The Robots (Part 2): Written by Exodus, Original Story by Exodus In the south of Haprin, Turok, a previous resident of Grautz, had been transformed, and sent to destroy his home. The large robot charged into the village, through the doorway made of bricks that surrounded the village, and as a starting point, he hit the side of the brick doorway rather hard, bringing down a lot of debris. Children screamed as they saw the robotic menace, and Tanya was forced to scoop up a couple of kids and run to safety, she dropped them off to escape with their parents before turning to see what was causing this. Turok saw her and started to walk towards her hastily. She ducked down and shuddered as the robot loomed over her, with evil eyes and a large gold blaster aimed at her. Zapz saw this, and ran forward, he rolled across the area and retrieved his love as the shot was fired, which exploded the general area and left a little fire. They tumbled into a heap, and Turok turned to the two, and slowly walked towards them, taking notice of their position and expression. They were trembling, because of him, Turok was able to focus on that, rather than listen to his programming. “Obliterate... everyone...” said Turok slowly, though unsure, and Tanya and Zapz held each other tight. Turok’s gun and hand, that was currently holding the gun, were shaking, thoughts started filling his mind, the two people in front of him filled up a great percentage of those thoughts. “No...” said Turok slowly, “I can’t do it, I can’t!” He turned around and ran away, leaving Tanya and Zapz a little bewildered. “Hey robot! You’re meant to destroy the village!” shouted Snide, “Get back in- Agh!” Turok immediately punched Snide hard, and sent him flying far, before rolling into a heap on the ground. “Get that traitor!” screamed Snide, “And destroy the village! He wastes his power on petty family ties!” “No.” said Turok decisively, “This is my village.” With that, three of the troops fell back from a small explosion from Turok’s blaster, a line of soldiers ran forward, but all it took was a simple punch from Turok to knock the first soldier into the second, the second into the third, and so forth. “He’s too powerful!” pleaded a lowly trooper to the commanding officer. “Get back in there!” ordered Snide. “No way Snide, you may not value our lives but we do!” Snide simply pointed his gun at the man’s head and fired. “You’re right.” The other soldiers saw this, and beat a hasty retreat. “Weaklings! I’ll see you get punished for this!... If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Snide ran towards Turok, who punched forward, Snide ducked this, raised his short sword and plunged forward, but Turok attempted to block it, and the sword impaled his bulky wrist. “Better warrior my-” Turok used the other arm, the one with the gun, to slam against Snide’s head and knock him over, he had to crouch down and use his leg to grip the sword, so that he could pull his arm away to remove it. “Die!” Snide retrieved his gun, and started to fire on Turok, who blocked the damage with his own gun and slowly made his way to Snide, and swatted the weapon away, before swinging his foot around, and winding Snide. Turok then used the chance to pick Snide up and speak to him. “You’re a cruel man, you have no respect for human life. You’re not fit to live in this world.” Snide struggled, and shouted out, “I deserve that power much more than you do! Only I can put weak emotions like fear and guilt aside to achieve power over others!” “You’re nothing but a bully, a cowardly killer. You’ll never be loved, or respected.” accused Turok. “And you Sir, are a freak! You’re different now, do you think your sister will want a monstrous machine for a brother? The same goes for your little chickey pie, she’ll never love you now!” “Shut up!” shouted Turok, and Snide then broke free of his grip. “Weakling, to drop your guard over that!” He rolled to the side, retrieved his gun, and blasted Turok in the screen, his vision was compromised temporarily. Snide took his blade and ran forward, looking to jam it through Turok’s screen. Where limbs usually weren’t the way to kill opponents, head and neck cuts did the job well. Turok heard Snide, and fired, but he rolled out of the way and kept going, Turok waited until the last moment, and fired towards the ground, the explosion lifting Snide into the air and making him drop his weapons, Turok’s sight returned, just as Snide came towards him, and he delivered a final punch. Snide spiralled in the air, and landed awkwardly on the floor, a snapping sound occurred as he did. Turok walked towards Snide’s crumpled body and stared, “Looks like you won’t be hurting any more people weaker than yourself. You finally know how it feels.” Turok started to walk away, but a voice stopped him. “Turok?...” He turned around quickly, but wished he hadn’t. “It Is you, isn’t it? You came back to protect us.” said Tanya with a light smile. “Tanya...” thought Turok, “I can’t let her know about this...” He turned to her, and changed his voice as much as possible, “No, you must have been mistaken, I’m sorry I caused you so much trouble...” With that, he started to run away. “Maybe its not him Tanya.” said Zapz gently. “It Is him.” argued Tanya, “I know it is, but he’s ashamed of what he’s become...” Turok ran into a forest not too far away. “I can’t let anyone see me like this, I have to run away, hide from the world, forever! I’m a monster!...” Unfortunately, that wouldn’t be easy, as four people lied just ahead of him, four specific people. “Ugh! Just go away! Leave me alone!” shouted Turok. “Let’s see.” said Gear with some sarcasm, “You allow yourself to be changed into a fearsome robot, then you raid an innocent village, and now you want to be left alone?!” “Gear...” said Edwina gently, “If this is the creature that our contact spoke of, and its out here, does that mean we are too late to save Grautz?” Ross scowled, “That’s true. But we won’t let this one get away!” “We have to stop it here before it hurts anyone else!” shouted Gear, drawing his weapon of choice, a round boomerang with a razor sharp edge, and a hole in the centre. He threw it forward, but Turok caught it and crushed it. “I haven’t done a thing!” shouted Turok. “Then why are you wearing the emblem of the Evalon Empire? We know you let yourself become what you are.” accused Ross. “Ross, please, don’t be hasty.” warned Kirie, who was having doubts about their accusations, she was a test subject of Morn’s too, but not a willing one. “Why not? Talk isn’t working, we have to use a little force!” “Ross! Don’t!” shouted Gear, but Ross was already on the war path, reaching out with his metal arm, now with the built in attachments all around Ross’ body to take on large opponents, without risking damage to Ross’ legs. “Die you robotic reject!” shouted Ross. “You should talk.” replied Turok, as they clashed hands together, and fought to twist the opponents arm. “Don’t you dare!” shouted Ross, “One of your fellow warriors did this to me!” “For the last time, I am not one of them!” bellowed Turok, losing his cool and aiming his free hand at Ross, the one with the gun attachment. “Whoa!” yelled Ross, flipping to the side to avoid the blast, and still clinging to Turok’s arm, which twisted a little painfully. Turok retaliated by swinging his gun arm at Ross, forcing him to let go and skidding along the dusty floor. Turok started to walk forward, as slowly and gently as he could look, “If you just stop attacking me so-” “So you can capture us and make us like you?!” questioned Edwina, “No thank you, I’ve had my share of torture already!” Edwina extended her hands, and fired off her green plasma beams, her arrows would obviously prove ineffective against this creature. But the magic wasn’t good enough either, Morn had built Turok to withstand a lot of things, including basic magic so that he could beat the Resistors, which Turok was inadvertently doing anyway. With one clear punch, Edwina was knocked into the air, and Ross leapt up to catch her. And with Gear short of his weapon, he stayed back, only Kirie was left to confront the machine. “I haven’t had enough time to practice this, but I have to...” Suddenly, Kirie used her psychic abilities to twist the robots limbs, her aim was to twist them so much that they’d break apart, it seemed to be working for a moment, but then explosions erupted everywhere around Turok, forcing him to back away. In a moment of anger and desperation, Turok ripped out a tall tree, and threw it over the exploded smoky area, to stop the cause of the threatening magic. Kirie saw it coming, and tried to move it away through telekinesis, but halfway through, the psychic energy accidentally exploded the tree, and a large fragment threatened to crush Kirie. “Kirie!” shouted Gear, and ran forward, lifted Kirie, and fell over as the segment crashed down and shattered. Turok’s eyes widened as the motion caused Kirie’s veil to lift up and reveal her face. “Kirie?!... I didn’t recognise... What have I done?!” screamed Turok in realisation. He held his head as if in agony, and turned away to escape, but a metal arm buzzed by him, the hand at the end gripped a tree, and Ross came flying by, retracting his arm and bringing his body towards his metal hand, he dealt Turok a fast blow with his normal arm, and actually knocked Turok over because of the speed. “Leaving so soon?” he asked snidely. “Ross! Leave him!” shouted Kirie. “Say what?!” questioned Ross. “I recognise him too... That Is you under there, isn’t it Turok?” “Don’t look at me, please...” pleaded Turok, but she approached him slowly. “I could say the same thing, so don’t worry. Morn’s forced work, I presume?” “Yes...” “We’ve both been hurt by him, do you want to tell me what happened?” “I’m... one of a new race of robotic warriors called Mecha Knights... I was chosen only because Krytus had it in for me, and I was... Well, I’m not sure what, but I guess the term for it is ‘mechanized’.” “Turok, your village...” said Kirie cautiously, “Did they make you...” “They almost did, but I broke through the programming after I saw my sister.” “What did she say?” “I don’t know, I ran away. Kirie, I can’t let anyone see me like this, I’m a freak!” “Join the club.” smiled Ross, who had felt this way once, and so, sympathised with Turok and lost the rage he had felt for him a moment ago. “Its not so bad, if your real friends can look past appearances.” he added. “He’s right Turok.” said Kirie, revealing all of her face with the strange purple scars. “So now that we’ve straightened this out, how about telling him what you do now?” whispered Gear to Kirie. “Turok, contrary to the rumours, the Resistance aren’t terrorists, nor do they serve the rogue princess, its the Evalon Empire that are the real villains, and maybe, you’d be interested in joining us, that is, if you believe me...” “Kirie, do you think I’d listen to those empire guys after what they did to me? You, however, I know I can trust. But... I’m afraid, just look at me, you might have been able to see past these looks, but will everyone else?” “Yes Turok.” answered a girl from out of sight, she stepped forward with a guy. “Tanya...” muttered Turok. “Why did you run away from us like that Turok? Do you think I’m so low that I wouldn’t understand? I’m your sister and no matter what you’re going through, I don’t care. As long as you let me in to help you.” “Tanya... I’m sorry...” apologised Turok. “I saw you fight for us Turok, use this cursed form of yours for good, and use your power responsibly.” “She’s right you know.” added Zapz. “I...” said Turok, unsure. “Please Turok, we need someone with your power, but with the courage, strength and heart to wield it properly. If you can do that, then people will surely see that you’re not a monster.” explained Kirie. “Okay.” said Turok finally, “I’ll join your group, and give the empire what they deserve.” “I knew you’d make the right choice.” smiled Tanya, “Just don’t forget about me. You’d better visit me from now on, okay?” “You’re going back to Grautz?” spluttered Turok, “But the empire are targeting it now.” “Its our home, we have to. Your home is with these people now.” “I understand.” said Turok, and then his sister departed. “Turok, I know it’ll be hard, I fought against the empire for the past two months, hoping, praying that I wouldn’t have to face my friends in combat. You, Angus, or...” “Lucia.” sighed Turok, “What do I do about her?” “Tell her everything of course.” said Kirie, “She got into the empire because she was forced, I’m sure she’d leave in a moment if you asked her to.” “I can’t... She already has doubts about our relationship, this will surely scare her away for good.” “Do you really think she’s that judgemental?” asked Kirie with a stern expression. “I guess not...” “Then perhaps she’ll come looking for you.” “No, she won’t. They made up some story that I was working for the rogue princess. She’ll stay put.” “I’m beginning to wonder if there even is a rogue princess.” muttered Ross. “Do you really think so?” asked Edwina a little anxiously. “But then again, she could be causing some of the recent damage, and the empire is just unloading their mistakes onto her already bad name.” added Ross, causing Edwina to sigh. “Turok, we’ll make things right, as soon as we defeat the empire, we’ll make everything right.” comforted Kirie. “Then... I guess I’m one of you now...” said Turok, expressing a little of his happiness, as he left with his new friends. But at the empire, Lucia already knew of Turok’s transformation, and had gone on a rampage through Morn’s lab. “I’m going to destroy him, I have to destroy Morn before he destroys any more lives!” “Jus’ try it girlie.” smiled Krytus, blocking the path. Lucia charged forward with some fighting claws on one hand, they clashed with Krytus’ and they wrestled for control, but he broke away and punched Lucia down to the floor. As he swung his claws down, Lucia reached out and opened an electronic panel and ripped out some wires to catch Krytus with. He screamed out, but then he started laughing, it looked like pain was a close friend of Krytus’, and he had learned to embrace it, Lucia was shocked, and Krytus easily destroyed the wiring with a simple cut, plus he punched Lucia again with the same motion. Lucia was down for enough time for Krytus to recover and plunge his claw down. “Dir, no!” shouted Joe. “We can give her to Morn...” added Moe. “Oh Morn, we’ve got another troublemaker...” said Krytus happily, as he dragged Lucia in a restrained position. “And you want me to change her into a machine... Good, I’ll make sure she’s obedient this time.” “You mean that other guy is runnin’ around loose out there?!” questioned Krytus loudly. “Yes! But don’t tell Iyaxxl!” shouted Morn, “If I can get this one to finish him off, then there’ll be no problems.” “So... Turok’s more powerful now, Oi never thought ‘e could pull it off” pondered Krytus. “Its not that simple, Turok put Victor Snide in a coma, anyone who can do that must have some strength. The only one now that can beat the Mecha Knight is another Mecha Knight.” “And if she fails, Oi’ll take a whack at it, Oi’ve never killed a robot before, should be fun...” “Turok’s still Turok?” questioned Lucia, before Krytus threw her onto a sphere indentation at the edge of the lab that was quickly surrounded by the same capsule as before, followed by the wires to keep her still, he left after that. “... Not for long, not when you destroy him, I’ve upgraded the mind control devices so they won’t fail again!” explained Morn. “Is this how it’ll be?” questioned Lucia, “Turn everyone who knows about your schemes into machines? At this rate, half the planet will be robots before long!” “A wonderful thought.” mused Morn, “But you were insulting me, nasty little girl, you’ll never make a scientist by talking to your superiors like that!” “I’ll resist this and everything else, and I’ll use your weapons against you!” Morn glared at her, before pulling the relevant switches. The same process started on Lucia, except her outer design was different, she had a lot of silver armour, but some smaller light blue attachments around her wrists, lower legs and chest, she gained a golden skirt with razor sharp edges hanging off, and long triangular feet built for speed. Her fighting claws were still equipped and were transferred into her design, plus, her gun attachment was a blaster with elemental blasts: Fire, ice and electricity. Lucia’s head had a black screen with red peaceful eyes, the lower half of her face looked like a blue ninja mask overlapping her screen a little. The top area was mainly red, but the hairband that she was wearing also affected her design and the three silver leaves formed three spikes on Lucia’s head, one in the centre and one to the sides. Lucia’s long blonde hair flowed out of several holes built into the helmet, some overlapped her forehead, one wide long strip came out like a pony-tail, and a pig-tail fell to each side. Morn added a little to Lucia, and a device that resembled a jet pack appeared behind her and folded into a compartment in Lucia’s back so that it was out of sight. “You shall be my finest masterpiece...” said Morn, staring at the robot with a lack of emotions. But he was wrong, suddenly the claws were jammed through the glass and barely missed Morn’s face, the capsule shattered and Lucia gave Morn the most piercing stare he’d seen in a while, no wait, it resembled Iyaxxl’s growing anger towards Morn. “Joe! Moe! Stop her!” screamed Morn. “As much as I’d like to destroy him now, I have to escape and find Turok.” thought Lucia, “See ya, definitely wouldn’t want to be you!” Joe and Moe appeared, and pounced on Lucia, she spun around to deflect them and unfortunately for Moe, his face came in contact with her claws and got a vertical slash across it. “Agh! My face!!!” Lucia’s jet pack quickly activated with a thought, and she flew out of the lab through the nearest window. “I’m doomed, I’m doomed, I’m doomed...” panicked Morn soon after, “I’ve had it with this stupid machine!” he screamed, picking up a metal rod and raising it above a console. “Hold it Morn.” said Helena firmly. “Helena?... I haven’t seen you since...” “... Since your device burnt my face, but that’s in the past, provided you do me a little favour. I know where you’ve been going wrong.” “What do you mean.” glared Morn. “You have to find those that want your gift. That’s why you’ve lost two powerful creatures... I Want to be a Mecha Knight. Change me, and I will hunt those two down for you.” “Uh huh... But what’s in it for you?” asked Morn suspicious. “All I want is to be better than Lucia, and the only way to best her now, is to become a machine. But if you dare try to control me with those devices, I’ll slash your throat. Do we have a deal? Or does Iyaxxl have to hear of your blundering mistakes?” That was easy to decide, “Its a deal. Get in, I’ll make you the most powerful Mecha Knight of all.” Soon, Helena was standing in the second capsule, but no wires were used. “I’m all set, but how will I find my sister now that she’s flown off somewhere?” “I was more cautious this time, I planted a detonator on that jet pack. Without my influence to switch it off, it’ll explode as soon as she reaches a certain distance, and then you can hunt down her battered body.” “Good plan, now change me already, so that I can become more powerful!” shouted Helena, wearing a maniacal grin. “Yes ma’am. Finally, my work shall prove successful!...” smiled Morn. Lucia was in the air, she noticed a faint beeping sound, and turning slowly and nervously to an addition on her jet pack. “I’ve seen that design before... Its a... detonator!!!” She was too late, and it exploded, malfunctioning her pack and causing her to plummet. “I’m sorry Turok... I tried... Going... down...” To be continued... Back to “The Robots”: Part 1 Part 3 Back to “Past Heroes and New Beginnings” Back to the Library