Artificial Exile

by D S Emerson

  Lost in his thoughts, they soon arrived at the training area. It was the open area with the big, open natural dome and lots of obstacles placed on the ground. “For starting your basic training, it would be best for you to get familiar with our equipment,” Denec told them as they stopped at the edge of the area, where various lockers were located. “But first, tell me what you were allocated to do in the city…What were your tasks?”

  “We worked in the energy factory, gathering Iorine. We pushed wagons from the Iorine lakes to the factory,” Abel replied.

  “That work gave us physical strength and stamina,” Bek continued after Abel. “Also, when I was a kid on Earth, my father had me taking shots with toy guns. He was in the army when the war started.”

  “My condolences,” Denec said to him in an honest voice. “The losses for humanity were enormous, and all the people who remain here on this planet have lost those close to them.”

  “At least we can be a decent addition to your army,” Bek told him. “Is that what you call yourselves?”

  “More like a guerrilla army: the only way we can defeat the AI is by being smart, and using what we have available. As you have noticed, Iorine is our biggest weapon against them. The whole reason that humanity exists—to make Iorine into energy for powering them—is ironically, the most effective material for making weapons to fight them. The robots can’t function if they come close to it. That’s why we modified our weapons to use it. Malok and Taner are the two people who managed to make Iorine into a weapon. We also use gear stolen from the city guards that they use to control the population,” Denec explained to them. “Our plans will be in motion soon, so you don’t have much time to train. We intend to take the city first. I can’t give you power armor—like the one you saw on Valeena—because we don’t have many suits available. I can give you some rifles, however, two energy shields to protect yourselves, and batons with Iorine to handle any robot that gets close to you. That’s more than enough for you, with little time to train for them. Let’s get started,” Denec said as he opened the lockers next to them. He handed each an assault rifle with Iorine rounds, an energy shield that was worn on the arm—activating it created an energy cover—and a metallic baton that had solid Iorine visible inside it.

  “Don’t try to use the guns against us,” he told them. “Our guns are reprogramed not to work when pointed at us. In the city, the guards need to get permission for their guns to be unlocked. We modified the ones we stole, so you are not getting very far from here if you try to use them in the wrong way,” he told them, half-jokingly. “But you look like honest people; that’s what Malok told me. He can spot a person’s character easily. That’s why we didn’t keep you locked up, and let you join, even with a low rank,” he said to them while going closer to the target field. “Come. Get ready to start training.” Denec guided them to the closest field, which looked like it was set up for target practice. “First, you should learn how to fire your guns. You probably saw them being carried by the guards in the city and factory.”

  “Yes, lots of times,” Abel replied.

  “Nice. Aim down the sight and take shots with controlled bursts. Keep in mind the ammo counter in the side. It will also light a signal when five rounds are left in the clip.”

  Bek and Abel started taking shots at the various targets placed on the field. They struggled at first, and Denec needed to come closer and give them help a couple of times. After a while, they became familiar with the assault guns, and Denec asked them to do the same while moving across the field. Abel went first, in a hasty way like he always did. He missed some of his shots due to being careless. Bek followed him and took more time moving and aiming. This allowed him to be more accurate; he always was more patient and calculating than Abel.

  “You did well, both of you,” Denec said. “But you still need more training. Let’s try throwing some grenades.”

  Bek and Abel went to the grenade area. It was comprised of a wall protecting the trainees and targets on the opposite site. “You will only get two tries each for today,” Denec said while handing them both their grenades. “You click the button on the top and the one on the side at the same time. After that, it will explode in ten seconds. Bek, you go first.”

  Bek took his place behind the wall and armed the grenade. He aimed and threw it at the targets in the distance. It landed relatively close, but not completely on target. After ten seconds, the grenade exploded, splashing the targets with Iorine and also damaging some of the targets that were closer to the grenade.

  “That was better than some people on their first try. Now, the second one…” Denec signaled him to go again. Bek repeated the arming process again, and this time, aimed and hit closer to the targets. More damage occurred closer to the area of the Iorine blast from the grenade. Denec seemed pleased with the performance. “Abel, you try now,” he told him as Bek returned from the wall in the target area and Abel went to the practice area.

  Abel tried arming it. “Can you tell me the instructions again? Is it one button after the other?” Abel shouted to Denec, confused.

  “Hold both buttons!” Denec yelled to him back. Abel tried again. He managed to arm the grenade and quickly threw it above the wall. The grenade went some distance from the target, and while it exploded successfully, it was away from the target area.

  “I think it would be better not to try anymore with the grenades,” Denec said to Abel, hurrying close to him. He took the second grenade from him. “Let’s try training with the melee weapons instead.”

  Abel looked a bit disappointed because he wanted to be a good soldier against the robots, but he wasn’t going to give up after a small failure in training. Denec took a lot of time showing them moves with the batons, how to use them defensively and how to hit robots so that the Iorine inside would damage them. He also had them use their personal energy shields and demonstrated that they could block shots by activating them when they needed cover. Afterward, he let them spar against each other.

  “It was a productive time training with you,” Denec said after some hours had passed. “With other people, even when they are willing, they have a hard time becoming familiar with offensive equipment. You have physical strength and also look like natural soldiers. It’s good that you joined us.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Denec, for all that you showed us,” Abel said with a satisfied look on his face. Bek just asked if they would be able to rest for the remainder of the day, and Denec agreed. He escorted them back to their cell.

  “You are staying here despite the fact that you’ve joined us because honestly, we don’t have much space elsewhere. Also, Malok doesn’t want you to run all over the base and cause an accident. So, you will be guarded here. Rest, and I will see you tomorrow.” They waved goodbye to him, and another guard came to be on duty outside their door. They got washed up after the tiring training session, and changed into the clean clothes left for them in their cell—dark colors, since the rogues wore dark clothes to move in the city with stealth. Shortly afterwards, they fell fast asleep due to exhaustion.

  The next day, Denec came and woke them. After having their breakfast they followed him into the training area again, but they found out that along with them, there were many other people using the area. “Well, you will train with the others now. You can’t use the training area all by yourself,” Denec said while walking among other people using various guns and equipment. “Let’s try more shooting with your guns, and also try out the shields and batons you will be equipped with.” They managed to find an empty spot on the target range, and they started again.

  Many days passed in training along with other people, and Bek saw among them some faces he remembered. He realized that they were the people the city guards had been looking for with announcements on the digital boards and monitors. He also realized that the rogues had been recruiting for some time; Malok and the others were serious in their efforts to fight the artificial intelligence that had taken over their home planet.
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  A few more days passed in training, and they heard that Malok would be coming to make an announcement. Bek and Abel were sparring with their batons when Malok arrived at the edge of the training area, and everyone stopped what they were doing. He had come with Valeena and Taner. Valeena was in her power suit and had her sword, while Taner had his grenade launcher. They went in the middle of the area, and they climbed on top of barrels that were used for cover in training.

  “My friends—last free people from Earth! I am so happy seeing you all training hard for our common goal. The one thing we all want: being free from robot captivity! And we will fight together for our goal to the end!” Thunderous applause and shouts came from the crowd around them. Bek was here not because he chose to, but nevertheless, he listened to Malok speaking. Abel was shouting along with the other rogues, and was cheering in favor of Malok. “Tomorrow, our assault on the prison city begins! Our goal is to liberate it for the people who are servants to the robots! We will gain freedom for the city and all the people in it. And then we will return to Earth!”

  Everyone erupted in huge shouts and applause, but Bek was getting very worried about their plans. Even if they managed to win the city, going back to Earth was a completely different matter involving the defeat of the AI forces that had taken over there long ago. To him, it looked like complete suicide. “Rest now,” Malok continued. “I will give everyone their personal instructions later today. And remember: free to the end!” Finishing his speech, Malok and the others with him climbed down from the barrels, and waved and hugged people close to them. They hugged almost everyone there, and then they headed to the tunnels amidst loud cheers.

  “Let’s get you back to your room. You should clean up and rest,” Denec said to Abel and Bek.

  They both agreed, and placed their equipment in the lockers after waiting in line. Bek spent time thinking about how this whole thing could go after they took over the city. He found it difficult to comprehend the defeat of all the robots back on Earth. They slowly walked back to their room, exhausted from training. They managed to spend time resting for a while before a new guard came to them at the door.

  “Come with me. Malok wants to speak to you now.” They followed the new guard, passing through tunnels that they had never passed through before. Bek observed that there was increased traffic compared to the previous days. Probably because the plan to take over the city is soon going into action, he thought. The guard escorted them to a big room with many people there monitoring and going over maps. It looked like their central control room. Malok was there talking with a group of rogues. Bek and Abel waited in the entrance, when Denec appeared as well.

  “You are already here? Nice. We should wait to hear what Malok wants us to do.”

  They waited for a while until the group that was with Malok shook hands with him and left. He signaled them to come to him. Denec walked in front while they followed behind, seeing all the people in the room being busy organizing the city takeover.

  “Denec has told me good things about your training,” Malok said to them enthusiastically when they got closer. “It’s a good thing you joined us. We need as many fighters as we can get because, as you know, not that many humans remain.”

  “We gladly accepted,” Abel said to him with a serious tone while Bek stayed quiet.

  “You did the right thing. Tomorrow, we will begin the takeover of the city, if you can call it a city. I call it a prison.”

  “It’s a home, and a city to the thousands of humans remaining,” Bek said, suddenly deciding that he could not keep quiet. He was worried for anyone who might get hurt as a result of the rogues’ plan.

  “It is a temporary home at best,” Malok replied firmly. “Every human belongs on Earth—that’s our planet! Humans created the AI that took it over, and humans will take it back!”

  “We fully agree, Mr. Malok,” Abel replied swiftly, wanting to show that they were with the rogues and supported them. Bek nodded in agreement.

  Malok took a couple of steps in front of them, thinking, and he turned to Denec. “The major part of our forces will attack the government tower. You will be in the back, covering us—an important position— but the attacking forces will be comprised of our combat-experienced members. It will be better for the new recruits to stay in the back.”

  Denec went silent for a while, probably because he had expected to be at the forefront of every plan they made, but then he shook hands with Malok. “Okay, Malok, I will guide the new recruits in the rear and cover you. We will do a good job; you can depend on me.” Malok nodded in agreement and told them that they should be ready to go tomorrow. Denec then signaled for Bek and Abel to follow him, and they left the room, walking straight back to their cell.

  “Well, it’s happening tomorrow,” Denec said to them when they arrived. “Let’s hope we manage to take over the city successfully. I have been waiting for this for a long time. Everyone in the rogues has. If we manage to take the city, and secure control of the Iorine, things will be better. Since the robots depend on the energy from Iorine to function, they will have to deal with us, and we want to go back to Earth.”

  Abel agreed with him and told him that he believed this was best for mankind. Denec waved goodbye, and both Abel and Bek slept, not knowing how tomorrow would go. Either way, this would be their last day in the cell.

  Chapter 5

  Their truck was moving at a steady speed, avoiding the small hills that dotted the surface of Cennan. Bek was watching from the rear door as the entrance of the rogue hideout disappeared in the distance, and the orange environment, with the reflections of Iorine lakes in the sky, made him relaxed. At least, he was trying to be relaxed, because as they approached the city, he didn’t know what the result of the rogues’ actions were going to be. They would either take over the city, or be eliminated by the city guard. Abel, meanwhile, was looking focused, staring into the distance without anything appearing to bother him.

  “You thing we are going to be okay?” Bek turned and asked Abel.

  “I don’t think there is going to be a problem,” he replied firmly. “We know the city guard and how they function from the many times they intervened to handle the population when someone decided to demonstrate against the glorified prison they have us in. This rogue group has survived a long time, and they are the best-organized opposition on the planet. I think this is the best opportunity we have to overthrow them,” Abel said with a stern tone, and serious look on his face. “After getting to know them a bit, I support them.” Bek rarely saw Abel so serious; usually, he was making jokes. However, he remembered that Abel had always wanted to fight their oppressors.

  “But what’s after that, even if we manage to take the city? There are many things to consider,” Bek to replied to him.

  However, Abel just turned and said, “If there is a chance for something better, you fight for it, or you never deserve anything better. I have made my choice.” Bek sat in his seat with his gear equipped. He started to sympathize with Abel, the rogues, and anyone else who wanted to not live as a slave to the AI robots and their human servants.

  “When we are in the city, I will have to find Jaina,” Bek said.

  “If we are successful, you should go and find her afterwards. But as a friend, I ask you not to go to her right away, and abandon us when we need you most,” Abel replied.

  “I won’t,” Bek said. Simply running away won’t benefit anyone now anyway, he thought. Moments later, they saw the other big trucks from the rogue base following behind them. They had been traveling in a convoy since they had left, but now everyone was leaving the line and getting into groups.

  “We must be getting close,” Abel said while he prepared his equipment.

  “It looks like it,” Bek said while he also started to get ready. While making preparations, they heard Denec, their driver, talking to them from the front.

  “We are approaching the city. Get ready.”

  “We already are, Mr. Denec,”
Abel said while looking out the window. The city didn’t have any walls, but the guards and robots had put checkpoints in some areas.

  “Just so you know,” Denec told them, “the objective of our recent operations in the city wasn’t merely to gather supplies: we intentionally hit them from only one side of the city so that the guards would set up their defenses in the direction of our attacks. Now we will enter the city from the opposite side, where they are not prepared. During our last explosion, when we recruited you, our goal was for them to put increased security away from our entrance point. That’s why the trip is longer: we had to go further around the city perimeter.”

  “When we return to base, will we go from the side closer to the base?” Bek asked.

  “Some of our people who weren’t able to fight stayed behind at the base,” Denec replied. “But our target is to take over the city; some of us will stay here, if we manage to do that.”

  “I see,” said Bek. “We better manage it then.”

  “Yes, we’d better,” Denec said to him while taking a sharp turn. Shortly afterwards, the other trucks flanking them entered the city alongside them.

  Bek saw people hastily going to the side of the road as the rogue trucks honked their horns in warning. The city guards’ presence was sporadic here. A few could be seen on the sidewalks, along with their drones, running toward them, but they were soon left behind in the distance as the opposition forces accelerated towards the center of the city. Bek realized where they were going: the government tower in the city center that housed both the government officials, and an array of communications equipment used to stay in contact with Earth. Traveling at high speeds, Bek and Abel’s truck proceeded to the main square, and then headed to the entrance of the tallest tower. When they arrived, the other rogue trucks had already parked. Together, they created a barrier with their vehicles, leaving some space in between. Denec stopped their truck on the edge of the line.