Part One- Of Skinners & Shiner

 

Commander Capreze could hear the pilots joking and ribbing each other, a sound that always made him feel at ease, no matter the situation. He approached the outer rim of light the mechs shone over the camp when he heard a sound behind him, like shifting pebbles.

The Commander spun about, his halogen piercing the wasteland darkness. Nothing. He watched for a moment then turned back to the camp and began to activate his com when the hands grabbed his arms and covered his mouth.

He struggled in vain as he was pulled into the inky blackness of the wasteland.

***

Mathew looked from the dead mech to One and back again. The dead mech pushed the mini-mech forward and One clomped over to Mathew’s mech. It reached down and yanked the cockpit hatch off, tossing it into the Windy City rubble.

Mathew stayed perfectly still as One moved back to the dead mech’s side. The deader’s cockpit opened and it reached it’s massive fist inside, pointing to the zombie pilot then at Mathew and back to the zombie pilot.

Mathew narrowed his eyes and cleared his throat. “I’m not dead, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m not a zombie yet.”

***

Bisby stared at the empty storage compartment. “Hey Jethro?”

“Yeah, Biz?”

“Where are the perimeter poles?”

“The Commander decided to take a walk and set them up himself.”

“Huh,” Bisby mused. He looked out into the darkness of the wasteland night. “Are they active?”

“Yeah, I switched the perimeter on the second he gave me the go ahead.”

Bisby started walking about the camp, his eyes still focused on the wasteland. “Okay, so if the perimeter is active and the Commander set up the perimeter then where is the Commander?”

“Um, that’s a good question…”

“Yeah, ya think?” Bisby snapped.

***

The dead mech pointed to its zombie pilot and back at Mathew again. Mathew shook his head.

“I don’t understand what you want,” Mathew said. “Your pilot is dead, it’s a freakin’ zombie, there isn’t anything I can do.”

The deader stomped its massive foot, shaking Mathew about in his demolished mech’s cockpit. It moved closer, grabbing a stray piece of Mathew’s mech, shaking the junked part then tossing it aside. It pointed to Mathew again and waited.

“My mech is broken? Is that it?”

The deader pointed to its pilot and then at itself.

Mathew stared then realization dawned.

***

“I’m getting nothing, Biz,” Jethro said from the transport. “I’ve got sensors at full capacity and nothing. However, the geothermal pocket below us could be messing up the readings.”

“Could be?” Bisby barked. “You don’t get paid for ‘could be’, Jethro!”

“I don’t get paid at all, asshole!” Jethro snapped back.

Bisby growled and surveyed the darkness once again. “He can’t have just disappeared! We’ve barely broken camp!”

“What’s up, Biz?” Rachel asked stepping up behind Bisby.

“Oh, Rache… I, um, didn’t hear you come up,” Bisby stuttered.

Rachel eyed Biz for a moment. “What’s going on?”

Bisby looked away.

***

Mathew’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You want to be my replacement mech? You want me to get in you?”

To Mathew it looked like the dead mech nodded, but that was crazy. Of course, talking to a deader was crazy also. Not to mention the fact the deader wasn’t ripping him apart and feeding him bit by bit to its zombie pilot.

“You already have a pilot,” Mathew said. And almost before the words had fully left Mathew’s mouth, the dead mech reached in, ripping out the zombie pilot from its cockpit. It bent down, shoving the corpse towards Mathew.

***

Harlow uncoupled her schlong from the transport, trying to ignore the banging and growling noises coming from the storage compartment.

“Shut the fuck up, you deader fucks!” she yelled, kicking the storage hatch. “Hey? Is this racket bothering anyone else?”

“It’s bothering me,” Themopolous said. “I’d like to sedate the creatures so I can study their new physiology, but I can’t seem to find the Commander for his approval. Have you seen him?”

Harlow looked about the camp. “Actually, no, I haven’t.” She tapped her com. “Has anyone seen the Commander?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out!” Bisby responded.

***

“What do you mean ‘trying to figure out’?” Rachel demanded, her eyes narrowing. “Where is my father?”

“How the fuck should I know?” Bisby barked. “It’s not my job to keep tabs on the commanding officer, is it? I was just as busy powering up my mech as you were with yours.”

“When did he go missing?” Rachel asked.

“After I activated the perimeter,” Jethro responded.

Rachel glared at Bisby. “I thought that was your duty?”

“He decided to take it on himself. I didn’t know a thing about it. So back the fuck OFF!”

“Everybody calm down,” Harlow interjected.

***

Shiner pushed its expired zombie pilot towards the living mech pilot. The dense human wasn’t understanding his request and Shiner didn’t have much time left. He could feel the mental breakdown beginning already. He could last another hour, maybe. He calculated quickly and realized he didn’t even have that much time.

“I don’t think you understand how this ‘pilot and mech’ relationship works,” the living mech pilot said. “You’re a deader, I’m not. End of story.”

Shiner grew frustrated yet again and tossed the zombie corpse aside, its desiccated form breaking apart as it impacted against the Windy City rubble.

***

Mathew flinched and scooted back from the dead mech. “Whoa, calm down! No need to start tossing bodies about.”

The dead mech pointed to its empty cockpit again.

“Yeah, I don’t think that’s possible. I’m pretty sure you’d fry my brain.”

The dead mech stomped the ground with its foot, shaking Mathew about. It leaned in close, over Mathew, both massive fists set on either side of him.

“G-g-g-g-g… Get… I-i-i-innnnn…” the deader’s loudspeakers crackled.

Mathew did everything in his power to keep from pissing himself. The dead mech quickly stood, powering up its plasma cannon. “O-o-o-orrrr… D-d-d-die…”

***

“Are you sure you can’t pick him up on the scanners?” Rachel asked Jethro.

“Um, yeah, I’m pretty fucking sure since that’s my FUCKING JOB!” Jethro shouted over the com.

“Hey!” Harlow barked. “Everyone shut the fuck up!” She turned about then walked to her mech.

“Where are you going?” Bisby asked.

“Well, seeing as it’s nighttime and pitch fucking dark out there…” She grabbed a hold of her mech’s leg and started to climb. “…I figured we should light this place up a bit more.”

Rachel and Bisby looked at each other then sprinted to their mechs, climbing also.

***

Shiner’s sensors, though growing weaker, picked up the movement immediately. Coming directly at their position were hundreds upon hundreds of the undead humans.

Shiner struggled to power up all of its weapons systems. Connections were becoming difficult. He recalculated and realized the mental deterioration was happening exponentially. He would cease to exist in a matter of minutes.

The human pilot held up his hands and Shiner could see the fear. “Hey, no need to blast me, okay? Let’s talk this out a bit more.”

Shiner pushed One. The mini-mech sprang into action, running past the human and into the rubble.

***

“Whoa whoa WHOA!” Jethro yelled. “Small lights for the camp is one thing, but you light up those mechs and we’ll be spotted a hundred miles away!”

“Spotted by who?” Bisby yelled back. “You already said we weren’t followed by the Ranchers.”

“Yeah, well, I also lost track of the Commander. So maybe we shouldn’t be relying on me and my tech. Maybe we should slow down and think this through.”

“Jethro’s right,” Themopolous agreed. “There could be other dangers.”

“Like what?” Bisby asked as he and the other pilots lit up the wasteland.

Surrounding them were thousands of zombies.

***

Mathew turned about as One streaked by. He watched the mini-mech leap over debris and dodge around piles of concrete before disappearing into Windy City.

He felt the earth shake and turned back to the dead mech expecting the worst. But, what he found surprised him. The dead mech was down on one knee with one hand placed firmly against the ground. The only description that came to Mathew’s mind was that the thing looked sick.

The dead mech weakly pointed to its cockpit again. Gunfire erupted deep within the burnt out city and Mathew flinched.

Then Mathew heard them.

***

“Let’s light ‘em up!” Bisby yelled his finger on the trigger.

“No! Wait!” Themopolous cried. “Look at them! Look closely!” She ran pointing to the figures that looked like zombies, waving up at the mechs. “Check your screens!”

Harlow zoomed in on part of the horde surrounding them and gasped. “What the fuck?”

“What am I looking at here, Doc?” Bisby asked. “Are those people? Zombies? What are they?”

“They’re our way back home,” Commander Capreze interrupted over the com. “Power down, Pilots. I’ve got some people you need to meet.”

Capreze stepped out from the front of the horde.

***

Shiner heard more gunfire, but didn’t have the capabilities to connect with One anymore. The mini-mech was on its own.

The human began to back away from the city/state until he bumped up against Shiner’s leg. Without turning around, he asked, “Deaders are coming, aren’t they?”

Shiner tapped the ground to get the human’s attention. The pilot turned about and looked at Shiner. It took nearly all of his willpower to point, one last time, at his cockpit.

The human glanced warily at Windy City then back at Shiner.

“Yeah, I think I may be coming around,” the human said.

***

Mathew grabbed a hold of the dead mech’s leg and started to climb. He didn’t have to go far since the thing was doubled over. Mathew strapped in and looked about the cockpit. It was an old one, lacking in a lot of the upgrades and modifications Mathew was used to.

“Okay, now what?” Mathew asked. The cockpit closed and the cerebral integration panel lit up. “Seriously? What’s to stop you from frying my brain?”

The dead mech shook and placed both fists on the ground. The cockpit panels flickered, but held.

Mathew watched One dash from the rubble, firing.

***

“Power down, Pilots! Now!” Capreze ordered.

“Sir, I don’t-” Bisby started.

“I don’t want to hear it, Biz. Shut down your mech and get your ass on the ground. That goes for you too, Pilots Harlow and Capreze.”

“Yes, sir,” the pilots responded, opening their cockpits and descending from their mechs.

“Jethro? You there?”

“Yes, Commander,” Jethro responded.

“Good. Shut those mech lights off.”

A second passed and the floodlights ceased, returning the camp to its minimally lit state.

“Excellent. Now slowly pull the geothermal cable up. And I mean slowly.”

“Sir?’ Jethro asked, puzzled.

“You heard me, mechanic. Slowly.”

***

Mathew hesitated, closed his eyes then activated the cerebral integration system. His head snapped back for a moment and he could feel the deader’s consciousness meld with his own. And, surprisingly, it wasn’t unpleasant.

Massive bits of data began to stream through his mind, but it was all buffered and controlled by the mech’s AI. The living mech. And its name was Shiner.

“Holy shit,” Mathew gasped. “You’ve got quite a brain. Why do I have the feeling you could open up that data stream and liquefy my mind in a nanosecond?”

“Be-be-because, I c-c-can,” Shiner stuttered into Mathew’s mind.

***

Capreze walked fully into the camp, gesturing behind him. A tall, what looked like a badly disfigured man, stepped forward carrying what was obviously a child. A second man followed carrying another child. A third man carrying a woman was last.

“Doctor?” Capreze called.

“Right here, sir,” Themopolous answered bag in hand, already running towards the Commander. “Are they hurt?”

“Yes. The woman quite badly,” Capreze affirmed. “And it’s our fault.”

“What? Our fault?” Rachel asked running to her father and embracing him strongly.

“Yes, our fault. We’re right on top of a small city of thousands,” the Commander answered.

***

“You m-m-m-must b-b-b-be prep-p-p-pared,” Shiner stuttered in Mathew’s mind, into their mind. “Y-y-you must und-d-d-derstand. You m-m-m-must learn it all.”

One settled next to Shiner and grasped the cable offered, plugging it into its modified data jack, while still continuing to fire in the direction of the approaching zombies.

“Prepared? Understand? What do you mean? I’m not sure I like where this is…” Mathew trailed off as all of Shiner’s recorded memories streamed into his consciousness. And like that, without even a pinch, it was over and Mathew did understand. “Holy shit! You’re the first! You’re the first dead mech!”

***

“You’ve gotta be shitting me?” Bisby barked. “If there were thousands of people out here, we’d know about it!”

Capreze eyed Bisby. “Really, Biz? Why is that? When was the last time you were this deep in the waste?”

“Well, I, um…,” Bisby faltered. “Thousands? Seriously?”

“Yes, Biz, thousands. And we shot a hole and dropped a cable through the middle of them. We’re lucky there weren’t more hurt.”

“Not that lucky,” Themopolous said, checking the injured woman laid out upon a camp table. “She’s in bad shape, sir.” Themopolous looked up at Capreze gravely.

“Do what you can, Doctor.”

***

Mathew felt Shiner lift walls, allowing all data to be shared between the two consciousnesses. The more Mathew absorbed, the more he understood. And he kept understanding until all but one wall was lifted.

Mentally, and physically, Mathew took a deep breath. “What are you hiding?”

“Not now,” Shiner responded, his stutter gone as communication between the two became instantaneous. “We must decide whether to flee or fight?”

Mathew, now connected with every single bit of scanner and sensor data, assessed the numbers and the tactical situation at hand. “Let’s kill ‘em all.”

The new mech stepped into Windy City.

***

Capreze beckoned behind him and a very tall, muscular man stepped forward. The pilots studied him closely. His skin seemed leathery and strange, his eyes set back and the flesh about them separated.

“This is Mastelo. While apparently they do not have a leader, he speaks for them all when they do have to interact topside,” Capreze introduced. The man nodded hello and Harlow gasped.

“Is that skin you’re wearing?” she asked.

Bisby and Rachel both looked closer at the man and at the others behind.

“That’s not just skin… that’s deader skin!” Bisby said.

“Yes, it is,” Mastelo answered.

***

Mathew didn’t need to ready his weapons systems, he didn’t need to check sensors, didn’t need to scan thermals or listen for movement. Thanks to Shiner, he already had. He no longer piloted a mech, but was a mech. The former instantaneous cerebral integration he was used to now seemed like quicksand compared to the full integration he was experiencing.

Shiner/Mathew leapt and dove over the rubble, tucked and rolled coming up firing into the horde of undead. The creatures swarmed the mech, but Mathew took full advantage of his new symbiosis, slashing, smashing and blasting the creatures into oblivion.

***

Capreze nodded at Mastelo, gesturing towards the transport. “Let’s speak inside, if you don’t mind. It’ll be more comfortable.” Capreze looked towards Themopolous as she checked the wounded, Harlow right behind her, taking notes and setting up triage supplies. “I guess the only pilot to join us will be my daughter Rachel.”

“Hey, what about me?” Bisby asked.

“I believe you volunteered for first watch, Biz,” Capreze smiled.

“What?!? Are you fucking-?!?” Bisby exploded, but was quickly interrupted by Capreze.

“Calm down, pilot,” Capreze grinned. “I’ll have Jethro mic the meeting and you can listen on your com.”

“Okay. Fine.”

***

Shiner/Mathew barked out orders to One, using the mini-mech to divide and confuse the zombies, herding them into smaller more manageable groups.

The speed and exhilaration Mathew felt was intoxicating and he could tell Shiner was awed by the new sensations, the new depth of power and control they both had.

“Are you digging this or what?” Mathew laughed, decapitating a dozen deaders with one swipe while mowing down another twenty with his 50mm.

Mathew felt Shiner probe his memory for the definition of ‘digging’ before responding. “Emotional responses are very new to me, but yes, I am ‘digging’ this.”

***

Rachel helped the commander set up an impromptu meeting space in the back of the transport complete with collapsible table and folding chairs. They all took their seats as Jethro rolled to the table, setting a conference disc in the middle so Bisby could join.

“First, I cannot apologize enough for the hurt we have caused your people,” Capreze said to Mastelo.

“Thank you, but there was no way you could know,” Mastelo said. He noticed Jethro eyeing his skin and smiled. “You wonder why we wear the dead skin.”

Jethro nodded apologetically.

“It is quite simple, really,” Mastelo began.

***

One became overwhelmed as a wave of zombies overpowered it, knocking the mini-mech to the ground. It struggled against the weight, but the undead were too much and it became pinned to the smoldering earth.

Shiner/Mathew blasted a path to the helpless machine and began tossing deaders aside by the handful until the mini-mech was free enough to right itself and continue fighting.

Mathew was puzzled by the lack of digital communication between Shiner and the mini-mech.

“Why don’t we command it by com?” Mathew asked.

“Because, that would open a path that must remain closed and guarded,” Shiner responded.

***

“When my people were first driven deep into the wasteland we became savages, worse than the dead things even. We turned on our own, committing unspeakable atrocities,” Mastelo paused, looking each person seated in the eye. “We broke into different groups, splintered until we were just small tribes battling each other for the tiniest bit of the meager resources the wasteland held.”

“But, wouldn’t it have made more sense to band together against the deaders?” Rachel asked.

“Let him continue, Baby Girl,” Capreze said.

Mastelo smiled. “Of course, but sense was sorely lacking during those times. Madness was what ruled.”

***

“A path to what?” Mathew asked Shiner while still annihilating the swarming zombies. “No, that’s not it is it? I should ask a path from what?”

“The Outsider,” Shiner responded, switching back to the plasma cannons, giving the 50mms a chance to cool down. “Its mind isn’t like mine or like yours or like ours. It’s different, dangerous…” Shiner searched for a nanosecond. “It’s off.”

Mathew laughed. “Off? That’s a good one coming from a deader!” Mathew felt the offense. “Sorry, former deader.”

“I was never dead. My pilot was. Can you imagine what that was like? Born into death.”

***

“One tribe figured out how to hide from the dead ones. By becoming the dead ones,” Mastelo continued.

“Camouflage? By wearing their skins?” Rachel asked. “How’d they avoid contamination?”

“Trial and error, unfortunately. But, eventually they figured out how to cure the skins and piece them together,” Mastelo extended his arm towards Rachel and the pilot pulled back instinctively. “I assure you there is zero risk. This skin was worn by my father and by his father before that. With some tailoring and repairs, of course.”

Rachel reached out tentatively and stroked the skin.

“That’s tough!”

Mastelo smiled. “Like armor.”

***

The zombies began to retreat, falling back deeper into Windy City, but Shiner/Mathew pursued with One taking point.

“This Outsider? Does it have anything to do with the dead mechs starting to think?” Mathew asked.

“No, that process had already begun. But, it used the mechs to link across the wasteland,” Shiner responded, sending three RPGs ahead of the zombie horde, cutting off their retreat, forcing them back towards the new mech.

“Link?” Mathew asked, firing up the 50mms again.

“Communications. It used the dead mechs as relays, boosting its signal.”

Row upon row of zombies fell, finally, truly dead.

***

“But the physical protection the skins afford is secondary to the sensory protection,” Mastelo continued.

“Sensory?” Jethro asked.

“Yes. The dead ones can’t tell us apart from their own while we are dressed this way. They cannot smell us or see the physical differences. We blend with the dead.”

“That’s pretty freakin’ cool,” Jethro said. “Analog stealth wear.”

“Which is why we haven’t known about the tens of thousands of your people residing out here,” Capreze smiled. “Unless captured, your people appear to be just more zombies roaming the wasteland.”

“Exactly,” Mastelo.

“That’s all good, but so what?” Bisby interrupted.

***

“Looks like we got them all,” Mathew said.

“Readings do confirm this,” Shiner responded.

“Good, because I have to take a leak,” Mathew said, reaching to un-strap himself.

“That I cannot allow,” Shiner responded.

Mathew took a mental step back. “Um, what?”

“If you disengage, I will cease to exist,” Shiner answered. “I do not want to cease to exist.”

“Um, are you saying I’m stuck in you forever?”

“No, not forever, only until we can get assistance with our problem.”

“Our problem? Sounds like your problem. I’m sorry, but I’m not pissing in a mech cockpit my whole life.

***

“Maybe take your head out of fight mode and start thinking tactically,” Rachel scolded Bisby over the com. “It’s right in front of your face.”

“In front of…? Oh, I get it,” Bisby responded looking at his scanners. According to the equipment, he was looking at thousands of zombies standing about the camp, not thousands of people. “An invisible army.”

“You may be dumb, but you sure are slow,” Rachel quipped.

“Ha ha, girlie. You seem to forget that I was squashing deaders while you were wearing your first training bra. So feel free to have a cup of shut-the-fuck-up.”

***

“I’ve observed the comings and goings of your base and believe you have a person qualified to fix our problem,” Shiner said.

“You what? Right, you are invisible to sensors. Did you program those modifications yourself?’ Mathew asked.

“Yes, of course.”

“Of course you did,” Mathew said. “And you think Jay, I assume that’s who you are talking about, can help us?”

“Yes,” Shiner answered.

“Well, then we need to find Jay.”

“He would back at your base, wouldn’t he?”

“Um, no, well, I don’t know. He was in Foggy Bottom last I knew.”

“But, Foggy Bottom fell,” Shiner responded.

***

Capreze looked at Mastelo carefully. “So this is the part where we figure out what each other has to offer.”

Mastelo grinned. “Yes, I believe it is.”

The two leaders eyed one another, each carefully sizing up the other. Rachel and Jethro looked from Capreze to Mastelo and back to Capreze.

“Okay, and?” Rachel interrupted. “They have an army of thousands we could use to take our base back. What do we have to offer them?”

“Mastelo? I guess that’s for you to answer,” Capreze said.

Mastelo laughed. “Well, a future for my people outside the deep waste, of course!”

***

“Foggy Bottom fell? You mean, like Windy City?” Mathew asked, horrified. “I’m from Foggy Bottom. I still have some family there, some childhood friends… It couldn’t have just fallen.”

“Not like Windy City. Windy City refused to cooperate and they were destroyed for it,” Shiner responded. “Foggy Bottom was inoculated. That is what I have been able to gather when I have checked the relay net. Before finding you, there was an incident with mech pilots. They escaped, but all trace was lost when the UDC transports pursuing them were destroyed and the waste storm hit their last known coordinates.”

***

“And how can we help you achieve that future?” Capreze asked.

“For generations we have been beset upon by other denizens of the wasteland,” Mastelo said.

“Yeah, but you easily outnumber them,” Bisby said over the com.

Mastelo looked at the conference disc and leaned in. “Yes, but we are not a warring people. We have hidden our society underground to avoid direct conflict.”

“So what good are you to us?” Bisby snapped.

“Pilot…” Capreze growled.

“It’s a valid point, Commander. We will give you our numbers, and you will teach us to fight, in exchange for sanctuary and protection.”

***

“Hey, can we use the mech relays ourselves?” Mathew asked.

“Not without the Outsider taking notice,” Shiner responded as the new mech left the Windy City rubble and headed out into the wasteland.

“So? What can it do? Does it control the dead mechs?”

“No, but it controls the people,” Shiner answered.

“People? What do you mean?” Mathew asked.

One took its place next to Shiner/Mathew, its weapons ready. Shiner/Mathew placed a massive hand upon One’s frame, calming the twitchy mini-mech.

“Those inoculated. They are under direct control of the Outsider. That is why it needs the relays,” answered Shiner.

***

“Sounds pretty one sided, if you ask me,” Bisby said.

“Pilot Bisby, please get off the com,” Capreze ordered.

“But, sir! We’ll do all the work, they get trained and then we trust them to help us? Come on!”

“Get off the com,” Capreze growled.

Busby grunted. “Yes, sir.”

“He does have a point,” Rachel said.

“Not you too, Baby Girl.”

“Commander, I do not want to create strife amongst your people,” Mastelo said, standing and nodding to Rachel and Jethro. “I must check on my wounded. Good evening to you all.”

Mastelo left Rachel and Jethro to Capreze’s glare.

***

“Listen…,” Mathew started.

“I’m always listening, there is no separation of our thoughts,” Shiner interrupted.

“It’s an expression. Anyway, maybe we can tap into the relay net and find my friends. It’s worth a shot.”

Shiner paused for a millisecond. “It may be worth the risk.”

“I still don’t see what the risk is,” Mathew said, frustrated. “If the Outsider can’t control us then what’s the worst it can do?”

“It can send UDC transports after us. We are just one mech. With enough transports, the Outsider can take us down.”

“Well, they’d have to catch us first, wouldn’t they?”

***

Rachel spoke first, ignoring her father’s glare. “We know nothing about Mastelo and those, those… Skinners.”

“I trust him,” Capreze said.

“Why? Because he didn’t kill you? Come on, Papa Bear! This isn’t smart!”

Capreze stood suddenly, anger clouding his features. “It’s all we have! We lost the fucking base! Had to tuck tail and run like a bunch of bitches! I’m not a bitch and if there is a chance to march back there and fucking kill every goddamn last one of those Rancher mother fuckers and take our base back then I’m willing to take that fucking chance!”

***

Shiner/Mathew broke into a run, quickly upping the pace until they were sprinting across the nighttime landscape of the wasteland.

“We hook into the relay net while we’re moving. As soon as we have the info we need, we disconnect then adjust course. The Outsider may have a general idea, but the wasteland is a mighty big place and we’ll be miles away before anything gets remotely close to us.”

“Fine. But, if the Outsider sees us it will be angered. It holds grudges. It will not rest until it finds us and destroys us,” Shiner warned.

“Welcome to life.”

***

Themopolous held her head in her hands, not bothering to remove the surgical gloves, blood smearing her face and hair.

Mastelo approached and touched her shoulder. Themopolous jumped, falling from the bench she sat upon and onto the hard ground.

“Forgive me,” Mastelo said. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I was…” He trailed off seeing the blood stained sheet covered silhouette on the camp table. “She has passed?”

“Yes,” Themopolous answered quietly. “I am sorry. I did what I could, but she bled out too quickly.”

Mastelo lifted the body into his arms and walked quietly into the dark.

***

“How do we connect?” Mathew asked, barely containing his excitement at the sensation of night running without feeling blind.

“We already are,” Shiner responded. “ I have been conducting a systematic search of all information relating to your friends while you have been busy…” Shiner searched Mathew’s mind. “…joyriding.”

“Well, move that brain over Shiner, my boy and let’s see what we can find together.”

Mathew opened his consciousness to the relay path Shiner had opened. He instantly cringed at the death and decay the relay net was built upon. “Jeezus, how do you stand this?”

“I try not to.”

***

Jethro looked away while Rachel stood and crossed to her father. “Hey, I understand, I truly do. That base was my home, too. The only home I’ve ever known. I want it back, but rushing into this is not the way to do it.”

Capreze snorted. “Really? Are you expecting a different army to fall into our laps?”

“Don’t take that tone with me, Mister,” Rachel scolded playfully, teasing a slight smile from the Commander’s lips. “I’m not saying it isn’t a good idea, but let’s not sign the treaty right now. We ALL need to talk this plan over.”

***

The pain came sudden and strong, making Mathew take a mental stumble. “What the fuck?”

“Ignore it,” Shiner said. “It isn’t real.”

“It felt fucking real! Ow!” Mathew responded. “What was that?”

“The Outsider. We’re being tested. I assure you the pain isn’t real, it’s just your human brain’s way of interpreting the data.”

“A digital bitch slap?”

Shiner processed. “Yes, that would be a good way of putting it.”

The attack came again, but Mathew was prepared, seeing it for what it was.

“Whatever the Outsider is, it’s fucking big,” Mathew stated. “And…”

“Insane,” Shiner finished the thought.

“Yeah.”

***

Harlow sat next to Themopolous. “I patched the kids up. They’ll be fine. Their people already took them home.” Themopolous didn’t respond, her head back in her hands. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Harlow went to stand, but Themopolous slumped against her, shaking with sobs. “Oh, Doc… Shhhhh…,” Harlow soothed, putting her arm about Themopolous’s shoulders, hugging her. “Shhh… You did what you could.”

“I’m not cut out for this,” Themopolous cried. “I’m a Doctor. This is war, this is hell!”

“Bullshit,” Capreze said, stepping from the transport. “You’re as much cut out for this as I am.”

***

Mathew scanned the relay, cringing less and less each time his consciousness brushed against a deader’s. The Outsider remained an ever looming presence, prodding and testing Mathew/Shiner, trying to figure out the new mech.

“God, that’s just fucking annoying,” Mathew said.

“Yes, it is,” Shiner agreed. “And it’s getting closer to tracking us down. We cannot keep searching blindly for information. That could take a lifetime.”

“You’re right,” Mathew sighed. “You take over physically, I’m diving into the data.”

“I am quite against that, it is too dangerous,” Shiner warned.

“Hey, I’m human. We’re stupid when it comes to danger.”

***

“We are all here because we are made of something different,” Capreze said, approaching Themopolous and Harlow. “I don’t disagree, Doctor, this is hell. But, it is what each of us was born for. This is our moment in time. We make the future. And while the future may not be completely dead, it’s on its way and it’s up to us to keep it alive.”

Capreze turned and looked up at Bisby’s mech then at Rachel as she helped Jethro wheel out of the transport.

“We write the history people will remember. So let’s write it as a win.”

***

This must be what it’s like to fly, Mathew thought as he surfed the relay data, looking for any sign of what may have happened to Jay and the others.

He dove into each dead mech’s consciousness, just as he would in battle, blasting and slashing his was way through the info until he was sure there was nothing there.

“Be careful, Mathew,” Shiner warned. “You’re enraging half the wasteland right now.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a bit pissed off too. So fuck ‘em.”

He was moving so quickly now he almost missed the faint consciousness that was barely hanging on.

***

They all watched Capreze. Bisby looking down from his mech, Rachel and Jethro by the transport, Harlow and Themopolous seated on the camp bench. And Capreze locked eyes with each of them in turn.

“I know you’re all scared. Hell, I’m shitting bricks right now, but ever fiber of my being is saying this is the right decision. This is the only decision,” he said, shoulders square, back straight, the picture of confidence. “But, I will not commit any of you to something you are not committed to yourselves.”

He looked at each again and strode back to the transport.

***

“Whoa. That’s different,” Mathew said, exploring the weak consciousness. “Is it a deader?”

“I’m not sure,” Shiner answered. “You’re assessment is correct, this one is different.”

“Is it the Outsider?”

“No.”

“Well, I’m going in.”

“Be careful. It does not feel like a trap, but it’s foreign enough that I may not be able to extract you if needed.”

“Understood,” Mathew said as he pushed forward. Immediately he saw that there were two consciousnesses present. One a very stripped down, basic dead mech, and the other a human mind.

A human mind that Mathew knew very well.

“Holy shit! Masters?”

***

“Hold on, Commander,” Bisby grumbled. “As much as I don’t like this. You’re right. This is the only decision before us. I’m in.”

“Me, too,” Harlow said.

“I ain’t got nothing better to do,” Jethro added.

“You know I’ll always have your back, Papa Bear,” Rachel smiled.

Capreze turned to Themopolous. “Doctor? What do you say?”

Themoplous wiped at her eyes and took a deep breath. She stripped the bloody gloves from her hands and tossed them on the ground, looking Capreze squarely in the eyes. “Well, someone has to patch you idiots up when this all goes to shit.”