by Nathan Howe
“You shall die as well.” Wattborg lumbered towards her. She ran away from him as fast as she could. She made it out of the house, but that was it. With a clean line of sight, Wattborg lined up a shot and fired several bullets from a gun attached to his arm. Epoch had included several weapons on him. His targeting system was spot on. The bullets burst through her head, sending brain matter everywhere as she crashed to the ground.
“Mission complete.” He flew into the air and made his way back to the warehouse. This was the most successful mission yet. Sure some of the robots had killed people before, but they never left unscathed. A sly smile crossed Epoch’s face. He had finally done it. He’d created a killing machine.
Emergency landing. Power failure imminent. flashed on the screen. “No,” Epoch cursed to himself. He slammed his hand on the desk, then picked up his laptop and headed to his large cargo van. He'd pick up Wattborg wherever he’d landed, hopefully before anyone noticed him.
“Stupid power,” Epoch muttered to himself.
The laptop sat on the passenger seat as Epoch maneuvered the war-torn streets of Lenience City. They were the worst in the country. It happened when you had daily battles with Ardents and less money than Cynosure. Sure the Hero Coalition tried to fix them, but those patches didn't last. Epoch drove twenty minutes to find Wattborg standing motionless in an alley between two stores, big box ones. Epoch avoided them. Overpriced garbage was sold in them. Luckily no one touched Wattborg. Epoch pulled a dolly from the back of the van, custom built to move his robots. Still wasn't easy lifting him in. Epoch made a note to make some kind of modification to the van to help lift heavy objects.
Sweat dripped from his face and down his back as he climbed back into his seat to head back to his shop. Something had to be done to fix this power flaw. Everything else had gone so well. The Last Mastermind’s most recent known place of residence wasn't far from here. Maybe it would be a good idea just to show up unannounced and ask for help. It'd been long enough that he might help. It was worth a shot, at least. Epoch changed course and drove toward the workshop that the underground had said was the new home of his old friend.
The cargo van parked in front of the address and Epoch sat paralyzed, afraid to venture out and ask for help. It sounded like a good idea, but the way they had parted before caused him to pause. The Last Mastermind had made it clear he never wanted to see Epoch again. That Epoch didn't understand how to be a villain, how to instill fear the right way.
Screw it. Epoch took a deep breath in, walked up to the door, and knocked. A few seconds later the door opened. The Last Mastermind stood, his mouth hung open for a moment. “You have some nerve.”
“I know.” Epoch saw a TV on behind the Last Mastermind in the living room of the place. A picture of Wattborg was on it. He burst past into the room and searched for a remote to turn the volume up.
“What the hell?” The Last Mastermind marched in front of Epoch and blocked the TV. “No one invited you in.”
“If you have seen this robot or know who created it contact the local Hero Coalition.” The phone number ran across the bottom of the screen. “Do not approach. The robot is believed to be responsible for the massacre of a whole family. The family has a connection to a local hero so we cannot release the names at this time.”
Epoch smiled. “They're scared.”
“You've lost it. Get out.” The Last Mastermind maneuvered to force Epoch out.
“That's me,” Epoch pointed at the TV.
“Right. Sure, you've made a killer robot.” He said sarcastically. “I've heard about your failures.”
“I can prove it. Wattborg is out in my van.”
The Last Mastermind rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah. Out in your van, you say.”
Epoch stomped his feet, “Just look. I swear.” His voice squeaked, much higher pitched than normal. “Please,” he begged.
“Fine.” He gestured to the door. “Lead on.”
They both walked to the van and Epoch opened the rear door. Wattborg lay on the floor secured in place. The Last Mastermind stood staring at him. “You did it. Well, kind of. What's wrong with him?”
“That's why I'm here. I'm awful with batteries and power. He ran dry in an hour.”
“Otherwise, everything went well? No malfunctions?”
“None. He just needs minor modifications.”
The Last Mastermind nodded. “Can you remove the power supply?”
“Sure. Give me ten.” The power was on the side. It didn't take Epoch long to unscrew the steel plate that covered it, and the Last Mastermind inspected it.
He rubbed his chin and laughed. “You're using a model ten generations old for me.”
Damn. He's been busy. “You have something that will last?”
“I do. Follow me.” It was nice having his old friend back, even if only briefly. The Last Mastermind led his old friend through the house, and into a large lab in the back. It was dark and lined with shelves holding equipment and his creations on all sides. One held a large refrigerator. Once opened it was filled with different compartments of varying degrees. The Last Mastermind reached into one of the cooler ones and pulled out a battery not much bigger than his hand. “This is the future.”
“How long?”
“For all practical purposes… infinite.”
Epoch’s eyes widened. He never heard of such a thing. “How can that be?”
“Don't worry about it. I found a way to use motion to recharge.” Epoch couldn't comprehend how difficult that was. “Let's bring in your robot and do the proper updates, so this will work.”
It took both of them to gently remove Wattborg from the cargo van. He was the heaviest robot Epoch had created. The strongest, but the steel weighed a lot more than any of the others he had used. Worth it to make up for the weakness of the others he had built.
Once inside, the Last Mastermind made a list of modifications that would be needed to fit the new battery.
“I'll go to my shop and then the store for some of this,” said Epoch.
“I figured. I'll start to work on the stuff I can do,” the Last Mastermind said.
Epoch spent most of the day finding everything he needed. Some of the parts weren't standard equipment. Luckily, Lenience City had plenty of unique shops around. The sky had turned dark by the time Epoch returned to the Last Mastermind’s place. He was exhausted, his eyes drooped, and his shoulders slumped.
“About time.” The Last Mastermind held open the door for him. “You look like hell.”
“Haven't slept for days.”
The Last Mastermind shook his head and then waved to the side of the house. “You can't do that, old friend. Rest. This can wait—none of it is going anywhere.”
“I can't,” Epoch said. “I need to get this done to finish my plans.”
“Don't you always.” The Last Mastermind directed him to a guest room, with a small, tidy bed. “I'll start to work on this. I have most of my end ready. You'll have little to do tomorrow.”
“Okay.”
The next morning Epoch groggily walked into the workshop to find the Last Mastermind hard at work. Several pieces of Wattborg had been removed so the Last Mastermind could access the power supply. Epoch coughed, “Nice to see you. Better?” the Last Mastermind asked. He walked around the table that held Wattborg. “Almost done. I was able to do most of it. Hope you don't mind?”
“No.” Though part of him was furious. This was his creation, not anyone else's. Epoch walked over and inspected the changes made. Most of them were minor changes to allow the connection of the new power supply. And to create a better cooling system around it. “Looks good. What's left?”
“Just a few checks to make sure it won't short out.”
Good news. Epoch went to work with his laptop, checking the diagnostic system to make sure everything was in working order. The system check would take several hours. Epoch turned, “Anything else on the news about Wattborg?”
“Just the usual Hero Coa
lition bullshit.”
“Figured. I need to get Wattborg up and running. To start another attack.”
“Oh yeah, who?”
“Another family member. I want them all to know what it's like. I'll get them all before I'm done.”
The Last Mastermind howled. “I'm sure. Good luck.”
Epoch was alone. It was better this way. He did some of his best work, his best ideas alone. Soon he'd be back to his own shop and have Wattborg attacking Silver Hand's wife. It would be glorious. With the city in terror because of Wattborg, because of Epoch. The day that Epoch had dreamed of since he lost his family.
His laptop chirped at him. It was safe to attach the battery—no explosion or shorts would happen. Epoch used gloves to place the new battery into Wattborg and carefully made the proper connections. A series of beeps followed, “Reboot in progress,” sounded from Wattborg. “New hardware found.”
“Correct.” Epoch replaced the shield.
“Power supply one hundred percent.”
“Good. Do you remember your orders?”
“Yes. Master. Next target. Silver Hand's wife.”
“Correct. Now go.”
His own workshop was in the opposite direction to where Wattborg was heading, but he'd be able to make it there before Wattborg engaged the attack.
Epoch sat in front of the screen as Wattborg landed in the front yard. The camera on Wattborg broadcast crystal clear images. He had thermal cameras and sonar too. It was a pleasant cottage style home on the western side of Lenience City. Brown as mud, and homely. Epoch would never live in a place like that. It reminded him of his foster parents. The second ones and the last ones as well, he lived with more than he cared to remember.
Wattborg didn't knock—he smashed through the door. “Wattborg is here,” the robot said.
Silver Hand greeted him. “Thought you might show up after what you did to Rowin's family. You'll regret that.” He peered right at the face it felt like he was staring at Epoch. It sent a chill down Epoch’s spine.
Silver Hand’s body already covered in his mysterious silver metal. It was rumored to be tougher than Bisallium, the toughest known metal. The picture made him appear intimidating. Looking at him through Wattborg he didn't seem so big. The silver covered his whole body, including his long, shoulder-length hair and his goatee.
“Take him out,” Epoch said.
“With pleasure,” Wattborg said through the communication system, only Epoch heard him. “You die now, Silver Hand,” he directed to the hero.
Silver Hand laughed. “You can't beat me. You're just a tin bucket.”
“No… tin… here.”
Silver Hand rolled his eyes. “It's a saying, rust bucket.”
“Understand… Not… No… Rust either.” Wattborg released his claws and attacked Silver Hand, who didn't move an inch. The claws shattered on impact. “Weapons failure. Switching to secondary.”
“Switch all you want. Won't matter.”
Wattborg fired several armor-piercing bullets. Each just ricocheted off. Silver Hand still hadn't moved an inch. He yawned as the bullets hit him. “Is that the best you’ve got?”
Epoch slammed his fist on his desk in a fury. The arrogance of this hero. He deserved to die. To feel pain. He had never been so angry. “Kill him!”
“I. Am. Trying. Master,” Wattborg replied. Epoch couldn’t believe his ears. He held off both his anger and sadness and let his hate of Ardents push him. This wouldn’t end well for Silver Hand.
If it came to it. Wattborg had a self-destruct that would take out anyone in a ten-meter radius. Wattborg abandoned the bullets and lunged with his steel fists. Even without claws, they'd cause serious amounts of damage to a normal person. Silver Hand caught Wattborg's fist close to his face. He squeezed, crushing it.
“No!” Epoch couldn't believe it. Wattborg turned into yet another failure. Another addition to his pile.
Silver Hand stomped his foot on the ground, creating a sonic wave that knocked Wattborg off balance. Then Silver Hand leaned back, clutching both fists together and swung. When the fists connected with Wattborg, he was sent flying into the air, hundreds of feet up.
“Engaging self-propulsion,” Wattborg said. Parts of him flew to the ground. Most of his internal senses were damaged. That one hit had nearly taken him out completely. He wouldn't be able to take any more damage. He was gone.
Sweat face down Epoch's face. His fist clenched, nostrils flared. “Enough. Find him and self-destruct.”
“I cannot, Master.”
“Do it.”
“No, Master. First objective. Stay alive.”
“Dammit.” The AI had screwed up again. He'd rewrite them all.
Wattborg flew back to Epoch's lair. While he flew, Epoch checked to make sure he wasn't being tracked or that Silver Hand hadn’t followed or warned someone. It was safe for now. Wattborg landed out front. Epoch was waiting. Wattborg walked into the warehouse where Epoch activated the shutdown. Wattborg powered down. “Master . . .”
“Good riddance.” He couldn't make himself destruct, but he'd add him to the pile. After he removed the battery of course.
Epoch spent the next few days holed up in his warehouse. Not daring to leave. The news continued to run about the battle of Wattborg and Silver Hand. It had Wattborg flying away at the end every time, stating that they still hadn't located it. But to be on the lookout. That gave Epoch some satisfaction. They were looking for a pile of scrap.
Weeks later, Epoch sat in a bar across town, following Silver Hand, while he was off duty. Trying to find a way to kill him. To make his next creation one that could take him out. Epoch noticed that no matter what, his left hand was covered in the silver metal that gave him strength. That might just be the key.
The Gadget King
The last minion of the Gadget King collapsed to the ground. Blazes panted from the fight as she reached down to pick up her cowboy hat to cover the fiery red hair that matched her skin. She told people who weren't Ardents that she suffered from a severe sunburn. It was all part of the reason she lived in Azure City. It was always sunny, people believed her, sometimes. If she had wings, no one would question her at all, as they'd know she was a Phoenix. Instead, they glared at her as though she was weird, some freak Ardent. At least that didn't happen often—most idolized the Ardents. Blazes’ hero costume accented her slender frame. All the costumes from the Hero Coalitions did that. She tried tooth and nail to just wear jeans and a jacket, but they wouldn't let her. She had to represent the Hero Coalition, and they had standards for uniforms. Blazes settled for the hat to keep a somewhat casual uniform.
“Nice work, partner,” Charge said. Blazes had worked with Charge ever since both of them graduated the training program a few years ago. Charge was taller than Blazes, and her chin-length hair was dyed a deep purple to match her uniform and cape. Why she insisted on a cape had never made sense to Blazes.
“I'm sick of these Gadget Kings creations,” Blazes said. The past three months taking them out had become part of their daily routine. No matter how many they wiped out on their patrol, they had more to take out the next day.
Charge walked forward, switching off the electrical field device she’d created in training. Charge used fire like Blazes, but she’d created a device to generate an electrical field around her that provided a line of defense. The Hero Coalition encouraged her. Blazes thought she'd kill herself someday because of the device. It never appeared safe to her. The sounds it made when acting up frightened her. She worried that it would explode and take them both out.
“I'm sick of them too.” Charge stopped next to the remains of one. She kicked it around. “Where does he get the parts for these things anyway?”
Blazes rubbed her chin and stared up at the Azure City skyline. People said that nothing compared to Cynosure's, but she had trouble believing anything could be more impressive than this. “That's an interesting question. Weren't Shocking and Amaithinar investigating that?”<
br />
They were two of the lieutenants in Azure City behind the leader of this part of the Coalition, Inferno. Blazes pondered if they might have an idea where he built these things. So far months of searching and nothing. The Gadget King had arrived in Azure City three months ago after leaving a trail of destruction up and down the west coast.
Charge left the pile of parts on the ground. Someone from the city would arrive to clean it up. They had several crews that worked with both the city and the heroes to make sure things were repaired and cleaned up in a timely matter. “Our shift is over.” Charge stopped next to Blazes. “We could ask them when we get back to HQ to drop off our truck.”
“Let's,” Blazes said as they made their way back to the truck.
At this time of day, the traffic waned. They worked the day shift, six in the morning until two in the afternoon. Not that many people on the roads, even in a large city like Azure. They crossed town in no time, arriving just after their shift ended.
The headquarters in Azure City served as the hub for all the heroes in the city. Azure City was the largest city on the west coast. And was the second largest collection of Ardents. Only Cynosure had more. All the training on the west coast was done here as well. They didn't receive as many as the Cynosure training facility, but it was still just as impressive. The training facility shot up into the city, and beneath as well, though most didn't know that or how far. It was one of the tallest buildings in the city that and the research facility owned by Naomi Consolidated. That was named after one of the original Ardents from all those years ago when things had first changed. Some believed that it was run by Naomi herself, because they believed the rumors that the original Ardents had been granted immortality from God.
Charge parked in the back, in the assigned spot for the truck, and they jumped out and walked briskly into the building, hoping either Shocking or Amaithinar were still in. Both offices were located on the middle levels. The upper levels were for training and Inferno, who had to have meetings with many of the other leaders of the Hero Coalition or the mystery backers who paid for everything.