Chapter Sixteen
ANGEL OF DEATH
The Jet banks to the side, as it reorients back towards the island. Irene grips onto the side to keep from falling over. Terror turns her body rigid, they were going back, no…
“Bart! What are you doing?” Johnathan demands.
“The closest units are half an hour away, we can’t afford to give him that.”
“But… We’re no match for him, he’s indestructible and those cyborgs… We can’t handle one, never-mind an army-“
“Then we’ll just blow the whole fucking mountain up, happy?” Bart shouts back.
“I don’t know if that will work.” Irene says, holding onto the sides as the Jet leans. “The main target is deep underground, we’ll need to secure a route down there, plant explosives.”
Bart nods and relays commands to the other units.
“Loway, I begged you to come to rescue Irene, not to drag her back into the fight.” Johnathan moans.
Irene’s brow crunches, and she stares at him in disgust.
“He is going to enslave the world.” Irene stresses, “Don’t you care?”
“Ira, of course I care, it’s just… we’re meant to be leaving, tonight, this isn’t our fight anymore, these people are not our problem.”
She shakes her head, “These People, are our People!”
“You can’t be serious?” Johnathan stammers.
“You only care about yourself.” She sneers.
“I… I care about you.” He mumbles
“Really?” She asks, with little interest in his response.
“Sir! Three o’clock!” The Pilot screams.
They all look outside to see suit after suit shoot past them.
“It’s started.” She whispers, stomach turning to led.
“All units,” Bart says over the headset, “Take down any suits you see flying past, and be ready to fight as soon as we land.
Irene looks about and spies the cabinet with extra weapons, she moves over and takes out a large hand gun. Johnathan's hand appears over it, she looks up at him, daggers coming out her eyes.
“You don’t need to-“ He starts.
“Don’t even.” She hisses and pushes past him, tucking the gun into the back of her trousers. She knew she was the only person who had a chance to get through to Felix. She would try, and probably die trying. But she had to, the future of the human race was in her hands now.
***
Felix is out of breath by the time he reaches the top of the stairs, he needed to get them working on fixing the bloody elevator, he bends over double, gasping.
Sir it would appear that Dr Grave’s jet is now being flanked by four carriers with military ID.
“How are the suits coming along?” Felix asks
The first half a million have been sent out, I assume this is what has caused Dr Graves to return as they have shot down a small number.
“Lock off any doors you still have access to, recall any suits which have completed integration and position them in defensive posts around the complex.”
As you wish Sir.
Felix stands upright and pushes through the door, turning down the corridor towards the main lab, he can hear some of the suits returning already, preparing to guard the place.
He enters the lab and heads straight to the middle of the room, in an instant, projected screens appear around him forming a circular shape. They show camera feeds from the suits, grabbing people and leading them to step inside, their vitals appearing at the side of the screen.
A red warning symbol flashes over the screens, selecting it shows the camera view point of one of his suits. Along the side of the screen, the persons vitals are going wild.
“Ivor, what’s wrong with this one?” Felix asks.
The Vulcan Protocol Fail Safe has failed to activate with this subject… It would seem there is a variation in their nervous system, preventing Dr Grave’s program from having the full affect on them. Out of Seven Thousand and twenty five, Thirty Two have resisted the override and are no longer within my control.
Felix presses a button and the audio from within the suit fills the room around him, screaming and howling, begging for the pain to stop.
“Hey,” Felix says, “you’re going to be alright.”
“Who said that?” The voice screams back, “Get me out of this suit, I was told this would save me, not kill me!”
“It’s not going to kill you if you relax-” Felix attempts to console, but the person is beyond comprehension
“Make It Stop!” He screams, “Make It Stop, Please!”
Felix presses another button and the feed dies, along with the person inside. His fingers, still outstretched, shake. It wasn’t his fault, there just hadn’t been enough time to perfect them.
How many more were going to die like this?
“Ivor, add in a scan of each subjects nervous system, have it run before any of the suits take anyone in.”
Of course sir, also, the military have arrived.
Felix can hear the faint sounds of blasters firing. He changes a screen to show the feeds from the suits engaged in combat.
A CCTV screen to his left shows the outside of the building, Irene’s jet has landed, other vehicles hover above, soldiers slide down dangling ropes and take up positions in front of the main door.
One of his mechanical soldiers is waiting and raises both hands, letting out dual blasts of energy at their cover, which explodes, sending the men flying backwards.
More soldiers descend from the hovering craft, and as they touch ground they scatter, drawing shots in various directions.
Felix watches as the soldiers attempt to flank it, but most are spotted before getting a chance and are swiftly taken out.
He zooms the camera, focusing on the landed jet. Irene is hopping out, she turns as Johnathan leans out, shouting at her. He can’t hear what they’re saying, but neither of them appears to be happy.
The one-machine-army spots her and it’s system targets her.
“No, don’t kill her.” Felix screams at the screen, “Kill everyone else, but ensure she survives.”
Irene breaks away from Johnathan and runs towards the house, towards the still extended arm of the suit.
For a moment Felix imagines the worse; his command wasn’t absolute, that it could think on it’s own and make it’s own decisions. What if they revolted against him?
But that wasn’t the case, it waits until Irene is clear of the vehicle before unleashing several shots. The ship ignites in a funnel of flames, the explosion blinding the camera for a few seconds.
The hulking remains of the ship is all that’s left of the great Bart and Johnathan. Felix can’t help but laugh at this turn of events. There was no stopping him now.
A moment later, something thrown rolls to a stop beneath the suits feet. Then another explosion cuts the camera feed of both the suit and the CCTV.
“Ivor, get more there now!” Felix yells, typing on his console to bring up other cameras.
After a moment he finds another advancing team on one of the interior cameras. Flicking between, he finds one that looks outside, and see’s a hole in the ground where his soldier had been standing, no evidence of it’s demise.
In the main room the soldiers are stopped by three more suits, that have just returned. The men take cover behind walls and counters, trading energy blasts with bullets
“Felix! Felix please!” A faint voice fights through the distorted barrage of gunfire. Felix changes his camera and finds Irene standing in the blasted front doorway of his home.
“Please Felix, can we talk?” She shouts into the burned house.
After a moments hesitation Felix heads for the door.
“Ivor, ceasefire but keep their aim trained on all soldiers.”
Aye Sir. But I must protest-
“Save it.” Felix shouts, stopping at the door, hesitating again. After a minute he straightens up, repositions the glasses on his nose, the bent leg is still not sitting right, and places his hand on the door handle.
His hand slips from the sweat, he shakes his head and wipes them on his dust covered shirt, before trying again.
It opens with a loud creak, echoing out into the ruined hallway. He turns left to find her standing before him, one of his soldiers has an arm fixed on her, the other at the squad of surviving goons, who are hunkering behind the remains of his stairway leading to the top floor.
***
Irene stands with her arms raised, the suits standing ready between her and the surviving soldiers. Despite the threat, she slowly edges forwards, her eyes rough and wet, making the going a partially blinded affair.
“It’s OK, she wont harm me.” Felix commands as he stands in the remains of the stairwell. His clothes are crusted with dried blood and dust, his hair a matted mess, and eyes as red as the sun.
The human powered suit obeys, directing both arms towards the squad of soldiers.
“You killed them.” Irene sobs. “Bart had a family, a son, and you just fucking killed them!”
She looks at the abomination before her, and shakes her head.
“You can’t do this!” Irene hisses, face pale, voice shaking.
“It’s the only way left.” Felix says.
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“No! It’s not! You’ve just given up, we still have the Arks-”
“Ah! Speaking of abominations.” Felix shouts over her. “There’s not a hope left in hell that those are going to save anyone. The powers that be have decreed to fuck this world and everyone one it, they gave up a long time ago and as a result they’ve hastened the planets demise, with zero attempt to fix their mistakes, and zero remorse for the consequences of their actions!”
“And what about yours?” She scowls, finding a hole in the wall, steadying herself.
“My what? Mistakes?” Felix chuckles and walks off through the remains of his living room. “I can’t deny I haven’t made mistakes, letting Them decide on what was and wasn’t viable was probably the biggest one of all.”
Irene follows after him, “You can’t just enslave the human race to spite them.”
Felix rounds on her, getting in her face.
“This has nothing to do with spite!” He growls, “I was ignored,” he backs away, “humiliated, and at every turn, they refused to help save what little was left. If I don’t do this then we’re all going to die regardless.”
“Do you really want the deaths of billions on your shoulders?” She moves after him again.
“I already have burdens greater than you can imagine, It’s only fair I atone for the sins of the many, I will gladly take on all of that responsibility and more,” He turns, leaning against the counter, and holding up a finger. “If it means saving the world.”
Irene shakes her head, advancing slow. “You can’t put them through that kind of pain.” She pleads. “You have to stop this. You have the choice.”
“No, I can’t, not any more, it’s already begun.” He smiles weakly. “This is going to happen one way or another, I would really like it if you stayed with me. Join me, help me.”
Irene picks up the remains of a lampshade, and grips it tight.
“I will never, join you.” She growls, then louder she says, “Ivor. Call off the suits and return them here.”
I’m sorry Dr Graves, but I am unable to comply with your request.
She holds the lampshade up over her head, eyes wide.
“Call them off now Eisenmann.” She barks.
“Now… Irene,” Felix says edging along the counter, “I no longer have any Nanites in my system, you could kill me.” As he explains, his voice increases in pitch.
“So your not immortal anymore?” Irene slams down the lampshade, but he avoids it, dropping over the rock strewn sofa, and landing hard in the dust. The lampshade explodes against the counter top, adding to the debris.
Felix pushes to his feet, and turns towards Irene, who has a gun drawn, aiming for his head.
“I’m sorry Felix.” She whispers.
His eyes go wide and he dives for cover, avoiding the lethal shot, though it catches his arm, ripping away flesh.
Felix gasps but ignores the pain. He grabs a rock and chucks it over the sofa. It collides with Irene, knocking her back and causing her to drop the firearm.
He takes the chance. Grabbing another clump of concrete, he hops over the sofa and raises it up to drop it on her. But before he can say his goodbye, something whizzes across the room and spears Felix in the stomach. He drops the rock and crumples to the ground.
Furious beeping sounds all round him. He looks up and see’s Hob, that damn stupid droid, glowing red with every appendage flared, looking like a threatening porcupine.
Felix reaches out and grabs the traitorous droid. It wrestles against his grip but he holds on, reaching into an open hatch in the back of the bot and flicks a switch, disabling it’s hover ability.
“This is what happens to those who get in my way.” Felix sneers, before leaning back and launching the disabled droid out the broken window, into the sea bellow.
Irene is standing now, blood trickling down the side of her face, and she screams, eyes wide, moving to close the gap.
“Irene.” Felix says, holding his hands out, “I don’t want to hurt you,” He stumbles backwards as she advances on him, “Killing me wont stop the suits.”
“No but I’m sure blowing up this mountain will prevent any more from inflicting your unnatural suffering on anyone.” She screams, voice cracking.
“You can’t-”
Irene lunges for him, her body moving beyond her physical and emotional pain, nails like overgrown claws reach for his flesh. Their arms lock, she slashes to get leverage upon his throat, but he hold her arms back.
Felix wraps his hands around her wrists and flings hims arms out to the side, this brings her forward but she ducks and her forehead collides with his teeth.
He disengages, stumbling backwards, dropping to one knee and clutches at his mouth, failing to hold back the thin stream of blood. He looks up, blinking, tasting iron, his head swims.
Irene towers over him, all her rage and anger now at boiling point as she steps forward to claim her victory. Felix attempts to block with his arm but his body is too weak. Her knee collides into the side of his head, knocking his brain into a twist.
***
Felix hits the ground, screams, then the delayed sound of him crashing. He wonders why the sound took so long to catch up with his head. Must have been that kick.
What was happening now?
Where was she?
It’s in that moment, as he regains his senses, that Felix realizes it wasn’t him who had screamed out.
Pushing off against the floor, he rubs his face, covered in bloody dust, and looks around.
Irene was gone.
He takes a step forward and a strange echo from his feet draw his attention down, to where there is now a wide hole a few inches in front of him.
Felix pushes back, seeing himself falling down to the next floor. He catches his breath, shaking his head of the fright. Crouching, he peers over the edge, and see’s Irene sprawled out on the floor bellow.
“Irene!” Felix screams then coughs, looking over at the suit he chokes at it. “Go down there and get her,” He spits blood as it charges over, “And be careful with her.” He adds, coughing again.
The suit slows as it reaches the edge, before hopping down, using it’s boosters to slow its descent. A moment later it flies back out, cradling her.
Felix rushes to grab her broken hand.
“Irene?” He whispers through tears.
Her arm is broken, twisted out of place, there is blood all over her front, goodness knows what internal injuries she has.
“Ivor, Is she alive?” He gasps.
Yes, but she has less than two minutes.
Why did the suits have to be so far bellow them?
“Can you command an empty suit to get here now?”
No sir, none of the completed units will be able to reach her in time.
Felix turns and picks up a fallen chair, he screams and throws it at the half broken window, completing it’s destruction.
“FUCK!”
He collapses against the wall, punching it, crying into it. Why the fuck did this have to happen. He never wanted her to get hurt. His heart aches as guilt floods his senses.
Sir, her personal suit is in the lab.
“Seriously?” He grunts, “Which is probably burred under a tonne of ruble, and never mind the fact there are no Nanites anywhere up here to fix her, are you just being fucking stupid or-
I must interrupt sir, there is no time for your drama.
Felix blinks, he’d never been interrupted by Ivor before, that was when he heard the sounds of rocks falling.
I have already instructed two suits to dig out her suit, and there is a small number of select Nanites which elected to remain in the lab to oversee your work. When the Nanites dispersed into the suits, they returned to the lab and entered Dr Grave’s suit.
“Ivor I could kiss you!” Felix yells, then waving to the suit holding her, “Come on then zombie, time is ticking.” And hops around the hole.
The suit blasts itself across the room in one move and arrives before him. It offers her to him and Felix takes her gently in his arms.
Felix looks down at her motionless face, he kisses her forehead.
“Just hold on a little longer.” He whispers through tears.
The suit turns and digs it’s metal hands into the ruble. It only removes a few lumps before the pile opens up to show the other two suits, before the view is blocked as they pass her suit through the hole.
“Come on come on,” Felix hisses as it lies her suit on the ground, face down, back open wide.
He kneels and gently guides her in, his soldiers helping with her extremities as they flop away from him.
As he does so, he swears he can hear a mumble coming from her, and he leans in to try and hear.
“Please…” She croaks, “Don’t…”
But it is too late, her suit is already sealing up behind her.
“I’m sorry.” Felix chokes.
He falls back to sit on the floor, panting, covered in dust and blood, of his and hers. He clasps his hands together, pressing them against his lips as he stares at the suit.
“Ivor?” He asks.
They are still working sir, these aren’t the same one’s we’ve been working with on the other suits.
“Of course but, they can still heal her?” His eyes wide, looking for any movement.
In a sense.
A chill runs down Felix’s spine.
“What do you mean? In a sense?” Felix asks, breathing hard.
They have saved her head and spinal column, and nervous system…
“But?” Felix growls.
They are not attempting to repair her bones, not in a normal sense, they are fusing her body to the suit, they are running the survival program.
“Yeah, alright,” He sighs, “so we’ve still got the same problem… but they can reconstruct her right?”
I’m not sure sir…
“How do you not know?”
They have generated differing morales, these were not privy to the education of humanity as the collective were. They reason they’re doing whats best for her.
“What? No! Tell them to stop.” Felix gets to his feet shouting at the ceiling, then turns to where she lies, “Please just heal her, don’t destroy her.” He grabs the shoulders of Irene’s suit, “Irene? Can you hear me?”
There is no response. He remembers the person who’d he’d had to kill just hours before. He really didn’t want her to be another brainless soldier, but he also didn’t want her to have to beg him for death. He knew he didn’t have it in him to grant that wish.
“Ivor…” He says slowly, “Did the Vulcan protocol activate?”
Yes sir, but she has resisted it, she is now conscious and has circumvented the override.
“For fuck sake!” Felix screams into the darkening room.
The lights on Irene’s suit flick on, her head shakes and she gasps in a deep, metallic, breath.
FELIX? HOW?-
She stops, bringing a hand up to her throat
WHAT?
She says, rising to her knees.
WHATS HAPPENED TO MY VOICE?
Felix swallows hard, without the vocal box or an actual throat, her voice is being translated by the suit, by the Nanites. It came out thin and hard, scratchy and full of digital defects.
She looks at him.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
Her head tilts back and she lets out a distorted howl. Felix has to grab his ears to save them from exploding.
“Ivor…” He yells, “Shut her-”
Cold metal wraps around his throat, preventing him from speaking as he is lifted off the ground. The shrieking stops, though it persists on ringing in his skull.
Irene’s head tilts from side to side, as if sizing him up, then she releases her hold. He gasps in air, she’d nearly snapped his neck.
“Ivor, do you have control?” He asks, keeping an eye on her.
No sir, her systems have rewritten themselves. I am blocked out.
YOU ARE NOT TAKING ANYTHING ELSE AWAY FROM ME. YOU WILL NOT HAVE ME AS ONE OF YOUR MINDLESS SLAVES.
Her attention is diverted behind her. The three suits of his were raising up their hands.
Felix looks behind them, the remaining soldiers had advanced in the chaos, Bart at their lead, somehow he had survived.
“Where Dr Graves?” Bart demands of Felix.
Felix’s arm rises just enough to indicate her suit.
“Dr Graves?” He shouts, looking between her and Felix.
DOCTOR IRENE GRAVES. IS DEAD.
Bart’s features contort in rage and he lifts up an accusing hand towards Felix. “Is there no depths you wont go? I will end you! Kill Him!” He screams.
Felix’s whole body is frozen to the spot, but one of his suits dives in front to protect him. Bullets ricochet off the suit, but it repairs itself quickly, leaving not a mark on it. The other two stuits release a volley of blasts towards the soldiers.
A second later, there is no more gunfire. Felix peers around the suit and see’s a smoldering pile of vaporised blood and pieces of human flesh.
I WILL END YOU.
Irene screams as she dives at Felix, but her attack is parried by the suits, who surround themselves around Felix.
Between their arms, he can see her getting to her feet. She sizes up the three suits, outnumbered.
“I never wanted to hurt you,” Felix says, “I love you.” He admits.
THERE WAS A TIME, I WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING, THAT TIME NO LONGER EXISTS… THIS ISN’T OVER EISENMANN
Then she blasts into the air, through the torn ruins of what was left of the roof and into the darkening sky.
At last, silence returns.
Felix leans against one of the suits who wraps hands under his arms to support him, the slouch morphs into rest as he drifts off. The adrenaline crashes, emotions continue to cartwheel, repercussions drift into clarity.
When Felix opens his eyes, an hour has passed, and he is back down in the secure cavern of the basement. Ivor’s been keeping the production line ticking over as he’d slept.
Irene.
Oh Mother Earth, please forgive me, for what I have done. Felix thinks to himself, over and over again.
Forgive me Irene.
For what I must do.