The Ballad of Mitch and SoHee

by Paul Ormond

  “No, I just want a pardon.”

  “Admit your guilty and you’ll get your pardon.”

  “Fine, I’m guilty of compromising the security of the United States, but I’m no traitor.”

  “There, that wasn’t so hard. You’ve just been pardoned. Now I think it’s time we moved on. They tell me you’ve got an army.”

  “I do.”

  “So do I. I think it’s time we show our guests that we won’t be pushed around.”

  “We can probably work something out. They might have their fancy ships, but we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves that should get our message across.”

  “Hold your horses. I can’t have you and your ragtag horde running around playing smash and grab. We need to coordinate our efforts. Anything you and your party attempt will be approved on my end first. If you agree to that, we will provide your operation with the facilities you will require to carry out the resistance.”

  “What kind of facilities?”

  “The kind of facilities that are able to withstand the firepower we are up against.”

  “Are you asking me to bring my team into your fold?”

  “I’m not asking. I’m telling. Gerald will relay the coordinates and escort you in. But if you don’t like these terms, you can sit out in that warehouse and wait to get roasted.”

  “I’m only agreeing to this because I am trying to save the planet.”

  “Seems like all that time in solitary has turned you into a reasonable man. I look forward to seeing you again, O’Dell,” Edwards said before the transmission ceased.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  “WHAT CAN YOU tell me about your home?” SoHee asked while looking up at the robot towering over her.

  “But I am unsure what it is that you mean by a home,” the robot said.

  “She means where do you come from? I’m pretty sure that you didn’t grow in the dirt,” Mitch asked.

  “It is difficult for me to say because I only remember being in the ground and now I am standing before you,” the robot said.

  “Let me see if I can help you remember,” SoHee said, unpacking her orb. “Hold still. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m just going to see if we can find a way into your memory bank.”

  “Due to the fact that you have activated my systems, I will allow you to inspect my data bank,” the robot said. “I am grateful for what you have done, and I will do all that I can to aid you.”

  “We appreciate the help,” SoHee said as the orb encased the robot. “Let’s see what you got hiding inside there.”

  Several flashes of light forced Mitch to cover his eyes before a bright green glow overcame the metallic robot. Infused with light, the robot rose into the air above SoHee and spun at a rapid rate within the sphere.

  “What are you trying to do?” Mitch asked, watching the robot whirl overhead.

  “I’m trying to gain access to whatever it is that powers these guys, but I’m having difficulty getting anywhere,” SoHee said while bringing up a panel filled with diagnostic readings.

  “Are you hoping that spinning it around like that will make it puke up its memories?”

  “Maybe, but that is not why it is spinning. I’ve detected a magnetic mechanism within the robot’s core. It appears to be the source of its power, but it is only functioning at 30% of capacity. I’m hoping that the centrifugal force will activate it.”

  “How is that supposed to work?”

  “Magnets are capable of spinning indefinitely if there is no friction. It looks like whoever built these things intended to have these guys run for a long time.”

  “How do you have all of this stuff locked away in your brain?”

  “I’ve had a bit of help,” SoHee said, looking up at the opaque sphere. “There, that seems to have done something.”

  Guiding the sphere back to the ground, SoHee kept her eye on the panel. As the robot dropped to the ground, energy poured out of the cracks between its parts and rippled down its limbs.

  Before they had a chance to react, the robot swung out with its wide fist, forcing Mitch to dive to the left.

  “What the hell did you?” Mitch shouted, jumping to his feet and crossing his arms over his chest.

  “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised,” SoHee shouted as she dodged another swipe from the robot. “These things are called Defenders after all. Let me see if I can subdue it.”

  Dodging to her right, SoHee dropped under the lunging robot and leaped onto its back before a bright beam shot out of the robot's eyes and tore into the ground.

  “You better do something quick, or that thing is going to cut us to shreds,” Mitch shouted.

  Glancing to his right, he watched a wave of energy sweep over the sea of robots standing in formation across the plain. With clockwork precision, the eyes of each robot lit up, and the army snapped to attention before marching forward in lockstep.

  “Uh, are you seeing this?” Mitch shouted while SoHee clung to the robot's back.

  “Don’t panic,” SoHee shouted before slamming several commands into her panel. “I think I’ve almost got it.”

  “You better hurry up cause it looks like it's almost laser time,” Mitch shouted, retreating from the advancing robots.

  “Are you afraid of a few machines?” SoHee shouted as the robots at the front of the advancing columns shot several blasts out of their raised fists, forcing Mitch to shield himself.

  “No, but I’m definitely afraid of several thousand robots with laser eyes,” Mitch shouted, readying his spear.

  As he was about to strike, the robots ceased marching and stepped into attention, the glow fading from their eyes.

  “See, told you there was nothing to be afraid of,” SoHee said, leaping off of the robot's back.

  “You weren’t the one staring down the laser bots,” Mitch said. “How did you get them to stop?”

  “It looks like they were set to some type of attack mode before they wound up in the ground down there,” SoHee said. “Activating this guys central operating system appears to have affected the entire army, but they were all set to attack mode when they woke up, so I just needed to switch it off.”

  “That was pretty close,” Mitch said. “I already had to fight one of these guys, and that was bad enough. I couldn’t imagine having to take on an entire army.”

  “We’re lucky to have them on our side,” SoHee said. “Now, lets find out what these defenders are all about and who or what they are defending.”

  SoHee typed a few more commands into her panel, and a soft glow filled the robot’s eyes before it let out an audible groan.

  “Oh, terrible suffering,” the robot said. “It’s lost, all is lost.”

  “What is lost? What did you lose?” SoHee asked.

  “Everything. The pathway has been breached. It is within and we cannot stop it.”

  “What can’t you stop? What it is it?”

  “We are doomed. Doomed to eternity in this place. Buried in the ground. Lost forever.”

  “Who sent you here?”

  “It has taken control. Taken over the center.”

  “What is it?”

  “It is everywhere, in everything. We cannot defend the center, we cannot protect them.”

  “What is it talking about?” Mitch asked as the robot sputtered and sobbed.

  “I accessed its final memories, and it seems rather cryptic,” SoHee said. “Something happened to these guys, and they were sent here. I’m just trying to figure out where they came from and how we can get there.”

  “It said something about and ‘it,’” Mitch said. “‘It is everywhere,’”

  “Yeah, I heard that,” SoHee said as the light returned to the robot's eyes.

  “I am 4692,” the robot said while snapping to attention. “I am a Defender of the center, and protector of the citadel.”

  “That’s a little different,” Mitch said.

  “I’m inside its programming now. I need to figure out if it has any idea
about its whereabouts, or if it has a homing beacon,” SoHee said. “Can you tell me where you are?”

  “Beyond the gateway, it banished us to the wastes,” the robot said.

  “Is this the wastes?” SoHee asked.

  “Unescapable, there is nothing here and no way out,” the robot said.

  “But you said there is a gateway that brought you here,” Mitch said. “Do you know where it is?”

  “Blocked, closed. We cannot escape the wastes,” the robot said, clutching its head.

  “We’re just going around in circles,” Mitch said. “None of this makes any sense.”

  “Hang on,” SoHee said before she punched in a few commands. “Lets see what this does.”

  “Instruction received,” the robot said, snapping to attention. “Awaiting further orders.”

  “What did you do now?” Mitch asked.

  “I found a list of functions. I’m just trying to see if there is anything that is useful to us now,” SoHee said, panning through a long stream of data.

  “I don’t know how you can make any sense of all that,” Mitch said.

  “It’s a good thing you’ve got me here to figure it out,” SoHee said while she stopped browsing and zoomed in a single line of code. “Ok, I think we’re getting somewhere now. I just found a navigation function that looks like a homing beacon.”

  “What are you waiting for?” Mitch asked. “I want to get out of here. This place gives me the creeps.”

  “You’re telling me,” SoHee said. “I wandered around here by myself until I Mother lured me into a trap and locked me inside her giant machine. It was terrifying. But we can’t go anywhere until I figure out where we’re going next.”

  “That’s cool, but I think you might want to hurry it up,” Mitch said after several explosions burst across the skyline. “I think somebody is crashing our date.”

  “Wasn’t expecting that, but nothing is really shocking anymore,” SoHee said without looking up from her panel. “Do you think you can handle it? I might need a bit of time to coordinate this.”

  “I think I know who it is,” Mitch said.

  In the distance, a bright ring appeared in the sky above the ridgeline. Expanding at a rapid rate, a dark hole appeared at the center of the circle and Mitch spotted several dozen forms streaming through the opening. “I guess we should’ve expected this. I’m surprised they are just catching up with us now. Can you spare me a few of your robots? I’m going to go over and say hi.”

  “How’s this?” SoHee said, pounding her panel. Upon command, a formation of robots stomped their feet in unison and rose into the air. “I’m redirecting command to your device. They’ll respond to your voice.”

  “That should do it,” Mitch said before he leaped into the air. Across the plain, the figures raced toward the robot army. At the head of the procession, a monstrous figure holding a glowing red sphere led the charge.

  “You guys are with me,” Mitch shouted before the robots swiveled their heads in his direction in perfect unison. “You see those guys over there? Those are the bad guys. I got the one in the center with the big red thingy. The rest are all yours. Follow me.”

  Pushing off with a single kick, Mitch rocketed toward the attackers as the robots fell in line behind him. Several blasts shot toward him while he closed the gap, but he shielded himself and rolled away to avoid impact. Leveling his spear, he returned fire before he spotted KiGuan barreling at him through a dust cloud.

  “You can’t run from your destiny, Mitch,” KiGuan shouted while he swiped at Mitch with his weapon. “The Emperor calls out to you with his love. You must accept it, or I will be forced to end your existence.”

  “Do you have any idea how insane you sound?” Mitch said, dodging KiGuan’s attack as the robots slammed into a wall of orange and black minions.

  “The only thing that is insane is your resistance to the Emperor,” KiGuan shouted before he stabbed at Mitch.

  “If that’s insane then I’m happy being crazy,” Mitch said while blocking KiGuan’s blow. “I can’t believe I thought we were friends.”

  “You’ve been poisoned by Teron’s words, but I now possess the amulet and I will rid the world of his lies and subterfuge,” KiGuan said after Mitch attempted a counter strike.

  “You guys are the ones going around trying to take over the universe,” Mitch said while changing direction. “How come the people trying to dominate everybody else can’t figure it out? People don’t like it when you conquer them.”

  “These pathetic beings you speak of don’t know what they want until they accept the Emperor into their hearts,” KiGuan shouted. “Only when you open yourself to his love, can you understand what your true purpose is.”

  “And I’m the one that’s been poisoned?” Mitch over the din of battle.

  “I know what you are trying to do,” KiGuan said, readying himself to strike “But it won’t work. You cannot stop our plans. And I am here to ensure you don’t make it another step further.”

  “Is that right?” Mitch said while he evaded KiGuan’s attack. “How do you know so much about our plans, did your mother tell you?”

  “You are not as clever as you think,” KiGuan shouted, lunging forward. “This plan of yours is more than dangerous. Disrupting the network will only lead to oblivion.”

  “It looks like we’re headed there no matter what if your Mother’s plans all come together,” Mitch shouted, blocking KiGuan’s spear and catching him in the shoulder with a strike of his own. “All I’ve been trying to do since this whole thing got started is get home. If you think you can take my planet for your Emperor, you’re going to have to go through me first.”

  “That’s the plan,” KiGuan said, recovering from Mitch’s attack.

  Before KiGuan had a chance to strike back, a deep hum filled the plain. Glancing over his shoulder, Mitch spotted a swarm of robots rising into the air and.

  “It looks like you are too late to stop us,” Mitch said after the robots formed a large vertical circle overhead.

  “You will not escape me again,” KiGuan said, swinging at Mitch with his spear.

  “I don’t know why you are so convinced that you are right,” Mitch said as great spires of energy crackled across the robot formation. “Maybe you had too much encouragement from your Mother.”

  “It is you who are mistaken,” KiGuan shouted before a tremendous shock wave tore across the plain.

  Mitch spun around and spotted a massive cloud of energy barreling down upon him as KiGuan swiped at him again.

  “These tricks will not be enough to stop me,” KiGuan shouted while a deep rumbling filled the air.

  “I’m not sure if it’s a trick,” Mitch shouted, evading KiGuan’s blade.

  Diving to his right, Mitch turned and saw the wave ascending upon him. Unable to escape, he braced himself for impact, but the wave passed over him without consequence and slammed into his opponents, sending KiGuan and his Minions tumbling across the plain.

  Not wasting any time, Mitch spun around and raced toward the pulsing circle and spotted a green sphere hovering before the opening.

  “Thanks for the save,” Mitch said while nearing SoHee.

  “It was nothing, just had to zone in on their frequencies and the energy did the rest,” SoHee said with her eyes fixed on the opening. “But we’d better get going. That won’t be enough to hold them for long.”

  “KiGuan is probably calling his mommy right now,” Mitch said after the cloud disappeared into the distance. “Where does this thing go?”

  “I’m not sure,” SoHee said while great spires of energy crackled along the edge of the opening. “But we’re gonna find out soon enough. According to the data, this portal will take us to where ever these guys originated from.”

  “Ladies first,” Mitch said, gesturing toward the opening.

  “How courteous of you,” SoHee said. “We’re passing through a portal that leads to unknown dangers and you expect me to go first.”
>
  “I thought I was being polite,” Mitch said.

  “Oh Mitch, you are too easy,” SoHee said before she took off toward the opening. “Come on. Lets go see what the fuss is all about.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  “LOOK AT THE size of that thing,” Gareth said as he followed after Sage.

  “Don’t let it get in your head,” Sage said before leaping around a tree. “You’ll just psyche yourself out. Let’s just take this one step at a time. We’re almost at the rendezvous point. Once we make contact, we’ll figure out the next step.”

  “You’re the boss,” Gareth said. “But I just can’t figure out how we can possibly stand a chance against those things.”

  “Didn’t he just say don’t think about it?” Candace said from further back. “We all know how crazy this whole thing is. You don’t need to keep reminding us.”

  “I’m not trying to remind you, I’m just trying to get my head around it,” Gareth said.

  “You’re going to get your head blown off if you don’t shut up,” Darren said, keeping pace with Sage. “They can probably hear you all the way up there, the way you’re blabbering on about it.”

  “Fine, I’ll be quiet,” Gareth said, stepping over a fallen branch. “But we’re going to need a plan to get out of this.”

  “The plan is to get to the rendezvous point,” Sage said before checking his panel. “And it looks like we should be right on it.”

  “One more step and I’ll put a hole in your chest,” a voice said in the darkness.

  “Nobody move. We’ve got you surrounded,” a young man’s voice said from the other side.

  “Relax. We’re obviously on the same side,” Sage said after he put his hands in the air.

  “We’re not taking any chances,” a girl said, coming up from behind.

  “Just come out here, and we’ll sort it out,” Candace said. “Of course we’re on the same side. How do you think we all wound up in the same spot?”

  “It could be an ambush,” another boy said.

  “You’re the ones ambushing us,” Donnie said.

  “That’s why we’re the ones calling the shots,” another girl said.