As Princess Ryana's group rushed through the hallways hoping to reach the portal in time. The automaton's surrounding the group suddenly stopped in place, trapping them all in a garden circle of gleaming frozen statues. Statues that refused to move.
Sentinel? Asked Virum looking toward the leader of the construct guard in front. What's wrong? Why have you stopped!? I order you to move on!
The construct captain at front of his identical brothers twitched like the other's slightly, his head lowered and his light's dimmed as if powered down. His fist clenched tightly though it's gears and gleaming white casing as if he were hesitating to respond or fighting himself. Ryana reached out her hand to the construct who had stood outside her bedroom for years protecting her. Troubled by what was happening to him.
Is he..?
In a flash. The metal construct snapped awake and spun around to clutched a cold metal grip to Ryana's arm tightly. Refusing to let go of his prize. Squeezing her wrist like a jaw of metal teeth in between his vice like fingers.
You're hurting me!! The princess screamed. Struggling to break free. Let go!! I command you!! Her former servant would not budge. She was not the one giving orders anymore.
What the hell do you think you're' doing?!! Demanded Virum watching in horror what was unfolding. Without hesitation, the young knight ignited his sword staff and sliced right through the metal soldier's arm currently harming the very person it was built to protect.
The sentinel didn't seemed bothered by his action and drew for his pistol with his remaining hand. Aiming it right at Virum's face standing in the way. His fellow brother's of silver and steel soon followed suit, All snapping to attention and aiming their weapons inward on the very servants, knights, and princess they had worked with for years as a newfound firing squad. Creating a single haunting echo of identical programmed unity and exact uncompromising conformity that spread throughout the room they were all now trapped in thanks to them. No one was going anywhere.
What is the meaning of this?!! Ordered Virum. Stepping forward with his spear raised further upward, pointed toward the metal captain's rhombus shaped glowing eye slit. The automaton's raised their guns further at the threat, causing Virum to stop encroaching further yet not back down. Angirly scowling from behind his metallic winged helmet just as lifeless as them all as he eyed the faceless white machines one by one. I order you all to power down. That is a direct command. Stand down now!
Negative. Responded the automaton captain. You are no longer in command of unit C-1. You are in direct violation of uptated security protocols. Hand over the princess to our custody. Ordered the construct captain in a cold monotone voice. That is not a request. Disobey. And you shall be executed for treason alongside all who protect the princess. She is coming with us. Step aside. Or face immediate termination.
The metal soldiers powered up their weapons and began to march closer and closer in a synchronous ominous march, forcing everyone trapped inside the circle to bundle together as the guns further pressed toward them. Ready to fire upon them without question.
Shields now!! Ordered Virum.
The albatross knights all at once unveiled their wings and wrapped them around themselves and the other's in a shield of solid hard light. A barrage of blue beam fire from the automaton's unleashed and was instead deflected, scattering across the icy walls of the room in pockmarks and hitting some of their fellow constructs and cutting them down unintentionally. They kept firing regardless of their losses. Marching forward unafraid. Knights kept firing through their energy sword staffs in bursts poking out through faint gaps in the formation defences to blast apart any approaching target not inside their group. Resembling an impenetrable bunker riddled with spears firing in all direction. Ryana and Nea stood huddled together in the dark, holding each other closely covering their ears begging for it all to stop. By the time the smoke settled and the horrendous gunfire finally stopped for tense silence. Fifty automaton's were destroyed and smoldering. Their metal husks of corpses scattered across the cold floor, circling the bunker of frightened living flesh in a ring of scrap and bodies, all in poses of still reaching for the princess.
Clear. Said Virum. Opening up his wings to allow the others to spread out and breathe. He and the other knights finished off the last few damaged constructs with quick shots to the head or power core just to be safe. Ryana approached still shaken from the brief battle and knelt down at the feet of the blackened remains of her room guard since she was thirteen. Horrified by what they had just tried to do. And what he had done to her.
How.?? Why did they do this? She muttered somberly rubbing her wrist which had turned purple from the strain. Running her hand across the ash covered frozen frame, already starting to freeze with ice with out it's internal powercore to warm it and give it artificial life.
Virum. Removed his helmet and knelt down beside her in silence. Observing the machine for any signs of physical tampering. They're was none. Which could only mean one thing.
"They've been corrupted." He said enraged, realizing this would not just be an isolated incident. These automaton's all share the same private frequency. And that frequency had changed."All of them."
We've been infiltrated. Someone has gotten inside and taken control of them.
Are ther'e any? Sentinels still loyal? Asked Nea.
Virum. checked his comlink hastily.
Unity 345 report in.
Nothing
Unit 356 report in.
Nothing.
All units report.
Nothing. Not a single one.
Sensing the foreboding trouble. Virum donned his helmet and relaid through the comlink for any backup that wasn't wires and steel.
Warden this is virum. We've encountered corrupted automaton's. This facility has been compromised I fear. I'm moving the princess through the portal to safety as contingency follows. Please Advise. If we are to proceed otherwise.
No response. Just static.
Warden? Asked Virum further pressing down the button. Growing immensely tense. Not nearly as tense as Ryana.
No..he can't be dead." Muttered Ryana, holding her hands up to her mouth in horror.
We don't know that. Said Virum. Tyring to reasure them both. Communication's are most defiantly down. Whatever the reason for him not being here. We can't wait for him. I'm sorry. I know my orders.
Virum lifted up his gauntlet and began to relay a message and code red alert to any other still surviving in the citadel.
To all soldiers and servants. We have encountered corrupted Sentinels. Stay clear of all automatons in the citadel. Rendezvous at the portal room for immediate evac. Do not. I repeat. Do not delay or you will be left behind!
How many men to we have? Asked Keda.
Virum Sighed. Twenty two in this room. Throughout the citadel. One hundred that I know of.
Ryana Hesitated. How many...Sentinels?
Virum. Glanced toward the floor.
Five Thousand. And they're all on their way here most definitely. We can't stay here. We have to move. Now. I'll go to the communication room and disable the all clear signal to let the empress know something has gone wrong. The rest of you. Get out of here. Before it's too late.
The young knight stepped forward to his fellow comrade and placed a hand on his shoulder. Looking the towering leopard seal in the eye. Keda. I need you to look after them. Get them all to safety. Don't come back for me.
He hesitated. But ultimately. He knew what he had to do. All their years of training and patrol drills had led to this exact chaotic moment. They could not falter now.
Yes sir. Just..Take care.
Virum nodded and quickly stepped over the scorched metal bodies and began to march at the front of the group quickly leaving the room. Two other knights soon followed. Not willing to let their leader do this impossible task alone.