Arlene
AI has changed the world
I'm just a girl whose father created the AI sentient.
I'm also just a girl who has to fix her father's mistakes
Technocolus must fall
My father brought monsters into our world and then vanished, I've been looking for him for three years now. Which is why I'm out here at the top of this hill in the middle of the wastelands following a clue I saw in his journal.
I definitely didn't expect to see a screaming boy falling from the sky.
At first I mistake the loud shriek that pierces the air for radio interference, and with a frown start to fiddle the knob on the box set strapped to the middle of the handlebars of my motorbike.
I realize the sound isn't coming from the radio. Confused, I look around and then up.
"What the hell?" I murmur, squinting at the indigo sky and setting sun.
The object descending from the sky looks like a missile, until I realize it's a person flailing their arms and legs. And I'm pretty sure falling to their death.
My heart starts to thump, could it be?
I think about my father's cryptic entries in his journal…This could be it! The answer he said I'd find here. The way to put a stop to Technocolus, the enemy we've been fighting for years.
Screaming boy surprises me by springing a parachute at the dying minute. This slows his fall fractionally until he's entangled in the branches of a poplar tree in the middle of the field. I move slowly, crouching in the grass, my olive tank top and black combats aren't the best camouflage but I manage to blend in.
The dry blades rustle with the slight evening breeze and tickle my bare arms as I use my hands to clear a path in front of me.
I approach the tree and make myself visible after scanning the perimeter. The boy is cursing and kicking his legs wildly while swinging helplessly from the tree. He pauses for a second when he sees me. He's dressed in a long sleeve thermal black sweater and black combat trousers tucked into boots.
On top his head is a black mop of messy curls, his face is lean and chiseled, with hollow cheeks, deep set eyes and dark skin.
His features scrunch up like he's trying to place something but can't remember.
"You're supposed to be blonde," He blurts out.
I blink a few times
"What?" My hand strays to my head consciously. I dyed my honey blonde hair black since I officially started living like a fugitive a year ago, but how the hell does he know that?
"I don't…I thought you were blonde," He shakes his head,
I stare up at him wondering if he hit his head on the way down or his brain is delirious from inhaling too much purple smog.
What is my father up to sending him to me?
"Hey help me out will you?" The boy calls,
I cross my arms and give him a serious look,
"Who are you?"
He deliberates this for a while.
"I'm Zyon,"
That name doesn't ring any bells to me,
"I feel like I'm supposed to know you," The boy adds,
The corners of my lips curl downward, for one I know he's definitely human. No Droid would be this clumsy.
I study his ruddy face, he has thick brows and a sharp jawline. He doesn't look any younger than me, and I'm 18 years old.
I bite my cheek to prevent myself from asking if my father sent him, saying his name to the wrong person is tantamount to treason and a quick death sentence.
A resigned exhale escapes from my mouth, I don't know what I was expecting but once again my father has managed to surprise me.
I make a split second decision, and raise my right arm where a bulky bracelet connected to my XC9 upgraded and modified battle gauntlet sits. Strapped to my forearm is a small interface for settings.
I set it to laser mode and take aim, Zyon's eyes turn into wide saucers and he starts to kick frantically causing him to swing even more,
"Stay still!" I snap,
"Why are you pointing those things at me?" His voice is slightly hysteric,
I roll my eyes, he's definitely human. A pulse of blue beam shoots out from my micro shooters cutting through one of the straps holding him up. Six more blasts and he comes tumbling to the ground.
I move to stand over him and keep my shooters pointed at his head, keeping my voice sharp,
"Do you have a message for me?"
His hands are raised up in surrender, he speaks slowly, "Lady I don't know where I am or who you are and I definitely don't have a message for you."
He's crossed eyed because he's staring at the nozzles of my bracelet.
"Then how'd you get here? And why did you say I was supposed to be blonde?"
"I don't know okay." He babbles, "I just woke up and someone said some stuff to me and then pushed me off a plane,"
He glares at me suspiciously like I had something to do with that. His story makes zero sense to me.
Bitter frustration bubbles in the pit of my stomach. Where are the answers I was promised? My bracelets which are linked to my brain sensors react to my rising emotions and start to hum ominously, the boy, Zyon, scrambles back,
"Hey now…"
Before I can open my mouth to speak, I notice a glint of metal catching the fading sunlight among the grass.
An ominous low creaking sound reaches my ears, and my heart starts to thump wildly. Freaking hell!
The creatures emitting the sounds form a semicircle, approaching us crouched on all fours. Their bodies are like experiments from Frankenstein's lab, a gross mixture of bio form and machinery crudely coupled together.
"Shit," I hiss,
Zyon follows the direction of my gaze and a very tiny squeak escapes from him, "What are those things?"
I stare at him in amazement, has he been living under a rock for the past five years? Still I find myself explaining to him.
"Those are animatrons. Technocolus experimented with wild animals for a while, turns out animals don't do well with brain chips, and they mostly turned rabid,"
While talking I count them. They number about half a dozen, the only hope of getting away is my motorbike which happens to be on the other side of the field behind us.
This isn't looking good.
"We're going to have to make a run for it." I say as a crazy plan starts to form in my head,
Zyon is skeptical. He's still sprawled on the floor with his neck turned to watch them, "Can we outrun those things?"
I shrug and reach into the pockets on my left pant leg, "If we have enough of a head start," I murmur.
The animatrons growl and the creaking increases, they're getting ready to attack. I bring out the flare that I save for emergencies and a timer grenade that emits loud noises just before it explodes.
I heft both, say a quick prayer and toss them in opposite directions, the objects attract the animatrons and they scatter, going for the projectiles,
I pump my fist mentally and drag Zyon by the neck of his shirt,
"Come on," I say,
He stumbles a little but quickly recovers and we run together.
Our breaths come out in short pants as we cut through the waist high grass, a few seconds later the grenade explodes, and bits of debris land around us.
"Don't look back!" I warn Zyon,
"What's your name?" He wheezes,
We're close to my motorbike now,
"Arlene," I respond.
"Where are we Arlene?"
I take a moment to think before answering him,
"We're in the wastelands just outside of Civic city."
"Civic city? I've never heard of-"
Something knocks into me before I hear the rest of his sentence. I stumble forward and use my hand to break my fall as I crash to the ground,
I spin quickly with my gauntlet raised, my assaulter is a chimpanzee with a metal maw, teeth and arms. It creaks and bares its fangs. It must have ignored my bait and come straight for me and Zyon.
"Arlene!" Zyon cries out,
I fire off a blast, but I'm disoriented and my aim is off. The creature ducks and lunges at me, I shield my eyes and face and try to power up my gauntlet for a super punch.
But Zyon throws himself in front of me and punches the animatron straight in its chest, it flies back a few feet and lands loudly on the ground.
It rises, shakes its head and comes at him again, crying in a frenzy of rage and bloodlust. Zyon waits calmly, the muscles of his shoulders and back tensed under his shirt, when it gets close enough to swipe at him, he dances back, grabs hold of its wrist, and pulls it close while cocking back his arm with his hand made into a tight fist.
With a fierce look on his face he punches straight through the thing's chest, twists his arm and rips out its core, leaving a gaping hole in its sternum.
I stare at him in amazement, there's not a single scratch on him, and all traces of the clumsy awkward boy are gone temporarily.
Zyon is staring at his hands with a shocked expression, I already know we're not going to make it to my bike in time. The creatures are too fast.
I struggle to my feet my face rigid with anger. It's sad that I came out here for nothing. Because after this, I'm going to have to kill Zyon now that I know what he is.
Another abomination created by my father. Even after all the old man's mistakes he still sent me another AI.