Leno's will (chapter 7)

Four combat units entered the slave settlement. They were positioned into a square shape with each unit taking the corners. They were easily recognised by the red banners draped across their left shoulders. The units were made up of twelve wardens each making a total of forty-eight. However in the centre of them all stood a figure almost twice as tall.

It was a machine of class X. It retained the form of a bear standing up like a human. Its shoulders were bulked up and had extra padding. A long cape hung around its back and draped the sides of its arms. The cape was blood red on both sides with the simplified shape of a machine embroidered on the back in gold silk. Where a real bear would have had furs the details were done in sharp metal spikes on the machine. It formed virtually impenetrable-looking brown armour. In it’s right hand it held a huge battle axe that came up to its shoulder easily towering over the assembled wardens.  The machines eyes were holes that were filled with red lights that were put into its bear shaped head.

It raised its left hand up at the burrows. In the centre of its hand a tiny hole opened. A small fire ball began to burn just in the centre of its hands a little distance away from where the hole was. Every time the fire threatened to grow bigger the bear tensed its hand and forced the ball of fire to become more and more compact. The explosive energy within continued to rise. Then when the fire ball began to turn a dark red colour a short line of lightning was discharged from the hole into the fire ball. It roared and almost exploded again when the bear tensed its metal fingers and forced the erupting flame into a ball.

Then after adding a few more shots of electrical energy the bear shot the ball right at the burrows. A huge shattering boom filled the evening skies. It shook the earth and a rippling wave erupted from the point of impact. As the wave passed across the whole settlement it sent bursts of flames catapulting everywhere. Small fires began to erupt as the earth shook from the violent discharge. But the wave continued to move and it eventually hit a huge tower. Molten lava poured out from it as it practically snapped in two. A two second silence followed before all hell broke loose. Half of the burrows collapsed and biodas started to scream and panic. Many ran hopelessly whilst others caught on fire and screamed in never ending agony.

All the while the bear machine stood silently waiting. Apart from the movement of its left hand there was no movement from the formation that the machines were in- only the glimmering blood red eyes as they flickered across the scene of mass murder. Soon enough the slave yard in front became clouded in smoke but the waiting continued.  Suddenly the robot felt a certain force hit its insides. It was only a slight irritation but a familiar sense. The smoke in front cleared and four people came into sight.

There were two boys of about seventeen, a girl of sixteen and an older woman. One of the boys had golden hair with sapphire blue eyes and a glow tan whilst the other was pale and had much sharper features which made him look almost like someone who was starving. The girl too had toned skin with flowing long strands of brown hair. Whilst the boys had slender, muscular builds the girl had a curvier figure minus the muscular build. The other woman was short and had dark black hair that had many lines of grey and silver. She too had toned skin but she also had a few wrinkles.

The bear looked at them as they returned the gaze. Fear was etched across their faces and little did they realise that that the metal monster was unnerved too. It had felt a sensation that it did not welcome and it was more than certain that it was due to someone in their group of four that were standing there. No matter. It raised it paws once again and was about to finish the four off when a much stronger sensation hit it. This time there was no mistaking it, the sensation was caused by essence, a strongly developed essence.  

More of the smoke cleared and in bounded the man.

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Leno stared incredulous at the man. He was not dressed as a common biodas should have been. He wore leather trousers and a purple silk shirt that was covered in what appeared to be see-through chain mail except the concept in itself sounded absurd as it flashed across Leno’s mind. He wore a coat that fell to the floor and on his back he had a bulging backpack to which was attached a huge cannon blaster not unlike the ones that were usually found on the remains of machine bought to the furnace to be melted.

Mika and Judi saw him too, for the first time. They both noted his neatly trimmed beard and short sharp moustache. He had fair skin and his dark hair fell to his shoulders. They too were well groomed as they had been cut in all the right places. Judi remarked not one hair was out of line. Aunt Mara frowned as she saw him. He reeked of nobility but even she couldn’t be sure of his status anymore. Before she had been bought in he had been the son of a nobleman, now she knew not of his present situation.

All four watched on as the man dashed towards the machines. He had no weapons in his arms and from the look of things he did intend to reach for the cannon blaster. Idiot thought Mika. He had heard of the phenomenal invention of the cannon blaster. It was like any cannon except it was smaller and could be handheld. It held up to three cannon balls inside with the same explosive energy if not more than the cannon balls that were held in real cannons. It was operated by the pulling of a trigger and the whole mechanism worked by use of a core which was put in. The core was of the weakest type since stronger ones were used to operate the machines. Yet the man had no use for the weapon which dangled from the backpack.

Two of the warden broke formation and rode forward to meet the man. He leaped into the air gracefully and stretched out his arms and opened his hands. Leno watched in amazement as he saw rippling waves resonate form his palms and the effect they had was break-taking. As the waves hit the two advancing wardens they crumpled and exploded. Aunt Mara looked gobsmacked.  The metal slave masters whose scrutiny had been their hell had been defeated within seconds and they were tossed aside like they were nothing. To be specific they had crumpled like paper within the hands of any human. The bear hesitated before raising his battle axe. With that all four combat units advanced. The man leaped higher this time and released an even bigger wave.

Unlike the previous one he did not stop this wave and it continued to erupt from his hands. Judi noted how it was almost invisible except for the ripples it caused in the air that caused their visions to ripple like they were looking into water when a single stone was dropped into it. The wave hit the advancing wardens and one by one they crumpled and fell to the floor. It was clear that after a certain point their inner system could not cope and they exploded. Metal was not made to be crumpled like paper hence the explosions. The man showed a sinister smile at the site of the explosions. They were turning out to his advantage. The bear looked irritated.

“Well Bearangeon (Beer-rung-gun) you knew the wardens were no match for me. So why don’t you come out and play?” challenged the man.

“Don’t underestimate me human!” roared Bearangeon. Its voice sent chills down Leno’s back. There was something unnatural about its voice. It boomed out from the gaping mouth of metal. There was no tongue and no change in tone as the bear delivered its reply. Worst of all its voice had a cold sting to it as if an invisible whip had lashed out at all those present.

“Get down you three” yelled aunt Mara. Mika and Judi obeyed without hesitation but Leno stood rooted to the spot. The bear raised its axe and swung in small arcs around it body. As it did the edges visibly became an orange colour before gradually turning into a dark red colour. Once the colour became darker steam began to rise from the edges. The bear charged forward. Its movements were not like the wardens who were capable of sliding along the ground smoothly. Each time the massive paws stomped on the ground the earth shook. The bear ran directly at the man all the while swinging its axe in small arcs around its front. The man let loose a rippling wave followed by a second.

Leno observed the first wave shatter as it hit the axe but that slowed down the swinging speed which let the second wave go through and hit the bear. Once again Bearangeon proved he was in a different class to that of the wardens. Upon impact the second wave shattered too but the bear only stopped its sprinting. It steadied itself before letting out a huge roar of laugher.

“Is that all Gregor, you pathetic human? I have heard tell of your strength. Word is that your presence alone has helped win many a battle for the rebellion and yet here you are unable to lay a dent on me. Clearly the information became exaggerated. How very sad. Because our great King over estimated you I was sent here. And now you shall die a cripplingly painful dead because of it.”

Mika rose and grabbed Leno. Judi was onto him within seconds as well. The two of them together pulled him down. Aunt Mara called from behind. She was crawling to a heap of earth not far from where they were. Judi and Mika understood and they followed after her dragging Leno with them. He was still transfixed on the battle.

Gregor smiled that sinister smile and charged straight at the bear. As he neared the bear he loosed his backpack and threw it to one side. The bear readied its battle axe and swung swiftly at the man. Gregor saw it coming and ducked before then pouncing at the bear. Before his hands touched the spikes that covered the bear he sent out a huge rippling wave. It was bigger and stronger than any so far and it sent the bear flying away until in hit a furnace tower. A huge explosion shook the slave settlement as the entire tower collapsed and Bearangeon disappeared beneath the rubble. As the tower exploded Leno observed that the air was on fire.

It was strange. It was as if there had been an invisible cloak hanging over them all this time because as soon as the fire erupted into the sky it caught onto something. A huge wave of fire spread through the sky burning on some invisible fuel. As it did a green tinge appeared before momentarily burning up. A few short seconds after the green tinge disappeared, the fire disappeared too. Leno looked around and his eyes widened.

The vast flat landscape that they had known up until now was gone. Instead there were hills all around them. To one side stood a small growth of tree whilst the rest of the landscape was filed with hills and bumpy earth swamped in loose sand which was red in some places. Leno stood up again as he looked around. He couldn’t comprehend what had just happened and it caused his head to start throbbing again. Leno clutched his head with both his heads but this time he really didn’t have the energy to keep going. He stumbled on the spot before collapsing onto his sides. As his vision faded he saw the man, or Gregor as his name was now, look in his direction. And that was all. Leno was out cold.