An ear ringing explosion to my right, followed by screams of agony. Burning figures writhed in the corners of my vision, but I couldn't stop. I couldn't aid every person I saw in need right now, unfortunately. War was brutal and unforgiving, but I needed to hurry regardless.
I cut down the occasional soldier with my blade without hesitation as I made it down another floor of stairs and into the war warned halls.
The crystals along the roof shifted in hue, keeping the hallways a dull crimson as alarms blared. They had kept going off ever since the attack started, so I had long since tuned them out.
As fast as possible, even with a damaged leg. Ready for anything, even with a ruined arm. I couldn't let such trivial things impede me.
Ichor leaked from my head and many other places from previous clashes, but I darted toward my destination regardless. Turning the corner so sharply I almost collapsed, one more smooth metallic hall remained. At the end of it, the large metal door meant to be reinforced automatically was blown open. A bright blue light emanating from the opening, leaving no doubt that I was in the right place.
I was too slow. They had already made it, but I couldn't stop now. All wasn't lost yet, I had to keep such a thought pinned at the forefront of my mind. As I closed in and heard voices, it was clear my hopes weren't in vain.
Two figures. An elderly looking human man, frantically tapping away at the central console while huffing.
Then, across the room a young woman with pointed ears was struggling to stand up. She used the wall to support herself in the endeavor, leaving a streak of red along it. Both of them looked injured, actually. Given the state of the room it was clear a battle took place.
The woman had raised a hand, doing her best to aim in the elders direction. The mans bloodied fingers continued to tap away regardless. It was getting hard to see, the crystal only getting brighter by the second. My body had already started moving, reaching out in hopes of reaching in time.
" It's no use! It'll blow! " I had to make it in time.
Both of them were trying to talk, but the screeching of the alarm and the resonating crystal made it impossible to make out. With all I had, I reached out to try and save my dearest friend. As an eye searing blue eclipsed my vision as I neared their form, there were a few thoughts that rushed through my head at once.
Why did things have to turn out this way?
Why couldn't I have been just a little faster?
Why...did I have to be built with limits like these?
...
...
...
...
Sharp blue eyes were aimed out the lecture hall window, observing the surrounding buildings that blocked the lowering sun. A few yawns were audible, but such was the standard for a class scheduled so late in the day.
" It's been almost 700 years since the 2nd Taboo War. " A woman's voice, accompanied by taps.
" While it's celebrated yearly, the capital makes a point to put emphasis on it every 100 years. You'll be on break during it, so I recommend heading there if you're able. Why, my husband actually proposed to me in the city when- " Aaand muted.
Well, mentally anyway. Most classes were a bit of a bore, but Professor Silligan really took the cake. Her going off topic to talk about her lover was almost as reoccurring in this class as the yawns. It wouldn't be long till time was up though, so zoning out certainly wouldn't matte-
"...ora. Eledora. " Her name being called made her tense slightly, but her shoulders relaxed when it wasn't the professor saying it. Turning to the right, the classmate to her side seemed to be the source.
A girl wearing a similar uniform, though far more caring about looks. Seems she took the eye contact as a sign to keep talking. " For break. Me and some others are heading to New Spire for the festival. Would you like to come? "
" Appreciate it, Maddy. But I'll be stuck working over break. " And knowing her friend, the "others" she mentioned were probably from the rich clique she hung around with. Eledora watched the girl frown slightly, only to let out a small sigh.
" But we could skip out on the classes right before it and hang out...if you want. " It was hard to keep a firm refusal with Maddy. She certainly had the status to be within the group of students who all were backed by their notable families. Though she lacked the same entitlement most of them had, and was a genuinely kind girl, which was likely why they were friends despite the social gap between them.
Well...that, and she was cute. Eledora thought of herself as a girl of few weaknesses, but cute things were certainly among them. It took a while to work up enough of a tolerance to refuse Maddy's invite like she did.
" Great! I'll plan the whole day. You're always so busy, so I'll make sure you relax a lot. " It was said weakness that made Eledora glance back at the window as her friend mentioned her schedule. Technically, it wasn't a lie but...
"Ahem."
Ah.
The two girls looked ahead toward the board, Silligan looking right at them. Well, Maddy had been pretty excitable just now. While the girl winched at being caught, Eledora could only spin her pen and prepare to tune out any scolding.
...
If I pull an all-dayer, I should be able to make up for the time I set aside for Maddy before the break actually begins. The repair schedule I have in my head certainly had buffers, considering some days progress stalled...but using that time for her wasn't the worst thing in the world.
After dealing with the nagging from Silligan and saying bye to Maddy, I was already heading to get some work done. I had opted to have my schedule so flipped for a few reasons, ending so late in the day being one of them. Not accounting for that honeymoon-phased professor's tangents, getting out by 9:00 was perfect for me.
It meant that I could get a few hours of sleep into the afternoon before my classes started. Well, that was the plan anyway. Ever since that damned hunk of junk was left in my care, I've substituted such sleep for working on the repairs.
" That's her. "
Which meant that I didn't have much energy to deal with nonsense like this.
" Do you need something, fellas? " I paused, not bothering to turn my head.
One...two...three...I counted four heartbeats around the corner of the building to my left. Seemed they had Auto's with them. Being so late, there weren't many people left around here. Very few opted for classes that messed with their night life. And the ones who did, like those in Silligans class, should've cleared out by now. Maddy was pulled away by some of her friends pretty quickly even after the scolding, taking one of the side doors out the building.
Meanwhile, I was heading out the main door. It was just the better route toward the workshop.
Unfortunately for whoever this was, my senses were far too good. I could hear them mutter from around the corner the moment I stepped out the lecture hall.
They didn't step out immediately, as if I'd somehow forget addressing them. One of them finally did though after arguing with each other about who was going to do it. The other three stayed behind him to watch, but the humanoid Auto's with them took up more of my attention.
Decent quality. A Knight-Model, in fact. Fitting for spoiled brats with funding too good for them.
" I'll...make it real simple. " Decent height, short brown hair. He barely wore the uniform right. " You little parasite latched to Maddy's side...I want you to tell her that I apologized to you, y'hear? "
I vaguely recognized him. " You're...one of the rich kid NPC's that follow her around, right? "
Though I couldn't put a name to his face, it seemed my words were triggering enough for him to introduce himself for me. " It's Micheal, bitch! " How loud... " I slipped up when she asked us if it was cool to invite you on that damned trip over break, and she blew it out of proportion. Call her and tell her shit's nice and dandy! "
So...he's an idiot, then. Got it. I couldn't help but sigh at his audacity. There was no point in dragging this out, so I reached into my bag for my phone. " Fine, fine. Since you're so persuasive. "
Obviously, I could just do what he wanted and tell Maddy the truth later. Though as I pulled it out and turned it on, I heard a click and bang that made me drop my phone. Smoke escaped from the barrel on the Knight-Models that had them, my phone had been blasted, and a small chunk of my lower palm was gone.
That shift in avoidance was instinctual. If that was anybody else, they would've lost their hand completely. My eyes had only left those idiots for a second to find my phone, and-
" The hell was that, man!? "
" I-I didn't...I didn't tell it to do that! "
No...they didn't know what was going on either. The Auto's, which towered over everyone here by a few feet, swatted their owners away while stepping forward. They hit the ground with a thud, but I couldn't spare a care for any of them.
[ " Target analysed. Locking sequence, complete. " ]
Because I was getting fired at again. This time, prepared, I pivoted to the side and headed down the road in a fluid motion. I was being chased, though. And chased well. I know I wasn't going as fast as I could, but nothing made by idiots like those guys should be as agile as-
CRASH!
I ducked under an incoming street sign that shattered a window. The ones without a gun had gotten creative. Something like that, they definitely were being commanded. If not by the guys that these things swatted away, then who?
Sensing some goons around a corner was fine, but it had been way too long since I've eaten to have a wider range. That gunshot and crash should've alerted any patrolling security, so would I just need to hold out until help arrived?
" No...the security drones should've deployed by now. " Muttering as I turned the corner in avoidance of another bullet, I noted something.
While human officers could take some time, the campus had automated security. The moment that first gunshot went off, drones should've swarmed the front of the lecture hall. If I assume those guys weren't lying about controlling these things, then whoever hacked them probably did something similar to any nearby security systems.
Assuming the worst that I'll have no help...then the best thing would be to head 'there.'
These things weren't faster than me, luckily. Keeping a gap meant all I had to do was weave gunfire. It took a few minutes, but with a kick of the door I found myself entering the professor workshops. The trip to the stairs was dangerous, considering the hallway was a good bit narrower than the open streets.
Another shot was fired, clipping my lower leg. I should've dodged that completely even with the limited space. " Am I getting slower...? " Didn't expect the loss of blood to affect me this much. I was able to grab the railing to avoid stumbling, so I worked my way up 2 floors regardless.
What a mess I must've looked like by the time I made it to the door. It was locked, but no way did I have time to fiddle around for the key card. Instead, I stepped back and took a breath.
One more push...with a kick, the metal door was caved in. Hobbling in, the usual sight greeted me. Various trinkets and nonsense on shelves, tools scattered everywhere. But I came in here for a reason, working my way to the center of the room. On a table lied that repair job I've been at for about 3 months.
A humanoid model automaton. The side of its face was blown apart, with an arm and leg skeleton roughly left in replacement of what didn't exist before. A scrapped up husk who couldn't even pass for a decent mannequin: That's what I've had to deal with. The panels of it's chest cavity was opened up though, revealing the glowing core and various cables plugged into it. Everything about this thing was damaged beyond belief, but somehow this core was still giving feint readings of activity.
But I couldn't afford to worry about that now. My injured hand clenched the base of the cables, pulling them out of their ports. Blood stained the insides of the humming mechanisms. Faint sparks flickered from the steel pointed ends, the charge running through them perfect for what I needed.
Just in time, as the knight models finally caught up. Not caring about the limited space of the door frame, the wall crackled and caved as they rushed in. Pulling out the cables without going through proper steps basically ruined any progress I've made on recharging this thing, but my life was more important.
I needed to deal with the one with the fire power first. Using the cluttered shelves as cover I closed in from behind, leaping onto the automatons back. I jetted the pointed cables into its head, letting it seize as the electrical current forced itself through it's form. The two remaining knights turned back and swung their swords at me without hesitation, but I released my hold and hit the ground with a thud. Their blades smashed through the sides of that annoyance.
They all were shocked as the blades conducted the current. I struggled to my feet, using a shelf to help me up. The workshops had access to way more power than other places on campus. No way was I going to beat these things head on when I was this sluggish, but the best next thing was shorting them out.
Huffing, I wondered what the next step was. The hospital was on the other side of the city.
" He might have some bags...in his office... " But even that would be a trip. Regardless, trouble was bound to come if I stayed here alone. I needed to move.
...
Eledora was somewhat correct, but mostly wrong. She did need to move, and fast. Unfortunately, she was running on fumes. What she was wrong about specifically was her being alone, as her vision went white as a force met her ribs. Countless things crashed over her as she was sent flying into the wall, barely possessing the strength to push the collapsed shelf off herself as she rose.
[ " Locking complete. Proceeding to Disposal Phase " ]
Her vision was blurred a bit, but she could mostly make out its form. It was a larger model than those other automatons. Probably higher quality too, given how much that kick hurt her. No...getting a better look there was no doubt what this thing was.
" T-The hell is a government grade doing here... " Not even the security automatons had specs comparable to one of these.
It was a Knight model just like the ones from before, but the difference in grades spoke for themselves. Government grades and Factory grades were like slingshots verses grenade launchers. There was no plan in Eledora's head. Frustrated, all she could do was try to crawl- cling to life as best she could. Yet as the silver knight raised an arm toward her, an iron rod jetted out from it's palm in an attempt to pierce her between her closed eyes
Only to be caught. Stopped dead in it's tracks.
[ " Mana processed. Minimum processing power achieved. " ]
[ " Begin Emergency Diagnostics...Emergency Diagnostics complete." ]
[ " Memory Storage compromised... " ]
[ " Endoframe functions compromised... " ]
[ " Mana Shield System compromised... " ]
[ " Weapons System compromised... " ]
She didn't recognize that voice. It sounded synthesized, just like any other automaton. But as it rambled faster than she could process it was gradually sounding more and more human. More and more like any other boy she'd hear in the background, actually.
[ " Ambient Mana Processing compromised. Mana Reserve Capacity... " ]
Eledora finally opened her eyes. The spike, which was aimed for her, was only a few inches off. But she didn't flinch at it, for something far more surprising caught her gaze. Standing ahead of her was what she deemed as a 'hunk of junk.'
" 120%. " Yet it sounded just as human as any other person she'd run across on the street.
Pulling the spear away from her, the silver knight was reeled in by force. With it's free hand, the one that was nothing but a basic metal frame, a fist was clenched that caved in the knights chest. It was an upwards swing that sent it flying through the ceiling. Given they were on the second floor, the knight rag-dolled in the sky before hitting the roof with a heavy thud.
" Frame Reinforcement System and Frame Repair Systems...I guess they'll do for now. " It looked back at Elenora with its one good eye before lifting its chin upward. They could both hear it, that thing wasn't done fighting yet. The girl tried to get back to her feet, only to be waved off.
With confidence unfitting of it's appearance. " I'll handle it. "
With a jump, it went through the whole it made, leaving the girl dumbfounded. She had looked at this thing from top to bottom, and knew it was nowhere near being in any sort of operable state.
Her vision was still blurry...but as it leaped upward she could've sworn she saw flesh growing over its metallic arm and leg- as if they were brand new.
The silver knight rose to its feet, the subtle cloud of debris fading quickly. It lacked 'eyes" in the standard sense, instead letting its visor like gaze scan it's surroundings before finally locking on the figure that rose from the fading cloud only to land a few meters ahead of it.
[ " Target Danger...low " ] It said, chips of metal breaking of its form as it stood upright.
It only took a few seconds for repairs. What was a beaten and ruined mess was now...a perfectly normal looking person all things considered. A tanned young man no older than 20. Though shorter than the knight, he was tall for a human- being around 6'. Curled black hair was decently long, kept tied back with a band that didn't exist before.
" Low? I thought I punched you rather hard, there...Or do you not recognize me anymore? "
A genuine question, but no response came. " Suppose I did look quite worse for wear.. " Muttering to himself, the young man hummed in thought. " In that case...let's try this. " Subtle. It was subtle at first, the glow he possessed around his form. Yet as he extended an arm, his eyes inverted to white irises gleaming from darkened sclera and said aura grew more violent.
" Locking complete... " Was all it took, the silver knight got in a combative stance in reaction.
For combat units, 'Locking" was akin to sizing up an opponent. It was beyond a simple scan, as it served as the first sign of combative intention. More advanced automatons were even able to learn the specs of enemy units, as well as get various other readings useful in prep for combat.
But with that being said...
[ " Danger level adjusting. Target's danger level...unable to be measured. " ]
There were still limits to what could be fully comprehended by a government grade.