Human

A new room in hell

The days after I had been allowed a relative amount of freedom were fairly boring. Every morning, a member of my old platoon would come and retrieve me from my new room/cell. I would stand up against the wall, my hands behind my back whilst they cuffed me. We would walk to the dining hall where everyone would promptly freeze and stare. Some would leave the room. I would then be given the smallest, oldest portion of food and be forced, usually roughly, to sit on a bench. I am then denied the dignity of using a fork so I am forced to eat straight from the bowl. Usually for breakfast it was porridge so I get quite messy. We never talked. No matter who it was from my old platoon; Rosie, Marlow, Twix or Saph, they would all eat their food in silence, shoulders tense. Dane never came. Or the new girl. 

I would see Orion sometimes, but I was never allowed near him. He would always be on the other side of the room, watching me and glaring at the soldiers around him who kept him where he was. Seeing him was the best part of my day. Always. 

After breakfast I would be led to the training room where I would be forced to watch the soldiers train. They were always especially vicious while I was in the room, like it would scare me to see them killing their models of robots. Little did they know that it gave me nothing but satisfaction and pride. I would then be asked my insight into battle strategies but I rarely responded. As much as I wanted to help they clearly didn't believe anything I said, going as far as to suggest doing the opposite to what I said, in fear that I would trick them. I would then be led to dinner for a similar treatment as breakfast. Silence and glares, followed by rat meat and maybe a piece of mouldy bread. No hands allowed. I was then led to my room where I faced the wall, had my handcuffs taken off me, and the security wall put back up. I used that time to train, despite my low energy due to lack of good food. 

I didn't talk to many people. No one wanted to talk to me. I was seen as scum and anyone who tried to associate with me was seen as even worse. But it was still better than the robots prison, I reminded myself. I did miss Nyx though, he always made me laugh. I always fell asleep with a small smile on my face. 

My days followed that routine for another week before something happened. In the morning, Saph and Marlow handcuffed me and lead me to breakfast. But before we could get there, the General intercepted us.

"Soldiers!" He said, a command in his voice, his eyes wary but purposeful. "Take the prisoner to the Information Centre. It's time It was useful for something." I rolled my eyes at his persistent use of the word 'It' in referral to me but nevertheless walked quickly towards the 'Information Centre' whatever that is. The stares from the soldiers on the way no longer bothered me, I was very used to it and far too excited about what possible use the General could have for me. I was fairly sure whatever the General had planned for me wouldn't harm me, that would be quite pointless now. I was lead to a room with a shabby, metal door. It was bent, riddled with bullet holes and burn marks and didn't fit the doorframe properly. It was clearly found in some ditch from the abandoned countryside with its edges sharp and rusted. I was intrigued to say the least. What about this room made the General so simultaneously disgusted but also made him bounce on the balls of his feet?

The General gave a loud knock on the door and instantly loud banging sounds were heard from inside as someone clearly stumbled their way over junk, cursing as they went. Finally the door was opened to a familiar face.

"Nyx!" I started, a smile stretching across my face. His eyes quickly glanced over the General, then my guards then me. He hesitated for a second and then sighed before forcing the door open wider to let the General and his entourage into the strange room. As I was pushed through the door frame I had to wait a second for my eyes to adjust as it was so dark in the room, other than about 10 computer screens. When my eyes adjusted, they widened in simultaneous surprise and disgust. I was looking into a den, there was no other word for it. A tiny den filled with one long desk, packed to its full capacity with computers that ranged in size and model and age. They were stacked on top of each other, with the wires covering the desk and the floor, along with other trash littered around the room such as food trays and bottles and other metal scraps that have clearly been dragged in from old houses. It was such a dark chaotic mess of old technology, packed into a tiny room that was barely bigger than my room. 

With my eyes still wide, the General looked on my amazed look with both nerves and humour. I heard Marlow from behind me mumble "the Cave is as disgusting as I remember," and my memory was jogged. 

"We got our orders from here!" I exclaim, my voice loud in the small space. "We tried to sneak in here after a few boring missions, to try and get something more hands on but we couldn't get through the door without setting off alarms!" I stopped for a moment, seeing Marlow and Saph's poorly concealed surprise at my memory out of the corner of my eye before glancing around the rest of the room. "What happened?!" Surely this entire base has not been receiving orders from this room for over 10 years! I look to the General, hoping for answers. His voiced was gruff and quiet when he replied, avoiding my eyes. 

"Around 18 months ago, several robots snuck through the lines and broke into the base through a back entrance. They were on a mission to find our source of information and they found it. This roomed contained details of other bases and we had to protect it at all costs." The General paused for a second, his eyes showing sadness and regret, before he looked straight into my eyes.

"We lost just over 30 soldiers that day trying to stop them from getting into this room. They managed to fire a small missile through a crack before we blew them up. This is what has been salvaged of the technology and whatever information we have." I look around the room with sadness. So many lives for such little profit. The casualties of war. I take a deep breathe before looking towards the General. 

"So what do you want me to do?" My eyes are hard with resolve. This was a senseless wrong that I am determined to right. The General looks at me with trepidation.

"You, my technical savvy friend, are going to repair this entire room and recover all the information we have on other bases. See if other bases have been trying to reach us. You are not under any circumstances to try and break into any robot computer systems, or access any information or files outside of your ranking. And I don't need to remind you that you have no access to any information other than that which I give you." He looks into my eyes, his so hard that I feel a small shiver of fear down my spine. "Do we understand each other?"

"Yes sir." I say, nodding. I keep my eyes unwaveringly on his to hopefully convey how serious I understand this to be.

"Good." The General straightens up and turns to Nyx. 

"Boy, you are in charge of keeping her in control. Do not let her trick you. We're counting on you." The General then turns and swiftly exits the room, ducking around the lopsided rusty door. Nyx is frozen in his place behind some old boxes, his eyes showing fear. He looks to Marlow and Saph before clearing his throat and nervously chuckling. 

"Well... ahhh. This will be just great I know it!" He says, a shaky smile on his faces as he clearly tries to cover up his fear and nerves with humour.

"Awww Nyx, you're not scared to spend every day with me in here are you?" I say teasingly, a small smile on my face. Nyx's eyes stare at me with more fear and he gulps comically. I smile a little wider and try to relax my shoulders to seem less threatening. It doesn't work.

"Well I better get to work then!" I say with a bright smile, glad for a new project to work on. They have no idea what I have planned for this room!