spectacle begin to unfold.
Every second, tens of millions of androids reached the atmosphere and began to free fall toward the surface. Just as they had on Mars, they swarmed the post-humans that were trying to leave, driving them back to the surface. Having waited too long to launch, millions of people abandoned their ships and made desperate bids to fly solo into space, but very few were able to negotiate the torrential rain of androids that were darkening the sky. As with Mars, once the androids made contact, the post-humans’ magnetic fields were neutralized and they were rendered unconscious before being dragged up into space where their bodies were discarded.
“It’s a precision strike,” James said as he watched the slaughter. “This was planned. I did the right thing when I attacked them.”
The A.I. snickered. “Your personal affirmations are touching but the very fact that you feel the need to say them aloud means that you’re still unsure—and so you should be. So you should be.”
25
Below ground in Purist territory, the Purist ship was going through the final stages of completion. Almost all of the Purists were onboard, however, as the last of the electrical systems were brought online by the nans. Governor Wong walked with the last group of Purists to board the ship, flanked by Alejandra, Lt. Patrick and Old-timer. Just before they crossed the bridge and entered the hull, Governor Wong paused. “What was that?”
They stopped and listened. Every few seconds, there was a large thud as something landed on the roof of the hangar. Each thud was like a drop of water hitting the tin roof of an old barn at the beginning of a summer storm. In just moments, the thuds began hitting the hangar roof at such a rate that it became a thunderous clatter. “Jesus,” Lt. Patrick said in a dread-filled whisper.
“We better get onboard,” Old-timer said, keeping his calm, yet placing a firm urgency behind the words.
In the cockpit of the ship, James, Djanet and Thel worked furiously to bring all of the ship’s systems online. James was shouldering most of the burden, however, since the ship was his design. “ They’ve landed on the hangar now, James, ” said the A.I. in James’s head. “ They’ll tear through the roof and kill you all before you have a chance to escape. ”
“Shut up,” he replied under his breath.
“What was that, James?” Thel asked.
“Nothing,” James answered her. “Keep monitoring that door,” he said to her.
“I am. The machines are on top of it and they’re starting to claw through. Structural integrity is still holding, however.”
“It just needs to hold for a minute or so more,” James said as he frantically worked to get the ship’s electrical system running. “I’m not going to have time to test our systems. We’re just going to have to hope this bucket of bolts works!”
Meanwhile, high above Purist territory, Rich streaked towards the Earth while he watched the swarm of androids entering the atmosphere. Rich had faced dire situations before, but nothing compared to what he was facing now. “ Rich, you crazy son of a gun. What the hell have you gotten yourself into now? ” he asked himself as he pressed on, the androids drawing near.
He patched into communication with James and the others as he approached. “Commander, I’m en route!”
“Rich?” James reacted, stunned. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“You know... I just missed you guys so darn much!”
The androids were now all around Rich and he flew in an extremely erratic pattern to avoid making contact with them. They didn’t have magnetic fields but their appearance was human and he could see the expressions of determination on their faces as, one by one, they made their way towards him, attempting to apprehend him. He blasted energy at each one, knocking them unconscious and sending them plummeting towards the surface.
“Rich, we’re launching in about thirty seconds but
Every second, tens of millions of androids reached the atmosphere and began to free fall toward the surface. Just as they had on Mars, they swarmed the post-humans that were trying to leave, driving them back to the surface. Having waited too long to launch, millions of people abandoned their ships and made desperate bids to fly solo into space, but very few were able to negotiate the torrential rain of androids that were darkening the sky. As with Mars, once the androids made contact, the post-humans’ magnetic fields were neutralized and they were rendered unconscious before being dragged up into space where their bodies were discarded.
“It’s a precision strike,” James said as he watched the slaughter. “This was planned. I did the right thing when I attacked them.”
The A.I. snickered. “Your personal affirmations are touching but the very fact that you feel the need to say them aloud means that you’re still unsure—and so you should be. So you should be.”
25
Below ground in Purist territory, the Purist ship was going through the final stages of completion. Almost all of the Purists were onboard, however, as the last of the electrical systems were brought online by the nans. Governor Wong walked with the last group of Purists to board the ship, flanked by Alejandra, Lt. Patrick and Old-timer. Just before they crossed the bridge and entered the hull, Governor Wong paused. “What was that?”
They stopped and listened. Every few seconds, there was a large thud as something landed on the roof of the hangar. Each thud was like a drop of water hitting the tin roof of an old barn at the beginning of a summer storm. In just moments, the thuds began hitting the hangar roof at such a rate that it became a thunderous clatter. “Jesus,” Lt. Patrick said in a dread-filled whisper.
“We better get onboard,” Old-timer said, keeping his calm, yet placing a firm urgency behind the words.
In the cockpit of the ship, James, Djanet and Thel worked furiously to bring all of the ship’s systems online. James was shouldering most of the burden, however, since the ship was his design. “ They’ve landed on the hangar now, James, ” said the A.I. in James’s head. “ They’ll tear through the roof and kill you all before you have a chance to escape. ”
“Shut up,” he replied under his breath.
“What was that, James?” Thel asked.
“Nothing,” James answered her. “Keep monitoring that door,” he said to her.
“I am. The machines are on top of it and they’re starting to claw through. Structural integrity is still holding, however.”
“It just needs to hold for a minute or so more,” James said as he frantically worked to get the ship’s electrical system running. “I’m not going to have time to test our systems. We’re just going to have to hope this bucket of bolts works!”
Meanwhile, high above Purist territory, Rich streaked towards the Earth while he watched the swarm of androids entering the atmosphere. Rich had faced dire situations before, but nothing compared to what he was facing now. “ Rich, you crazy son of a gun. What the hell have you gotten yourself into now? ” he asked himself as he pressed on, the androids drawing near.
He patched into communication with James and the others as he approached. “Commander, I’m en route!”
“Rich?” James reacted, stunned. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“You know... I just missed you guys so darn much!”
The androids were now all around Rich and he flew in an extremely erratic pattern to avoid making contact with them. They didn’t have magnetic fields but their appearance was human and he could see the expressions of determination on their faces as, one by one, they made their way towards him, attempting to apprehend him. He blasted energy at each one, knocking them unconscious and sending them plummeting towards the surface.
“Rich, we’re launching in about thirty seconds but
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