CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
"War is war. The only good human being is a dead one." - George Orwell
Harry knew that Makr would make a move as soon as the Bios were in the open. There was the square in front of the massive structure that appeared to be a factory. That was where they should find Carlos' four hundred or so Shadows. To Harry, the journey to the exit had been a walk-through of various pieces of electronic testing equipment and Cyber hardware. To Carlos and the others, it appeared they were walking through walls and other obstacles set in their path by SensaVision. Walking by a few Cyber technicians, they brought laser axes and grenade launchers up to the ready position until they discovered these cyberts were harmlessly assembling Cyber equipment. The single purpose cyberts totally ignored the group passing through, since it wasn't in their program to pay attention to anything but their work. The security cyberts that usually looked out for them were suspiciously absent at that moment.
Getting through the maze of cyberts wasn't as difficult as they had originally thought. Reality flickers were now common; however, they served to remind the Bios they were surrounded by illusion. Makr had given them safe passage insofar as He could. Once Outside, Makr's program still controlled the renegade cyberts.
Carlos wondered if all the Blue Leaders were renegades. Or, all the red. Those were the ones that had given him the most trouble. Of course, they'd never know a friendly from a renegade unless one of them fired first, which was likely to be the renegade, and the warning would come too late. No one—at least, no humans or Bios could duck that fast. So, Carlos and his team would have to shoot first and determine later if the action was necessary.
Kieran had her Carlos back. He was hurt, but he could heal. Marlene was content to follow her brother, Harry. Who do I follow if not Makr? She asked herself. My heart, she answered. From now on, my heart.
Mother-General, in her heart, gave up the "General" part in favor of just being a mother. Carlos was the true general today, she knew that. He had all the qualities necessary to lead these people through this difficult time of change. My Harry and Jana, look at the contribution they've made, she thought. Thanks, Ray. I knew you had something to do with all of this. Were you responsible for the new chips? I've known for a long time you weren't the monster behind the machine. I only wish I had known sooner.
At the exit, there was a crowd. A crowd! A big crowd. Bigger than they'd expected. Not four hundred, it looked more like four or five thousand, and those were just the ones they could see when they had a clear line of sight. But any crowd would seem large, indeed, if you hadn't seen one before. Mother-General's second dream had come true. Her first dream had been fulfilled: to see all of her children again.
Except for Ramón, but he'd been different anyway. He had been a boy soldier trying to be a man, trying to emulate his older brother, Carlos. He and Carlos had much in common now. Carlos, too, looked admiringly at his older brother, Harry.
Suddenly, Cyberts came out of nowhere. From every corner of the square, dozens of them. Mostly Blue Leaders. A few of the slower, but larger Red Leaders. Experienced, battle-hardened killing machines. They were blasting away at the crowd with their lasers or disintegrators. It was carnage. A hundred dead in a few seconds. Screams. Running. Running to where? Panic ensued. The panic also killed nearly the same amount as they fell under the heels of the stampeding people trying to stay alive. No one was returning fire.
The cyberts went into scanning mode. A 360 degree rotation of their heads, which moved so quickly the image of the cybert faces blurred. Next, the two extra appendages emerged and the laser cannon blasts came quicker and hit their targets more accurately.
No other Bios seemed to be armed here except for the three of them: Carlos, Marlene, and Kieran, who had taken cover by an ancient fountain. The others must have thought the war was over and laid down their weapons, and, since discovering their mistake, were now hiding in the nearest shadow. Most likely a Makr trick. Maybe all this about Harry was a trick, too, thought Leach, still holding on to Harry. He was trying to return fire at the Blue Leaders. He couldn't hold Harry for much longer, and continue to blast away at the cyberts. It was awkward and difficult to shoot straight. Harry didn't weigh much, but it was dead weight that wouldn't stay put without constant jiggling to find the center of gravity. Without Harry, he couldn't see. At least, this way he could fight back.
Leach was taking a few hits. His armor was looking scorched and black in parts, but he was hanging in there. There were laser holes, but nothing serious yet. He noticed he was leaking a little fluid. That was all. He'd worry about that after he finished his job here. While his massive size made him easier to spot, his widely distributed mass made him a difficult target. His enormous bulk meant that his composite armor had to be thicker and tougher to support his weight.
Harry had stopped communicating ideas; it used too much energy. He had to concentrate now on seeing for Leach. So his mind took over with a single mission— providing images directly to the mind of his new friend. But those images in his mind were fading, which meant Harry's brain must have been fading, too. Or maybe it wasn't that at all. Could it be the gel was slipping or evaporating— or something else?
"Will you be all right?" Leach asked Harry.
"As long as you're with me."
Leach sensed Harry was dying. Have to get him to another healing vat, he thought. Where I was assembled, they have vats like that. Hope they contain the same stuff he needs. Harry/Leach looked over at Carlos who could see if they were in the clear. He would cover their backs. Carlos waved to them, finding it difficult to think he was saying "good-bye" to his brother who he hardly knew. Even Leach had been changed by knowing him. Leach no longer hated Carlos; no need as Harry had said. Besides, Leach had found his place, finally. Leach told Harry to hang on even though there was no longer any movement at all from Harry's body. As long as Leach could see where he was going, Harry's mind was still alive. He started to run, taking longer strides by extending his legs as far as they would stretch. Moving more quickly than even the Blue Leaders, he was able to evade even the Cyber disintegrators that needed a fraction of a second more to recharge after firing. It was enough for the moment, but it was not long before the Blue Leaders caught up. The cyberts seemed to be moving faster than ever, supercharged by a kind of Cyber adrenalin—if Makr had created such a thing.
In hot pursuit, the Blue Leaders were firing their lasers and burning holes in the metal giant, and striking vital parts that would soon cease operating; when that happened, Leach would cease as well. He knew this, but something kept driving him on, running faster and faster. The gel had worked its magic on him. He knew what Harry knew. On another level, he knew what Makr knew, because he now knew Harry and he was truly happy for the first time in his life. It felt good to do something good.
Leach reached peak performance Outside in the city, near the factory that had made him.
Standing in front of the factory, there were Bios everywhere, forming a crowd, forming an unarmed army, same as at the square where Carlos and the others had fought the Blue Leaders. Here, in spite of the danger, large numbers of Bios, all ages including children, thousands from everywhere, had found their way Outside. Some had probably come from Inside as soon as they received the Reverend's final message.
The blossoming crowd was composed all groups: Shadows, Touchables, and, most certainly the Evangels. It appeared the Evangels had put themselves in charge and were spreading the Word as they knew it, ensuring their message of acceptance of Cyber rule and repeating the prophesy that a savior would come who was one with Makr, who would be greater than Makr. When they saw Harry being carried by the cyborg, Leach, they assumed it was a sign from Makr. This must be the Savior! Cheers erupted, giving momentary order among the chaos.
The crowd scattered, individuals trying to save themselves. Many of the Bios sought shadows to hide in when they saw Leach in his Cyber body. It was just as well that some were hiding. They didn't believe. Ironic.
Yes, said Leach.