Saving 1641

by Robert Jay Dilger

“Chaos?” the young woman responded. “You have got to be joking.”

  “The law is not a joking matter!” the guard answered firmly, patting his laser pistol with his right hand.

  The guard released the safety strap from the top of his holster.

  “Watch and learn,” he announced. “I’m going to teach them a lesson they will never forget.”

  Anne continued to look into Sam Robey’s eyes, pretending not to notice the security guard leaving his post and walking in their direction.

  “He fell for it,” Sam whispered as he bent over and kissed Anne lightly on the lips.

  “Good,” Anne answered with a grin. “By the way, you’re not a bad kisser.”

  “Anytime you want to do this for real, just let me know,” Sam replied.

  “In your dreams,” Anne answered, giving him another quick kiss on the cheek.

  “Hey you two!” the guard yelled at the top of his lungs. “Stop that this instant!”

  Anne turned toward the guard.

  “It’s against the law to kiss in public!” the guard shouted.

  Anne tried her best to look scared and helpless.

  “I should report you to central security,” the guard continued in a gruff voice, patting his laser pistol for effect.

  Several people gathered around the three of them, watching to see what was going to happen next. Anne started to cry.

  “That is not going to do you any good,” the guard insisted.

  “Please don’t report us!” Anne wailed, tears flowing down her face.

  By this time over a dozen people had gathered around the three of them, each pushing and shoving the other to see what was going on.

  “Leave those people alone!” the young female guard shouted, pushing her way through the crowd.

  The older guard pulled a data pad from one of his many pockets.

  “Mind your own business!” he shouted. “I’m going to write them up.”

  “No you’re not!” the younger guard shouted, pressing up against the older man. “You’re making a spectacle of yourself. Look at all of these people.”

  As the crowd gathered around the now arguing guards, Selder and two dozen others, including Kathryn, sneaked past the security post and raced up Scrafford Avenue. They ducked into an alley between 21st and 22nd Streets.

  “It’s the law!” the older guard shouted. “They must be punished.”

  “You’re an idiot!” the younger guard shouted back. “No one’s been written up for public affection in years!”

  “Maybe it’s time,” the older guard answered.

  “Who died and made you the boss?” the younger guard asked angrily.

  “That’s right!” a young man in the crowd shouted. “Who died and made you the boss?”

  “Mind your own business or I will write you up too!” the older guard shouted.

  “You and what army!” the young man shouted.

  “Don’t sass me, young man,” the guard answered, patting his laser pistol again. “I’m the law around here and you will obey the law.”

  The guard paused as he searched the crowd.

  “Where’d they go?” the guard asked.

  Anne and Sam raced up Scrafford Avenue, leaving behind a crowd of more than 40 people who had gathered on the street corner behind them.

  “That was easier than I thought,” Sam stated between breaths as they ducked behind a building on the corner of Scrafford Avenue and 21st Street.

  “We got lucky,” Anne answered, catching her breath. “I wonder how the others are doing.”

  “There they are!” Sam stated, pointing to several figures lurking in the shadows in the alley just a block in front of them. Selder raised his laser pistol in the air and waved it in Anne’s direction, letting her know that he was okay.

  “Excellent,” Anne stated to no one in particular as she scanned the horizon and saw nothing but parked hovercraft. “Next stop is Emory Boulevard.”

  Anne and Sam walked down 21st Street toward Emory Boulevard. The street, known for its many fine restaurants and upscale shopping, was empty. There was not a soul in sight. Reaching Emory Boulevard, they took a long look up and down the Boulevard. There were several security guards stationed at a road block where the Boulevard crossed 20th Street. Other than that, there was nothing but parked hovercraft as far as the eye could see.

  “It’s too quiet,” Anne whispered. “Something’s not right.”

  “What do you mean?” Sam asked.

  “This area has been declared off-limits to all civilian traffic,” Anne continued. “That explains the public’s absence. But where are all the security guards? I was expecting guards posted all along the Boulevard and at every street corner. This place is deserted. Something’s not right. Not right at all.”

  Anne was about to continue when she saw them moving toward her in the distance.

  “I don’t believe it!” she gasped.

  “What is it?” Sam asked.

  “See for yourself,” Anne answered with a sigh.

  Sam leaned his head around the building’s corner.

  “They are illegal!” Sam shouted.

  Anne removed her laser pistol from its holster.

  “Looks like we’re going to have to earn our pay today,” she stated.

  “You don’t expect us to fight against those things, do you?” Sam asked.

  “We don’t have a choice,” Anne answered.

  Three giant ground assault combat robots, each armed with an assortment of laser cannons and missile launchers, marched down the Boulevard, headed in their direction.

  “Those things are illegal,” Sam repeated, pulling his laser pistol from his weapon’s belt. “They are only supposed to be used for off-world cleanups after a reboot.”

  “I guess the rules are changing,” Anne stated as she considered her next move.

  “Are they self-guided or remote controlled?” Sam asked.

  “Let’s hope that they’re remote controlled,” Anne stated, looking for any mobile control units. “If they are remote controlled, then all we have to do is take out the guidance system.”

  “What if they aren’t remote controlled?” Sam asked.

  “Then we’re in for a very long afternoon,” Anne responded. “Come on, let’s get a closer look.”

  “Are you crazy?” Sam asked as Anne moved quickly across the building and darted into a crevice near its front entrance.

  “Come on,” Anne repeated. “We’re too far away to hit anything vital with our laser pistols. We’ve got to get closer. Besides, we will never see the remote control unit from back here.”

  “This is a mistake,” Sam thought as he followed her.

  “It looks like they’re receiving signals,” Anne whispered.

  “What makes you say that?” Sam asked.

  “See the one in the front,” Anne stated, pointing the barrel of her laser pistol at the robot’s head.

  “What about it?” Sam asked.

  “Its eyes are glowing,” Anne answered, raising the pistol’s barrel just a little, pointing it toward the lead robot’s head.

  “What does that mean?” Sam asked.

  “It means that it is receiving input from somewhere,” Anne answered. “We’d better get the others into position.”

  Anne waved her pistol in the air, trying to get Selder’s attention. He and his companions were peering out of the alley just to the north, staring at the combat robots. After a few more waves, she gave up and spoke into her wrist transponder.

  “Selder,” Anne stated. “It’s Anne. Can you hear me? I need to talk to you.”

  She was met with static.

  “I guess that they are still jamming transponders,” Sam stated.

  “Then how are they communicating with the robots?” Anne asked.

  The three robots stopped moving. The lead robot looked around, as if it was looking for something. It then emitted a soft whirling sound and stepped forward, its right metallic boot making a slight
indentation in the pavement. As it continued moving in her direction, the other two robots turned around and headed back toward the factory.

  “I am going to try something,” Anne stated. “Follow me, but stay low. You got that?”

  “Got it,” Sam answered.

  Anne stepped away from the building and onto the sidewalk. Darting past the building’s main entranceway, she crouched behind a parked hovercraft. Sam joined her.

  “Keep your eyes and ears open,” Anne whispered. “We have got to find that remote control unit.”

  “What makes you think it’s nearby?” Sam asked. “It could be anywhere in the city.”

  “Not likely,” Anne answered. “It has to be around here somewhere.”

  “Why?” Sam asked.

  “Because, as you said, it’s illegal to have operative ground assault combat robots in the city,” Anne answered as the lead robot continued to move in their direction. “Casseday’s too smart to chance it.”

  “Chance what?” Sam asked.

  “Of being detected by the videopapers,” Anne explained.

  “Oh, I get it,” Sam replied. “This sector’s been sealed off, so there’s no robocameras or detection devices allowed in here.”

  “Exactly,” Anne stated, taking a quick peek through one of the building’s ground floor windows to make certain that no one was hiding inside. “If Casseday placed the remote control unit outside of this sector someone would pick up its signal and report it to the videopapers. The videopapers would then send their robocameras to find the robots.”

  Seeing no one inside the building, Anne turned her attention back to the lead robot.

  “Follow me,” she whispered as she stepped back onto the sidewalk and ducked behind another hovercraft.

  Sam stepped onto the sidewalk. A laser beam hit him right between his eyes, vaporing the entire top third of his body. The smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Anne hit the sidewalk hard, her laser pistol held firmly in her right hand looking for a target. It didn’t take long to find one. The lead combat robot was running down the Boulevard, a giant laser rifle in its right hand. The rifle was pointed right at her. Anne fired five laser shots straight at the robot’s chest. The laser beams ricocheted harmlessly off the robot.

  “Laser shield!” Anne muttered under her breath, rolling against the building in a vain effort to find better cover. “I should have guessed.”

  Anne closed her eyes, knowing what was going to happen next. Combat robots never missed. A violent explosion shook the ground. Anne rolled over, surprised that she was still in one piece. Looking up, she saw that the combat robot was gone, replaced by a huge crater and a dense, billowing cloud of dust and smoke. Then, in the corner of her eye, she saw over 70 armed men and women running up Emory Boulevard, a mobile missile launcher rolling behind them. The missile launcher’s barrel was still smoking from the shot.

  “Got it!” Aunt Emma shouted, pumping her right arm triumphantly into the air. “It never saw it coming.”

  Anne sat up and started to dust herself off. Pausing for a moment, she tried to figure out what was on the sidewalk. It took her a while to process the sight. It was one of Sam Robey’s legs. For a moment, she thought that she was going to throw up. Then she heard someone shouting her name.

  “Anne!” the voice repeated.

  Anne turned around just as Aunt Emma reached her side.

  “The security guards didn’t even ask for identification,” Aunt Emma continued. “They took one look at the missile launcher and just assumed that we were legit. I hope the rest of their guards are that stupid.”

  “I wouldn’t bet on it,” Anne answered, grabbing a vision enhancer clipped to her Aunt’s belt.

  “Mind if I borrow this for a moment?” she asked.

  “Doesn’t look like I have much choice,” she answered.

  “There are two more combat robots, just like that one,” Anne stated, pointing the enhancer toward the factory complex. “You can bet that they know that their buddy has been put out of commission.”

  “Any sign of the other robots?” Selder asked as he joined them.

  “They’re up ahead,” Anne stated. “They are looking in this direction, probably scanning us.”

  “We had better get the missile launcher ready,” Aunt Emma stated. “We only have two more missiles so we had better make both of them count.”

  “Oh no!” Anne exclaimed.

  “I don’t like the sound of that,” Selder said. “What is it?”

  “It looks like we’re about to have some company,” Anne answered.

  “The two combat robots?” Aunt Emma asked.

  “No,” Anne answered. “They have turned around and are moving toward the factory complex. But there must be at least 300 armed guards pouring out of the buildings up ahead. Most of them are headed in this direction.”

  Chapter 30

  THE COMMAND CENTER

  He tried to sit up. That was a mistake. He fell back onto the bed, his arms lacking the strength to hold himself up. Frustrated, he laid his head down on the bed’s pillow and scanned the darkened room with his senses, trying to figure out where he was. The tiny sensors attached to his chest and left arm, the distinctive, sweet smell of viral disinfectant, and the hum of a portable medical kit next to his bed indicated that he was in a makeshift medical facility. There were no locks or chains tethering him to the bed, just a standard medical restraint harness hooked across his waist. That was good news. He was not a prisoner. Several other patients were also in the room. He could hear one of them snoring quietly. Another was moaning and muttering something about needing to see her mother. A third was tossing and turning in his bed, obviously in pain.

  “There must not be a medical bot available,” he thought, trying to determine who was in charge. “There is no way a medical bot would allow those patients to remain conscious with all of that pain.”

  Then he smelled her.

  “Kathryn,” he called out, recognizing her distinct, heather perfume. “Is that you?”

  A very young, slender cadet, with short, light brown hair and beautiful dark blue eyes, leaned over his bed.

  “Welcome back,” she stated, checking the medical kit to make sure that it was functioning properly. “Sorry. There is no one here named Kathryn. My older sister’s name is Kathryn, but there’s no one here with that name.”

  “Who are you and how long have I been out?” Alex asked.

  “Lucy Jordan,” she answered. “First-year cadet at your service.”

  “How long?” Alex repeated. “And who is in charge here? I can hear three others. Two of them are in pain. They need medical assistance.”

  “I am in charge,” she answered. “Well, sort of. Everyone else is needed up at the command center. I am the youngest, so I was sent here to tend to the wounded. The only medical kit that we have is the one that your friend brought with him. Justice Brandix said that you should get it until you regained consciousness.”

  Alex started to remove the sensors from his arms and chest.

  “I am going to be fine,” he continued. “Remove the med kit and give it to that girl over there. She needs it more than I do. She is in agony.”

  “Don’t be mad at me,” Lucy replied as she removed the med kit and attached it to the other patient. “I have my orders. I was told that you took precedence. It’s not my fault that we only have one med kit.”

  “How long have I been out?” Alex repeated.

  “About half an hour,” she answered.

  “Half an hour!” Alex shouted. “I have to get out of here!”

  Alex tried to sit up again. Another mistake. He fell back into the bed.

  “Take it easy,” Lucy stated, punching in a series of numbers on a computer keyboard. “Justice Brandix and your friend asked to be notified the moment that you were awake. I just sent them both a message that you are up. Someone should be here shortly.”

  As she finished her sentence, the entire room shook violently. Alex�
��s bed rocked back and forth and nearly toppled over. The girl in agony was not so fortunate. Her bed toppled over and she hit the floor face-first. The four large, blackened windows that ran along the top of the wall across from Alex’s bed rattled, cracked, and shattered. Jagged glass shards shot out in all directions. Lucy threw herself over the girl now sprawled helplessly on the floor, trying to protect her from the glass and heavy ceiling tiles that rained down on all of them. Conor raced into the room, using his levitation shield as a protective umbrella. Ceiling tiles pelted the shield and fell harmlessly to the floor.

  “Are you okay?” Conor asked, leaning over Alex’s bed.

  “Get me out of this bed,” Alex answered, reaching for the restraint harness. “We’re under attack. That was a missile strike.”

  “You are hurt,” Conor answered, refusing to help him with the harness. “You have to give the medicine time to work.”

  “There is no time,” Alex answered. “Get me out of this bed!”

  “You have to rest,” Conor stated forcefully.

  “Nonsense!” Alex shouted. “I am good to go.”

  Alex sat up briefly, and then fell back into the bed.

  “See,” Conor stated. “You are not good to go.”

  Alex struggled to unbuckle the harness once again, and then gave up.

  “Fine!” Alex snarled. “I will just lay here while the fate of the entire universe is being decided just outside of that door.”

  “You have done more than your fair share,” Conor answered. “I delivered the message. Justice Brandix knows the plan. After all that you have done you will probably get a medal. So, take a short rest. You have earned it. Let the medicine do its job. You have done yours.”

  “My job will be done when Casseday and Kourdar are dead,” Alex answered. “And I don’t want a medal. I just want to get out of this bed. Tell Lucy over there to give me something that will get me on my feet.”

  Another young cadet, sporting a short, stubby attempt at a beard, rushed into the room.

  “Justice Brandix wants you!” he gasped, trying to catch his breath. “He wants both of you now.”

  “What?” Conor asked.

  “Justice Brandix,” the young man repeated as he helped Lucy lift the young woman sprawled out on the floor back into her medical bed. “He wants both of you up in the command center right away. It’s an emergency.”