AJ shook TY's hand, "You really saved my ass."
TY smiled, "Oh, it's nothing at all. Be thankful I arrived in time."
TY's rifle hung low on his back like a bag, tethered only by a nylon strap that wrapped around his shoulder. Somehow, despite its thin design, the strap was able to hold the rifle steadily.
"Fortunately, I managed to deploy Heldyr and effectively cripple the automaton for you."
"Heldyr?" RL asked,
"It's the Auxiliary Device I've acquired. That's the name."
He swings the rifle around to the front. Its silky white sheen glistens in the orange sun.
"It's essentially a rifle, though its operation hinges on the expenditure of the green bars displayed on its side. The number of bars indicates the remaining rounds," He traces the green bars with a finger, "It accumulates energy over time. Of what kind, I do not know.
AJ leaned in for a deeper study of the device, "How'd you acquire this? Did you synthesize it yourself?"
TY shook his head, "I discovered it when I awoke in the lab, it was hanging on the wall. "
There wasn't a weapon when I woke up. Could he…
AJ, decides to pursue his thoughts, "Were you the first unit to wake up?"
"No, I don't believe so. The door to the lab was already pried open. And one pod was open as well alongside mine."
"Wait, what? My Warden said I was the second."
AJ looked at his Orbital Warden, unlike Owen, who would have emulated embarrassment, it remained stoic. "As far as I was aware, Doomsday Unit TY-005 was the first unit that was pinged to me to have awoken. And you, the second."
That's similar to what my Orbital Warden told me," TY added, swinging Heldyr over his shoulder once more, "That I was the first, but I'm certain there was one before me."
We have four units here, where could the other one be? Hopefully already inside.
RL scratched the back of her head," I was the last to wake up which kinda sucks. I feel like I'm behind. Must be a heavy sleeper."
"That you are, miss RL. I was waiting for nearly a day back at the Research Center."
"Probably because I didn't want to meet you!"
The two began to argue with each other. The back and forth led to joining in, laughing at the two.
All their banter ended when the woman who RL and AJ saved limped over to the three of them. She appeared to still be somewhat out of it. The impact from the D-Bugg must still be affecting her. Just as much as AJ was lucky that TY had arrived, she was fortunate that AJ heard her battle before it became fatal.
The woman bowed with the elegance of a noble. "Thank you all for killing the D-Bugg."
She had dark skin and silver eyes that seemed to dig into AJ's soul. Her light pink hair was tied up into a ponytail and spiked outward at the frills. She was about as tall as RL, maybe a couple centimeters shorter and she wore a green midriff fashioned with long sleeves and a green skirt. A pair of leggings rose from her black shoes up to the edge of her skirt.
RL mirrored her bow, "It's nothing. I'm RL-004, a Doomsday Unit just like you. This tall, angry looking guy over there is AJ-001. The one with the gun is TY-005. What's yours?"
"I'm PS. PS-002."
PS' Orbital Warden floated around her, "Would you like the first aid kit, Miss PS?"
"Yeah, thanks Yun."
RL's eyes widened, "You named your Warden too?"
"Uh...yeah. It was easier than saying its full name, and I didn't like saying Orbital Warden all the time."
RL smiled, grinning at AJ, "See! A name's easier."
AJ shrugged, "I never said I was against it."
Owen floated over to Yun with his eye flickering yellow, "An adequate name, sure. It is no Owen though."
AJ continued to watch both PS and TY.
PS also looks familiar. Its like I've seen her face before in my memories. TY on the other hand... I'm not sure. Maybe I have, but my mind is too fuzzy to catch any glimpse of him in it.
AJ picked up the metal bar that PS had dropped during the fight with the D-Bugg.
"Here you go."
She accepted, "Thank you, It's a shame that yours is broken now."
AJ looked at his machete. It was definitely a shame. The blade had been the reason he was able to fight the D-Buggs at all, giving him just enough offensive power to pose a threat to the C-tiers. However, if the one they just fought is any example, the B-tier D-Buggs were another beast entirely.
"Wait…" TY chimed in, his face painted in confusion, "You guys don't have any Auxiliary Devices on your person?"
The three shook their heads.
"There was none when I awoke. " PS said, "So, at least for me, I have made do with whatever makeshift weapons I've come across."
TY's astonishment continues, "You lack Auxiliary Devices, and yet you scuffled with a B-Tier. What? Are you insane? How many D-Buggs have you felled up until now?"
"Maybe 5 or 6." AJ said, "...But they were all C-tiers."
"A couple of them," PS quickly answered, "And they were the same rank."
"I've… mainly been running away from them, RL said sheepishly, "But I helped kill this one!"
TY looked at them all, "To have the capacity to go toe to toe with any type of D-Bugg without the proper equipment... Insane, completely insane."
"I suggest we make our way inside the City Command Center before more D-Buggs show up." Owen interjected, "In there it will be safe, and you'll be given answers you need about this world, your mission, and your past."
The party of four agreed to make their way to the blue shield after scavenging the D-Bugg for parts. Given it was a higher rank, the usable materials were a lot better and abundant. They all decided to divvy out the spoils as equally as possible. RL kept the core, AJ was given the ignition boosters on the D-Bugg's hand, PS got the thrusters and TY retrieved the remains of the eyes and the rest of the materials. Their Orbital Wardens stored the materials in their storage units.
At the shield, Owen, Yun and the other Orbital Wardens floated up right next to it. Their eyes turned yellow and a number of varied beeping sounds erupted from them. Their parts started to swirl rapidly until it all came to a sudden stop.
"Alright, we all should have access to enter the shield now, let's head inside. I grow tired of the outside."
"As if you even know how to grow tired," RL teased.
Owen eye turned red, "Bot's run out of battery, do they not?"
RL paused, "Wait, so you run out of battery? Do we need to charge you or something?"
Owen gave no response and entered through the shield, the others followed.
AJ gave the field a final look. The marking of their battle with the D-Bugg remained. Tons of tossed up dirt and grass floated forever suspended in the air. Craters left stains in the once near perfectly cut lawn, and the D-Bugg laid still in its resting place.
Inside was another petrified scene, but not of their own making. At least not yet. As its name suggests, the Command Center hosted numerous machines for security; transparent scanners were stuck in the animation of observing the people who came in and out and cameras dotting the area.
Deeper inside were more people going about their jobs. Holograms stood at the lobby, acting as attendants for visitors and workers alike. Massive screens circled the area, hovering above their heads. It highlighted all the future events and meetings happening at the Command Center and all the needed directions and locations within.
"Say, why is the City Command Center so important?" RL asked.
Yun lights up, "The City Command Center, or CCC, serves as the nerve center for urban safety and crisis management. The people here are dedicated to protecting the city and its residents during emergencies and working proactively to prevent potential disasters. As this is Paris, while this place is the City Command Center, this building serves more as a national line of defense for the entire country."
AJ smirks.
The size sure sells that, too.
"It would've been nice to know there was an acronym for the building before hand," RL said, "We've been saying, 'City Command Center' this entire time."
"It is the most protected building in Paris." Owen added, ignoring RL's criticism, "That blue shield we just crossed, the Cobalt Aegis, as they say, prevents any unlawful entry or enemy fire. Even D-Buggs cannot penetrate it."
Owen then makes a sharp left turn, "We need to go to floor 74. Since elevators will not work, let us take the stairs in the back and make our way there now."
As they walked toward the elevator, TY walked up to RL and PS, who were walking side by side, "So you both named your Orbital Wardens, Owen and… Yun, correct?"
They both nodded.
TY smiled, "I find it quite appealing. Beyond being a term of endearment, a short and concise name such as those facilitates clearer communication, particularly in the heat of battle. I should consider adopting a similar approach."
RL's eyes light up, "You should!"
"Now what appellations should I give it… the voice it has resembles a woman's and the designation it was given was…"
"CA-846s9Ky8T," his warden said.
RL rubbed her cheeks with her hand, "CA-846s9Ky8T… What name could that make?"
PS perked up, her silver eyes beaming lightly, "How about Cass?"
TY contemplated, "Cass… It's relatively short to pronounce, rolling of the tongue with ease. I like it!" He looked back to his orbital warden. "What do you say, Cass?"
"That is your decision TY-005. Call me whatever you like."
"Alright, from this point forward, I will call you Cass," He turned to RL and PS, "Much appreciated!"
"No problem!"
"What about you AJ?" TY questioned, "Does your Orbital Warden have a name?"
AJ responded, as he started walking up the stairs, "I call it what it is."
TY frowned, "You're no fun at all. Why not name it now? It could prove useful."
AJ shook his head, "Unlike the three of you. I do not intend to make friends with our Wardens. They are tools, not people. The minds you give names to are fake, created by another person for their own intentions."
TY raised his hands, immediately sensing AJ's hostility on the matter, "Whatever you say. I won't impede."
"Don't mind him," RL said, "He can be a brooder sometimes."
AJ looked at RL with a squint and curled eyebrows.
I hope RL has not forgotten our conversation before. We should try not to befriend them no matter how cordial and helpful they may be. I also need to tell the other Doomsday Units about this. Preferably when they are alone.
It took them a while to traverse the 74 floors to their destination. The stairs were similarly lit like the main lobby, with a soft neon blue hue that lined the bottoms and tops of the walls.
When they finally arrived to the top of the stairs the group was met with a pair of metal doors closed in front of them, blocking their way forward.
"Hold on." Owen said.
The Orbital Warden flew over the the panel on the left of the door. A couple of flashing lights later, the door slowly pulled apart, revealing another hallway. It pulled apart. Motion when it should have none.
"The door can Time-Tread?" Ty asked."
"You will see why."
Unlike the rest of the building, the lighting of the hallway was poor and emanating shadows along the corners. At the end of the hallway was another set of doors with another keycard.
As they approached, one other thing was awaiting at then end. A man sitting right in front of the doors. He had dark short hair. An Orbital Warden floated above him. To his side, he held a sleek black spear that rose to the top of the door. Circling the spear was the embroidery of a snake. Its scales slithered up the pole until it met the top. then opened to its head with four sharp fangs protruding as the blades of the weapon.
When the man noticed them, he stood up from his seated position he waved them over with a hearty smile.
TY whispered under his breath to the three of them. "I think he might be the one who awoke before all of us."
The man started to walk towards them now, leaving his spear at the door. He didn't stop until he was just centimeters away from AJ. Up close, AJ could see his purple eyes and an intense glower directed at him. There was a small stubble that covered his chin.
"Hello, we're the Doomsda–" Before he could finish his greeting, the dark haired man socked AJ right in the face with his fist, sending him barreling into the right wall and then onto the floor.
"What the hell? AJ, are you alright?" RL said, rushing to help him back up.
A red bruise was forming on AJ's cheek.
"What is wrong with you?" TY said, unslinging Heldyr.
The man noticed the rifle and raised up his hands in peace, "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. It... was like my entire body was screaming at me to punch him in the face. I didn't mean anything by it. Really." He paused, "Actually, I probably did. I just don't know why."
"And who the hell are you," RL asked.
"This... thing told me I'm Doomsday Unit AZ-003, whatever the fuck that means." He looked at AJ, "And because I wanted to punch you so bad, I'm guessing your Doomsday Unit AJ-001."
Confused and frustrated, AJ did not answer. He simply staggered back to his feet with the aid of RL and once he gained back his composure sent a fist right back into AZ who reeled back but was able to keep stable footing.
He laughed, "I suppose I deserved that. As much as I hated it. You got an arm on you."
What's this bastard's problem?
AJ tried to go in for another punch, but TY held him back by extending and arm out in front. The brief pause allowed AJ's fleeting moment of anger to subside.
He sighed, "I'm also sorry. We got off on the wrong foot. I'm AJ-001."
"Why were you mad at AJ?" PS asked.
AZ shook his head, "I don't know, I just... was. And I can't remember why."
He does look familiar to me.
TY chimed in, "Being amnesiacs is certainly a vexing ordeal. What exactly did we commit ourselves to?"
Owen's eye turned red, "Enough with the questions, all will be answered in due time. Now that all the Doomsday Units are together, this door will open.
"Another time-treading door?" RL asked.
Owen's eye went green, "Correct miss RL. In fact, Everything in this room can traverse the threads of time. It was made to do so."
Made?
Slowly, the doors opened and smoke spilled out from the inside, briefly obscuring the group's view.
"The Oracle, Rhein, awaits."
The smoke cleared and before them was a hexagonal room filled with a plethora of computers, holograms, robots and more. Whatever the purpose of the room was, it felt incredibly important. Appearing in the middle of the floor, was a blue transparent hologram of an older man with a full beard and rectangular glasses, his arms were neatly crossed in front of his body and he smiled upon seeing the five doomsday units.
All of them watched with bated breath as the hologram spoke freely.
"Welcome, Doomsday Units, final bastions of this world. I am ever so elated to see you arrive unscathed."
To the Doomsday Units, the word 'unscathed' was quite the understatement.