“This would be a great time to kill us all,” Frost said.
An itch formed in the back of Akira’s skull, just before Apeiron’s intelligent voice spoke to their chips.
“The chances of that are highly unlikely,” she said. “In fact, I put them at one percent. You have a better chance of dying in battle than delivering this peace offering.”
“Who asked for your opinion?” Tadhg asked.
“Better get used to it,” Perez said.
“Such bullshit,” Tadhg said. “I didn’t give up a fortune in contracts from Droid Raiding to listen to an AI tell me how to fight.”
“She’s here to help us, Tadhg.” Perez adjusted his shield. “AI is salvation.”
Perez was one of the true believers, a warrior who had given his adult life to protect all that AI had built in the great megacities. Tadhg on the other hand, was vocal about his disdain for droids. Sometimes too vocal.
“AI is salvation,” Akira said.
“Yeah, yeah,” Tadhg said.
The other Engines repeated the phrase while Ghost sang it in his acclaimed tenor voice.
AI is salvation. AI is hope.
AI is the future of humanity!
Normally the sound of that song would have resulted in a sniper bullet between the eyes, but Akira’s team passed freely with their white flags.
Akira had repeated the motto countless times, but he had never thought he would be this connected to AI. The only advantage seemed to be the ability to tap into INN with a single thought. Instead of relying on their HUDs for intel, he could now access it in his mind’s eye. He was still getting used to it, but it was already starting to become habit.
Blinking, Akira tapped into the network, scrolling through the satellite images over Megacity Paris. On the other side of the walls, the Coalition was gathering to greet them.
Okami led the way toward the highway, sniffing for mines and explosives. Akira guided Kichiro past the burned-out hulls of tanks and armored personal carriers (APCs) blown apart by bombs and missiles over the years. Bones and armor lay scattered across the cracked pavement.
The squad marched through the graveyard of dead warriors.
Akira felt the chill of spirits prowling, people who had been robbed of life and wanted revenge. Delivering this peace offering seemed like a betrayal to all of them.
And yet, he pushed on with his orders.
Rubble and debris covered the terrain. A decade ago, this place would have bustled with noise and life. Now an eerie silence hung over the wastes.
Over the mountains of shattered lives, Akira saw their destination. The ten-story iron gates of Megacity Paris rose from the horizon. The smoke wasn’t so bad today, and in the weak glow of the sun, he made out the walls of the city.
Light poles framed the highway, skeletons hanging from them. Most were human, but some Hummer Droid heads poked off the spikes as well. Slanted and mangled road signs displayed the Coalition soldiers’ blasphemy.
AI will bring death to all.
The real devil is made of metal, not flesh.
Akira zoomed in with his INVS eyes. More droid heads protruded off spikes along the parapets of the fortress walls, and the fresh bodies of Nova Alliance citizens hung from ropes. Hundreds of Coalition soldiers stood on the platforms, their weapons pointed at the Engines.
“Let’s get this over with,” Akira said.
The monster steel gates groaned open as they approached, revealing the guts of a city that not a single Engine had stepped inside for years.
Akira directed Kichiro down the heavily fortified road. Thousands of Coalition foot soldiers waited behind concrete blocks and machine gun nests. On the buildings to the side of the highway, more soldiers waited on rooftops.
Okami growled at the wall of Breakers blocking the road, clutching energy blades and snorting cold air through their iron helmets. The entire army seemed to break into laughter at the sight of the wolfdog. That just made Okami mad, and his growl rose to a vicious growl-bark.
Akira felt his blood warm. He wanted to kill them all. For everything they had taken from him.
The Coalition warriors suddenly went quiet, giving way to the click of metal claws and the tap of boots. Breakers parted to form a path for a pack of Iron Wolves, bound by chains held by their handlers.
Kichiro held his ground and snorted as if he was prepared to charge the monstrous beasts, but Akira knew the horse was nervous. He patted his neck, then dismounted and whistled for Okami to quiet.
The wolfdog growled one last time.
Shadow Squad formed a wall to the left and right of Akira.
A man in a gray suit emerged from behind the Iron Wolves and their handlers. He took off his helmet, revealing blood-red INVS eyes and wavy silver hair.
“Welcome to Megacity Paris,” he said, holding out his arms. “You have now entered our kingdom, free of AI.”
Akira strode out to him, wasting no time.
“Doctor Otto Cross?” he asked.
“Yes, and you are?”
“Captain Akira Hayashi. I’m here to extend a peace offering.” He held out the holo-tube, drawing the muzzles of a hundred weapons.
Dr. Cross held up a hand. He approached cautiously, examining the tube and then the Engines with his red gaze.
“I have to admit, I was surprised to hear it was the revered Shadow Squad, led by the great Akira the Brave who was at our gates to deliver this message of surrender,” said Dr. Cross.
“This isn’t a message of surrender,” Akira said. “It’s an offer of peace.”
“An offer of peace?” Dr. Cross paced in front of Akira. “That makes me wonder what trickery War Commander Contos is up to.”
“No trickery, Doctor. It’s the hope of the Nova Alliance Council and the War Commander that we can agree to a ceasefire and find a way to live in harmony with our own beliefs—”
Dr. Cross stopped pacing and cut Akira off. “The war won’t end while AI exists,” he snapped. “It can’t end… and someday you will understand that.”
Grunts came from the Breakers, who had formed a fortress of metal and augmented flesh behind their leader.
Dr. Cross reached out. “But I would still like to see this olive branch, Captain, for consideration. And out of courtesy.”
Akira handed over the holo-tube.
Peeling off the Silver Crane seal, Dr. Cross pulled out a holo-cylinder and dropped it on the ground. A hologram of War Commander Contos rose from it.
“On behalf of the Nova Alliance Council and in the interest of this peace, I, War Commander Dimitri Contos, offer the following peace terms…”
Dr. Cross rubbed his hands together excitedly.
Akira knew he was a psychopath and wondered how many people those hands had killed.
“Megacity Paris and Megacity Moscow will be handed over to the Coalition,” Contos continued, “in return for letting five million of our citizens go, including all children under the age of fifteen. We will pull our forces back as soon as the refugees are evacuated. We are also willing to offer you the first successful treatment for SANDs, a chip that you can distribute among your ranks, in good faith.” He paused, as if he were watching Dr. Cross, even though it was a pre-recorded message. “This offer is non-negotiable and expires at midnight.”
The hologram vanished.
“Five million out of ten million,” Dr. Cross said. He stroked his mustache. “Sounds like something an AI would come up with.”
“If it were up to me, I’d die right now if it meant killing you,” Ghost said. “That would be a good death.”
“Plant your feet and square your shoulders to the enemy,” Perez said, reciting his favorite quotation from the Greek soldier Archilochus. “Meet him among the man-killing spears. Hold your ground… and we will.”
“You forgot a line,” Dr. Cross said. “Be brave, my heart… and while you are most definitely brave, I do not wish to kill you today.�
��
The doctor walked over to look at Perez, and then Ghost.
“I promise you this…” Dr. Cross said.
“Rossi, Lieutenant Shane Rossi,” Ghost interrupted.
“Ah, the singing Ghost. Yes, I’m well aware of who you are, too.” Dr. Cross patted one of his shoulder plates. “You can try to kill me, but I promise you it will be more painful for you when I feed you to my wolves… alive.”
“Get your hand off me,” Ghost said, shaking it off and facing the much shorter doctor.
Every gun in the area aimed at the Engines. Shadow Squad already had their weapons pointed at Dr. Cross.
“Make your decision, Doctor,” Akira said.
Dr. Cross moved to Akira, looking up the foot of height difference between the two of them.
“You’re a soldier of honor, I’m told, and for that reason I agree to these terms,” said the doctor. He held up a single finger. “But if they are broken, you have my word that I will bring hell to Earth until there is only man or droid left standing.”
Akira nodded. “Fair enough.”
“The brain was not meant to be modified, Captain,” Dr. Cross said. “Our flesh, sure, but our brains are sacred. They’re our computers. AI is unholy.”
“You’re one crazy asshole,” Ghost said.
Dr. Cross turned his back and walked toward the Breakers, but then stopped. “You know, on second thought, while I trust you, Captain Hayashi, I don’t trust your comrades,” he said. “So in order to secure this peace deal, I have one request of my own.”
The doctor looked past Akira at Kichiro. “You have something of mine that I want back, Captain.”
“These terms are non-negotiable,” Akira replied firmly.
“I designed that beast you ride into battle,” Dr. Cross. “Hand him over, or there will be no peace.”
Akira stiffened.
“Oh don’t worry, I won’t hurt him,” Dr. Cross said. “It’s only to ensure you keep your side of the bargain.”
The itch in his brain distracted Akira for a beat, and then with Apeiron’s voice, he felt a flood of cocktails keeping his adrenaline under control.
“Accept this term, Captain,” she said.
Akira clenched his jaw. “I told you. I don’t take orders from you.”
“You are risking the entire deal,” Apeiron insisted. “This is illogical. It will result in a court-martial if you don’t comply.”
The rough voice of War Commander Contos surged into Akira’s earpiece. “I’m sorry, Akira, but this must be done.”
Not even the drugs in his system could keep Akira’s rage contained, and he balled his fists until his knuckles popped.
“You harm him, and I will kill you,” Akira said.
“I would expect nothing less,” Dr. Cross said.
Akira grabbed the reins and put his hand on Kichiro’s muzzle.
“I’m sorry, boy,” he whispered. “I swear on my family, I’ll come back for you.”
The hybrid beast snorted his disagreement. Akira put his kabuto against Kichiro’s head, careful not to stab the horse with the sharp datemono crest.
“I’m sorry, but this is not the end for us,” Akira said quietly.
Ghost stepped over and whispered into a private channel to Akira.
“If you want to fight, I’m with you,” he said.
That was just like the Lieutenant, always loyal, and always ready to have Akira’s back. But this time, it was too risky. He wouldn’t forfeit his team’s lives to kill the mad doctor. Not now. There would be another time.
Akira recited a quote from the Warrior Codex in his armored satchel. “Like the perfect blossom, a warrior must often wait for the right battle,” he whispered to Ghost.
A Breaker walked over to take the reins. Kichiro kicked, striking the Coalition soldier in the chest with his hooves and sending him crashing against a concrete barrier with a crunch.
Tadhg let out a bellowing laugh.
“Easy,” Akira said. He calmed the horse down and handed the reins off to a second Breaker. A third soldier lassoed an iron chain around the stallion’s neck.
Akira took a step forward, Okami growl-barking between his legs. The other Engines stood at the ready, each prepared to die right here if Akira gave the order.
Dr. Cross shooed Akira’s team away with a flick of his hand. “Go, before I change my mind.”
Perez put a hand on Akira’s left shoulder plate, and Frost put a hand on his right.
“Come on, Captain, we have to leave,” she said.
“This is fucking dog shit,” Tadhg said. “Know what I’m sayin’?”
Ghost nodded.
Akira watched as his loyal horse was pulled away, struggling. Then he turned and left with his team. The iron gates closed behind them, sealing with a thud.
“We’ll get him back,” Frost said. “Don’t worry, Captain.”
“Got that right,” Ghost said.
As they marched back to the front lines, Akira could still hear his horse whinnying. He bowed his helmet in despair, feeling like he was abandoning his companion.
The despair turned to anger—anger that he had been sent here to deliver a message of peace to an evil man who had murdered millions of innocent Nova Alliance Citizens and soldiers.
It made no logical sense to Akira from a military standpoint, but then again, while the orders may have come from War Commander Contos, Akira knew who they were really from.
Apeiron.
— 6 —
Two days had passed since Dr. Cross had accepted the terms of the ceasefire. Jason had watched the refugees streaming out of both Megacity Paris and Megacity Moscow toward camps the Nova Alliance were still scrambling to put up.
Like the treatment for SANDs, the peace had arrived so fast that the Nova Alliance wasn’t ready. Things were starting to change, and hope seemed to be spreading through the empire of megacities.
And it was all thanks to Apeiron.
AI is indeed salvation, Jason thought. His sister and her AI were proving that every day.
Today, Apeiron was finally leaving the spin-gravity of Sector 220 at Titan Space Elevator for her first visit to the planet she was designed to save. The black Hummer Droid she had chosen for her physical form stood behind the pilots on a raised bridge in the cockpit of the MOTH.
Jason and Darnel were racked into their seats behind Apeiron as the spacecraft flew out of the hangar.
“I cannot believe I am finally going to see it,” Apeiron said excitedly.
The primary pilot looked up at Jason. “Where we headed, Doctor Crichton?”
“Ask her,” Jason replied.
“Her?”
“The Hummer Droid,” Jason clarified. He shook his head and said, “Apeiron, where would you like to go first?”
“I would like to do a flyover of AAS Restoration Site 110,” Apeiron said. “And then I would like to land at one of the Galapagos Islands.”
An odd choice, Jason thought.
The pilot put the coordinates into the computer. Four horizontal black wings on each side of the aircraft rotated to vertical, thrusters firing. The MOTH blasted away from the space elevator and began its descent toward Earth’s atmosphere.
Two black King Cobra Spaceplanes with red arrows painted on their wings came up along their flanks to escort them safely to the surface.
Jason took a deep breath. Things were happening fast, faster than he had expected, and he was missing his wife Betsy and their daughters Nina and Autumn. It wasn’t unusual for him to be away for work this long, but since Petra had died he had only been home for a handful of days, and that included the two for his sister’s funeral.
“Entering atmosphere,” said the primary pilot. “Prepare for some turbulence.”
Thick cloud cover blocked the view over the South Atlantic Ocean. The MOTH rattled as it flew through the clouds.
When they finally broke through, a gasp ca
me from the cockpit.
“This is so beautiful,” Apeiron said.
Jason watched the droid. In a way, Apeiron was much like a child: curious, adaptive, and full of joy.
They flew over the shoreline of Brazil, passing cities reduced to rubble in the Carbon Wars. South and North America had suffered the most during the height of the conflict, with many cities abandoned.
Mexico City and Buenos Aires were the only two megacities south of the former United States border. The rest of the population in Mexico and South America was scattered across smaller cities or outposts.
This was Coalition territory, where modern civilization no longer existed, and humanity had returned to the state of nature, scratching out a living in villages and towns where the rule of law was by the sword.
Normally, the pilots would have flown much higher to avoid any anti-aircraft weapons that guerilla fighters might possess on the ground. But the advanced weapons systems on the King Cobra Spaceplanes ensured they would be safe.
Soon the MOTH slowed to two hundred miles per hour, giving everyone in the cockpit a perfect view of what used to be the Amazon rainforest.
The muddy brown Amazon river snaked through millions of acres of dry, cracked soil. From above, the gray and white husks of trees looked like burned kindling, with only sporadic pockets of green jungle. Three hundred billion trees had been cut down, and another fifty billion had burned over the past century.
But there was still hope for the rainforest. Restoration Site 110 emerged on the horizon, an island of vibrant greens and browns.
“This was one of Petra’s first projects,” Apeiron said. “I wanted to see it with my own eyes.”
The pilots looked over their shoulders at the Hummer Droid. Jason ignored them. He didn’t expect people to understand. Yet.
Someday all of humanity will, he thought.
“Over thirty billion trees have been regrown in the past three years, with over fifteen thousand unique species,” Apeiron announced. “In five years, this site will have tripled in size.”
Jason narrowed his eyes at the droid.
Apeiron smiled. “I downloaded a speech Petra gave to the Nova Council of Science six years ago.”
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