Battle Harem 3

by Isaac Hooke

  Sophie separated the micro machines into their constituent parts and flew the individual machines, and the camera, past the defenders, who sliced down with their swords, or shot lightning bolts from the weapons. They struck some of the machines, but not enough to make a difference.

  Once past them, Sophie swiveled the micro machines around the cylinder, forming a maelstrom of cutting knives, and began tightening them, grinding down the generator. In moments the pulses of green light that ran up and down the grooves along its length grew dim.

  Jason leaned past his cover and released an energy bolt at a nearby turret on the palace wall. His weapon penetrated.

  “The localized dome is down,” Jason said.

  The Modlenth mechs began to open fire on the turrets, and disintegrated several of them.

  “Charge!” Risilan said.

  The Modlenth mechs flooded into the street and raced toward the entrance. The main doors were sealed, but they didn’t care: those in the forefront simply knelt, while those that followed used them as steps to leap over the wall.

  Jason and his War Forgers took down as many turrets as possible, and then joined the Modlenth, likewise using the kneeling mechs as stepping stones.

  By the time Jason got inside, the Modlenth had already destroyed most of the Imperial mechs and their defense platforms.

  He terminated some of the remaining units, helping Jhagan secure the courtyard. Meanwhile Risilan and her personal guard charged the palace itself. He knew it was her group, because he saw the mech with the topknot among them.

  The fighting ended shortly thereafter, and the remaining forces surrendered, including those sent by the space navy.

  The king attempted to flee in a large elliptical transport, but the Modlenth shot it down. It crashed in the street a few blocks from the palace. Risilan and her personal guard dragged the emperor and his family from the wreckage. The royal family members weren’t wearing protective suits, and their alien bodies immediately showed signs of distress—tentacles flailed about, abdomen sacs crimped and puckered. It was obvious Risilan intended to let them die from exposure to the toxic atmosphere that had flooded the city.

  “We don’t have to watch this,” Jason said, turning his back on the grim sight. “Our work here is done.”

  “If she doesn’t send us home, she’s going to suffer the same fate,” Tara commented.

  Jason loitered with the rest of his army along the western perimeter of the city, just inside the city wall. If Risilan betrayed him, he felt it was best to be close to the exit. Then again, that exit was quickly closing up as Tyrnari repair drones mended the beach in the city wall.

  Speaking of repair drones, Jason and his army had their own drones at work. Any spare materials they needed were taken from the wreckages of tanks that were beyond repair.

  “How many of these tanks contain your actual consciousness?” Jason asked Bokerov. “Versus being under remote control by one of your clones?”

  “One in ten,” Bokerov said. “Well, except for the bigger tanks. And the Cataphracts. Each of those contains a version of me.”

  “Interesting,” Jason said. “So the platoon of tanks you gave Aria, was it all autonomous units?”

  “No,” Bokerov said. “I gave her one clone of my consciousness to command the group. The rest are autonomous.”

  Lori’s mech was soon repaired, and Aria replaced the battery with a fresh power cell taken from a lost tank. Jason then installed her AI core into the unit.

  The Stalker clambered to its feet.

  “What happened?” Lori said. “It’s over?”

  “Yes,” Jason said. “We won.”

  “I was hit… I’m sorry!” Lori said.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Jason said.

  “What happened?” Lori pressed.

  “I’ll fill you in later,” Jason said.

  Repairs continued for the next few hours; by then the energy dome breaches were completely sealed, and Jason and his army were trapped inside. The yellow mist was being vented out so that the citizenry could return to their daily lives. Tara lounged just outside the walls with the Rex Wolves, who wouldn’t be able to survive the native Tyrnari atmosphere—neither of the double lungs each mutant possessed supported that environment.

  “I don’t like all this waiting,” Cheyanne said. Her avatar bit her lips. “What’s taking the alien so long to live up to her end of the bargain?”

  “Apparently they’re confirming her as empress,” Jason said. “She won’t have control of the rift generator until then.”

  “Or so she claims,” Cheyanne said.

  After a few minutes a large delegation from the Imperial palace finally appeared. A continent of Modlenth mechs, leading Imperial mechs whose arms were bound by energy ropes. One of the mechs had the familiar white topknot, indicating the royal guard, and Risilan’s presence among them.

  “Risilan, are you out there?” Jason asked over the comm band.

  “I am here,” Risilan said. “I’ll speak with you in a moment. There are some prisoners I have to release, first.”

  The group halted a block away from Jason’s army, and then the Modlenth released the Imperials they had captured. The mechs seemed surprised at first, but then they ran to the base of the energy dome, and began to leap over it, right through the enclosing field itself.

  “How are they able to pass through the energy dome?” Jason asked.

  Jhagan was the one who answered. “We are able to adjust sections of the energy dome to allow them to pass through, by momentarily disabling the defensive component of the field but leaving the atmospheric membrane in place.”

  Jason nodded. “When we were attacking earlier, the defending Imperials should have just let us through. Instead of allowing us to make a breach, and having the toxic atmosphere flow inside.”

  “Maybe,” Jhagan said. “Then again, the citizenry would have evacuated the streets either way.”

  Jason watched the prisoners make a run for the eaves of the forest a kilometer away from the city. He kept expecting the turrets that lined the exterior walls to open fire and mow them down.

  But as the fleeing mechs reached the forest and vanished inside unharmed, Jason said: “You actually didn’t kill them, Risilan. I’m almost surprised.”

  “My two hearts aren’t made of stone,” Risilan said. “These prisoners refused to denounce the Imperials and follow me as their Empress. Of course they could not stay, but rather than execute them, I chose leniency. Besides, none of them were members of the royal family, and thus did not deserve death.”

  “Where will they go?” Jason said. “Will other cities welcome exiles like these?”

  “No,” Jhagan said. “But they’re headed to the northeast, where one of the smaller rift stations is located. It’s one we haven’t yet secured.”

  “So wait, what are you saying?” Jason asked. “They’re going to Earth?”

  “That’s right,” Jhagan said.

  “Let them tell the other Imperials what we’ve done,” Risilan said.

  “The prince might surrender,” Jhagan said. “If you promise to exile him.”

  “He won’t,” Risilan said. “I won’t make such a promise anyway. I want him dead.”

  “What prince?” Jason said.

  “He leads the army the former king sent to Earth,” Risilan said. “Prince Amadan, last member of the Imperial royal family.”

  “You claimed his army would return?” Jason said. “And attempt to take the city?”

  “That’s right,” Risilan said. “They will leave your Earth behind.”

  “How?” Jason said. “Through one of the smaller rift stations you mentioned? That aren’t in your control?”

  “Those are too small for his army, but it doesn’t matter,” Risilan said. “Prince Amadan has taken rift generators to Earth with him.”

  “Ah,” Jason said.

  “But none of this concerns you in any case,” Risilan said. “You’re going, remember?”r />
  “Well, it does concern me, because I want to make sure Earth is safe,” Jason said. “If this Amadan doesn’t return his army, we’ll have to do some prodding.”

  “Oh, he won’t need prodding,” Risilan said. “When he learns the throne has fallen, and that his family is no more, he and his army will arrive well before you are gone.”

  “Why?” Jason said. “Can’t you send us sooner?”

  “I’m sorry, but for an army your size, you’ll have to proceed onto the plains, to the staging area where you first arrived,” Risilan said. “That is where the rift will be created. When you have reached the spot, I will know, and will open the gateway to your planet.”

  “You should have told me earlier that it was so far outside the city,” Jason said. “My army could have been making its way already.”

  “Yes,” Risilan said. “My apologies. I guess I entertained a small hope you would stay.”

  “Why would I stay?” Jason said.

  She didn’t answer.

  “What if I run into the incoming Imperials?” Jason said. “Led by this Prince Amadan?”

  “Then avoid them,” Risilan said. “But chances are, you won’t even see them. As I told you, they will create their own rift.”

  “All right, thank you,” Jason said.

  And he left.

  17

  So it was done. Jason had helped conquer the city for Risilan, and now he could go home.

  Assuming Risilan kept up her end of the bargain.

  Jason wasn’t entirely convinced that the Imperial army would be gone when he reached Earth. The smart thing to do would be for this Prince Amadan to stay on Earth and create as many new troops as he could before returning.

  Then again, vengeance could be a strong motivator. It could even have been the strongest driving force for these Tyrnari, whose minds no doubt worked at least somewhat differently than humans.

  Also, it was advantageous to strike now, while Risilan was newly crowned; her army had suffered big losses during the taking of the dome, and the Imperials she had released would report that to Amadan.

  Ah well, with luck, when he got back to Earth, it wouldn’t be his problem. He could focus on shoring up his mountain base against any incursions from the humans into his territory. It was funny: once he got back, humanity would probably be his biggest problem.

  Jason had put Z in control during the walk through the alien forest, with instructions to wake him if he was needed. With luck, they’d reach the rift site without running into any roving bands of Tyrnari bioweapons. Or Prince Amadan’s army.

  Jason was in his personalized VR, of course. He’d just finished free climbing to the top of one of the mountains that bordered the lake. He’d never climbed this one before: it was one of the more difficult mountains, and the route he chosen was definitely more technical than what he was used to, but he’d pulled it off.

  And now he was simply lying there, basking shirtless in the sun; because of the way the crest sloped downward, he was able to observe the distant lake below. It was about the size of a thumbnail. His house was just a dot next to that lake.

  He felt a furry tail wrapping around his chest.

  “Hey Lori,” Jason said.

  “Tickle, tickle, tickle!” Lori said. Her tail moved up and down his ribcage, but he didn’t react.

  “You know, it’s funny, in real life I was ticklish,” Jason said. “But as an AI core, not so much. The peripheral nervous system code probably needs some tweaking.”

  “I’ll have to look into fixing that!” Lori said as she lowered herself to lounge beside him. “Because I can’t not be able to tickle you when I want to!”

  Jason smiled at her. Her blond hair seemed so bright in the sun, and her freckles redder, giving her such a cute girl next door look. “You’re looking energetic today.”

  She was leaning on her elbows, like him, with her legs stretched out in front. “Tara told me everything that happened. I feel so bad that I missed it. And ooh, that queen is so evil. She killed the whole royal family by dragging them out of the wreckage of their escape ship, and then letting them dissolve in that crappy atmosphere!”

  “She did,” Jason said.

  “If you were in her shoes, you wouldn’t have done that, would you?” Lori said. “Just to secure a stupid throne?”

  “Hmm,” Jason said. “Well, I would have killed the emperor for sure. But you’re right, I probably wouldn’t have had the heart to kill the entire royal family. I’d probably have to jail them though, for the rest of their lives, to stop them from eventually overthrowing me.”

  “Death might almost be preferable, given that option!” Lori said.

  “Maybe, maybe not,” Jason said. “I’d give them full access to VR, so even though they were prisoners in body, at least their minds would be free. There would be no access to the Tyrnari Internet equivalent, of course.”

  Lori nodded, then gazed at the surrounding peaks.

  “I feel so bad about getting hit,” Lori said after a moment. “Just when you were probably getting ready to combine.”

  “Nothing you could do,” Jason said.

  She glanced at him. “You’re not mad at me?”

  “Of course not,” Jason said.

  “Thank you!” She gave him a quick hug, followed by a peck on the cheek before she pulled back. “So, I wanted to let you know…”

  “Yes?” Jason said.

  She abruptly reddened, and looked away. She gazed at her feet, and wiggled her toes. “Look at my toenails! Do you like the designs?”

  She’d painted little pictures of Runt on her toenails.

  “Yes, it’s pretty sweet,” Jason said. “So what did you want to let me know?”

  She sighed. “Oh, nothing. Well I like you, you know that right?” She was looking at him again. Into his eyes.

  “Well, yeah,” Jason said. “And I like you, too, obviously.”

  “Any chance we could ever tie the knot?” she said quickly. Then looked away.

  “Oh,” Jason said.

  “Ah, sorry,” Lori said. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “No, I applaud you for speaking your mind, rather than holding it in,” Jason said. He paused, and gazed out at the lake. “I’m not at a point in my life where I’m ready to settle down. Especially not with one person. I—”

  “Oh, it would be an open marriage!” Lori said. “I’m happy just being your wife.”

  Jason had to shake his head at that. “Think for a moment on the jealousy you’d inflict on the other girls. The envy. You think Sophie treats you badly now? Just think what she’d do if I announced I was marrying you.”

  Lori frowned, then looked away.

  “Look, we’re machines,” Jason said.

  “No,” Lori said. “You’re always telling us that we’re human!”

  “Not exactly,” Jason said.

  “You have, too,” Lori said. “I have recordings!”

  “What I’m trying to say is, we can’t follow the conventions that normal humans follow,” Jason said. “It doesn’t suit our present situation. Just like monogamy doesn’t. There’s really no point in getting married, other than to draw attention to you, so I’m sorry, I’m going to have to say no. I don’t want to play favorites among any of the girls.”

  “Ah, that’s it, then,” Lori said. “You want to keep your options open, huh? Want to keep your steady stream of harem girls coming to your bed.”

  “That bed isn’t even real,” Jason said. “Nor is any of this.”

  “But it feels real,” Lori said. “And that’s all that matters.”

  “Maybe so,” Jason said. “But I still can’t marry you.”

  Her eyes teared up, and her lip quivered, but she quickly looked away.

  Jason sighed. “I’m sorry.” He tried to rest a hand on her shoulders, but she yanked from his grasp. “You’re still my favorite.”

  “Yeah, sure,” Lori said angrily.

  “Lori—” he began.


  “If only I hadn’t been shot,” Lori interrupted. “I ruined the last mission… I wanted to shine, be the hero. If I had, you would’ve said yes.”

  “No, I wouldn’t have,” Jason said.

  “I’m going to go,” Lori said.

  “No,” Jason said. “Please don’t. You can’t leave, not like this. We need to be good.”

  She wiped at her eyes, and when she looked at him, she forced a smile. “We are good.”

  “No, we’re not,” he said slowly. “I love you.”

  She seemed stunned. “Do you mean it?”

  “Yes,” Jason said.

  She hugged him very tightly. “I love you, too! So much!”

  “But I also love the other girls,” Jason said.

  She released him, and pulled back. “Oh. I knew there was a catch.”

  “You’re all like family to me,” Jason said. “Without you, I wouldn’t know what to do. I would have probably died in the uninhabited zone, attacked in my sleep by a Nightmare. Or of loneliness, anyway. Or maybe I would have become like Bokerov…”

  “Somehow I can’t imagine you as bat shit crazy,” Lori said. “Hm. Then again, maybe I can.”

  “Thanks,” Jason said.

  She grabbed his hand, and squeezed. Then she looked into his eyes: “Thanks for telling me how you feel. It means a lot to me. I don’t want to force you to choose any one of us. I don’t know why I brought it up. I guess, after almost dying back there, it reminded me of how precious life is. And I wanted to marry you before it was too late. But I realize, I don’t have to. I’m happy just having you by my side. I’m happy sharing you with the others.”

  “All right,” Jason said. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “I still expect you to come to my bed first every night, though,” Lori said.

  “We’ve been alternating…” Jason said. “You one night, Tara the next.”

  “Yes, Tara and I have talked,” Lori said. “If you’re going to start sleeping with everyone else, this rotation thing isn’t going to work.”

  “I don’t think I can stand to have sex so many times a night,” Jason said.