A Tale of Two Brothers: Volume I

Chapter III - One in the Pit

"Erwin! Erwin!" Anastasia came bursting through the door to the German's home, panicked.

Ace perked up from his desk and placed his reading glasses on the top of his head. "What's wrong?" He got up from the desk and approached his friend.

"Afton's bots are here; sentries detected them approaching." Anastasia calmed herself down.

Ace growled as his eyes flashed crimson from rage. "I'll handle them." He saw Anastasia out and walked over to his desk to put his duster on.

"Zeke, stay here." Ace got his tablet and contacted the armed snipers throughout the three skyscrapers to have their sights trained on the approaching bots.

Zeke watched his best friend quickly descend down the pulley system and reach the ground floor.

Ace walked through the courtyard, watching all the families and people hide inside and lock their doors in light of the encroaching malicious bots. The rage filled German met the four bots at the entrance gate of the community with his trigger finger twitching from the anger coursing through his veins.

The four bots which consisted of a white lion, a black jackal, a red and silver crocodile, and an eagle stood side to side as they towered over the German.

"I wouldn't come any closer if I were you." Ace eyed the four bots individually, marking their weak points.

"What are you gonna do, huh?" The jackal stepped forward intimidatingly.

Ace smirked. "Look down at your chests." He pointed to the canine's chest.

The four bots looked at their own chests to see red laser points targeted on them.

"Behind those red dots are armor piercing, high explosive fifty caliber rounds..." Ace snickered darkly. "And they're aimed right at your power cores; so choose your next words carefully, mutt!" Ace's words were full of confidence and malice.

"I don't believe-" The jackal heard a distant boom before hearing a subsonic whisper pass his audio receptor as he felt a slight heat against his casing.

"That was the sound of one and the next time you won't just hear it." The enraged German gritted his teeth as he stepped forward, causing the slightly panicked jackal to take a hesitant step back. "Now, what the hell does he want?"

"Boss has a formal invitation." The jackal shakingly opened his jacket and reached for a wax sealed letter. Handing it to Ace, the German took it aggressively while still eyeing the bots.

Ace unfolded the tri-fold letter.

"Mr. Eckhardt,

I would like to personally invite you to a small skirmish for the enjoyment of some acquaintances of mine; I have boasted about your feline and his unique combat prowess. It would be a pleasure if you were to join us tomorrow evening.

Of course, you will be substantially compensated for your efforts.

W. Afton"

He looked at the letter, snarling at the idea of the old man. Folding the letter back up and stuffing it into the interior pocket of his duster, he looked up at the bots. "What's the pay?"

"Five grand for fighting, another five for winning." The jackal looked down at the red dot on his chest before looking back at the infuriated German wastelander.

Ace gazed at the ground for a moment in thought. "Tell him he's got a deal." He looked back up at the bots menacingly. "Now..." Ace drew his sidearm and approached the four bots. "Verlassen. Now." His German spewed out angrily as he racked his sidearm and eyed the frightened bots.