Blend and Defend

by Viola Grace

  She burst out of the exit and ran for Dif. It was a relief to be out of the press of bodies, but she wanted to get into her bot and do what she had to do.

  Dif was across a span of a few hundred metres from her, but she ran flat out into his waiting hand as he scooped her up to bring her back into the place that she didn’t realize she belonged until she got there.

  “Okay, do you know what is going on?”

  Dif chuckled. “There is a warship that sneaked in under the ionic shield and crept around the circumference of Hera to attack the valley.”

  She wrinkled her nose as she plugged in and settled into position. “Yeah. That.”

  “I am aware of it.”

  “Kab is a chatty bugger.”

  “He always was.”

  Kiida walked him around the edge of the valley and over to the munitions lab. The guns were lying out on the ground and small collections of bullets were next to each one. She took the hint and grabbed the bullets and the gun in separate hands, turning to follow the figures of Kab and Len.

  “You seem very calm, Kiida.”

  Kiida was running them through the flat plain of the valley. “I am calm.”

  “It has not escaped me that you might not feel calm. You are about to face an invading warship, after all.”

  “I will have to face it, but it will have to face us. You are forgetting that. With little notice, we took down an invading force with seven bots.”

  “True. Thank you for remembering it.”

  “You are part of my life now, in my blood. Don’t think I will ever forget that.”

  It was odd how something that had initially been such a strain was now second nature. She was running in the bot that she had been forced to take on because the woman who was supposed to be on duty for Burning Day decided that she wanted to be a mother. The fact that she was also able to keep up with the conversation proved evolution could move quickly on Hera.

  “I would blush, but I think I might rust. We are at the staging area. Are you ready?”

  “What is the plan?”

  “We wait until it shows itself over the ridgeline, and when it is exposed, we fire until we can’t fire anymore. Then, we hope that the valley can take control of the vessel before it crushes us all.”

  “That’s a cheery thought.”

  “You spend your life surrounded by experimental technology and you are surprised that I am not sure this is going to work?”

  Kiida sighed. “We are in sorry shape if I am supposed to be the voice of encouragement, but fine. We are going to do this. We are going to win this.”

  Dif chuckled. “Excellent. Now I can plan where I want to stand still for the next two hundred years.”

  “If you could feel it, I would kick your butt so hard.”

  His snicker came a moment before she saw the shadow of the distant ridge distort, flex, and expand as the ship came toward them.

  She double-checked her weapon, arranged the bullets in an easy-to-load grouping, and she prepared to fire.

  A glance to the left and right and the others were also set and ready for the incursion. That ship was not crossing their line without them hitting it with everything they had.

  * * * *

  The Tokkel commander looked at the monitors displaying the line of bots facing them. “Interesting and futile. Use everything short of nuclear weaponry. Those guardians are about to retire.”

  He turned away from the figures. “Destroy them.”

  Chapter Three

  The Tokkel were coming toward them, and a charge was glowing around the weapon ports.

  Corbyn’s voice came through the com lines. “Pilots. Fire.”

  Through the bot connection, they were able to keep their impacts separate. With focus and calm, they fired.

  Lido felt the kickback through Cio’s arm, and she carefully moved to set the next round in place. She lifted her hand and fired again at an area that wasn’t yet covered by spreading nanites. The others continued to shoot, and the silver texture spread across the ship, growing in speed and density.

  Lido reloaded and fired again as the ship got closer. Their gun ports were sealed shut. Nothing was getting out of them.

  Her last round struck one of the stabilizers on the side of the warship. The ship wobbled, and then, it dropped slightly, continuing toward the bots.

  The bots continued to fire until their speciality weapons were empty, and by that time, it had become obvious that the Tokkel were going in low. It was either because they were losing control, or they were trying to crush the bots, but running forward and dropping to the ground was the only way to avoid contact with the rippling, silver machine.

  Kab sent out a signal. “Attention to valley control. The ship is covered in the nanites, and they are hard at work.”

  “This is valley control. We are attempting to gain control over the ship, and we will have a grip on them shortly. Our backup teams are standing by.”

  “Thank you, valley control. We are in pursuit, but we can’t do anything but shoot it down at this point. It is larger than we anticipated, so please be prepared to use the backup on them.”

  “Understood, Pilot. Get here when you can.”

  Lido got Cio up, and she turned to see the hulking mass of the Tokkel ship heading toward the valley. She started running with scanners pointed toward the ground so that she didn’t run over one of her relatives.

  The others weren’t as fast on the draw as she was, but Myx soon drew up to her side as she chased the warship.

  The small sounds of the backup weapons firing came to them, but the warship changed its behaviour abruptly. The ship stopped and then began to lift skyward at an increasingly rapid pace.

  Cio slowed down and stared upward. Lido spoke on the open line. “So, that seemed to work.”

  The chuckling from the valley control officer was nearly muted by the cheers echoing behind her.

  The bots slowed but returned to the valley as the warship passed through the ionic layer, still wrapped in power-eating nanites.

  The drivers on their cycles were going in circles, pumping their fists in the air and shouting.

  Duel’s voice came through the coms. “Ladies, I think that this particular episode is over.”

  Hima cleared her throat. “What happens next?”

  Lameera’s voice came through the coms. “You get in here and we do every medical check we have on you. This episode has caused strain on your systems and prolonged use of the bots is bound to have an impact. Go see the medics.”

  “I have been dodging my annual, I suppose that it’s time.” Hima chuckled.

  The pilots laughed as they carefully walked their bots into position around Bot City, their faces out toward the surrounding landscape, the ridge at their backs.

  Lido exited via the lift, and she looked around to locate the nearest entry point to the city. She started hiking and met Corbyn near the door. “So, now on to medical.”

  Corbyn sighed. “Do you think we should remove the headsets?”

  “Not until we have to.”

  “Do you think the medics are going to make us?”

  “Pretty sure. The scanners aren’t set up for this much metal.”

  They entered through the hatch and climbed down the ladder. Lido heard laughing and congratulations down the hallways. She guessed that the cyclists must have come back inside.

  “Where did we come in?” Lido asked.

  “Just above the water purification centre. We need to go down two levels and over one.”

  Lido started walking. “It is so weird that I can see the directions to medical now, but I am having trouble remembering them.”

  Corbyn leaned toward her. “Has the memory been an issue for long?”

  “Just since we had to drop. It is almost like there is pressure on a part of my memory.” Lido kept walking with Corbyn, and they soon found themselves walking up the hallway to medical and a
round the clump of citizens who were gathered to see their guests.

  Lido cleared her throat. “Citizens, we need to get into medical. If you would stand aside, it would be appreciated.”

  A whisper went through the crowd. “The pilots.”

  The crowd separated slowly, and Lido pressed ahead, opening the door and looking at the security officer who tried to bar her way. “I have been ordered to check in for a scan.”

  The security officer widened her eyes and stepped aside. “Yes, Pilot Lido.”

  Corbyn pushed in and stumbled. “I think I just signed someone’s log book.”

  Lido laughed and she swayed. Corbyn grabbed her arm and yelled, “Why are there no medics in medical?”

  From one of the rear offices, members of the Nine came rushing out. Ciotan caught Lido up, and he carried her into the heart of medical.

  Lido looked at Ciotan, and she blinked. “You look different.”

  He smiled. “You are seeing things differently right now. We will remove the link to Cio, and we shall determine what is ailing you.”

  Lido scowled. “No. I want to keep that link.”

  He set her on a scanning bed and lifted her shoulders, looking at the back of her neck. “You have an infection, Lido. I am going to remove the headset, and then, you are going into the scan.”

  Lido held still as he carefully eased the headset away. Her skin felt hot, and then, he settled her onto the scan bed.

  “Remain calm, Lido. The scan is beginning.” Ciotan kept his voice low, but it was his grip on her hand that gave her the most comfort.

  The scanner’s lights ran over her, taking apart her body in virtual layers.

  Masculine murmurs in the language of the Nine flew hard and fast. The scanner chirped and then injections started.

  Lido could hear the sounds of the other pilots. There was a lot of concern but mostly a heavy tension.

  Lido held still as fire ran down her neck and crept into her fingers.

  “Lido. Lido, you have to stay awake. I know it hurts.” Ciotan’s voice was low.

  Lido gritted her teeth and muttered. “I am guessing that it is an infection at the contact site.”

  Ciotan crouched next to her, and he murmured, “Corbyn has been scanned, and she is clear. Do you know what could have happened?”

  She chuckled as more injections struck her in an effort to stop the spread of the infection. “I know exactly why it happened. The fucking Padu clan.”

  He sounded confused. “You are clan Padu.”

  She hissed as the fire continued down her arms. “Yes, I know. They were lax on their maintenance to put it mildly. Cio was just strong enough to get up and do his own repairs. I am guessing that sterilizing the command deck was neglected for the last few rounds of repairs.”

  He squeezed her hand. “That might have given the bacteria the opportunity it needed. How were you able to keep moving with this kind of pain?”

  Lido moved her head slightly and blinked. “I had things to do; now, I can be all infected and stuff. Now for the important stuff, why are you silver and green?”

  He chuckled and squeezed her hand again. “You are perceptive and very strong. We don’t know why, but our genetic alterations are wearing off.”

  “Alterations?”

  “Yes, we don’t really look like this. It was a temporary measure to make sure that we didn’t shock the populace on Hera.”

  Lido blinked several times. “Am I going to remember this when I am better?”

  “I hope so. There is no undoing our change. Not down here, anyway.”

  Lido chuckled. “Hey, the burn is going back up my neck. That’s good, right?”

  Ciotan touched her neck. “Can you feel that?”

  She smiled. “Yes. It feels like a point.”

  He lifted the needle, and he smiled. “I am glad it was the needle that you felt and not just pressure.”

  She sighed as more injections put fluids in and removed them in turn.

  “You are going to be treated for a few hours. Just relax and let the medications do their job so that the nanites can finish repairing your tissues.”

  “The nanites were trying to heal me?”

  “Oh, yes. The infection was just spreading too fast. They could not keep up with the raging reproduction of the bacteria.” Ciotan kept his hold on her hand as he stood upright again.

  Medic Milian came to her other side and checked the information on the screens. “Well, whatever they are, they know how to use the equipment. The Nine have successfully treated four of the other pilots.”

  “What of the last three?”

  Milian smiled. “They have been scanned and dismissed. The nanites are part of them now, and they are sitting and having rations and fluids.”

  “Good. I am just going to rest a bit now.”

  Ciotan squeezed her hand. “Stay awake, Lido. I know it hurts, but stay awake.”

  Lido chuckled. “I have had spikes driven into my neck and linked to my nervous system. I have felt the burn of two bots starting another to get me upright. It has been a few days of discovery.”

  Lido remained awake, but she listened to the murmurings of those around her. The examination of the headset brought a tech to Milian. They discussed the contamination, and the Padu elder was summoned for questioning.

  Lido wanted someone to get her butt kicked for the condition that Cio had been left in. Her work with the gardens had kept her off the maintenance roster, and when she was in a position to work on Cio, she had been confined to his exterior. Her adherence to the rules had given her minimal duties in the fun-loving Padu. She should have gone to the Otta when they called her, but she had stuck with her birth clan.

  It was probably for the best. If she had become anyone other than what she was, she would have either taken Kiida’s place with Dif, or some partying idiot would have been at Cio’s helm. She had become the right thing at the right time. It made it easier to wait for the burning in her skull to lessen and her vision to stabilize.

  She smiled up into the lights. She had been the right thing at the right time, and she was glad of it.

  Chapter Four

  Corbyn watched as they treated Lido, and then, she walked with Myxiorden to a different exam room.

  “What is wrong with her?”

  “At first guess, there is an infection. You have all lacked sleep and been running on minimal rations, so it is understandable.”

  Corbyn sat on the exam table, and she removed her connection to Myx. The scanners began moving the moment she was in position, and when they finished their fifth pass, she sat up and put the headset back in place.

  Myxiorden was looking at the results and frowning. “You are exhausted, dehydrated, hungry, and the nanites are causing an imbalance in your kidneys that can be corrected if you have something to drink.”

  Corbyn smiled. “I will get something. I swear. The others are arriving, so I had better get out of the way.”

  Myxiorden sighed. “Okay, but I have a vested interest in your survival, so I will be checking on you soon.”

  Corbyn nodded, and she headed to the supply station. A few punched buttons and she had a heated ration pack and two bags of water. She sat back and watched the others go into med bays, and only Kiida and Nyvett came out to wait with her.

  Folks were coming in and out of Lido’s space with scanners and med packs.

  Kiida looked over with worry. “What do you think is going on?”

  Corbyn took a deep draught of her water, and she glanced at Nyvett. “The Padu clan were the most creative when it came to maintaining their bot. Lido said that they had once even grown items inside Cio’s casing. When we got the call to the city, she tapped herself to represent her clan. Cio wasn’t working properly, and he had to be started with a jolt of power. It ran through Lido’s nervous system, and since the hygiene in there wasn’t the best, I am guessing at an infection.”

  Nyvett
sighed and got up to get her own food and drink. “Where were the medics when we got here?”

  “The Nine freaked them out. They were down the hall and had to push through the crowd to get here. Good thing that the Nine know how to use the medical equipment.”

  Corbyn chuckled and finished her ration pack and one bag of water. The other container was hanging from her fingertips as she went to poke her head in the different medical bays.

  Lido’s scan indicated an infection. It was radiating from her neck and into her skull, but everyone seemed relaxed, so it was under control.

  Corbyn looked in the next chamber and saw Hima still lying under active scanners. The display was astonishing. Half of Hima’s body was now synthetic. She was made of nanites fused to flesh.

  Corbyn’s eyes were wide as she looked in on Duel. Duel was in conversation with the three of the Nine who surrounded her. They were definitely different than they had been before, but that was a small matter when it came to the scan that indicated that Duel’s mind was now lit up like Burning Day. Kab’s influence had activated every part of her mind.

  Corbyn left her and went to check the final door. Xaia was standing in deep conversation with several of the Nine. They kept trying to shove her onto the med bed, but she kept standing up again.

  Corbyn walked in and looked at Xaia. “What is up?”

  “I am fine. I don’t need a scan.”

  “You have just been fondling radioactive material to make our weapons. Take the damned scan.”

  Xaia gave her a dark look but hopped onto the med bed and removed her headset.

  The scans showed that her nanites were active and bright, working hard to scrub out the radiation.

  The moment the scan was complete an alarm went off.

  Corbyn cursed. “Damn it. Radiation alarm.”

  Xaia snorted. “I told you I didn’t want the scan.”