Power in the Hands of One (13 page)

I use the momentum to grab hold of its armor in a bear hug and sling it to the side in a mock body slam. Something like satisfaction fills me as I watch the writhing form of ADS03 attempting to stand.

I kick the center of mass of the other robot, now on its hands and knees. Ripping the bent light post from the crick in my armor, I note the turbine generator starts again, albeit at 50% power.

With the turbine generator running, the cannon is also online, but I’m too close for a shot. Unexpected trajectories and firing solutions tell me this without asking. So I grab hold of an arm while placing one foot on ADS03’s back.

I pull upward, keeping pressure on the back until the arm rips free in a strained tearing of metal and hydraulics. With simple, caveman blows, I proceed to beat ADS03 over the head with its arm.

All the while I’m taking in new information from the A.I. in an invigorating sharing of our wills. I almost feel rejuvenated by this process, questions answered that I never knew I had.

This prompts me to query the A.I. about Worthington. Where is he? Images of a motionless Worthington are returned. He’s leaning backwards in a chair and it doesn’t look like he’s breathing. Electrodes and other electrical equipment are attached to his head and neck.
Security footage, Western Lights Villa A. Time of death: 10:28 AM, May 3
rd
.

Two weeks ago… So if Worthington is dead, then my tormentor in this machine is nothing but a hoax—his uploaded thoughts, if anything. I reach down to rip the head off of ADS03 while I continue to query the A.I.

In under a minute, I find a Worthington subroutine—a lesser, separate portion of the A.I. I delete this program without delay.

Tossing the head into a nearby building, my confidence rises further. I hook an arm around the floundering ADS03, bring it to its feet, and spin it round into another crumbling structure.

I heft the still flaming rubble of ADS01 and hurl it into the headless white robot.

ADS03 falters and collapses back into the building.

I bring the cannon around and take aim. Firing three repeated shots, a small explosion rocks the foundation of the structure before it all comes down on the fallen robots in a cloud of dust and debris.

A small, retreating figure off to my left catches my eye.

It’s Elias running for the open fields beyond Western Lights.

I start after him, not about to let him get away. It’s my responsibility now, my responsibility to see this through. I’m in control. I’ve got to protect humanity from people like him. I’ve got to protect humanity from itself.

End