16

As the call ended T5 felt confused. Was the Captain perhaps assigning more mortal attributes to him than technically possible?

Then on the other hand, why leave and not go on fighting, was it perhaps fear?

T5 felt that it was self-preservation.

But this thought would never occur to other robots. T5 suspected he was unique in that regard.

T5 spent the time waiting for his sight to return testing out the sensor field, as he decided to call the spread out barrier.

He also discovered something interesting. He could slightly move objects if he completely covered them. Something to be explored further at a later time perhaps.

His sensors slowly came back. T5 turned back. Maybe he shouldn’t have been so fearful T5 decided. It was pretty clear that despite the difficulty he had in his battle he hadn’t actually been pushed very far.

He needed to return and finish them off. He needed to finish this mission.

T5 leaped away again. This time moving as quickly as possible and in then most unpredictable way possible. One moment he was running, then next he was gliding and the next he smashed through a building.

None of the lazer cannons were able to hit him and he arrived at the building unscathed.

The group was still waiting for him. And he knew that with so many of them here he wouldn’t be able to escape being hit by the blasts that disabled his senses.

He’d be in the same situation as before. This realisation led him to understand Yullers thought that he was scared. After all. What’s the difference between fighting the and now?

As he approached the group they readied their weapons at him. The first pulled the trigger and a stream of what T5 could only think of as chaotic light and energy shout out of the rifle’s muzzle.

He stepped to the side in time to avoid it, dodged then and rolled through the air to avoid the next two. He thought of something, charged and gathered his barrier and threw it at the chaos lights. The chaos lights crackled as they skid to the side and blasted the ground behind him. He felt the sensors on his back lose 30 percent efficiency.

‘T5, modelled after the god’s guardians. These vessels are said to be filled with unlimited potential, in the ancient era they were fighters serving at the gods behest. Now, this very same power lies in you. What are you going to do with it? Will you even know the gift you have been born with?’

All of a sudden it was as if T5 was someone else. He stopped then rushed to the nearest soldier, with another blast of his barrier he stepped in front of the soldier and punched his shoulders then his midriff. He jumped away just in time to avoid another blast of chaos lights and then as soon as he touched the ground leaned in and leaped towards his next target. The woman ducked beneath his swing and brought up a fist of her own. She knocked the tip of his chin. Once again his opponent’s movements were many times faster than his own.

He stumbled then flipped back to rebalance himself. At the very last moment he sent out barrier to deflect a blast of scalding light coming from his right.

It wasn’t enough, although most of the light was redirected the sensors on the right side of his body were completely unresponsive. His three red eyes flashed and he blasted forward again, heedless of the blasts of light shooting at him. With the last remaining vision he saw his fist smash through the woman’s face.

Then everything went dark.

T5 gathered his barrier and pushed it out. Although he couldn’t hear or see anything he felt the tremors run up his legs as he smashed the surrounding ground.

He leaped to the last place he had seen one of his adversaries.

He spread out his barrier and turned it into a sensor field. As soon as he could make out a figure he kicked at it then clawed at where he thought the head would be.

The satisfying crunch of his victims death travelled through his arm.

Blood splashed over his arm. He felt the rush of battle.

He stepped back then turned to the next target. He punched in its general direction, but he felt his punch deflected. He kept punching until he felt his enemy give way to his assault.

He shouted, and the very next moment the dark world around him turned a bright red.

He charged to the next target and reached out until he felt something. Then pulling it forward he slammed it against the ground.

Through his sensor field he felt something fly towards his back, he dodged then leaped to its source. Something else flew at him from the side. He deflected it, using as little of his energy as he could and he kept chasing the source of the attack until he saw someone fleeing from the top of a building. He concentrated his shield around their neck and his enemie’s head went flying. He didn’t waste time and ran to the next target. This one fought with a blade. He spun his impetus generator and blocked the first slash then with another shout ripped the blade from the enemy’s hand.

T5 swung, his enemy died.

Strangely enough he could feel each and every drop of blood that splashed over his body.

It was intoxicating.

The red world around him swirled. He felt something else approach and bent back just in time. He recovered his balance and swung the sword around him and threw it in the direction the attack had come from.

He chased after his sword then finished the soldier clutching the stump of his arm.

Another attack came, he raised his shield the moment he realised he couldn’t dodge. Then after the blast ended he rushed to the source of the attack.

And so it went.

The red reseeded, and he grew slightly calmer. Though the feeling of blood running over his body was exhilarating he managed to calm himself.

Along his way massacring the soldier he’d acquired a blade and a large plasma rifle.

The rifle was powerful but had an abysmal rate of fire. His blade found much more use, as either something to extend his reach or defend him in place of his barrier.

How many left?

There was only one that he could see. Somewhere along the mad rush for survival he’d started getting used to dodging the attacks coming at him.

Almost as if it was second nature by now.

This was most likely due to his body.

Although it wasn’t as fast as the other soldiers its responsiveness was much greater than any other warrior.

There was also something else.

He felt the small blossoming within his core, right where he stored all of the energy running the impetus drive. It was as if something within him was growing. Something that separated him from all of the other robotic soldiers.

Slowly the red in his eyes and body lines returned to their calm blue.

He looked at the place that the Captain wanted him to destroy. Was there something inside he was supposed to use to do that? He wasn’t a walking machine of mass destruction, more like a foot soldier of massacre.

He decided to go inside and see if there was anything there he could use.

He walked towards the door. He used his body’s strength to force the doors ajar then headed inside.

With his sensor field and the mechanical sensors on his body the dark interior of the building was as clear as day to him.

Around him were rows on rows of explosives. Enough to blow this clan and probably a 100 kilometres radius into oblivion.

T5 decided to call the Captain, “Captain, I’m standing inside the armoury, we’ve got a problem.”

“What is it?”

“There’s way too many explosives here sir, I could destroy it but I don’t know how many of our soldiers would be killed if I do.”

“What? Where’d they get that much? I’ve never heard anything about this.” He muttered something. A woman in the background then said, “Be careful that Teresa doesn’t hear you say that.”

“…Anyway, T5 I want you to seal off the area, make sure no one approaches. We’re going to start retreating… I’m sending you some reinforcements. When we’re done we’ll send a chopper to go fetch you guys.”

“Alright.”

“Was it difficult?”

“Was what difficult?”

“…Never mind then. You’ll get used to this in no time…unfortunately this is the way of the world. I would’ve loved it if you could just be a strange peace-loving robot.”

“I don’t mind, I was made for this.”

“Yes, that you were. Talk to you later.”

Teresa chuckled, Clara looked back at her.

“No never mind, just a surprise at the Katharis clan. Those guys are crazy you know?”

“Of course, their whole culture is unstable, why do you think I took them out first?”

“So you knew?”

“…Whatever it is, no. I don’t know anything, I’m just guessing, but if there’s one enemy I don’t want to fight it’s a fanatic with no sense of self preservation.”

Teresa brushed her hair back and smirked. “So you took them on in the one place they do care about, right?”

Clara closed her eyes and nodded smugly, “Right!”

“Are you alright?”

Serena snapped her eyes open. She looked at the blond horned boy sitting on the bed beside her.

“Where am I?”

“The infirmary.”

“I’m outta here.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I was you.”

“Get back in bed.” Clara’s father stepped into the room and snapped. He glared at her, and without thinking her knees lost strength and she sat back down.

“Good evening Miss Serena, I’ll be you doctor for the day, You can call me professor Orpheus.”

“Professor? Isn’t it doctor?” Serena didn’t know why but her voice was shaking.

“Well, playing doctor is only a hobby you see. My real passion is biology. And I must say you’re an interesting specimen.” He chuckled and stepped closer. Serena started shaking. He grabbed her face lifted her chin and shined a light into first her one eye then the other.

“Alright, one more thing.” He snapped his finger and a wave of energy swept over her.

“Good, you’re healthy enough… Now, I’m wondering, would you be willing to donate a few drops of blood in the name of science?”

Serena jumped up and pressed up against the wall. Staring at the Orpheus wide eyed. “No way, somethings wrong with you. Don’t dare come any nearer.”

Orpheus sighed then stepped to the side and allowed her to rush out of the room.

Orpheus looked at the blond sitting on the bed. “Why are you here anyway?”

“Yeah, about that…” How could Chris tell the man that his wife accidentally attacked him when she’d been playing with the mercenaries? “I fell down…”

Unfortunately he was the only one that had to visit the infirmary since his recovery ability wasn’t nearly as strong as the mercenaries.

The Gorian female walked in with a tray of food and rushed to him as she saw him sitting up. “Master you shouldn’t be up!”

“I’m alright now.”

“Hmm, I’d beg to differ, you’ve got multiple hairline fractures, you won’t be able to walk out of here.”

Chris looked at the professor in surprise. Orpheus lowered a small crystal globe and smiled at him in what Chris could only take as a evil smile.

“Now, I’ve heard of you, you’re the Telmera boy right?” Orpheus then looked at the Raduk, “And you must be his pet.”

“Now usually I’m not one to do something like this, but~~~ In this situation I just can’t help myself can I? Someone from one of the elusive clairvoyant bloodline, and another from the Gorian race, one of the few still alive. Quite a pleasant coincident right?”

“You told your wife to attack me?”

“I did no such thing… I merely informed her I really wanted to meet you, and I’m so sad from all my patients running away all the time.”

“Your crazy.”

“And you’re staying in my house kid.” Orpheus’ voice turned grim.

A moment passed as they stared at one another before Orpheus resumed his smiling countenance. “Now, since you’re going to be staying for a while as you wait for your bones to mend, why don’t we have a little chat?”

Chris gulped… Did Clara plan for this?