms and legs are much longer and feature visible joints and a vent on the base of its neck. It has black hands with three robotic claws. Its legs feature a blue and yellow design, with the waist area featuring a bird-shaped emblem.
In one of its claws it holds a large spear. The blade is brown, with a spray-painted pattern starting at the tip of three lines that circle the entire blade and turn into points on the flat side of the blade. Below these is a triangle sitting atop a swirling line. The blade is nailed to a brown tang, and further held to this with a white cloth-like substance. The handle is a silvery metal and covered in a pattern of interlocking diamonds. The bottom of the handle connects to another tang, which holds a smaller metal blade.
Otaki: Behold! My latest and greatest creation: JET JAGUAR!
At the announcement of its name, the robot powers up and proceeds to step out of the trailer and towards the group. Everyone goes on the defensive expecting an attack from the spear. However the robot stops and looks down at each of them.
JJ: Hello. My name is Jet Jaguar.
The sound of the voice causes a few of the group to jump surprise.
Jaime: It can talk?
JJ: Affirmative.
Otaki: Jet Jaguar is programmed with a sophisticated learning AI. A little something I was able to salvage from the ruins of Apex Cybernetics. And with the same type of powercell as the other robots, as well as a specially designed spear fashioned from the tooth of a titan, Jet Jaguar is more than capable of destroying those robots once and for all.
Angelo and Jaime stare in awe while CeCe looks on with suspicion.
CeCe: Oh really? If he's that tough, then how come you haven't done it yet?
Otaki crosses his arms over his chest.
Otaki: Unfortunately while Jet Jaguar is more than capable of destroying one of those robots, if the others were to attack him all at once…
Goji: In other words, He can't take them on alone.
Otaki points his finger at Goji with a huge smile on his face.
Otaki: Exactly! However with your help, and that of your companions, the robots can be defeated!
Goji looks over everyone and stops at Jaime. He then looks down at the ground and turns away from Otaki.
Goji: I'm sorry but, I'm afraid we can't help you.
Otaki looks at Goji, shocked beyond belief.
Otaki: Wha-wha-WHAT!? But if you don't stand together those robots will continue to attack innocent villages. They won't stop until every KK on this planet is dead, including that of you and your group.
Goji: I understand but…
Maya: What he means to say is we literally can't.
Rodney: If you were close enough to rescue us then you must've seen how we fared against them last time.
Angelo: Those things are just too powerful. We each hit them with everything we had and it still wasn't enough.
CeCe: Hell, I'm pretty sure they were just playing with us.
Maya: Even our weapons ended up shattering against their armor.
Jaime: So then what happens now?
Goji: Now we just have to get up north as fast as we can before those things catch back up with us.
Angelo: Are you nuts? We don't have any vehicles. And those things can fly. They'd pick us off before we'd even get to about 5 miles.
Rodney: He's right. We'd be sitting ducks out there.
Goji: (shouts) What else do you got?! Huh?
Everyone stares at Goji as he breathes heavily trying to calm himself down. Goji sits back down and grasps his head with a heavy sigh. Jaime goes up to him and places a hand on his shoulder.
Jaime: It's ok. We'll figure something out. We always do.
Goji lifts his head back up and looks Jaime in the eyes. Seeing her unwavering smile seems to calm him down a bit. He smiles back and places a hand over hers on his shoulder.
Maya: She's right. Despite all evidence to the contrary we can't assume that these machines are invincible.
Otaki walks up to the group and shouts to get back everyone's attention.
Otaki: Because they aren't! And you can defeat them!
CeCe turns to Otaki with confused annoyance.
CeCe: Were you not listening old man? We just told you how we went up against them and had our asses kicked.
Otaki: Well of course on your own, none of you are strong enough to even lay a scratch into their adamantium metal.
Otaki returns to the trailer and takes out a large metal crate and drags it along the ground towards them. At least until Jet Jaguar walks over and carries it for him.
JJ: Allow me to assist.
Otaki: Oh. Thank you.
Otaki opens up the crate and pulls out a set of dark yellow colored exoskeletal armor.
Otaki: But with these, each of you will be able to tear into them as if they were wads of paper.
Goji and the others stare at it in awe as Otaki takes out several more and lays them out for everyone to see.
Rodney: The heck are those?
Otaki: Well, quite simply, they're sets of cybernetic synaptically linked dynodextric isometric polyduratanium power armor.
Everyone looks at Otaki in confusion.
Jaime: So what is that in english?
Otaki: You see these suits are designed to enhance your KK abilities to build up enough power to destroy any metal, even the adamantium that the robots are built of. In theory they can even activate any dormant abilities each of you might have.
CeCe: Seriously? Where the hell did you find these?
Otaki: I salvaged these from an old base that had been used by KK terrorists during the war. They were developing them in secret but were unable to use them after the war ended. With your combined abilities, Jet Jaguar's special weapon, and these sets of armor, you are the only ones who can stop them.
Otaki walks up to Goji and stares intently at him.
Otaki: So, will you help now?
Goji stares back at him and turns to look at the others. The shared looks of newfound determination on their faces are all he needs to make a decision. He turns back to Otaki and smiles.
Goji: Yes. We will help.
Otaki grins wildly and shouts in excitement. Jet Jaguar walks up to Goji and addresses him and the group.
JJ: I look forward to working with you all.
Jaime walks up to him and raises her hand.
Jaime: Hell yeah! High-five!
JJ: (looks down at Jaime) Pardon?
Jaime: Ya know, "High-five"!
JJ: Pardon?
Jaime: (shakes hand in the air) High-five!
JJ: I do not understand.
Jaime: You know it's a thing friends do.
Jet Jaguar stares down at Jaime while tilting their head slightly in confusion. Jaime lets out a heavy sigh.
Jaime: Oh nevermind.
Goji turns back at Otaki.
Goji: We're also gonna need some new weapons.
Otaki: (gives thumbs up) I believe I have just the thing.
An hour or so later Otaki and Jaime perch themselves on top of a large hill. They each look through a pair of binoculars to view the ground below. In their view they see Goji and the others standing alongside Jet Jaguar, now clad in their new armor and wielding new weapons. The armor sets are each composed of mechanized braces adorned in a vibrant yellow color. They encompass both their upper and lower bodies, spanning from the shoulders and arms all the way down to the shins. The gloves feature a swivel ring at each wrist, allowing for rotational movement, and utilizes axle bolts to facilitate bending at the fingers and elbow joints. Additionally, segmented armor runs along the outer forearm to the fingers, while gray components are affixed to the fingertips. A section of the brace on each of the forearms also contains three injection tubes to administer an unknown green energy into each of their arms.
Goji wields a new broadsword to replace his shattered machete. Angelo's gloves are much larger and somewhat bulkier than the others allowing for much heavier and stronger punches. CeCe places on her shoulder an updated version of her modified pipe weapon which now closely resembles a reinforced light weight hammer. Rodney's wings now have sets of small folding blades along the outer edges. Maya is still carrying her sword and bow. The latter of which is now equipped with explosive arrowheads. Jaime looks over the area around them and also the sky above.
Jaime: You sure those things are gonna show up here?
Otaki: Of course. Their tracking systems should have rebooted themselves by now. And if my calculations are correct, they should've picked up our trail and are heading this way even as we speak.
Jaime looks back at Goji and the others.
Jaime: Right. So, explain to me again what those fancy metal suits are supposed to do.
Otaki: Basically they should augment their physical abilities and even activate hidden dormant genes within their KK DNA for a short amount of time. Hence the chemical agents installed into the forearm braces.
Jaime: And how long is that again?
Otaki: Around 3 or 4 minutes. 5 if we're lucky.
Jaime scans the horizon until she spots several small objects flying towards them at top speed. As she looks closer she recognizes the objects as the robots.
Jaime: There they are!
Otaki looks through his binoculars and spots the robots flying closer.
Otaki: This is it. It's all on them now.
He turns back to the others who look up and stand ready to meet their incoming foes.
Maya: Here they come.
Goji: Everyone ready for this?
Rodney: Ready.
Angelo: Ready.
CeCe: Ready.
JJ: Ready.
Maya: Ready.
Goji: Alright, just like the old man told us.
One by one, excluding JJ, each of them reaches for a button on their left wrist. Afterwards the three vials of green liquid begin to inject themselves into their bodies. As the chemicals flow into their bloodstreams they each feel a slight intense pain as their bodies start to exhibit small physical changes. Angelo's back spikes grow slightly bigger and sharper. CeCe's skin starts getting covered in small patches of fur. Rodney's boots get ripped apart by large talons. Maya's eyes become more bug-like. And small dorsal plates shoot out through Goji's back. They each take deep breaths as their bodies get used to the quick changes and the pain begins to subside.
At the same time the robots each fly in from above and land right in front of the group. Some of the robots begin scanning each of them.
Green: Genetic and synthetic modifications detected.
They turn their attention to Jet Jaguar and scan him as well.
Yellow: Unknown model identified.
Jet Jaguar twirls his spear and takes on a fighting stance.
JJ: I am designated: Jet Jaguar. My primary function: To fight for justice and peace!
Red: Data Irrelevant. Primary mission remains unchanged.
White: Prepare for maximum extermination.
CeCe smirks as she lifts her weapon and points it at the robots.
CeCe: Bring it on assholes.
In response Pink lifts up one of its arms and fires an explosive cord at them. The group disperses and avoids the explosion. Rodney glides through the air and straight towards Red. The robot lifts up its arms and unleashes a massive plume of flames that seem to engulf Rodney in midair. Instead of being burnt to a crisp Rodney flies right through the fire. His wings and blades have been heated up by the flames. He goes into a dive and uses his talons to latch onto the robots arms crushing them like soda cans. He uses his wing blades to start slicing Red apart like knives slicing through butter. Oil spills out of the robot like black blood. When the heat from the blades make contact the oil ignites and triggers an explosion completely destroying Red. Rodney uses the force of the blast to push himself away from the brunt of the explosion. Jaime and Otaki start cheering at the sight of the first robot to be destroyed.
Otaki: YES!
Jaime: WAY TO GO ROD!
The other robots glance over the remains of Red but proceed to press their attack. Green launches one of its chain claws at Jet Jaguar. He quickly sidesteps and uses his spear to cut the chain, leaving the claw to fly through the air and land in the dirt behind him. Green retracts the chain and looks at its now clawless stump. Before it has a chance to attempt another attack it becomes impaled by Goji's sword which he then pulls out and uses to slice Green in half. Angelo cheers when he starts to hear gunfire heading straight for him and CeCe. They both run and manage to avoid it but Angelo soon spots Yellow start firing shurikens at them. Angelo instinctively grabs hold of CeCe to try and shield her and braces himself. Instead of being hit however the storm of projectiles seem to bounce off some kind of invisible force field. CeCe glances over at Angelo's back and sees the spikes on his back vibrating at incredible speed.
CeCe: How are you doing that?
Angelo: I don't know.
CeCe looks around and spots Blue not too far off still firing its gatling guns. She quickly starts to get an idea.
CeCe: Well whatever you do, don't stop.
Elsewhere JJ charges at Pink with his spear. Pink fires another explosive cord which JJ easily avoids. Pink fires more cords simultaneously until finally one wraps itself around JJ's right arm and explodes.A large cloud covers the area as Pink stands there waiting to see whether it was successful. It scans the cloud until it spots an object in the smoke. An object that quickly thrusts itself through Pink's chest. The last thing its vision sees is JJ's face right in front of its own stabbing his spear through it with just one arm, his right arm having been destroyed in the explosion. JJ twists the spear which triggers the reels of explosive cord stored inside and quickly pulls the spear back out and leaps away just as Pink explodes from the inside.
Back with Angelo and CeCe, Yellow and Blue continue firing at them while slowly walking towards them. This continues until CeCe jumps out from behind Angelo and lunges at Blue wielding her hammer getting ready to swing at him.
CeCe: BITE MY SHINY METAL AX!
*Note: I'm well aware her weapon isn't an ax, but I just couldn't resist. Lol.*
CeCe swings her weapon down effectively smashing Blue's head like a watermelon. She pushes the pipe in further and uses it to swing around and land on its back. She then reaches down and grabs hold of the still firing gatling guns and uses her strength to aim them directly at Yellow. Within seconds the robot is shredded by the onslaught of bullets. Pieces of its body go flying in all directions and litter the ground. The gatling guns finally stop firing and slow down. CeCe chuckles and pulls out an M67 hand grenade. She pulls the pin with her thumb and shoves into an opening in Blue's neck. She jumps off pulling out her weapon just before Blue explodes.
Jaime: Holy shit! That was awesome!
Otaki: Indeed! Oh but wait, it's not over yet!
Goji uses his sword to block Orange's buzzsaws. This continues until Orange takes another swing with its left buzzsaw but it gets sliced in half by Maya who swoops in for a surprise attack with her sword. Goji spots Black out of the corner of his eye swinging one of its gauntlets to hit her from the side. Instead it gets shoulder tackled by Angelo who pushes them away from Maya. Black and Angelo stare each other down as the latter raises his fists.
Angelo: (shouts) Rematch motherfucker!
Black throws a punch toward Angelo who meets its gauntlet with his own. The impact of the two causes a small blast of force. This continues for about 2 or 3 seconds until Black's gauntlet dents inward and gets smashed by Angelo's fist who keeps pushing forward and continues smashing the rest of the arm. Black takes a few steps back and immediately activates its camouflage to go invisible. Angelo's eyes widen in surprise until he starts getting beaten down by the unseen enemy.
Back with Goji and Maya they continue fighting Orange until Maya notices Angelo in trouble. She quickly flies up and takes out her bow. She tries to aim but is unable to see her target. That is until her vision starts to change. Suddenly she starts to see everything differently including the amount of UV light coming off of Black. With her target now in sight she lets loose an explosive arrow which flies through the air until it hits Black in the chest. The explosion causes Black's camo to shut down allowing Angelo to see them and start beating them with his own fists. Each hit denting Black's armor like cardboard getting hit by a truck. Finally the robot falls to the ground leaving nothing but a lifeless shell at Angelo's feet. Angelo looks down at it and spits of what's left of its smashed in face.
Angelo: Punk ass piece of junk.
Goji moves in on Orange which tries to slice him with its remaining buzzsaw, but Goji dodges and cuts the arm off along with slicing open its midsection and spilling oil out onto the ground. Orange falls back before getting impaled through the chest by JJ's spear. JJ stands back up and looks over at Goji who just silently nods at him. They both turn and face off against White, now the last robot standing. The others all regroup near them and start to surround White on all sides.
The robot holds its ground taking quick glances at each of them. The group gets ready to move in and finish things when suddenly a loud beeping starts going off from each of their suits. Suddenly their bodies each start to feel heavy and cause them to each fall on their hands and knees. Jaime and Otaki become shocked at this new turn of events.
Jaime: What's happening to them?
Otaki reaches into his jacket pocket and takes out a small watch. His expression then becomes dire.
Otaki: Oh no! Their time is up!
Jaime: But what does that mean?
Otaki: It means the effects of the chemicals inside their bodies are starting to wear off. And after that every ounce of strength they have left will be drained all at once, leaving them helpless to fight back!
Jaime looks back through her binoculars and sees the others struggle to get back up. Out of all of them JJ remains the only one left standing. Without hesitation he charges at White and starts swinging his spear at them. White uses its katana to block each strike with relevant ease. JJ backs off and takes on a defensive stance with his spear. White just stares at him seemingly unimpressed.
White: You are an obsolete model.
JJ: Negative. I am Jet Jaguar, and I fight for peace and justice.
JJ braces himself as White charges forward swinging its sword. JJ does his best to defend himself but eventually gets his leg slashed which forces him down on one knee. White strikes once more and manages to stab JJ through the chest. JJ's power drains and he collapses face down with his spear standing upright with the other end stabbed into the ground next to him. White looks around and spots Maya and the others still laying helpless on the ground. Swiping its sword to clean off the fluid from JJ's body, it starts to walk over to Rodney. Goji, having been watching from the sidelines, grunts loudly as he slowly brings his hand to hit a switch on the side of his armor. Once flipped the entire suit opens up and falls to the ground around Goji. He then grabs his sword and stabs it into the ground to help himself to stand up. He manages to get to his feet and shout out to get White's attention.
Goji: Hey!
White turns and looks over in Goji's direction. Goji takes a hold of his sword with both hands and slowly lifts it up.
Goji: Why don't you focus on someone who can still fight?
White turns to face him and lifts up its sword to charge at him. Goji and White's swords clash as the two fight furiously against each other. Goji manages to dodge a few of White's strikes and counters with a downward strike of his own. White easily blocks and follows with a heavy kick to Goji's stomach and sending him flying back and dropping his sword on the ground. White slowly walks towards him as he slowly sits back up. He desperately looks around to try to find some way to continue fighting. Until he sees JJ still laying on the ground behind White. His sights focus on the spear next to him still in his hand. Suddenly his head starts to ache with a strange pulsing sensation. He stares at the spear and sees what appears to be a subtle, almost invisible aura emanating off of it. An aura that feels almost familiar to Goji.
He then starts to feel the same pulse running down along his back. The small dorsal plates still barely sticking out of his back pulsing with a small blue hue. It's just a gut feeling, but Goji feels that there is one last thing he could try to finally defeat White. He starts to take a deep breath as the dorsal plates on his back start to glow brighter and brighter. His eyes start to glow a bright blue glow as he finally opens his mouth and unleashes a blast of atomic breath at White. The beam shoots straight for White, but then flies past it completely missing it. White stops moving as if it is taken slightly off guard at how close it came to being engulfed in the blast. Goji falls back completely exhausted. Jaime and Otaki on the other hand cannot believe their eyes at what just happened.
Otaki: HE MISSED!? HOW COULD HE MISS!? IT WAS PRACTICALLY THREE FEET IN FRONT OF HIM!
Jaime looks just as shocked and confused until she looks back through her binoculars and searches a bit of the area behind White. What she soon sees makes her gasp and cry out with excitement.
Jaime: HE DIDN'T!
Otaki looks at Jaime confused and brings his binoculars back up to his face. Back down below White goes back to walking towards Goji until it finally stands over him and looks down. It raises its sword over its head to finish him off. Its body language makes it seem almost proud of itself.
White: Target: Eliminated.
It's just about ready to bring its sword down when suddenly something punctures through its chest from behind. Standing a few feet behind him a revitalized JJ threw his now glowing spear through White's chest which flies straight through and right towards Goji who manages to catch it with both hands and stand back up. He raises the spear up above his head and shouts at the top of his lungs as he brings it back down to strike White. The robot, now showing signs of almost fear, desperately raises its sword to block the spear. Instead the spear tip completely shatters the sword as if it were made of glass and continues downward slicing through White's head and straight down its entire body. White's internal computer systems try to calculate what had just happened. The end result was simply one word: "incalculable".
White: Unbelievable.
Finally White's body splits apart with sparks flying everywhere before eventually exploding into a million pieces. Silence fills the now still battlefield as the wind begins to blow away the smoke. Goji is seen down on his knees panting heavily while using the spear to keep himself up. He soon hears the sounds of metal footsteps coming towards him followed soon after by a metal claw being offered to him. He looks up to see JJ looking down and holding his arm out to him. Goji smiles and accepts the gesture, grabbing his hand and getting pulled back on his feet. The two just stare at each other briefly until the two then start shaking hands.
Goji: Thanks.
JJ: Thank you as well.
Soon the silence is shattered by the sounds of loud cheering coming from on top of the hill. Jaime and Otaki embracing each other and jumping up and down with joy and excitement.
Otaki: THEY DID IT! THEY DID IT!
Goji looks up at them and chuckles a bit at the sight of them. Then the sound of another voice catches his attention.
Rodney: Uh, excuse me?
Goji looks over back to the others still lying exhausted on the ground and groaning.
Rodney: If it's not too much trouble, could use a little help here.
Goji and JJ look back at each other and both nod their heads in agreement. They both walk over to help the others back onto their feet. After several hours, once everyone was well rested, Otaki stops his van at a crossroads where the group starts to get off at. Goji walks up to the driver's seat and looks at Otaki through the open window.
Goji: Thanks for the lift.
Otaki: Think nothing of it. (points his finger in a specific direction) Now just follow that road there and it should put you back on the right track.
Goji: Gotcha.
Jaime looks back at JJ still sitting in the van.
Jaime: You sure you can't come with us?
JJ: I am sorry, but my function is to remain with Mr. Otaki and help him to make a more peaceful world for everyone.
Jaime nods her head and smiles.
Jaime: Yeah, I know exactly what you mean. In that case I'm glad to have met you JJ.
JJ: I feel the same way, Jaime.
Jaime turns away to start waking with the others when JJ calls out to her again.
JJ: Oh, and Jaime?
Jaime looks back at him and sees him raise his hand up to her.
JJ: "High-five"
Jaime looks at him surprised.
JJ: It is a thing friends do.
Jaime smiles at him and laughs a bit before raising her own hand and hitting his metal hand with hers.
And that is chapter 10 done! Whew man was this a doozy to write up! Still I hope that you all enjoyed reading this chapter and are looking forward to what happens next time.
List of KKs (Robots Included)
Goji: Godzilla
Jaime: ?/Oxygen destroyer hybrid
Maya: Mothra
Rodney: Rodan
CeCe: King Caesar
Angelo: Anguirus
Jet Jaguar: Himself
White, Blue, Green, Black, Yellow, Red, Orange, Pink robots: Moguera
And now replies to reviews of this story!
HEROS Central: It's all good man. And I will say you got most of those guesses right.
So until next time this is Tardispilot297 saying… ALLONSY!