The next morning began with dread.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Dread.
Kirran rolled into the training facility and immediately regretted every decision that had led him there.
The room was enormous.
Steel walls surrounded a massive combat arena.
Observation windows overlooked the battlefield.
Target drones hovered near the ceiling.
Scorch marks covered nearly every surface.
That seemed like a bad sign.
“Why are there scorch marks?” Gear looked up from his tablet.
“Testing.” “Testing what?” “Various things.” Kirran pointed.
“That’s not an answer.” ◇ ◇ ◇ At the center of the arena stood several humanoid robots.
Motionless.
Silent.
Waiting.
“It wasn’t meant to be.” Kirran counted them.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Too many.
“Those are the training robots?” “Yep.” “They seem aggressive.” “They aren’t active yet.” The word yet did not inspire confidence.
Mach’s icon appeared.
“I am detecting reinforced armor plating.” Kirran frowned.
“That’s bad?” “Very.” “Oh.” ◇ ◇ ◇ Gear stepped into the observation booth.
Raymond sat beside him.
Coffee in hand.
As usual.
The loudspeaker crackled.
“All right.” Kirran looked up.
“What’s the objective?” “Survive.” Silence.
Kirran blinked.
“That’s the objective?” “Yes.” “Nothing else?” “Nope.” “Just survive?” “Exactly.” Kirran looked toward Mach.
Mach looked toward Kirran.
Neither of them liked this.
The robots activated.
Red eyes illuminated.
Mechanical joints locked into place.
Weapons unfolded from their arms.
Kirran immediately raised his hand.
“I have a question.” “No.” “You don’t even know the question.” “I know enough.” ◇ ◇ ◇ The first blast came without warning.
KABOOM!
A shockwave slammed into Mach.
Kirran barely had time to react.
The chair launched backward.
The world became a blur.
Then— CRASH!
The wall stopped him.
Very effectively.
Kirran slid to the floor.
Pain radiated through his shoulders.
“Owwww…” Mach’s icon flickered.
“Damage report?” “I’m offended.” “Understandable.” Across the observation window, Gear nodded approvingly.
“Good.” Kirran stared.
“GOOD?” “You survived.” “That’s your takeaway?!” “Yes.” Raymond rubbed his face.
“I’m beginning to understand why your employees quit.” “They don’t quit.” “They absolutely quit.” ◇ ◇ ◇ Kirran pushed forward.
The robots advanced.
Weapons charging.
Targeting systems active.
This time he was ready.
At least slightly.
“Mach!” “Weapon systems online.” A hidden compartment opened.
The plasma cannon emerged.
Energy gathered at the barrel.
Kirran grinned.
“Oh, this is going to be awesome.” The cannon fired.
ZOOP!
The shot sailed harmlessly past every robot.
A distant wall exploded.
Silence.
Kirran slowly turned toward Mach.
Mach slowly turned toward Kirran.
“That wasn’t me.” “It was definitely you.” “I blame the targeting software.” “You ARE the targeting software.” “Excellent point.” ◇ ◇ ◇ The robots returned fire.
Lasers crossed the arena.
Kirran accelerated.
Dodged left.
Rolled right.
Boosted upward.
For the first time, everything began clicking.
Movement.
Timing.
Reaction.
He could feel himself improving.
The arena no longer felt impossible.
It felt manageable.
Dangerous.
But manageable.
Then one of the robots exploded.
Kirran blinked.
“We got one!” Mach sounded genuinely excited.
“We did!” Another robot fell.
Then another.
Confidence surged.
“See?” Kirran laughed.
“We’ve got this.” A laser immediately struck the rear of Mach’s chair.
POOF.
Sparks erupted.
The weapon systems shut down.
Silence.
Kirran’s smile vanished.
“…Mach?” A pause.
“…Yes?” “Why did everything stop working?” “That is an excellent question.” The robots continued advancing.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Their weapons glowed brighter.
Mach ran a diagnostic.
His icon immediately frowned.
“I have located the issue.” “Can you fix it?” “Eventually.” Kirran’s eyes widened.
“Eventually?” “The weapon systems are disconnected.” “How long?” Mach paused.
“A few seconds.” “THAT’S FOREVER.” “It really isn’t.” “It is when robots are trying to kill us!” “Fair.” ◇ ◇ ◇ The robots continued advancing.
One step.
Two steps.
Three.
Their weapons glowed brighter.
Mach ran a diagnostic.
His icon immediately frowned.
“I have located the issue.” “Can you fix it?” “Eventually.” Kirran’s eyes widened.
“Eventually?” “The weapon systems are disconnected.” “How long?” Mach paused.
“A few seconds.” “THAT’S FOREVER.” “It really isn’t.” “It is when robots are trying to kill us!” “Fair.” ◇ ◇ ◇ The robots surrounded them.
Weapons charged.
Target locks acquired.
Kirran gripped the controls tighter.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
The visor displayed warning after warning.
The arena suddenly felt much smaller.
Much louder.
Much more dangerous.
“Mach.” “Working.” “Mach.” “Working.” “Mach!” “I’m rebooting!” The robots aimed.
The lasers brightened.
Kirran swallowed.
“Anytime now…” The robots fired.
And at that exact moment— Mach came back online.
“NOW!” The entire chair erupted with light.
Energy exploded outward.
BOOOOOOM!
A shockwave swept across the arena.
Robots flew in every direction.
Metal twisted.
Armor shattered.
Weapons exploded.
The entire battlefield disappeared beneath a wave of blue-white energy.
Then silence.
Complete silence.
Smoke drifted through the room.
Pieces of destroyed robots littered the floor.
Kirran stared.
Mach stared.
Everyone stared.
“Holy snat.” For once…
Nobody disagreed.