Adrift

Chapter 4: Runaway Train

Corson V: Nefarious City, The Present

The night sky was aglow with bright neon lights shining from below and the sounds of engines rumbling, due to the traffic of ships flying through the air. In the city itself, various brands of electronic advertisements decorated every steel structured building as crowds of synthroid bots hovered in the bustling streets. Hardly any organics in sight, a city that favours machines then those with flesh. Trickles of rain fell, wetting the cold hard steel surface, which slightly wavers from a couple of nefarious citizen bots hovering over it.

Nefarious City, otherwise known as Neon Hell.

Occasionally a pair of Nefarious Laser-Troopers would patrol through the streets, large white saucer shaped bots with large orange glass heads housing three robotic slit optics. They were fitted with spinning claws on both of their lengthy arms, capable of delivering deadly ion-flux lasers. Under them waved three wire-legs, resembling mechanical tentacles that allow them flexible movement. These were the standard models of Nefarious Laser-Trooper models, not the brightest of the bunch, but still lethal enforcers.

"Citizens, please be advised that any who do not partake in the monthly praising of our Emperor, will be faced with a nefarious punishment. And it will not be fun." One of the Nefarious Laser-Troopers announced for anyone passing by to hear. "And remember. All resistance members should report to the nearest intake facility. We promise it will be an *enjoyable* experience, hehe." They add, quietly chuckling ominously at the end.

A few blocks away, Crimson hides within one of the alleys, peeking out and watching the Nefarious bots hover away. He sneaks back into the depths of the alley and submerges himself into the shadows, remaining extra vigilant. Unlike the streets, which were kept sleek and clean, the alleyways are filled with trash the city hides under the rugs. He walks over scraps of metal and junk, avoiding any passersby as he makes his way through the dirty alley.

Back before, he'd be able to pass off as a normal robot in the city, but the big red wanted posters with his helmet plastered on them make it difficult. The posters decorated the whole alley wall, a couple of them being him, but the rest... a resistance member practically owned the whole wall. From what Crimson has heard about her, she's the most determined freedom fighter there is trying to dismantle the Emperor's ruling.

The Lombax.

From the picture of the poster, she shared a similar appearance to that of a feline cat. Two curvy triangular ears with hooped earrings and fur on the top of her forehead resembling a tuft of hair, along with a pair of goggles sitting on top. In the poster she proudly wore a confident smirk as if taunting Emperor Nefarious himself. He's never met the Lombax before and he doesn't plan to anytime soon.

He's got more important things to worry about right now. Reaching the exit of the alley, he peeks out, ensuring no one's littering around. Seeing that the coast is clear, he walks out and heads to a secluded spot, kneeling down next to the edge of an overpass. All the buildings within the area stretched down, past a fog that Crimson calls the abyss, which blocks anyone from peering further beyond down.

The light shower trickled down his helmet, dripping off the tip as he stared down into the abyss. "I'm here." Crimson radioed in.

"Good." His informer responded, her voice slightly distorted through the comms. "Now remember you'll have a nine second window when the train arrives. Get on, silence any guards you encounter and free the civilians."

"You know this won't go quiet." He tells her, keeping an eye on his surroundings. "Nefarious forces will be on me the second I'm spotted."

"That's why you need to get them off that train quickly." She instructed him.