Perfect World Somewhere

Chapter 7

Voices clamored through one of the broken windows, waking Lily with a start. She recognized the guttural sound of Pruessian, from her programming sessions with Delia.

"Clarence, wake up." Her whisper was a puff of mist.

He stirred, disoriented. "Where are we?"

"Hush."

Outside, she heard the mechanical whirr of robotic actuators and powerful hydraulics, and the crunch of snow beneath many heels. Bright lights flashed to and fro, contrasting angles against the blackout coverings. It came from all sides. There was no escape.

Clarence gripped her arm. "It's the Kaezer."

She fetched the rifle, and waved the transmitter glove, calling Test to stand over them.

"Arten treught." A man's voice shouted, deep and brash. He smashed what remained of the window with the butt of a rifle, and the strike of his cleated boot.

She gripped her own weapon tightly, but dreaded pulling the trigger. The recoil was too strong. The few times she'd practiced, Daddy had supported her.

Hopefully, the enemy would only see the robot, and not the two kids shivering beneath it.

There were several voices, and peals of laughter.

The first trooper poked his head in, and shone his light about the shadowed room. Then he climbed through, grinding the broken glass beneath his heavy feet.

Clarence whimpered.

The trooper yelled over his shoulder. "Mekanetri, forsvuht."

"Stay quiet, and keep behind me," Lily whispered. She crossed her fingers, and hoped for luck in what she was about to do.

The robot likely had no weapons, but it would at least be a distraction.

"Test." Her voice echoed through the frigid room.

Test acknowledged with a chime.

"Attack." She swung her gloved hand in the direction of the trooper.

The trooper made a startled noise, and turned his light toward them again.

To Lily's surprise, Test's main weapon turret deployed from the slot, and snapped into ready position. If the cylinders were loaded, it would have been instant death.

The intruder stepped toward the window, and aimed his rifle at Test. He caught sight of Lily and Clarence, and shouted to his companions. "Kindrener. Vadnas il portuner."

Test paused for a few seconds, as it processed its next action.

The trooper eyed the robot cautiously, but walked past it.

More troopers forced their way through the windows. Soon, there were seven.

Lily heard at least three walkers outside, crushing ice-bound earth beneath their impatient steps. Though her heart nearly pounded out of her chest, she tried to look fearless.

"Stay back," she said, and pointed her rifle at the approaching trooper.

He stopped a few feet away, with an amused grin. His mustache and pointed goatee appeared sharp in the wan light. Like his comrades, he wore a long, fur-trimmed black overcoat, and a helmet lined with insulating layers around his ears and face.

Behind him came the tapping scrape of four brass and steel feet.

Even on battery power, Test's dexterity was alarming. With the click of another device slot, six sinuous appendages extended from the hull. All were tipped with prehensile, razored effectors. They waved about a moment, then surrounded the trooper. The flurry of coiled blades hissed through the air, and a chunky mist of red gore sprayed the wall and floor.