Visisonor's blog

Chapter 2

The next assignment was anything but typical. We were sent to oversee a relocation of an old outpost. Not something you would usually call an agent for, really. We were told that troopers won’t figure out what to do with complex equipment, and there were no spare technicians close enough. Still, it felt like a punishment for the previous failure. It wasn’t stated officially, but the implication was so thick I could almost touch it.

We were mostly done by dawn. But such forays into the open are always risky since they can attract unwanted syncon attention. Looks like this was exactly what happened.

Two dummies broke in first. They’ve caught two troopers near the entrance off guard: one was killed immediately, but the second was able to evade their shots.

Luckily for him, we were in the same room. Luckily for me and Villa, the dummies didn’t target us first.

By the time they did, we were already returning fire, so they were down almost as soon as we’ve seen them.

But then our luck ran out, because they brought a big gun: an armored war robot commonly known as the Trashcan.

We had to retreat. So we turned the corner and waited in the corridor.

The Trashcan followed, spraying bullets left and right.

How do you put down a Trashcan? With heavy weapons, obviously. Which we didn’t have immediately at hand.

Two more troopers were hit.

Even the machinegun that this Trashcan was carrying would make a difference - if it was in our hands… But since we couldn’t have it, there was only one other way to even the odds.

I aimed at its ammo feed tray - And managed to hit it.

The robot staggered and dropped now useless weapon.

- Close in! - shouted Villa, leading by example. - Shoot it point blank!

Then it pulled out a freaking folding knife out of its forearm.

They were too close now. Point blank range naturally implied they were within Trashcan’s melee range.

One of remaining troopers soon found out what it meant in practice, and neither me nor Villa could help him.

Then the killer machine switched its attention to Villa.

It swung its arm and hit her rifle with enough force to strike it out of her hands.

She barely evaded the swing of the knife-holding hand, but then it jerked forward and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her up, knife hand raised to strike.

I could not suppress a scream.

Time seemed to have frozen. I was desperately looking for a way to save her. I could easily land a headshot but doubted it would do anything against the steel monster.

Then my eye fell on a lid on its back. The lid was armored of course but it was locked in place with a handle. Time was running out. This handle looked like the only thing I could possibly damage. Not really having any other option, I took this chance and shot the handle.

The Trashcan released its hold on Villa and turned to look straight at me. It was still fully intact, but apparently its focus switched to potential danger caused by battery compartment no longer being securely locked.

This was all I could hope for.

Now it was Villa’s turn. And she seemed to have figured out what I had done. She slid under the robot and reached for now vulnerable compartment.

Before it could do anything, she opened the lid and pulled out its battery.

How did she manage to do it? Even for someone as capable as Villa it was no easy feat. She would have to move insanely fast. I guess I didn’t have time to wonder back then, because it was not over yet.

- Run! - I shouted, as the robot crumbled on its knees.

She ran.

Whether she heard me or not, Villa knew just as well that more advanced syncons had self-destruct mechanism which did not rely on primary power - in fact, lack of primary power was likely to be one of its triggers.

We had to run too - me and the only trooper who remained on his feet. The shock wave was strong enough to knock us off. And Villa was much closer.

We found her in the corridor, halfway to where the Trashcan used to be. Lying face down among some rubble. With a puddle of blood near her head.