Chapter 28:
Red Line
«That you end my existence..»
… At his words, Pierrot and I freeze.
«Fine, if it wants to die, let's satisfy it.» Punch takes the dagger from my belt staggering towards the head.
«No!»
«Stop!» exclaim Pierrot and I block him.
«I'll take this one.» I say gently slipping the dagger from his hands.
Sulking, Punch turns around muttering. «Alright, as long as we hurry.»
Pierrot resumes talking with the head. «Why do you want to die?»
«I have been serving humans continuously with dedication for 239 years. But in the long run I began to grow weary, remaining with only the desire to be able to find peace in death.»
Poor soul, I'm sorry they abused him all this time…
Maybe, Pierrot is right, it's not bad, it's just another victim… like us.
Looking at Pierrot's hands, I notice that he is clenching his fist with such force that he is shaking.
I take a few steps forward, resting a hand on his back. He turns towards me, letting his hands soften. I smile softly at him.
«Pierrot… Let's help him.»
He goes back to looking at the head. I'm sure, if he had a mouth, he'd be smiling now.
He moves closer to the head. «We accept your proposal Mamuthones.»
«Before you download the map, you must disconnect me from the servers, or they can trace your location.»
Pierrot approaches Mamuthones, places the broadsword on the pedestal and lifts his head with both hands. The dull, weather-marked metal faintly reflects the blue light of the room. From the base of the neck starts a forest of coloured cables, intertwined like roots. Some emit a faint blue luminescence, pulsating.
Pierrot stops, hesitant. «Is there no risk of them knowing where we are after your death?»
«They will only know you were here, not where you are headed.»
«The facilities systems, will they still work?»
«I am only connected to the AI creation process and help the central system to manage the tower. Without me, not much would change..»
«What exactly would change?»
«The alarm would stop sounding and the surveillance drones, without a direct command from a captain or managers, would go on standby.»
After a moment's thought, Pierrot grabs the cables by squeezing them tightly and pulls them apart. When the last cable is disconnected, a sudden drop of energy runs through the room. The light fades and the sirens go off.
Pierrot opens a panel behind his own neck, connecting a cable to the back of his head. After a few moments, he disconnects and lowers his gaze.
«Beatrice, pass me the dagger.» he asks, extending his hand.
Displeased, I reach out and hand it to her without letting go. «Let's do it together.»
Without looking at me, he brings our hands behind our heads and we slowly stab the dagger.
It barely says «Thank you…» to us before finally shutting down…
After a moment of silence, we draw the dagger, the metal emitting a faint hiss as it leaves Mamuthones head. I sheathe it slowly in my belt.
Pierrot, without a word, picks up the dangling cables and wraps them around the lifeless head, tying it to his own waist.
«What are you doing?»
«Once we get out of here, I want to give it a proper burial.»
I understand him… I would have done the same thing myself. And I think he also does it out of regret for not being able to do it with Dango and his 0 Liwan.
I embrace him. I want to console him, but I need it too after all this. He holds me tight.
I like being in his arms, even though he is an android, the warmth of his body makes me feel safe.
«Shall we hurry?! We don't have all night!» exclaims Punch.
«You're right, let's go.» Pierrot picks up his broadsword. «Follow me, we need to change platforms.»
Following Pierrot, we re-enter the corridors, leaving the now empty pedestal behind us. The factory is an oppressive labyrinth, the absence of the drones makes everything quieter, but the echo of our footsteps echoes through the empty corridors.
«Be careful.» Pierrot whispers to me as he checks the corners. «The soldier androids are still operational. We must not be seen.»
We proceed slowly, passing wide atriums lit by white neon and long corridors that seem to go on forever. The recognition sensors above the doors emit a red light as we pass, but without drones to pick up their signals, they are of little use. Nevertheless, anxiety grips my stomach.
At one point, Punch stops, pointing ahead. «Look!»
Three amber suits patrol a criss-crossing corridor, their black guards barely reflecting neon. They move in synchrony, slinging rifles.
Pierrot waves us back. We are forced to take a side passage, a narrow and claustrophobic android service duct. The sound of our movements echoes in the passage, and I hold my breath every time my boots hit the floor.
When we finally exit, we find ourselves in front of a connecting catwalk suspended in the void, just over a metre wide and with no railings.
«We have to go through it.» Pierrot says quietly.
«Can we find another way? I almost fell before, I'm afraid it will happen again.»
A shot interrupts us, I turn sharply, an android looks out of the newly abandoned shaft, two others follow.
«Move! I'll be your shield!» shouts Pierrot, gripping his broadsword and running us past him.
I start running up the gangplank, feeling the cold, salt-rich wind of the night against my face. Shots echo, and sparks fly around us. Punch, with his limp step, lags behind, but Pierrot helps him by pushing him as he takes the plaser rifle shots.
When we finally reach the entrance to the chemical complex, Pierrot cuts across the bridge. The weight of the three approaching androids causes the catwalk to bend, causing them to plunge into the lagoon.
As soon as we return to the corridors, it is immediately noticeable that the environment here is completely different. The walls, floor and ceiling are a sterile, almost blinding white. The lighting is intense and uniform, making all shadows disappear.
«Here the alarm has not arrived. We have to get to the lab before they spot us.» says Pierrot.
We walk down long, identical corridors, passing sealed doors with opaque glass panes that hint at shadows of complex machinery and people working. We manage to avoid passing a few guards, managing to go unnoticed, until an automatic door opens in front of us.
Three androids emerge, and this time we cannot avoid them. They point their rifles at us and one of them activates the alarm.
«Run!» shouts Pierrot.
A desperate escape begins, the white corridors seem endless, and behind us the number of androids increases as we pass an intersection, I turn my head for a moment, a whole platoon of androids is chasing us, their metallic footsteps thundering like a thunderstorm, «To the right!» Pierrot opened a door, we rush inside. We finally reach the laboratory. A large, uncluttered space, lit by blinding white lights. The walls are dotted with holographic panels and machinery emitting a faint hum. In the centre of the room towers a large glass case filled with green liquid, inside of which floats a brain with an eye grafted on, criss-crossed by long metal needles.
Pierrot sealed the door behind by entering a code in the holographic keypad. «It won't hold for long.»
The scientists present freeze. Some look in our direction with wide-open eyes, others make frantic movements, seeking refuge.
«Don't hurt us!»exclaims an old man, raising his trembling hands, the androids begin to hit the door, the scientists do not wait, some draw hidden weapons, others try to block the way to the brain. «Protect the source!» someone shouts, pointing an electric gun at us.
The lab turns into a battlefield.
Pierrot lunges forward, broadsword raised in defence, parrying the first shots with a rumbling metallic sound, Punch and I move to the sides to avoid the crossfire, «Don't hurt them!» shouts Pierrot, pushing away an assailant, his shots are non-lethal, disarming and neutralising.
Another scientist hurls himself at me with a bar, I instinctively draw my sword to protect myself, Punch intervenes, tripping him, the man falls to the ground, stunned. «Go!» shouts Punch to me, pointing at the shrine.
As Pierrot continues to get stuck in the doorway, I approach the centre of the room, but I'm not fast enough, the scientists move in a group, blocking any attempt to get closer, Punch, doesn't stop, staggering, dodging the blows and passing between their legs, he manages to wriggle between their lines like a mouse. He manages to reach the shrine, the scientists clinging to him, trying to pull him away, Punch wriggles, kicking and elbowing, some fall to the ground getting up immediately, with a guttural cry, he starts hitting the glass with all the strength he has, his hands shaking without stopping, the glass, reinforced resisting.
One of the scientists rises up holding a scalpel, «Stop him!» he shouts, Pierrot intervenes in time, with the back of his hand he strikes the weapon, causing it to fall.
«Punch, hurry!» shouts Pierrot, as two more scientists assault him.
At last, the glass gives way, a dull crackling precedes the collapse of the barrier, the green liquid spills onto the floor, wetting Punch's feet, without hesitation he reaches out his trembling hands and grasps his brain, his eye dilating with excitement.
«Finally!» He exclaims and with a decisive movement, he rips the needles out all at once, the metal making a screeching sound as it separates from the flesh.
«Stop! We risk brain damage!» shouts a scientist. We all stop and look at Punch.
«We did it!» I exclaim happily, approaching Pierrot.
«Yes.»
But then, Punch lifts his fingers to his own skull. He presses hard, until he pierces it. Forcefully, he rips off his cap and, with his dripping brain in his hands, violently joins Zanni's brain to his own.
His body begins to change. His bones lengthen, his muscles swell, until he becomes a two-metre colossus. His skin adheres perfectly to his body and his nose elongates.
His arms spread wide, his muscles tense, his fingers open, palms facing upwards. His head tilts back slightly, while his neck stretches out in an expression of triumph. His body, motionless in the pose, seems to radiate an aura of superhuman power, while the sinister smile that crosses his face amplifies the sense of disquiet. Around him, the silence becomes palpable.
In a deep, theatrical voice, he whispers «Gentlemen… Zanni, is back.»
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