by Frank Albelo
Speaking about some of the theory behind the electrical wiring that might be inside the ATC, I noticed everyone’s eyes start to glaze over. I coughed into my hand to draw everyone’s attention again, and explain that I wanted them to gather more metal chairs. With the enhanced strength of Koma and I, we might be able to fashion some rough shields for fighting. At the mention of possible defenses Delta perked up immediately.
I told them that figuring out the electrical stuff might take a day, and that they should continue looting for resources. With the appearance of the experiments, I made sure to emphasize that they should always be in range of either Koma or me until we had some better weapons. There were no arguments there, even the gruff Delta nodded.
The others broke off to gather some rocks to carry with them as well as eat a meal before they headed out with Koma. It was more efficient to have people eat their rations on the go if they could, so everyone grabbed their half serving for the afternoon and went down to the first floor. Koma lingered behind, eyeing me from the door as I grabbed the empty batteries.
They sure trust you. Almost blindly.
I could almost feel the question in the man’s mind. I could tell that one of the Calforn’s had been the one to ask it but I paid it no mind.
I think they know I mean them well. I would give my life for them.
I spoke the next part of my thoughts to emphasize it for the Calforn. “There is little camaraderie amongst humans today. What we have here should be cherished.”
I felt the man’s mental pressure as he probed for my surface thoughts. The slight frown on his face told me he had failed in sensing them and he bowed slightly before he headed downstairs. I stared after them for a second before turning back to Marvin.
Chapter 10: Tinkering & Traveling
“Now, Marvin do you know exactly how you’re powered? Can you explain how blood makes you go?” I said, opening up the mech’s storage panel and beginning to scan for any kind of service panel or opening. I didn’t have proper tools, but I was sure I could improvise.
Thankfully, there was no need. Marvin returned to its cart form, extended wheels and repulsors back on the ground. Once it was in its cart form it deactivated its repulsors, lowered itself to the ground and a panel opened to the side of the display.
“Distillation of the energy content within blood cells. Organic matter decomposition systems used to expedite stable matter decay,” replied the robot.
I tapped the cylindrical opening and a tube about a foot in diameter slid out slowly.
“Warning. Backup power in use. Remaining time of operation two hours.” A pre-recorded message sounded out from the display.
It was clear to me that the thing I was holding was the ATC’s power core. Closer inspection noted a small turbine system and several lithium based storage cells crammed into any spot not taken up by the turbine system. The design was not the most elegant I had seen, but it was space efficient.
After pulling the core out of the ATC another panel opened on the opposite side of the display. This one was flatter and revealed a tall tube that was about half filled with a black viscous suspension. It was the blood of the mad Calforns. As I watched, faint sparks struck the blood, causing it to shudder. Speculation brought me to the conclusion that I was watching the cellular energy extraction process.
The whole mechanism was way beyond my comprehension. I wasn’t exactly privy to information on the atomic decay energy collection technology, but from the systems I had repaired I knew it was magnitudes more stable than Nuclelectric energy. Biological components had always been part of the professions exclusive to the Named. I scoffed out loud as I closed the panels and reinserted the power core. Marvin whirled loudly, coming fully online.
I pulled one of the battery packs that had been emptied and popped the sides off. The battery was also lithium based, but they were significantly larger, if less efficient, than the ones in Marvin’s power core. I got to work using Gamma's makeshift knife to take the battery and it's wiring completely apart. I needed to understand how it worked in order to reverse engineer a rig that allowed recharging our battery packs.
I lost track of time as I delved into the circuitry, ripping resistors and capacitors out of the pack with wild abandon. I sorely missed my soldering tools, or even a simple set of pliers, but I made due with the salvage. Once I understood the way the belt plug connected to the battery pack I used the belt and casing of the battery pack to tuck the pack into one of the ration slots closest to the power core. I concentrated on my left hand, thinking of my anger and frustration, and sure enough my body tensed. The muscles of my arm swelled and it grew once again.
Ignoring the whisper, I focused on my hand. My knuckles, as well as my other injuries, had already healed, making the use of my enhanced strength nearly painless. I pushed with the tip of my finger, denting one of the inner panels in Marvin. I pulled and peeled the panel to reveal the backside of the power core and its housing. Taking a deep breath, I reverted my limb to normal. I used the components and wiring I had managed to salvage to form a small relay from the core to the empty pack casing.
“Well…this is it, Marvin. Do you feel any additional power draw?” I asked the mech.
“There appears to be an increased power loss of approximately five percent. Triggering of power core cycling is imminent.”
“Hmmm, well here goes nothing. Might as well make use of the cycle.” I inserted one of the whole, empty batteries into the pack slot inside Marvin. The whirling that usually came off Marvin had to be the power core activating and replenishing its battery stores. The significantly louder sound that came off the ATC confirmed this as the paneling was not there to dampen the sound. There were a few sparks coming from the wiring but when the whirling turned into a steady humming they stopped.
“Power gain remains zero. Unable to assess charge rate of battery pack test.” Added the ATC when the humming had been going on for a minute. I frowned, but considering the power backups of the mech I did not think it would run out of power before charging the battery pack.
“Alert me if your charge gets to below four days. Figuring out the charge ratio might require a bit of experimenting,” I noted for Marvin.
I’d worked with artificially intelligent machines before, but the degree of processing and response that Marvin had was much more advanced than any on Earth. I once again wondered just what the Officials had found that led them to Dun Lund. Receiving an affirmative from the mech, I focused on my hand again and use my enlarged fist to fold the metal over my wiring work as best I could.
I felt loose without my suit, so I felt okay continuing with my tinkering session. The next object I wanted to work on would be a lot simpler than the battery charger. I planned to take the base of the metal chairs and create a rough shield for the Digits to use. While I had been focused on the circuit work, the others must have stopped by since we had three of the metal chair bases.
I got to work twisting off the excess metal sections. Now that I could direct my enhanced strength somewhat the whole process didn’t even require banging from my wrench. Sweat dripped down my body with wild abandon, but I ignored it as I tore the last of the legs off the chairs. Using the backrest supports I made a rough enarmes that would fit over the armored suits. The first shield took about half an hour to fold and adjust, requiring me to equip my armor on several occasions to check for the fit, but the other two only took about fifteen.
The three shields I had managed to make were about the size of a buckler, if a bit larger. While that shield type didn’t offer the best protection, it would make it so the others could potentially parry blows and give them more overall defense. I excitedly set the three shields on the table, checking on Marvin.
While I looked over the few sections of exposed wiring, the others came through the door.
“Look who’s back!” joked Delta, waving his hand in front of me.
“Well, if you can
put the jabs aside, I finished off some good stuff.” I said, motioning to the table while I finished on Marvin. Delta, Beta and Gamma stopped in their tracks, staring at the shields I had made.
“How? Those things are made of at least steel! Maybe even some other alloy!” Responded the factory Digit.
I flexed my hand, allowing it to expand freely, showing the darkening skin as it mutated. There was a silent gasp from the others. “Been working on better control. Sorry, didn't mean to… freak you out.” I felt my smile slip slightly at the shock on their faces. However, it was my turn to be shocked because both Gamma and Beta rushed closer, forgetting the shields, and started to prod and question me about my mutation.
I felt Delta laugh as he hefted one of the shields, activated his armored suit and placed his arm into the enarmes. I heard a whisper of “perfect” as he swing his arm in wide arcs. The man definitely reminded me of one of those mythical creatures known as dwarves, except without the beards and a modern suit of space faring armor.
“Where are the others? I figured Zeta would be eager to get going to find the other survivors.” I asked the youth when they let go of my arm.
“Don't know, we split off from them when they went to another building with Koma,” replied Beta.
“Huh…” I immediately pushed out with my thoughts.
Koma! Where is your group? I'm finished.
There were several mental breaths of silence until a worrisome reply came back.
Busy. Will be a bit.
I picked up my wrench from the table and passed the other two shields to Beta and Gamma. “I have a bad feeling. We should find them.”
The others nodded grimly and fell in behind me. “Marvin, follow behind us. Only attack if we pin something, I want to make sure the charge system works before putting you through fights.” Once the repulsor cart reacted behind us I flew down the steps.
I waited a minute at the bottom of the steps as I used my mind to try and spot Koma or another mutant. I received silence until I sat down on the ground, trying to tune out the whistling wind and the cold that had returned now that I was outside of our makeshift hearth. I felt the invisible limits of my mind make their way through the streets.
It wasn’t like sonar or any kind of location system I had ever used but I could feel more resistance in the directions where I knew buildings were. After a few seconds, I felt Koma’s thoughts and a mass of roiling screams close to him. For the first time I was able to get a peek at the Calforn’s mind and it almost broke me. It was like looking through three pairs of eyes simultaneously.
I quickly receded back into my own mind. Standing unsteadily, I heard the others make it to the ground floor.
“Get on Marvin, we are going. Marvin try to keep up with me,” I said to the mech.
“Energy draw will increase.”
“I understand, we need to find them. I think there is another experiment on their tail!” I shouted. Gamma and Delta climbed on the ATC while Beta stayed on the ground.
I turned to him to protest but he cut me off. “It will cost more electricity. I can keep up.” The look in the boy’s face was clear.
“Don’t lag behind Marvin, if I get too far ahead you guys slow down and try to listen for shouting.” Even as I was finishing that sentence I was moving down the street.
I concentrated on my rage, hints of fear and concern, again. The swelling sensation returned to my legs and I had to deactivate my helmet to pull in enough air. I concentrated on cutting off the Overmind whispers, I couldn’t afford the distraction. I shot forward, the whirling of Marvin’s repulsors thrumming behind me. It was several blocks before I was able to passively sense our multi-Calforn ally and the monstrosity following it.
Inhuman wailing filled the air as soon as we rounded a corner. In the distance I could make out Koma, Zeta and Epsilon clamped between his arms, running away from another blob of limbs. The increased presence of the experiments concerned me, but I pushed that thought out of my mind. I drew its attention with a mental shout, gritting my teeth against the nails-on-a-chalkboard like scream that responded. The blob veered in my direction.
Koma had enough time to set down the pair of Digits and get in a pair of deflating hits before the creature reached me. I remain rooted to my spot, a crazy plan forming in my head. I crouched, holding the point of my wrench towards the creature. I watched time slow to a crawl, ten different limbs trying to claw me to pieces, until I saw the opening I was looking for. I’d noticed that in order to move in a direction the limbs had to move in waves, which left the body exposed for a few seconds after every wave.
I felt my legs swell again, stretching the suit fabric to its limits, and jumped.
It was a short jump, only about three feet considering how close the experiment had gotten, but it was effective. The extra strength from my leg mutation shot me straight into blobulous matter. I held my breath as everything above my waist got stuck inside the monster. It was a tight fit and I had my eyes closed while I felt the gore coated me. I’d made it. I began to dig around with my wrench, eliciting more wailing from the blob and several nauseating pitch turns as it tried to shake me out.
Thankfully, I was space trained and also lodged deep enough that the creature’s thrashing actually made me dig myself in deeper. The seconds stretched out, but the creature weakened. After almost a minute of struggling against me it deflated completely.
Help would be good about now, I thought at Koma.
Moments later I felt a strong grip around my ankles and Koma janked me out of the experiment in one pull. I coughed and spat out the bits of monster that had gotten caught on my face. Once I had wiped away enough gore I looked up at the amazed faces of our group.
You certainly are an odd one.
I laughed. Some of the gore got in my mouth and I sputtered trying to spit it out, which elicited laughs from all the others, Koma included.
“Glad you all think this is funny. Damn, I need a shower.” I said. Standing, I flicked more of the gore off my armor and suit.
“Well. The forest might be the solution. There is a river and a salt lake far beyond it.” said Koma while he motioned with his arms towards the forest in the distance. Everyone in the group turned to look at the man. The shock on everyone’s face was almost as great as when they found out there were more survivors on Dun Lund. Not even a second after Koma spoke, the Digits were swarming the man, asking questions left and right about the river, temperature, flow and such.
Help?
Oh no. That one is all you, I had some questions about the forest too, I replied to the Calforn’s pleading.
The only ones that had not swarmed him were Epsilon and I. After about of minute I asked Epsilon to call everyone back. I had wanted to go ahead and head back to the base so we could head to the forest, but the day was mostly gone now that we had to fight an experiment and collect the second group.
As the Digit gathered the others, I asked Marvin to try to collect as much blood from the experiment as possible. The mech moved swiftly, using its syringe system to extract blood. After a few seconds of no suction, I noticed the ATC use its front limb to press the body up and down. A few seconds later, a stream of black crept up the small tubing.
I was amazed. That had been the first real indication of the AI using its machine learning. It had said it required a functioning circulatory system to extract blood properly, but maybe it was experimenting to change that. I watched mesmerized until Delta slapped my back.
“You’ve been spacing out a lot. You alright there?” he said. He was clearly concerned, the deep frown pulling all his face wrinkles together into deeper lines. The others were still asking questions, but the older gentleman of the group was checking on their would-be leader.
“Yeah. Coming to terms with some quite a few things,” was all the reply I could muster.
The man nodded, leaving me to my thoughts while Epsilon tried to wrangle Beta in. With the soreness mostly gone from my legs I jumped up. I figured g
etting to the front would help Epsilon with getting everyone organized.
“Alright, guys! Since its a bit dark to head out now, we will finish scouting close to B1 and head out in the morning. As you all can see Beta, Gamma and Delta have fancy new shields. If you find some more of these metal chairs I can make more. Don’t forget we will need wood and rot in order to keep the fire going.” I clapped my hands, motioning for the main street.
The groups separated as they had originally and I returned to B1. I was confident Marvin, Gamma, Beta and Delta could handle themselves. Before they headed out I told Delta to try to let the ATC fill up if they encountered mutants. I lugged the experiment to our makeshift graveyard, being the only one other than Koma able to manage the hundreds of fleshy pounds.
By the time I had deposited the body near its brethren I was beat. I had to enhance my body overall just to keep up with moving the corpse. When I made it to the top floor I relit the fire and dropped to the ground near the growing ash pile. I did my best to remain hopeful about meeting the other survivors. With my mental grip faltering, the Overmind chimed in my head as I drifted off to sleep.