Chapter 43: The Password

  Zhon raised his hands in surrender. "Our apologies. We are miners from the main facility and have been told to transfer to the B facility."

  As he spoke, Roan slowly circled behind the massive android.

  The android's red eyes remained fixed on Zhon. "State the serial number of your superior. We have received no such notice on our systems." It scanned Zhon meticulously.

  Zhon cleared his throat. "Uh, yes, of course. It's FYMTBYBF—"

  The android emitted a loud beep. Zhon glanced at Roan, who was now positioned directly behind the metallic sentinel.

  After a few seconds, the android's tone turned aggressive. "There is no one with this serial number. Prepare to be detained."

  Zhon shrugged. "Well, it was worth a try."

  With swift movement, he threw a spherical object that split in two, latching onto the android's eyes and core.

  "What are you doing? Cease this immediately!" the android groaned.

  Zhon pressed a button. A massive voltage surge exploded through the device, destroying the android's eyesight and shutting down its core. As the body fell slowly, Roan caught it from behind with ease.

  "All right, I got it! Let's go!"

  "Well, that was easier than I anticipated." Zhon looked at the motionless body. "Sorry, buddy, but you're more useful to me blind and incapacitated than fully operational right now. But if you're a good boy and help us, I might fix you."

  "Let's just join Ravine. It's damn near dark," Roan said.

  After another thirty minutes of trudging through the cooling sand, Zhon squinted and spotted Ravine pacing in the darkness. He smiled and turned to Roan. "We made it. She's here too."

  As they approached with the massive android, Ravine rushed to them. "What the hell is this? What happened? What about the plan?"

  Zhon chuckled as Roan dropped the body to the ground. "Oh, this? We stumbled upon this guy on our way here. Don't worry—I made sure his core was damaged. He won't wake up out of nowhere."

  "We're lucky they're not already after us." Ravine pressed her palms to her face, then exhaled. "Okay, what now?"

  "Now the fun part begins. I'll use the tools in the ship to figure out a way to exploit him—ethically, of course." He looked at Ravine, Roan, and Mother Phoenix. "In the meantime, we can discuss a plan for what comes next. And I mean everything." He stared at Mother Phoenix, who nodded in silence.

  "Good. In that case, Ravine—you're the fastest. You take the body."

  "What? Why can't you do it?"

  Zhon smirked with false pleading eyes. "Roan already carried it here. You wouldn't make someone with such a feeble body as mine carry it, would you?"

  She sighed. "Why are you so weak?" She picked it up with a soft groan and placed it on her back. "I'm ready to go."

  "We're right behind you. Let's meet at the ship."

  As they left, a faint pulsing red light emanated from the android's head.

  An hour later, they made their way back to the ship in the cold Martian night. Ravine gently dropped the body on the analysis table.

  "Phew."

  Zhon approached. "Run analysis on the android. I need the model, weight, occupation, and a display of its anatomy."

  "Understood! Running analysis now," the ship's AI responded.

  After two seconds: "Analysis complete. Model confirmed: ZRX. Weight: 2,000 pounds. Occupation: Sentinel."

  A holographic display materialized, showing the android's internal composition.

  "Will there be anything else?"

  Zhon rubbed his chin. "Can you guide me to which components are disabled and how to enable them again?"

  "Sure! Let me run some tests." After a brief laser scan: "Components disabled found: vital core, ocular retinas, emoticons corus. Unusual active component detected: Tracking beacon."

  Zhon's eyes widened. "W-what do you mean, beacon? Can you shut it down?"

  "I can deactivate it. However, they would be able to retrace my actions to here. Is that something you are comfortable with?"

  Zhon groaned. "Damn it."

  "I may create a disruptor around the ship, making it harder to be found. You tell me what works for you."

  "It may only buy us time, but as long as we figure out how to activate the emoticons corus, we can make Mother Phoenix spread it to the others," Ravine said, tapping his shoulder. "For now, just focus on figuring out how to crack it and make that thing work."

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  Roan crossed his arms. "Come on, tech guy. We trust you."

  Zhon exhaled. "Okay. Assistant, where is the emoticus located?"

  "The emoticus is located on the backside of the head of the ZRX. If we were to link it to other models, they are mostly either behind the ears or on the backside of the head in the middle."

  "Thank you."

  Zhon activated a small, chained scalpel. It whirred to life as he carefully made contact with the android's head. Sparks flew in different directions as the metal split under pressure. After a minute, he set down the scalpel and positioned a lamp over the opening.

  He put on rubber gloves and carefully explored the internal wiring, moving slowly to avoid damage. After careful searching, he felt a curved component with a mushy texture on the right side.

  He jumped slightly. "Nothing bad will happen if I take it out, right?"

  "Affirmative. As the component has been disabled since the ZRX was put online, removing it would cause very little to no damage. You are free to examine it however you want."

  Zhon smiled. "This is all I needed to know."

  With a clean motion, he extracted the corus with finesse and held it close to examine. "Hmm, it's almost like the core is a mix between organic tissue and mechanical engineering." He turned to Mother Phoenix. "When you made androids able to think freely, how did you do it?"

  Mother Phoenix approached. "I could connect to them on an emotional level and make them feel their own wants and beliefs. Why?"

  Zhon flipped the component between his fingers. "Want to try doing it again?"

  "Sure, I guess."

  She closed her eyes and attempted to connect. Her face kept frowning, then relaxing for a full minute before she opened her eyes. "I-I can't do it. It's like there's a password forbidding me access."

  "Correct," the assistant confirmed. "Most models have a password known only to their creators to ensure they cannot be tampered with by just anybody."

  Zhon paced. "Okay, I have an idea." He pointed to Mother Phoenix. "It might be risky, but if you connected to the Mother Ship, would you be able to gain access to the code?"

  "I very well could, but if I do, Razak would definitely know we're here."

  "If we have to sacrifice the element of surprise to gain massive military power, I think that's a fair trade."

  Mother Phoenix closed her eyes and focused. "I'm in. Now for the code..."

  She accessed the database. As she retrieved the data, a voice emerged from the system—deep and calm.

  "How low have you fallen, Kyomi? To the point where you have to sneak into the ship we built together. I know about your little detour to Mars and what you intend to do."

  Her voice came out ragged but soft. "Razak..."

  "I will continue to let you roam free and try—and eventually fail. Then I will dispose of them and make you watch as the last of your flawed vision ceases to exist."

  "I am saddened that we do not see the same anymore, but you are wrong. We will stop you and your schemes, and we will perish together—you and I."

  His laughter echoed like a ghost. "Sure. Let's see whose vision survives the test of time. Go on with the code—you will need it."

  He severed the connection. Her eyes opened, her breathing heavy. "He knows we're coming. We have to be quick. I got the code."

  She closed her eyes and activated the component.

  "Component activation successful," the assistant announced.

  "Yes!" Roan threw his hands in the air.

  Zhon carefully replaced the membrane in the android. "Good. Now we only have to wait for the assistant to finish repairs. In the meantime, we need to talk about what comes next."

  "How will we activate all the other cores?" Ravine asked.

  "We came across that radar earlier," Roan said. "What if we used it to boost Mother Phoenix's range and spread to the others more efficiently?"

  "We have nothing to lose—he already knows we're coming. I just don't know why he isn't trying to stop us." Zhon paused. "But we can figure that out later. Right now, we need to make some things clear."

  He looked at everyone. "We won't have much time later, so here are the big questions. First, Mother Phoenix—how do you plan on bringing our friends back? And how would they escape with us? Second, you said you'd blow up the Mother Ship. What happens to you? Last, why make me the new squadron leader?"

  Mother Phoenix crossed her arms. "Well, I didn't know you had that many questions! I'm taken by surprise." She chuckled. "As I told Ravine, I hold each android member's memories, beliefs, and thoughts—all of them since Earth, even before the squadron protocol started. As long as I have them, I can use the ship to create androids with their memory intact. Their bodies would be upgrades, but they'd be the same people you knew."

  "As for their escape, fully built androids are automatically placed in pods ready for release. I'll send them to Earth so you can all reunite there. Concerning your second question—yes, I intend to destroy the Mother Ship. Razak and I will both perish with it."

  She looked directly into Zhon's eyes. "I already told you why I chose you before we came here. But unlike the others, you have a dream beyond this mission. You want everyone to see and experience it with you. The others want them back but don't really have anything to look forward to." She glanced at Ravine. "This is why I know that even beyond my death, you will ensure androids survive and enjoy what they want."

  Her words hung in the air. Time seemed to slow. Zhon smiled. Roan looked pensive. Ravine sat in a chair with a slight frown.

  Suddenly, bright lights and heavy machinery noise erupted outside. A robotic voice announced: "We have you surrounded. Come out slowly and without resistance, and we will take you to Lord Razak."

  Mother Phoenix scoffed. "'Lord Razak'? How pretentious. Even I was not so corny as to give myself the name I was given."

  Ravine and Roan's eyes met. Understanding passed between them. They nodded.

  They opened the ship's door. "We'll buy you two some time. Try to convert them to our side—that would be very appreciated." Roan grinned. "And please make it quick. I'm actually looking forward to the end of all of this."

  They stepped out into the blinding lights. Sentinels surrounded them.

  "More of these suckers?" Roan said. "Should be easy—just aim for the eyes and the core in the middle of their torso. At least, that's what Zhon did."

  "I'll take your word for it. Let's get them."

  As they dashed toward their enemies, the sentinels said in unison: "Peaceful request denied. Engaging in lethal combat."

  Their hands transformed into cannons. Rapid fire erupted. The two used their speed and the sand to create a smoke screen, taking out several within the cloud by destroying their cores with precision.

  One android managed to transmit: "Manpower dwindling. Contacting Squadron Numbers 13 and 14—" before having its head ripped off.

  The remaining androids' eyes turned yellow as Zhon's voice came through the comms. "We managed to connect to the remaining androids here—miners and minor facilities. We haven't been able to reach the underground people though."

  "Thanks," Ravine said. "Although we might be in bigger trouble soon."

  She looked up. Two small ships descended from the sky toward them. She looked the other way—transportation vehicles approached from across the sand.

  "The backup might help, but they might be outmatched by Squads 13 and 14. Do you think you'll be able to get them to our side?"

  "We'll do it as fast as possible."

  Their converted allies fired shots, downing the two ships. Through the fire and smoke, menacing purple eyes emerged—unscathed.

  "No matter what happens, I'm fighting with you," Zhon said.

  As they both assumed fighting poses, Ravine and Roan said, "Thanks, Cap."

  Ravine added, her eyes narrowing, "We'll need it."