The Raid

“But before the raid begins, everybody rise to repeat the contract,” said an affable voice through the speakers as all the lights turned stark white and a pi symbol displayed on the center of the stage.

Everyone arose and stood as straight as they could.

“We, as citizens of the Amelia and citizens of The Grid,

Stand today in fidelity to The Contract,

As it protects, feeds, and shelters us all,

For which we always work grateful,

We rely on Pi Corp to entrail us in the right direction

So humanity can accomplish a harmonious orchestration

So the errors of the past won’t repeat.”

And the room went silent.

“This was a recording from Pi Corp. Always looking for the future of humanity,” ended the affable voice.

In the blink of an eye, the room returned to its festive ambiance when lights switched back to bright colors and the music turned back on.

“Well, it seems that the zkwitch is almost here!” Animated Myra as the stage screen started playing live footage of the ocean.

A giant squishy moving mass started approaching a massive vessel looming in the middle of the calm ocean as the sun was setting.

“So, it appears that it’s a pretty good-sized one today!”

The public roared.

“And what if before that thing sinks us all, we call our warrior of the day? Everyone! First position!” Mayra ordered as every person in the room mounted their bike just as some intense electro-energetic music started playing. “And remember, this is about trying, that’s what life is about!”

The multitude went crazy as Mayra continued her motivational opening speech. Everyone started pedaling and a crouched figure started lighting up and moving on top of the transmission’s vessel.

“There are very few times when you win or lose,” inspired idol star Mayra continued echoing throughout the room. “Most. Of. The. Time. IS JUST ABOUT TRYING!!! Inner pulse. Let’s go!”

The crowd went mad, everybody liked a good cheese discourse before a raid as Mayra kept dictating the routine.

“Now let’s say hello to tonight’s selected warrior,”

“I hope it’s Ajax, I know it’s Ajax!” Oliver heard Alin mumble next to him.

“It’s the Amelia’s number one warrior. Ajax!!!” Mayra said as the live footage displayed the image of a massive human-like robot that jumped towards the approaching oily mass. “Come on! We have to give him all the energy he needs! Thirds position! Go!”

The crowd kept energetically following the routine as Ajax finally encountered the zkwich. The robot stayed, squinting at the surface while holding a massive spear, ready to attack.

“Come on! I want those legs moving” Mayra called out the crowd. “Now! From third to high fourth!”

The churning surface of the water started getting closer and closer to the giant robot, Ajax remained waiting for the best possible shot, then it disappeared, a moment of silence, and the giant creature exploded out from the water and tackled Ajax.

The zkwich submerged Ajax at the bottom of the ocean, where it wrapped its tentacles around the arms of the robot. The creature started hitting Ajax against a cluster of rocks.

Ajax was struggling to break free, underwater his movements were slower, and he couldn’t keep up with the zkwich. At this moment he was merely trying to break free and go back to the surface.

“Oh no!” Alin worriedly uttered.

“Who is handling Ajax today?!?!” exclaimed a man behind Oliver.

“Okay people, Ajax needs some help. We’re activating the booster,” Mayra ordered as a red counter appeared on the screen.

“Yes! The booster will work!” Kazu assured Alin.

The once-festive ambiance of the room was very tense. No vessel had lost a warrior since the fatal attack on Charybdis four years ago, even if they sent the other warriors, the mere fact of having a failed raid would make the very proud Amelia, a a laughing stock for the other vessels.

“Come on people! First position! Give it all!” Mayra commanded.

The lights turned red and everyone started sprinting as hard as they could, some people even screamed as if that would make any difference. The indicator started filling until it turned green.

“Do it now!” a stranger shouted from the front line.

Ajax’s lights turned all red and a red blast impacted the zkwich. Ajax didn’t lose time and started ascending as fast as its engines afforded him.

This came with a cost. The zkwich was already darting towards the Amelia, incapable of resisting its natural attraction to the vessel’s Picorium reserves.

The zkwich hit the stern of the ship and the impact resonated through the room, shooking some people out of their bikes. Oliver could hear some muffled screams among the multitude.

“Don't stop! Don’t stop! Keep rolling!” Mayra carelessly ordered as the upbeat music kept playing.

Ajax reached the zkwich and pulled it away from the ship. Many started screaming, “Get the spear! Get the spear!”

But the spear was floating far away from the scrambling giants. Ajax applied an undertaker to the solid part of the zkwich and started propulsing it backwards. The creature started screeching as the distance between it and the Picorium increased. It took it a while to realize that the reason for that was the giant robot.

Once the zkwich began to fight Ajax’s embrace, the robot already reached an islet of rocks.

“Let’s go Ajax!”

“Finish it!”

The zkwich struggled to attack in the more solid terrain and as Ajax kept smashing its central part against the rocks, the movements of the zwich started to become weaker.

Once the zkwich was sprawled, lifeless on the rocks, the crowd began to cheer. “Ajax! Ajax! Ajax!”

“What a raid, Amelia! What a raid!” Mayra excitedly claimed.

The bicycles disappeared beneath the floor as Mayra began to sing. People started dancing and singing along. Some service robots brought trays of food, the type of food they usually never serve at the common dining hall.

Oliver gave Alin a big hug and sighed in relief. For that day, any other activities were canceled. Then they joined the party.

…

The moon was shining against the still sea as Oliver and Alin walked down the high passageways of the bow. Alin walked thoughtfully, looking at the deck.

“Hey, Oli,” Alin mumbled.

“What?” Oliver replied.

“Do you think mom would have liked today?”

“I’m sure she would be incredibly proud of how well you did at the raid!” Oliver said.

A bittersweet smile drew on Alin’s face. They continued the way back home in silence, going down passageway after passageway. The sterling advertisement screens started becoming duller, the pristine marble deck turned into painted metal.

In a tiny alley, reigned by the sound of the engines, Oliver opened a door to a small apartment.

The brothers changed and the Milagros device left them clean and fresh. Alin escalated to the upper bunk bed. “Goodnight Oli.”

“Good night A”

Oliver stayed awake for a while, While Alin's question was spinning around in his head, the rocking of the Amelia accompanied him until the question faded in his dreams.