Chereads / Project Machina / Chapter 7 - Chapter 6: A Lesson in Power 2

Chapter 7 - Chapter 6: A Lesson in Power 2

Septum drew his blade as he and Tessa continued down the hall moving at a slower pace than they did previously. They stopped once they reached the edge of what little light came from the LED's above them.

Ahead of them was now a void of darkness. One where even with their enhanced vision they couldn't see past easily. Turning his head Septum looked at one of the closer lights, seeing that it was dangling from a loose wire, then back down to the blade in his hand.

"What's going through your head?" Tessa questioned as she looked in the same direction he was. Silently piecing together the same puzzle he was, as it clicked with her the moment he answered by tossing his blade into the air in such a way that when the blade spun around just right it would cut the cord allowing for the light to fall right down to them.

With a stroke of luck, and maybe a little bit of skill. The light fell into Septums hand and the katana into the other. As he held it in the direction of the dark void. Which revealed a doorway. "Was that a suitable answer?"

"You got lucky." Tessa sighed as she took the light from him shining it at the doorway. The light revealing a room beyond it, moving closer to it. They saw that the room was rather large. But neither felt particularly in a rush to go into the room.

"I'll go first. Just in case an Android tries to get the jump on us. If I get ambushed, you go in for a counter attack, okay? If you're as strong as you say you are, then you'll be able to take it out in no time." Septum said, holding out his hand for the light.

"Are you sure about this?" Tessa asked with a bit of hesitance in her voice as she looked at the light in her hands. Internally debating with herself.

"Better me taking a blow, then you. You're the one who needs to make it to Eden in one piece. What happens to me is inconsequential in the grand scheme of things." Septum said gently, taking her hand into his own. Gently pulling her fingers away from the light and taking it from her hand. "Don't worry. I got this."

Septum wasn't capable of feeling fear, so in situations like this. He was the best person to go first, whether he liked his odds or not. Because he wasn't the type to buckle in the face of adversity.

Entering the room Septum moved the light around observing various piles of bones that were surprisingly neatly kept together. The room was almost entirely made up of foundations with small slits towards its 'ceiling' that allowed for air to move through the top. Or at least that was what he assumed they were for until three separate bright lights turned on illuminating the entire room, to show a single figure standing in the middle of the room just outside of the faint light Septum held in his hand.

The figure was obviously an Android with weird metallic pieces jutting from its elbows. With the tips of two cylindrical objects jutting right from the tip of the metallic pieces.

It wore a sleeveless shirt, not like the kind that were makeshift sleeveless, but the kind that was an actual tank top.

"Tell me, is that shirt really five hundred years old or is there a stockpile nearby that has a fashion sense?" Septum questioned dropping the light that was in his hand so he had the free hand.

"It's called taking really good care of my belongings. You humans should really try it sometime. The Android said moving a strand of its long blonde hair from its face. A smile of pearly whites showing off the bravado.

"It's kinda hard to try that when you guys keep putting holes and generally ruining our stuff." Septum pointed out, as he crossed the distance between them so there was a mere ten feet(3 Meters)apart.

"I can admit where we are at fault, but let's cap this bit off with introductions before we fight shall we?" The Android said while doing some stretches. "My name is Andros." He then added as he finished his stretching.

"I didn't know Androids to be cordial." Septum said as he took a stance holding the katana in both hands. "But I'll oblige. My name is Septum."

"I like knowing the name of Agents I kill." Andros said simply as he moved with blinding speed lunging at Septum who in kind moved just as fast making a quick slash of his blade that didn't cut as deep as he wanted it to, leaving himself open to the Androids attack.

The fist of the Android connected with his opponents chest, a portion of the lethal momentum being absorbed by the outfit the Agent wore. With the rest following through with enough remaining force to send the human sliding back. Nearly sending him off his feet.

Septum gasped a bit as the pain shot through his body. Even with the suit absorbing a portion of the Androids force, he still felt the majority of the punch. It was through sheer and utter luck that he was still able to breathe right now, if that attack had been just a bit harder. His lungs would've been crushed by bone.

But he didn't have time to think of his miraculous luck as Andros rushed at him again. Closing the distance between them quicker than it did the first time.

He didn't have the time to counter-attack, or dodge the barrage of fists being thrown his way. It was just enough time for him to attempt to block the majority of the attacks using his arms to brace himself against the incoming attacks. Every fist that slammed into his body sent a new wave of pain through his body. Going closer and closer to the threshold of pain that he was capable of fighting through.

Septum attempted to move just enough to buy himself a moment of reprieve only for the Android to move in time catching him across the right side of his face. Sending Septum flying into the nearby wall.

He only saw stars from the beating he had taken. His body cried out from the pain. His jaw was already swelling from the hit he had taken. But at least he now had a bit of distance between him and the Android.

He didn't worry about recovering himself in any capacity. He just took another stance, this time more prepared to take on the Androids barrage.

With each hit he took, he adjusted more and more to reading the Androids ludicrous speed. Watching in real time as he read the actions through the physical blur that obscured it as it moved.

Taking a step to the side, he managed to dodge the incoming right jab as the Androids fist slammed into the wall. Placing itself right where Septum wanted him as he made a strong upward slash, catching it across its chest with a deeper cut.

"Good, good! Not only can you take a good hit! You can deal one in return!" Andros yelled with excitement evident on its face. A sight that genuinely shocked Septum into standing still. Leaving him open to a gut shot from the Androids left hand.

Tessa watched on with a mix of horror and unimpressed. Horror from the absolute beating she was watching Septum take, but also how unimpressed she was with how he was fighting. It was almost as if he were barely trained with how to deal with an opponent fighting using only their hands.

And man did it hurt to watch. She would definitely need to talk to whoever was in charge of training the Agents at Eden. Because they definitely weren't on par with the Agents of Olympus.

At least that was how it looked on the surface, but the fight was going nowhere near anyone's favor. So Tessa decided it was in Septums best interest that she butt in.

Drawing both of her Wakazashi's she charged at the Android, moving a good deal slower than she normally moved due to the infection in her system. But her fighting style more than compensated for that as she slid delivering a spinning slash to the back of its knees striking the joints with enough force to make it stagger.

Turning, Andros focused its attention to the small red headed human that had came out of nowhere. Landing not one strike, but two with enough strength to bring it to its knee.

It wasn't often he, a Mach Three Android, took damage from humans. But when he did, it was enough to strike the fires inside his old gears.

"Finally. Things are getting fun." Andros smiled wider as he turned to the red head. "Guess I can finally get serious now."

Tessa didn't say a word in response, the only thing she did was take a stance. One aimed at lopping the Androids head off.