Just a short in one of my settings. Just finished it, first draft. What do you think?
We all knew it would happen.
There hadn’t been a medium of art, or a science that didn’t produce people that would say it.
What prophets we had ignored.
The Robot Revolution had finally happened.
What we didn’t know at the time, they were on outside.
Planet Helios, 130 After Gate, somewhere on the Borders of the Paradise Plains.
Running, fleeing, screaming! It was all Miska could think of while gunfire tore through the tree line like tissue paper. Bullet and plasma dragged the unlucky down, including the only one with a gun in their group.
Why were they chasing them? Why were they hunting them? Mommy said they did nothing wrong. Daddy couldn’t think of anything they could have done. Yet, Earth still sent their Death Corp.
Just a hundred feet from the boarder, just a hundred feet and they were free. Just fifty feet. Just twenty-five. Just ten more.
Just a foot away from freedom, dozens of men armed with guns and a pair of flamethrowers swooped in. Their jetpacks still hot, they glared down at the refugees like eagles at a rabbit.
Turning back, Mishka and what was left of her people saw more men, armed with light machineguns walking closer with casual intent. All the while, one man clapped. Only his button-down shirt wasn’t covering him in leather. From his boots to his duster, to his aviation style cap.
“Bravo, bravo!” Said the man, his claps piercing Mishka’s ears like the gunfire he commanded. “You did well to run this far, little rabbits. But the chase is over. We shall make this quick.”
As the men leveled their weapons at Mishka and her people, the forest erupted. Dirt, logs, and rocks flew in every direction as giant robots woke from their slumber. Dozens of tendril grabbers impaled the jet pack troopers or tossed them into the line of fire of miniguns and rail-cannon that tore through the enemy gunline.
As swiftly as it begun the machines stopped their assault. Red lights from their many eyes scanned the forest, passing over Mishka and her people.
“Forty-five none combatants, unharmed. Raised heartbeats and chemical production indicate fear.” Said one of them machines, its voice far from human. “Twelve Earth soldiers, and their commander still live. Rise, or we shall shoot you again.”
With still glowing hot guns pointed at them, the surviving Death Corp. obeyed with gusto.
“This is Field Marshal Alexy Kaleshnokov.” The Earth commander yelled out. “You have just attacked Earth forces! Care to explain yourself?”
The machine projected a green screen. First showed the planted Helios with one portion of it flashing brightly. As quickly as it appeared, the image zoomed into their location. An invisible borderline was illuminated; one side the nation of Paradise Plains. On the other the territory controlled by S-I-14; the side they were all on.
“Earth Governing Body has not chosen to negotiate with S-I 14. You have no business in our territory. Even less to be shooting at anyone that has fled 0.8 kilometers into our territory.”
“They are our issue.”
“They are not of Perfectum or any other divulged enemies that have attacked you.” Said the war machine. “Individuals scanned have no criminal records. Even the one with the only weapon, a badly kept antique, have no reason to be hunted down. Your only reason to exterminate this group is antiquated prejudices, ones that you and half your surviving soldiers fall under.”
“You are denying our justice!”
A single rail shot tore through the air between them, leaving a man-sized trench that caressed the border. “Do not stall. You can walk out on your own. Or we can leave you in that trench.”
“You and what army?” The earth commander demanded.
The answer came in the form of gunships, fading into view. Their cloaking technology above what Earth was capable, only an animal’s senses could pick them up. Three landed near Mishka, letting off humanoid drones carrying stretchers and medical supplies. Three more dropped off more menacing machines with sickle blades for fingers or armed with guns of higher calibers than the humans.
“Our heavy cruiser was alerted to their presence long before your tanks arrived.”
Letting out words Mishka was not allowed to say their attackers lowered their weapons and fell back. The war machines turned not away from them even after they left the tree line. Only when the last and the oldest was helped aboard did they return to a resting position.
“Your dead are on two of the other drop ships.” Said one of the humanoid drones. “We’ll be taking you to Nation designated as ‘Castro’ to bury the dead and start anew.”
Finaly safe, Miska could do the only thing a nine-year-old child could in this situation and sleep soundly in her mother’s arms.
S-I 14
Moderator: Outsider Moderators
Re: S-I 14
I am curious to see how this plays into Outsider.
Re: S-I 14
Wanted to test the waters, dons't have to be Outsider related, but I figured you all had good enough taste to say how well I did.