Nick and Judy were hiding in the alley, panting and with their hearts racing, trying to understand what they had just seen, The robotic fox, belonging to the mysterious evil corporation, had attacked them, and their only point of safety at that moment was the narrow darkness between the buildings, however, it didn't take long for them to realize that they were far from being safe
A metallic noise echoed through the alley, the robot had found them, and its red eyes shone brightly through its goggles as it fixed on the pair, with slow but precise steps, it advanced towards nick and judy, its movements too fast for its size
"He's coming…!" Judy whispered, her eyes wide, without thinking nick suddenly pulled out his pistol that was hidden under his coat again, raising the weapon against the robot, he pulled the trigger, firing several times, the projectiles hit the machine's body, but to his despair, the shots seemed to cause no visible damage, even with blood flying through the air, the bullets simply went in, some falling to the ground while others were lost around the alleym
"Nick, what are you doing with a firearm?! That's illegal!" Judy exclaimed, the look of astonishment and concern etched on her face "That doesn't matter now, carrots! would you rather face that thing unarmed?" Nick retorted, stepping back while continuing to shoot, trying to keep the robot at a distance, but, indifferent to the shots, the machine advanced without hesitation, the robot raised his arm and took his pistol out from his leather jacket, in a quick movement, he pulled the trigger several times, the bullets cut through the air in Nick's direction, who threw himself to the side in time to avoid being hit, Judy tried to distract him, she jumped on the wall and jumped back at him, kicking the machine's metal leg joints, which only pushed him a few centimeters away, but it seemed useless, it was like fighting against an iron wall, and they were both at a disadvantage "It's no use! we have to run away!" Judy shouted, pulling nick by his arm, they ran down the alley in search of a way out, but the machine followed them with frightening precision, running on all fours, as soon as they reached the main street, the robot raised its arm and fired several bullets at them, the shots ricocheted off the metal surfaces and glass around it, scattering shrapnel and sparks everywhere, pedestrians passing by screamed and ran, seeking refuge amid the sudden chãos, Nick tried to retaliate, firing a few more shots while moving sideways, but it was clear that his firearm was not having the desired effect, the robot just arched its posture back a little, receiving a bullet in its sunglasses, the robot seemed invulnerable, and each shot it fired only spread even more destruction around it, Innocent animals tried to escape, but the machine seemed relentless, not caring who was in its path, It fired without discretion, increasing the trail of chaos and panic, the bullets hit several animals, some small ones dying in the process, and the larger ones only injured or seriously injured
With no options, Judy grabbed Nick's arm tightly and pulled him into an adjacent alley, trying to gain an advantage, they ran between dumpsters and climbed a rusty fence, their hearts racing, trying to keep enough distance to hide
However, as soon as they found a break and stopped to breathe, the tension exploded between the two
"Nick! a firearm? what were you thinking?" Judy scolded him, her eyes shining with indignation
"This is not the time for this judy!, That guy is after us!" nick snapped, but the weight of guilt was visible on his face "I... I just wanted to protect us, okay?"
Judy shook her head, unable to believe it "That's against the law, nick! You know what this means for our career, not to mention that we are now being hunted by that animal and these deaths... oh my god, he killed those animals, Nick!"
Before they could continue, the heavy noise against the ground reached them, the robot had found them again, now even closer and closer than before, he raised his arm to fire again, and the two barely had time to throw themselves to the sides before the shot hit the wall, creating a hole breaking the bricks
Tired, breathless and not knowing where to go, nick and judy were about to give up hope when, suddenly, a car skidded to a sudden stop next to them, the passenger door opened, revealing a mysterious figure behind the steering wheel, she leaned out, her eyes serious and her voice determined
"Come with me if you want to live"
With no alternatives, Nick and Judy looked at each other for a brief second and, in a quick movement, they got into the car, closing the door behind them, the stranger accelerated with everything, pulling away and leaving the robot behind, who stopped and watched them walk away, the robot reloaded his gun and put it on his waist, for now, at least, they are they were out of danger
Inside the car, the silence was tense, Nick and Judy were still trying to process what had just happened while the stranger focused on the road, guiding them away from the chaos that was chasing them
As the car advanced through the streets, leaving the chaos behind, Nick and Judy looked at each other, still in shock at everything that had happened, Nick broke the silence, his voice still full of disbelief
"I don't understand... how... how can someone be standing after all that? I shot him so many times, not even a scratch!"
Judy nodded, her face tense "It's like nothing can stop him, he doesn't seem... normal at all, Who's that fox..."
The female albino wildcat behind the wheel gave them a quick glance in the rearview mirror before turning back to them "It's not a who" she said, her voice firm "It's a machine, the latest model in the T-800 line... noviy horizon's systems, model T-1.0.1, is the most lethal advancement in modern technology" the revelation made nick's blood run cold, he exchanged an apprehensive look with Judy before turning to the female
"How do you know all this?" Judy asked, her eyes fixed on the stranger, the wildcat paused, sighing deeply "I've worked for noviy horizon, I know what they're capable of... and the secrets they keep"
Nick let out a nervous laugh, disbelief written all over his face "This has to be a joke... you worked for them? and now we're being hunted by what? by a robotic fox? This only gets worse!"
"Listen" The woman, with a low but serious voice, quickly turned to face them "That thing is a exterminator, a cybernetic organism built on a metal endoskeleton, It was made to hunt and eliminate any threat to noviy horizon, and now that includes you two, you've gotten too involved" Nick and Judy were silent, processing the revelation
Judy finally leaned forward, looking at the cat with a suspicious and at the same time intrigued look "And who are you, anyway?"
The cat gave a slight smile, almost as if she was remembering something distant "My name is sasha, and now, you better trust me, it's your only chance of survival" With the tension growing thicker inside the car, Judy and nick looked at each other once more, realizing that, somehow, they were trapped in something much bigger and more dangerous than they imagined
Sasha kept her focus ahead, but it was clear that she had something else to say, after a few minutes of silence, she finally spoke "We have to get to a safe place" she said, her voice firm, "A place where the exterminator can't find you"
Judy frowned "And do you really think that place exists? he found us twice in a matter of minutes!" Sasha sighed, her eyes still fixed on the road "He knows how to track you, and if he can't, there are other ways to force you out of where you are, you need to understand… he's going after everything and everyone you love, and that includes your families" Nick and Judy looked at each other, shock and fear dominating their expressions
Nick took a step towards Sasha, almost panicked "What? he's going after our families? we need to go now and," Sasha interrupted, slamming her fists on the steering wheel, her tone more severe now "Listen you two! try to understand," she said, her voice rising as she turned to the two "You can't bargain with him, you can't reason with him, he feels no pity, no remorse, no fear, he's a machine, and absolutely nothing, NOTHING, will stop this exterminator until you both are dead" The silence that followed was almost suffocating, nick and Judy exchanged a look of pure desperation, and finally, Judy spoke in a low but determined voice "If he can't be stopped, then we need to do more than run, we need to think of a way to face him" Nick nodded, his gaze hardening "Yes, and maybe the only chance we have is to catch him by surprise before he gets to the ones we lov."
Sasha glanced at them in the rearview mirror, a slight surprise on her face, but soon nodded, "If you're willing to fight, I can help, but you'll have to follow my plan to the letter, we'll set up an ambush and make him expose himself"
Speeding along, the silence that enveloped them was heavy again, Judy looked at nick, his face softening after the chaotic events of before
"Thanks, nick," she said, her voice a little hesitant "Thanks for saving me, and.. sorry for yelling at you earlier"
Nick gave her an understanding smile "Relax, carrots, I think we're all at our limit today"
She smiled, feeling a warm glow of relief at nick's words, but then, his gaze turned to sasha, now with a mixture of curiosity and confusion
"Sasha," he began, "how can that robot look so much like a real animal? he's... scarily real"
Sasha glanced at nick in the rearview mirror before replying, "His technology is one of the most advanced, noviy horizon's most complete units, a long time ago, there were older units, like the TL-600, these units used rubber skin, so it was easy to identify what they were, but... as time passed, noviy horizon improved its designs, now everything on that exterminator, blood, fur, nails, skin, eyes ,etc... everything is made of living tissue, perfect for it to blend in society, without being identified"
Nick and Judy exchanged incredulous looks, absorbing the explanation while sasha continued
"They made a model that looks like you, nick, for a reason the familiar appearance makes it easier for the exterminator to get close to Judy without raising suspicion, the closer he can infiltrate, the easier it is... to kill the target"
Judy felt a chill go up her spine when she heard this, it was a cold and calculating strategy, and it only reinforced how dangerous that machine was.