"That….was something," Shayu was quick to flee after the rumble. Once confirmed his opponent was out for the count, he left before that dragon could find him. He remained huddled in the gap within the control panel until he was assured the quake scared them off; it mattered little to him. Taking an unneeded breath he began a slow escalation towards the top. The Destria's elevator was long out of service.
He plunged upwards using the rubbery nodes as grips, calculating all the while. Tobias lived as a machine. The records of his magic being unorthodox for this generation was true; even in the age before. Control over an element gods dared not dabble in, "Atomic magic lives with him….sacrificial arts live within his brain," counters were rare even if toned down. Master was paranoid to instill precautions against most actions, though his mind couldn't counter the fallen arts. "If he's alive then I can't count out the fact he's mad enough to pass on Immolation."
A kilometer of leaping required four hours for the shark man to scale what he descended in minutes alone. What awaited him at the top was the broken support beams. He easily squirmed through the pinhole gaps and began patrol towards the deep laboratory. Destria's main playground for the tools made in their mind to escape the two dimensional pages. Every entrance crossed those chambers in particular. "Hmm….."
Shayu received a curious notification on the quake experienced earlier. A notice from one of their shipment bots, "Godamnit, Zaltras,"
The Neomachina labeled ' Z2-00173, Zaltras' had a wireless bond with all of his backup bodies that went overlooked. In his self-detonation, all were ignited at once causing the storage facility to collapse.
"Why were they even given AI if they would just burn drams like that!?" he shouted to himself, "Get a report of his last backup and investigate if premature detonation was optimal in the situation. If judged against perform act C.A.M.P." his demands as a contractor were drastic and cold. He strutted the empty halls with a long stride, internals steamed from his ramified state. For once, Shayu's true intentions shone unmonitored.
All the shark felt covered in oil from countless others was glee. Parading countless combatants was programmed into the deepest lairs of his mind. Neither storm nor rain would shake the shark again. His dream was fun, short-lived with a ping from his mind, "Never a break, huh?" his fellow contractor rang in his ear, "What do you want, Sitri?" Shayu mused his guest. On the other end of the call was one he called brother. "I'm going to assume this is about the recent Zaltras incident?"
"No not necessarily," a higher tone accepted his call. Not the deepest nor highest, a tone you wouldn't bat an eye at. Malice instilled his words with a poignancy. Shayu continued his strut with thumb attached to head. The beat of marching stole his attention from ahead, "My shipment set for Skylandria should have been here three hours now, get them here now," he demanded. Time was of the essence to the machinations of their leader.
"Relax, I'm trailing behind the deliver drones right now- we ran into a roadblock that's I rather discuss in person," with his notice Shayu hung up the call before his brother whined anymore. Around the right turn was the long stretch. An inclined route going to the old heart of the country, the Deep Destria labs located directly under Giganto. On the path forward tens of dozens of Zenith marched, some bolstered giants on their shoulders, and other lead the march. Blue light signaled the end of their journey; the upper floor of the deep labs.
Much like the funnel leading to the main power room the deep lab was a series of floors. The first of many they stood on was their office, directly under was their schematic area reached via stairs. Underneath that were a series of laboratories segregated by roles, be it developing prototype weapons or simple electrical work. One thing any machine could admire about their human makers was how efficient they were to the small matters. Shayu waited on the ridge of the giant sliding door, leaned back with folded arms eyeing every soldier in march. On the other entrance stood another contractor.
Sitri was much like him in build with key changes. He was a head above all others with a wider build. Not too bulky nor thin. His skin was off, revealing the intricacies of his body of stained white. Lengthy arms with wires and tubing held in glass cases at the wrist's end. His torso was also thin, but the gas canister belt gave a uniform appearance. If Sitri were to wear skin he'd appear as a somewhat attractive male….if they got over his eyes.
A face of eight eyes aimed in every direction that made spider's blush and the weak-hearted faint, "You have some explaining to do, Shayu," the contractor demanded, "And not just to me," out of the shadows another arose. A figure that made Shayu bow for a moment. Though they were of the same level, it was expected.
He appeared as a man, dashing and musclebound. Any man would crave such contoured details not even steroids granted. Ivory skin and hair on his chest, visible from an open dress shirt with frilled ends. His face too was chiseled by the forge gods for the perfect squared chin, stout nose, and round eyes. Enough to trap anyone's gaze. Bulky legs tapped the ground in their tight prison and his dark hair swung with the tilt of his head. "Well, I didn't expect to see you in the country so soon, Andromalius."
"I do prefer to be early over anything," this man's presence alone imposed all others, for he was no man, "However, I must say that I don't like my goods damaged," he spotted every scratch and dent in the carrying soldiers and their loads.
"I told you already, we got ambushed," Shayu scratched his head with a chuckle, "At first I thought the Dyson was smarter than I thought…..then that man showed up."
Eyes widened with the explanation shared to the brothers in crime. Their perpetrators of the dragon and that little bar owner weren't their true focus, but the last man, "So you're telling me, the legbuster has escaped his tomb?" Andromalius held his chest. Words couldn't explain the feeling in his artificial heart. Dead men walked with new names.
"Funny enough, he calls himself Dynamo," Shayu sat beside the pair, they were the last trio in the depths, "If the Astarama hear of this we're in trouble,"
"Forget the Astarama, does his lord know about this?" Andromalius shook his brother by the shoulders. He cleared his throat with an apology due. Tilting his head to the side to crack his neck composure was regained.
"I'd rather not face off against him, for obvious reasons- maybe convince him to side with us."
"Side with us? At this point? Do you think he'd agree with the ones harming the 'holy' Astarama?" Sitri broke his silence on the matter. Attention came once more of the marching was heard. Andromalius noted his shipment at last. He continued to scorn the sight of damaged droids. "In any sense, forget him for now, we have more pressing duties."
"Truly," Andromalius snapped, "All of you, by order of a contractor you are to drop all loads and continue the march," his sentimental side to his brother showed. With another snap of the finger, he called for his troops. State-of-the-art mechs that made their way from the other entrance in a matter of minutes. Compared to other mechs they were larger, bigger than the Neomachina Zenith line but more compact than regular ones. Titans of iron with black bodies and blue highlights nonetheless. Spiny features stuck to their heads and arms; they released steam from vents after every step. One by one they picked up the last of the loads and began their impromptu delivery.
The last of the shipments reminded Shayu of his discovery, he pointed out the most damaged case, "Sitri, look into that one for me," he flexed.
"Is that a…." Sitri eyed the sleeping beauty for the serene grace their figure produced. Porcelain death, a bride of chaos rested peacefully with stasis tube in perfect condition, "This is quite the find- saves us from reverse engineering from memory alone,' hilarity ensued with the discoveries made today. Tobias the legbuster and one of the Norns. Three of the contractors sat with folded legs around each other. They need not say anything, for the plan to action was already prepared.
A nod caused the group to stand, "Our informant has some bold ideas," Andromalius admitted, "If I may confirm something gentlemen, where are you two headed now?" his head tilted with another snap. "I presume you're returning to Mandaly?"
Shayu nodded with the obvious, "Silverization needs someone to monitor its progress, that and I can't trust some lug to keep goods safe anymore," his gaze thinned. "Besides, I have some unfinished business with 'Dynamo' of a machine."
"Skylandria calls my name," Sitri stated, "Recent surveys of their badlands are underway. The prison stronghold remains a tough case to crack, but I'll get that stone-cold warden off his guard in enough time."
"Well gentlemen, it seems that the trifecta must end with my position is the Cnoc Dubh mines, once stable this country is under our thumb," devils made dealings where none heard. Bargains of devious intentions wrapped up their tale. Hands joined together before breaking. A shark walked alone, a spider-eyed man continued his goal. And a robot with the charm of a man followed his own path.
…
A path to follow? Who was it that spoke these words? Who was the figure who would 'Walk beyond the confines of this existence and cross to the next?' or would the dream always elude the sleeping machine? He will never know….but this dream already happened, hasn't it? He walks free, doesn't he? A man freed of earthly shackles and walks upon the sky towards the throne that shines brighter than everyone else in the sky.
"Why are you so dejected over a simple loss? There is more to you than just this I know it,"
"You'll get up from this. This is nothing but a slip in the path you were always destined to take. Shake yourself off and stand up again, you bled too much and the greatness you want is right there. You're so close to them….just a little more."
"Hmm? How do I know you won't give up? Simple really. My big brother doesn't quit."
...
Those words sparked life in his frame once more. Engines fired and oil flowed behind the whites of his eyes. Hell rested behind those balls, however, the war was long over. Dynamo lunged from his resting spot causing the remnants to back away. Seconds upon his frame's activation he recognized the top of the commission of trade's. Lucki Dyson's dominion. Around him were those five, Tome and Strider with his delivery, Carnel and Lucki obviously but….." Why are you here?" he turned to Lena, the furthest away near the entrance.
He stared down at his frame and felt his face. His plastics that provided shape were out of place needing attention later. His hair was still in place, and skin was torn asunder in many areas; his neck and above were secured, "Where's that shark-" his instincts blared hate through his turbines.
"Relax, he's gone," Tome whispered, "When I flew down there he was already long gone- this guy sealed the basement hole tight with those nanomachines of his," his head gestured to Strider in the corner. He gave a brief recap of the situation. Dynamo sustained so much damage his internals shut down right there and then before he went atomic. As he inspected he found gashes still closing along his torso and legs with nanomachines running dry. D.D.D was also damaged as expected. What he feared most was the cranial damage detected from all the flings and swings sustained.
"Uggh, I need to galvanize myself again," the old croak whined. Most of his mechanized fixes remained to his head alone, "And you, answer my question," he snapped his fingers. "Shit…..my brain hurts."
"Huh?" Lena scratched her head, "You were the one who signaled for me, right?" her eyes met Strider, now walking to the other sliding door to admire the rising sun pierce the deep blue. His eyes were bright with a plastered smile. "Anyways, what do you mean your brain hurts….?"
Tome caught on as well. He snorted, not able to hold back the bolstering laughter that came after. Heavy was his palm on Dynamo's back, "What? Are ya getting so old in the upstairs? I'll get someone to check your processor later if you feel like it," Dynamo sighed, nodding to the statement.
"Actually, if you wanna help…." Dynamo wore a sly grin. His eyes locked forward from his position on the mat, looking beyond Strider, "There's a twenty-four-hour grill down the street from here, go and get me some short ribs," Strider winced. Everyone did. Dynamo was injured. He swayed his body to the side as they blinked only to reappear at a crouched position gripping Strider by the palm. "And take these two to get something special- my treat."
Tome winked and gave a thumbs up, much like Dynamo. A group of six halved with a request by the eldest in the room. His joints creaked at the slightest motion; a tremble under all actions. His eyes fixated on the rising sun. "Carnel, tell me something."
He didn't bother to face her for the quiz, "What…..was the ramification drive?" oil trailed down the sides of his face. "This is something I'm supposed to remember, but I can't…..for the life of me I can't even remember who made the damned thing."
"Ramification?" Carnel had the note in the back of her data mines, "Emperion developed that foul thing, I'd rather you not remember…" she turned her nose to the ideals laden behind that creation, "The devil's processor, a Faustian bargain thrown upon machines that he never perfected once he saw the effects. After the first trial run he completely scrapped the idea and burnt all documented information," she gave exposition for the thing his memory could not.
"Hmm….that unit, he had one, Rex SeaPaver."
The rising sun meant news came with it. The pocket radio in their mitts switched on to play the newest disaster. Death tolls of port disease escalated on the daily with the public oblivious to the cause. Trying to remove those nanomachines from the cells would be to the effect of a million needles piercing the same point. Needless to say, not optimal for the situation.
Human nature fought on until the last man, and that was no different now. Patrick and others kept the good fight alive, ready to use their own fire in this. But would this burn them as well?