Reggie opened his eyes at the sound of an energy pistol's expulsion. "Wha...?" His mind spun from the pain that seemed to spark from every nerve ending. He looked up and discovered Steffen standing over him with a Negexis weapon in his hands, firing at the approaching R.R.O.A.C.H. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your dumb ass."
A blue electric blast sent the killing machine darting away from Reggie and the source of its immediate threat, one Commander Steffen. The R.R.O.A.C.H. paused in the center of the field as if calculating its next move.
"Heinrich is going to kill you...I don't understand, I thought you and he were..."
"What? Working together. Yes, but this was not what I signed up for," Steffen said and bent over to help Reggie to his feet. He spoke as he fired the energy gun. "I already told you, Reginald, this has always been about saving humanity, nothing else. How was I to know that Heinrich just wanted to use this as an opportunity to finish his German political party's world dominating agenda."
Reggie grunted as his left arm fell over the NNO commander's shoulder. "All you had to do was ask, I could've told you that, dummy. He used your naivety and lack of this world's historical understanding to gain your trust."
"Damn thing is on the move again. We really need to get someplace safer," Steffen said and lifted the pistol with his left hand. A blue discharge briefly illuminated the two men's faces...once...twice.
The R.R.O.A.C.H. shuddered and bellowed loudly as one of the bolts made contact with its rear housing. The machine quickly changed directions and seemed to disappear into the darkness as if afraid.
"You can run, you fools, but zee machine vill find you!" Heinrich shouted from the top of the platform. "No one but my loyal followers vill leave here tonight...alive! Heil Müller!"
"Heil Müller!" shouted the men from the platform.
"I can shoot them from here, Commander Müller!" said one of the men leaning over the railing looking down at the pair of men.
"No, stand down. I vant them to experience the pain of zee R.R.O.A.C.H.! Now, back away before..."
Steffen grinned and fired toward the platform with the energy pistol.
The soldier grasped at his chest and fell forward.
"...you get shot just like that?" Steffen said loudly.
"...dumkopf!" Heinrich said with a sigh. He turned and quickly walked to the safety of the rear of the platform.
"Good one, Steffen," Reggie said weakly.
"I have my moments." Steffen pointed toward a barely visible structure a short distance away. "Now, I know you're in pain, but let's try to make it to that building over there..."
From nowhere, the R.R.O.A.C.H. burst through the professionally manicured bushes lining the field. The violence of the action ejected leaves and shrubbery into the air. As if it were in slow motion, the machine sailed over Reggie and Steffen. The pair of men ducked, narrowly avoiding the mechanical legs that skimmed only centimeters over their heads. The mechanized killer landed with a thud just meters behind them.
Once on the ground, the beast's front housing slowly rose into the air and it produced a rippling growl. The forward two legs flailed about, stabbing the pointed ends toward the men.
YOU ARE READING
Voynich Shift - Season One (COMPLETED)
Science FictionParker Raymond recently inherited his estranged grandfather's large plantation home in Savannah, Georgia. The Spanish Moss hanging from the estate's large oaks, its massive gardens, and a near endless bank account were, in the end, not what captured...
