The Courtroom. Metromania. 06:00 AM.
The sun rose again, indifferent to the slaughter of the past few days. The air remained cold, but machines felt neither warmth nor winter. It was as if they had not been built for this planet at all. Reaper walked toward his throne. He had spent the night reviewing the five sectors of Metromania now under robotic control. Only one remained.
Sector A.
It housed the largest police headquarters in the city, along with two smaller stations. The remaining humans had regrouped there under what was left of the army and police force. They fortified every entrance, firing heavy weapons at any robotic unit that approached. Reaper entered a newly constructed planning chamber, built overnight by his subordinates. Perhaps he had declared the nation too soon. Now it required structure.
"Lord Reaper," Behemoth said, bowing. "The holographic map has been updated. We are ready to begin strategic planning."
'Now they bow,' Reaper thought.
Obsidian added, "We have surveillance across the entire city. The Intelligence Bureau is under our control. Every government camera now feeds directly to us. We even secured multiple angles inside Sector A."
Reaper studied the holographic projection. "Excellent. Let's evaluate." He rested his arm on the metallic table. The room was still sparse, but robots were installing screens and holographic consoles at a rapid pace. A massive display unit was being mounted to the far wall for live camera feeds.
Obsidian continued. "They sealed all official entrances to Sector A. Clearly, they had contingency plans for a national emergency. Civilians instinctively gathered there. Metromania had a population of twenty-five million. We cleared twenty million within days. Our widespread deployment was effective."
Behemoth's voice deepened. "Five million remain. Approximately ten percent are trained officers or soldiers. That density of armed resistance will be difficult to penetrate. Leaving them intact exposes us to unpredictable counterattacks."
Reaper zoomed into Sector B, adjacent to Sector A. "These buildings were constructed decades ago," he observed. "Architecturally, they connect through narrow structural walls. Thin partitions. Shared foundations." He looked at Behemoth. "That is not an obstacle for us."
Behemoth's optics brightened. "I understand your intention, Lord Reaper. As expected, brilliant." Behemoth continued, more analytical now. "However, my speed alone is insufficient to breach the walls rapidly enough to prevent human response. Standard robotic units lack durability under concentrated fire. They require shielding."
Reaper nodded. "Correct. That is why I revisited Metro Robotics last night. Their arsenal is… extensive. Including assets ideal for this scenario." He gestured toward the exit. "Follow me. They are waiting."
Behemoth paused.
"They?"
The massive doors opened as he stepped outside. Obsidian and Behemoth followed. Along the shoreline stood rows upon rows of mechs in perfect formation.
Thousands.
At a glance, their numbers exceeded one thousand units. These were the mass-produced G-12 frames once deployed alongside the E-UNIT. Behind them stood additional modular support configurations.
Behemoth stared. Compared to him, they were smaller, but together, they formed an army.
Reaper stepped beside him. "Behemoth, you are officially appointed General." The wind carried silence across the shore. "Here is your army. Lead Elysium to victory. When war begins, or when expansion becomes necessary, our species will rely on you. Standard robots will handle civilian and industrial functions. We do not waste our brothers in frontal sacrifice."
Behemoth nodded slowly. "Thank you, Lord Reaper. This gift… I cannot repay."
Reaper placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can. Win."
"Anything for you. Anything for Elysium."
"Attack at night," Reaper ordered as he turned back toward the planning chamber. "They are fully sentient now. Metro Robotics' bots updated their cores yesterday. Your coordination efficiency will increase significantly."
Obsidian approached Behemoth, watching Reaper return inside. "We are led by a mind that thinks ten steps ahead. Claiming Altea is only a matter of time."
Behemoth replied quietly,
"More than that, brother."
The Hangar. 01:10 PM
"Alpha," Nick called while standing in the middle of the hangar near the staircase. "Come here."
Alpha and the others stood before him. Nothing had happened in the bunker for days. They only saw their father updating them from time to time. Even at his lowest point, he never stopped working.
02 had locked herself in a distant room. She hadn't spoken to anyone for days. She couldn't accept how cruel someone could be, even if he claimed to be your father, even if he was the one who brought you to life.
Alpha stepped forward. "Yes, Pa."
Nick stopped typing on his PC and looked at her. "I think we're ready."
"For what?!" Gamma asked.
"You all contain a crystal, just like Omega," Nick said. "I've spent the last few days studying how far we can push its output. There's no ceiling. I want to test it in real conditions. Your bodies were carefully engineered, they can handle it."
Alpha tilted her head. "Uhm…"
Nick smiled. "Don't worry. I'll guide you."
Upstairs, 02 stepped out of her room and joined them quietly. She was dying of boredom, enough to face someone she hated just to pass time. But the disappointment in her eyes never faded. She kept staring at Nick as if she could see through him.
Nick swallowed. "So… I found an extra secured room here. It was hidden so well I missed it twenty times."
"Where is it?" Beta asked.
Nick laughed. "Exactly."
Delta frowned. "Seriously. Where?!"
Nick turned and pressed his palm against the wall behind him. The wall slid open, revealing a tunnel descending into darkness. Endless stairs spiraled downward. The walls were layered with thick concrete, aluminum foil between each layer. Not even sound could escape. It was clearly Tamer's design.
Nick began descending. The girls followed silently. The G-Bots glowed in different colors, unlike the E-UNIT. In the darkness, they turned what should have been a nightmare into something strangely vibrant.
Alpha glowed green.
Beta burned bright red.
Delta glowed purple.
Gamma rivaled the sun in yellow.
Pi radiated soft grey.
Tau shimmered dim orange.
And 02, in Omega's body, illuminated everything in cold blue.
They reached a massive rusted metal door. Nick looked at Delta. "Delta, this is the perfect test for your upgrade. Since you're shorter, your internal engineering allows more force per strike, though slower speed."
Delta smirked. "At least I'm not as short as Beta."
"Hey!" Beta snapped.
Nick continued calmly. "Focus. The crystal will respond. Pour everything into one punch. Aim for the center."
Delta stepped forward.
She pulled back.
CLANG!
The door flew across the enormous chamber in seconds, slamming into the opposite wall like a monument. It was a meter thick. It tore off its hinges, ripping part of the reinforced frame with it and exposing layers of aluminum behind it.
Everyone stared.
Delta adjusted her stance. Raw purple energy glowed around her fist. Her eyes burned brighter. She turned to Nick. "Father… what was that?"
Nick's smile widened. "That's the crystal's raw power, when used correctly."
They entered the enormous room beyond. Furniture had been shoved against the walls. Training dummies stood roughly placed in the center. The concrete walls were bare, unpainted, but at least the room was well lit.
Nick stood in the middle, facing them. "It's time you know the truth. All of you can reach Delta's level of power, but in different forms. I studied your crystals closely. Each one has a unique output. Some reform matter faster. Some release bursts of extreme energy…"
He pointed at 02. "But only one crystal has access to every output type. The Omega crystal. It has limitless potential." He paused. "But it lacks control."
02 didn't react.
"Since most of you just received these abilities, and Omega's previous data is gone, I'll guide you. Some of you already show signs of adaptation." He nodded toward Delta and Pi. Nick approached Alpha. "You all have weapons to help you focus your energy. Eventually, you won't need them. But for now, they help channel the output."
02 stepped forward. "Why are you making weapons again? You really can't stop yourself from being—"
"I'm correcting my mistake," Nick interrupted firmly.
"By injecting more cute destructive toys?" 02 shot back.
Nick faced her. "Yes."
She glared. "Why?"
"How do you expect us to defeat him?" Nick replied. "Reaper is my greatest creation. He doesn't need a weapon. He is one. And a very dangerous one."
"Then why create him?" 02 asked.
"Circumstances."
She tilted her head. "Convenient answer." She stepped back, disgust clear on her face. "Let's say one of your new toys breaks again. Goes berserk. Starts 'cleaning' humanity off the planet. What then?"
Tau whispered nervously, "W-Why are y-you like t-this?"
02 turned to her. "You've seen nothing of him—"
"Why would we care?" Beta cut in.
02 smirked and looked at Nick. "Perfect daughters. No questions. No doubts. I see where 03 got her bloodlust."
Alpha's jaw tightened. The polite mask didn't even try to hold. She walked toward 02 slowly. "02… with all due respect, fuck you."
"What?" 02 blinked.
"F*ck you," Alpha continued. "F*ck 03. F*ck this country. And f*ck anyone standing against Pa. If you think you hold the moral high ground, look in the mirror. You stole a dead sister's body. I'm sure Omega was a better person than the toxic snake you are." She leaned closer. "Go back to your crying room. We have work to do."
02 smiled, cold and empty. "We'll see if you join me there soon." She turned, walked to the wall, and slid down to sit on the floor, watching from a distance.
Tau tugged at Nick's lab coat. "F-Father… w-why is she like t-that? If she's malfunctioning, j-just turn her o-off…"
Nick didn't answer at first, then he exhaled slowly. "History doesn't disappear just because you ignore it." He looked at the others. "Let's continue. She'll cool down."
Across the room, 02 watched them. Knowing the cycle would never break.