a lightless black with the familiar blue halo surrounding the pupils.
But the similarities end there.
There’s something different about this one, I can feel it deep in my bones. Like the others, its uniform is black, but there’s a jagged swatch of red cloth across his chest in the shape of a crescent moon. Every part of me knows that it means something terrible.
“Kill them,” it says in a guttural growl. “ That is an order, soldier.”
I blink. It’s some kind of leader, then, a Commander. The command is directed at the remaining Vector, but its stare remains focused on me. It’s impossible. Vectors don’t speak. Speaking infers functioning brain capability, and they’re dead. A shiver of cold dread runs down my spine.
Aren’t they?
“Now!” it growls again.
But the remaining Vector is motionless, staring from me to him as if confused. Its programming must not have been overridden to counter a direct order from me, its last leader, even with an order from its new one. The window of opportunity is no bigger than a sliver, but I grasp it without a second thought.
“Kill it,” I shout, jerking my head in the big Commander Vector’s direction.
It’s all I can do to get out of the way as the Vector launches its considerable bulk toward its commanding officer. But within the blink of an eye, its body is flung back in our direction and crashes into a bookcase. Splintered wood peppers the air like wooden darts, and I shield my eyes instinctively, covering Shae’s body with mine.
The big Vector is motionless, still holding Caden. It flicked its attacker off like a bothersome gnat with one finger.
“Again!” I scream at the fallen Vector. “Get up. Don’t stop until it’s destroyed.”
Even as the words drop from my lips and the creature launches itself once more in silent submission, I pull a silver instrument shaped like a four-leafed clover from my boot and fling it toward Caden. He’s not the target; the fingers pinching into his shoulder are. My aim is true and the star clips off the Vector’s fingers cleanly.
“Caden, get down!” I yell, but he doesn’t move even though thick grayish blue fluid is spraying into his face from the Vector’s severed fingers. I gnash my teeth.
“Go…” Shae wheezes as if sensing my hesitation to leave her unprotected, “…be fine for a minute.”
There’s no time to think as I take Caden down in a football tackle that would rival any in this world’s Super Bowl, rolling underneath the desk just as the two Vectors smash into the floor beside us. Even though the commanding Vector is pummeling the one below it, its stare is still fixated on me as if I’m the one it’s punishing. I rip my eyes away with effort and kick it in the side so that the one fighting for us gets some leverage to twist over and above it.
“You hurt?” I ask Caden urgently.
“No,” he rasps. “But my legs feel funny. What did that thing to do me? What is that thing? Are they going to kill us?” His voice is rising with every second and I can see the terrified panic building in his eyes as they dart toward the two grappling on the other side of the desk.
“No. You’re going to be fine,” I say. “Can you get over to Shae?” He nods and I squeeze his hand. “Pull her into the bathroom if you can and close the door. Here, take this.” I don’t look at him. I don’t want him to see the panic in my eyes. Instead, I shove one of the swords that had fallen to the ground into his hands and push him toward Shae. “Don’t be afraid to use it.”
I take a deep breath and turn to the two remaining Vectors. The one that obeyed me is not going to last much longer. It doesn’t have much of a face and its ribs are concave in a way that suggests imminent fatality. It’s only a matter of time before the nanobes inside of it stop communicating, and I need it alive for questioning. If it’s loyal to me, there’s no way I can let such a windfall go.
With all the strength I
But the similarities end there.
There’s something different about this one, I can feel it deep in my bones. Like the others, its uniform is black, but there’s a jagged swatch of red cloth across his chest in the shape of a crescent moon. Every part of me knows that it means something terrible.
“Kill them,” it says in a guttural growl. “ That is an order, soldier.”
I blink. It’s some kind of leader, then, a Commander. The command is directed at the remaining Vector, but its stare remains focused on me. It’s impossible. Vectors don’t speak. Speaking infers functioning brain capability, and they’re dead. A shiver of cold dread runs down my spine.
Aren’t they?
“Now!” it growls again.
But the remaining Vector is motionless, staring from me to him as if confused. Its programming must not have been overridden to counter a direct order from me, its last leader, even with an order from its new one. The window of opportunity is no bigger than a sliver, but I grasp it without a second thought.
“Kill it,” I shout, jerking my head in the big Commander Vector’s direction.
It’s all I can do to get out of the way as the Vector launches its considerable bulk toward its commanding officer. But within the blink of an eye, its body is flung back in our direction and crashes into a bookcase. Splintered wood peppers the air like wooden darts, and I shield my eyes instinctively, covering Shae’s body with mine.
The big Vector is motionless, still holding Caden. It flicked its attacker off like a bothersome gnat with one finger.
“Again!” I scream at the fallen Vector. “Get up. Don’t stop until it’s destroyed.”
Even as the words drop from my lips and the creature launches itself once more in silent submission, I pull a silver instrument shaped like a four-leafed clover from my boot and fling it toward Caden. He’s not the target; the fingers pinching into his shoulder are. My aim is true and the star clips off the Vector’s fingers cleanly.
“Caden, get down!” I yell, but he doesn’t move even though thick grayish blue fluid is spraying into his face from the Vector’s severed fingers. I gnash my teeth.
“Go…” Shae wheezes as if sensing my hesitation to leave her unprotected, “…be fine for a minute.”
There’s no time to think as I take Caden down in a football tackle that would rival any in this world’s Super Bowl, rolling underneath the desk just as the two Vectors smash into the floor beside us. Even though the commanding Vector is pummeling the one below it, its stare is still fixated on me as if I’m the one it’s punishing. I rip my eyes away with effort and kick it in the side so that the one fighting for us gets some leverage to twist over and above it.
“You hurt?” I ask Caden urgently.
“No,” he rasps. “But my legs feel funny. What did that thing to do me? What is that thing? Are they going to kill us?” His voice is rising with every second and I can see the terrified panic building in his eyes as they dart toward the two grappling on the other side of the desk.
“No. You’re going to be fine,” I say. “Can you get over to Shae?” He nods and I squeeze his hand. “Pull her into the bathroom if you can and close the door. Here, take this.” I don’t look at him. I don’t want him to see the panic in my eyes. Instead, I shove one of the swords that had fallen to the ground into his hands and push him toward Shae. “Don’t be afraid to use it.”
I take a deep breath and turn to the two remaining Vectors. The one that obeyed me is not going to last much longer. It doesn’t have much of a face and its ribs are concave in a way that suggests imminent fatality. It’s only a matter of time before the nanobes inside of it stop communicating, and I need it alive for questioning. If it’s loyal to me, there’s no way I can let such a windfall go.
With all the strength I
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