14 Rampage
It was massive.
Enormous round, worn metal shoulders rested upon a large frame.
It stood there.
And it stared soullessly at him with its singular white eye...
Michael was afraid to move.
It may have looked like it was just observing him, but some strange sense of intensity permeated in the air, telling him that this thing wasn't doing such a thing coincidentally.
It had been waiting for them here, hence their blood cushions.
....
Carrian must have noticed the oddity that was Michael's silence because after observing and calling out to him, the bandit stopped in speech for a moment as well.
"Shit."
He had heard him say. But all the time Michael only paid attention to the monster of a figure in front of him.
Waiting... It felt like minutes yet, in reality, mere seconds.
The next thing Michael knew, he had been grabbed by his rags from behind and tossed over the shoulders of Carrian. Michael would, on any other occasion, be embarrassed to the highest degree. But it was when he noticed the young man's perfectly efficient movements, and effortless form, that he knew the A.I. was in control.
That same sense of surrealism in body movement was only seen once before by Michael, and in the Desolate's elevator at that. But even after seeing it that one time, however, he felt that he had seen it a million. It was just too... unreal...
The robot wouldn't just sit still through it all, as Michael had feared, and began to chase.
Unlike Carrian's smooth fluid motions under the A.I's guidance, however, the beast of a machine was almost completely unorganized in its actions, unexpected for something artificial in nature.
During the short, but fanatic sprint, off of the landing platform by Carrian, efficiency unmatched, and the "Utility droid" chasing them... Michaels heart-rate skyrocketed every time the beast reached out, nearly decapitating him.
If it were not for the A.I. in control of Carrian, Michael guessed that they would be no better than the other bandits who had provided them a safe fall.
The A.I. pushed Carrin through hallways, whose sides were smashed, caving in as the droid came rampaging through.
They passed through doorways, which were then torn asunder by the metal monster, as it desperately squeezed itself into new rooms. Metal sparked screamed and groaned at its near unhindered attempts to reach them.
"Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!Fuck!"
Michael thought that nothing could stop the robot from reaching them.
It would rip apart any obstacle the A.I. threw its way as they were chased around the facility.
Michael lost track of where they were, mere seconds after they arrived.
Forward Star's exponential increase of Carrian's efficiency, somehow allowed for their escape, when skidding around a tight corner and through an open door. The utility droid crashed into the corner's wall, denting it heavily, and stopping completely.
Carrian didn't stop though, and under Foreward Star's guidance proceeded to run.
He came up to a door, sealed tight, and armed with a number pad.
The helmeted man seemingly extended his five fingers outwards and jabbed at the pad. Causing it to open.
Michael knew better than to think that it was as simple as that. The AI must have known the code, and milliseconds apart precisely entered it in with Carrian's fingers. Though he wondered why the A.I. couldn't just open the door via the system that existed here, if one existed.
'Damn...'
He couldn't find words to describe the past 5 minutes. Not even as he was rushedly set aside by the bandit, who then jabbed at the panel on their side of the door, locking it.
Michael didn't think that would be of any effect to help them from the Giant robot though. It could probably rip this door open effortlessly.
He looked around the room they were in. Unsurprised... to find nothing.
Almost everything was gone.
Foreward star had mentioned to Carrian earlier, who then mentioned to Michael that the facility was operated by the U.P.C.; the people who owned this place, and that they had quickly evacuated this planet. For whatever reason. Most likely in relation to this "Incident" that keeps being mysteriously shadowed in conversation.
The only thing left in the room was a screen. Black, without a source of power to light it. Until it suddenly came fizzing to life. The now blue screen displayed a familiar red message.
// My apologies for the unauthorized possession of your body Mr.Carrian... I only acted in what I had calculated the best method for both of your continued survivals.
I would also like to apologize for the actions of Delta RX50-U on behalf of the United Planetary Command. Droid code is subject to long-term corruption if not maintained properly every year or so. I fear that it's defense protocol has found its way into its Andii-nian interaction sequences.
//
"So... that's why it was going rampant? "
Michael looked over to see Carrian trying to rub his head, but being unable to, due to the obstacle of a helmet he wore.
"But what happens now?" He added.
"We sure aren't gonna make it half as far as you think through this place, not with that thing out there."
//Absolutely correct Mr.Carrian.
But according to the new information I have received, you should be quite "excited". We now have no more reason to remain in this facility! //
It was Michael's turn to express his surprise.
"What?! Weren't we supposed to help you send a message or something?!"
// Ah. Operative Mitch.
I have recently discovered that the communications systems here in this facility are irreparably damaged as well. Therefore you, alongside Mr.Carrian will have to assist me in directly interfacing with an out of order U.P.C. satellite, in order to have the best chance at sending and/or receiving messages from high command.
//
'...the hell? It wants us to go into outer space to send a frickin' message on a satellite? Next thing you know, it'll want to send us to another planet altogether...'
Michael laughed worriedly.
But Carrian interrupted his thoughts.
"That doesn't explain how we're getting out of this mess - without getting killed. "
// You are indeed right to fear the possible outcome if an encounter with Delta RX50-U, Mr. Carrian.
But now, such worries are all for naught. Because as shown by live surveillance feeds throughout this facility... //
Numerous rectangular images, representing the perspectives of cameras throughout the structure appeared on screen, side by side. "Something" displayed on all of them.
// ...quite a few intruding bandit raiders still remain.
And video evidence shows Delta RX50-U headed directly towards them!
This is an incredible opportunity not only for the both of you to escape but also while doing so, have the intruders eliminated in the process by Delta RX50-U; effectively erasing the possibility of left-behind U.P.C. property being stolen!
Does this not conform to the ancient Uminos-Andii saying: "killing two birds, with one stone" ?! //
Michael felt relieved at hearing all of this. But unsettled at the same time by the AI's lack of compassion for human life.
He looked over, expecting to see that same sense of relief.
But the bandit had a frozen look about him.
He heard the words that would come to mean a world of trouble stutter out of the bandit's mouth.
"Tha-that...that's..."
He stared at one specific image on the screen, blankly, oddly, and in somewhat anxious disbelief, before slowly uttering.
"...what is she doing here?..."
