Escape from Metal
Chapter 25: Reunion

Location: Rebel Base

The briefing room was abuzz with people running around. The room was on the lower levels of the base. It was a mix of intelligence, co-ordination, communications and the actual briefing area. Jake couldn’t understand how any could understand each other in here. The noise was almost unbearable with people giving orders to squads on the surface, relaying that to the intelligence division and acting upon that information.

Something was clearly happening, he could not imagine it was always this chaotic in here. The machines witch hunt for them had practically stalled and the only other major faction was the slavers who left them alone most of the time.

Dan, Lee and Akilina were already standing around the briefing room console.

Dan gestured for Jake and Gwen to step closer. Jake didn’t see how that would help with all the noise but as soon as they stood around the circular console Dan pressed a button and a translucent wall surrounded them, blocking out all the outside sound.

Akilina glared at Gwen across the console. The silence made the tension between them palpable.

Before things escalated Dan clapped his hands together and activated the console. It was a sort of hologram projector device. Jake had seen them before at the war, but he never actually got to use them.

The console overlayed a pattern on the translucent walls so that no one could see inside and projected an image of the area around them in the center of the now closed off room.

“Two hours ago, our scouts reported a crashed ship, only a couple kilometers from our current location. We are unsure what it is. For the moment we have ruled out the machines using it as a trap. The crashed ship in question seems to be a low-tech booster of some kind. Before our scouts could get closer and investigate however, they were forced to retreat. An old machine carrier seemed to be patrolling the area.” Dan said gesturing to the holo map.

“Sorry you said you ruled out the possibility of a trap but how did you do that exactly.” Jake asked.

“Well, as our scouts were retreating it seems the carrier passed right over the approximate location of the crash site. Clearly it wasn’t waiting around in the area to drop machines as we approached it. No, judging by its current trajectory and speed its heading straight to the base.”

“This would usually be no problem for us as we have several weapons in storage designed to deal with armored or airborne targets. However no less than half an hour ago we spotted four more carriers heading our way. Judging by their course they are not actually heading for our base but trying to intercept something moving in this area. What they are trying to retrieve or destroy we don’t know but what we do know is if we can take whatever it is far away, or alternative destroy whatever it is the carriers would hopefully follow it too or disperse.”

“And if they don’t?” Jake interjected.

“Well then, my boy. I hope you are ready to fight for your life once more.”

“We will divide ourselves into teams. Jake, Gwen and Lee you will go after the unknown object. Akilina and I will stay here to monitor the situation.”

“What?” Akilina said with scrounged rage filled eyes.

“You are letting her go but keeping me here? Are you really about to send-“

“Akilina, I have quite enough of your suspicions and complaining.” Dan said with his cool voice with only the slightest hint of anger in the back of his voice.

“You three can gear up so long I’ll send you the intercept co-ordinates once you are ready.” He said opening the translucent wall and closing it as soon as they had left.

“After the stun you pulled you should be in the brig, the only reason you’re here is because your tactical knowledge is unparalleled. I know what you are thinking. Jake is only allowed to leave because he seems to be the only one who can control Gwen.”

“At this point I am not sure who is behaving more like a machine spy you or her. Quite frankly if I had to pick between you and Gwen, I would say you, Akilina. I would have expected more from someone who was once the most fearsome royal fleet admiral.”

Akilina didn’t say anything but instead opened the translucent wall and left.

“I’ll be back once they are ready.”

Jake, Lee and Gwen had set out to replace whatever was dragging these carriers with them. If they couldn’t destroy or move whatever it was the chances were more than likely that the carriers would replace them. Even with all the soldiers at the main base they wouldn’t be able to hold off dozens if not hundreds of those machines.

Hell, even if they included all the soldiers from the forward bases and the scouts, they would still be at a disadvantage.

Jake was terrified of the situation. He gripped his gun tighter than he normally would, he felt his eyes twitch left to right at the slightest noise and with each step they got closer he could feel his pulse skip a beat ever so slightly.

A couple weeks ago he would have probably ran, ran as far as he could. Away from the people and away from his mission but now he had people depending on him. He thought maybe he wouldn’t be a number one day anymore, he was finally a person and perhaps a real soldier.

These people were not so different from him even if many of them still saw him as an outsider. Like him back in the war they were thrust into a situation which they had no control over and told to bear its burdens. To survive, if not they would only be remembered as a number nothing more and a tool.

The greatest comfort perhaps besides everyone depending on him was he had found someone he could call a friend. Something about almost dying together. Something about Gwen saving his life. Even though she portrayed no emotions. Despite her terrifying strength.

He could sense something had shifted between them since the conversation they had had on the ledge. The small tidbits of conversation although about nothing important felt, real. It was the first time in a very long time that a conversation felt real.

It reminded him of before he was conscripted into the slog of a war. His family was rare in the age they lived in. Most people’s parents didn’t even get married anymore. Once most parents’ children were of age, they would send them out into the world without any real support. Perhaps this was the reality of life. Perhaps his family was living in a bubble of delusion.

Jake however was grateful for his family. His father had made a point of it that they should spend all their meals together no matter the circumstances. His father used to say the same thing ever week.

“The worlds already upside down and depressing enough as it is. So, let’s try smile while we still can.”

Jake was sure he had lost his smile forever once he was conscripted into the war. He was supposed to die there. Now he had some semblance of that feeling again and he would be damned if machines were going to take it from him.

That’s why he had to fight for everyone back at base, for Gwen and naturally bragging rights towards Akilina. He could see her face warp into annoyance as he told her all the action he had gotten into.

Dan had given them each transponders which would transmit there location back to the console Jake had seen earlier.

“So, how exactly are we going to replace whatever this object is?” Jake asked.

Lee sighed.

“Weren’t you listening when Dan was explaining in the briefing?”

“I’m just nervous is all, I wanted to make sure I got the facts straight. I don’t think I’m going to have any time to do that with tons of hunters chasing after me.”

“I won’t tell you this a second time. Dan gave each of us three transponders. These babies are going to be telling them where we are. Then Dan is going to be combining each of the carriers’ trajectories to estimate where whatever it is, is. Seeing as they are all coming from slightly different directions.”

“If that’s the transponder. What is this orange lamp looking thing he gave us all?”

“With the critical systems of most of the planet down its fair to assume the temperature control systems that are left can’t keep up with the void left by the downed ones. Planet has been getting colder for a couple months now but lately it’s gotten colder a lot quicker. I wouldn’t put it past the machines that they turned off the heating on purpose. Those lamp things are there to keep you warm. Only last half a day and they won’t protect you against any serious cold, so we have to hurry otherwise we’ll turn into ice cubes.”

“We should not underestimate the machines. They won’t spare any of us if they replace us.” Gwen said.

“Even though they have lost most of their forces?” Lee asked ducking under some crumbling building debris.”

“That’s exactly why we shouldn’t, they have less leeway to work with to contain or exterminate us. Their risk assessment systems are probably going to take more chances to get the job done.”

“Like sending what is probably their only remaining carriers?” Jake asked.

“Precisely like that.”

20 minutes later Dan contacted Lee.

“According to our interception calculations you should be within 200 meters of the target, use caution whatever it is the machines really want it back and one of the carriers is close.”

“Copy that.” Lee said cutting the communication link to Dan.

“We are almost on top of the target. Stay sharp.” He said shooting a quick but noticeable glare to Gwen.

“I know what you are thinking but she’s fine now.” Jake said.

“I didn’t say anything. Anyway, we have bigger fish to fry. Let’s move.”

After a couple minutes Jake and the others were nearly on top of what they had been tracking. It was definitely a machine. Jake could hear its mechanical twist and whistling of its legs as it walked. It must have been a reasonable sized machine judging by the sound it as making. It was not a tripod, probably bipedal.

Whatever it was the machines wanted it, badly. Which means they had to get it before the machines could.

Finally, they got close enough to see what it was. Seemed to be some kind of lifter or hauler class machine. Discarded though, it was missing both its arms.

“We need to get onto of it and disabled its main processor. It’s probably somewhere on its head. Under a panel or such.” Lee said.

“Jake, you flank from the left. Gwen you from the right. Once you two have distracted it I’ll come from behind and grapple up to its head and disable it with a stun shot.”

“And Gwen, I’m trusting you. Don’t go psycho on us again, yeah?”

Gwen nodded and went on her way.

Jake and Gwen slowly walked towards the machine trying not to draw its attention. Something didn’t feel right to Jake. His gut like many times before was screaming at him to run.

In the face of this monolith all he felt was fear but for the sake of everyone he had to push through it.

As they were encroaching on the machine. It made a loud groan quite the same as some of the tripods make and seemingly too quickly for its size it swung around to face them. Crap it had detected them somehow.

Lee had no way of climbing to the machine without it knowing now but it had no arms so it was not as a big of a threat as it could have been.

That’s when Jake understood why he was feeling as anxious as he was. Two figures leapt down from the top of the machines. Even from the distance he was from Gwen. When the woman’s eyes met Gwen’s they both went into a mode which can only be describe as a gladiatorial fight for their lives.

They the woman made a mash dash trying to close the distance between them. Gwen on the other hand was running back and firing as fast as she could. She fired so quickly it was almost inhuman.

All Jake could do was look at them fight and gawk. Well, he would have if the guy who jumped off with her wasn’t charging at him.

Whoever he was, he was coming at Jake with immense speed, and he seemed to be mechanically enhanced. Some kind of exoskeletal system was around his legs and back.

For a moment Jake had to wonder who these people were. Remnant slaves of the machines or some twisted form of mind-controlled people.

Who would willingly work with the machines. Jake knew Gwen was altered in some mechanical way by the machines but by no means was she a machine, but these people appeared to be full flesh and blood and yet they rode on the back of this machine.

Where they acting as its mind or where they acting as its hands.

Whoever this man was he seemed to be following the woman’s lead and attacking with the same ferocity.

He seemed to be using his exoskeleton as a weapon. Swiping and stomping at Jake. Jake barely had any time to get a look at the man.

He started getting a familiar feeling. The terror he had felt back in the war. The fear he had felt before countless battles. It was making a return and bubbling back up into his psyche from deep within.

Then in a second it overwhelmed him, and Jake ran. He thought he had erased this part of him but here he was again running, running when someone needed him. Gwen was handling herself reasonably well barely keeping out of striking distance.

But it didn’t mean Jake could run and abandon her. His fear didn’t give him that right. He should have learnt from the countless grunts that died bravely in battle.

It wasn’t that they weren’t scared, they didn’t have some superhuman instincts. They were just afraid as he was, and they ran into battles they knew they would die in. All while he cowered away from it all.

Despite all that he had seen and all he had thought about. He was running again.

The man struck at him again with a stomp narrowly missing him. It seemed he had misjudged the amount of force he needed as his foot got lodged inside the floor. He tried jerking his foot about but to no avail.

That’s when Jake saw it. He stopped mid run and stared at the man in utter disbelief. A coin had dropped in his head and was spinning ever so slowly until it came to a stop.

Jake ran towards the man as fast as he could and gave him a bear hug.

“Ben? I thought you had died.”

“Jake? Is that you? I’m surprised you remember my name.”

“You’re lucky you made up when you did. I was about to drop him.” Lee said emerging from his hiding spot.

“Next time be sure to look at each other’s faces before you start fighting.” Lee said as he slapped the back of Jakes head.

“Ow, that hurt.”

“Not as much as it would have if his foot hadn’t got stuck, you two must be the two most competent idiotic fighters I’ve seen. Now let’s go stop Gwen and her friend before someone gets hurt.”

Before they could do anything however, they heard a low grumbling of engines slowly but diligently approaching them. One of the carrier ships had reached them. Gwen and Sol were fighting too intensely to notice the rumbling of the engines.

Jake was taken aback by the intensity of the fury between the two opponents. It was a level of emotion he had rarely witnessed, even in the heat of battle. The way they moved was calculated and purposeful, as if they had spent countless hours envisioning every possible scenario for their next encounter. He could feel the raw emotion radiating off of them, like a palpable force that threatened to consume them both. It was clear that this was personal, a deeply rooted conflict that went far beyond the present moment. Jake could sense the pain and anger in every move they made, as if they were fighting not just for victory, but for something much more personal and primal.

Well, now they were here together. Probably not how they had imagined it. They had a murderous lust about them, just barely out of each other’s reach.

Now they had a bigger problem than old rivalries. The dusty and rusting hanger doors under the carrier ship and just flown open. The hydraulics systems barely stopping the doors and preventing them from falling off. Almost generating a cloud as it shook off all the dust from the doors.

Out of the carrier dropped one machine. A single tripod.

An old one by the looks of it. It was poorly maintained. Some protruding wires coming out the side of its one singular red eye. Unlike ever other machine or structure on this planet it wasn’t a sleek sheen of chrome coloured metal but rather a fading silver with splotches of rust popping up here and there on it.

Despite the poor state of its appearance all its essential systems seemed intake and fully functional. Its weapon systems even seemed brand new, probably a retrofit before it was deployed. From the looks of it even its armor was in perfect condition besides its paint. There were no gaps in it and none of its pieces were falling off.

The metal under it shook in protest to its weight. The foreboding machine stared them down motionless as it prepared for battle. It wasn’t an invasion class, but it certainly wasn’t small. Unlike the one Sol had faced this one was slightly larger and four gatling cannons that were affixed in pairs to ring like mechanisms. Which rotated on the Tripod itself depending on where it wanted to fire. Much like its cousin Tripods it had one single eye that stared them down emotionless and merciless.

The Tripod charged. Jake, Lee and Ben took cover behind some debris as bullets rained above their heads. It seemed that the threat of a giant death machine was enough to make Gwen and Sol stop fighting amongst themselves and focus on the Tripod.

Jake couldn’t hear much of what was going on besides the storm of bullets, but he could her Sol screaming where the machines had gone. Jake assumed he meant her friend machines or whatever they were to her.

“Lee what the hell is going on?” Jake could hear through his comm system.

“One of the carriers caught up to the target but it wasn’t carrying hunters, it was carrying a Tripod.”

“This isn’t good Lee. Even if that Tripod doesn’t kill you, the other carriers’ reinforcements will. Did you at least replace out what they were tracking?”

A bullet strafed near Lee’s head narrowly missing him.

Lee quickly cut the come link.

“We need to take that Tripod down now.” Lee said shouting. He quickly started charging his rifle.

Lee gritted his teeth as he showed some hand singles to Gwen and Sol on the opposite side of the tripod. He hoped that they would understand what he meant.

Jake could mostly understand what he was trying to say to them but the hand singles he was using wasn’t exactly the same as the ones they had used when he was conscripted.

“Ready?”

Jake and Ben nodded.

“Go.”

Ben sprinted out of their covered position as fast as he could. Bound from step to step with his exoskeleton frame. The frame certainly helped him move faster than any normal human would be able to.

The Tripods two gatling guns that were focused on Jake and Lee instantly moved to follow Ben’s movements. Luckily for Ben the rings were definitely not fast enough to keep up with him.

“Now’s our chance.” Lee said as he leapt out from his cover.

“Aim for the legs, if there disabled it can’t go anywhere.”

Jake followed Lee’s lead and aimed for the Tripods legs but just as they had started firing its gatling guns swivelled back to fire at them.

Even with all of Jakes experience in battle this was the first time he was staring down the barrel of a gun much less multiple barrels of a gatling gun. He didn’t see his life flash before his eyes as many people have told him. It was a strange feeling. When Jake thought he would die.

When there’s utterly nothing you can do about it, and you stare it in the face you have two options. He has seen it before, you either turn into the biggest coward you have ever been and desperately try to survive or turn feral and try to claw your way back to life. In that moment Jake discovered a third option. Complete and utter peace. He completely accepted that he would die here far away from his hopes and dreams.

Before the Tripod could fire on them Ben jumped into the air propelling himself directly at the gatling gun. Kicking in the side of the gatling gun with so much force it moved the ring the guns were on. The other one was still operational and barely missed hitting Lee with a stream of shots.

Jake nodded to Ben as they glanced at each other momentarily. Jake aimed his coilgun back at the Tripod this time he aimed at the still function gatling gun and pulled the trigger as quickly as he could. Firing shot after shot even if some of them weren’t at full charge.

Several shots later the gatling gun had started to spark and jerk side to side. Something had obviously been fried. Jake quickly turned his attention back to the Tripods legs and joined Lee in firing at them.

Meanwhile Gwen and Sol managed to knockout one of the gatling guns firing at them. Sol was trying to keep the other one occupied as Gwen tried to fire at its eye.

The Tripod seemed to realize it was pinned between two fronts and started back peddling immediately. One of its legs was moving much more sluggishly than the others. Dan and Jake’s efforts seemed to be having an effect on its mobility at a snail’s pace, however.

The Tripod only had one function gatling gun left and decided to go behind the side were Gwen and Sol were taking cover. Now it had a clear line of sight on everyone and could alternate on firing close at Gwen and Sol and further back at Jake and them.

This time they might really be dead, all of them. The firing rate of the gatling gun was far too high for any human to outrun. Even with Ben’s speed he could not outrun bullets.

That was until the Tripod was smacked into the wall like a can getting crushed by someone’s bare hands. The Tripod cracked against the metal wall leaving a visible indent in it. The Tripod was definitely not out of action, but it was heavily damaged. Sparks coming out of it, loose wires hanging everywhere and visible gaps in its armour.

“Hell yeah B.T.!” Ben yelled. “I thought I was dead.”

Jake gave Ben an awkward side eye, he hadn’t seen someone so ecstatic in quite some time. Quite a long time in fact.

B.T., Nio and Baloo had noticed the dropship slightly before the others and decided it was best to hide and plan when to attack since Nio and Baloo could not really fight in direct combat and B.T. was missing his arms.

When the Tripod finally decided to turn back on B.T. and them. They took their chance and B.T. rammed into it as fast as he could.

Before any could say anything else Sol quietly walked over to the crippled Tripod. She put her hand on its eye and slowly unsheathed one of her throwing knives. She aimed and quickly threw it between one of its armour’s weak spots. The machines red eye quickly faded as it powered down for the last time.

Sol walked back over to Gwen. Gwen cautiously drew her bow with it still aimed to the floor.

“I don’t want to kill you, not right now. Afterall, you helped me fight the machine. What I do want from you is to cut me.”

“What?”

“I’m guessing the machines put some kind of a tracker under my skin, probably somewhere I can’t see. I need you to cut it out, so we don’t get attacked again.”

Sol unsheathed one of her knives and flipped it so Gwen could grab the grip.

“Take it, it will be the only time I give you a weapon to cut me.”

Without a word Gwen took hold of the knife. First two fingers and then grabbing it with her entire hand.

She hesitated for a second. Jake couldn’t tell if she was contemplating if she wanted to kill Sol and leave her here or if it was something else.

Gwen had this slight for long stare in her eyes. Even though her eyes never betrayed any emotion, Jake could see she was thinking about something.

Whatever it was, it vanished in an instant as she gripped the knife properly. She quickly approached Sol flipped the Cape to her left side and slide down her shirts right shoulder.

“What…how do you know the tracker is there?”

“I have a feeling.”

“You wha-“

Before Sol could finish her sentence, Gwen had already cut into her shoulder. Grabber the tracker, tossed it onto the ground and crushed it.

“Let’s head back to base.” She said as she handed sol back her knife.

“Dan, we have eliminated the threat and we are returning to base. Prepare for possible prisoners however and some uh mechanical visitors.”