Breachers – Path of Steel

30

I

Echo

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Day 30

Specter

Inside his closet home, the robot sat, running his steel fingers across the wooden panel and the pried-open locking mechanism. He couldn’t feel anything, but he did notice the subtle resistance when he pressed his finger against the metal lock. “Specter.” In a soft murmur, he spoke, the sound emanating from his newly installed speaker. Although, similar to Marcus’s, he had shifted the tone of his voice a bit, making it deeper. “I’m Specter,” he repeated, remembering the choice of the name and its meaning. ‘That prick has it easy. He’s just Marcus. I, on the other hand, have to be something else,’ he thought as he got another fragmented memory of Marcus laughing and drinking. Specter tightened his left hand into a fist, recalling the axe’s weight in his grip back when he had slaughtered the worm-like creatures with Marcus. His thoughts continued to wander, remembering how awkward their teamwork had been in the beginning of that Sphere, as well as how they had improved a bit afterwards. ‘Find out what you are born to do, huh? I wonder what dad would’ve said about a piece of his son’s mind trying to mirror him in such a weird way... well, that and being an actual robot,’ Specter thought, entertained by the image of his father’s imaginary scolding. ‘I think mom would’ve approved, seeing as I don’t make as much of a mess in this form... God I miss them.’

His hand unclenched, attention shifting to the HUD he willed in existence. ‘Just two hours left. Break time is over, time to get back to it.’ He grabbed the laptop that was on the backpack next to him, placing it on his steel knees, and flipped it open again. On the screen, an assortment of text documents, sketches and dozens of opened websites were visible, the result of two days spent delving into anything that even came close to what he was; robotic, its software, even programming. Beyond that he had also looked up nearby Spheres, more info about Breachers, and a multitude of subjects related to 3D printing and DIY repairs. He found it harder to concentrate on his research when he was working alone, with Marcus being so distant. He felt like less of himself at the moment, well aware that the real Marcus had about 70% of their shared mental capacity at this time. His attention remained on his laptop as he looked up the next site, where he read up on welding instructions and safety precautions. He had used a welder before with his father there to supervise him, but it had been years ago. ‘This would’ve been a lot quicker if that idiot... if Marcus was here instead of downstairs,’ he thought, reminding himself once more that he was to be different from Marcus, including the way he spoke or addressed people. His focus shifted to the connection he had with his fleshy companion. Gradually, he began to see glimpses of Marcus, with Felix, Uncle Laurens, and some people from his childhood, all sharing drinks. His sister wasn’t there, seeing as she was off on another Guild assignment, this time in the southern part of the country, collaborating with a Belgian Guild. Specter suddenly recalled a glimpse of Felix vaulting over the bar counter to snatch some food, while Sam, the owner, threw a disapproving look. ‘Snacks too? Why not go for a full five-course meal while I am at it,’ he thought, a mental sigh escaping as he leaned back, resting his head against the wooden panel. “I’m Specter, not Marcus. Grow some bolts and act like it. Be like dad,” he mumbled while wiggling his steel feet. ‘I wish I could be down there with you. Happy 30 Days coma-free, Marcus,’ he thought, before shaking his head and returning his focus to the laptop.

Operating with just 30% mental capability, he could still manage reading and simple tasks just fine. Curiously, it seemed to have little effect on his intelligence, whether he functioned at 100%, 50%, 30% or a mere 10%, since he still possessed a brain... or whatever it was that robots had. The lower the number just made him feel like a crucial piece was missing, something necessary for him to actually feel like himself and properly use his mind, body and memories. ‘Maybe it’s the soul itself that’s missing? Or my personality?’ he contemplated, delving into philosophical territories he felt ill-equipped to handle. He tensed as the door to his apartment swung open, and people entered, their voices echoing in the air. He strained to listen, recognizing his own voice as Marcus gave the newcomers a tour of the place. The closer proximity to himself made it easier to catch glimpses of the man’s thoughts, bringing back memories of the pub and shared conversations. He noticed approaching footsteps and voices as people entered the bedroom, coming awfully close to him. Specter’s attention abruptly shifted to Marcus, who stood on the other side of the closet, and was clearly within the five-meter radius. In that moment, Specter’s mind was flooded with a constant stream of new memories, recalling the beers shared with the people downstairs, the food, the housewarming gifts he had received, including a boxing bag from his uncle. He overheard the comments from the people about the state of his bedroom, noting that it contained only a mattress and a sleeping bag, along with some worn clothes strewn in a corner next to an empty bag of chips. The robot felt a mental grin forming as he took pleasure in their teasing remarks about Marcus, conveniently ignoring the fact that, essentially, they were one and the same. ‘I’m Specter, not Marcus, so this mess isn’t my responsibility,’ he thought, repeating the mantra. He was aware that said mantra would reach Marcus’s mind and hoped that it would either provoke some irritation or amusement. The chatting continued for a few minutes before the group slowly exited the bedroom, grabbing a few items from the living room before heading back downstairs to continue the party.

Specter shook his head and then continued his research. He opened a website containing frequently used IT terms, believing it was a good idea to grasp the basics before diving into more complex subjects regarding software. ‘Let’s see, we’ve got Protocols, Errors, Servers, Root, Drones, Files, Echo, Nodes, Main, Bios, Nexus, Circuits, Data, Code, Master? Oh, hell no!’ Specter thought, rereading the term with reluctance. ‘I’d rather take a bath with a toaster than call Marcus my master.’ He delved further into his reading, focusing on the software and programming section, hoping to gain insights into how his robotic mind functioned. His reading slowly led him to reconsider how he perceived his Mana charge, realizing how he had set it up as a simple countdown. ‘I should view it as a battery, not just a timer, seeing as the drain varies depending on my activities. I think that makes sense.’ As Specter scrolled through the website, he struggled to understand most of the content beyond the words itself. ‘Worst case, this won’t help me out in the field, but it might impress Martin if I can grasp even a fraction of what he does for work. We really need to fix our relationship with our little brother,’ Specter thought, the urge to grin popping up, although his steel frame didn’t cooperate. ‘Maybe I should think about installing a way to express emotions. Eyebrows? A strange rubber mouth or teeth?’ he wondered, picturing the oddities he could achieve with his robotic self. ‘I better not, as I’d probably transform into Frankenstein’s monster in a matter of weeks if I indulge every stupid idea me or Marcus gets.’

Specter did his best to focus on his work again, but distraction soon crept in again as he constantly got feedback from Marcus’s mind, interrupting him after just a few minutes. His gaze drifted to his steel robotic arm as he turned it slowly. ‘Come on focus! I’m Specter,’ he mentally emphasized, forcing himself to hold onto his own identity more firmly. When he had taken on the role of Specter, combat and ambushes had gone a bit smoother, with both him and Marcus clearly understanding their respective duties. The calmer and more mature style Specter had adopted seemed to be what the two of them had needed. ‘Still, if I’m no longer Marcus... or at least trying to become someone else, then what am I? Specter the robot feels oddly degrading and not really fitting.’ He pondered this for a moment before returning his attention to the laptop, immersing himself in more technical terms until one word caught his interest. “Echo.” He actually voiced the word, allowing it to hang in the air. ‘Echo sounds cool and somewhat fitting. Specter, an Echo of Marcus.’ Specter mulled over his new name and purpose in life as he closed the website before opening another one, this one providing insights into 3D printing techniques and the best filaments he should use for specific tasks. As he did, he caught fragmented memories of Felix preparing sandwiches and feeling Marcus grin from ear to ear as his uncle regaled them with stories of his youth. ‘And who's doing all the work again?’ Specter mused with a shake of his head, before an idea started to form. He opened another internet page, this one listing recent Sphere locations as he searched for a light blue one. Specter reviewed the places that he had already visited, including the one inside the junkyard. He read up on the details of another location that was just half an hour away by bike. 'Time to put that lazy Marcus to work tomorrow, because I sure as hell ain't pedaling,’ Specter thought as his gaze drifted to the bag beside him, filled with several pieces of Monster-Glass that they had brought back from their last run. ‘Just a bit more.’

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Day 31

╔ ╗

[System activation: 100%]

[Specter is now online]

╚ ╝

Specter’s consciousness flared to life as his senses gradually returned, though his vision remained shrouded. He sensed movement and, for a moment, lost his balance before being gently lowered to the ground. He could see a dark cloth slowly being removed from his frame, allowing him to see his surroundings. Specter watched as Marcus grabbed the cloth and threw it across the bicycle before moving it behind a nearby bush to hide it further, adding a few twigs and leaves to finish the job. The young man then grabbed a garbage bag that had been tied across the steering wheel as he vented his frustration. “God, this is getting old. Remind me to buy a cargo bike of sorts, instead of tying you on the back of this rust bucket.”

Specter nodded and then raised his gaze to the night sky. A multitude of stars and the moon greeted him, making him feel insignificant for a moment. He then looked to the right, seeing the massive light blue Sphere in the distance, partly encircled by thick walls, guard stations and rows and rows of barbed wire with a portion extending over the nearby lake. “Are you ready to go?” Specter asked, observing Marcus approaching him and retrieving some items from his backpack before passing him the hatchet.

“Yeah. But what’s with the low-pitched voice all of a sudden?” Marcus inquired; his eyes locked onto his companion. “It’s like you’re auditioning for a new batman movie but failing.”

Specter shook his head in response, suppressing his urge to flip the man off. “How about we stick to what matters, right? Like avoiding being torn apart by monsters or caught by security,” he suggested. He was relieved that his steel frame served as the ideal poker face, concealing his current embarrassment regarding his voice.

“Whatever mister Wayne,” Marcus retorted, flashing a mischievous grin before continuing, “Back when I... we... whatever we are now, helped Felix with the truck, we’ve visited this spot before. It’s government-owned and frequently used for farming. So, there is a good chance other Breachers have thinned out the number of monsters during the day,” Marcus shared while assembling the two pipes, finishing his improvised spear. “And the best part-”

“The walls don’t wrap around the entire site of the Sphere, so we can swim around it and slip inside without having to climb over the walls and deal with the barbed wire,” Specter chimed in, giving the hatchet a few swings to familiarize himself with its weight again.

Marcus just raised an eyebrow at being interrupted before shrugging it off and afterwards opening the garbage bag. From where he was standing, Specter could see the dozens of empty plastic bottles inside, each filled with trapped air. Marcus sealed the bag tightly and passed it to his companion to use as an improvised flotation device. “Let’s hope it’s enough to keep that steel butt of yours from sinking.” They shared a look, then executed a quick fist bump and double-tapped it before making their way to the lake’s edge. As they stepped into the water, their forms slowly began to slip beneath the surface.

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Two monsters were crouched over a pile of bare bones, gnawing away at the scraps they could find. They were a weird mix of reptile and fox, yellow scales blending with patches of dirt brown fur on their grotesque frames. Hunched over in a strangely human fashion, their nimble front legs skillfully plucked at the picked-clean the bones in front of them that looked strangely similar to themselves. One perked up at a distant sound, slowly turning around to face the lake and spotting a ripple. Holding a tiny bone, it shuffled to the edge for a closer look. It paused there for a moment before tossing the bone into the water. It clicked its tongue a few times in response, but nothing happened afterwards. As the ripples died off, it started staring at its own reflection as its eyes hinted at some degree of intelligence and self-awareness. When the creature turned to approach its kin, a sudden noise from the water behind it shifted its focus. Without warning, something hard and cold seized its neck in a firm grip, squeezing and forcefully pulling it backward. The strange hold tightened, causing internal damage and preventing it from making a sound. Limbs thrashed in a desperate attempt to break free as something dragged the creature into the water. Fully submerged, it watched the other monster rush towards the water, only to behave strangely as a strange long thing pierced its chest, releasing red liquid in a spray, with most of it hitting the water, partially staining it red. Seeing how its kin had gotten stabbed to death, the submerged monster made one last effort to free itself, flailing harder, only to feel its neck suddenly snap to the side. A few seconds later, Specter pulled the lifeless monster with him as he stepped back out of the water, spotting Marcus cutting and wiggling the Glass from the other monster’s head. “Any issues on your side?” he asked, seeing Marcus shake his head.

“They’re not a massive threat. Quick, but not too tough. Still, I hate the fact that we have to go out at night all the time. It’s hard to spot them,” Marcus remarked, wiping clean the Glass and stashing it in his backpack. He then headed over to Specter to grab the piece that the robot had been cutting out. “And that’s two.”

Specter scanned his surroundings, his camera lens catching the play of vibrant colors and the strange shape of the trees and bushes. Everywhere he looked was strange flora with twisting branches, adorned with hues that didn’t really fit on Earth. Where there weren’t trees, he noticed spiraling rocks sticking out from the ground, their surfaces shimmering with a weird glow. Beyond that, in the distance, he spotted an overgrown restaurant that might have been popular at one point, yet it was now weathered by time and the Sphere’s effects. “You reckon the Orb’s there or buried somewhere?” he asked.

“No clue,” Marcus answered, eyeing the overgrown building. “I’m sure it’s packed with monsters. How about we try not to wander through the tree line, overgrown bushes and weird rocks? There might be loads of them hiding there or swinging around like bizarre ambush monkeys.”

“Ambush monkeys, seriously?” Specter questioned, shaking his head, afterwards turning his gaze toward the shoreline and walls in the distance. “Let’s stick with the lake at our back and circle around the outer edge. See if we can find more stragglers like the last two.”

"Hmhm," Marcus murmured, his gaze still fixed on the building in the distance.

“Forget the building. We just need a bit more Glass for the required 20 pieces. Let’s go,” Specter said, tapping Marcus’s shoulder with his hatchet to get his attention again. When he finally did so, Specter led them along the shoreline in the dead of night, intent on spilling some more blood.

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Copyright: OsiriumWrites