Enigma Source: Grey Area

Chapter 6: Mechanized Memories I

July 17, ????
Sinclair
Somewhere in the Wild Lands

The setting sun gave off the last of it's light in the area. There was no life in sight, except for the lush forests that took control of the land. Harsh, overgrown weeds wrapped around the giant structures that once housed hundreds of people. Now, all that was left here in this ruined megalopolis were memories.

I sat on a hill miles away from the ruins and stared like I always did. I would always dream and think about what life was like there. The giant city that humanity had built long ago. The giant city that was destroyed because it believed something different than all the other ones. The big city that never truly disappeared: The city of Magnolia.

I would imagine people in those funny little vehicles that had the four wheels and that had to be manually driven. I thought about the kids and how they went to school and made friends with other kids. I would make up people and simulate lives that they would have in a society based on some type of democratic government, where everyone had a voice. But at them end of my imagination, I would get sad. No matter how much I would make-believe, the people I created would always be fake and have no meaning.

"Hey boy! Come on! We gotta get a move on before sundown! The supply train is about to pass and we're gonna need all hands for this job". The voice of a burly man broke my daydreaming. A huge guy, about six feet tall with a few inches extra, slapped me across the head. It didn't hurt, but It was annoying. "Let's go. The meeting is about to begin", he added. The big, bearded oaf led me back to the camp where all of the other dimwitted men were already together in the main tent. They all wore these combat vests over their disgusting raggedy clothing. The vests were stolen from another raid they all participated in earlier this week.

These guys I was with were a group of raiders, thieves that would hijack supply trains and take all the cargo for themselves. All twenty of them were tough and hardy men, the only brave people to live this close to the ruins of Magnolia. I didn't really remember what they called themselves, but I'm sure it was something lame.

Richter, the leader of this ragtag group, began to brief his men. This was the same guy who slapped me earlier. His brown beard was almost a foot long and braided. His voice could be heard from half a mile out if he shouted, so even if one of his men were out, they could hear him. "Okay men. In just a few hours a train unlike anything we've seen before will be passing through. This one ain't from Babylon, like we're used to stealing from. This one's from the big one, Everest".

Everyone there looked surprised. "Everest? That place with the machines? I don't know if I want to deal with robots Richter", one of them worried. Everyone in the room felt the same way. "Everest isn't like the other cities mate. They have security out the ass and those robots are no joke", someone else added.

"Robots?", I thought to myself. "That could be a nice enemy to face". I thought about cool scenarios and tactics I could use against the machines that they talked about. I had only seen the remains of some robots in the outskirts of Magnolia: I had never seen one live and up close before.

"The most advanced robots there are are the ones that take your orders in those fancy restaurants. Robots will not be an issue. Only the soft and squishy guards will be a problem", Richter reassured them. "And besides, we've got our secret weapon with us. No one can stand a chance against the boy". Everyone in the tent glanced at me. They all scowled and gave me terrible looks, probably because they were jealous of my ability. It wasn't my fault I had it.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. "Piss off", I stated loudly to the condescending group. Some of them called me some awful names. One guy even flipped me off. I scoffed and left the tent. "Tell me when we're headed out".