Murder Drones: Born from ashes

Chapter 17 : The Contender

V2 and Ruger were trading with the caravanners for new drone components, N was beginning to melt from the inside out. The only solution they had was to replace his parts with new ones.

The caravanner was alone, which was uncharacteristic for his kind. He offered them a large wicker box, which they politely refused.

Joey, Wally, and Willard came out from the van. Noticing how the box violently shook in place. They drew their guns, demanding to know what was inside.

-

Kyle looked at the bounded N, who seemed to be growing more and more delirious by the hour. Kyle looked away and turned on the tape player.

"Hey Kyle" a mature feminine voice said.

The marines demanded to know what was inside, their barrels drawing closer to his chest. V2 commanded them to stand down, but the box kicked itself off the table and hit the floor. Wally put his barrel to the roof of the caravanners mouth, screaming some obscenity. Then a rifle went off, the explosive bullet obliterated his side.

"How's it going? If you are listening to this, I'm glad you're still kicking. The boys and I are still doing our job, playing music for the troops at the bar. What are we playing? Jazz beats, a few lyrical pieces."

It was an ambush! Multiple drones emerged from the snow, opening fire onto the platoon. V2 threw a smoke grenade at the floor and retreated behind the caravan's vehicle. Ruger sprayed his machine gun into the hill, as bullets flew from every direction, pelting his body. Willard and Joey dove behind a rock. Stacy was facing a building, unable to see through the rain. A flare landed at her feet. She quickly dove to the side as a bullet ricocheted off the surface of the van. She threw a grenade and followed it into the dark building. The explosion gave her cover as she adjusted her eyes to the dark. Eyes and Kyle emerged from the van, the sniper positioning himself among the snow, and took aim...

"Harry's a machine behind the piano, in a good way. Just a secret between the two of us, if your boys are listening, you might wanna get us some privacy."

Ruger ran out from the smoke as a hailstorm followed close behind. The smoke cleared, and Willard looked behind the rock, a band of drones jumped from the van and prepared to open fire on him. The wicker basket also had its lid removed, there was a black and yellow stain in the snow.

Look at me, talking like I'm actually there. God I hope this doesn't compress my voice too much... Alright, ready?

A horrific melting snake-like abomination of a drone sprung from the snow, wrapping itself around one of the drones, crushing and consuming his body instantly. The other caravanner aimed his shotgun at the mass, only for a sharp tentacle to stab a needle right into his chest. The other caravanners who did not see their infected member were picked off or infected one by one by this mutant. Willard found Wally still curled up on the floor bleeding. A flare landed by his side.

"I got a few of the patrons together, we're planning to celebrate Joey's 7th birthday. Poor boy didn't even know what we were doing when we celebrated your 6th. We've got a few ribbons from the back storage. They're pretty brittle so we are going to string them up like streamers."

Blood spattered onto V2's back, as body fell onto her back. She looked over to see Eyes, who playfully waved as he took another shot at a drone.

Joey, seeing Wally, ran out into the open to help his fallen comrade. A bullet blew Joey's knees and he dropped like a bag of bricks. Kyle, seeing his friend about to die, strafed over to the closest piece of cover near them, firing his shotgun wildly as he did.

The caravanners were now aware of their snake that had gotten loose, they all looked at the ground for any sign. One of them that was killed seconds prior, stood up, eyes yellow. The bomber drone killed one of them. The rest of the caravanners panicked and ran into the building right into Stacy's line of fire.
"Crisp has modified the sign we made for you, I hope you don't mind. He made the 6 look like a pretty convincing 7. He even did his name in his favorite color. So when you guys get back, I'm thinking about trying a few new songs that are installed on my drive. Remember that song Joey wanted to hear again "The Wonderful World"? Well, I kind of lied to him, I have it on me right now."