Asunder Chapter 52

Chapter 10.5 (52)

The Isobian

The Opening

“My dearest Enzo,

I’m sending this letter in complete secrecy. Do not let anyone read this. Please burn it and then erase it from your memory so as not to compromise you as well. I am writing this in haste. They are destroying everything here. They are disbanding the Nurturer Program. They killed everyone, including other Isobian Nurturers. I’m afraid I do not have much longer. Please always remember me. You have been a friend from the beginning.

Love,

Forteny”

- Present Day -

- The Year 2296 -

Enzo ran as he had never before, following the magnograv bikes at a breakneck speed. He carefully held on to the Judge, who had stopped resisting and now grabbed Enzo by the neck like a child in his father’s arms. Though keeping a good pace, his frame had never run at this rate. Sensors sent overheating warnings to his limbs, and alarms rang in his head. But with the haste of the chase, he overrode the alerts and forged on.

Everything seemed a blur as it had happened so fast. Shock still coursed through his mind by the turn of events transpiring just moments before. Though Enzo had never destroyed another machine before, he was surprised by how little remorse he felt afterward. He had killed Berk. Evil and deadly Berk. His colleague. His enemy. A righteous indignation settled deep within Enzo. The fact it had been Berk, an unremorseful murderer, made the act that much more redeeming. It felt as if Enzo made one small step toward doing something independently honorable rather than just another mindless mission the Alpha demanded of him.

Enzo hoped that, with the scene unfolding moments before, those who doubted him could give his efforts some credence. He could see why the Judge and Ace remained hesitant to trust him. He had done little to earn their trust throughout his lifetime. But the sheer fact that the Judge had not shot him the instant Enzo picked him up and cradled him gave Enzo some solace in this hope.

Focusing his attention on their new destination, Enzo followed with curiosity. They had broken free of the dunes and now headed through desert brushland, illuminated only by the light of the moon, which became less bright as it neared the horizon. The RAM siren echoed in the distance, but no signs of new Takers in pursuit presented themselves thus far.

Enzo worried he had been the one to warn the Takers of the humans’ location. He grew anxious that his dreams were a portal to their locale, so he fretted over the current situation. Guilt streamed through his consciousness. He recalled the dream from before the horrific arrival of Berk. Enzo had not meant to fall asleep when he did, but he found it more challenging to keep his mind active, especially the more he used it. He thought of the demon flying toward him and the wretched voice echoing in his dream. The Alpha existed only as a monster seeking to destroy everything in his path. Enzo shuddered as he recalled the dream.

Suddenly, a voice echoed above them, breaking Enzo from his thoughts. “Warning! Warning! I detect multiple Watchers nearby and thousands of frequencies descending upon us!” HERAa called out as she zipped by overhead.

“It seems they’ve discovered us somehow?” The Judge looked up at Enzo with reproving eyes as he bounced up and down with each step.

“I said I was sorry, Jeremiah,” Enzo replied as he understood the hidden meaning in the Judge’s words.

“Well, you could stack your sorry’s to the moon, but that dog ain’t gonna hunt no more.” the Judge hollered back over the wind.

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“It means it’s too late to apologize.” The man clung to Enzo. “But by golly, actions sure speak louder than words, don’t they?”

“Excuse me?” Enzo struggled to understand what the Judge attempted to suggest.

“You did alright back there, big guy.” The Judge looked away.

“I believe he is complimenting you, Enzo,” HERAa called out as she sped beside them.

“Well, thanks for spilling the beans there, little missy.”

Enzo smiled inside. Maybe the Judge did like him a bit.

Enzo quickly returned his focus to the run as he noted Korin’s and Ace’s magnograv bikes descend out of sight

“What is happening?” Enzo called out to HERAa.

“From up here, it looks like the others are entering an opening in the ground.”

“The cave that Ace mentioned to that Korin lady must be up ahead.” The Judge held onto his hat to prevent it from blowing away as he squinted into the distance.

As Enzo approached the descent, a large cavity in the ground opened up before him, and he could see the faint glow of vehicles descending further into the darkness of an underground cave.

“Why are we going down here?” HERAa questioned with apprehension in her voice.

“We’re just gonna do all the work for the machines. You know, drive ourselves to the market for branding and auction!” The Judge chimed in, bouncing up and down in Enzo’s arms as they descended the rocks into the cave.

As they entered the cavern, a roaring of engines met their ears. Dawn filled the sky, and the firmament settled into a deep violet. In contrast, dozens of white jet streams coursed through the atmosphere, arcing toward their location. With this, Enzo rushed into the depths of darkness.

“They are here! They are here!” HERAa panicked as she sped into the cave with them, bumping into the rocks of the low-lying ceiling.

Enzo’s night vision and echolocators kicked on, causing his one-eyed vision to transition from pitch black to bright grey. All the surrounding rocks became visible, and a burning white light followed by voices appeared in the distance. Ace and Korin’s magnogravs stood parked within the cave, ditched near the entrance. Approaching the group, Enzo shifted his sensors back to the standard setting, causing the faces of his friends to shine in the light of Eliza’s lamp. Enzo gently set the Judge down, who grunted a sort of gratitude. HERAa continued to zip around the group, spouting off whispered warnings.

“Warning! Warning! They are here!” The female voice echoed through the cave.

Before arriving at the group, the Judge stopped and grabbed Enzo by the arm. “I want to say something,” the Judge looked at the machine fiercely. Enzo stood in silence.

“Thank… thank you… for what you did back there, for what you’ve done for me and Jane these past few days… I was… I was wrong about you… you’re a pretty good guy.” The Judge patted him on the shoulder, grinned, and walked toward their friends.

Enzo stood in silence for a brief moment. “A good guy,” Enzo said quietly. Not a machine. A guy: an informal term for a youth or man, he defined the term in his mind.

“I’m a man.” He said to himself again.

Voices rising within the group broke him from his reverie.

“Quiet down, little Missy!” the Judge called out to HERAa.

“Judge! You’re okay!” Jane cried and ran to him.

“Well, I always told ya that I’m a breed tougher than nails and strong as steel, didn’t I?” The Judge commented as he embraced her.

Glancing at Enzo through the hug, she mouthed her gratitude. “Thank you.”

Enzo nodded.

“The rest of those machines are fast approaching,” the Judge spoke up, stepping away from Jane. “We saw 'em coming like a herd of steers. We ain’t got much time. What’s the plan, Abe?”

They all looked at Ace, who responded, “Well, I figured this was the closest place for cover.”

“Well, don’t we have to get to that gate?” Jane asked.

“Yeah, but that’s hundreds of miles northeast of here. It’s at least a full day's journey at full speed…” Korin answered.

“That’s it? That’s the plan?” The Judge interrupted. “We’re sitting ducks! They’ll have this place surrounded in no time!”

Korin spoke again, “There’s another entrance we found when we were here before looking for Jane. It’s about a quarter mile down the cavern.”

“But won’t they just follow us?” Eliza interrupted.

Ace looked at her defiantly. “I’m gonna stay and lead them away from you.”

Enzo processed the conversation. Ace was going to sacrifice himself for the greater good.

Was this something that a real man would do?

Self-sacrifice for the safety of one’s friends?

Was this what love indeed was?

Enzo loved Imogene, at least from what his mind processed as “love.” Did he love the others as well? Reasoning within himself that the others meant as much to him as Imogene, he did feel he would do anything at this point to preserve their friendship and their lives. So Enzo stepped forward. “Abraham, you do not have the means to fight them. I will stay and fight.”

The Judge looked at Enzo with a look he had never seen before in the man: a sad smile—a grateful recognition.

“We don’t have to do any of that! Let’s all just go! No one has to stay,” Jane argued.

“Someone has to, Jane!” Ace argued.

“It will be me,” Enzo spoke resolutely.

Ace nodded gratefully.

Suddenly, the loud impact of the landing machines reverberated above them.

“Follow me!” Ace yelled.

Ace then grabbed Jane by the arm and began running toward the mouth of the cave. The others did the same, with HERAa winding between them in pursuit.

“What is that boy thinking?” The Judge hollered over the booming sounds erupting around them. The mouth of the tunnel grew lighter as they approached the entrance. “I thought he said we’re going a different way ?” The red glow of dozens of machines dotted the slope leading into the cave. Suddenly, Ace took a sharp right where they had parked the magnograv bikes and entered another smaller tunnel that broke off from the main cavern. The tunnel narrowed considerably. At this point, Enzo could hear baby Imogene’s cry ring out, echoing through the cave.

Ace stood at the mouth of the smaller tunnel, leading everyone in. “You have to go the rest of the way on foot. Just stay hidden when you escape on the other end. Korin knows the way to the gate. Just be careful.”

“You are coming with us, Ace!” Jane whispered, grabbing him by the arm, still attempting to quiet the baby.

Enzo turned to Ace, “I will distract them. You go with the others.”

Ace looked at Enzo with deep regret, “I can do this!”

“No, you cannot,” Enzo spoke firmly. “You and the Judge need to protect the others. I will stay.”

At that moment, the entrance to the smaller tunnel began to glow red, and the sound of metal against rock reverberated throughout, replacing the sound of the crying child. Enzo turned around to face the oncoming machines.

The Judge put his arms around Jane, “We have to go. Enzo will meet us on the other end.”

Jane sadly nodded but then reached over and grabbed Enzo by the arm. “Thank you, Enzo. You are a true friend.”

Enzo nodded in return. The words welled inside him, and with that, he ignited his palms, a red light consuming him. “Thank you… for your kindness and your friendship.” Enzo replied.

Jane nodded in return, and they all began running further into the small tunnel.

Enzo turned back toward the Takers, who fast approached, and with the redeeming love of his friends, a song ignited within his mainframe: Allegro Con Brio, of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 Eroica—the epitome of human musical creation. And as though he were back painting an eloquent image of the azure sky from his dream, he imagined Imogene in his arms. He imagined the faces of Jane and the Judge laughing as they sat around a campfire. He imagined the feeling of the warmth of the rays of the sun on his blue skin. He also imagined the image of Jane’s face as she hugged the Judge and mouthed her gratitude to Enzo. He imagined the Judge’s sad smile. He imagined the wondrous green eyes of a grown Imogene telling him that he had received forgiveness. Likewise, he imagined HERAa zipping about in her newfound freedom. Finally, he imagined freedom… and with this, he ignited his palms in a fury of red-glowing plasma and began the beautiful destruction of his past. Takers exploded as they flooded the tiny tunnel, the enemies funneling into his mayhem. He could hear the others making their way toward safety.

Suddenly, just as a vestige of hope remained in his heart for his friends, it was dashed by a sharp cry from Korin: “No! Not you!”

In his wrath of flaming extermination, Enzo quickly glanced back, and suddenly, the world around him sank into the pit of despair. There beyond the group on the opposite end of the tunnel, in the direction they headed, stood a man, torn asunder. His inner mechanical workings remained exposed. The spy. Agro. Behind the cyborg stood an army of Takers.

Agro’s face glowed an eerie red in the tunnel, and an evil smile crossed his wretched face. “Hello, my love,” he spoke in a wry and broken voice.

Enzo calculated his defenses. There appeared to be no way he could hit the cyborg without injuring his friends. Ace stepped forward, aiming his rifle straight at Agro’s head. The group huddled together. The Judge held his rifle above his head in the same direction.

“Step back, or I’ll end you right here, right now!” Ace shouted at the maniacal menagerie of machines.

“I don’t think you realize who has the upper hand here, Ace,” the name hissed from the cyborg's mechanical mouth.

Enzo continued firing upon the Takers from his end. Enzo could hear hints of the Judge’s voice whispering to Jane, but with the sounds of his firing, he couldn’t make out what the man said.

“Hand over the child, and I will spare… most of you,” Agro growled as he looked at Korin, who, in utter anger, spit in the direction of her former lover.

“Never!” She yelled.

Imogene’s cry suddenly stopped. Enzo looked back to see Jane holding the small blue stone before the child. She turned away from the others. Jane’s and the child’s faces glowed as the stone pulsated its blue, ethereal light.

“That’s enough of that,” Agro spoke firmly, “take them.” He commanded his soldiers, who began to squeeze by him to reach the group. The Takers who tried to reach the group through Enzo increased their frenzy. They all crawled over each other to get them. Enzo increased his firing, but not being able to hold back an entire army himself, his once brothers and sisters overtook him. Enzo glimpsed back to the group in desperation.

HERAa’s panic-stricken voice echoed through the tunnel, “This is it! It's the end! We are done for!”

In an instant, the blue pulsation of the stone grew brighter and brighter, and through the mass of metallic bodies overtaking him, Enzo could see Imogene’s eyes begin to take on the same majestic glow. Glancing at the Judge, in Enzo’s final view of his friends, the older man’s eyes glowed the same. Then suddenly, they all looked up at Enzo, smiles penetrating the tunnel’s darkness, bearing their image onto his soul. And with that, a blip of pure silence consumed the area, followed by a sphere of blue smoke erupting from the stone, engulfing the small band of humans.

Their visages materialized as the sphere retracted in on itself, taking them with it. The speed at which it all happened was incomprehensible, and as they disappeared into the void, an empty space between the flanking machines re-emerged from where they once stood. Only a rocky path remained, no humans or HERAa whatsoever.

The immensity of power that erupted from the contraction of the sphere as it collapsed in on itself sent a rush of forced air exploding in all directions. The force threw the machines backward, pushed them off Enzo, and blew them out of the tunnel, ejecting them all into the main cavern, including Enzo.

Shaking the impact and chaos from his circuits, Enzo immediately attempted to collect his thoughts.

The gate! 

It was never an actual gate. 

The child was the gate. 

Imogene was the answer all along. 

He laughed at the revelation, feeling as though he could cry. His friends were safe. He had protected them, and they escaped. Overwhelming happiness erupted within him. He jumped to his feet. The machines about him managed to do the same, and their red eyes glowed in anger and resentment. They had found their traitor.

Analyzing what little time he had left before either the machines destroyed him or took him hostage, Enzo jumped to his feet and peered at the magnograv bikes idling nearby. The other Isobians followed his gaze as they assembled themselves. Quickly calculating the engine specs, he visualized a virtual map of the engine’s interior within his mind. Images of the high-capacity alternator producing the antigravity and its fail-safe deadman switch formalized his plan. He quickly calculated the bypass of the switch. It was possible. With no time to spare, Enzo ran to the bike. Calculating his motives, the other machines lunged to intercept him.

Agro and the others emerged from the tunnel, joining the other Isobians to overtake him again. Enzo dove for the bike, landing on the ground below the engine. The Isobians reached for him, grabbing him by his metallic ankles. Rejoicing the success of their capture, his once friends overlooked the true motive behind Enzo’s lackluster attempt to access the magnograv. Rather than getting to the bike to make a break for it and attempt escape, Enzo reached his hand into the engine compartment. His true motives were not an escape but access to the anti-gravity engine. Immediately, he aligned his calculations and ignited his plasma generator. Instantly, the antigravity engine sparked.

The last thought that crossed his living mind was that of a newborn child—a memory from when he was a nurturer: the soft cry of its first breath, the quiver of its skin as it transitioned from its watery home to cold air, and the gentle coo as he warmed it with a plush blanket and listened as it took its first yawn—a new life.

Instantaneously, the monstrous explosion consumed everything within a two-hundred-foot radius. The entire cave system immediately collapsed, destroying everything within its rocky belly. A plume of smoke rushed from the cavern's entrance, sending the machines along its perimeter flying through the air. The RAM, or Watcher as the humans called it, quickly approached, glimpsing the carnage from its high and mighty view.

§

Enzo viewed the scene from the same height as the Watcher, floating above. The world below revealed the settling smoke of the bomb he had just ignited. A frenzy of machines swarmed about the site like bees to a broken hive. Peering over to the horizon where the sun rose, Enzo’s sensors didn’t register its warmth. He looked down at his hands, which appeared blue and soft rather than hard and metallic. Skin draped his bony frame, and his hands seemed translucent instead of having a material form. He could see through his palm to the scene below. He was an apparition. Reaching for his face, his hand passed through the visage of his head.

A serene understanding settled over him, and he smiled naturally. He was a man, just like the Judge had said—not a machine but an actual soul.

He glimpsed the rising sun again, and its glory consumed the landscape—its brightness burning beyond measure. The white ethereal light suddenly surrounded him, and his soul ascended into the comforting arms of eternity.