Chapter 04

A circus was definitely an accurate descriptor, before the gates leading into the Steel Curtain — which she could now see functioned as physical barrier against what lays beyond it and a base of operations for Gatekeepers — was a mass of reporters, most of which appeared as holograms like Phoebe’s.

HK tugged at the hem of her new rain-poncho’s hood like she could hide from the cameras, as the media, like sensing blood in the water, rapidly approached the car as it slowed to a halt off to the side of the gate.

Sofia rested the side of her face on her hand and leaned her arm against the door while absentmindedly flipping through a holographic screen that appeared in front of her.

Cameras flashed around them, as reporters desperate for the attention of their viewers encircled the car. They asked muffled questions that HK could barely make out, tried to get a better angle, and some circled the car as if trying to find some kind of hidden entrance. If they had been physically there in the flesh they might’ve been trying to climb over the car.

“When I find out who leaked the info, I’m going to… do… something. I don’t know, but it’s going to be very painful, humiliating, and will probably involve my literal metal fist.” Sofia rapidly mumbled under her breath.

“So, can we just… leave?” HK asked, continuing to hide her face from the cameras fighting over themselves to find a spot that could see into the car through the darkened windows.

“Well they’re only holograms, so we can just walk through. My advice though, try to not show any skin.”

“This raincoat only covers down to my thighs.”

“Hm, well, then feel free to have several destructive accidents if they try to go low and watch your flank.” Sofia placed her hand on HK’s shoulder. “One more thing, if I don’t make it back, it was an honor to know you for the last 57 minutes and 32 seconds.”

The two women took a simultaneous breath, placed their hands on the door handles, and stepped out to the mob of reporters, flashing cameras, asking questions, and filming them like they were a commodity. Though, in a way they were.

They probably would’ve followed them right into the base if something else hadn’t caught their attention.

“Look! Up in the sky, is that! Oh by the founders it is! It’s Apex!” An excited voice shouted out. All the cameras turned away from the rookie Gatekeeper and onto a mysterious figure floating over the gate.

Cased from head to toe in a high-tech black and white hardsuit from, a frayed red scarf billows in the wind behind them. The gathered media figures stood in awe as this living god of metal floated down to mingle with them.

“We are not worthy.” One man said as his hologram bowed low, several others followed suit.

“Apex of the Paragons, what could he be doing here?” Several people talked among themselves. The general mood of the area was a mix of awe, admiration, and even fear.

And for good reason, HK couldn’t get a single piece of information on them. As they tried to examine them, the words next to their profile was just a blank box with the words “access restricted” emblazoned across it.

“Oh good, and I was just thinking this was gonna go smoothly.” Sofia muttered under her breath. “Okay, smiles, smiles.” Sofia put on her best smile, but HK could detect the considerable strain she was putting in to maintain that demeanor.

Apex stepped towards them as Sofia took HK and did the same.

The two figures stopped in front of each other, and it could not look like any more of a juxtaposition. Sofia, looking like a girl in her 20s wearing a loosely-worn military garb. And Apex, clean, well-made, and standing several inches taller than both Sofia and herself.

“Apex.”

“Gatekeeper.”

“I see you’ve returned from the frontlines, and judging by your lack of damage, I take it that you made it through with only 35% casualties to your own forces.”

If he noticed the jab, he didn’t react to it. “The incursion in Sector 54D was only a few bugs, apparently the local settlement was feeding the Consortium’s tax collectors to them.”

“And I suppose they didn’t just surrender quietly and instead opted to fight?” She feigned ignorance.

“To the last man.” He shrugged his massive shoulders, “but hey, what can you do? Some people just really don’t want to surrender.”

“Clearly. You’d think that seeing several tons of hulking metal flying towards them would cause them to drop their guns and surrender. But I suppose that wasn’t in the cards. But wow, I’m shocked! Not a single one surrendered? They must’ve been quite fanatical!”

“Are you trying to imply something, Gatekeeper?”

“Who, me, no of course not. You’re a big, strong patriot, I’m sure you had no choice.” She looked behind him. “So the rest of your group is behind the gate then?”

“Just following protocols, as usual. Should be-” before he could finish, the massive gate leading to the wall opened up, “and there they are.”

Behind the gate was a massive encampment of soldiers, men and women dressed in various types of high-tech hardsuits bearing the colors and insignia of the Soluna Consortium. It was easy from here to tell who the commanders were. The rank and file had lightweight chestplates, the goal was likely to give them some measure of protection but not wanting to waste the more valuable equipment on them. Their lives were cheap it seemed.

While the commanders had more complete hardsuits, and there was a clear difference in the degree of quality between them. Some of the commanders seemed to want to stand out from the crowd as no two commanders had the same type of armor. What she found odd though is that some of the commander pieces had clearly displayed the names of what was likely their armor manufacturers on their suits. Almost like they were walking, shooting, sponsorships.

And the last group was even more lightly armored than the rank-and-file troops, however unlike the regulars, their armor truly seemed like a patchwork collection of various levels of quality. In addition, they probably didn’t need much armor to begin with since every single one of them was sporting an augmented body part. A metal arm, a pair of metal legs, a metal tail here and there. From what she could see, they looked… haunted. Well, technically, she couldn’t see anything past their helmets, but judging from their body language as they sat by the vehicles, they didn’t seem all there.

Before she could ask about it though, “Pssst, hey, over here!” Someone was trying to contact her through her mind.

She thought it might be one of the reporters, but they were now busy with conducting an impromptu press conference — much to Sofia’s displeasure.

“No, not there, over here!” An arrow in her indicator flashed briefly, showing her two figures peeking out from behind the gate.

Their profile lit up, and the display indicated that the two girls trying to get her attention were Gatekeepers, gesturing her to go towards them.