Episode 14
Zero moved with all the speed he could call on, driven by his additional primary directive to safeguard his friend. He initialized a slumbering process waiting in his memory and aimed his path straight for Lexel. Already the fresh pair of fighters was moving in on her and as good as he was there was no way Zero could protect her from so many attackers. If even one strike made it to her he would never be able live with himself.
Lexel turned her back to the approaching attackers and loosed a shrill shriek of trembling terror. She didn’t know what else to do, giving Zero advice was one thing but going toe to toe unarmed against brawling bots was another. “Leova,” Lexel whispered her mother’s name to herself as she expected to greet her impending dark fate and wished she had had more time to speak to her mother.
Zero engaged the waiting sequence and locked on to Lexel. Systems surged to life and sparked into a transformation as he rocketed straight towards Lexel’s back. His chassis clicked and clanked as it changed to cradle Lexel’s cowering form. Zero’s arms morphed their metal shape to cover Lexel’s, his legs layering over her own. The transformation reshaped Zero until he became an echoed exterior of armor, linked directly to her mind by her data-jack.
The sudden shock of the experience stunned Lexel; her mind reeled at the strange sensation of sharing Zero’s body. She could feel his various sensors feeding in input, raw data detailing their surroundings. Information formed into an almost tangible shape, Lexel could nearly taste the metallic composition of the steel frames behind her. The sudden impact of blows upon their back rocked Lexel back into reality.
“We have to get moving, there is no time to just set here,” Lexel found that as the thought came to her she could hear it drifting out into Zero. Already the prodigious prototype was in motion as he spun to face the duo behind them. His hands shot forward towards his foes chests, catching them in mid-swing of a follow up assault. A powerful burst of thrust erupted outward from his hands blasting him backwards slightly to safety and sending his opponents tumbling.
“I might have an idea,” Lexel told Zero with a thought. “If we can manage to remove one of those shields we might have a chance to use it against these other two. Can your torch cut through that hard point Zero?” Lexel found her answer came not surprisingly with a complex stream of calculations and referenced data. “Unknown; my ion torch lacks the raw power to cut through something that reinforced, at least quickly,” Zero explained. “It’s worth a shot,” Lexel countered and noticed that already Zero was formulating an approach strategy for the attempt.
Together they charged towards their target. The damage to its side had continued to spark and crackle with unknown effects to its internal hardware. Foam still partially clung to its optics and one of its shields; somehow it had managed to dislodge the coating to free the other weapon. It turned at their approach to maximize its remaining vision and raised its shield once more.
Another vaulted combo was not going to work this time, Zero knew it would be expected. He also knew without needing to calculate the odds that cutting to pass around his foes weak side was also the logical and therefore the expected attack. No, without hesitation he roared his thrusters to life and powered himself into a pass aimed directly at his opponents waiting guard.
A shinning shield once more flashed forward to brutally bash Zero’s approach. But instead of colliding with him it met with a lightning fast jab that jarred it off course. Zero immediately followed up with another punch and another that drove the wielded weapon in a backwards tilt towards its owner. The foam encased sibling shield already swung to try to intercept Zero’s assault, but its added weight slowed it slightly. Zero deftly rolled to the side in a pivot that carried him just under the aimed blow and around his adversary’s exposed side. Instantly he seized a hold of the out stretched arm and pulled it into the path of his foes other appendage. A new shower of sparks filled the air as both disks ripped into their opposite arms.
Zero grabbed at both of the falling forearms and sent them flying at his other two opponents. The shimmering shields slammed home into armored abdomens with a neat and resounding thud. As Lexel watched as all three fighters fell to the ground it sent a wave of excitement and thrill roaring to life within her. “We did it,” she exclaimed with glee.
Once again the shadows spoke. “Well done, impressive even. You will be hearing from us again very soon.” And then, just like that the night was quiet once more. It was the silence itself that began to alert Zero’s sensors, the complete lack of sound around them. Which could only mean one thing; Greyhounds and with his dwindling reserves he was in no condition for another prolonged battle.
Episode 15
Neon lights rippled along drifting shadows as Zero marked no less than a dozen Greyhounds circling them, ready to pounce. The pack of predators moved in cunning concert, a marked change in their approach from before. Without needing his analytical circuits to predict the matter, Zero was already intimately aware the Greyhounds would be better prepared for him this time.
“Hey Zero, we have some company,” Lexel pointed out, unsure what to make of the newcomers. “Didn’t they say we had earned our invite already? Wait; is it just me or do those look a little familiar?” Lexel watched the prowling shapes that moved around them in the distance and couldn’t shake the sinking suspicion that she had seen these hounds before.
“I am already aware of the present danger,” Zero informed her and as he did so Lexel recognized the various data feeds buzzing around her. She spotted the recalled image of one of the damaged dogs from the previous fight in the alley. That is where she had seen one before; these were the same kind of things that had attacked them in the alley when they went on the run. But what were they doing here now?
“Well, we can trash these guys like before right? Let’s just add them to the scrap heap,” Lexel declared proudly. “Negative,” Zero replied instantly. “My internal reserves are nearing 43%; I lack the offensive capability to effectively handle confronting this threat. Without the additional burst-enhanced movement at our disposal we have virtually no chance against them in a protracted battle. Our only chance for surviving the encounter is not to fight, but instead to take flight.”
“You telling me you can fly us out of here? Wow, you must be some kind of super robot dog after all,” Lexel exclaimed. “You misunderstand,” Zero corrected. “Not aerial flight; our only odds for preserving our existence lies in fleeing. However if I make use of the rest of my reserves in a single massive discharge I may be able to propel us clear. The danger then will be in the fact that we will be at the mercy of our landing, we will have no control to compensate or adjust.”
“If you’re telling me that our options are to face down these hounds while we are out numbered or to make a long-shot leap to try to escape then by all means; let’s bounce!” If Zero said that he could not handle this rematch against these hostile hounds then after everything else she had to take his word for it. Besides, Zero had always been able to take a serious pounding; surely they could handle a crash landing if they needed to.
Angles and trajectories filled Zero’s mind as he calculated the optimal escape avenue. Thermal Talon’s charged to a bright orange glow in the jaws of the circling sinister sharks. Zero’s sensors exploded with the sudden surge of multiple moving targets all rushing at him. It was now or never, so without finishing his calculations he punched the full force of his thrust stabilizers to life and threw himself into motion. Compressed jets of air exploded out behind Zero as he roared into a run that carried him into a flying leap aimed to vault over the nearest ruined building tops.
Those brick clad buildings were coming up incredibly fast as Lexel watched through Zero’s enhanced perception overlaying her own. The world flashed a bright shade of crimson and Lexel realized an alarm was thundering. “Brace for impact; collision imminent,” Zero warned and Lexel instantly grasped what that meant. Without any more thrust to counter their flight they were
not going to make it over the approaching wall. Instead they were going to go through it and down to whatever awaited them. “How in the world do you brace for an impact inside a robot dog,” Lexel thought to herself. Reflex prompted her to tuck her arms and legs in to form a ball and before she could question the impulse she soon found the armor that was Zero responding in kind.
Watching with a snarl upon his face Mr. Graves witnessed as Zero escaped him yet again. He seethed with a furious fire in his chest at the realization that his prey had not only managed to get away but had done so with a civilian child onboard. This was getting out of hand fast and had to be dealt with decisively. “Perhaps we should make sure our little friends have a fitting challenge waiting for them in the arena,” Graves mused aloud.
“Make the arrangements,” Graves told an orbiting Oracle droid. “We shall eliminate this problem not by hunting it, but by letting it walk right into its waiting execution.”
Episode 16
The sudden embrace of mortar and stone was anything but pleasant as Lexel rode it down inside Zero. Her dedicated defender shook with a crash as they slammed through a series of walls and bounced roughly off a few floors. Lexel had lost count of how many things they had crashed through, her teeth staying clenched to the point she felt that they might never stop vibrating.
Zero’s systems were in complete chaos, data streams flickered, alarms roared and to Lexel she could almost feel her friend weakening. They hammered into a weakening wall with a thud and soon found the collapsing bit of construction toppling to become a makeshift slide that carried them to the ground. The harsh halt to their ride nearly forcibly stole the air from Lexel and sent her belly into a violent lurch. She struggled to wrestle with the disorientation that she soon discovered meant she had become disconnected from Zero. The wounded warrior was once again in his familiar four-legged form and even without their shared link Lexel could see the severity of his sustained damage.
“Come on Zero, we have to keep moving,” Lexel pleaded to her created companion. Zero tried to stand in response but found his locomotive capabilities less than optimal. “Apologies, I am unable to comply,” Zero explained with a newfound slower speech. “I have suffered extensive injury; I am in need of repairs.” Lexel couldn’t just leave him here, she had to do something. So she did the only thing she could think of and tugged Zero up onto her back and stubbornly began stumbling down the street.
Within a block or two Lexel quickly and reluctantly admitted to herself that she lacked the strength to keep going like this. With a sigh Lexel spotted a junk strewn lot and summoned what energy she could to drag Zero the rest of the way inside. “I can’t carry you like you can me,” she apologized. “And I certainly can’t fight anything off like you can either. So if we are going to make it I am going to have to try and fix you.”
Lexel surveyed their surroundings and found from what she could tell they had taken refuge in what used to be some kind of repair or salvage shop. It looked to be little used in recent years but there was still a respectable stockpile of parts and pieces scattered around. The first to catch her eye was the rusted remains of an old roll-bottom work frame that she decided would serve as a make-shift cart for Zero. It took some digging and a little prying but eventually she proved to be victorious in securing its release from the pile that had pinned it. But in the process Lexel also managed to unleash a tidal wave of technological trash that came toppling down rather loudly.
“Perhaps nobody noticed that bit,” Lexel winced. “I’ll add you lot to my scrap salvager if I catch you playing pranks on my property again,” came a booming bellowed warning from the old shop nestled at the center of the scrap yard. Already a bright light lit the way as the bulky shape of a man behind it rushed out to investigate. As he came around the recently disheveled debris to view the waiting scene his furious demeanor suddenly shifted into one of irritated curiosity.
“Answer quickly; what business do you have here in my yard this night? I have precious little patience left for troublesome teenagers or prank-minded punks. Tell me why I shouldn’t call the Peace-Keepers right now,” he demanded in a tone reminiscent of a teacher’s authority. For the first time that Lexel could ever remember she found herself without even a single thought of answering with anything other than the truth.
“Please, sir, it is an emergency – I need to fix my friend,” she explained with a shaky hand gesturing towards Zero as tears began to fall. “We’re in some bad trouble and…” Lexel tried to make him understand but found her fear had started to overwhelmed her. “I don’t know what else to do but I have to try to fix him,” she sobbed.
“There, there now, no harm done then; I didn’t realize I had me a service call.” The large man gently whispered as he tried to comfort Lexel. “You came to the right place little lady, Tyrn Spanner at your service,” Tyrn introduced himself as kindness now lit his face with a smile. “I haven’t had many emergency calls in the dead of night for some time now,” he admitted, his voice somewhat softer and tender now. “Let’s get him inside then shall we, and have a proper look.”
Lexel watched as Tyrn scooped up Zero with ease and just as careful as if he were a newborn child carried him inside while she followed behind. A table partially littered with a mixture of tools and tinkered bits received the prototype turned patient. Old instruction manuals and volumes of spec-sheet reference guides were scattered along the walls. As she took it all in she found Tyrn waiting for her to ask the question he already expected from her. But when she remained silent he instead decided to volunteer an answer.
“I used to be an instructor, though I am retired now and spend my time doing what repairs or tinkering I can for the neighborhood,” Tyrn admitted. Even though a smile could still be seen on his face something told Lexel that the old teacher wasn’t exactly enjoying his retirement. He seemed restless or lonely; like someone used to being needed who now was left mostly alone. “Why did you stop teaching,” Lexel found herself asking. Instantly she regretted the question, as a look of shame flashed on the friendly face briefly before the smiling mask returned to replace it.
“My students stopped listening; when people decide they don’t want to learn what you try to teach them then there is little incentive to continue. But enough of what needs fixing in me; let’s take a look at your friend here, shall we?” Lexel nodded in agreement and even as tired as she started to realize she was she found herself fascinated watching Tyrn work. Much to her surprise she found that she understood more of what he said than she expected to and even made him raise an eyebrow or two a few times with her comments.
For Tyrn, he realized it was a welcome change not to be alone for once. Almost as nice as it was to have an eager young mind willing to listen to his little lectured lessons. He would just have to wait for her to explain where this curious creation came from. Tyrn Spanner had never been the kind of man to pry in the affairs of others. Nor was he one for turning a blind eye to someone in need. As far as he could judge this little lady was certainly in need and not just from whatever she was running from. He had always been good at fixing things and at teaching others; it’s why he had became a teacher in the first place. But just maybe, just maybe he could try and see if he had it in him to help fix her somehow.
It was always worth a shot at least, he decided. Besides, having something around needing fixed was what he himself had needed for a long time. Not to mention someone willing to listen or learn. It made that old spark inside him flare back to life.
Episode 17
Tyrn worked long into the night, the rising rays of the sun his first real measure of how long he had been hunched over his bench. By his side the whole time was Lexel, determined not to miss a single moment. With a groan Tyrn stretched his back and heard the little cascade of crackling pops that typically reminded him he was pressing his limits again.
“You hungry little miss,” Tyrn asked Lexel while he replaced a screw. “Your friend will need some time to recalibrate
his limit switches and adjust his motor control circuits. If you’re hungry I can fix us something to eat.” The notion of a hot meal sounded delightful to Lexel’s growling belly. It seemed like she hadn’t eaten in forever and realized it must have been plainly written on her face by Tyrn’s newfound chuckle.
As Tyrn set his tools down Lexel glanced over at Zero laid out on the table. Her metallic mutt hadn’t been moving much during their little procedure, which worried her. “Are you going to be alright, Zero,” Lexel gently whispered. Sapphire and silver etched eyes looked back up at her, for once she didn’t even think of them as his optical sensors. “Come on now, you technical spewing chatterbox; you never pass up a chance to talk my ear off. Here is your chance, so go ahead and detail me the status of your systems. Tell me all about how your transistors are twisted in some terminal in your tail. Just talk to me Zero,” she pleaded.
“System maintenance in progress,” Zero answered in an even more robotic tone then normal. Panic gripped at Lexel like a vice squeezing at her chest. “What have you done to him,” she screamed at an empty doorway where Tyrn had passed only seconds before. “If you have killed Zero I will make you pay dearly,” Lexel warned, vengeful venom dripping from her voice.
Tyrn reappeared briefly, now with a pan in hand and stirring something inside it. “How do you like yours,” he asked her, seemingly unaffected by her threat. A brief pause punctuated his point before he turned returning to his cooking. “I already told you we need to give your friend some time to reset his systems. You must be exhausted as well as starving, poor thing, well we’ll eat and then you can catch some rest yourself.” As his voice drifted through to her from the other room Lexel found herself feeling so confused. She really was so very tired, almost more so than how hungry she was.