The aircraft touched down on a makeshift airstrip carved into the side of a sprawling mountain range. The runway itself was little more than a stretch of flat, packed earth flanked by tall evergreens. As soon as our plane's wheels hit the ground, the pilot and crew hurriedly ushered Booker and me off the craft. Their expressions suggested they couldn't get us unloaded fast enough.
"Man, they sure wasted no time," I remarked, watching as the pilot gave a curt wave before powering the engines again.
"I know, right?" Booker agreed, his voice slightly quavering, as if he, too, sensed how uneasy the flight crew had been.
Moments later, the plane began to taxi down the runway, leaving Booker and me at the edge of a small clearing. A scattering of pine trees lined the perimeter, their needles carpeting the ground beneath our feet. The air smelled crisp and faintly of woodsmoke—perhaps from a nearby campsite or one of the few rural homes in the region.
I glanced around, hands resting on my hips. "So this is where they dropped us, huh? The map said there's a settlement somewhere close by."
"Yeah," Booker replied, tapping the sleek watch wrapped around his wrist. A faint digital display lit up, showing a local area map. "According to this, the city we're supposed to reach is about fifteen minutes south. We just follow that dirt road until it joins with a paved one."
"Then let's not waste any time," I said, stepping away from the runway area. "We've got to move. Aaliah could be waiting for us—or needing us."
Booker's expression turned resolute. "Couldn't have said it better myself."
We set off, navigating through a stretch of forest that lay between us and the main road. My mind wandered to Aaliah as we walked: Was she hurt, or captured somewhere by the Harbingers of Doom? Were we too late already, or would we somehow arrive in time to help?
A few minutes into our trek, I picked up the low rumble of an engine closing in behind us. The sound echoed through the woods, bouncing between the tall trunks. I turned to share a glance with Booker, and we both stepped off the narrow path to watch a small plane—the plane we'd arrived in—pass overhead at an alarmingly low altitude.
"That's weird," Booker said, furrowing his brow. "Why would it be flying so low?"
I squinted, shielding my eyes from the sun. "Not sure. Maybe they're trying to get out of dodge in a hurry."
But then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a flash of movement. Something—someone—was trailing the aircraft. The plane dipped and swerved as if evading an unseen pursuer. Booker let out a soft gasp. "Kaleb, do you see that figure chasing it?"
Focusing on the shape, I realized it did not move like an ordinary human. Its limbs were rigid and mechanical, and it zipped through the air too swiftly to be a person wearing a typical flight suit. "That's not a person," I murmured, unsettled by the sight.
Before we could even think about what to do, a burst of flame erupted from the airplane. Booker and I both flinched, stepping back in shock as fire and smoke belched out of one of the engines. Within seconds, the craft was engulfed in a bright orange inferno, its trajectory wobbling uncontrollably.
"Oh no," I whispered, horror twisting my stomach.
"We can't help them," Booker said, his voice trembling with urgency. "We need to get out of here before that… thing notices us."
Together, we broke into a sprint, our footsteps thudding against the packed earth. In the chaos, I heard Booker mutter something about his suit, and when I glanced at him, I saw a faint shimmer of energy ripple along his form. Within moments, his costume materialized, enveloping him in protective gear.
"You're right," I said as we ducked beneath low-hanging branches. "It's too dangerous to hang around the crash site. Let's make for the city."
We pressed on, weaving between trees, hearts pounding like drums. Suddenly, Booker shouted, "Watch out!" He tackled me to the ground, and I felt a rush of hot air blow past. An explosion behind us sent chunks of bark and soil flying. A missile—or some projectile—had impacted one of the nearby pines, leaving the trunk splintered and smoldering.
"Thanks," I gasped, scrambling to my feet. My mind raced. Who or what was firing at us?
My question was answered mere seconds later. A massive, humanoid android slammed into the earth about ten feet ahead, sending shockwaves through the ground. The machine rose to its full height—easily seven feet tall. Its matte-black exterior absorbed the sunlight, making it look like a silhouette cut out of reality. I could see the faint glow of red lines tracing across its limbs, reminiscent of energy conduits, and its visor-like eyes glowed with baleful intensity.
Booker and I froze, exchanging alarmed glances. The android's digitized voice rang out, "Heroes identified. Engaging."
Then it lunged. Its speed defied its bulky frame, and in an instant, it was upon us. Booker dove to the left while I dove to the right, barely avoiding the android's sweeping arm. The machine rocketed skyward, as though propelled by hidden thrusters, then hung in midair, scanning the terrain for us.
"What do we do?" Booker called to me, eyes flicking between the android and the tree line behind us.
Before I could respond, the android hurtled back down like a falling meteor, aiming to crush us beneath its weight. We split in opposite directions, hearts hammering, and the machine's impact cratered the ground with a deafening crash. Dirt and stones sprayed outward, peppering my suit.
"We have maybe ten minutes before we reach that city!" I shouted, lungs burning from adrenaline.
Booker nodded briskly. "Exactly. We won't make it if this thing keeps pursuing us."
That's when my eyes drifted to the horizon, only to see three more dark silhouettes converging on our position. It was the same type of android—each built for combat, each brandishing weapons. There would be no easy way out. Booker skidded to a stop, glancing at me.
"We have to fight," he said, energy crackling around his hands. The blue glow I'd come to associate with his powers spread across his arms, almost like liquid electricity. A slight hum filled the air as he lifted off the ground, hovering a few inches above the forest floor.
I nodded, bracing myself. "Right." My mind jumped to Aaliah again—this was exactly why we needed to get stronger, to face threats like these. My suit flared to life, shimmering with the cosmic patterns that had been designed to contain my abilities. "Let's do this."
He shot off into the sky, heading straight for the androids that were rushing us. I picked one at random—tall, menacing, and mechanical like the rest—and gritted my teeth. Cupping my hands, I gathered solar energy from the bright morning sun overhead, channeling it through the suit's embedded nodes. The result was a searing ray of concentrated power, which I unleashed at the first android.
However, these machines were more agile than I'd anticipated. The android dodged the blast with an aerial maneuver, swirling around me in a wide loop. Then, from hidden compartments on its arms, it deployed small cannons that began firing plasma rounds. My reflexes kicked in, and I spread my iridescent cloak, which solidified into a makeshift shield. The shots ricocheted off with sizzling bursts, though each impact rattled my arm.
I sneaked a glance at Booker, who was darting through the air, weaving around the projectiles from two more androids. The flight gave him a slight advantage, allowing him to dodge in three dimensions. But I could see the strain on his face—he was still new to extended aerial combat, and the androids were relentless.
My adversary paused its barrage, presumably needing to cool down its weapon systems or reload. It took advantage of the lull to land in front of me, standing at full height again. A servo whirred audibly as it clenched a metal fist. In a split second, it swung that fist at my chest. My emblem cracked beneath the blow, and I was hurled backward, my back slamming into an old tree. Pain flared through my rib cage, and I gasped for air.
The android did not relent—it stormed forward, lashing out with another punch. I mustered what little breath I had left, rolling aside just in time. Its metal fist crushed the trunk of the oak, sending splinters flying. I scrabbled to my feet, scanning for any weak spot on its durable frame.
Then I spotted it: a small compartment near the back of its head that glowed with a faint orange light. Likely an energy cell or a control node. If I could just disable that, maybe it would go down. But I'd need a burst of electromagnetic power to do so—something that would short-circuit its circuits.
Gathering that energy was no easy task. My body still ached from the punch, and the android was too close for comfort. "Back off," I hissed through gritted teeth, desperately wanting a moment to focus.
Suddenly, Booker streaked in, leading a pair of additional androids behind him in a chase. At the last second, he pivoted and launched a concentrated bolt of blue energy into the android harassing me. It stumbled backward, giving me exactly the window I needed to put my plan into action.
Now free for a second, I planted my feet, eyes drifting shut as I drew upon the deepest well of power I could find within. My suit thrummed, the lines along my arms and legs intensifying in color. Sparks danced off my fingertips. I was ready.
"Booker, get some distance!" I yelled, realizing the electromagnetic pulse would probably take out more than just the machines—it might send any living thing within range flying.
He shot straight up, and I let the energy swell in my hands before thrusting them outward. A deafening crack tore through the air, accompanied by a pulse of crackling light that spread in every direction. The androids, caught in the epicenter, spasmed wildly as their circuits overloaded.
The first one exploded in a shower of sparks and twisted metal. The others followed suit, each bursting in a chaotic flash of red embers. Smoke billowed into the air, forming a dark cloud that mixed with the forest greenery.
I spotted Booker tumbling toward me from the blast's aftershock, limbs flailing as he lost control. He plummeted at a dangerous angle, and I realized he was going to crash right where I stood. My gaze darted to the forest floor. If I could just soften it somehow…
"Time for the jelly trick," I muttered. Stomping down with my foot, I concentrated on altering the composition of the soil beneath me. Instantly, the ground shimmered and turned semi-translucent, transforming into a kind of gelatinous cushion. Booker slammed into it with a splat, bouncing gently rather than smashing into solid earth.
He gasped, eyes wide. "Is this… jelly?" he asked, his voice incredulous.
I let out a breathless laugh. "Yeah, long story. Let's just say it's a side effect of channeling certain reality-warping energy. Now come on, we have no clue if more of them are on the way."
Booker slowly got to his feet. The jelly-like ground quivered beneath him, and then I released my hold, allowing it to revert to normal soil. He brushed some residual goo from his costume, gave me a small grin, and then looked at the still-smoking debris from the androids.
"That was close," he said softly, voice trembling with residual adrenaline. "You saved us with that pulse."
I pressed a hand to my chest, wincing at the cracked emblem. "Couldn't have done it if you hadn't flown in to distract the thing. Thanks for that."
A pause lingered between us, thick with the realization that we'd just survived a clash with something obviously beyond normal criminals. If these androids were from the Harbingers—or some associated group—then our mission had gotten a whole lot more serious.
Booker nodded to me, eyes flicking to the horizon. "We still have about ten minutes to reach the outskirts of that city. We can't afford any more delays."
I agreed, swallowing hard as I forced my aching body into motion again. "Let's move then. This area's too exposed—we should find a side route in case they send reinforcements."
Walking on wobbly legs, we skirted around the smoldering wreckage of the downed androids. Soot and the acrid smell of burnt metal hung in the air, stinging my nostrils. My mind spun with questions: Who deployed these mechanical assassins? Did they already know we'd arrived? Had the plane's presence given us away?
Booker's watch beeped intermittently, perhaps trying to reacquire a signal or data feed. We trudged forward, the trees closing around us again like silent onlookers. In the distance, I could see a faint wisp of smoke rising from behind a hill—possibly a campfire or a settlement. Somewhere near that smoke lay the city we were meant to protect.
"You all right?" I asked Booker, noticing he was favoring his left side.
He gave me a tight smile. "Bruised, but nothing major. I'll be good."
We pressed on, every step feeling like a victory after that skirmish. The forest eventually began to thin out, revealing a wider dirt road that sloped gently downward. Beyond, I could make out rooftops and buildings through the haze—a hint of civilization. It had to be the outskirts of the city we were aiming for.
My stomach twisted with apprehension, though. If just getting here had been that difficult, what awaited us in the heart of the settlement? Still, we had no choice. This was our lead on Aaliah, and we weren't going to turn back just because of a few advanced kill-bots.
I exhaled, letting some of the tension drain from my shoulders. "Once we find the city's local defenders, maybe they'll know something about Aaliah," I said, more to reassure myself than Booker.
He nodded, eyes flicking to a battered sign near the road that read "South Pine Ridge – 2 Miles." "Let's hope so," he replied quietly. "And let's also hope the Harbingers don't have more of these flying nightmares waiting for us."
He had every right to be worried, and so did I. But as we walked, battered yet alive, I clung to a small spark of optimism. We'd taken on four advanced androids and come out on top. Our powers might still be in their early stages, and we might still have a long way to go, but we were learning how to fight as a team—watching each other's backs, combining strategies, and reacting to threats without panicking.
If we could do that, then maybe we had a chance of saving Aaliah, and maybe an entire city, from the Harbingers of Doom. It was a tall order, but giving up wasn't an option. With the wind rustling through the trees and the sting of fresh injuries reminding me just how high the stakes were, I pressed forward, determined to see this through.
Booker and I exchanged a look—part nerves, part determination—and continued heading south, the promise of conflict heavy in the air, but also the possibility of finding answers and rescuing our loved one. One step at a time, we trudged on, the memory of that fiery plane and the destroyed androids pushing us onward, reminding us that the world we'd stepped into was dangerous but not unconquerable.