Chereads / Luciana: How the World Became / Chapter 8 - Act 1: BOTE Part 8

Chapter 8 - Act 1: BOTE Part 8

As the crew get closer and closer to an opening to the wastes they all put on their gas masks including Jock even though he doesn't need one. As they head out into the destroyed city the start to see the same sights as they did before, destruction and all. Jared looks at the two men to see if they're behind him and nudges his head telling them come on. Aussie takes a look at Jock then does a double take as he see him wearing a mask. Jock looking confused as he did that asks him whats up.

"Aussie, you okay? Seem confused there."

"Why are you wearing a mask Jock. Your a bot mate no need for one."

"Well can't I act normal for once. Jesus I'm already getting dirty looks back at home no need for it out here with whatever is out here."

"Guys enough, come on we got a mission to deal with."

The two men nod and follow him out. As they get closer and close to the outside world they can already see the destruction and the smoke and some flames up in the air, everything is the same as last time they seen the world, this time the step further than normal. Jared turns on his radio and Aussie and Jock do the same. They step more holding out their weapons as they walk around looking for any signs or clues as to what they were told to look for during the briefing.

"So uh, monsters. How much do you wanna bet it was just an old hag scaring the children again", said Jock as he was looking around the ruined city.

"Do you one better mate, bet you anything there is no monster and the children are just dreaming about it", exclaimed Aussie, chuckling at his statement as he too looks around.

"Guys knock it off, we got a mission here."

The two nod and continue on searching. They enter a still standing yet crumbling building to search for any clues. They all turn on their flashlights as they enter for there was no power anywhere. The building seems to be a run down grocery market. A few building pieces here and there, some scatter remains of check stands, shopping carts either upside down, to the side, or simply broken and busted. An old broken yet playable radio can be heard throughout the store as it plays "Maybe" by The Ink Spots on and off again. On the floor is torn up pieces of paper that were once ads for the week, that dates that the ad would last is August 2nd through August 8th. The three men look around before one of them, Jock, takes off his mask.

"No signs of toxic gas anywhere."

"Thanks Jock", said Jared as he was taking off his mask.

"I see that damn store radio was left on by one of the scouts."

"Seems so Aussie, go turn it off while me and Jock go look around."

Aussie walks off to find the back room so he can turn off the radio. While he was off doing that Jock and Jared look around the place. The go down a aisle checking the selves in hopes of some remains of supplies but are unable to find any. They go down another one doing the same thing before they here something hit the ground. Jared looks to were the sound came from holding his gun ready to aim and fire. "Aussie, Aussie was that you?" He called out as he slowly walks towards from were the sound came from. More noises can be heard as if it was scattering across. Jared cocks his gun to ready a round in it, Jock does the same as he follows slowly behind Jared. Soon a struggle can be heard and Jared rushes in to see what is going on. Jared only sees Aussie struggling with an unknown figure. He aims his weapon down and yells at it to freeze. In such a fright the thing throws Aussie towards Jared and crawls into a man sized hole speeding away. Aussie and Jared both get up and dust themselves off.

"You okay Aussie."

"Yeah just fine, damn thing just came up on me is all."

Soon the two hear Jock having a struggle on his own. They rush and once again see the figure attacking Jock. Jock is able to push the thing off and fire a few rounds at it before it takes off again.

"Jock, Jock you okay mate."

"Yeah."

"Did you get a good look at it, what it look like?"

"Yeah...It''s me."

Jock walks to where it ran off to. He's able to see a trail of a blood like substance. Jared looks at Aussie in confusion before asking Jock what he meant by the statement.

"Like you Jock, what do you mean?"

"Its the same make and model like me Jared, I not only saw the bar code on its left arm I saw the face. There's only three left in this area I'm one of three that leaves two. Seems this one has gone rouge as it also tried to kill me. We must bring an end to it before it does more harm than good."

"Jock, no offense buddy but were not out here to manhunt a robot alright, we can let some other scouting team do that."

"No! You don't understand. If its rouge god knows what it will do or has done already we must kill it."

"Jocks right Jared, plus I think that is our monster. Did you see the teeth on that thing mate. What if that's our monster."

"But what if were wrong."

"We can't be wrong. My kind is deadly already we must destroy it. The "monsters", if any, can wait. Right now we gotta radio Delta, Beta, Alpha, and our base and let them know a rouge Model 9 is roaming around. Let them know a team is already tracking it down."

"Can we even track it down?"

"We can, because its blood left a trail. Just like that one movie said, if it can bleed, we can kill it." Jock starts to follow the trail along. Aussie follows as Jared pulls out his radio to let the bases know before going off to follow the two.