ACTIVATION

by M. G. GILIBERT

  “What is it?” Don asks.

  “It’s an aircraft. Stay where you are and do not move until I know what it is doing,” Gabe answers.

  “We will hide in the ventilation shaft. Do not move or try anything, Gabe,” Don orders.

  The group runs back under the shaft and grabs the rope that they left behind. They lift themselves up back inside and wait for Gabe’s status update.

  “It just landed. In front of the factory … I see robots coming out and heading for the main entrance,” Gabe says.

  “Copy that,” Don replies. “No move, no sound,” he says to the rest of the team above him.

  “They have restored power and they are now opening the door …” Gabe murmurs.

  “They are going in …”

  Gabe and Dave’s Hunter drones are still inside the warehouse. Hidden in dark corners. They can follow everything from their screen and relay the information back to the team.

  “Hold on … they’ve just stopped the power plant … I see smoke outside … it’s probably not working properly … the robots are exiting the warehouse,” Gabe says.

  Don is relieved. For a minute he and the team were trapped inside the shaft. Blocked below by the robots’ presence and above by the large fan that had just restarted. But the situation has just turned back in their favor and it is safer now. Depending on how long it will take the robots to fix the power issue, they can have a window during which they will be able to escape.

  “It seems like the robots are going back inside the aircraft. Two of them are now standing behind in front of the door,” Gabe says.

  “Excellent,” Don says. “We need to get out of here as soon as they have cleared the area.”

  “Aircraft taking off … you’re almost clear …” Gabe says.

  “Aircraft flying over us … passing us … Ok, it’s gone …” Gabe confirms.

  As everyone inside and outside the facility now has the opportunity to calm down from the surge of adrenaline they just had and slow their heartbeat, the unimaginable suddenly happens.

  “The aircraft is coming back! It’s right over us! They saw us!” Gabe shouts.

  When Don and Jack simultaneously hear the fear in Gabe’s and Dave’s voices, their heart almost stops beating instantly.

  Their sons are now at the mercy of the robots.

  They know the robots did not hesitate to kill people during the relocation process and they are likely to do the same now. It means Gabe and Dave will probably die soon. The entire team is shocked and they unconsciously wait for the sounds that will confirm the kids’ death.

  Don and Jack react in complete unison. They keep their eyes firmly closed, grit their teeth and almost at the same time they pronounce the last words that come to their minds.

  “I love you son …”

  They do not hear the boys’ voices anymore. There is complete silence now. Don and Jack keep their eyes closed, trying to concentrate to visualize their kids’ face one last time and to take a mental picture of it so they never forget it.

  They think about Pam and Jen, about the pain they will be inflicting upon them if they manage to get out of here alive and to make it back to the base.

  “Dad …” Gabe whispers. A murmur that sounds so loud to everyone’s ears that it instantly breaks the deadly silence that has filled the shaft.

  “Gabe, is that you?” Don asks.

  “Dave, are you there?” Jack asks.

  “Yes,” both boys answer.

  “What is going on, dad? The aircraft is not moving. It is right in front of us,” Gabe asks.

  It seems like the boys and their fathers have a second chance. They don’t want to waste it. The pain the fathers just went through was too intense. They don’t want to go through anything like this ever again.

  “Ok … you have been spotted for sure. I’m also certain that they have sent the message they found you. They are just waiting for backup and ensuring you do not go anywhere. There’s nothing you can do anymore. If you fight back, you are likely to lose. If not with this aircraft, you will with the backup aircraft that will be heavily armed I’m sure,” Don says.

  “What shall we do?” Gabe asks.

  “Nothing. Do not engage. Get out of the car, raise your hands and surrender. Keep a low profile, do not threaten them. This is the best option you have to stay alive right now,” Don says.

  “And then, what is going to happen?” Dave asks.

  “You will be taken somewhere for interrogation. Probably to a Metropolis. I don’t know their methods, but disclose as little information as possible. Do not mention the base. Buy as much time as you can so we can come and get you,” Don says.

  “Be strong. Think about us. Find strength in our love for you, and know that we will not rest until we get you out safe and sound from wherever you will be. We love you,” he continues.

  “Dave, you heard what Don said. Follow his advice. I love you, your mom loves you, and your sister loves you. Sonia is waiting for you and I promise you we will take you back to her,” Jack says.

  “I love you too, dad. Please tell everyone at home that I love them,” Dave says.

  “You’ll tell them yourself. I promise,” Jack says.

  After a minute or so of silence, and of many efforts made not to break down, Don gives the boys one additional directive.

  “Before you go out, look slowly inside the glove compartment. There is a small black box. It contains trackers. Take one each and swallow it. Make sure the robots don’t see you. It will completely dissolve in your stomach within seventy-two hours. GAIA and the robots should normally not be able to detect them. These trackers will tell us where you are going and allow us to plan your escape.”

  “Done,” Gabe confirms.

  “Good. Now, listen carefully. When you are ready, take off your headset, open your doors, and get out of the car very slowly with your hands in the air. Everything that happens from now on depends on how you act. You are on your own, kids, but we won’t be far behind. Protect yourself, protect each other. We will see you again soon, I promise,” Don says.

  “Ok. We are going out. See you soon. We love you,” Gabe says.

  The boys take off their headsets. Their only link to the world they know is now severed. From now on, everything they are going to experience is going to be new and foreign to them.

  They slowly get out of the car. They are not worried as they trust their parents will come soon to set them free. In the meantime, they have agreed to stay strong and to help each other through this situation. They also realize that they will soon be very close to their enemy and therefore they need to stay as focused as possible to gather as much intel as possible. They aim to report valuable information once they are back at the base.

  The boys do not really consider what is happening to them as a defeat to GAIA and the robots, but instead as a new mission that they hope will be a decisive and defining moment in their fight against GAIA.

  CHAPTER 28

  The two young men have been waiting outside for more than ten minutes now. Nothing is happening. They are starting to feel some pain in their arms as they have kept them up ever since they got out of the vehicle.

  The aircraft above them is not moving. Gabe and Dave do not know what to make of that. They do not know what to expect. But still, they comply with Don’s advice not to show any kind of threat to the robots and wait for their fate.

  Their fate comes in the form of another aircraft.

  Just like Don told them earlier, it is heavily armed and more appropriate for the situation. As soon as it approaches, the first aircraft slowly flies away. The second aircraft takes the spot of the first one and remains motionless for a minute.

  It looks very heavy, but still, it seems to float in the air without much effort or noise.

  Without showing any signs that something is about to happen, the doors on both sides of the aircraft open up.

  The aircraft is too large to land here. Four robots get out of the ai
rcraft using telescopic poles. Two on each side of the aircraft.

  As soon as the robots touch the ground, they simultaneously release themselves from the poles, which all retract at once.

  The two groups of robots face the kids. They start progressing toward them. In the meantime, the aircraft has flown away and is about to land closer to the factory where the terrain is more appropriate.

  Without pronouncing a word and without a warning, two of the robots draw their weapon and shoot the kids.

  Dave and Gabe fall on the ground instantly and heavily.

  Meanwhile, the rest of the team is still stuck inside the vent shaft. They have no way of knowing what is happening outside. For all they know, the vicinity is probably swarming with robots looking for the kids’ accomplices. It might only be a matter of time before they are found.

  “Do you see yourself die in that pipe?” Don asks.

  No one responds.

  “Well, I don’t. And I’ve made a promise to the boys that I intend to keep. I’m going out. Stay here,” he says.

  Don slowly removes the grid at his feet and hands it to Jack above him.

  “Don’t make a sound,” he says to the rest of the team.

  Don tries to turn upside down inside the shaft. The operation is very complicated because of the lack of space and also because of the necessity to remain as quiet as possible. There is, however, no danger of falling, as the entire team is still attached to the rope.

  When Don finally manages to put his head where his feet were and vice versa, he slowly moves down until his eyes reach the shaft exit which is also the factory ceiling. He can now see around their position. The fact that Don looks at things upside down makes it difficult to accurately assess the presence of a potential danger.

  According to Gabe’s last report, there should be two robots standing near the door. The door is easy to locate as it is now open and lets the moonlight penetrate a few feet inside the building.

  Don is not too far from the door but far enough to still be hidden in the shadow. He cannot see the robots.

  He decides to slowly come out of his hole and to get back on the ground, on his feet, in a better position to defend himself in case his presence is spotted.

  When he touches the ground, all of Don’s reflexes are already on alert. He hides behind one of the inactive robots and stays there in a crouching position, looking through interstices.

  As soon as he confirms nothing represents a threat to him and the others, he moves a few feet closer to the entrance. He repeats the same operation several times until he reaches the wall next to the main door.

  Don has a view on the outside now. One of the two robots is standing on the right. It is not moving and its yellow color tells Don that it is not a major threat. He assumes the second robot is probably on the opposite side, probably right behind the wall where Don currently stands.

  In the distance, Don can make out the presence of an aircraft. It has landed not too far from the factory limits. Don zooms in on the aircraft with his goggles. There is no movement in its immediate vicinity. The aircraft is simply stationed there. No trace of Dave and Gabe, either.

  Don has no idea what the aircraft is waiting for until he finally notices a few shapes coming from the small hill where the team parked their vehicles earlier.

  Where Gabe and Dave were waiting for them.

  Don is horrified by the scene that is suddenly unfolding before his eyes. His entire world is collapsing. The muscles in his legs instantly turn into cotton. He gets on his knees.

  Four robots appear to be carrying two bodies.

  He is desperate. He’s looking up at the shaft thinking about Jack. He doesn’t see him. Jack doesn’t know. The thought that a father may just have lost his son and doesn’t know it quickly turns Don’s sorrow into rage. He is boiling inside. He wants revenge. He wants to unleash all his fire power to the robots.

  But he needs to hold it together. If he acts now alone he will probably not stand a chance against the robot-soldiers. He doesn’t know how many are still in the aircraft. And even if he managed to destroy a few robots, the aircraft’s weaponry would quickly put an end to his desperate act.

  This reality brings him back to his senses. He will fight, but not here, and not now.

  Avenging the kids properly will require to take GAIA down, and not just a few insignificant robots.

  As Don gets back his bearings after what he saw or believes he saw, the robots board the aircraft that slowly takes off. Don follows it with his eyes. Without stopping or slowing down, the aircraft fires its machine gun at the spot where Don believes the vehicles are parked. An explosion confirms they have been destroyed. The aircraft disappears, carrying the boys’ bodies into the dark night.

  The facility is now clear except for the two robots that are still in front of the entrance.

  Don found earlier enough inner resources to not give in to his emotions and start a suicide fight against the robot soldiers.

  But they are gone now and he still has plenty of rage and anger in his heart that needs to come out. The robots outside are about to get a first-hand experience of it.

  Without thinking, Don stands up and walks straight outside. He cocks his gun and positions himself in front of the first robot. He spends a second looking at the robot’s emotionless eyes and shoots directly at its face. Before Don even knows if he destroyed the first robot, he simultaneously turns around, puts his gun back in his holster, reaches for his assault rifle, crouches, aims, and shoots the other down.

  The detonations resonate and dissipate in the air for a few seconds and once the silence has filled the night again, Don asks the team to get out and to meet him right away at the vehicles.

  A few minutes later, Don is standing in front of what is left of the car. It is still burning and nothing can be salvaged from it. It means that drones, weapons, ammunitions, medical supplies, and everything else that was in the car are lost. And more importantly, the trackers’ monitor is now destroyed. Don cannot confirm the kids are dead nor can he know where they are headed.

  Hope is not all lost, though, as there are additional monitors at the base.

  Thankfully, only the car has been destroyed by the aircraft. Because of its weapons, the car probably represented a threat the truck didn’t and needed to be destroyed in priority. The truck was also parked a little further down under some trees, which apparently prevented it from suffering too much from the explosion.

  As the rest of the group arrives and realizes the magnitude of the damage, Don gives them his instructions.

  “The kids are gone. They have been taken in an aircraft.”

  Don does not mention in which shape they seemed to be when he saw them. He doesn’t want to have to manage Jack’s grief now. His priorities are elsewhere and he needs everyone to be fully concentrated and operational.

  “First, the truck seems in an acceptable driving condition. We have been lucky. It should be able to take us back to the base,” Don says.

  “Second, we are leaving soon. It is possible more robots come to the factory and we don’t want to be here when they arrive,” he continues.

  “Third, I give us one hour only to get the truck to the factory’s entrance, load as many robots as we can, and get out of here. This is what we came here for, and this is what we are going to do so what happened to the boys did not happen for nothing,” he adds.

  “Fourth, I destroyed two robots. I saw the same models inside the factory. We will take the two ‘victims’ in the truck with us and replace them with two from the factory. We need to cover our tracks as much as possible and by the time other robots realize something happened we will hopefully be far,” he says.

  “Fifth, in less than seventy-two hours, the trackers the kids swallowed will stop working. Unfortunately, the device we had to monitor their position has been destroyed with the car. There are others at the base. But we need to act fast and we need to drive fast,” he concludes.

  “Do you
have any question?” he asks.

  No one responds as everyone thinks that given the situation, they will just follow the two fathers’ orders and directions.

  “No. Everything is clear,” Jack says, thereby approving for the rest of the team.

  “Then let’s get to work,” Don concludes.

  At the same time, in the aircraft, the boys’ bodies are resting on the floor. Their arms are restrained behind their backs by powerful magnetic bracelets.

  The boys are not dead as their bodies seem to be moving.

  Gabe is the first to wake up. He slowly opens his eyes and it takes him a few seconds to realize where he is. The image of the aircraft and the robots suddenly comes back to him.

  He cannot prevent an instinctive movement to try and protect his head as he visualizes the robots aiming at him and Dave. But his hands go nowhere near his head as they are firmly locked together.

  He feels a painful headache.

  As he looks around him, he sees himself surrounded by four robots. He understands he is in the aircraft. The robots do not look friendly. But at the same time, they appear very impassive to Gabe’s situation.

  Dave lies on the floor next to him. He is not awake, but he is definitely breathing.

  There is absolutely nowhere to go.

  As the robots seem to completely ignore Gabe, he decides to get up and sit down. Their reaction is immediate. The four robots draw their weapon almost at once and aim it at Gabe.

  “Stop,” a voice surrounding them says calmly. And as quickly as the robots reacted to Gabe’s move, they all put their gun back to where it was. Inside their leg.

  “Who’s speaking?” Gabe asks.

  As no one or nothing responds, Gabe decides to stop asking. He knows that if he wants to avoid problems he needs to comply with everything and not appear like an issue that requires being dealt with.

  He is sitting now. Not moving. Not doing anything that would create a reaction from the robots. He is just observing his environment and the robots, trying to retain as much information as possible.