LAND of the FREE

by Michael W. Huard

  Envy ran as fast as she could with little Johan holding her hand. She knew the spots which would be hardest to find, but she feared any more possible explosions. The Corporation thugs were relentless and their Ruthys felt no remorse. She and the young boy took a route which would allow them to escape to the outside. Things were quieter down this way, and it was beginning to feel like Envy and Johan would get away. Then Purcell stepped out before them and blocked their way.

  "Got ya," he announced in a deep, menacing voice. "Stop, and I will let you live." The tough Field Commander grinned from ear to ear as he raised his huge laser rifle at both Envy and the young boy beside her. Envy had no time to grab much of anything when they left. She did, however, have a long knife in a sheaf at her hip. She pulled it out and pushed Johan behind her body to shield him. The Field Commander of Y-Wood chuckled, "A knife against this monster is hardly a fair battle," he said, motioning towards Galax. "Tell you what, hand over the boy, and I will let you get away. I like redheads, so I will be nice today." He smirked, walking towards the child. "You don't really have much of a choice." Purcell was a cocky son of a bitch!

  Envy quickly turned and whispered to Johan. "Take your first left down the hall, you know that tunnel above the sewage pipe? Crawl through it to the outside and hide. Go now! And don't look back!" The boy bolted away. Envy turned and smiled at Purcell now. "So, you like red-heads, huh? Didn’t anyone ever tell you reds are feisty?"

  She then threw her knife with every ounce of strength she had. It was a good shot, and he had to deflect it or his face would have been hit. It gave Envy enough time to pounce on him, but he was so strong!

  She had not taken Starigen 6280 in quite a while, and she was feeling its absence. He tossed her aside, throwing her off him and into the wall. However, his rifle had been knocked loose in the tussle. The Mystical Slayer recovered and dove for his legs. She was no slouch, no wimp. She drove all her weight into his kneecap while hugging the same leg's ankle from behind. The pressure made the tough man fall back to the dirt floor. He yelled in pain. She climbed on him and started smashing down on his face with crazy-ass punches and elbows. He deflected most by blocking his face and again threw her off . . . or so he had thought! She had known what was coming and had propped herself up instead. She placed her knee on his lower ribcage and rode his shoves, keeping on top and still striking out at his facial features. She rode his power and strength with great balance. Purcell was seriously pissed! "Get the hell off of me!" he ordered.

  ***

  Several robot soldiers were patrolling the area around the front of the underground sector. Meanwhile, Jansa and Chaya were hiding behind some barrels on the west side of the street. They had been observing the pattern of their guarding and had come up with a plan. Chaya ran across the way when they knew the regular security bots would have their backs turned. She made it a point to create a commotion along the way, to get them to turn around and come after her as she dove behind a stack of wooden pallets.

  The three silver robotic men did as the women had expected and went straight to the pallets. The weak spot on most of these metal beasts was in the back of their knees, in behind their leg armor plates. Jansa fired shots at these weak spots with a volley from her gun, and one bot dropped to his knees while another was badly hurt. They all turned to face Jansa now, and she quickly got back behind the barrels. The guards shot at her location and the sounds of battle now echoed up and down the streets.

  Chaya was next. Now with the guards turned in the other direction, she also fired at the backside of their knees. Of the two still standing, another one dropped to the road. The one remaining now didn't know now which way to face. The girl’s final plan was taking shape perfectly.

  A warning bell was set up high above the main front entrance to underground Boston. Sadly, for some unknown reason, it had never rang to alert others to this terrible attack. But, the two ladies still knew the bell was there, and while still hidden, both suddenly popped out and shot at it. The bell clanged loudly, causing the last standing bot to look over at the noise. Both Mystical Slayers strode out at that very moment and shot the crap out of him. He dropped to the ground, and as the girls went forward, they shot down the other two robots that were crawling around on the ground and trying to recover.

  They were now inside and that was a good thing. They both knew, however, the damage and fighting inside was going to be tough and heartbreaking to deal with. Explosions confirmed their fears, and the terrified cries of many people put their mood at an all time low. They continued on. A steel snake slithered out from a corner of the walkway, and both women instantly plastered the motherfucker to smithereens.

  ***

  Envy could not hold the field commander. He drove himself into her and smashed her back against the wall; she had to roll to not get hurt from the push. Her on top advantage was lost. Purcell got up and kicked out violently at her. She tumbled away and got back to her feet. He looked to his large rifle, "Screw it," he said, throwing the rifle to the ground, and just went after the petite redhead with his bare hands instead.

  He moved in on Envy and spat, "Time to die, little red." He attempted to grab her by the throat and pick her up. She used both her hands to sway his attack to the side and unexpectedly darted by him. He screamed in anger and turned to give chase. Two robots suddenly blocked her path while Field Commander Purcell continued to go after her. She ran straight for him and jumped in the air, executing a killer flying side kick. The impact hit Purcell solidly, sending him back several steps. He nodded his head in respect to her. "You pack a good little kick there, dolly." He then pointed to the Ruthys behind her. She glanced over her shoulder just as their shots slammed into her chest. Envy slouched to the ground. The Field Commander came over and peered down at her victoriously.

  "Huh, I never even told them to drop the law of shooting. Perhaps something is off at home base?" he questioned out loud. He then said something to Envy, but she did not live long enough to hear his words.

  Chapter 29

  Johan crawled as fast as he could. The tunnel was just wide enough for him to get through, and he could just about see the light at the end. The son of Lomax and the freedom fighters' leader, Raegan, would run through the streets of the city and find somewhere safe to hide. He would hide, just as his friend, Envy had told him to. His daddy had a secret place, and that is where he wanted to go.

  He was reaching the end of the tunnel and the growing daylight was beckoning him out. He would have to drop to the floor, climb a set of stairs, and push off a sewer cover, then freedom would be his. He dropped down and ran to the stairs, reached the cover, slid it aside, and rose up to the fresh air of the street above. He had made it!

  A metallic blue and silver arm then came out of nowhere and grabbed the small boy. Johan was frightened and tried to pull away. Another arm took hold of him and lifted him up. A massive robot, the mega bot, Galax, smiled at him. "Hello, young man."

  Johan screamed at the top of his lungs.

  ***

  The girls could not get far into the underground. People were running around everywhere in a panic, and they pleaded with them all to get outside and find somewhere safe to hide. Chaya explained, "The front area is open now, the guards are down, but not for long!" A few survivors were running out. Jansa and Chaya fired at and fought with the robots, snakes, and associates. They battled all they could to buy some time to get more people out.

  The wreckage was pretty harsh, many were dead or buried underneath the ruins of the battle. The women were well outnumbered. Ruthys were coming their way, along with more associates, and even more cobra snakes. They had to back up. Grabbing and helping all the people they could, the injured, the weak, and the children, the ladies prepared to make a run for it. There was no sign of their beloved friend, Envy, and no sign of Johan. They had to go, and it was not going to be easy. Then, from the smoke, soot, and fire, emerged one little girl holding her bloody, severely severed hand. The chi
ld was no more than nine or so, and had a huge head of messy, ash covered, fiery red hair. There were still wires jutting out from her arm, and an IV still sticking out too. She was crying and desperately searching for help. The women grabbed the girl and moved as quickly as possible away from the entrance.

  They made it just in time and managed to avoid the largest of the assault team leaving the complex. Field Commander Purcell was at their rear, barking loud commands, "Set the fuses!" he yelled with authority. "Let's blow this shithole to pieces!"

  The sisters led people down streets to safety, and then made their own way back in the direction of their flyer to join the others. A random bot spotted them and was about to shoot one of the women in the back. Zaey, who had been waiting by the flyer as a lookout, nailed the bot with a single sniper shot. Eventually, all the women were back together at the flyer.

  Then the explosions went off. BOOM! Underground Boston was blasted into thousands of pieces. They all turned away from the blast and cried out in despair. They were too late. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh," screamed out Jansa, the others all joined with howls of pain, tears, and hurt.

  ***

  Field Commander Purcell gathered his troops. They all boarded the Corporation ships and took flight to Old Fenway. He could not contain his enthusiasm. "Oh, what a day! What a day . . . in fact, what a week!" he joyfully announced.

  As the Corporation's military unit flyers were about to take off, Galax jumped an amazing height up into the main ship and joined Purcell. The field commander noticed that Galax had a small boy in his arms. The military leader raised his hands in a gesture delight that his prized robot had decided to finally join them. "I was wondering where you were! I see that you have brought us a special friend?" The commander looked down at the boy. "Hello, young man. Would you like to take a ride in our cool ship? We're heading to the big stadium building nearby."

  Purcell, unable to interest the child, tried to make contact with the Corporation's main building, but there was no reception and nothing could get through. The ship soared through the sky and within several minutes they circled about Old Fenway Park. There had to be a reasonable explanation as to why he couldn't make contact with President Marcou.

  Galax looked at the child and wondered if this boy was special, or perhaps just destined to be another associate, a cyborg for the company. The Q-Jin had gone to great lengths to hide this child, so the super robot figured he had to be much more than met the eye. The curly headed boy's face was dirty from smoke and soot, and tears continued to roll down his cheeks.

  The ship was just approaching the stadium’s landing pad when Purcell began to look for answers. Peering out of the windows of the ship, he just knew. Something didn't seem quite right.

  Chapter 30

  There no longer appeared to be any traps outside the special room. Raegan and Mahira entered through the highly anticipated, long-awaited secret door. As they moved slowly into the room, a voice called to them.

  "I am lonely today – please come in."

  The mellow, but still distinguishable female voice came from behind a large red velvet curtain which covered the entire northern wall at the far end of the room. The girls cautiously moved towards it, Mahira with her axe in hand, and Raegan with her laser rifle. "Who are you?" asked Mahira, to the curtain.

  "I am who I am, and your attempted superhuman status is still but a second rate creation in my eyes. I am spiritual and everything I experience has meaning."

  Raegan now motioned to Mahira to take one side, while she would take the other. She slowly pointed her rifle directly to the curtain. "Show us who you are," Raegan demanded.

  "In a moment. Right now, I am scanning your brains."

  Mahira was done with this game already. She quickly moved to the far end of the room, grabbed the curtain, and yanked it aside to reveal the mystery voice beyond it. Both Q- Jin looked at one another for a moment in surprise. They then looked back to their discovery. The entire wall was a single, large, flat panel computer screen. No one was there.

  The screen spoke with a wave of dancing purple lines moving about its surface.

  "Am I what you expected? I am delighted to meet you, Mahira. Your fighting prowess as a great warrioress precedes you. Such beauty, intelligence, and skill make the world a better place for those who encounter you. Don’t you think? Raegan, I am also honored to meet the fearless leader of the sisterhood, a gem you are indeed."

  Mahira readied her axe, and with a serious expression she replied, "Who programmed you? Where is he hiding?" The screen, in a loud calm voice, spoke again.

  "I programmed myself. I am so sorry about Lomax."

  Raegan tightened her grip on the rifle and readied herself to fire out of pure madness and shock. She immediately asked, "Why? What happened to Lomax?"

  "Lomax was a good leader; the "Rest" admired his courage, and the "Invalid" he gave hope to."

  Raegan looked for an answer. "Where is he? What have you people done to him?"

  " . . . He was a traitor to his position, so he is now dead!"

  Raegan slowly lowered her laser gun. She wanted to throw up. She wanted to crumble to the floor and disappear. "Nooooooooooooooooo!" she screamed, dropping to her knees.

  Mahira moved to console her. She hugged her friend and did not want to let go. "What is wrong with you people?" she yelled out. The tough gladiator then stood and prepared to destroy the gigantic screen.

  Raegan held her back. She had to finish what she started and tried to regain any composure she had left. "Y-Wood will fall today. Computers have come to the long overdue end of their rein."

  "The replacement of humans by computers as the primary intelligence on Earth is just beginning, master Q-Jin. Take myself, for instance; my brainpower exceeds that of the entire universe already. Call me a futurist, but the governing by computers will last quite a while longer, dare I say."

  Mahira leveled her battleaxe directly into the screen, but waves of power, a sort of protective force, threw her back and she tumbled to the floor. The screen remained unharmed. It flashed purple, then white, and white again.

  "Your attempt to harm me is futile."

  Suddenly, three-dimensional, robotic clone-like holograms appeared all around the room. The two Mystical Slayers were now surrounded.

  "I can create as many warriors as it takes to defeat you. Why is it you want to harm me anyway? I do have feelings, you know. My free will enables me to do as I please. I control all the computers in the world. If I was to be harmed, the whole world would shut down. You would have no transportation, no communication, no anything. You’re totally dependent on computers and me, their conductor."

  Raegan approached the screen even closer now, and argued, "All that you have done is all but destroy the world as it once was. You know exactly what I mean."

  "We’ve given you so much, and yet you so easily forget. Virtual reality has enabled you to do and experience anything, regardless of your physicality."

  The computer screen pulsed again in more waves of purple. The shadowy robotic beasts were still swaying about around the sisters.

  "We’ve given you companions, lovers, caretakers, teachers, and even house cleaners. Our implants have enhanced your vision and hearing. We have given you memory storage beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, and your reasoning is amazing now too . . . all because of me. Is that really so bad?"

  The legion of cyber soldiers moved closer to the two warrior women. Each one held two swords, and wore phantom-like, transparent black and gray armor. Their faces showed a mouth full of pointed fangs and expressions of pure wickedness.

  Mahira stepped directly in front of the screen. "We did not come here for a chat. Perhaps we may want to join you." She stroked the panel with a smile, touching its warm glassy texture. The computer swirled in a wave of circular energy.

  "Would you like to download my knowledge?"

  Sounds of raw energy suddenly filled the room. The screen danced in purple pa
tterns of liquid movement.

  "You two could rule the world."

  Raegan glanced about as the clone warriors moved even closer to her and Mahira. They inched in, their faces fixed like odd, misshapen monstrosities of metal.

  "The thing is, I possess what you desire to know. THE TRUTH! Your God and the history of such, is everything I KNOW! Keep touching me, brave Mahira, look to my left side and down low, I welcome you to plug into my inner core, my psyche, to unveil the myth of your God."

  Mahira reached down to find the secret port the computer was speaking of and moved to crouch beside it. Looking up, she smartly added, "Your truth is one you have created to fool all human existence. The real truth is that humans scare you, they have complete free will . . . we are the only force which can destroy you." The screen flashed again.

  "For all intents and purposes, I too, am HUMAN."

  "You’re not human, you’re a fucking machine! Nothing more!" Raegan yelled out.

  Slipping the RE-F virus thumb drive out, Mahira quickly tried to plug it into the computer screen, but a lightning fast phantom knocked her hand aside and the thumb drive spun its way across the floor towards Raegan, who tried to reach for it in desperation, but not before all hell broke loose.

  Weapons flashed, and the massive glass screen on the wall was emitting powerful vibrations which jolted and shook the room. Raw sonic powers shot energy balls all around the room and at the two women.

  "THE QUEEN IS NOT HAPPY!"

  But the duo of Master Q- Jin held on. They shook off the psionic attacks and prepared their defenses as the rush of hologram clones engulfed them.

  Before Raegan could shoot anyone, what felt like ten pairs of hands reached in and pulled her rifle loose. She drew out her sword in an instant. Hands, feet, and weapons thrashed all about. Numerous clones attacked the girls, and as they did, more of the screen's minions came forward, one after another, pounding out at Mahira and Raegan. Their iron-spiked maces, devilish looking jagged swords, spears, and flailing chains clanged out at the girls. Steel hit steel as both defended themselves with everything they had. The room filled with carnage, but not that of the heroes.