ALL NOVEL Chapter 19: The Nursery II
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"Damn, we really got out of this by pure luck," I murmured
moving my numb arm from the blast. The power armor held up well, but the sharp pain was a reminder that we weren't invulnerable. Around me, my men were in no better shape. Many lay injured, some motionless, and those still standing bore cuts, burns, and expressions of utter exhaustion.
We had faced one of the most lethal weapons from the old American arsenal, and even with the victory, the cost was devastating. More than a dozen men were dead, others gravely injured, all for a damn piece of metal. The sentinel's remains weren't even worth salvaging; most of its structure was rendered useless, including the servomotors.
With a heavy heart and frustration mounting, I approached the armored door, barely hanging on its hinges. The sentinel's explosions had damaged the locking mechanisms, leaving us a way into the room where, hopefully, we would find the end of this conflict.
"Why don't you just die already… bastard? That robot should have wiped all of you out." Suddenly, Diana's voice echoed from the speakers, laden with anger and desperation.
"Let's hope you don't have any more surprises like that, Diana," I replied, trying to stay calm.
My steps were heavy, each movement a struggle, but I pressed on towards the main room, filled with computers and refrigeration equipment I didn't understand. The air in the room was cold and dry, and the hum of the machines filled the silence.
"Did you really think leaving your pacified robots would make us ignore them? It didn't work. So save me the time and tell me where you are. Let's end this once and for all," I said, somewhat tired.
The echo of my words faded as my eyes scanned the room. Although I didn't fully understand many of these devices, I knew Diana's technology was far beyond anything we had seen so far.
"Or would you prefer us to rip out each of these cables until we find a way to stop all of this?" I said, sensing Diana's silence.
"Do you really think you can stop what I've created? My technology is the only thing that can save this devastated world. I won't allow the Legion to claim it. My work is all that remains," Diana's voice returned, this time with a calmer, almost resigned tone.
"So you'd rather it be destroyed rather than used to rebuild society… you're just someone addicted to power who doesn't want to let go," I replied with a mocking tone
"Addicted to power? You don't understand anything, legionary. I'm not seeking power, but preservation. Humanity destroyed itself once, and if my technology falls into the hands of barbarians like you, it will happen again." Diana laughed again, but this time the sound was empty, lacking the confidence she had shown before.
"Whatever you say, Diana," I said, beginning to access one of the servers and disconnect it from the network.
Having already learned the security system Diana used, it took me little time to forcibly access the server's information. Diana attempted to mock my efforts until she realized I had already breached her system.
With Diana's security system completely compromised, I took a moment to review the information on the server. The computer interface flickered as I navigated through the files, uncovering critical details about Diana's technology and plans. The data displayed on the screen revealed maps, technical specifications, and details about the systems Diana had so fiercely protected.
"This can't be! How did you breach my security system so quickly? It should have taken weeks or even years!" Diana's voice came through the speakers, still active.
"The Greenway Hydroponics system has critical flaws; you'd know if you hadn't just encrypted the code, thinking it was perfect," I said as I continued sifting through the files.
"This cannot be happening! I improved that security system to be impregnable!" Diana shouted through the speakers.
Ignoring Diana's tantrum, I continued my investigation.
As I examined the information on the server, I realized the scope of the facility's purpose. The name "The Nursery" made sense; it was designed to preserve life in a post-apocalyptic future, with the capability to cultivate both flora and fauna in a controlled environment. The data revealed a complex and extensive recycling and resource management system, with a focus on ecological sustainability.
The refrigeration system, which Diana had used to store eggs and sperm, was a crucial piece of the puzzle. The existence of artificial wombs and genetic material storage indicated an ambitious plan to restore life in a devastated environment. That's why there were cows instead of Brahmin; Diana created non-mutated animals to rebuild the livestock industry.
Everything was controlled from the control zone where Diana had taken refuge.
"I've found you, Diana," I said, watching the cameras.
The control area was clearly visible on the screens. It was a room filled with monitors, servers, and advanced technical equipment. There, I saw a brain floating in a sort of gel Diana herself. It seemed she had made a final attempt to fortify her position, but the reality was her resources were in ruins, and her defense network had been compromised.
"From what I see, you only have a handful of robots left to defend you… an Assaultron, if you had used them together, they might have caused us more casualties. Let me guess, those last robots are what keeps your brain functioning," I said, watching the cameras for Diana's reaction.
"Barbarians, beasts, you will destroy everything? For years, I've kept this facility running, building a perfect society that wouldn't make the same mistakes of the past," Diana shouted through the speakers.
"And it fell easily because you never allowed them to defend themselves. You made them dependent on you, only to fail them in the end. But don't worry, once I'm done with you, I'll put this facility to good use," I said, signaling the legionaries to head toward Diana's location.
As we left the main building and walked towards the secondary building, which housed a factory designed to produce G.E.C.K.s and other necessary components to sustain operations for years without relying on external materials, we made our way to the control zone where Diana was located.
"Place the dynamite," I ordered one of the legionaries. Within minutes, the explosives were positioned around the steel door separating us from the control area, where Diana's brain controlled what remained of her defenses and her failed plan.
The explosion shook the ground, and the metal gave way to the power of the blast. The door, now twisted and shattered, fell to the ground with a loud crash, revealing the entrance to the control room. A faint electrical hum and flickering lights indicated that the facility was still operational.
We advanced slowly, weapons at the ready. The smell of burning and the cold air from the refrigeration filled the corridor leading to the nerve center of the operation. I knew Diana was somewhere, monitoring our movements, waiting for her last chance.
"Open fire!" I ordered as the Protectrons, slow but relentless, emerged from the shadows, accompanied by the menacing figure of the Assaultron. Its eyes glowed with a red intensity, and the blades it carried promised a brutal fight if it got close.
My legionaries wasted no time. A torrent of rifle fire rained down on the Protectrons, their metal chassis partially withstanding the impacts, but it was only a matter of time before they fell. The Assaultron, however, was faster, moving fluidly, dodging some of the shots with agility as it approached dangerously.
"Target the legs, bring it down!" I yelled, aware that the Assaultron's armor on its limbs was its weak point. The shots focused on its joints, making the machine stagger as the metal crunched under the concentrated fire.
The Assaultron fell heavily to the ground, its servos still struggling to lift it. I seized the moment, running towards it with the full weight of the power armor. I felt the impact as my boot crushed its metal head, the crunch of the metal resonating as its energy flickered out.
The remaining Protectrons, still active, began firing with their laser ammunition, their attacks relentless but predictable. Red beams of light crossed the air, hitting my armor. I felt the heat on my shoulders, but the power armor withstood the assault.
"Destroy those useless machines!" I shouted to my men while taking cover behind a nearby column, catching my breath after the charge. The legionaries responded with precision, concentrating their fire on the remaining Protectrons. Their slow movements made them easy targets, and one by one they fell under the hail of bullets, their circuits overloading and bursting in small explosions of sparks and smoke.
Finally, the last Protectron fell, and the echo of gunfire ceased. Silence enveloped the room. We had won this battle, but one last step remained. At the end of the hallway, the doors to Diana's control room awaited, the final obstacle between us and total control of the facility.
My heavy steps echoed throughout the complex, the metallic sound reverberating off the walls as I approached the brain floating in the thick gel at the center of the control room. Each movement reminded me of the power of the armor, the mechanical servos accompanying my advance. The dim light from the screens and the hum of the machines filled the air, but everything felt incredibly empty.
Before me, Diana's brain floated in a capsule, surrounded by a complex web of cables and tubes connected to the systems keeping the facility operational. Despite her defiant tone, I knew this was her last defense. Her robots had fallen, and her base was at the mercy of my legionaries.
"Well, I suppose no one will object if I take the honor of killing this self-proclaimed goddess," I said, looking at my legionaries while placing my hands on the computer controlling the brain.
The gel around the brain bubbled slightly, and the monitors flickered with a dim light.
"Any last words, Diana?" I asked, watching the floating brain coldly.
There was a long silence before her voice came through the speakers again, but this time, there was no arrogance, only weariness.
"You will never understand… you will never understand. What I did here… was for survival. I was trying to… correct what you destroyed. My work… could have saved this world," Diana said.
"Oh, this technology will surely help save the world, but it will be my work, not yours. Farewell," I said coldly as I disconnected the life support of the brain and cut all connections to the systems.
The liquid supporting Diana began to churn violently as the life support was shut down. Bubbles rapidly formed in the gel, and the brain, devoid of life, began to slowly sink.
"Alright, let's get to work," I ordered.
"We need to report our victory to the Legion. Legate Lanius will want to know that we have control over a means to feed hundreds of thousands of mouths… Search the whole place for parts; we'll try to repair the Vertibird and use it to return," I said to my legionaries.
My men dispersed, some began to search the wreckage of the complex, while others returned to the workshops and manufacturing areas to look for any technology or parts that might be useful. I knew repairing the Vertibird wouldn't be easy, but with the facility's resources and the knowledge we had gained, we at least had a chance.
I turned to observe Diana's inert brain one last time before leaving. The future of this facility was now in our hands. What had once been a failed dream of a superior intelligence would now become the most powerful weapon of the Legion. Lanius would know soon, and our victory would resonate throughout Caesar's lands.
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