29 September 2012
Hannah rose from the floor feeling battered yet surprised that she had survived the attack and the fall. Her vision blurred as the suit came back online and then she saw the outer walls a short distance from her current location. "Easy Hannah, they have us surrounded." Daniel said and Hannah looked around to see four Sentinels standing, watching. "What are they doing?" Hannah asked. "Waiting for orders?" She added. "No, it's something else." Daniel said in an unusual serious tone, which made Hannah worry. Hannah switched her visual and audio ranges, and she scanned the area looking for an unseen enemy. "There!" Daniel shouted and let of a few quick rounds at a dark, shifting form between them and the outer walls. It's camouflage failed, revealing another Sentinel but this one was much bigger than the others.
"You." Daniel said and with hate full in his voice he screamed a blood-curling cry and charged this new Sentinel; on cue the other Sentinels advanced. "Martial defence programme downloaded, protocol initiated." Hannah's implant said and she watched as her body moved on its own. Her stance shifted and she fired quick rounds at the four attacking Sentinels, then she charged. She stopped mid-motion and launched a handful of grenades and as they exploded she jumped high in the air, anticipating her enemy. As a Sentinel emerged from the smoke, a vibrating blade extended from her arm and with a smooth motion she removed its head. A laser pulse hit her but her personal shield absorbed the majority of it; before she knew it she was exchanging blows with two Sentinels, while the third took to the air.
"Threat imminent." Hannah's implant informed her and her suit released a field of high-energy charge, which disrupted the systems of the duo engaging her, with just enough time to evade a lethal attack. However, her suits systems had also been disrupted. The bomb the third Sentinel dropped disintegrated his comrades, and Hannah heard a scream she wished would never hear again but she was unable to move. Hannah stood there, watching the enraged agent of death advance and time seemed to slow down. But as the Sentinel approached, a few quick rounds of laser pulses intercepted it and it crashed to the ground. Hannah turned to see Daniel looking at her giving a 'thumbs up' but her face turned to horror, as the large Sentinel swung at Daniel with a large metal blade. Noticing Hannah's expression, Daniel quickly turned, just in time to block the attack, pushing his personal shield to the limit. The Sentinel kicked Daniel across the floor and turned its attention on Hannah.
"Hannah! Run!!" Daniel screamed. Hannah hesitated for a moment and then she bolted, heading towards the outer walls. She turned around to see the giant Sentinel take to the air and she did the same racing towards the outer walls. Her suit evaded and she felt a hot beam graze her side, through her weakened personal shield. Panic began to seep into her and she screamed as tears poured freely from her eyes, Hannah thought she was going to die. She felt a hard force hit her back and she crashed back to the ground but as she got up she saw Daniel. He was bruised, bloodied and beaten, and the Sentinel's blade was deep within his chest but Daniel held firm with his all his strength.
"Go!" He screamed at her and she got up and ran, she aimed every weapon she had at the walls, fired and took to the air, racing away. The walls crumbled and Hannah left Safe Haven, turning back she watched as a force field activated, concealing the hole she had made. Hannah rose into the air, taking deep full breaths. She laughed and she cried, the air was far from toxic... She felt guilty, blaming herself for Daniel's death but she had no illusions of safety. Hannah willed herself to fly further and faster towards the distant shoreline, she looked back to see the Sentinel giving chase. As she approached land she saw a settlement in the distance, her implant adjusted her vision and she saw the Rebu. Hannah absently wondered if what Daniel said about her heritage was true, she doubted it but still she wondered...
Then Hannah approached a line of antiaircraft weapons, her implant identified them as magnetic rail guns and she panicked when they opened fire, her suit's systems froze and she fell to the ground. But as she crashed, she realised that the guns were aimed at the Sentinel, which crashed to the ground with bits and pieces flying everywhere. Hannah gingerly rose to her feet to see two hover cars approaching. She had no more strength but felt determined to keep on living, now more than ever, and so she stood her ground. A curious mix of Rebu and Human soldiers jumped off the hover car, weapons trained on Hannah.
"Hold your fire!" A strong voice commanded and a tall creature with onyx black skin approached Hannah. "You need not fear us, you are safe here." He spoke. "What is your name?" He added. "Dr... " Hannah started. "Hannah." She said finally. "Welcome to Fort Freedom Hannah, you are among friends." He replied. "They call me Hank." He added. Hannah realised the truth, the world she had called home was just a microcosm, worse it was an illusion... Nothing she had done there mattered because as a citizen living there, she was a prisoner; or as Daniel said, livestock. The reality of the whole ordeal was overwhelming, Hannah felt weak in her knees and she felt herself losing consciousness. "Medic!" Hank called and Hannah passed out.
© 2012 by Pthasse Amadeus
Stolen Minds Conclusion • Opuss № I