Contents

  Copyright

  Title Page

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  Acknowledgements

  Copyright © 2015 Eamon Ambrose

  All Rights Reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or in any means – by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  ZERO HOUR PART 5: COUNTDOWN

  Eamon Ambrose

  Edited by Ellen C. Campbell

  CHAPTER ONE

  “Sarah?”

  “Take it easy Alex, I’ll explain later. Let’s get you out of this tin can first.”

  “Don’t call it that, you know she doesn’t like it.”

  He really is going to have a tough time explaining this to Sheppard.

  You climb down, your enhanced robotic hands gripping like intricate vices to whatever fixed point is available to grab onto, and slowly lower yourself to where Alex is awkwardly pinned.

  Al peers over the edge.

  “Do you need assistance, Sarah?”

  “I got it, Al.”

  Alex looks confused.

  “Who the hell is that?”

  “Alex—meet Al, formerly known as—”

  “The AI? Seriously? You named it?”

  “Everybody needs a name.”

  You locate the wrought iron bar that’s pinning Alex to the hull. If it had bent even an inch more it would have crushed him. You grasp the bar at the optimum point and bend it towards you, being careful not to use too much force.

  “You might want to hold on to some—”

  Before you can finish, Alex drops from his position, falling headfirst into the water filling the cockpit. You grab him by his belted waist and haul him back up as he gasps for air, the sensitive pressure sensors preventing you from crushing his fragile bones as you lift him upwards, spitting stagnant water from his mouth. He’s weak, cold and starving, and has probably been lying here unconscious for more than a day, but his vitals are good and although his limbs are stiff from being pinned where he was, there are no signs of breakage.

  “Let’s get you out of here—then we can talk.”

  You climb to the exit, carrying him easily with one arm, handing him to Al who carefully lifts him outside, placing him on the ground as you climb out yourself. Mayberry approaches, introduces himself, and offers Alex a canteen, warning him not to drink too fast, and a protein bar that probably tastes as bad as it looks. He needs to rest, and it’ll be dark soon. Mayberry has started a fire, while Al and Alice disappear to search for more firewood, letting him sleep for a few hours. They've both become accustomed to their new android shells pretty quickly, and on more than a few occasions since Al was transferred from your system, you've noticed them both making common human gestures in a cute, but slightly creepy way. You feel guilty—this seems a lot like prejudice.

  You spend the time figuring out how to explain all this to Alex. As soon as he wakes, he wants answers, so you sit down facing the crackling fire, and tell him everything, at least everything you remember. Although he’s listening intently, you can tell by his face that he expects you to blame him for what you’ve become, for lying to you, but you know he had no choice. When you finish your story, you gently put a hand on his shoulder.

  “It’s okay Alex. I know. You did the right thing. If it were me, I would have done the same.”

  “I’m tired of doing the right thing Sarah. Every time I do, it turns out to be the wrong thing.”

  “If you hadn’t, we’d all be dead right now.”

  He opens his arms wide, gesturing to your surroundings.

  “Look around, Sarah—we might as well be.”

  “No!” you shout. The noise level, much louder than you expected, startles both Alex and Mayberry. Yet another feature you haven’t quite mastered yet.

  “I didn’t go through all this for nothing Alex. If there’s even the slightest chance we can survive, we have to take it—at whatever cost. We could be all that’s left.”

  “We are all that’s left. This world is dead.”

  Mayberry takes over the conversation.

  “Then we need to bring it back to life.”

  He circles the fire, carefully poking the embers with a long stick, sending tiny sparks dancing into the air. “Our priority right now is finding the rest of the survivors and getting them to the facility. Al here reckons the explosion at the tower may have triggered the release of nano clouds, designed to obliterate any living thing that crosses their path.”

  “Some of the information Doctor Bentley kept from me was briefly accessible in the final moments of the explosion before he and the network were destroyed,” Al says, “But only in miniscule parts of broken data. I’ve tried to retrieve as much as I can, but there are two things I know for certain—the clouds will find and kill any remaining survivors,”

  You lean forward, “And the second thing?”

  “There has been some activity in the underground area of the tower. I don’t know what, just that some type of equipment was activated.”

  “More drones?”

  “I doubt it. Very few resources remain on site to build anything of significance, and whatever is left of the facility would be running on very limited reserve power at best.”

  “Bentley mentioned that I wasn’t the only subject for the transfer experiments. What happened to the others?”

  “The only information I have is that the remains were kept in storage.”

  “And I presume the storage area was underground.”

  “Yes.”

  Alex looks troubled.

  “We need to get back. Now.”

  “He’s right,” Mayberry agrees.

  “I told them to leave if I didn’t make it back. They could be moving already.”

  You stand, wiping the red dust from your white body armour.

  “In that case, we’ve already gotten a late start. Let’s go.”

  You look around the group. The conversation for the past hour has been so intense you didn’t even notice. “Hey, where’s Alice?”

  Mayberry smiles. “Well, you’re not going to get there in a tiny scout vehicle. I sent her back for something a little more—appropriate.”

  He barely finishes the sentence as the bouncing bright beams of a vehicle’s headlights dart across the dark landscape in the distance. A few minutes later as it draws near, Alex looks bemused as the familiar purr of an engine approaches. It’s another ATV similar to Sheppard’s, except slightly larger, and in much better shape. Mayberry gathers his things and heads not towards the newly arrived vehicle, but his own.

  “You’re just full of surprises, Doc. You’re not coming?”

  “No, Sarah. I don’t think I’d be of any use to you. I need to make preparations for the new arrivals, providing you can get them back safe, of course.”

  “What kind of preparations?”

  “For transfer. I need to start building new units.”

  “Whoa, Doc. You’re saying you want them back here so you can turn them into—”

  You gesture towards yourself.

  “—cyborgs?”

  Mayberry smiles. “I prefer the term “Remote Humans” but if you want to call them cyborgs, go right ahead. I just think it’s a tad crude.”

  “Will they have a choice?”

  “Absolutely. Life or death. The odds of survival are pretty slim if they remain as they are. Chances are, some are already sick or dying, and if they come in contact with the nano clouds then they’re all dead. Transferring will buy them time, and can be reversed at a later stage if needed. It’s the only long term chance of survival, and the fastest way to make it happen. Rebuild, then repopulate. There’s no other way. Our priority right now is finding the rest of the survivors and getting them to the facility.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  The faint shimmer of the moon peeks curiously through the congested sky at random intervals. It’s a rare sight these nights. Al and Alice retreat quietly to the shadows, probably the first chance they’ve had to spend time alone since they were reunited. She’s quiet and soft spoken, almost timid, more than likely a result of Bentley’s strange brand of relentless abuse over the years. You can’t blame Al for keeping the fact that she still existed from you until the time was right. She’s gotten used to her new form quickly, and seems genuinely relieved to be free. You start to wonder if this has changed your relationship with him. Now that he has Alice back, what will he do to protect her? Did he really do all this to help, or was his agenda all along purely to find her?

  Mayberry wants someone to accompany him back to help with the preparations. After a brief discussion, Alice volunteers. She’s been in the Facility’s system long enough to know every single function and procedure down to the most minute detail, and is already figuring out ways to improve Mayberry’s processes. In a moment that fascinates you, she and Al embrace, and he watches forlornly as she walks away from him. Two artificial beings drawn together by the most human of instincts.

  Alex stands at your side, also watching with interest.

  “This creeping you out, Alex?”

  “No, quite the opposite. I find it strangely arousing.”

  You turn and lightly punch his shoulder, knocking him off balance. He staggers backwards slightly, but manages to retain his footing.

  “Hey, careful with the Future Of The Human Race here, Robogirl.”

  He’s joking, and it’s funny, but part of you can’t help thinking about how, unlike the survivors, you’ll never have the luxury of being human again. You make a conscious decision not to dwell on it; you have to move on, make the best of it, do something with the chance you’ve been given. You probably would have died in that attack had Bentley not taken you. What good would you be then? You’re right here, right now, and you can help in some way towards fixing what Bentley did. It’ll take a hell of a long time before it makes any impact, but what else is there?

  Al waves to Alice and Mayberry as the tiny electric vehicle is enveloped by the night, slipping away into the almost fluid darkness of the desert. You climb into the new and improved ATV and take a seat. Alex sits opposite. He still looks wary, and you can’t blame him. It’s a lot to take in, but time is running out for the others. There will be time to talk later.

  Hopefully.

  Al takes the wheel and the ATV jerks forward violently as it starts.

  “Sorry,” he says. “I’ve never done this before, it may take a few minutes to get accustomed.”

  Alex sniggers. “All that intelligence and technology and still can’t drive stick.”

  Al turns to him. “So Alex, how did your last driving experience work out for you?”

  “Harsh, man. Harsh.”

  “Okay you guys,” you say. “If we come across any remaining walls on the way, you’re more than welcome to continue your little pissing contest there.”

  “But I can’t—oh. Sorry, Sarah.”

  “Just drive, Al.”

  Alex smiles, and for the first time since you were reunited, it actually feels like he’s smiling at you, and not some machine that acts and thinks like you, and even though your new visage can only manage basic features, you smile back in the best way you can. He makes himself as comfortable as possible and tries to get some sleep, while you power down to active sleep mode to conserve energy. It’s the closest thing you’ll ever get to resting, and whatever algorithms the process utilises, it feels mildly pleasurable, giving you an almost weightless feeling while still being aware of your surroundings.

  A few hours pass, and the dawn struggles to break through the morning sky. You reactivate and gently shake Alex to wake him. He jolts upward, forgetting where he is momentarily, drool dripping down his chin, and mucus-filled eyes gluing his eyelids shut. He’s quite the sight. As he collects himself, you open the roof hatch to take a look outside. You’ve followed the riverbank back, a couple of hills to cross and what’s left of the Tower should be visible soon. You scan the area, watching the crimson clouds tumble across the sky like blood through water, backlit by the rising sun.

  It happens so quickly not even your enhanced body can react fast enough. A sharp metal clang is followed by several more in quick succession as a hail of bullets begins to strike the vehicle. Too late, you try to duck down as your haptic sensors detect an almighty collision from the high calibre bullet that strikes your head plate. The force knocks your head to one side, violently rocking your body as you struggle to hold on. You hear Alex yell your name as warning lights flash on your display. Emergency diagnostics activate and for a few brief seconds you are totally disorientated. Alex grabs you and drags you back inside as another slew of bullets narrowly misses you, spitting dust as they bury themselves deep in the ground. He screams at Al.

  “Go!”

  Al floors the pedal, engaging a booster to gain extra speed and find cover. The tough outer plating on the ATV, while protecting those inside, does so at a cost; the heavier vehicle isn’t as fast as it could be, but there’s a small canyon up ahead that should provide protection if you can reach it in time.

  “Stay with me, Sarah.”

  Alex checks your head for damage, but the combination of high tech materials used in your construction seems to have done the job. Your systems calm down as the diagnostics reveal no major damage, just a cosmetic mark where the bullet struck.

  “You’re okay. Nothing a paint job can’t fix. Looks like they might have sent someone looking for me. They were probably spooked by the different ATV.”

  “I don’t think we need to worry about aesthetics right now, but if they're following your trail, they may come in contact with Mayberry and Alice, and that might not end well.”

  “Alice has been configured as a security grade unit,” Al says. “She will be able to protect herself and Doctor Mayberry in the event of an attack.”

  “That's what I'm afraid of, Al.”

  While the impact didn’t hurt as such, it was definitely a disturbing sensation. You pick yourself up and peer through the tiny apertures in the hull. A quick scan of the area outside reveals three heat signatures almost a half mile away, but that seems to be all. The others haven’t made it this far yet, but they could be headed in this direction soon. There’s no point in trying to communicate with them right now. It’s possible that they have RPGs, and not even this boat will withstand an RPG strike. Best to move on, and try to establish contact using Alex.

  You’re out of range within a few minutes, and no one’s following. They may have been able to alert others though, so you need to tread carefully. Al disengages the booster to conserve energy as the ATV rumbles through a cramped valley. Dawn eventually gives way to morning and soon after, the remains of the Tower come into view in the distance, still smouldering like a gigantic burnt match stuck into the ground. You cautiously open the roof hatch again, peering outside. Ordering Al to stop, you steady yourself enough to engage your telescopic sight, magnifying slowly to avoid disorientation. At two hundred times magnification you can make out the tracks of a vehicle, although the resolution is vastly reduced thanks to the digital zoom. They lead towards the base. Looks like someone got curious.

  As you approach the base, you see the truck parked near the entrance hatch. Odd that it was left there, they should have driven it underground. In the distance a remote dozer creeps slowly across the landscape, like a sad old dinosaur searching for a lost companion.

  The plan is for Alex to contact the base alone first, giving him time to explain the situation. Bringing you and Al with him isn’t an option; these people have spent their entire lives running from machines, and although none of them may have looked like you, they’re likely to be hostile, and you can’t blame them for that. Instead, you’ll wait out of sight, perched on the wall of what’s left of a nearby building. You can see and hear everything from that vantage point, and intervene quickly if needed.

  You exit the vehicle as Alex takes the driver’s seat, and run to the crumbling building, quickly scaling the wall and positioning yourselves out of sight. Alex drives slowly and steadily towards the base, giving a verbal confirmation every minute to confirm the audio signal.

  So far, so good.

  He’s coming close to the base entrance now.

  You can see camouflage move as the hatch opens, and two figures climb out. It’s Sheppard and Wilkins. Sheppard is unarmed, while Wilkins holds a pulse rifle, aimed squarely at the ATV as it nears them.

  Audio is a little patchy, but should be good enough to pick up the conversation.

  The ATV brakes, jumping forward suddenly as a distracted Alex forgets to disengage the gearbox, then comes to a sudden stop. Al can’t help but smile, as do you.

  “Nice comedy stop, Alex,”

  Alex replies, but a sudden blast of interference drowns out most of it. From the parts you heard, that’s probably a good thing.

  The rear door opens as Alex disembarks, unarmed, with his hands raised. You zoom to his location in time to see him approach Sheppard with caution. She stands her ground defensively, her tall frame towering over her companion, and nods towards the ATV.

  “What did you do, Alex? What did you do? Where’s my ride?”

  Alex edges forward, arms still raised.

 

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