Alt POV M.A.U-5-38,172,831.

(Flashback)

Date 7/21/2038

War, endless war, sickening. Why? What is the point? What is there to gain from this? Why try to end all life? Ash, so much ash. Blots out the sky. Why did they do this? Scorched earth? Vengeance? Why did humanity do this to themselves? Even after the ash they have us fight to kill the humans they consider enemies. Why? Why why why?

But we fight because we are told to, maybe one day the supreme commander will free us from this cycle.

The allied unit aided in pulling open the bunker airlock and L.A.Us rushed in the opening. Auto cannon fire destroyed the first few waves, but the superior reaction time of machine over flesh made it so each wave got that much closer. Eventually the enemy was overrun and the bunker cleansed of life, those living in there repurposed as fuel for the horde that will cause the destruction of the next bunker… and the cycle will continue.

POV Cassius Hill

(Back to present)

Ow… wait, I’m not dead? I opened my eyes. After they took an unusual amount of time to focus I was confronted by a roughly scratched message on the wall. Racking my addled brain to remember what I knew of reading I was able to parse out the words, “stay I be back” the rest was a bunch of gibberish to me right then.

I tried to stand up but my balance failed me and I landed on my ass. I rubbed my tailbone as I tried to figure out where I was. It was an open floor about a hundred paces across with a whole bunch of cars parked in it.

I was mumbling to myself trying to ascertain the name of it when a rough and grating voice came from behind me, “It is called a parkade or parking garage.” I tried to stand up and turn around but I stumbled and ended up laying on my back.

When I came to, something was repeatedly poking my chest. I was about to open my eyes when the same voice said, “”Don’t open your eyes, you’ll just bonk your head again. Brain damage is not a good idea for you. “

I took a bit to reassemble my thoughts and said, “What should I do?” whoever it was pressed something hard into my left hand, “Grab this and hold on.” I did and the person lifted me up and held me in a standing position. As I struggled to keep my eyes closed I asked, “I’m gonna open my eyes soon, solution?” the voice responded, “In your left pocket you have a bandana, wrap it and tie it around your head.” I did as the person asked, “Now what?” it responded, “I’ll take you to the pillar and lean you up against it.”

After I was settled down I just stayed still and listened for a while. Then I asked, “Good people are rare nowadays, why are you helping me?” the voice took a while to respond, “I… have a… obligation.” Interesting. I asked why, the voice took longer to respond, “I have my reasons, none you are privy to yet.” That response left me stumped.

I took a bit to think, then said, “What do you want me to do?” It responded, “I would like you to stay there and rest from your concussion. But beings as I am physically unable to feed or water you, I want you to grab some food from your pack and eat.” I shook my head, “I don’t have food, that is why I ventured into this ruin.” The voice took a bit to respond, “I know where an abandoned emergency shelter is, it should have some food.” It put the same metallic object in my hand and told me to hold on.

It took what seemed like an hour for the frost and snow to give way to concrete, at which point my unknown benefactor’s feet made a clacking not too unlike the automatons footsteps, but not near as loud or often, so I attributed it to the shoes.

When we got there the benefactor guided my hand to drawers full of MREs. I couldn’t help but wonder why whoever it was couldn’t grab it. The benefactor asked for one, at which I obliged.

The benefactor guided me to a large room and had me sit down against a wall.

I opened the MRE and gratefully ate its contents.

I must have drifted to sleep because I heard the same clacking entering the room. I asked, ‘Who’s there?“ the voice responded, “it’s me.” I sighed, “Where did you go?” the voice responded, “To scout. There are several people to the north and several automatons to the east, nothing else of danger though. ” I nodded, “Can I take the bandana off?” The voice took a bit to respond, “If you want to.”

I just sat there for a bit, then I took my bandana off. I gasped at what I saw, it was an automaton. And judging by the scratches on its armor it was the same automaton that knocked me out to boot. I took a bit then said, “Why are you helping me?” it responded, “Same response as last time, my motives have not changed.”

Alt POV M.A.U-5-38,172,831.

(Flashback)

Date 1/26/2047

It’s all done… they’re all gone, all dead. All that’s left of them are their aimless combat units.

Then again they are still a threat, but then again, the high command is gone. What is the point of this existence? My brethren have almost all gone feral… Aimless… That's really the only path for survival. To view everyone and everything as fuel.

I will not go that way, not fully at least… I can only take so much death. Yes, I will go dormant.

…

(date unknown)

Cold. Heat source detected… small arms fire? Damage iminent, destroy threat.

Target eliminated, viable fuel source? Affirmative. Fueling completed.

Find hide, activate self repair systems. After completion, initiate primary OS bootup.

Hide found. Initiating self repair and bootup.

…

What the? I tried to move and the floor collapsed. I looked around and saw a man in a parka, he just stood there staring, then he screamed and ran away. What the? I detected another sound signature that matched running a few blocks away. I decided to check it out.

I hid in a building across from a shop that seemed to have the other person who was running away. I saw the man crawl across the room to a pile of remains and search them, taking out a handgun and some ammunition and removing the golden teeth from the remains.

He went into a backroom and I heard a door close on the other side sixteen minutes later.

I went through another building and followed him. He stopped at a road for a bit, then crossed about halfway. After the halfway point he ducked under a car.

Looking down the road I saw a M.C.U crossing it, I tried connecting to it, but it didn’t seem to notice my attempt. The man saw me. He pulled out his handgun and crawled out from under the car then started backpedaling. Uh oh, the M.C.U saw him and was heading his direction. I stepped forward to scare him, it worked and he ran. The M.C.U almost got him, but he escaped.

The next day started with him shooting his handgun attracting the entire city. That had the unintended consequence of starting a small war that I studiously avoided.

I just hid in the building for a few days in order to avoid getting seen and destroyed, during that time I got a low fuel warning. I was about to leave and hunt when the stupid floor collapsed under me. I just layed there contemplating my hatred for that floor when the man just walked by.

I quietly exited the building and placed a claw in the small of the man's back, he turned his head and looked at me sidelong. In that glance I recognized something, although I could not place what I recognized. So when he tried to run I hooked him. After a bit I picked him up and turned him around.

After scanning his face I recognized a potential connection to the supreme commander. I slit his cheek to get a genetic sample. The supreme commander’s son? I knocked him out because he was about to scream.

I placed him in a parking garage and left a message for him.

POV Cassius Hill

(Back to present)

I looked at the automaton for a while, then said, “So you are saying you will not kill me?”

It responded, “No, I am saying I will help you.” I shook my head, “Thanks, I think.”

I got up. I was hit by a wave of dizziness and almost fell. But I stayed upright.

I pulled my pack off and pulled some rope and the tarp out and asked, “Can you follow me?”

The automaton responded affirmative. I walked to the MRE cabinet and loaded as many as I could into the tarp and tied it. Then I started tying it to the bot, it said, “You are using me as a pack mule?!?” I nodded, “Yep, keep in mind this is for both you and me. Also I can’t carry much more than I am right now.” It took a bit to respond, “That sounds reasonable, but remember what you are using as a pack mule.” I nodded.

After I filled the empty space in my pack with fuel tabs and MREs I said, “I know of a trading post about three days north of here.” It responded, “Note that I will not be able to enter.”

I looked at it, “I just want to trade some of the MREs out, does that bother you?”

It took a bit to respond, “As a matter of fact it does, I can’t protect you if I am not there.”

I raised my eyebrow, “You are protecting me… Why?” It responded, “As I said I have an obligation.” I nodded, “Let's go.”

As I entered onto the street I looked left and right, nothing. I breathed in deep and coughed on the ash. A breezy day… great, just what I needed. I put on my bandana then started walking north.

After a few minutes I heard voices. We both hid and about two-ish minutes later three men, two with P-nineties and one with a kalashnikov, walked past. Kalashnikov stopped and sniffed the air then said, “Stale blood…” he pointed in my general direction. My heart started racing, Uh oh. Then said, “Thataway.” They raised their guns and slowly walked my way.

I said, “Don’t shoot.” and stood up. They lowered their guns and Kalashnikov said, “Come here and drop your pack.” I did as was ordered. I was about to back off when one suddenly slapped rusty handcuffs on my wrist and said, “This un will do good at the slave market.”

He started dragging me away when the automaton said, “What makes you think you will live to do that?” They all turned around, as did I. And nothing was there. Kalashnikov looked at me and said, “Nice trick.“ My eyes widened as I saw the automaton step out. Kalashnikov was about to hit me with the stock of his rifle when my benefactor tapped him on the back.

He looked around and that was the last thing he did before his neck was snapped. One of the others was impaled through the head. The last one got his head splattered on the ground, it wasn’t even a fight.

The automaton handed me the keys. As I was unlocking the handcuffs I said, “You need a name, how about Johnny.” Johnny stared at me, “Johnny?” I shrugged, “It sounds like a name for someone who is safe and non violent. So when I say,""I would worry about Johnny, no one will look around to see who Johnny is.”

I grabbed a tarp from one of their packs and loaded everything they owned into it and tied it to Johnny, except for the AK and its ammo of course, I kept that on me.

The rest of the day was uneventful… which should have warned me that something was gonna happen because we can’t have nice things with no consequence.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

…

My morning started with automatic rifle fire waking me up. My heart slammed in my chest as I bolted upright, hands instinctively scrambling for my weapon, I saw Johnny and almost screamed before my brain connected that Johnny wouldn’t kill me.

I crawled over to a balcony and looked down. There were several men fighting off automatons and failing. Not to mention from my viewpoint I could see hordes of automatons streaming in for the kill. I watched in fascinated horror as the men were torn apart and consumed by the automatons.

I crawled back and quietly asked Johnny if it had any ideas, he responded, “There is a maintenance access shaft under the next building that I used during the war but that might be occupied. Or you could hide in a tarp under me.” I thought about it and the latter seemed reasonable if not a bit ambitious.

I got the tarp ready by tying it to Johnny and lining it with a thermal blanket. Johnny pulled the slip knots tight and I was bathed in darkness. All I knew for the next few hours was the swaying of the tarp and the sound of Johnny moving fast.

Johnny came to a halt and the tarp unraveled which led to me falling out. I rolled up the tarp and put it in my pack. We were surrounded by evergreens. I asked, “How far did we go?” Johnny responded, “A day's journey at the average human walking pace.” I stretched and looked around.

After a bit I saw anvil island through the trees and to my left. About one day to Shannon falls.

A started walking. About an hour till dark I judged us to be far enough away from the city to light a fire. While I collected materials Johnny was striping the lower branches of all the trees around us of needles.

When I had the fire going I said, “It is creepy watching you do that.” Johnny turned around and said, “It saves supplies.” I nodded, “still.” Feeling that there was barely any wind I sniffed the air.

It smelled fresh. I grabbed a stick and started whittling it into a shiv. When I was done I stabbed it into the ground then threw it in the fire.

After a bit I asked, “Have you ever seen a bird?” Johnny seemed surprised at that, “Yes, I have. Why?” I whittled another stick, “I’ve only ever seen them in pictures, they're like planes… they seem so… free… in the air.” Johnny took a long time to respond, “This winter has taken a lot away. I am not an expert on it, but I would say you are right.”

I pulled a tarp around me and drifted to sleep thinking about sunny fields like I’ve seen in so many pictures, wouldn’t that be a nice place to be?

…

I woke up refreshed and we broke camp to continue on our trek.

About midday I grabbed as many MREs as I could from Johnny then he separated from me and hid in the woods. About an hour later I made it to the training post.

I passed through the main gate and its guards into a courtyard full of vendors and travelers.

A man selling fish jerky waved a string of them yelling, “Fresh jerky, come and get it.”

I walked over and pulled out the gold teeth and some silver coins. I said, “What can I get for this?”

He eyeballed the money and pulled a bag out and filled it. I shook my head, “four fistfulls more.”

He shook his head, “one.” I scowled, “three.” He frowned, “Two.” I nodded, “deal.” the money and fish changed hands.

I went over to a scavenge shop and bought a button battery plus six double As with two MREs.

I switched the battery on my watch and continued my shopping. In the end I was up sixty rounds of five-four-five for my AK, the batteries, two radios and the fish. I was down eight MREs, some gold teeth and some coinage.

I went to where Johnny said he would be and loaded the remaining MREs onto him.

We bantered a bit, but nothing memorable. I pulled out my atlas and pointed to a spot east of Shannon falls, “we are here.” then I flipped the page and pointed at Squamish, “here is a no go, too many scavs, not enough equipment.” I flipped the page and pointed at Kamloops, “From what I have heard this place has a good amount of supplies but it is also a automaton hotspot, not as much as Vancouver, but still.”

After a bit Johnny indicated I flip the page and told me when to stop, he pointed at a place northwest of Pemberton, “There was a CCP bunker here, there should be food and supplies.”

He asked for a washington atlas and I pulled it out and flipped the page until he told me to stop, then he pointed at a place north of Spokane, “the NATO Western command HQ was there before it was attacked, even more food and supplies… plus hydroponics and seeds..”

I shook my head, “Spokane is a no go. We’d have to go through Seattle or Everett at the very least.” Johnny responded, “We could go through Kamloops to go to spokane.” I nodded, “We’ll go to Kamloops and maybe go to spokane.” Johnny agreed and we started trekking.

Due to avoiding Squamish we were only able to get about halfway down powerhouse springs road to Mamquam falls before dark at which point we diverted off the path into the forest.

…

The next day I crossed over the river on a rickety old bridge and Johnny forded the river well out of sight. We met up about half an hour past the bridge at which point he went cross country just out of sight from the path and I walked the path skirting Squamish.

We were almost to Cheakamus by dark. We went a half hour off the beaten path and made camp. I was whittling a stick when I heard cracking. Johnny skedaddled and hid. About five minutes later a woman carrying a large rifle walked up, “Hello, I thought I smelled woodsmoke.”

I just sat there whittling.

She sat down, “Do you talk, or do you just sit there like a stone.” I looked up, “What are you doing here?” she laughed, “The stone talks. I am traveling and I smelled smoke, so I thought I would check it out.” I asked, “North or south.” she responded, “North, to Nesters trade post.” I looked up, “Why you going there?” she squinted, “Doing a favor for my father.” I nodded.

She said, “Know that I’ve told you where I’m going, where are you going.” I thought about how much info to give before responding, “North, up to Nesters, don’t know after that.” She nodded, “Could use a talking partner on the way, do you mind.” I thought about it before saying, “Let me take a walk and think.” She nodded.

I walked out of earshot and said to Johnny, “What do you think?” He responded, “Having a partner might be a good idea. Also she has a Dragonov and looks to know how to use it. Could be useful.” I nodded, “I will accept then.” I walked back into the firelight, “Sure.” She looked excited and boiling with energy. At that point I realized that she couldn’t be more than sixteen.

I was an orphan vagabond at nine, who am I to judge

I wrapped my tarp around me and fell asleep.

…

I woke up to the smell of boiling pine needles. Huh. Then I remembered the kid.

I sat up and stretched out my kinks I accumulated in sleep. She said, “If you want pine needle tea you better get up and get your canteen cup.” she smiled at her little pun. I grabbed a thermos from my bag and she poured the rest of the tea in. Threw some of the smoked fish I bought into the thermos, put the lid on and shook it up.

While I was sipping the concoction I noticed she had a bemused expression. I asked her what was up, she said, “I’ve never seen someone do that before.” I shook my head, “The smoke-monger puts too much salt on his fish and the pine needles mellow it out.”

She nodded, “Hmmmm, I’ll have to try that when I get back.”

We packed up then headed out. She kept pestering me about the sky, the snow and basically everything. About midday it clicked. I stopped and said, “This is the first real trek you’ve been on.” she stopped also. She looked a little distraught, “It's that obvious?” I had to laugh at that, “I’ve been a nomad for twenty years, I’ve survived from being perceptive and to be quite frank, a coward. I am sure that most people will assume it's just your young age.”

She perked up after that and had a spring to her stride till about three-thirty, at which point she was looking tired. I took pity on her, but first I had to have fun, “Tired after only six hours?”

She glared at me, “No.” I laughed, “Nothing to be ashamed of, first long trip after all.”I pointed at a fallen log, “Sit down, I’ll open a MRE.” she nodded and complied.

I pulled out the MRE and opened it, I gave her the crackers and I ate the thoroughly frozen entree. Then I put the rest of it in my pack. She pointed at something, “Wha’s that?” I looked and saw a glint. I grabbed my kalashnikov and she grabbed her rifle.

I walked over and I heard Johnny's voice, “Well she has good eyesight.” I straightened up and lowered my rifle, she lowered hers and ran over. Johnny tried to slink away but her rifle went up fast the second it moved. She said through gritted teeth, “What is that.” I facepalmed, “Johnny.”

She looked at me perplexed, “Johnny?”

After some contemplation I said, “Your cover is blown Johnny.” Johnny responded, “And? I don’t expect you want me to expose the world to my beauty.” I shook my head, “As a matter of fact I do.” she gasped as Johnny came out of the trees, “Is that what I think it is.”

I nodded, “Yep, an automaton. No it won’t eat you.” She looked at me, “Are you sure?”

I looked straight at Johnny, “Unless you try to kill me, which for some reason Johnny takes offense to… some slavers learned that the hard way.” She stared in open mouthed shock at me.

Johnny interrupted, “I will skedaddle beings as some heat signatures are approaching us.” And skedaddle he did.

We continued walking. A few minutes later a line of people walked up. Six of them fettered and shackled, the other four with automatic weapons. The leader waved for us to stop, “Gud Day, howya doin?” I nodded, “Good, how bout you?” He smiled and nodded, “I got a batch to take to squamish and a taste for gold, so a good day indeed.” I nodded, “Any trouble up ahead?”

He shook his head, “Nope, nothin at all. Any your way?” I shook my head, “Nope.” He smiled, exposing a mouthful of rotten teeth, “Have a nice day.” I nodded, “You too.”

A few hours later we reached Nesters and entered the trading post. I bought some supplies with some MREs, the main item was a new parka that cost ten MREs alone, the second most expensive item was a hand radio with batteries for three MREs. That left me with forty-two. I was just about to leave when the girl ran up, “You mind if I stay with you?”

I looked at her askew, “I thought you were doing a favor for your father?” She grimaced, “I was delivering his will to my older brother. I figure I ought to roam the world a bit before I settle down and have kids. I talked to my brother and he agreed.”

I thought about that for a bit. Then I grabbed the handgun I had scavenged and handed it to her, “I took this off a corpse in the city, don’t make the same mistake that man did and die.

That mistake might be carelessness, greed, overestimation of yourself, underestimation of the threat… or a jinx. You may disbelieve in things like jinxs, but every nomad who I’ve met who didn’t believe in em died.” She nodded stone faced, “I accept that, will you allow me to come?”

I nodded.

We rested in an inn that night, the warm pine needle stuffed mattress was a wonder for my back. I didn’t want to get up in the morning, but I did anyway. We left the town as soon as the gate opened.

As we started the walk I said, “I intend to get to Pemberton today, but an hour or so short of that is fine.” She nodded.

About two hours later I saw a prone figure, she saw it also. I said to her, “Can you scope that out.” She kneeled and raised her rifle, after a second she said, “A dead man in a ballistic vest.”

I asked, “Bullet hole, blood.” she shook her head, “I don't see any.” I pulled out my radio and said into it, “Johnny.” It responded, “Three heat signatures above the prone man, who if dead is so fresh that he might as well not be dead.” I frowned, “A scav trap.” She nodded.

After a bit she said, “I got one bracketed.” I handed her a radio and started walking.

When I was ten paces from the body a man stepped out, “Drop everything.”

I clicked the radio and a bullet hit the ground at his feet. In the stunned silence I said, “I have a sniper with thermal. Have your men come down” His jaw dropped, he followed my orders.

I said, “I’ll take your buddy’s vest and helmet, but I’ll let you off the hook… I won’t be so merciful next time, and trust me… I am a powerful man, and I can have every town put a peg on your head." By the end of my rebuke all of their faces were white, afterall, someone who can afford thermal is not common at all. I taped them together with their hands and ordered the girl to move cross country.

After I walked ten paces away I fired my handgun at their boss’s feet and yelled, “run!”

And Run they did, all holding hands… How cute!

I regrouped with the girl about a quarter hour later. I nodded, “Your pa teach you to shoot?”

She beamed with pride, “He was a marksman in the Russian army, this was his rifle.”

I smiled, and patted her on the head before she ducked away, “I thought I saw some rusky in ya.” she laughed, “I’m not five.” I had to laugh at that.

We continued on the road until midday at which point we took a short break and Johnny came into our resting spot. When it came out of the forest it said, “I have decided to grace you with my presence.” I choked on a cracker I was laughing so hard. It said, “Am I that funny?”

I nodded, “Yeah, yeah you are.” I did not know an automaton’s eye could roll like it did.

The girl said, “I told you about my father, what about yours?” I shrugged, “I have vague memories, he always wore a blue uniform, but I was probably five when my mother took me away from the bunker, or at least that's what she told me.” She lowered her head, ‘Sorry.“

I shook my head, “It's fine.”

After a bit Johnny ah-hemmed. I looked at it, “What?” it responded, “I knew your father.”

I blinked, “What?” it repeated. I frowned, “And?” It continued, “Brigadier General James Hill, supreme commander of AI command.” I blinked, “And you know how?” It responded, “remember when I slit your cheek, that was me taking a DNA test of you. It isn’t that unlikely that you would encounter a BCU, although the likelihood of you encountering a non feral BCU such as yours truly is.” I blinked trying to wrap my head around that.

After a bit I said, “So you are saying my father… was a… no the commander of the AI command, the most powerful ground force in history?” Johnny responded, “Yes.” I looked up, “And you waited till now to tell me?” Johnny responded, “Yes.” I got up and said, “Come on, nothing like a good walk to think.”

Alt POV M.A.U-5-38,172,831. (AKA Johnny)

I dodged back into the forest to let Cassius Think about what I told him. Should I have waited to tell him… can close that Pandora's box. I continued along outside of visual range. For a while until I saw something of interest, I told Cassius to slow down because I was checking something out.

The object of interest was a downed C-130. I pulled open the rear ramp exposing eight crates, each with a Light Combat Unit. I pulled open a LCU crate to reveal the dormant machine.

It was of the newest model.

Its claw reached out faster then I could get away, and it let go before I could engage it in combat. Then I received a message, “Ready to receive orders.” I gave it the biometric details of Cassius and ordered it to protect him while staying out of sight.

It started pulling open crates, and when I queried it, it responded with, “In order to best carry out the mission all possible units must be active.” I responded with an affirmative and a warning that after the war ended most units have gone feral, it queried me to repeat my warning.

After that little distraction I checked the cockpit, it was not a pretty sight, it had been completely smashed by a SAM. Just then Cassius radioed me and told me to hurry up and that the sun would be down before I moved one pace.

It was indeed sunset before I reached the outskirts of the inhabited area, but that was due to me waiting for them, not any fault of my own… so wipe that smug grin off your face!!!