Chapter Seven

 

 

Corbyn felt a little bad about leaving before every foe was vanquished, but if it was an actual ship and not a drop ship, she wanted to be able to blow it out of the sky before it left the atmosphere.

Myx’s feet crushed plants and small trees with every stride, but there was no avoiding it. Against all recommendations for cities, the humans of Hera had let the trees grow right up against their walls.

Her sensors showed Cio, Ai, and Len behind her. In front of her, there were hot spots where the thrown and exploded bots had landed.

The loose dusting of soil was her first clue that she was nearly to the impact area. The second clue was the huge ship that was settled in the centre of the landing, its payload bay open and no signs of life.

Corbyn looked at the ship and slowly walked Myx around it.

The length was nearly half a kilometre; it was too short for a long-term vessel. The fuel had burned away and left nothing but the unoccupied cockpit behind.

The others arrived in the zone cleared by the impact, and they all began to make their own observations.

 

* * * *

 

Hima took Len straight to the cockpit. “Can you get information out of it?”

“Why? We know where it came from. Orbit.”

She sighed. “If they flew this ship independently or with the others, I am hoping that there is some record of their origin point. Their home planet.”

“Ah. Right. Sorry, I was embroiled in some unpleasant memories.”

Hima made a commiserating noise, and she crouched down next to the cockpit. “Open a jack and put the information into sealed storage for now, please.”

Len put action to her request. A tendril of cable wrapped in metal eased into the ship. “It is too short.”

Hima sighed and said, “Show me a schematic of where we need to get this cable.”

She looked at the three-dimensional image that he projected in her mind, and she cocked her head. “Right. Pull in the cable. This is going to get messy.”

He did as she asked, and she was just gearing up to rip the roof off the ship when Ai stopped her. “Allow me to use a more subtle approach.”

Hima paused. “As you like, Xaia. You are the specialist.”

The chuckle that came through the coms was definitely amused. “You are more blood thirsty than most midwives I have met.”

Hima murmured, “You would be surprised.”

As she watched, Ai opened the port in his chest, and he placed his pilot down in the vessel.

Hima stood and kept watch, murmuring, “That is one way to do it.”

 

* * * *

 

Ai’s sensors took in the heat coming off the ship from its drop through the atmosphere. “The engines are nearly depleted.”

“I can see that. What about the computers?”

“What?”

“The navigation systems. They are always linked to all the good stuff.”

“I can’t access them from here. I think I am going to need to take a walk.”

“It is unwise to leave me with the enemy around.”

Xaia activated the headset and settled it in place as she disconnected from Ai. “I need to get in there now before Hima rips the whole thing apart.”

Ai released her completely, and a panel opened on the deck. “Crystals that will record all data on contact.”

“That is neat.” She skidded to them as he bent over. With the crystals tucked into her tunic, she stepped out onto his hand, and he lowered her into the shattered window that used to be the cockpit.

The smells assailed her. Xaia caught the weird smell of the forest, the rich, earthy, loamy scent, but there was a trace of body odour, and it wasn’t hers.

She moved swiftly to the console and the smell grew stronger.

“Ai, I am not alone in here. If Corbyn or Lido have some weapons, I wouldn’t mind some company.” She kept her tone casual. She had no idea if the person in the space with her could understand her words, but she didn’t want to give anything away via her tone.

The first crystal was set in place, and it flashed lavender as it uploaded the data. When it shifted to blue, she set the second stone in place. The lavender took over, and when they both hummed pink, she pulled them out and tucked them away. She was just in time to dodge the huge grey fist that slammed down on the console and rendered the equipment useless.

Xaia ducked and twisted, facing a horror that was a little bit shorter than she thought. He was looking up at her in shock, and she reached out to grab him, smacking him against the command chair.

Corbyn came in, and she stared at him. “Is that it?”

“That is it. He is just unconscious, not dead, but I don’t know what he is.”

Lido came in and looked before she huffed, “I thought they would be bigger.”

Xaia cocked her head. “We still don’t know what he is. Ai, do you have an identification?”

“Tokkel. He is definitely Tokkel. His is the race that we faced before.” Ai’s voice was grim.

Xaia looked at the women around her. “So, who is carrying him back to the city?”

 

* * * *

 

Lido finished tying the prisoner with strips from fabric in the ship, and she settled him on Cio’s palm as she was lifted into position.

“Cio, you said you will hang onto him. Are you sure?”

“I have done it before.”

“Okay. I will get into position. You do what you are going to do.”

“Good. I am glad you’re safe.”

She settled into position and switched her headset out for the full link to Cio. “Were the Tokkel always this small?”

He flashed images of the Tokkel towering over his pilot. “I can only conjecture that the specimen you have captured is diminutive.”

She nodded and settled in as the metal wrapped around her. Cio’s body straightened, and she watched him cup his hands around the unconscious body as they turned with the others and walked to the city.

 

* * * *

 

Corbyn looked over at Cio and frowned. “Something is very weird here.”

“Is it that Xaia was able to subdue the Tokkel?”

“That is part of it. Why is he so small?”

“Perhaps that is why he was used as a pilot. He is not intimidating. Also, that drop was a one-way trip. I doubt that he was in control.”

“That is a very good point. There was no way it should have crashed like that if he was at the helm.”

Myx agreed. “You are correct. There was nothing wrong with the vessel aside from lack of fuel. Even the cargo bay was designed to hold five of the bots and it had. I am still glad that you uncoupled the engines.”

Corbyn grimaced. “It seemed like the thing to do until Len arrived. I had no idea that Hima was so eager to smash and tear.”

“She is linked to a bot now. That brings out new instincts.”

“Yes, I have noticed.”

They continued on their hike to the city, crushing trees as necessary.

Myx informed her, “We all have docking bays outside the city walls. If you leave us there, you may go in and communicate with the powers that be to get the pilots you want.”

“It isn’t the pilots that we want; it is the protocol to get you properly trained pilots. This little fray with the worm bots is a perfect example. We could have done so much better if we had the training.”

Myx murmured, “You all have natural talent. It counts for a lot.”

“Thanks. But there is tremendous insecurity in not knowing what to do. We have your memories on how your pilots fought, but it isn’t the same as knowing what it felt like for the pilot.”

“I accept that, but I don’t have to like it.”

She sent him a mental hug. “You don’t have to like it, but you must be welcoming to your new pilot.”

“I will be. There, that is my station along the wall.”

Corbyn looked out, and the word MYX was painted in ten-metre high letters.

“How do I get out of here?”

“You take the lift down, and there is a hallway that leads inside the wall of the city. An assistant should meet you there and take you to the council for authorization to release the pilots.”

“You say that like it has happened before.”

“I have walked with a dying pilot before. That was his protocol.”

She swallowed and nodded. “I am sorry that you lost your pilot.”

“After the third, it stops hurting.”

She sighed. “Don’t lie.”

He shared the moment of grief, and then, he walked to the wall that was slightly taller than he was, and he turned to fit himself into his spot, his scanners watching the skies. “I am in. Take the headset and let me see how the city has changed.”

She grinned. “It has been two hundred years.”

“I know. I look forward to their progress. I know that the progress in Bot City always astonished me.”

The headset slid into place, and she fastened it to the connection points on her neck. She inhaled and exhaled. “Right. Well I wish you luck with your pilot, Myx. This has been interesting.”

“I wish you good fortunes through this war.”

She paused on her way to the lift to stroke the control panel. “You too. Stay in one piece, big guy.”

Corbyn squeezed into the lift and closed her eyes as she was carried down to the lower exit. With the low hum of the speaker in her ear letting her know she wasn’t alone, it wasn’t such a claustrophobic trip.

 

* * * *

 

“I am heading for my dock. It will recharge me and offer automated repair.” Len was calm.

“Right. So, I guess this is it.”

“Is your arm repaired?”

She wiggled her fingers on her left hand. There was still pain, but it had only been a few hours with his nanites trying to repair her body. He had done a great job, considering. “It is good. I am sure that they will have some medics who can assist me in completing the process.”

“I am sure they will. Are you all right? It has been an eventful few hours.”

Hima chuckled. “I am very good, considering that my blood is all over the interior of your hull. So, how do I do this again?”

“You exit via the lift, get into the long hallway and an attendant should meet you. I am sure that Kab and Iff have already checked in, so you should be met before long. They will take you into the city, and you can make your request for a pilot there.”

She swallowed. “Right.”

“So, take your headset and call on me if you need any information or anything. Even if you just need to chat.” Len was chatty himself.

“I will.” She settled the headset in place and finished the connection. “I will even tell you if your pilot is good looking, just to build the suspense.”

Her AI laughed. “It will be good to know that the contents match the packaging.”

She was grinning as she left the cradle and slowly made her way to the lift. Her blood was smeared all over the place and left a distinct coppery smell in her nostrils as she descended to the lower exit. It had been quite the adventure, but now, it was time to hand Len over to the professionals.

 

* * * *

 

Nyvett and Duel were waiting in the hall when a cluster of figures approached them.

Nyvett didn’t say anything, but she looked at the faces of those approaching her in astonishment. They looked like humans, but their ears were pointed and their eyes had slit pupils.

“Engineers. Welcome to Hera City.” The male in front opened his arms in what appeared to be a welcome.

Nyvett stepped out of the shadows, and the gathering came to a sudden halt. “We are not here for pleasantries. We are here under Code Angur-Dock. The cities are under attack.”

The male in front looked at them and frowned. “This is not a matter for public discussion. Please come with me.”

Nyvett looked to Duel before saying, “The other four are docking as we speak.”

He blinked. “There are more of you? You are so young. How is that—never mind. They will be brought to us.”

Nyvett heard the whisper in her mind, “Don’t worry, we are watching.”

Duel smiled and linked arms with her. “Come on, cousin. It is time to see the city.”

The male smiled brilliantly, and his fanged teeth gave them something else to be concerned about. Nyvett smiled. “Please, sir. Lead the way.”