Chapter 4 - Hunted

  The sirens blared as the nearby scientists stared at the decimated tree and at the still alert combat android.

  “ANALYSING ENVIRONMENT….. UNABLE TO VERIFY PRESENCE OF ANOMALIES…….. RECALLING PAST 10 SECONDS OF COMBAT……….” TE-55 ran through the recording it passively had active, slowing the recording and analyzing it as each frame revealed more information.

  “0.32 SECONDS BEFORE LASER STRUCK AL-01_1: RADIATION IN GAMMA BRACKET DETECTED…… RECORDING ANOMALY AS: AL-02…….. ANALYSING EFFECT…………

  EFFECT FOUND: AT 0.313 SECONDS TO IMPACT AL-01_1 MOVED 0.5 METERS UP……ANALYSING RESULT……..RESULT FOUND: SHOT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED….//WARNING//….. UNKNOWN ENTITIES STILL ACTIVE ON SITE…. RELAYING TO NETWORK……” TE-55 sent out a warning message, to all autonomous robots and to the relevant officers currently in base, that something unknown is still alive.

  “0.01 SECONDS AFTER PRESUMED LASER IMPACT…. AL-01_1 REACTS….. TARGET AFFECTED: SENDING DATA TO NETWORK……. NETWORK SEND REQUEST ACCEPTED…… 0.092 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT: NEW RADIATION SIGNATURE DETECTED….. ANALYZING…… RADIATION DETECTED WITHIN VISIBLE LIGHT: YELLOW BRACKET: (5.72x10-6)...... RECORDING NEW ANOMALY AS AL-03…..ANALYSING EFFECT…. AL-03: YELLOW BURST OF LIGHT FROM BOTH AL-01_1 AND AL-01_2 LASTING 0.2 SECONDS……. ANALYSING EFFECT……. AL-01_1 AND AL-01_2 MISSING FROM ALL SENSORS…. //WARNING//… NETWORK NOTIFIED…. INCREASING BASE LOCKDOWN FROM 01 TO 03…. ALL PERSONNEL OUTSIDE OF BARRIER 1 WILL BE FIRED UPON STARTING IN: 60 SECONDS….” as this warning was delivered to the network, a surge of data overwhelmed the robot which was requesting access to its CPU. With permission granted, the network overtook the processing of the recording.

  If the sirens were loud before, now they screamed. A long, loud alarm overpowered the old one, the lights attached to each tent and around the camp bursting alive, painting the entire area in a red hue. People scrambled into their tents and within half a minute the camp was barren. The only thing left wandering around were the combat androids, who had their selected weapons slowly heating up, ready to strike at a seconds notice.

  “LONG RANGE SCAN REQUESTED: 100 KELOMITER RADIUS…. REQUEST DENIED… REASON: INEFFICIANT USE OF LIMITED ENERGY…. LONG RANGE SCAN REQUESTED 10 KELOMITER RADIUS…… REQUEST ACCEPTED.”

  Following the request, a quadcopter flew out of one of the tents. On its underside, it carried a spherical object with antennae and signal dishes attached to it. Along with all the sensing equipment, a long wire snaked with the drone, connecting it to a terminal inside the tent. The drone rose up into the sky, fighting hard against the wind and keeping its station in the sky above the tree tops.

  “LONG RANGE SCAN PROGRESS..31%.....42%.....67%......80%.....100%..... ISOLATING DATA FROM RAIN…10%.....68%....100%..... UNKNOWN SIGNALS DETECTED THREE KELOMITERS SOUTH-WEST OF CAMP… DETECTING TYPE OF SIGNAL: INFRARED= BIOLOGICAL ENTITIES (5) .. ANALYSING AVAILABLE OTIONS………………FOLLOWING CURRENT MISSION: OBSERVATION ORDER ISSUED…….. DRONES AVAILABLE:7 …….CALCULATING FOR ACCEPTABLE LOSSES AND % OF ORDER COMPLEATION…… DRONES REQUIRED FOR SUCCESS RATE OF 70% = 3…….. TRANSFURING MISSION CRITICAL INFORMATION TO SELECTED DRONES……. DRONES ARE TO FOLLOW BIOLOGICAL ENTITIES AND RECORD. THEY ARE TO FLEE IF ENTITIES TAKE HOSTILE ACTION.” TE-55 was acting as a middle man as the network used its recording to calculate the best possible actions following the mission. After the network withdrew its presence from TE-55, three quadcopter drones shot out of the tent in which the now recalling survey drone was housed.

  ____________________________________________________________________________

  It was all a blur; out of the corner of her eye, Katlin saw a bright light starting to glow. Her vision clouded and she felt herself slightly lift off the ground. The weightlessness shocked her, however shortly after, she felt a searing pain incomparable to anything she had felt before.

  On her right upper thigh, a large chunk had been melted out, leaving a gaping wound. Her brain didn't even have time to comprehend what had happened before the golden seal broke and her vision blurred again. This time she was under a tree, with Leandros and Ithlix worriedly looking down at her. Her brain caught up with what happened and the pain hit her. It was indescribable, a pain so great that it would make the fires of the hells seem like a hot bath. She squeezed her eyes shut and howled in pain, tears started to stream down her face as she was about to lose consciousness. Just before she slipped out of consciousness, a cool glass pressed at her lips and a honey-like liquid filled her mouth. Its sweet taste soothed her as she blacked out.

  Orthanis felt the seal break as a wave of weakness overtook her, the spell brought both marked targets to her, yet she fell down on to her knees and threw up the hearty breakfast she had earlier that day. The toll holy magic had on people was no joke. Orthanis’s senses waned as she recovered from the backlash of her most mana intensive spell. Breathing rapidly and getting herself back together, she looked up at the two now visible party members, Katlin lay on the ground, the rain battering her dress. Looking down, a gaping wound the size of a watermelon punctured through her outer thigh; the blood pumped out, mixing with the mud and rain. Above her, Timalis was by her head and pouring a yellow potion down her throat. The screams of pain Orthanis could now start to hear faded as the injured witch stopped.

  “Orthanis,” Timalis looked over to the elf who was on the ground, his expression a mixture of fear and guilt. He held her head up off of the ground.

  “I have given her one of the sedatives, we need you to heal her now.”

  Orthanis shakily stood up, the heavy rain and mud making it harder, and reached the dying woman. She dropped to her knees and looked at the damage.

  “Heavy burns,” she mumbled “most of it- surprisingly hasn’t been cauterised...” She looked at where the blood was pumping. The burnt skin couldn't hold the blood pumping out, and with each movement it cracked; Orthanis had to move fast otherwise she wouldn't be able to heal her fully. The elf started to speak as she held out her muddy hands. Leandros and Ithlix weren't idle, pulling out a blanket; Leandros held it over the three party members. Ithlix was on high alert, he patrolled around the group and staring off into the dark fog, broken only by the alarm lights of the camp.

  “Oh goddess above,” her eyes closed and a gold- like yellow emanated from her hands. “Please lend me your love and power to save a suffering soul.” As Orthanis’ small prayer finished, a warmth spread from her palms and by pressing her hands on either side of the burn, it started to close. The skin slowly knitted itself together. Orthanis had underestimated her limits, and a searing pain shot through her. The stress from the teleport and healing was too much in a short period of time. The wound was halfway closed, the muscle was still magically connecting itself back together, when Orthanis started to cough. Blood shot out of her mouth as it fell on Katlin’s thigh. Orthanis almost lost concentration but she persevered. The elf coughed a few more times as her eyes glazed over; the skin of the witch was still scarred but it wasn't bleeding anymore. Looking at her work Orthanis couldn't hold off her weakness and fell unconscious on top of Katlin.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “What the fuck happened?!” Leandros yelled, the rain had picked up and a few echoes of thunder were heard.

  Timalis looked up from the two women unconscious on the ground, fear plastered on his face.

  “I….I… don't know” Timalis finally answered. A thump hit him on his back; it wasn't hard enough to hurt but it was enough to make him snap out of it. Snapping his head back, he saw Ithlix on watch, his tail ready to thump him again.

  “Snap out of it, tell us while we move.” The dragonfolk commanded, while he and the elf moved over to the women and put them into a princess- carry. Orthanis was raised up first by Leandros, while the larger Ithlix carefully lifted Katlin.

  As if the soothing voice of the monk calmed the chaos of his mind into a smooth lake, Timalis gritted his teeth and stood up. Taking out his bow and knocking an arrow, he looked around, trying to find the fastest path out.

  “This way” he spoke, finding the path he took, cutting through a few bushes. He darted forward and began to explain what happened.

  “I've never seen anything like it before. walls made out of wire. Beasts of metal scurrying around like ants. People completely covered in yellow, all collected around a large glowing square. Columns of black smoke shooting out of strange towers, with rope webbing out to all the tents and lampposts. The main thing was the golems- I counted over five before I realised one spotted us.”

  “Was the invisibility spell still active?” Leandros asked from behind.

  “Yes, but the golem still stared at us and cast some sort of spell. I'm not the best at magic stuff but before Katlin wakes up I'll give my two senses.” Timalis took a moment before looking back at the two following men. “I think this is a new demonic invasion. That spell was too strong for anything our constructs could manage. I was quite a distance away and I felt the heat.”

  “Are you sure?” Ithlix questioned, his voice stern. “The implications of that would be cataclysmic. Maybe it's the academy? They have an entire school dedicated to constructs, It could be them?"

  “Like I said, I think it's a demonic invasion. Once Katlin wakes up she will know what it is and make fun of me for how dumb my conclusion is.” Timalis reiterated.

  Minutes passed by as they ran through the wet woodland. As they ran further away from the camp with no signs of pursuit, calmness wormed its way into Timalis’ head.

  “Maybe they escaped?” he thought, but his senses remained on high alert. Through the wind and rain, most noises would be hidden, however, a faint noise filled the ranger’s head.

  “Do you hear that?” Timalis looked back at the party. Both looked exhausted from running through thick bushes while carrying someone. From how they perked up slightly and glanced around, their answer was clear.

  “No.” they both said after a moment.

  “Well it's a strange buzzing, it sounds like insects.” Timalis slowed down slightly and looked at the many trees encircling them trying to find a hive or nest. His eyes moved from canopy to canopy, not finding a single nest or swarm. Just as his eyes passed over a gap in the leaves, looking at the dark grey clouds that occasionally glowed with lightning, a set of three new lights shined down. The buzzing sounds got louder and the lights intensified.

  “RUN” Timalis yelled, letting the two other men pass him as he pulled back the sting of his bow. He recognised the lights as the same as the lampposts, so he knew his hope of escape was crushed.

  The lights dropped down, passed the treetops and swooped into the clearing. Squinting past the blinding lights, he could see what was following them. With four outstretched arms ending with glowing disks that buzzed loudly, the sound this close completely overpowering the crashing of rain around them. Held up by the limbs, an angular body with the light at its head that illuminated the area. The unknown constructs hovered as they stood off; arrow knocked and bow drawn; Timalis let loose the arrow, flying forward to the construct in the center. The flying machine started to move to avoid but it was too slow, the arrow struck the machine in its body. The lights quickly extinguished as it crashed onto the mud below. Before he could knock another arrow, the machines moved. Stepping back, ready for a fight he watched the machines as they fled. Confused, he finished loading the arrow and watched as they rose into the stormy night in straight movements. Taking aim he drew the bowstring back, he fired again but just missed as the lights almost faded into the darkness. Before the glow of the lights fully faded, one stopped and came back at speed. It raced towards the group as it swerved around another arrow Timalis shot. Seeing the change in behaviour the ranger started to run following behind the other two party members, who had fled from his sight. The flying machine flew at incredible speeds as it dipped and swerved around the trees, getting closer and closer to Timalis. He started to sweat as the buzzing got louder and louder, looking to his left and right to find a quick escape, he met eyes with Leandros who was pressed against the bark of a tree, Orthanis nowhere to be seen. With a signal with the knight’s chin, the ranger kept moving forward, making sure not to draw any attention to the sneaking man. As he moved, luring the metal creature past the awaiting knight, a loud THWACK silenced the constant, overbearing buzzing of the machine.

  Withdrawing his tail and stepping out behind a tree, The dragonfolk observed the now smoking clump of metal. The damage done was substantial and its original form was mangled beyond repair. A burning palm-print was visible, imprinted into the machine. As the two other active party members approached to observe the small construct, the bright light that still illuminated the forest turned red. The light began to flash and a loud repetitive beep added to the sound of the storm. Fearing the unknown, Ithlix quickly moved to block Timalis from the beeping pile of scrap. Leandros brought up his shield once he saw Ithlix move. Three seconds after the beeping started it quickened before an explosion erupted out. A searing heat encapsulated the area around the downed machine; Leandros saved himself and Timalis from the brunt of the blow, as shards of metal pierced his shield while the heat burned away the paint. Ithlix wasn't so lucky. With his back to the explosion, his heat-resistant scales were overpowered and flaked off leaving a nasty burn covering most of his back and upper tail. Two shards of metal shot at speed into him, one embedded itself into the now burned flesh and the other into the back of his calf. The now weakened dragonfolk collapsed onto the floor. Bracing himself up, the now cursing Ithlix kneeled onto the mud. Leandros quickly moved and helped to hoist him up.

  “Poppy” Ithlix growled between curses in dragon tongue. Allowing Leandros to hold up the now immobile Ithlix, Timalis dug through his pockets attached to his belt. Pulling out three poppy buds, he was going to pass him one but before he could pick out one, a clawed hand snatched the plants from his hand and quickly ate them.

  “I would imagine that was one of the machines you saw at that camp,” Leandros asked, lifting Ithlix up so that he was standing on his healthy leg.

  “No,” Timalis shook his head before getting to the other side of Ithlix and holding him up, “the machines in the camp were bigger and more deadly. This… Imp is most likely a scout.”

  Following Leandros as a guide, the three arrived under a large tree with a dense canopy, propped up against the somewhat dry bark the two women sat up. Katlin was still unconscious but Orthanis wearily looked up as the group approached. The exhausted woman tried to stand once she saw the wounds on Ithlix.

  “The poppy will take effect shortly, there is no need to rush yourself too much.” Ithlix spoke, his voice carried his usual calmness but it had a distinct underlying sense of frustration. “But we cannot stay here long. If more of those ''Imps’’ as you call them, arrive, I fear we can't hold them off in our current situation.”

  Leandros sat beside Katlin as he checked up on her, while Timalis collected rainwater in a small wooden bowl. Once the bowl was filled Timalis walked back over to the burned dragonfolk and started to carefully clean his wounds with a clean rag. As the party rested, Leandros spoke up, once he finished his check on Katlin.

  “I agree- we need to leave here as soon as possible… but we can't get far in this weather or condition. We will wait until Orthanis is able to heal again, and you're in better shape, Ithlix. We will head for the coastal village of Grey Harbor, it's not too far from here and we can decide what to do next there. All in favor?”

  Orthanis weakly nodded, while Ithlix grunted in agreement.

  “Good idea. I’ll take the first watch. Do you think we should cycle every five hours?” Timalis asked while nodding.

  “Yeah, I'll prepare some cold food for us then.” Leandros copied Timalis’ nod.