John and Vale were baffled.
They just stared at the little mammal while the tiny hamster did the same for what seemed like minutes.
The awkwardness ended when the hamster gave a small, shy wave. And it was only right to return the gesture, which John did.
"Hi." He waved stiffly. "Umm. Are you the bad guy?"
The hamster stood up straight, its head tilted as it looked at the French-Spaniard with a raised eyebrow.
"Don't be so straightforward." Vale shushed him. She got closer to the rodent. "Sorry about that. We just finding a way to connect to this machine with my AI."
She waved Eve in front of it, and her AI gave a cheery 'Hi!'.
Looking at the holoprojection AI in her hand, the hamster gestured to Vale to give Eve to her.
Vale, who wasn't sure what was happening, gave Eve to the rodent. With an uncertain look, she and John watched as the hamster grabbed one of the wires in the machine and chewed it away. It only took a few seconds for the rodent to show freshly frayed and nibbled wires in his paw, then carefully lined each wire up to Eve's connector.
"I'm in," Eve said. "How did you connect me in Vale?"
"It was this little hamster here." The hamster squeaked in mimicking anger. "Um, no offence." It then turned away, its back facing them, pouting in anger.
John reached for his AI, Tom, and looked through his inventory. "Hey, little guy, we're sorry, but we have something for you for helping us."
The hamster turned around and immediately brightened as it saw John spawned and holding a packet of sealed sunflower seeds.
With its paws up, it tried to grab the packet as John brought closer to them. Then tore through the packet as it desperately got to the delectable snack.
"Wait, did you say hamster?" Eve asked her owner. Vale cooed as she and her partner watched the tiny hamster gobbling down the food, its cheeks bloated with stuffed seeds.
"Let me see, let me see." The AI whispered to herself as she browsed through her mainframe. "Got it!"
"What is it, Eve?" Vale glanced at Eve, but her attention was still on the munching rodent.
"That hamster is named Hammond. He's part of the revived Overwatch strike team."
"Hammond huh?" John gave the hamster a little pat on the head. "Sorry about earlier." Hammond enjoyed his hand grooming down to its back, given how he leaned into his hand.
"Wait, you're part of the Overwatch strike team?" Vale's mesmerization of Hammond was replaced with bewilderment, and reality kicked in. "Oh my god, we're so sorry they got captured," she explained to the hamster. We're trying to get them and the weapon out of The Eye's hands, but we don't know where the taskforce is or the bomb."
Hammond squinted his eyes. Initially, he was sceptical as he didn't trust the two. After all, they were the ones who got the taskforce into this whole fiasco.
But John and Vale showed genuine interest in getting his team out and returning the weapon. Plus they have shown their hospitality towards him after calling him a crude name, so it kind of evens things out.
The two just watched Hammond climb back into the abyss of wires. The duo waited moments for him to reemerge, but he never returned.
"Hmm, I wonder what he's doing?" John speculated, hoping that he would help them out of their little problem.
"Let him be. Anyway, I just got onto the system," Eve said on the big monitor above as she accessed the ship's mainframe. John and Vale switched their attention from Hammond to the screen, watching the many files she had managed to get.
"First things first. We need to know where the taskforce is kept captive. Also, give us schematics and the layout of the ship." Vale instructed Eve, her AI immediately shifting through the mothership's logs and records.
"At the other end of the assembly complex, they in one of the hangars," Eve said. "And there is a lot of onmics around that area, considering that they were a threat to -"
FIZZIT
Eve was then rudely interrupted when she suddenly got shorted out.
"Eve?!" Vale quickly scooped her AI. "You okay?"
"-'m fine. It's just I got hit by a program."
"Oh shoot. Have we been detected?" John immediately reached for his bow.
"No, we're not. It's a program from Hammond. The fact that they sent it straight to my mainframe slightly shocked me."
Hammond reappeared again from the abyss, giving a little wave.
"Let me run the program for a bit." Eve started running the program, only for her to start chuckling to herself.
"What is it, Eve?" By this point, Tom joined right next to Eve despite not being connected to the terminal. He, however, was starting to be worried about his counterpart.
"It's just a translator program for Hammond, so whatever he says, I can translate," Eve told him. There were no viruses here, and I don't think it was his expertise."
Hammond squeaked and squealed to John and Vale.
"He says while it's good that we know the location of the Overwatch taskforce, we have no way to get to them except to fight the onmics head-on." Eve translated Hammond's speech, and then Hammond squeaked up again.
"Yep, I just checked on that, too. There's tight security where the taskforce is. Nobody or anything gets in or out without authorization," Eve stated.
"He says he would like to help, but the Eye still holds his mech captive along with the taskforce. Oh wow. This program works."
"Let's move on," Vale said, trying to get back to planning. "We need a way to sneak across to them without being spotted. The last thing we want is the whole ship bearing down on us."
"What about the bomb?" John asked.
Eve scoured the mainframe again for more information about the prototype bomb. However, their luck only worsened.
"Big problem. We know the bomb is on this ship. Records show that they have unloaded it. The issue is that anything related to the bomb, its location, the onmics guarding it, et cetera, is behind a heavily guarded server that will trigger an alarm even if I have a go at hacking it."
"Great. Now we have three problems: the taskforce, the taskforce's weapons, and the bomb." John counted each problem with his fingers.
"We know where the taskforce are. The issue is getting their weapons to them without being caught and the bomb." Vale listed all of their problems.
John hummed, then snapped his fingers as he came up with a brainwave: "Then we need a distraction." He told the small group his plan: "We still have no idea where the prototype bomb is. I plan that one of us will find it and cause a ruckus while the other half will free the Overwatch strike force."
"That's not a bad idea. The only thing is, who would go?" Vale asked him. Just one look into his eyes, and fear was already etched on his face. John was so focused on the plan that he forgot his fear of splitting up again.
Then he heard a single squeak.
"Hammond said he'll go," Eve told them.
John and Vale looked at each other, their initial fear was now replaced with worry.
"Are you sure?" Vale asked the genetically modified hamster. I know you are smart enough for a distraction, but getting out of there with a bomb is another thing."
"You don't even have your mech. How are you going to fight the onmics back as well as bring back the bomb?" Eve added.
Hammond squeaked once again, leaving Eve to translate what he had said.
"He says don't doubt the mammal. He will find a way to deal with the bomb, just rendezvous at the Overwatch dropship."
Vale nodded to the hamster. "Alright. If you say so."
Hammond once again spoke up in squeaks.
"Hammond is asking what is our plan to get the task force's weapons to them," Eve asked John and Vale.
"I got an idea," Tom spoke up. "Hammond, is it possible for us can hack those onmics?"
Eve translated the hamster's sentences as he squeaked.
"You mean the Nulltroopers? It's possible. He says he hasn't attempted it before but can give it a go."
"Is it also possible to give an order to these onmics guarding the taskforce?" Tom addressed the two again.
"What are you getting at Tom?" John asked his AI companion.
"My idea is simple, sir. We will use the same weapon crates you and Vale hid in before and put them in the same piles as the taskforces' weapons. Then, under the guidance of these hacked Nulltroopers, they will lead the pallets of weapons to the task force's location. We will also issue a fake order to transfer their weapons to their location." Tom responded.
"Fake orders, hacked onmics and another crate ride." Vale pouted her lips. "Any other ideas?"
"It's the only idea we have, ma'am," Tom said as Vale nodded reluctantly.
"Okay. Let's roll with this plan." Vale sighed, then pointed to Hammond and Eve. "Can you summon some onmics to us? And how many do you reckon?"
Eve did her tech wizardry while Hammond clicked away at the keyboard. The latter then squeaked up.
"Hammond says that he's bringing down some onmics to our location. At least two should be enough," Eve said. "In the meantime, Tom, get ready to hack into one of the onmics. I need their programming so that I can start my coding."
John, Vale and Tom acknowledged this. John sprinted to the back of the metal doorway with Tom, his partner following close behind.
"Remember, don't destroy them. Disabling them is good enough." Eve reminded the two as she got dragged into the abyss of wires by Hammond to prevent them from being spotted by the incoming onmics.
As they anxiously waited, John readied himself with only his Foam-Tipped Arrow. A good knockout should be enough to subdue the onmic. Vale, on the other hand, extracted a heavy-duty taser from Eve's inventory. She set the taser to a mild voltage setting, which should be enough to disable an average onmic.
Not a moment too soon, metallic steps came from behind the door. Each step got louder and louder as the enemy approached the room.
The futuristic door split itself open to reveal two smaller-than-expected onmics slowly making their way into the room. Around the same size as a dog but with no hind feet, they looked around to see what had summoned their presence. Not spotting John and Vale, they quickly moved to incapacitate the onmics from behind.
Vale jabbed her taser right into the back of the head into the onmic closest to her. The robot fizzled out as it didn't have time to react by the voltage sent from the taser, sending it crashing to the floor.
The other onmic immediately aimed its head at her, ready to slice Vale. But not before John swung his foam-tip arrow at its head. The spring-loaded arrow sent the onmic's head into a spinning top, its orange LED eye flickering before completely shutting off and collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
The two dragged the comatose onmics over to the terminal, where Hammond dragged Eve back out from hiding.
"Here you are, Eve." Vale laid out the two onmics in front of the two. "Ready for your work, though they are smaller than."
"Hammond said these are Slicers, meant to cut through anything in its path by its laser in its head. Not the Nulltrooper onmics he anticipated." Vale translated.
"Oh. Do you want to summon these Nulltroopers instead?"
"Never mind. Let's work at what we have." Eve sighed. Hammond, help me hook up to one of the onmics. I just need his mainframe, and I will try to do the rest from here." The AI told the hamster.
Hammond dragged Vale's AI over to the onmic using his mouth. Vale helped him as he needed access to the onmic's brain, removing some of the panels on its head. John, meanwhile, prepared the other onmic for the same procedure.
Soon, Eve was plugged into the onmic and did her work. And with that, John, Vale and Hammond could do is sit and watch on.
"Do you think the taskforce will let us join them if we stay?" John wondered about living life in this alternate reality. "It's not like we're going to stay here forever, but imagine our lives in this world."
Vale gave his insight some thought. "Well, I guess it won't be that bad. It's nice to know how far humanity has progressed 60 years in the future. I would like to see what has changed too. I mean, who knows, Britain could be underwater, America could get rid of its fourth amendment, Australia could be a wasteland-"
Hammond squeaked towards the two, just in time for Tom to translate.
"He says that Australia is a wasteland. Thanks to the government for giving the land to the onmics, and the junkers who blew up their omnium factories, the whole Outback is now a complete radioactive wasteland." Tom told them. "Sorry, Eve sent me Hammond's translation programming before this. It is safe to say it works wonders."
"Huh. Who knew." John nodded at remarked. "Maybe we could even settle here together." He then smirked at Vale, who lightly blushed.
"The only issue with this world is whether the taskforce will accept us into their team. It's no worry if they do, but if they don't," Vale paused momentarily. Well, I, for one, don't like the feeling of being wanted because of what we did. Imagine being caught in the wrong moment. We can't have that on our wedding day, can we?" She smiled back, as John chuckled.
"Well, whether they will help us back to our realm or not, we'll deal with it when the time comes." John smiled warmly at his Fiance, before giving a tired sigh. " But for now, let's get this done and over with."
They then resumed watching Eve do her work.
"And done!" Eve said. She was satisfied that it was finally done once she completed her work. Now, she was to test whether her programming worked.
Vale unplugged her from the machine and watched the onmic return to life. Its once lifeless body became reanimated, though its movements were rougher and jitterier than before.
"Alright. Let's run a test on this Slicer, as they are called." Eve sent a program to the onmic. "Walk around the room." She instructed the onmic.
The onmic took a few seconds to process the command. Then, the twitchy automation moved its legs and walked around the room as intended. John, Vale, and Hammond watched it move off, parading around the room as part of the test.
"It seems a bit off; the movement is a bit of a mess." Vale watched the onmic. Its legs and head were not moving as fluidly as before but in sequences with milliseconds in between.
"That should be fine. The main concern should be the main order I'll give to the onmics guarding the task force." Eve stated.
"Will the chain of command notice these orders?" John asked. "This organisation must be commanded and headed by various people."
"I don't think The Eye is an organisation," Tom interjected, gaining a look from John, Vale and Hammond. "I had this theory for a while. I don't think that the Eye has a leader, nor a council of onmics who are deadset on destroying the world, but a program that influences onmics to take part in this senseless crisis. Think about it, no one has come forward to claim responsibility except for The Eye. But there's no leader or anyone we met so far commanding such an uprise. Someone or something is pulling strings for these onmic puppets to take the fall."
"It explains humanity's ruthless hatred for onmickind," Vale said. "The sad thing is that this is not the place or time to discuss this," she said, eyeing the onmic making its return.
"Okay. The program works." Eve ran a diagnostics check on the onmic. "I'll send this over to you Tom."
"Alright. Once that's done, send an order to the onmics guarding the taskforce that the weapon crates will be delivered to them. There is no need for checks." Vale then turned to Hammond. "Once we are there, we will wait for you to come. Just be careful, alright?"
Hammond gave a small nod as he was placed back onto the terminal. He then waved a small goodbye to her as he dove back down into the abyss of wires, probably trying to find his way to where the bomb was.
Vale returned to John and the two hack onmics, ready to roll out.
"Alright, let's rescue the taskforce."
"Thought I'll never be here again." John quietly moaned to Tom. He squeezed himself back into the similar weapons crate that he was on not too long ago.
"We've got no choice," Vale whispered to Eve, who was on the line with Tom. "As much as I hate it, we must stick to the plan. Eve, how's things?"
Eve watched in her interface as she sent the program to their onmics and the order to the guards. The two hacked dog-sized onmics guided the weapons crate through the massive ship. Passing through endless hallways and corridors and marching battalions of onmics, they passed through the assembly plant where the onmics and their war machines were being made, assembled, tested, set up for fighting, and finally deployed.
"I'm looking through the Slicers' eyes. It looks like we're passing through an assembly complex."
Hearing this, John opened the crate's lid a bit, light spilling into the crate as his eyes adjusted to the brightness outside. Through the thin gap, he watched as the heavy machinery moved about. Its precise robotic arms placed, cut, welded, and fabricated each onmic. Sparks flew about, metal sheets being cut and trimmed, and each panel bent to specification as more of their kind were built, ready to cause more havoc on Earth.
John watched on with awe, completely enveloped by the complex engineering and machinery that was taking place.
"John, I could hear the assembly plant from Tom. Are you looking at it right now?" Vale questioned her partner with a smug. "You better not be drooling about this." Vale always knew that John was interested in the field of engineering. But seeing something as cool as the future's robotics at work was bound to see him off.
John snapped out of his daydream when he heard Vale speaking. "Um-uh. No. I was not. Drooling. What are you talking about?" He quickly wiped the saliva that was coming off from the side of his mouth.
"Yep, he's drooling alright ma'am," Tom said, earning a glare from John, who felt betrayed by his AI. Vale could only chuckle at this.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we are close." Through the onmic's vision, Eve saw that they were approaching an area with a lot of onmic of another make, which they were immediately halted by one of them. They left their posts and went to inspect the cargo that was being escorted into the hangar.
John and Vale held their breath as Eve made sure that the order of the weapon crates made it through to the onmic guards.
The onmic eyed the pallets of weapon crates. Another one joined it as they gave a visual inspection of the goods.
Despite being in different crates, John and Vale were not stupid to know what was going on outside. Their hands immediately went straight to their weapons, ready to swing and shoot if one of the onmic guards sensed something suspicious.
"Hold it," Eve muttered to John and Vale, being as quiet as possible. From the onmic's view, Eve saw the guards walking down the pallets and slowly returning to the front. Eve may be an AI, but she could have sworn that she nearly got a heart attack once they stopped right back in front of the escort, where John, Vale, and Eve were.
Eve held a silent prayer as the onmic guard stared down at the crates, its expressionless face made it even harder to tell if it had sensed something suspicious.
She sighed relief as the guards started returning to their original positions. The onmic guards then communicated with each other to allow the crates in. The huge metallic door split itself open to reveal yet another hangar. But this time, it housed one of the bigger dropships inside, alongside multiple guards surrounding the ship and scattered throughout the hangar.
The Eye sure wasn't joking about the taskforce being their sworn enemy.
But there was no turning back now.
The guards didn't look at the hovering pallets of crates or the two onmics guiding it as they slowly moved towards the open dropship, stopping just right in front of it.
Through the Slicers' view, Eve watched as the dropship hissed into life. The ship's apron was slowly being lowered to the ground, its hydraulic pistons whirred the ramp into place as John and Vale waited in anticipation.
With a loud clang, the two guiding onmics moved and stood in front of the ramp at either side of the apron as they ushered the hovering pallets into the dropship.
Once the weapon crates were inside, the dropship closed its apron. Silence once again filled the lifeless and heavily guarded hangar.