Each of the floating cubes rumbled in the ground. The cubes in them began to spin around furiously giving off a low hum. Each one lit up with a neon blue light and the humming grew louder. The ground rumbled like an earthquake and shook harder making each of the six of them fall to the ground.
“What the hell are they doing now?” Seth asked picking himself off the body of one of the Taq-Law from the second floor of the mall.
“Nothing good,” Jack said leaning against his scythe on the bottom floor.
The earth kept shaking and each of the Taq-Law that were still standing suddenly fell over limp and unresponsive. Their heads rolled backwards and revealed bright blue lights that hummed in tune with the cubes. “Something funky is going on with the cubes,” Marco said looking at the nearest one.
“Let’s try and smash it then,” Sarah said hefting her axe. Running forward she swung and before her axes could connect a barrier of energy appeared and her axes bounced off sending her flying. She landed on her back leaning still and groaned. “I’m alive. I get what my axes feel like now.”
“Sucks don’t it,” Seth said smirking despite their situation.
The ground shook, infinitely harder than the earlier tremors. And then the ship that had crashed into the ground, that Jack had taken down, was starting to move. The hull sank to the ground in large slabs of some sort of metal. Another fell apart but this time a glow appeared in the darkness of the ship.
The last piece of the ship was shoved away, slamming into the ground and then it rumbled with what felt like footsteps. The smoke cleared away and standing before them was a massive robot that was easily taller than the mall when it had a functioning ceiling. It was like the other walkers they’d met except this one had two glowing spots, one in its head and another in its chest that was covered immediately.
It took a step forward and the spot in its head hummed before unleashing a laser. It was faster than any others and exploded at the ground blowing Cal, Seth and Sarah away. The arms of it spun and focused on Marco and Jack firing concentrated beams as they dove into the mall for cover. “That would be so cool if it weren’t trying to kill us!” Jack shouted.
“You have any ideas on how to handle this Marco?!” Kathryn asked as she started running for cover.
“No! I don’t! My planning didn’t include a giant ship that turns into a robot. Give me some time,” he shouted back.
“Assuming we’ll get the time to work this out,” Cal said helping Seth and Sarah back to their feet.
“We’ll make time,” Sarah called her axes to life and pointed at the robot. “We give it what we’ve got and give Marco time to think of an idea and then we finish it off. That simple.”
“I wish I had her confidence,” Seth said but he tapped his shields together watching them glow. “I guess we’re going to be the distraction.”
“I think we’ll make for good bait. Follow my lead yeah?” Cal rested his sword over his shoulders and it glowed as two more Cal’s appeared at his side.
The five spread out a clone and Seth maneuvering toward the open area of the mall with their backs to the parking lot. Sarah, Cal and the remaining clone moved toward the mall proper using the walls, escalators, and elevators as cover approaching the machine. Its head was glowing but small red lines were focused on Seth and the clone from turrets on its bodies.
The arms turned and focused on them firing blasts and the two got out of the way running at it. They had a few close calls but got near the legs of it. Seth jumped forward and slammed his fist into its leg and it shook stumbling backwards. But that got the attention of both arms.
He crossed his arms in front his face and was blasted into the ground and rolling backwards. The clone took the distraction and hopped onto its leg and climbed up its waist using its sword as a vault. It managed to dig it deep but it got stuck for a moment. The Taq-Law brought an arm down blasting it away and into ashes.
It focused back on Seth as he pulled himself back to his feet. He heard the whistle of the lasers and started running for cover as the red beams of light chased behind him. With its back turned Cal sprinted across the floor and planted his foot on the railing before leaping onto the arm of the Taq-Law.
Sarah and his clone landed directly behind him and followed as they climbed the arm of the giant robot. The clone slashed down across the arm digging cuts and gashes into its body but nothing was substantial enough. “Aim for the shoulder,” Cal said pointing at the joint that was rotating around as it attempted to chase Seth.
Sarah clanged her axes together charging electricity through them as she ran forward. Spinning one in her palm she was mid swing when the head of the Taq-Law spun around to face them. It’s face was glowing brightly and she froze as the red glow covered them. She felt a tug against her back and suddenly she felt an arm around her.
Turning around she saw nothing as red engulfed her gaze. She landed on her hands and knees gasping and trying to catch her breath. Looking over her shoulder Marco was crouched over her breathing hard. “That was too close for comfort.”
“Yeah it was. What about Cal?” she asked standing but Cal waved his hand from over his shoulder. “Where’s Jack?”
Marco pointed toward the robot, “I sent him down to give Seth and Kathryn a hand. Or at least be a better distraction.”
Cal walked toward the edge of the floor and sure enough the green scythe was spinning and helping to cut and deflect the lasers. Kathryn’s shields were catching stray shots and redirecting them best she could as well with some back up from Seth. But nothing was truly toppling the thing.
“What are we supposed to do about that thing?” Cal asked. “My bright idea almost got me and Sarah wiped off the map.”
“Actually, I think you had the right idea,” Marco stood up and felt the robot stomp forward, another laser exploding. Raising his gun, he looked and the red barrel was still gleaming. “You just need a bit better execution.”
The Harlequin Library 