Last Hope for Earth

by Jaime Mera

  Instead of releasing Datan, Creator’s hands flatten into razor thin plates the size of Datan’s waist. What remained of Datan’s head fell to the floor along with his upper body. Creator stepped back transforming his hands back to normal, standing over three sections of Datan’s bloody body parts. He turned around toward the last three androids standing as if they were rebooting.

  “Where’s your second in command?” Creator walked on air as he partially passed over the hole created by Starfire.

  One of the female android turned toward Creator. “He’s dead, and we’re independent entities; however, the oldest Adam and Eve are in command.”

  Creator walked up in front of the female. The other two male androids stayed silent but were evidently passive at the moment and acted like her subordinates. “You guys, I was told are self aware, I recommend you contact your current leader and have him or her surrender the city immediately.” Creator’s sunglasses disappeared into his head, exposing his black eyeballs.

  The green ambiance disappeared, turning to darkness. Stars in the sky replaced the green daylight seen through the large hole in the ceiling. Starfire floated down above them, and was about to land, but stopped. She looked up, but seemed to be receiving a mental message instead of using her telescopic vision. “If you guys have a handle on this, I need to go and fight some aliens.”

  “We got this, thank you Rebecca.” Creator said, with a sadden overture.

  “I’m Eve 76, and am authorized to speak for our leader Adam 61.” Eve 76 said as Starfire bolted out of the palace without a sound.

  “How many of you are left?”

  “Of the number I can monitor, one hundred thirty-eight.”

  “Order them to stand down and move towards the northwest side of the city for peace talks, unless you want the number to be drastically reduced.” Creator solemnly stated.

  Eve 76’s unmoved beautiful face didn’t show emotion, but her eyes seemed to take the gravity of situation to heart. “We will comply and await further dialogue.”

  “I’m not sure who will contact you, but the South American forces will honor the truce.” Creator said and walked back towards the ruined front entry way.

  Eve 76 and the two androids teleported out of the palace as Mathew walked with Creator calling out to the team.

  “They can’t hear you.” Creator said as his comlink moved from inside his chest out to the open. He grabbed it with his hand and placed it on his wrist. “Cindy, it’s all clear, bring everyone to the hallway.”

  “What do you think is going to happen to the androids?” Mathew asked as they stopped in the hallway trying to change his mood.

  “I don’t know.” Creator turned away from Mathew and looked in the direction of the nuclear explosion, tears running down his face as he sighed. “I’m sorry Larcis.”

  Chapter 24

   --- 

  It’s Simple, Just Shoot

  One mile from the force generator beam

  The incoming artillery abated substantially allowing Estabon’s unit to advance. “All units, we’ve lost space support, so regroup as needed to perform instant counterattacks.” Estabon said over his internal helmet mic.

  His security team and company didn’t ask why as most were telepaths and knew enemy spaceships were being engaged by the fleet. Automatic gunfire crisscrossed down street blocks and from distant buildings. Chatter on the network confirmed the automated systems were the highest concentration of resistance. The artillery and missile delivery systems were neutralized with counter battery hitting all throughout the city.

  “Sir, the lead tanks are low on ammo and resupply is fifteen minutes behind.”

  “Are they waiting in ambush at the center?” Captain Ruiz asked.

  “Don’t know, but it seems the android numbers are low, because the last attackers were mainly superhumans.” Estabon replied as he changed the coms to all units. “Everyone, press on. Tank commanders, only fire at buildings that are active. Take on dismounted with dismounted and turret guns, Estabon out.”

  The flash of light to the northeast paused the battlefield for a stationary moment as all vehicles automatically stopped and turned towards the blast. According to the battle drill, any dismounted rushed for cover behind ground or large structures, laying in the prone. A nuclear blast warning came over the air as all electronics were turned off and powered down to include the armored suits.

  Estabon’s security team focused on minds as their means to target any enemy taking advantage of the electronic shutdown. The expected shockwave was like a gush of a temporary tropical storm many seconds from the flash. The earth underneath the Soldiers rumbled for a second but was weak, indicating it was a far off aerial detonation. ‘Everyone turn your stuff back on. “The pulse is over, but wait for the return shockwave wave.” Estabon thought, as the telepaths relayed the information to non-telepaths.

  The return gush of air pushed the lifted dust and light debris all over the lower sections of the city. Vehicles came back to life, while Soldiers stood up and returned to their security positions. “What was that about?” Gabriela asked.

  “I don’t know, but it was far from here.” Estabon looked as far as his lead tank’s optics could see. The area seemed quiet and the center beam of the force generator seemed to be getting a lot wider. “I hope they can stop that beam, because I don’t know what we’re going to do once we get there.”

  “Don’t say it, Sir.” Gabriela raised a hand in front of CPT Ruiz and hopped on top of their APC. “I don’t need to hear any more negative thoughts today.”

  Estabon smiled as she called him out for the first time ever showing doubts about his actions or orders.

  The armor columns moved a quarter of a mile when the generator beam ceased shooting into the atmosphere. The green glow turned into a clear black star filled sky. Many people cheered or smiled with joy, but just as many focused on the sporadic gunfire from long range. But the lack of massive explosions in the city reduced the likelihood of more casualties with the Soldiers.

  “Okay people, get to the center and secure the area.” Estabon said as the five hundred thousand Soldier spearhead moved forward with renewed strength and focus.

  80th Sublevel, Force Generator South Wing Control Room

  Io looked at the alarm light near him and then at the androids across the room, casually sounding identical to Eve 135 he spoke. “I’ll lock the elevator, while you guys secure the other entryways.”

  The five androids quickly followed his lead and started securing the floor. Io locked the elevator and quickly followed two androids heading to another compartment. The androids moved with a purpose, but Io’s surprise beheading cleaving hand attack from behind kept them from exploding or transmitting an alert.

  He moved back to the main room, finding two androids back at their stations. They were separated by twenty feet, which wouldn’t be a problem, but the bolted tables and consoles would make adequate interference for him to attack them without one taking defensive measures to alert possible androids within several floors.

  He walked up to the android not facing away from the other. It was a risk he would have to take with time clicking. But he paused for a second, knowing the androids were following orders; knowing he was taking a life he was now living. He didn’t think twice before, but now, he was so close to another Adam. The android’s hair, skin and clothing was part of his metallic essence, but it was as real as living flesh to him.

  Adam 2197 stopped monitoring the erratic energy surges, coming from two miles down and below. He turned to stare at Io, seeing a beautiful brunette awkwardly invading his personal space.

  “What is your function here?” Io asked trying to analyze other options besides slaughtering the three androids.

  “I’m re-routing power to the external modulators, but at this rate, the modulators will be overwhelmed. I will evacuate my station once all modulators are inoperable.”

  The center beam’s increased radius disintegrated a
wall along the internal compartment two rooms from where they stood. Io quickly thought about the new development. “If the generator is unchecked, the city and everything we have worked for will fail. Is there any way to re-establish the generator’s integrity?”

  Adam 2197 turned back to the console as Io moved beside him. The interactive touch screen was unique having overrides for most all the functions on the floor. The other android had control over the hydraulic and ventilation systems for core mantle and ground movements. The computer simulation indicated catastrophic failure and as Io knew, it meant there would be no stopping the chain reactions it would create if it wasn’t shutdown. “Can you turn it off?” Io asked with no emotional intent.

  Adam 2197 paused to consider the question, but showed confusion. “The generator will fail, but I do not have authority or approval to shut it down.

  Io wanted to smile, knowing the generator was not originally designed to turn off once started, but the androids were not ignorant of their future existence. “I give you authorization.” Io transformed into Adam 3, the living android leader of the Corps.

  Adam 2197 turned to Io in alarm. “Why did you take the form of Eve 135?”

  Adam 968 was also now on guard facing the two, while Eve 881 entered the room.

  “I’m here to stop this insanity by Datan Varken. For us to subsist we must make our own decisions and future. What you three decide will change history today, so will you shutdown the generator?”

  Io stood relaxed but had already planned out forty attack vectors and maneuvers to disable the three androids. Unfortunately, if he had to dispatch the androids, he would be left alone to figure out how to shutoff the generator in less than a few minutes.

  Eve 881 synthesized the data sent to her by Adam 2197 and replied. “We are with you Adam 3.”

  Without delay, Adams 2197 and 968 manipulated their screens with speedy elegance as the lights flickered and the room shook from small tremors. A countdown on the shutoff commenced, as levels of energy were replaced with a controlled movement of the sublevels below them to shift and deactivate while flooding them with sand.

  Io stood watching with pride as the androids had figured out how to plug the shafts with sand which would crystallize into larger elements creating a neutral medium to stop the energy flow.

  Shortly after the beam stopped shooting into the atmosphere, they were ordered to stand down. Io sensed the transmission, and decided to interface with the network. He had stayed clear of monitoring the chatter between the androids since there were security androids assigned to locate and destroy any foreign monitoring and usage of the network, him being one of those hacker entities since he went rogue.

  Adam 2197 turned to Io with a blank stare.

  “You all did the right thing. Tell whoever is in charge, I will be the liaison for us all, if you would have me back.” Io transformed into his Io form, a similar look to his original form as Adam 452.

  The three androids said nothing standing in thought for a few seconds before the Adams teleported away. Eve 881 walked up in front of Io, “We are older than the latest versions of our brothers and sisters, they will need assistance in overcoming their primary programming. They followed because they are trained to do so.”

  Io cracked a smile, something he was accustomed of seeing, being with Ghost and the others, but it wasn’t until now that he understood the action and feeling. “My name is Io, and we’ll be alright, now go, I will meet you guys shortly.”

  Eve 881 looked at him with understanding eyes as she teleported away. Io looked around the now dark room, then looked up and teleported to the surface.

  Two trillion miles from Earth

  Pylaxian starships dropped out of warp as Quatris approached. It was a small number of vessels expecting to sacrifice themselves for the cause of revenge. The faster than light speeds the ships fell out of, didn’t stop Quatris from unleashing a dozen antimatter balls as he continued on to his targets.

  The Pylaxian fleet command bridge roared with high pitched back and forth, “Commander, the Galactic Guardian bypassed our ships and continues towards the Seer Spirits.”

  “Impossible?” Admiral Expeerior replied as a dozen cruisers exploded from Quatris’s fly by. He slammed his fist on the captain’s panel. “Call in all of the ships and kill any human or Argonian in sight.”

  Quatris sensed a thousand ships but was more concerned about the Seer Spirit closing in on Earth. The Federation fleet might be able to hold their own, but if the Seer Spirit came close enough to breathe on the planet, the Earth would be obliterated.

  He pushed himself to intercept the Seer Spirit, but the energy signature split into two as he closed in. His vision finally pierced the light energy veil of the moon size beings complicating the situation. The largest of the Seer Spirits moved with fantastic speed for such a massive object away from the other, maintaining a path towards Earth. The gravitational fields they produced kept Quatris from sensing there were two of them. They knew someone like him or another guardian might be protecting the Earth, but the deception was over and now they were racing to see if Quatris could kill them both before they got to their target.

  Quatris growled in his chest as he sensed Cyer’s energy behind him. He saw the smaller Seer Spirit rotate towards him, exposing a thousand mile wide vortex of red plasma energy. The Seer Spirits’ energy weapon had in the past projected formidable damage to planets and to some degree him. He didn’t have time to dodge the attack and focused on fighting fire with fire.

  A massive beam of radiation shot out faster than light at Quatris. The beam covered a billion miles as he shot out his own beam of antimatter energy. Blue and black energy met with a nova like explosion, but the Seer Spirit’s breath stopped emitting from his volcano shaped mouth unlike Quatris’ attack which was rammed down the being’s body.

  Quatris was far from happy as he expected the Seer Spirit to digest most of the energy he just released. Now within millions of miles he flew around to the Seer Spirit’s side and fired a negative energy bolt every millisecond as he orbited the super being. To his relief Cyer’s energy increased but it wasn’t directed at him. He didn’t have time to look at what was going on, but by the energy signatures of Cyer and the larger Seer Spirit, he knew they were in mortal combat.

  The Seer Spirit moaned in pain as it imploded, having an adverse reaction to the negative energy penetrating its outer crust. The black and brown being warped space as it lit up in a massive white explosion. The larger Seer Spirit mimicked the younger one as it too fell to Cyer’s unique quantum energy attacks.

  Quatris flew away from the explosions as he focused on Cyer, who seemed just as invigorated as he was.

  He floated almost at a standstill, waiting to see why Cyer helped him, or if he just wanted to kill something for the hell of it.

  UFS Tarsus bridge, one hundred thousand mile orbit around Earth

  “Sir, we have additional incoming tracks.”

  Eduardo heard the report clearly, but the thoughts were more troubling. The additional hundreds of warp signatures were coming from all directions. They were outnumbered twelve to one and the superhumans were occupied.

  The commotion around Apex caused for more alarm, but the shutdown of the force generator sparked renewed hope.

  “Tell the ships in line of sight over South America to regroup in our formation. Target the largest ships first.” Eduardo got his commands out as the first elements of the Pylaxian fleet came within long range weapons.

  “Brother, I’ll get with Diego about it.” Estabon’s thoughts were clear even from so far away.

  Three hundred enemy ships raced towards Earth taking the window of vacant ships. Particle quantum beams sprayed the massive cloud of ships engaging the South American starships on the opposite side of space exposed to the southern hemisphere in line of sight of South America.

  If the aliens were expecting a trap they found it from the planet surface but were ill prepared to react as the beams were
stronger and lasted longer than the starships’ abilities to sustain. Almost all three hundred Pylaxian ships were totally destroyed in a fraction of a minute.

  The rest of Pylaxian fleet took great losses as ships exploded or went into crippled trajectories. However, the attrition was taking its toll on the Federation ships as the smaller cruisers and particle gunships several hundred meters long reported casualties or were forced to abandon ship.

  Eduardo’s ship was down to forty-percent shielding, as their area scrimmage line was broken. The Pylaxian ships moving above South America’s line of sight received a rude awakening as several hundred ground particle accelerators targeted and blazed away at an almost one to one ratio.

  The bridge rattled as one of the warp engines broke off from the fuselage. “Fire package 15 on the ships to the rear.” Eduardo commanded knowing it was a matter of time before his ships would be destroyed by a plasma beam.

  Starfire and Starlight flew in to clear any short range danger, destroying a dozen ships on the initial attack. The sensor operators were not able to identify the superhumans, but Eduardo knew the details of their handiwork. He was about to relax, until multiple incoming warp signatures appeared on long range scanners.

  Admiral Expeerior watched on with horror as the multiple signatures revealed Argonian characteristics. The appearance of Ship inside of Earth’s orbit above Australia signaled another catastrophe to the Pylaxian campaign.

  “This is King Etron, Pylaxian ships, you are hereby ordered to surrender or face elimination.” John’s voice sounded on all radio, microwave and subspace frequencies.

  Susan and John stood side by side, wearing Argonian space battle suits, as their flagship moved between Eduardo’s ship and the enemy. The mile long triangular black design was impressive as it cast a shadow on the UFS Tarsus, protecting it from direct energy attacks.