Chapter 10:

E107 licked his lips tasting the rich iron of the red fluid still clinging to his lips. His eyes never left the distance War-Mech, whose figure grew smaller over the distance. The severed head of the adult women in one hand, her headless body in the other. Growing bored of it he tossed the baggage in his hands down the War-Mech and towards, the ravenous horde of hungry numbers below him. They halted in their pursuit of the kill when E107 have stepped in to claim it, upon him discarding the bounty, they rushed it.

They grabbed at the headless corpse tearing off the uniform clinging onto the still body, exposing the bare-naked skin beneath. The exposed flesh tempted the horde further, as soon the tearing of flesh can be heard as they gouged themselves with the raw crimson flesh. This didn’t even gain recognition from E107 as he casually walked off away from the gruesome meal that was happening below him.

Walking down along the body of the War-Mech till he was near the waist, from there he leaped down onto the soft sol with a light thud. There E57 and E101 were waiting for him, they too have left their armor, standing in front of them. Others not joining the quick meal were hurrying about, the ground salvaging anything and everything that they could. These were then thrown into piles within a container which were rapidly being filled quickly before the next container could arrive.

E57 as per usual immediately rushed to E107, taking out a rag form his uniform and began wiping at the blood on E107’s face. E107 didn’t even bother resisting as he has grown accustom to ‘Mom’ attentive actions. So, he stood there while ‘Mom’ let perfume the pedicure on him.

“How many have we lost?” E107 then asked though he already knew the answer.

“About the usual, albeit slightly less than before.” E57 responded.

“Were we able to save any of them?”

E101 gestured to a location not far away from their spot, there stood several of the other numbers of Building E hefting a crate between them, trails of crimson dripped through the seams of the crate.

“Those that we were able to save, most didn’t have their head left intact to be saved.”

E107 sighed this was to be expected, and there wasn’t anything else to expect. There was no possibly to save every single of their brethren. To preserved their memory, every single number was impossible. It would take the powers of a god to perform such a feat. If there existed such a being.

“Take back everything.” E107 said as he turned moving away from E57, interrupting the pedicure before it was finished, to a nearby hoverbike, one that skidded to a stop near them towing a massive container behind it. The container was filled with an assortment of material that were salvaged beforehand, this didn’t not deter E107 as he fell face first, into the pile. Making himself comfortable in the mess, he had not sleep for days for long he didn’t keep track. Though the heavy weight of his eyelids, and the burning aches that he had just become aware of within his limbs. Told him directly the amounts of days that he has denied to his body. He quickly found himself drifting off into darkness not long after making himself comfortable.

Hearing the soft snores coming from E107, E57 looked towards E101. “I-” but before E57 could finish his next word, he was interrupted by E101 who simply said-

“I’ll take care of the rest you go take care of him eh Mom.”

Not waiting for E57 to responded E101 turned in an about-face spinning on his heels and walked off to help coordinate the cleanup efforts. E57 said nothing but simply nodded his head towards E101’s back, before he proceeded within the container, situating himself next to the sleeping E107. Slowly cradling the sleeping figure in his arms, in hopes of no waking E107 whom only stirred slightly due to the touch. E57 patted E107’s back like a parent to their newborn toddler, while humming at tune, as the container door was sealed shut by the other numbers outside. The humming persisted even as the container began to shake, and the roar of jet engines coming to life.

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Later into the day.

Night has long hung over the skies above, as streams of screaming hovercrafts bellowing their roars into the air. E101 was seating on top of a container situated at the head of the convoy, enjoying the wind caressing his bare skin having removed the top portions of his uniform. Exposing his upper body, he then hopped and skipped over the tops of the containers and onto the one behind his. Keeping prefect balance despite the motion, and avoiding the other numbers whom rested on top of the other container This continued for a while before the radio clasped to his waist beep and chimed.

He took it off his belt and thumbed the switch. “What is it?” E101 spoke into the radio.

“We’re near the camp and we’re being hailed how should we responded?” the radio beeped. The question caused E101 to arch his eyebrow before he responds back. “A new one?”

“Seems like it, I don’t recognize the voice of the guard what should I tell him?”

E101 sighed “Just tell him the usual not like they really care about wither or not we are authentic or not. If they do try to stop us just ignore them.”

“Alright.” Then with a beep the connection was cut ceasing all communication, E101 then trund back towards the front of the convoy seeing the bright glow just over the hill they were about to cross over. Once the convoy did their camp was in view a large heavy building, guard by massive walls filled with an array of weapons systems and turrets. Whose barrels were all trailing and following after building E’s convoy that was rapidly approaching the gate. This building was different, even larger form the original building that E101 remembered, now all numbers regardless of the building were all congregated within this building.

E101 could see other convoys of other building returning from their work today seemly trailing after his own crew. Not wanting to get to close, those that arrived ahead of them even made way for E101’s convoy to pass. As E101 and his numbers reached the base of the hill they were crossing the massive gate shifted. Sequels of forced gears being pushed to work echoed in the air, as the gates side open to the side revealing the opening messy courtyard that was their space. Though as congregated as the numbers were they still stuck to their own taking whatever space they could for themselves. However, this was of no issue for those of Building E as others seemingly try to distance themselves from them, letting them have whatever space they want. This was evident as the convoy of Building E strolled pasted the gates as the last hoverbike skid through the gate. Those other numbers whom already arrived before them, quickly scurried into the vast oceans of scarp throughout the courtyard of the building. All of which were salvaged from the field, the numbers all having to use whatever they could find to supplement for gear to use.

As their handlers didn’t supply them with any thing other than the first batch of armaments. Which was quickly spent within days out in the field. Thus, the numbers had to resort to salvage the battlegrounds for supplies, this in time lead to these massive heaps of scarp to form. Even as the area around the building was seemingly, resembling more and more like a junkyard, the handlers within the building didn’t protest. In fact, they have never step outside the massive structure itself. Even the guard kept safe form the ravenous hordes below, high above them on the walls with the scary weapon emplacement aimed, not only on the threat outside but on the inside as well. Allowing the numbers, the freedom to do whatever they desire.

The numbers of Building E weaved through the large mounds of scarp, through whatever could count as a road here. Till they came upon the section of space within the wall that they have claimed for themselves. Closed off from most other parts with hills of scarps leading only one entrance for them to enter the area. This was done purposely by the numbers of Building E, along with the closest numbers of the other buildings to their area. Those that had stayed behind not being chosen to venture out to the field today greeted E101’s group, as soon as the hoverbike had touched down they all got to work.

Opening the various containers trailers connected to the rear of each bike, and began off loading the scarp collected within. In practiced order the number began to organize and sort the junk depending on what the function of the scarp can provided. E101 ignored all of this having jumped down from the container, where he originally stood upon. Beginning to walk towards one container in particular, before he reached it the doors was opened by others around him however none moved inside. Those that stood in front of it moved aside once they heard E101 coming up behind them. Ontop the trash pile was the snoozing form of E57 cradling the smaller E107. Whom slept so peacefully in the arms of E57, the duo not even stringing even when the door to the container was opened.

E101 walked softly inside though not caring to avoid the scarp within his path. Coming up upon E57 he reached down and lightly shoke the shoulder of the sleeping number. E57 eyes shot open no longer after just a few moments from E101 touching me.

“We back already?” E57 asked his voice stern and alert as if he was never asleep in the first place.

“Yeah, wake Seven up we need to unload the junk and have our guys start their work for the next mission.” E101 replied softly as if not trying to wake the subject of the matter.

“Ok.” E57 said before raising up stilling cradling the smaller figure in his arms, giving a light shake.

“Waky-waky Seven we’re back.” E57 softly cooed to the sleeping beauty in his arms. E107 slowly shifted at those words.