87 Sols - Wanting to be led is not natural

One kilometer away from the top, the group hiking Olympus Mons was surprised to see a man standing in their path. As far as they could tell, the man was nowhere to be seen until a second ago.

"Is there anything we can do for you?" One of the climbers asked the ominous-looking man in front of them. But the man did not give an answer at first; he seemed to be scanning the area around.

"Look, we are in a hurry to get to the top. One of our people is starting to lose it. We lost another two recently. We had to leave them behind to devour each other like animals. If you are looking for trouble, we will not hesitate to fight back."

The climbing group consisted of around ninety people. On some of their faces, signs of despair could be clearly seen, but the man did not care for that. After looking around for a bit, he finally decided to speak his mind.

"Where is the robot?"

"Robot? You have to be clearer than that."

"Where is No. 2 with the robot? Don't make me ask a 3rd time."

"Somebody woke up feeling fierce. You are looking for No. 2? Haha! What makes you think you are in any position to seek audience with him? I advise you to go back while you still can."

As the arrogant man said that, his group started circling 1441, yet he did not take a single step back as the circle of people was closing up behind him.

"Hah! Idiot. Make sure he doesn't get out of here alive. We can't bother No. 2 with power-crazed brutes looking for a fight." The arrogant man said as he turned around. However, he didn't get to make two steps forward before 1441 appeared right in front of him.

The man, startled by the aggressor that seemed to be teleporting, stumbled as he took one step back and almost fell, if not for the hand of 1441 catching him by the throat.

"You still didn't answer my question." 1441 said as he started clenching the arm holding the man. "

"What... are you?" The man asked before losing his ability to breathe. "

Looking in the eyes of 1441, the man understood that whatever he would say, his life was about to come to an end. Begging or even cooperating were not options that would work on a man who showed no expression as he was taking the lives of others. He wanted to speak, but it was already too late.

Suddenly, 1441's grip loosened, and he dropped the man to the ground.

"Hahaha. Well done! Well done! Right, Sojourner?

1441 turned around to see a pair of red eyes complementing a face aged by time. It took him no time to notice that next to the old man was a robot he used to call a partner. The robot was floating next to the man with its frontal screen fixed on 1441. While Soj was not programmed, neither did it care to show any sign of emotion on that screen; the way it did not hesitate for the slightest moment made it clear. Soj felt that its place was next to the person who created it.

"Soj... Please, just tell me one thing. Did you do this willingly? Was this all planned, or were you forced to leave my side?"

Silence. The robot acted as if it didn't care to answer the question. No. It felt like Soj didn't even process the question.

"Ha... ahahahah! What? Did you think it would answer you? This piece of scrap served its purpose. There is no need for it to hold on to its intelligence. If anything, it would be stupid of me to take such a risk."

The man with red eyes slapped the robot as it laughed at the naivety displayed by 1441.

"For someone who rushed here and beat up my whole crew as if their lives were mere inconveniences, you sure do seem hopeful when it comes to your own interests. That's really greedy of you. I like..."

But the old man did not get to finish his sentence. He instinctively dodged the body that came flying at him. Looking better at it, it was the very man who 1441 let go of just before.

"That won't do now... Throwing people at me? Did you even bother to make sure he didn't die from that? Or did you just give in to your wrath? No. Maybe, now that you stopped holding back, could pride have taken over you? Do you see yourself as an existence above us now? Hahaha! Splendid!"

"I think I've had enough of your nonsense by now. Give Soj back to me before I make you the next projectile."

"Oh? And why would I do that? Could it be that me taking your partner makes you feel something else? Oh, how sinful can we get today?"

"What does that robot have to do with awakening your puny god? You don't really think making me angry or envious would get some divine being to wake up, do you?"

"Oh, but it seems self-awareness is not exactly your forte. How about you think again? Think about how much you have sinned. Or should I help you out a bit?" The doctor said as a sinister smile lit up his face.

"Wrath, greed, and envy. You cultivated three of them just from having your best friend leave you. But what about that crazy woman? Were your days together not filled with lust? Did you not become slothful when you forgot your own goals? You can deny it as much as you want, but you are close. You have almost become the perfect human. Only a bit more. If only that crazy woman's gluttony would have stuck to you. But no matter. We still have time. And I will make sure you follow me to the depth of hell if need be."

As he said that, No. 2 started casually walking towards the peak of the mountain, yet before long, 1441 blocked his way.

"I will take Soj before you go. I have to fix him. Now."

"I know you want the robot. You want to take it to that useless student of mine. That's why you will come after me. You will not leave it behind."

"And you will not get past me." 1441 said, as small stones and the hair of the old man started floating from the field, 1441 was emanating.

That's when 1441 was suddenly pinned to the ground by two extremely fast attackers.

"HAHAHAHAH. That's right. Get him, you mindless bastards. You won't have such an easy time with those wild, mindless beasts."

The two people that should have been left behind by the group were now viciously biting 1441. The lack of restraint made it really hard for him to shake them off, yet it was not impossible. Still, the erratic attacks were going to take some time to deal with. Even after 1441 kicked and broke the jaw of one of the aggressors, they did not seem to slow down. The most dangerous foes that 1441 had faced up until now were sane, if anything. Fighting beasts that did not care about their well-being was bound to be more difficult even for someone as strong as 1441.

That's when a huge explosion was heard in the distance.

"It seems the time has already come."

At the peak of the volcano, ash could be seen spewing out frantically.

"Of all times... wasn't it supposed to be asleep?" 1441 complained as he could not even take a good look at what was going on at the top.

"Well then, if you excuse me, lava will get down here pretty soon." The old man said as he displayed yet another ace from his sleeve. He lifted himself off the ground with a technology similar to what Soj was using to float around."

"If you don't want to be left behind, you better hurry up with those two. I'll meet you at the top!"