Big guy and rusty the boy robot #49 Point of no return

Big guy is the property of Darkhorse comics and Tri-star.

Previously on big guy and rusty the boy robot…

Dwayne's journal is lying open next to his bunker.

"I am giving him power when I’m in him. But I sensed some of his own."

Dwayne is at a bar. A tough looking guy picks on him.

"Pent up anger that has been stored for years."

Dwayne looks at the man coldly picks up the bar stool and smashes it against the guy's head. The man falls to the floor.

"I've released it."

The ninja is racing through the city streets. He keeps ducking down alleys and climbing up buildings. But gunfire keeps getting to him. He has been hit several times already but doesn’t seem to be wounded much. He jumps down into an alley but finds himself surrounded on both sides.

“Freeze!” A soldier yells.

But the ninja cuts into the wall and forces a huge chunk down which kicks up dust. He races up the wall and by the time the soldiers can see again he is up on the roof hiding. He looks over his bullet wounds and pulls back a part of his cloth outfit. Circuitry is exposed.

And now the continuation…

The city is busy today. A lot of people are coming and going. So nobody notices one small child huddled in a hood and jacket racing along alleyways like he is scared. He approaches a manhole and looks around to make sure nobody has followed him. He pulls the manhole open with his bare hands and jumps down. He races along still looking back every few seconds. Suddenly he runs into somebody and he screams.

“Don’t worry my child. You are safe now.” A calming voice says.

The boy looks up and smiles. He pulls back his hood revealing he’s a Neo Machina cyborg. And the man he ran into bends over revealing he is one also. They continue down the sewers/

“The others are waiting for you. We were worried about you. You shouldn’t go to the surface like that.” The man says.

But the child doesn’t respond. They finally reach an abandoned area of the sewers where a bunch of cyborgs, both adult and child are waiting. One woman races forward.

“How dare you race off like that? You had me worried.” The woman scolded.

“I’m sorry. I was just looking for some food.” The child cries.

The man frowns. He gets up on a piece of rotting wood and calls everybody’s attention.

“I know that our food and other resources are very thin. But we cannot go to the surface world to find them. If even one person found out we were down here they would probably send destruction down upon us.” The man says.

A woman cries.

“If only we hadn’t been exiled from them. They had plenty of resources.” The woman says.

“We didn’t belong with them. They were warmongers and we are peaceful.” The man says.

“It’s hopeless.” Another woman cries out. We can’t go to the surface without being chased back and that’s were the good food is.” The same woman responds.

Suddenly a dark figure appears in the tunnel. Everybody screams in terror at the stranger.

“Wait I can help.” A voice says.

The dark figure steps into the light revealing it are the machine master.

The leader steps forward angrily. The other men draw their weapons and train them on the machine master.

“What kind of help can we get from a human?” The leader asks.

“I worked for your brethren. I helped them, or I tried. And now I want to help you.” The machine master says.

“I heard that a human helped the main hub.” A woman says uncertain.

The leader frowns.

“Yeah but I also heard that a human destroyed them also. Maybe it was you.” The leader asks accusingly.

The machine master back peddles.

“Whoa there. I helped them. I had nothing to do with their destruction.” The machine master says defensively.

“Really then why didn’t you die with them?” A woman steps forward asking.

The machine master looks down.

“All my life I have been into machinery. The more sophisticated the more it got me into it. My peak came when I found a way to control any machinery I wanted to. When I first met the Neo Machina they were the most sophisticated machines I had ever seen. I thought that we could go far together.” The machine master says.

Some of the others step forward towards him.

“No! You can’t trust a human.” The leader says angrily.

Meanwhile at the pit Melissa is working on repairing the Bgy-12. Mack sneaks up on her.

“Hey there.” Mack says.

Suddenly Melissa grabs him from behind and throws him over her shoulder. She then spins around and gets in a defensive position. When she realizes what she did she puts her hand to her mouth.

“Oh god Mack. I’m sorry.” Melissa says.

Mack gets up and brushes himself off.

“Man I knew you have told me to stop playing games but wasn’t that a bit much?” Mack asks.

“If only you could know the truth uncle. But the truth would be the end of my career.” Melissa thinks.

Mack smirks.

“I accept your apology as long as you promise not to do it again.” Mack says.

Melissa smiles then gets back to work. At the military base where Thornton is stationed a familiar figure approaches the gates. Officers immediately surround him with weapons raised.

“Freeze!” The squad leader orders.

The machine master raises his hands.

“I’ve come with a message of peace in the name of a exiled group of the Neo Machina.” The machine master says.

“What do you think you are doing here after what you did you little…” Thornton asks coming in from the front entrance with soldier escort.

“I represent a group that was exiled from the Neo Machina cause of their peaceful believes. They need resources as they running out. Without any they will die.” The machine master says.

Thornton hmphffs.

“So let them die. Their kind did a lot of damage. They deserve it.” Thornton says.

“I’m telling you that they aren’t like the others. They need help.” The machine master says.

Thornton shakes his head.

“Besides why should we believe you? I heard you joined the Neo Machina.” Thornton asks.

The machine master takes out something very slowly and holds it out. A soldier scans it for any explosives or bio weapons. He takes it.

“This is a sign of good will. Some information you’d be very interested to know about.” The machine master says.

Thornton grabs the device and turns it on. A video footage of the neo machina base wreckage comes on screen.

“The Neo Machina is no more. A few days ago their base was wiped off the face of the earth by a weapon. A human weapon.” The machine master says.

The color drains from Thornton’s face.

“You’re lying. This is just a trick to get our guards down.” Thornton says.

“I thought you’d say that. Send a pilot to that area and see for yourself.” The machine master says.

“Oh no. So your forces can destroy it?” Thornton refuses.

“Take me with you. They won’t destroy it when I am inside the copter.” The machine master says.

Thornton thinks it over for a minute then nods to a pilot. The pilot takes the machine master at gunpoint and they both enter a helicopter. After about 30 minutes it returns and the pilot steps down with the machine master still at gunpoint. He nods his head at Thornton in acknowledgment.

“If we had the technology to destroy them then why didn’t we do so along time ago. Something stinks here.” Thornton says grimly.

Thornton frowns.

“What do you want us to do?” Thornton asks.

“Bring a representative to come and see the small group. So someone else other than me can see the horror they are going through.” The machine master responds.

Thornton walks over and conferences with a couple of soldiers.

“This is a crazy idea. This has got to be a trap.” One soldier says.

“But what if he is telling the truth? Can we take that chance?” Thornton asks.

“I still say it’s a bad idea.” The advisor says.

Thornton sighs.

“Okay I will send Dwayne to go down there. But he will be wearing heavy armor and something to keep track of him.” Thornton asks.

He looks at the machine master.

“But be warned. If anything happens to him then all the force of the military will be brought down on those people. I will personally make sure of that.” Thornton warns.

Soon Dwayne is ready to leave the Darkhorse. Melissa injects something into his arm

“I just injected a homing device. It’s undetectable by any scanners.” Melissa says.

Dwayne then puts on heavy armor and gets into a plane.

“Good luck.” Melissa says giving Dwayne a thumbs up.

Dwayne flies to the military base and meets with Thornton. The machine master leads Dwayne to the manhole that leads to the secret home of the exiled group.

“Are you ready?” The machine master asks.

“Not really but that never stopped me before.” Dwayne answers sighing.

The machine master pulls the manhole open and they both drop down below. Dwayne looks around. They walk along for a few minutes. The machine master stops him.

“I’ll go ahead and tell them about you real quick.” The machine master says.

Dwayne grabs him.

“Remember don’t try anything.” Dwayne says sternly.

The machine master breaks the hold and disappears into the darkness. After a few minutes he returns and motions for Dwayne to follow him. Dwayne follows reluctantly. Soon he starts to see signs of living. He soon sees his first person and is startled to see the resemblance to the Neo Machina members. A couple of kids scream at the site of him.

“It’s okay. He’s not here to hurt us.” The machine master says.

Dwayne looks around and is shocked to see woman and children.

“I never expected a group like the neo machina to have woman and children. I mean the Legion ex machina never had any.” Dwayne says.

“When the Neo Machina was created plans for a society was visioned instead of just a small group of warriors. They had hoped that in this way that they would survive.” The machine master says.

Dwayne is startled by a small tug on his armor. He looks down and sees a very small child.

“Please help my mommy.” The child says.

Dwayne looks up at where the child is pointing. He sees a woman lying in bed. She is obviously in very much pain. She starts to have convulsions and cries out.

“What’s wrong with her?” Dwayne asks.

Dwayne walks over to look at her.

“She’s in her final stage of shutdown. She doesn’t have enough resources to continue to function.” A man responds.

”This is what we will all end up like if we don’t get help.” A woman says.

Dwayne looks at her face and sees the true fear. Suddenly the convulsions stop and she goes motionless. Dwayne can actually see the light go out in her eyes.

Meanwhile back on the surface the soldiers guarding the whole report in.

“No sign of him yet.” One soldier reports in.

“Give him another 5 minutes then go in after him.” Thornton orders.

Suddenly the manhole pulls back. The soldiers train their weapons but lower them when they see it’s only Dwayne. They help Dwayne to the surface.

“This is Lt. Hunter reporting back.” Dwayne says into a communicator.

“How did it go?” Thornton asks.

“I saw death and desperation. Like you see on TV commercials about starving children. But they looked like the Neo Machina. They had women and children.” Dwayne reports back.

A few seconds of shocked silence is all that is heard over the radio.

“Okay I approve of aid being sent down. A truck full of food and resources will arrive ETA 5 minutes.” Thornton finally says.

Dwayne waits and finally the truck arrives. Soldiers jump out an take out a bunch of resources.

“They will only trust me so I will take this down.” Dwayne says.

The soldiers nod their heads. Dwayne takes the packages and once again descends into the sewers. He enters the living area. At the site of food a bunch of kids rush him and take the bundles. But the adults grab them.

“Let’s all be calm about this. We have to ration this out among ourselves if this will be effective.” The machine master says.

Dwayne looks down after feeling another tug.

“Thank you.” A child says.

Dwayne hears a loud hacking cough and looks up to see a cyborg teenager coughing so hard his face is red. Dwayne looks around and notices just how filthy the place is. Mold and mildew is everywhere.

“This isn’t enough. Lack of resources isn’t the only thing that’s killing you. You have to get out of here and to a more sanitary place.” Dwayne says.

“TO the surface? We can’t.” A woman asks.

A man steps forward.

“I’m willing to come to the surface as representative.” The man says.

Dwayne thinks about it. He takes out his radio he returned with.

“This is Lt. Hunter. A member wants to come to the surface as a representative of the others.” Dwayne says.

Thornton sighs.

“Okay but tell him that he will be heavily guarded.” Thornton says.

The man nods.

“It will be worth it if it means we can live again.” The man says.

“Agreed. We are coming up.” Dwayne reports.

The leader who has been silent all this time finally speaks up.

“No! I forbid you. If you go up there then they will kill you.” The leader says.

But the man goes with Dwayne. The soldiers on the surface once more train their weapons on the manhole as Dwayne then the man climb out. The man looks up at the sky.

“It’s been so long. But it’s just as I remember it.” The man says.

The soldiers are thrown off guard at first by how alike this man is to the legion ex machina. The soldiers escort Dwayne and the man to the base where Thornton meets them.

“I seek shelter for me and my people. We come in peace.” The man says holding out his hands in a sign of peace.

Thornton is shocked at first by this request then ponders it for a minute.

“I’ll have to consult with the others first.” Thornton says.

The man bows.

“Thank you. I hope you will return with good news.” The man says.

Thornton enters the war room and sets up a conference with the others.

“Are you mad? After what their kind did to us?” One man says.

“They should be destroyed not helped.” Another man says.

Almost everybody objects except for one man. An elderly Admiral who says nothing.

“They say they come in peace and after what Lt. Hunter has told me then I trust them also.” Thornton says.

The admiral finally says something.

“I agree with Thornton but I think they should be heavily guarded until we can be sure they can be trusted.” The admiral says.

“That won’t do any good. We aren’t talking about humans here. How do we know what kind of abilities and powers they have? Maybe weapons can’t even damage them.” Another man says.

“I stand on my opinion. I trust the judgment of my officer.” Thornton says.

The others finally reluctantly agree but under heavy protest. Thornton returns outside.

“They have agreed to let you come out to the surface under heavy guard. It won’t be permanent. Just until we know we can trust you.” Thornton says.

The man nods.

“I will return to my living area and bring the others out.” The man says.

A large group of soldiers escort him back to the manhole and wait while he returns underground. Back at the living quarters everybody is ready to go but the leader.

“Fine throw your lives away! Don’t ever come back!” The leader yells.

Back on the surface the manhole opens up and 2-dozen people step out onto the surface. The children who have never seen the surface look up in awe.

Dwayne steps forward and puts out his hand in friendship.

“Welcome to our world.” Dwayne says.

To the side a radio comes to life and a soldier talks into it then acknowledges it. The representative takes Dwayne’s hand and smiles. Suddenly gunfire erupts from everywhere knocking down the very man that Dwayne offered a hand to. Dwayne dives down to the ground. He looks in horror as every soldier is firing on all 2-dozen.

“What the hell are you doing?” Dwayne yells.

When it’s over all 2-dozen lay dead.

“WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? WHO ORDERED THIS!?” Dwayne screams.

But the soldiers simply ignore Dwayne and leave. Dwayne looks down in horror in sadness at the bodies.

Epilogue..

“What happened!?” Thornton yells back at the base.

The console beeps and Thornton turns it on. The dark figure appears on screen.

“Did you order the genocide of those people?” Thornton demanded.

The figure smiles and nods.

“Did you really think we would let them live after what their brethren did?” The figure responds.

“You used me you son of a bitch! Dwayne trusted me!” Thornton yells.

The man laughs and Thornton punches the screen. Suddenly the door comes smashing through. Dwayne bursts into the office.

“YOU SET THOSE PEOPLE UP DIDN’T YOU!?” Dwayne screams.

“I had no idea. Someone else used me to get at them. If I had known…” Thornton says.

Something inside Dwayne snaps and he rushes Thornton. He shoves Thornton backwards really hard. A look of horror comes over Thornton’s face as he flies backwards crashing through the back window. He falls out and down to the ground 3 stories up. His body hits the ground in slow motion as bits of glass hits the ground and breaks.

Soldiers surround Dwayne and medical officer pick up Thornton.

“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Dwayne screams.

The medical officers put Thornton on a stretcher. His eyes look up at the sky, almost lifeless.

To be continued...

Only 3 episodes left. How will it end? Next up the man behind everything, the admiral, will release the Neo Machina’s final weapon. But can he control it?