Early October 1998 Story

[Abandoned Recreation Area, M9 on First Landing Underground Level]

The amber glow of internal robot circuitry bathes Taanik's soft gray skin. Ids thin-stretched fingers punch an endless series of keys on a control panel id has managed to turn outside-in.

"Any luck?" asks Selson Streel in the cramped darkness.

[Taanik Defeating Security: 60 (base) + 30 (computer skill x 10) - 60 (program level x 10) + 4 (LOGIC modifier) = 34%; Rolled: 36]

"I've got a link to the computer terminal through this construction robot," explains the Dralasite, "but Dakka Syte has locked out access to any long range communication systems. It doesn't look like I'm going to get control of a subspace radio by any conventional means. I could try bypassing the security with my robcomkit, but I'd have to get out of this robot to do it. Plus, if that goes wrong, we're really going to set off some alarms."

"So what do we do?"

"First of all, we get out of this area," says Taanik. "If Dakka hasn't found us yet, I'd prefer not to stay in the same place for too long. We can continue our work from the southeast ore processing plant that connects with the outside road--the way we came in. I'm more familiar with that area; we can camouflage ourselves among all the mining robots, and perhaps we can even cut off a supply line. Plus, if something goes wrong, the city exit will be conveniently close by."

[Northbound Accelerator Strip, J13 on First Landing Upper Level]

Shock. . .gloves, built into the security robot's hands.

The thoughts start to make sense in T'Klkk's chitonous skull--proof that she is overcoming the effects of the electric shock she endured. The Vrusk woman looks down at her arms and legs, which are being carried by six silvery androids.

They're touching me now, considers the Vrusk. The shock gloves must turn on and off at will.

Gaining strength, T'Klkk frees her arms and legs from the robots' clutch. The robots do not seem to mind, so long as she continues walking with them.

She counts them. Eight. Two in front. Two behind. Two on each side.

Not as many robots as before, but still too many for a plausible escape.

She looks ahead. To the north waits a massive set of steel-reinforced double-doors. About the doors rises a tall purple wall, curving upward to a merciless black sky. Hundreds of multi-color lights emit from different windows in the sleek building. A neon panel above the doors clearly states the building's identity: SOUTHEAST LABORATORY.

T'Klkk glances down at her chronocom. The robots have not taken it from her, although they have taken her automatic pistol.

Seeing the chronograph's readout, T'Klkk remembers that it is almost time for her routine check-in with the others. It is then that she decids it is best for her to let her team-mates know where she is.

T'Klkk's fingers pulse gently on the chronocom, in a hidden motion she hopes the robots will overlook.

[Monorail Tube, 2 km South of First Landing]

Tork takes two steps ahead of the rest of the group and focuses his cat-like eyes on the metallic welcoming committee. It's hard to tell from so far away, but it looks like there are about ten security droids on their way.

Tork crunches the numbers in his head. The robots are probably about a kilometer away and travel at a rate of 300 meters/minute. That works out to an ETA of about 3.3 minutes.

"It won't take them long to get here," says the Yazirian.

"We don't have enough ammo to hold them off," warns Kare, "at least not without depleting our resources. This isn't the time for a slug fest."

Tork pulls a heavy package from his backpack. His voice grinds with a mixture of fatigue and determination. "Looks like it's time to pull back boys and girls."

"A tornadium blast," says Urugg, eying the package from the corner of his eye. "Good thinking. We'll meet you at the airlock about a hundred meters back."

Zane pulls out his laser pistol, sliding the power setting to level 8. "I'll cover you, Tork. I'm no marksman, but I can at least slow them down while you get your job done." A smile crosses Zane's face, and he retracts the transparent faceplate of his space helmet. "If this is it for us, I'm going out with style."

With an unexpected motion, he swoops Kare off her feet and kisses her.

"Are we ready to move?" asks Syzygy.

Urugg nods. "Let's go."

Syzygy stops Urugg with an outstretched hand. "I've got something to take care of. I'll meet you at the airlock."

Without waiting for Urugg's protests, the Vrusk is gone down the tunnel at a full sprint.

"Syzygy, wait! We need to stay together!"

Urugg steps over to Kare, who is watching Zane stagger back over to Tork's side. Zane clutches at his stomach and can't seem to breathe.

"Well, Kare, we'd better head for the airlock alone," says Urugg. "There's no way we can keep up with a Vrusk."

Once Kare and Urugg have gone, it is only Tork and Zane who remain.

After a few painful gasps, Zane gets his breath back.

Tork looks up from his work, grinning despite the desperate situation. "She packs quite a punch."

Zane shakes his head to clear it and lifts his pistol to the oncoming droids. "It was worth it."

[Zane has suffered 4 points of damage, bringing his Current Stamina down to 51.]

Tork carefully molds ten charges of pasty white explosive to the transparent walls and the car rail.

"The robots are getting closer," warns Zane. "They're almost in range."

"Two hundred meters," says Tork, remembering the maximum reach of a laser pistol. "I'm almost done here. Wait until they get within one hundred meters--then fire."

Zane takes a deep breath and looks ahead. It is now possible to make out many of the details on the approaching androids. They are standard security units--empty hands outstretched.

Tork is in the final stages of wiring a radio detonator when Zane speaks again. "I hope that won't take much longer. They're going to be here in about fifteen seconds!"

"Just a little longer!" replies Tork.

Zane steps out in front of Tork. "Stop right there or I'll fire!"

No response.

"Well," mutters Zane. "That looks about like a hundred meters."

Taking careful aim, Zane squeezes the cold trigger and lets loose a vermillion blast of energy.

[Zane Chance to Hit: 30 (RW) + 10 (skill x 10) + 15 (careful aim) - 40 (long range) = 15%; Rolled: 09!]

The leader of the robotic party takes the red burst square in the chest, knocking it back into the arms of the others.

[8d10 Damage: 10 + 7 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 2 + 7 = 56]

Zane's eyes squint to assess the results of his shot. The robot's chest is blackened and practically hollowed out. Yet it persists. The other nine continue their approach as well.

"I'm almost done!" proclaims Tork.

"You'd better be!" hollers Zane. "They're not slowing down!"

Zane waits until the robots are fifty meters away and fires two more shots.

[Zane Chance to Hit: 30 (RW) + 10 (skill x 10) - 20 (medium range) = 20%; Rolled: 47, 44]

The shots are not so lucky, and pass harmlessly between the advancing androids.

But this time the robots stop. Two of them kneel in front of the rest, each pulling out a long gray pistol of some sort.

Zane steps back. "Uh, Tork, they just pulled out the big guns."

This catches Tork's attention. "Sonic stunners! Their maximum range is fifty meters."

"What do we do?"

"We RUN!"

Urugg and Kare catch up with Syzygy, who in turn has caught up with the Lost Point men in armor.

The men appear to be listening attentively to Syzygy's words.

"You fellas have an obligation to help us aid your kidnapped people. Come with us and help us take back what the Lord of Shadows has stolen from us. Returning to Lost Point now will only doom you to the invasion of the robot army that approaches!"

"But we can't control the suits," protests one of the men.

Kare speaks up between panting breaths. "The bug and I can deactivate any of the mechanical or robotic parts as soon as we get away from here. Once we break into First Landing, you can junk the suits altogether!"

Syzygy watches the armored men, intent on not accepting no for an answer.

[Syzygy LEADERSHIP: 55; Rolled: 68]

There is an uncomfortable pause before the men refuse. "There isn't time to find and neutralize every control system in these suits. We will not risk being a danger to your mission--should our adversary gain control of them again."

"Wait," interjects Urugg. "You should listen to Syzygy. Zane saw an army of First Landing robots enter Lost Point, and they're certainly still there. If you go back now, you're simply giving yourselves up to be captured. There is a risk if you join us, but you'll have no chance at all if you return home."

[Urugg Persuasion: 10 (base) + 40 (pshycho-social skill x 10) + 10 (LEADERSHIP modifier) = 60%; Rolled: 10]

The men mumble among themselves. "Very well," says their leader. "We will go with you, if you wi--"

The armored man is interrupted by two shouting voices. The group looks up to see Zane and Tork, sprinting as though a cybodragon is at their heals. Zane is screaming like a wild man, while Tork hollers, "MOVE! MOVE!"

[Tork Setting Charge: 30 (base) + 60 (demolitions skill x 10) = 90%; Rolled: 86]

A blinding white flash and a wall of fire erupt several meters behind the two men--who look like mere silhouettes in comparison. The shockwave and the defeaning roar follow, throwing the men's bodies into the rest of the group.

Kare, Syzygy, Urugg and the nine armored men tumble under the force of the explosion. But just when they think the ride is over, they are yanked again by a powerful force--this time pulling them towards the explosion!

Red lights illuminate the tunnel amid blaring alarms.

"The tunnel's been breached!" yells Tork--although it is doubtful anyone can hear him. "It's depressurizing!"

A blast door slices down from the ceiling, right where Urugg and Kare have fallen.

[Urugg REACTION SPEED: 65; Rolled: 64]
[Kare REACTION SPEED: 70; Rolled: 99--bad break]

Urugg rolls out of the way, narrowly dodging the door. But Kare is not as lucky. The heavy steel crushes down upon her neck, blocking her so she cannot move!

[Kare has suffered 11 points of damage, bringing her skeinsuit to 25 points and her Current Stamina to 59.]

Zane is frantic. "Hurry! Get her out of there!"

Tork, Urugg, Syzygy and Zane all join forces--trying to pull the door off of Kare's neck. Meanwhile, a powerful wind whistles underneath, next to Kare's head.

[At least two STRENGTH checks must succeed...]
[Tork STRENGTH: 61; Rolled: 30]
[Urugg STRENGTH: 40; Rolled: 82]
[Syzygy STRENGTH: 40; Rolled: 72]
[Zane STRENGTH: 55; Rolled: 95]

The door is too heavy, the the hydraulics behind it too powerful.

[Kare takes another 6 points of damage, bringing the skeinsuit to 22 and her Current Stamina to 56.]

The armored men join in and together everyone tries to lift the blast door.

[Tork STRENGTH: 61 + 40 (armored men helping) = 95%; Rolled: 42]
[Urugg STRENGTH: 40 + 40 (armored men helping) = 80%; Rolled: 34]
[Syzygy STRENGTH: 40 + 40 (armored men helping) = 80%; Rolled: 27]
[Zane STRENGTH: 55 + 40 (armored men helping) = 95%; Rolled: 03]

With bone-jarring strain, the door is lifted from Kare's neck. Zane pulls the Human woman out to safety, and the door slams to the floor--sealing the rest of the tunnel from the breach.

All is suddenly quiet.

Tork's voice is practically imperceptible after the deafening effects of the explosion. "The good news is, none of those robots could have survived. Syte won't be using the monorail anytime again soon."

Urugg helps Syzygy to his feet. "There's an airlock in the side of the wall. Let's get out of here."

The group passes outside, and Urugg looks over the black, rocky landscape. The lack of any air creates an unnatural silence.

"Our best option is to move across the open terrain. Most of it is too uneven for the security robots' hovercycles to be effective, and Dakka Syte will have a harder time monitoring our movements. We're only a half hour's walk from First Landing, so we can probe until we find a safe way in. Once inside. . .well, I guess we're going to have to cross that bridge when we get to it."

[Ore Processing Plant, N16 on First Landing Upper Level]

Having arrived at the southeast ore refinery, Taanik orders his construction robot to reconnect with a computer terminal.

The air Taanik and Selson are sharing in the robot's storage compartment has become stale and sweaty.

"Wow," says Taanik. "I could sure go for a good steam bath right now."

"Anything?" asks Selson.

"Well," replies the Dralasite, "first of all, I've got access to most of the communications being sent to the robots in this outpost. Let me see if I can find anything interesting." Remembering T'Klkk's plight, Taanik performs a quick information search.

[Taanik Displaying Information: 80 (base) + 30 (computer skill x 10) - 20 (computer terminal level) + 3 (INTUITION modifier) = 93%; Rolled: 24]

"Oh no," says Taanik. "T'Klkk's being held captive at one of the laboratories. A number of robots have been given orders to torture her. . .to death."

Selson shakes his head. "We can't do anything."

"The hell we can't!" replies Taanik. "We must be able to access some of the robot control programs from here. I've hacked into First Landing's computer before, when I modified the holo communication unit in Tork's apartment. This should be no different."

[Laboratory, J12 on First Landing Upper Level]

A robotic hand slams T'Klkk's torso against a wall, pinning her back to it as another security robot fastens her slender wrists into steel brackets. Her centaur-like abdomen twists uncomfortably against the wall, and her eight legs scuffle about for some footing.

The Vrusk woman cooly decides that a physical confrontation will serve no good. The robots obviously have unstoppable numbers, not to mention a unified consciousness that makes them omniscient. Dakka obviously had her brought here for some purpose, and she will have to negotiate with him when he makes that purpose known.

No time like the present.

An entire wall of the lab seems to dissolve, replaced by the much deeper scene of Dakka Syte's office--reproduced in perfect holographic detail. Dakka looks up from his computer screen, which is glowing blue on his face.

"Ah, you made it," says the hologram of Dakka Syte. He looks around, observing the wide view of the laboratory. "A fitting environment, for one so cold and calculated."

T'Klkk turns to the man with a blank expression. Pleading would be worthless. "What is your intention, Mr. Syte?"

Dakka tilts his head and sticks out his lower lip. "The direct approach. Okay. It seems your friends have gone off and done something. . .rather annoying." The Human's voice rises with unbridled anger. "Like blowing up a section of my monorail!" His voice calms to its previous aloof tone. "I won't allow such behavior on my world. Insubordination like this requires a response of equal ferocity." Dakka finishes with a far bitter tone, and a face that wrinkles with evil. "Your friends will think twice about vandalizing my city when they find your mutilated corpse."

"You can't control them," replies T'Klkk flatly. "Your act of aggression will only strengthen their effort."

Dakka snaps back like an angry, spoiled child. "If your friends are so powerful, why aren't they here to save you now?"

T'Klkk's reply sounds more like a curious inquiry. "And if you are so powerful, why have you not captured them?"

"Enough wasted time!" says Dakka. "You will feel what it's like to cross me. Go ahead, robot. Let's do a little exploratory surgery. I don't know much about medicine, but this should be fun just the same. Let's start. . .with her eyes!"

One of the robots lifts some type of tool with a round, spinning blade about 10 cm in diameter. Slowly it lifts the device towards T'Klkk's head--which remains unmoving. The blade pauses dramatically, and then travels to T'Klkk's left. Sparks fly as the blade bites into the bracket holding T'Klkk's left wrist.

"What?" stammers Syte, getting up from his chair for the first time.

Another robot approaches a lab wall and begins making adjustments to a set of controls.

In Dakka's office, the Human leaps forward--watching the holographic view of the laboratory give way to the bright greens and yellows of a cartoon forest. Bobo the Dralasite, a favorite of the kids, leaps into a bush as an evil Sathar rides its rocket past. The rocket collides with a cliff, causing a bright red and orange explosion--with big words like "BOOM" and "CRASH" shaking in the blast. The explosion dies, leaving the charred remains of the Sathar--who waves to the kids and falls down a deep chasm. A satisfying puff of dust rises from the bottom of the chasm as the Sathar hits the ground.

Dakka lifts his chair and hurls it into the wall, knocking over a shelf in the works. But as he returns to his computer to rectify the situation, an idea strikes him.

The Dralasite.

The silly cartoon.

The practical joke style.

The person responsible for this interference might as well have signed ids name on the whole thing.

T'Klkk pulls free of her severed bonds, but not all of the robots are happy to see her go.

[T'Klkk Chance to Hit: 41 (melee) + 30 (martial arts skill x 10) = 71%; Rolled: 46, 48]

T'Klkk side kicks an approaching security bot and sends another reeling with a carefully aimed punch.

Leaping onto the table where her automatic pistol was sitting, T'Klkk looks up to see a door slide open. A massive construction bot enters. In fact, it is one of the two construction bots that Taanik got working.

A panel pops open on the back of the robot, revealing an empty compartment that T'Klkk just might be able to fit into.

[T'Klkk DEXTERITY: 81; Rolled: 63]

Keeping the robots at bay with a spray of bullets, T'Klkk dives into the sanctuary of the storage compartment. The panels swings back into place, just in time to stop the greedy electrified hands of two robots.

The heavy robot is already on its way out the door when the hologram of Dakka Syte's office reappears. It apparently did not take him long to regain control of the holo communication unit.

"What's going on?" demands Syte.

"Subject has escaped," answers one of the robots.

"I can see that!" yells Syte.

"Shall we pursue?"

"No." There is a pause. "No, let her go. I want to see where she's heading. I have a strong hunch that our missing party member is about to resurface."

[Exposed Moon Surface 100 m West of Starport, A12 on First Landing Upper Level]

Tork's helmet rises slowly over the top of an outcropping of rock. He stops once his eyes are high enough to look over the rock, and examines the scene to the east.

A transparent ring of airtube surrounds a 200 m square surface of glossy black. Resting on the surface are dozens of shuttles and smaller starships, all of them out of use. In fact, there are no biological beings in sight--only small groups of security robots, methodically making their rounds.

Tork turns to the rest of the group, lying prone behind the rock. "Well, this is the starport."

Kare peeks over the rock, and her eyes fall upon an upright craft, glimmering black against the black sky. The starship's assault rocket bays gape with power. "And there's our assault scout," says the woman.

Zane's head is the third to rise above the rock cover. "Kare, can you fly that thing?"

Kare shakes her head, her eyes entranced by the starship's sleek design. "I've completed all the prerequisite courses for piloting, but I've never studied piloting itself. I could maybe get it off the ground, but I'm sure I couldn't get it beyond this moon's gravity well--much less the outpost's anti-air defenses."

Zane presses his hyposprayer against Kare's arm. "Well, I guess this is it then. This stimdose should help you forget your injuries for the next twenty hours or so. Hopefully we'll have succeeded, or failed miserably, by that time."

[10 Stamina points are restored to Kare for the next 20 hours, restoring her to full health (65 points).]

Kare's only thank you is a cold stare. "That had better be the only thing you touch me with, or you're going to need a shot of that yourself."

A pair of antennae are fidgeting nervously in the next spacesuit helmet that rises into view. "There's a lot of control equipment in the spaceport," says Syzygy. "I'm sure I could find access to the outpost's central computer system from there. But it's going to be tough keeping those security drones off our backs."

"We will do what we can to help," offers one of the nine men in armor.

"Be careful," warns Syzygy. "Kare and I managed to disable all of the mechanical components in your suits, but that also means you won't be able to use their built-in exoskeletons or camouflage fields. You won't be able to make yourselves invisible."

Urugg is the last to observe the scene. He takes a long look before speaking. "This may be the weak spot we were looking for."

"How so?" asks Tork.

"Those are standard issue security droids. What kind of weapons do they have?"

"Electrified hands," says Tork, "capable of stunning or electrocution. About twenty percent of the security robots also carry sonic stunners, in case they need to apprehend someone from a distance."

Urugg turns to look at his fellow Yazirian. "The tube around the perimeter is pressurized, but the actual bay where the ships are sitting is an open vacuum. Sound waves require some sort of medium to travel through, which means the robot's sonic stunners will be useless--so long as we don't enter any pressurized areas."

Zane understands as well. "So the security robots won't be able to use any ranged attack against us."

Half of Tork's mouth curls downward. "It's not going to be easy to keep those robots at a distance. I've counted more than forty of them patroling the area between the starships."

Syzygy is busily scanning the scene for a likely computer terminal. "We won't have to stay there long. Just enough time for Kare to break into the assault scout, and for me to hack into the computer system.

"The way I figure, the robots can communicate with each other and with the Computer Spire in one of three ways," continues Syzygy. "One, tight-beam radio link. Kare can disrupt that if there's a white noise broadcaster on the assault scout. Two, the holo communication system. Hopefully I can get deep enough into the computer to put that out of whack. Three, direct contact. In other words, two robots could talk to each other if they were in visual range, or a robot could access a computer terminal to speak with the Computer Spire. But this is much more limiting, especially since the Spire won't have any way of directly contacting any of the robots. A robot will have to initiate the communication."

Urugg's thoughts lead to Taanik, Selson and T'Klkk, who have been out of contact for some time. "If the others are to have any hope of surviving, we had better succeed."

[Ore Processing Plant, N16 on First Landing Upper Level]

"You made it!" says Taanik from his robot as he sees through its sensor readout that the identical construction robot has arrived. Ids voice is muffled coming through the robot's body, but it is loud enough for T'Klkk to hear.

"Just barely," replies T'Klkk from within the robot she has arrived in. "For some reason, none of the security robots followed me. Is Mr. Streel still with you?"

"I'm here," calls Selson through the robot's hull. "Let's get out of this place."

"Maybe that's not a bad idea," says Taanik. "Let's have these robots head for. . ." There is a long pause. "This is odd."

Selson is becoming impatient. "Taanik, get these robots moving."

"They're not obeying my orders any more," says the Dralasite in frustration.

The audio radio units within the two robots boom with Dakka Syte's voice. "Congratulations, T'Klkk. I knew that if I let you wander far enough you would lead me to our annoying gelatinous saboteur. Don't bother trying to direct the robots. They're under my control now!"

"Let me out!" yells Selson.

"Oh, I can't do that," says Dakka's voice. "You'll find the hatches to the robots' storage compartments are now very securely locked. I wouldn't want you going anywhere. I've got a surprise for you."

Slowly, ominously, the two construction bots begin to move.

"What are you doing?" demands Taanik.

Dakka laughs smugly. "Well, I might as well let you in on the secret. We do a lot of ore purification in this refinery. Many of times this requires smelting metals in large vats heated to several thousand of degrees. I think it's about time these robots were recycled. And you, why you can simply burn away with the rest of the impurities!"

Taanik stares in alarm at his robot's sensor readout. Both robots are steadily climbing a ramp that leads to a gigantic tub--ten meters across. A fiery red glow emanates from within the tub, accompanied with an occasional splatter of molten ore. Even through the robots' insulation, the heat from this distance is unbearable!

"Uhh, T'Klkk," hollers Taanik. "If you've got any ideas, now would be a good time!"