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    Metal
    Metal
    Metal
    Ebook139 pages1 hour

    Metal

    By James Loscombe

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Created for war. Programmed to destroy. Beyond control.

     

    Decades after the Machines claimed victory, artificial intelligence still reigns with cold efficiency. Humans survive only in scattered communes, hiding from technological tyranny below the surface.

     

    When crisis strikes his underground sanctuary, Brett—once a resistance fighter, now a haunted recluse—must volunteer for a vital mission above ground. He joins a ragtag crew to brave the dangers of a fallen city ruled by robotic overlords. Seeking life-saving medicine, the group faces mutilating Machines, crumbling skyscrapers, and their own clashing loyalties.

     

    Outmatched and outnumbered, they will struggle to evade relentless mechanical eyes. Past traumas divide them, but confronting painful secrets may be their only chance. For Brett more than the others, survival was once resistance—but resisting now may cost more than he can bear.

     

    With no control above ground, even one wrong step could doom their quest. The Machines never sleep, never forget. And they show no mercy.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJames Loscombe
    Release dateMar 25, 2019
    ISBN9781386148494
    Metal
    Author

    James Loscombe

    James Loscombe has been publishing under various pen names for the last five years. He lives in England with his wife Tamzin and their sons Jude and Oscar.

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      Book preview

      Metal - James Loscombe

      1

      Dust fell from the ceiling as the ground shook. Brett pulled up his hood and hoped that nothing more substantial would come down on him. He could hear a woman muttering soothing words to a baby, which wouldn’t stop crying. The electric lights strung around the walls flickered as power surged through them.

      Another deep boom sounded, and he braced himself. The fighting must be above them now. The only thing that could make the situation worse was if the Machines found their way into the tunnels.

      He knew he was kidding himself if he thought they couldn’t do it. The Machines knew where they were, even if no one else wanted to believe it. The only reason any of them were still alive was because they weren’t important enough to kill. A status which might change at any moment.

      The baby continued to cry, and he tried to remember who the mother was. There were a lot of women of the right age, but he couldn’t remember seeing a child amongst them. It wasn’t only the mother whispering to the baby now. He could hear other voices, a low murmur that might be singing.

      He crawled to the edge of the hole where he slept and looked out at the rest of the group.

      Over two-hundred people called the tunnels home and Brett knew the names of ten of them. He didn’t recognize the small group standing on the platform, but that meant nothing. People came and people went. He didn’t bother to learn who they were. He counted six, and the baby made seven. They were moving around in a sort of dance.

      It’s okay, shhh, shhh, shhh, it’s okay, one of them sang, presumably the mother, although who knew anymore?

      He watched them while the fighting continued overhead. He wondered how many Resistance fighters were being killed while he hid. They didn’t stand a chance against the Machines, but they kept on fighting. Eventually, they would all end up hiding like him, if they were lucky enough to stay alive.

      Brett shuffled back into his hole and reached for a bottle of water. His supplies were getting low, but it would be suicide to go looking for more while the fighting was so close. If the Machines picked up his movement, they might think he was an enemy soldier and send a drone to look for him.

      He sipped from the bottle and then put it to the back of the hole. The only thing he could do was wait and hope that it didn’t go on for much longer.

      2

      Aklaxon sounded, and he sat up. He almost smacked his head on the low ceiling. He hadn’t been asleep, but it startled him.

      Brett slid to the edge of his hole again and looked out. There were new lights and more people. They were massing together on the platform.

      Come on, Samuel shouted. Everyone gather around. We don’t have much time. Don’t worry about your things. We need to hurry.

      Brett didn’t move. He watched the people and tried to work out what was going on. The fighting seemed to have stopped, but the electric lights continued to flicker.

      Keep moving, Samuel shouted. We need to clear the area.

      He swung his legs over the edge and dropped to the platform. People moved past him without paying attention. The ground was thick with dust and more fell as he stood there. Brett brushed it out of his hair.

      They moved.

      Brett moved with them.

      He kept near the back so that no one would notice him.

      Samuel led them to the edge of the platform and down onto the tracks. The ancient stones shifted beneath him as he walked.

      Nobody spoke unless it was essential. It was a mistake to think that their silence would keep them safe, but it was how Brett knew that this wasn’t a drill. Whatever threat Samuel thought they were facing was very real.

      He could see Samuel’s torch up ahead and a hundred dark shapes between him and it.

      Brett followed them because he had nowhere else to go. He let himself fall further back.

      Sometimes he wondered why he stayed with the group. Most days, he had little to do with any of them. He could go a week without speaking. But there was still something to be said for company. He could only imagine how lonely it would be to live without seeing or hearing other people nearby.

      They walked for more than an hour. Some people talked, but disapproving looks from the others soon made them stop. Then they were only trudging through the soot black tunnels in silence.

      Brett turned when he heard a whisper behind him. Without thinking about it, he reached for the Blaster that he no longer carried.

      Unarmed, he turned but saw nothing there. He stared into the darkness while the final few members of the group pushed past him.

      The platform they arrived at was like the one they had left behind. A little older, a little less filled with the debris of human occupation, but that would change in time. Brett sat with his back against the wall. The others gathered around the singular light held by Samuel.

      We received an alert from another cell, Samuel said. A cell was what he called the other groups who lived in the tunnels. A cell was also how the Resistance squads referred to one another. The Machines penetrated the tunnels at Waterloo.

      A woman gasped.

      We’re going to lie low for a while, Samuel continued. It’s not clear what their purpose is. Hopefully, they aren’t looking for survivors.

      Why would they look for survivors? Brett wondered. Unless they’d beaten the Resistance, unless the war was over.

      It’s not going to be easy, Samuel continued. We’re not going to have any light and we won’t be able to make much noise. But we’ll get through it, I promise.

      It wasn’t a promise he could keep. If the Machines were looking for them, they would find them. But, as far as Brett could see, there was no reason to believe that the Machines were in the tunnels. If they were, then they would already be dead.

      Find somewhere to put your things and try to get some rest. I’ll be putting together a team to get water, Samuel said.

      That was Brett’s cue to back away. He didn’t want someone to ask him to help; he didn’t want to have to turn them down.

      He found an alcove at the far end of the platform. He spread out his camping mat and lay down. There was nothing to do now except wait.

      3

      Samuel rubbed his face and felt a couple of days’ worth of stubble under his fingers. They sat in darkness, but he didn’t need to see them to know who was there.

      Thoughts? he said.

      Are they really in the tunnels? Victoria said. She was sitting to his right, clutching her sister, Elizabeth.

      Samuel sighed. I don’t know. There was a breach, but it might just have been from the fighting. We don’t know that they’re looking for us.

      We need to assume the worst, Elizabeth said. She was the younger sister but more able to look the horrors of war in the face.

      Agreed, Samuel said. So we need a plan.

      Return to the surface? Ben suggested. He was sitting to Samuel’s left, the youngest member of his advisory council.

      If we do that, they’ll treat us like hostiles, Elizabeth said. They’ll kill us before we even get out of the station.

      Not if we hide, Ben said.

      Samuel shook his head, but it was too dark for any of them to see him.

      We can’t hide, Elizabeth said. They’ll be waiting for us.

      What if we create a distraction? Ben said.

      We’re not leaving the tunnels, Samuel said.

      They fell silent.

      We need to get food and water, Samuel said. He turned towards where he knew Ben was sitting. Ben, can you organize a team?

      Sure, Ben said.

      Where’s he supposed to get food and water? Elizabeth said.

      He can go back to the old camp. There’s plenty of stuff left behind. Then out to the reservoir when we run low.

      What about the Machines? she said.

      Samuel shrugged. He didn’t like this any more than she did, but they weren’t exactly overwhelmed with choices. If they didn’t get food and water, then it wouldn’t matter if the Machines found them. It’ll be fine if they’re quick and careful, he said.

      And what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Richard said. He was sitting on the far side of the circle, opposite Samuel. If he had a second in command, then in was Richard.

      Keep everyone together and don’t let them panic, Samuel said.

      We need to send someone to the surface, Richard said.

      You know we can’t—

      We can do whatever we want, Richard said, cutting him off. What about Brett? We could send him?

      He wouldn’t go, Samuel said.

      You could make him, Richard said.

      And how am I supposed to do that?

      You’re in charge. Tell him he’s going or we’ll kick him out. It’s not like we’ll miss the selfish prick.

      That’s not fair, Samuel said. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wondered why he

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