S2, 03 I really, really hate cyborgs! Part 2 (FB) (June 2, 2015)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**2nd May 2095: Present Day**

The air rumbled with thunder as I piloted the Viper back down through the storm that still raged over Soateria. A bolt of lightning passed close by, but I was too busy concentrating on following the estimated trajectory of General Gendar’s escape pod to really notice it.

The clouds broke around us and we emerged from the belly of the beast and out into the open air. Still following the trajectory plot, we flew low over the forest, just meters above the tallest of the trees.

It only took a couple of minutes and then beneath us, the forest ended and we flew out over an open plain. And there ahead of us, a plume of smoke trailing into the sky, was Gendar’s crashed escape pod.

Tracks pointed it out to me.

Tank: “Yeah, I see it.”

Tracks whirred questioningly.

Tank: “Of course I have a plan.” I replied, trying to sound convincing. We got closer to the pod and as we did so, I flicked the safety cover off of the gun controls and when the pod was targeted, opened fire.

The bullets riddled the hull as we passed over. I stopped firing and brought the Viper around for another pass. From up here, out of his reach and with armour and heavier fire-power, we stood a lot better chance of killing Gendar than we did if we landed and tried to take him out like that. We flew in low again and I let rip.

Once again, streaks of holes covered the hull and there was a small explosion as a sensor dish was shot off.

I brought the Viper around again and took one more pass at it before deciding that if Gendar had still been inside, which I sincerely hoped he had been, he should be dead by now. We then glided to a landing just a short distance from the pod and the pair of us leapt out, battle ready.

We advanced on the smoking capsule, weapons drawn and ready for a fight, but when we got there and I pulled the door’s release hatch, we found the pod empty.

Tank: “Dammit.” I cursed and began looking around for any signs of the deranged cyborg. Tracks clambered into the wreckage and started checking for clues.

I checked the floor all around the area and found nothing.

Tank: “Tracks, get out here and see if you can pick up anything.” I called and he obliged. I put my hands on my hips and in my mind, ran through different scenarios of what Gendar might have done and where he might have gone.

Moments later though, Tracks whirred, calling me over from where he crouched a little way away.

Tank: “Found something?” I asked as I reached him and he pointed ground out a reply, rubbing some oil-stained grass as he did. I looked and discovered another patch of black grass just a meter or so from the first.

Tank: “He’s leaking…” I concluded, realising we had a trail to follow now.

Tracks chuckled, sounding pleased with himself and together we set off, following the breadcrumb trail.

Tank: “You got lucky.” I muttered and Tracks sounded hurt in reply. “Ha! Enhanced vision, my ass!” Tracks argued back again. “Rubbish. I know what your eyes are like, I put the bloody things in you!”

He grumbled something I didn’t understand and I just shook my head, keeping an eye out for the next patch of oil.

Gendar had had a decent head start on us and so we knew we had to walk fast if we were in with any chance of catching up with him. It would have been quicker to fly after him but at the height we would have to fly, we wouldn’t have been able to see the trail.

We walked for a good couple of hours, keeping up a quick pace, but there was still no sign of the general. The trail led us towards the forest edge and I became worried that we would lose the trail amid the denser foliage and rougher terrain.

Tank: “We’ve got to pick it up.” I told Tracks, knowing that if we were to stand any chance of catching Gendar, we’d have to find him soon.

We headed into the trees but we’d not gotten far when we discovered a small wooden shack. I put my hand out to silently stop Tracks and together we carefully watched the hut for any signs of movement. Nothing happened and so we slowly advanced forwards. I was just figuring how what to do next, when there was a click of a loaded gun behind us and a voice said,

Man: “Don’t move.”

We did as we were told and froze. It wasn’t Gendar, I could tell that much from his voice. Also, if it had been him, we’d have been dead already.

Man: “Who are you? Why are you here?”

Tank: “We’re looking for someone.”

Man: “Oh yeah? Who sent you?”

Tank: “That’s none of your business.”

Man: “I beg to differ. I’d like to know who sent you to find me before I kill you.”

Huh? Why did this guy think we were here looking for him?

Tank: “Look buddy, I don’t know who you are, but trust me, we’re not here for you.”

Man: “Well who the hell else is there around here? Nobody that’s who. I’ve been here long enough to know that I’m the only man for miles around.”

Tank: “The man we’re looking for is on the run. We’re tracking him. He came this way.” I explained.

The man didn’t respond and I decided to attempt turning around.

He didn’t shoot me, although he was clearly having conflicting thoughts about that. He looked like he was in his late 40’s, was well built and had short hair.

Man: “Who are you?”

Tank: “My name’s Tank. This is Tracks.” I introduced us both and Tracks also turned around.

Man: “Seriously? Tank and Tracks?”

Tank: “It’s a long story. Look, if you don’t mind, we have somebody to catch and if we don’t get after him soon, he’s going to escape.”

Man: “You’re really not after me…” It seemed more of a statement to himself than a question to us.

Tank: “No. Why would we be? Who are you?”

A moment later, the man lowered his gun.

Speck: “My name’s Speck. I used to be part of the Galactic Imperium but I didn’t want to be. When the Shift occurred, it was the perfect chance for me to, well… disappear.”

Tank: “So you’re a deserter?”

Speck: “Yeah.” He didn’t look proud of it. “Now, who are you hunting?”

Tank: “Well, he’s actually a GI deserter too.”

Speck looked a little uneasy.

Speck: “Who sent you? The GI? Are they hunting us down?”

Tank: “No. Don’t worry. I’m not Imperium. I work for a third party. He merely wants this other man dead. He was a General. A cyborg by the name of…”

Speck: “Gendar.” He finished for me.

Tank: “You heard of him?”

Speck: “Yeah. Never met the guy but his stories were legendary. You say he’s deserted?”

Tank: “Yeah. He stole one of the Imperium’s latest cruisers and was heading to join up with The Collective.”

Speck growled.

Speck: “Those intergalactic scumbags.”

Tank: “You don’t like them?”

Speck: “Not in the slightest.”

I frowned. As far as I’d heard, the Collective hadn’t made it to Soateria yet.

Tank: “Have you actually had contact with them yet?”

Speck: “Not personally, but they threaten the whole system. And I may not be part of the Imperium any more, but I love this system and my home planet. And anybody who threatens them will have to answer to me!” He snarled.

Gendar: “Bring it on!” a robotic voice bellowed and suddenly the huge cyborg that was Gendar smashed through the trees, bursting out at us.

I managed to dive away but a single hit from Gendar sent Speck sprawling. Tracks opened fire and kneeling, I drew my pistols.

I got off a couple of shots but he deflected them with ease and then he was above me. Tracks swiped at him and the blow caught him across the face. He staggered away and I leapt to my feet, firing after him.

I noticed that Speck had vanished and I silently cursed at him for being a coward and running away.

Tracks was now in a fist fight with the cyborg. My shots were still not doing anything, so I tried a different tactic.

Tank: “Tracks!” I shouted to get his attention and then fired at the tree behind Gendar. The trunk splintered as the blue lasers passed through them and suddenly the wooden tower came crashing down towards us. I leapt backwards and Tracks did likewise, but Gendar realised too late what was happening and the tree collapsed on top of him.

Leaves were still raining down, but other than that nothing moved. I kept my lasers trained on the mound of wood, under which I knew, Gendar was still alive.

And to prove my point, moments later, with a roar, the cyborg burst through the wood in a shower of splinters and twigs.

I opened fire again, as did Tracks. Gendar looked rather worse for wear now. His armour was dented and scorched all over and the human parts of him were covered in bleeding scratches.

Tank: “Are you wearing out, General?” I taunted, but he was in such a rage, he didn’t reply. Instead he snapped a branch off of the fallen trunk and swung it at Tracks who tumbled backwards.

I shot at him and the laser glanced off of his neck armour, but it seemed to shock him slightly. He lashed out and I flew backwards. I hit the ground hard and grunted in pain. The cyborg clambered over the remains of the toppled tree and advanced towards me.

Suddenly, the wooden hut exploded and caught everybody’s attention. And from within the explosion emerged a large figure, armoured from head to toe and spinning an electro-staff.

An Imperial Juggernaut.

Gendar growled and the newcomer took a single step forwards before leaping with great power towards the enemy. He slammed the end of his staff into the cyborgs chest and electricity surged through him circuits. He cried out as he was forced backwards. The two began pummelling each other and the Juggernaut used his staff to great effect.

Speck: “Are you two goin’ to help or what?”

It was Speck!

Tracks and I both leapt in to join the fray and very quickly, it became clear that Gendar was winding down. We were getting more and more important hits on him and he was getting more and more frustrated.

Speck swirled his electro staff and brought it around behind one of the cyborg’s legs. Gendar fell to one knee and Tracks punched him straight in the face. He recoiled and I repeatedly fired at the centre of his chest plate. It started to buckle and Tracks reached down and with an almighty metallic squeal, ripped the chest plate open.

Gendar cried out and Speck slammed his staff into his now exposed chest. Electricity surged through both his body and his suit.

Speck: “I’m not doing this because you’re a deserter,” he told him as he gave his staff as twist and Gendar continued shaking. “But because you were joining that scum!”

With a final twisting push, Speck drove the electro-staff into Gendar’s body and then yanked it straight out. The General’s body went limp and he toppled forwards onto his face.

Speck and I stood there panting and Tracks simply stood there, all three of us staring down at the corpse in front of us.

Tank: “Thank you.” I told Speck after a moment.

Speck: “Don’t mention it.”

Tank: “But…”

Speck: “No, seriously. Don’t mention it. All I want is to be left alone. Don’t tell anybody you found me here?”

It didn’t affect me in any way and so I agreed.

Speck told me he would dispose of the body and after a brief rest and saying farewell, Tracks and I left him to his own devices.

As we began the long walk back to the Viper, I couldn’t help but think what it would be like to simply run away. To find somewhere like Speck had and just hide there. Away from the troubles of the galaxy and to not have to worry about anything.

I had been planning on contacting Mr. Grey when we had gotten back to the Viper to tell him that I had completed the task, but as we walked, my comlink began beeping. I answered and his image appeared.

Mr. Grey: “Explain yourself!” he demanded.

Tank: “What?” I asked, confused.

Mr. Grey: “You know damned well what!” he shouted.

Tank: “No, I don’t!” I replied honestly. “What’s happened?”

Mr. Grey: “You told me you had secured the ship and that you were going after Gendar.”

Tank: “I did! In fact, I was just about to call you. Tracks and I killed him, not that long ago.”

Mr. Grey: “Well then explain to me, why when my retrieval crew arrived at the co-ordinates you sent to recover the ship, they found nothing but empty space!”

Tank: “What?”

Mr. Grey: “The ship, Tank! Where is it?”

Tank: “What, it’s gone?” I asked, both confused and amazed.

Mr. Grey: “Yes, it’s gone!”

I didn’t understand. How could the ship have just vanished?

Tank: “I don’t… I…. Some of the crew must have survived, or something. They must have flown it away.”

Mr. Grey: “This is not acceptable, Tank. Not at all.”

He ended the transmission.

Oops….

**BONUS IMAGES:**

The escape pod - A C-800 Evac Pod.

The escape pod again.

An alternative image of Speck bursting from the shack and also the original main image.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE