Cyborg Chronicles Chapter Three

A Classified Location


Carl and Ashen would have died of boredom if they didn’t have each other for company. The van ride took nearly three hours! The endless farmland was killing their minds, so they mostly thing mused about the life they left behind. The life they could never regain. They were about to fall asleep when the van began to stop.  

“Well, this is the base. Welcome to Fort Montgomery, darlings,” Annabelle said as she got off the minivan. As expected, the place was surrounded by farmland, and there were no other buildings for miles except for a lone farmhouse. Carl and Ashen looked at each other and sighed, knowing full well that it’s too late to turn back.

“So… where’s the base?” Carl asked as the group walked towards the farmhouse. He expected barbed wire and guard towers, not a farmhouse!

“You’ll see, sugar. That farmhouse is just the tip of the iceberg!” Annabelle giggled with a flirty smile. The redhead brought Carl closer to her, detesting the blonde’s presence.

The group reached the door and they entered the structure. The living room was empty of furniture, but there was an elevator in the center. Carl, Ashen, and Lieutenant Goth stepped inside the elevator. Goth pressed a button and the elevator began its descent.

“So, are you a cyborg too?” Ashen asked Goth, to break the rather the awkward silence. The Lieutenant smiled sadly.

“Nearly everyone in this here base is a cyborg,” he said.

“Nearly everyone?”

“Yes. Normal humans won’t survive a war against Bifrost. They’re too fragile both physically and mentally.”

“But isn’t the US, like, the most powerful country in the world?” Carl asked.

“It’s still not enough. Bifrost can and will take on the whole world and win in an outright war. Even nuclear weapons can’t defeat a properly modified cyborg.”

“So you’re telling me that we’re fighting an unstoppable force?” the two cyborgs asked, not at all happy about the enemy their going to face. The elevator stopped and the three step out into a cold, long hallway.

“Oh no! They’re not unstoppable. Otherwise, you guys wouldn’t be here. What’s the best way to fight a cyborg?” the Lieutenant asked. The trio reached the bank vault-looking door at the end. Goth punches a few buttons on the security console. With a long groan, the door began to open.

“Umm… outnumber them?” Carl suggested.

“The best way to fight cyborgs is with other cyborgs.”  

Carl and Ashen gasped in astonishment as they took in the view. The place was a massive training camp, tucked away in the colossal, metal chamber. Many people clamored about in the base, and everyone appeared to be busy. To their right was a row of buildings, each one almost identical. Carl knew those were the barracks. In the center, was a grey, cube-like structure that was clearly the command center. Not far from the command center was a large building that resembled a small stadium.

“What’s that arena thing there?” Ashen asked.

“Those are the training grounds. We’ll get to there later, but first, let’s go get you guys assigned to a barracks, shall we?” the Lieutenant said as he led them to the barracks.

They walk inside the first building, their steps slightly echoing in the metal building. The inside resembled a university dorm, except a bit more cramped and made of steel. They walked past a room and the trio was greeted by a loud snore.

“That’s Corporal Warrens. He manages the armory,” the Lieutenant pointed out. He then lightly slammed his fist on the door, making a large dent and a rather large sound! Something behind the door fell in surprise. A boy opened the door, roughly fifteen years old and a rag of blonde hair head. He was still in pajamas.

“What the hell Steve? I thought I told you-” Warrens shouted, his eyes half closed. Suddenly, he noticed who he was talking to and his eyes widened in horror, and he instantly saluted. “Oh my god, Lieutenant Goth! Sorry I was napping, I-”

“Go get the armory up and running soldier! We got new recruits!” Goth scolded. Warrens awkwardly saluted and ran out the barracks. The Lt. just shook his head in disappointment.

“I sense he is not a cyborg,” Marianne, Carl’s AI spoke up. The Lieutenant turned to her with sad look in his eyes.

“Most people in here are cyborgs. Warrens is just a regular human boy we rescued from Bifrost before he received the enhancements. We can’t really return him to his family since he knows too much and they’re dead.”

The couple looked down on the floor, contemplating the fact that they were lucky to have their parents. Finally, the trio reached a set of empty rooms. The Lt. opened a door and the couple stepped inside the room. There were two bunk beds and a small bathroom. A plasma screen TV was in the wall.

“Carl you can pick any bed there. Ashen the room down the hall is yours.”

“Do I have a big screen TV too?” the redhead asked hopefully.

“Yes.”

“Yay!” she shouted with glee. However, Goth held his hand up to stop the two.

“Hold your horses! The rooms are gender separated, so no funny business, alright?”

“Yes sir…” the couple sadly agreed. The Lt. smiled and he went to the drawers. He pulled out some camo military-grade fatigues. He handed them to the couple.

“Go put these on. Its standard issue clothes soldiers,” he ordered. He then went out to the hall while the couples changed into their respective clothes. After a few minutes, they got out of their rooms.

“At least they’re comfy…” Carl said as he looked at his new clothes. Ashen had different ideas apparently. From the looks of it, she had found a pair of scissors and made herself a pair of camo short shorts for the weather.

“What?” she asked Carl when she noticed he was staring at her.

The boy blushed and quickly took his eyes off her legs. “Err… nothing!”

“I knew you’d like ‘em!” she laughed as she went up to her boyfriend. Goth let them have a moment before he cleared his throat to get their attention.

“Come, let’s go to the armory,” he ordered, trying not to smile.


The Armory


“Did the Lt. catch you napping on the job again?” Steve Willard asked Warrens. The human groaned as he cleaned the barrel of the LAR-16 he was holding.

“Bah, I’m not a cyborg like you guys,” he complained. He wished he was a cyborg! They don’t need eight hours of sleep! In fact, they only need two!

“Don’t worry, after we defeat Bifrost at the Foundry, we can make you one!” Steve said. The Foundry is a massive Bifrost base at the Southside of Chicago. Most of it is underground, and it is the place where Bifrost converts most of its catches from the Midwest to cyborgs.

“If we win,” Warrens whispered. Suddenly, the door opened and the Lieutenant, Carl, and Ashen stepped in.

“Welcome to the Armory!” Warrens said cheerily. “What do you guys need? A railgun? A rocket launcher? Oh! How about some exploding shurikens?”

“No thank you. We already have our weapons,” the couple said. They showed Warrens their weaponry.

“A Heavy Magnetic Linear Accelerator Rifle model sixty-six! Beautiful weapon you have there miss! This gun is built so tough, that it can survive a nuclear explosion! Oh, and is that a desert eagle you’re holding boy?” the corporal cooed as he looked at the couple’s weapons. The Lt. cleared his throat.

“Since you have your weapons already, you can store them here,” Goth told the couple. They shook their heads, since they preferred to keep their weapons in their room. However, they were given ammo for their weapons.

“Suit yourself. Come, let’s go to the training grounds,” the Lt. said. However, Carl interrupted him.

“Wait! Do you guys have a sabre style sword?” he asked. Warrens disappeared in the back of the armory to fetch the boy’s sword. When he came back, he was holding a silver cutlass with a black polymer hand guard. He handed it to Carl, who took the sword and inspected it.

“What is this made of?”

“Same material the redhead’s wakizashis are made of: Bifrost steel. It’s very strong and very light. It can cut through multiple layers of hardened steel.”

“Nice!” he said as he sheathed the blade. He looked and saw Goth and Ashen waiting for him. Carl blushed and followed them as they went to the Training Grounds.


At the Training Grounds


“So this is where we shall train?” Carl asked as he watched the other cyborgs train. They were in the main floor of the level, where there is an arena set up for sparring sessions to occur. Below the rings was an entire level dedicated to hologram training and a firing range.

“Yes. So which level would you guys want to try out first?” the Lt. asked.

“The hologram training seems nice. Why don’t we try that out?” Ashen suggested. Goth nodded and led the couple to the level.

“Alright, the holograms can be either be stationary or mobile. You can shoot them, stab them, anything you’d like to do!” the Lt. said as he opened the door to a small arena. There were multiple bullet holes in the surrounding walls, most of them large.

“I’ll go first then. Stationary targets first please,” Carl said as he took his desert eagle out. Ashen and Goth went behind a bulletproof window. The Lt. pressed a few buttons on a computer and the simulation began.

“Hehehe… let’s begin, shall we?” the cyborg said to himself as he waited for the program to load. Something had changed in him that moment, like a wild beast was let loose inside him. All he desired now was to decimate the holograms.

Immediately, three holograms appeared to the left, right, and in front of the cyborg. Carl held the pistol with one hand and he pulled the trigger quickly and precisely. In a span of two seconds, three fifty caliber rounds thundered out of the gun’s barrel, going through the holograms’ heads easily. They fell to their knees, holographic blood spilling out of their helmets before flickering off. All the while, the intense recoil from the gun barely affected the cyborg! Carl held the smoking desert eagle in front of him and blew the smoke out of the barrel.

“That was impressive!” Goth complimented, impressed by the cyborg’s skills. No one can fire weapons that accurately, even him!

“Mobile targets please,” Carl said, almost greedily. Something in him was churning, something that felt like a predator’s instinct. He somehow knew he had to kill the enemy quickly and efficiently, with no mercy. He was made to kill.

“Alright then,” Goth said as he ran a new program.
Six agents came to existence, their holographic swords drawn. Carl drew his sabre out in response, reloading his pistol at the same time, and quickly assessed his situation. I could take them all on, he thought confidently as the agents circled him. The agents charged him, but Carl was quicker.

“En garde!” he shouted as he dodged the six swords easily. He had blocked three strikes of their katanas with his blade in one fluid motion before he slipped between the assassins.  He then gutted two agents with his sword while firing at the four behind him without even looking.

Ashen’s jaw dropped in surprise. She knew her boyfriend was good in fighting, but never legendary like that! “Whoa…”

“I know. He’s an incredible fighter.”

“That… was exhilarating…” the cyborg growled like a rabid dog as he entered the computer room. His heart was beating furiously, and he wanted more fighting.

“Ashen, it’s your turn now,” Goth ordered. The redhead nodded and went to the arena, leaving Siegfried behind. She takes out her sniper railgun and went to the arena.  

“I’ll try the mobile simulation first,” the redhead said, greed tainting her voice. While she was watching Carl fight, something in her changed. She wanted to be there fighting with him. She wanted to spill blood in the most vicious way possible.

“If you say so,” the Lt. said with a shrug. He then began to run the program. Immediately, eight holograms appeared in the arena: four regular soldiers and four agents. They circled her slowly like sharks in the water.

Ashen immediately jumped in the air, somersaulting in midair while aiming her railgun at an enemy. She pulled the trigger, killing the hologram before moving on to the next target. Her lightning quick reflexes basically slowed time down for her, allowing her to kill two agents and two soldiers in one go! Ashen gracefully landed on her feet, at the same time reloading her railgun for more fighting. However, instead of firing her railgun, Ashen holstered it and took out her wakizashis in one, fluid motion. The remaining holograms didn’t even manage to hit her with a single bullet, since they were already decapitated before they even managed to aim their guns. Now, Ashen stood in the center of the arena, breathing deeply as if she was inhaling the virtual bloodshed.

“Impossible!” the Lt. gasped. He looked at Carl, who more shocked than he was.

“Your girlfriend, she is very good, no?” Marianne grudgingly said. Siegfried made a chuckling sound.

“She’s marvelous!” he praised. Carl and the Lt. nodded their heads in approval.
Deep inside, Goth was almost giddy! No cyborg he had met was this good in fighting! He could almost taste victory as he envisions the couple fighting Bifrost. They will never know what hit them, he thought dreamily. When Ashen returned to the room, they were all still shocked at her skill.

“Wow, that was easy!” the redhead said with a smile. She looked on the computer screen and noticed it was set on the hardest difficulty, “realistic expert”.

“Très bien, mademoiselle. You are a worthy girlfriend for Carl,” Marianne praised. Both Carl and Ashen blushed when she said that. Goth cleared his throat to get the couple’s attention.

“Well, guys. Your skill levels are off the charts. And I mean WAY off the charts. Heck, I don’t even know which squad to put you guys on!” the Lt. said.  

“Don’t you have a special forces squad?” Carl asked.

“No. Bu that would be a very good idea!” the Lt. said. “Tell you what; I’m promoting both of you guys to Sergeant Major. However, I’m assigning Sgt. Major Annabelle Johnson to temporarily lead you two since you don’t have much experience in leadership. But once you guys have enough leadership quality, I’ll let you guys call your shots, alright?”

“We accept!” the couple happily said as they shook hands with the Lt. He grinned at them as he stood up from his chair.

“Good. Now, why don’t we all get some lunch, eh? I bet you guys are starving!”


Five Hours Later


Dinner was served and eaten in a matter of minutes. After that, the cyborgs went off to train for battle, either through sparring, simulations, or just military-style drills. Carl and ashen drifted in and out of the training sessions, impressing everyone with their skills. However, they stayed together all the time, never separating, even during training.

“Darling, you’re a wonderful fighter!” Annabelle complemented Carl. He awkwardly nodded his head, since his girlfriend was glaring at both of them.

“I- err… thanks?” he stuttered awkwardly. Annabelle giggled and just patted his cheek lightly. Then she left, all the while swaying her hips in a flirtatious manner. Ashen was furious! She stomped over to Carl and grabbed his hand roughly.

“What are you doing?” she fumed, her face turning red. The boy looked on the ground submissively. He never saw his girlfriend this mad!

“Not my fault! I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do!” he retorted. Ashen grabbed his chin and forced him to look at her. His brown eyes tried to look away but her steely, blue-grey stare forced them up.

“Carl… you don’t see me going around accepting other guy’s advances, right?” she whispered to him. “But I turn around and I see you flirting with her!”

The boy took a deep breath and met the redhead’s gaze. “Look, I’ll always be faithful to you. I swear on my soul that I’d never, EVER cheat on you, darling.”

Ashen’s expression softened. Immediately, they embrace tightly. The redhead rests her head on his chest and smiled to herself. “I knew you were the one…” she whispered to him.

“I’m sorry Ashen,” Carl whispered back. They embrace even tighter and the boy plants a small kiss to the redhead’s lush hair. Suddenly, a voice over the intercom interrupts the couple.

“All squads, report to the dining hall. I repeat, all squads report to the main floor,” the Lt. ordered. The couple separate and held hands as they walked out of the Arena. When they arrived at the main floor, they were greeted by a sea of camouflage fatigues, since everyone in the entire base was there. The Lt. was standing on the podium in the end of the hall. Goth motioned for them to come to him, and they sat on a couple of chairs behind the Lt. He then tapped the microphone and everyone fell silent.

“Alright boys and girls, the day has arrived. The day that we will take back Chicago from Bifrost!” he spoke, waving his fist in the air to emphasize his speech. “Long have we ran and hid like rats in the dark! But not anymore! With the help of our new recruits, Carl and Ashen, we shall crush Bifrost!”

All eyes turned to the couple as a heavy burden was set on their shoulders. They were expected to lead the Resistance in taking on a supposedly ultra-powerful military company. Normally, they would have shrunk from the challenge from the fear of failure. However, they are no longer simple humans. Carl raised his head high and addressed the crowd.

“We will drive Bifrost to Lake Michigan, and then we shall liberate the country from their grip!” he said confidently. Everyone bursts out clapping and cheering. Ashen held his hand and they smiled as they watched everyone head to the armory to get their weaponry.

“Well, you’re good at giving speeches,” Goth complemented as he shook Carl’s hand. The boy simply nodded. When the army returned, they were all armed to the teeth. Most of them were armed with a LAR-16 or a sword.

“To the vehicles!” Ashen ordered the battalions. The army cheered and then rushed out to the vehicle pads and began piling in the vans, minivans, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Carl, Ashen, Annabelle, and Goth got inside a black SUV, with the Lt. on the driver’s seat. Annabelle took shotgun while the couple sat at the back of the car.

“Hang on,” he said as he pressed a button on his keys. Immediately, the base started to rumble. Massive elevators roared to life as they began to groan skyward. The blast doors open and the vehicles emerge into the empty farmlands, deep in the night.

“Alright, enjoy the last few hours of relaxation you two, because after that, it’s time for work…” Goth said to the couple. He gunned the engine and made his way for the country road, the other cars following suit.

“Are you scared?” Carl asked Ashen silently as he held her closer.

“No. Besides, you said as long as we have each other, we’ll be fine…” she whispered to him.

“I know… I-I’m just…”

“Just what?”

“I-I don’t want to lose you, Ashen.”

“We’ll be fine…” she assured him. They smiled warmly at each other…
Their faces got closer until their lips were millimeters from touching. Ashen took the first move. She held her boyfriend’s head softly and brought him close, their lips touching for the first time ever. Carl closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend, holding her tight. The couple held their position, all the time embracing ever more tightly and even playing with each other’s hair. After a few minutes, they pulled out of their first kiss. Their first time was more heated than expected, and they were blushing crimson.

“That…felt good,” Carl whispered. Ashen smiled at him and they kissed once more.

“Well? You heard the Lieutenant. Let’s have a bit more relaxation…” the redhead giggled as she brought her boyfriend closer. Meanwhile, while the couple was enjoying their relaxation, their AIs were having a silent conversation.

“What do you zink zer parents would zay about zis?” Marianne asked. She had wirelessly connected with Siegfried, and the two are just watching the children they were assigned to protect at all costs.

“They would very much be abhorred! Very improper I say, since they are in a public area!” Siegfried sighed.

"We are in a car…”

“Exactly!”

“Love-killer!” Marianne said in disgust. Siegfried just ignored her and continued glaring at the two lovebirds with his camera eye.


Three Hours Later


The convoy arrived in the South Side like a thief in the night. They all parked in various concealed, yet easily accessible regions. However, all of the kids were not afraid of the South Side. Yes, they’ve heard stories of what happens in the night in this particular area. But that doesn’t matter since each and every one of the cyborgs gathered for the assault could easily take on all the gangbangers in the city and win fairly easily!

“Smell that victory in the air!” the Lt. giggled as he spread his arms out wide. The other cyborgs sniffed and nearly gagged.

“That’s sewage!” cried out a soldier as he covered his sensitive nose. The others followed suit.

“The only thing I smell is love!” Annabelle laughed, glancing at Carl and Ashen. They blushed heavily and she giggled a bit more.

“And that will lead us to Bifrost. I mean the sewage, not the love,” he pointed out. He then coolly took out his railgun and walked towards a manhole. Carl and Ashen groaned. They already had walked in a sewer earlier today and it was not fun!

“My battalion, follow me in. We will meet up with the others at The Foundry,” he said as he climbed down the ladder. Everyone followed suit, complaining all the way. When they got to the sewer, nearly everyone was about to faint from the overwhelming stench.

“All squads, head to sector G4. Then, wait for my go,” Goth ordered on his radio. He looked behind him and motioned for his soldiers to follow him.

“Ugh, it’s stinky in here!” a girl complained in the back of the formation. Mumbles of agreement spread throughout the group.

“Hush! Stay silent so we don’t warn Bifrost of our position!” Goth scolded. Everyone quickly closed their mouths in response. Nobody wants to make the Lt. mad!

The battalion arrived to an arena-like place. There were four other tunnels that led to the place. Coming out of the adjacent sewage tunnels were the other three groups. They saluted the Lieutenant, Carl, and Ashen as they passed by. The trio took their positions out in front of the gathered battalions.

“Troopers, those tunnels there lead to a recently discovered weak point in The Foundry’s defense system. First battalion, you’re spearheading the assault there. Second battalion, there’s a side entrance in the third tunnel. Through there, you will flank Bifrost and take the factory floor. Third battalion, you’re going to go around Bifrost to hit their rear. Fourth battalion, you’re with me. We’re going to drop in via the service tunnels to quickly reinforce friendly positions. Everybody clear?”

“Sir yes sir!” everyone responded, saluting the three. They then took their respective positions to prepare for the assault. They followed the Lieutenant to the mouth of a long tunnel.

The Lt. took a deep breath and moved forward. Immediately, all the battalions went to full motion, following their leader’s plan. The fourth battalion consisted of the Lieutenant, Annabelle, Carl, Ashen, and a dozen other soldiers. They all looked like they were veterans in war, even though they were mostly sixteen. As the soldiers followed their commander, the Lt. raised a hand to stop them. He pointed to a wall a few feet away from them and looked at Annabelle.

“Place a shape charge. We’ll all detonate them simultaneously,” he ordered. She nodded and placed the charge in the wall and she signaled everyone to back up.

“Ready on your go.”

“Alright troopers are you in position?” he asked the others via radio. “Ready? Three, two, one, FIRE!”

Immediately, multiple explosions rock the sewers. The charged had revealed a thin, metal hallway. Goth walked over to it and motioned for his troopers to follow him. The young troopers had to make a single-file line to fit in the service tunnel. In fact Ashen had to disassemble her railgun and let Siegfried carry it to fit in the tunnel! They walked slowly and silently to mask their approach.

The Lt. raised his hand to stop the team. He smiled like a little boy in an amusement park. “The other teams should be engaging the enemy right about…now!”

The sound of gunfire echoes throughout the service tunnels. The battalion started to run, using the chaos of battle to mask their footsteps. “Alright, break up into squads. That way, we can quickly provide reinforcements. Annabelle, you have Carl and Ashen.”

She nodded and motioned for the couple to follow her. They ran into a different tunnel, following Annabelle’s lead. Suddenly, the blonde’s radio squawked. A frantic voice was breathing heavily over the sound of swords clashing. “We need reinforcements on the double!”

“Copy that. Report your position, over.”

“We’re at the factory floor! A colossus is pinning us down!”
Annabelle’s lips puckered as if she ate something bitter. She then ran through the maze of service tunnels, following the signs to reach the factory floor. Carl and Ashen easily kept up with her and could have overtaken her if it wasn’t for the cramped conditions of the place. Suddenly, Annabelle came to a dead stop and the trio crashed.

“Ow! Annabelle!” Carl groaned as he stood up from the floor. They had made a human-sized dent on the service tunnel wall, even though they weren’t even running fast. “Why did you stop?”

“Because we’re right at the factory floor, sugar.”

Suddenly, the tunnel trembled! Something big was walking over them. The service tunnel shook with every step. “What’s that?” Ashen asked as she began assembling her railgun. She followed the Carl and Annabelle, who were just a few feet away from the exit. Annabelle was slowly prying the door open with her sword.

“You’ll see darling! Alright lovebirds, I doubt the colossus would be a problem for you two since I say the way you guys fight. Now let’s join the fun, shall we?” the blonde said as she pushed the exit door out. They left the service tunnels and began stalking their way through the machinery.

“I need reinforcements now!” cried a voice in the factory floor. The floor shook again, and there was a slow, deep, mechanical sound. Laughter.

“That’s a colossus,” Siegfried pointed out.

The things were fifteen feet tall, and covered with heavy, black armor. They were huge, but that wasn’t the scary part! Each colossus swung a ten foot long sword, which easily cleaved through the conveyor belts that crisscrossed the factory floor. The frantic shouts and screams of second battalion echoed through the chamber.

“WE NEED REINFORCEMENTS!” cried the leader in the radio.

“And here they are, right now,” the blonde simply said. She looked at Carl and Ashen, who take a deep breath. They opened their eyes and smiled creepily.

“Siegfried, Marianne, stay here,” they told their AI’s.

“But we’re supposed-” the two AIs complained. They were cut off by the couple’s steely glower. Siegfried and Marianne shrunk and just watched as Carl and Ashen became…different.

“Let’s kill…” they said in chorus. Ashen jumped, landing on the catwalks above to give her a good sniping position, setting her railgun on full power. Carl on the other hand, circled other colossus like a shark.

“Foolish Resistance! Fall before the might of BIFROST!” the colossi thundered as they swung their massive blades. The blades barely missed the leader of the second battalion, who was bawling in fear.

“Retreat! Retreat!” he cried. Ashen aimed her sniper and charged the weapon to full power. The barrel glowed menacingly.

“Off with your head!” she giggled in a deranged manner. The redhead pulled the trigger and a jet of plasma erupts from the weapon’s maw. The single depleted uranium round penetrates the lead colossus’s head, which explodes in black gore. It fell on its knees as a fountain of oil-like blood splattered the factory floor.

“What the?!” the remaining one cried in confusion. Carl took his chance and charged the thing. He ran to it and delivers a brutal flying kick, delivering enough force to go through the colossus’s armored chest! It fell to its knees, trying to comprehend what just happened.

“Impossible!” it cried as it turned its head to face Carl. The blue visor helmet covered its face, yet Carl can sense the thing trembling in fear.

The cyborg said nothing and just aimed his desert eagle at the things head. He pulled the trigger and sends three rounds through the visor of the colossus. The mighty machine’s death was quick, and it collapses into the ground. Carl spat at the thing’s corpse and brutally crushes the thing’s helmet underneath his boot. He then looked around and noticed a camera pointed. Aiming his desert eagle, he fired a single bullet straight through the camera.

“Such a shame your death was quick…” he said as he shook his head and reloaded his pistol. He was covered in black blood, but he didn’t care. The inner bloodlust in him needed to be sated by all means!
“Now THAT was awesome!” the leader of second battalion said in awe. He expected to fight other cyborgs, but the appearance of the colossi shocked him! The boy approached Carl, but stopped when the cyborg looked at him. His eyes seemed… wild at that very moment.
“Isn’t it? Bloodshed is always magnificent…” the cyborg hissed like a snake. He looked up and Ashen jumped down gracefully to stand by him. She was smiling creepily and her pupils were dilated.
“Come. Let’s paint Chicago black with Bifrost’s blood!” the redhead giggled creepily. The troops rallied behind the two, even Annabelle. With a battle cry that shook the Foundry, the combined force began to sweep the base.


The Foundry Command Center


“Sir, the colossi we have sent have been destroyed!” an executive complained. The Lead Executive frowned slightly and he stood from his chair. An explosion rocked the command center, sending shivers down the spines on some of the executives.

“Show me the video!” he barked. The television screen blazed to life. Two colossi were fighting dozens of resistance members, but the enemy was falling to their blades rather easily.

“How could they have destroyed them?” he asked his advisors.

They shrugged since the colossi were supposed to be invincible! Suddenly, one of the colossi’s heads explodes, splashing the camera with dark blood. To compensate, the screen switches to another security camera. The remaining colossus was trying to find the assailant but it was too late. There was a blur and the sound of metal ripping. It colossus collapses, holding a massive hole in its chest. Then, the camera focused on the attacker, a teenaged boy covered with black blood and holding a desert eagle. Three shots rang out and the colossus was dead. Suddenly, as if sensing he was being watched, the boy shot the camera and the footage cuts immediately.

“It’s like he’s the Grim Reaper!” a dazed executive gasped in fear.

“I-Is that all?” the Lead Executive asked, his voice breaking. He was a veteran in fighting the Resistance, but he never saw them fight like that!

“No. We have more,” one of the executives said. He pressed a button and a new video played.

The same boy was in the footage, but he was accompanied by a redhead girl. She was wearing camo fatigues as he was, but she seemed more…casual. But that didn’t make any less frightening! She killed with brutal and precise efficiency with either her HMLAR-66 or her dual swords. Body parts were strewn everywhere the couple fought, all of them from Bifrost soldiers.  

“What is this madness?!” one of the executives cried out. He winced as he watched the boy and girl double team an Agent and kill the poor guy incredibly easily. The gasps of shock from the stunned watchers echo through the command center as they watched the couple fight.

“It’s like they’re enjoying the fight…” one onlooker commented.

“That girl’s the incarnation of the Morrigan!” another said. The Morrigan is the Celtic goddess of war, a perfect fit for the redhead.

The boy and girl worked together to sweep the Foundry clean. They fought with grace and ruthless efficiency, killing a battalion before fluidly moving on to the next target. And they didn’t even need the help of others! Most of the footage showed only the couple with the occasional sentry gun helping them!

The Lead Executive has had enough. “What are we waiting for? Cut off the power and send the Agents in!” he roared.

“But sir, we could just call High Command for aid!” one executive said. The Lead grabbed his throat and threw him into a wall, easily cracking the fragile human’s skull in.

“We cannot have High Command see our failure! We’ll fight to the bitter end!”


Back to the Couple


“Hehehehe… ready for some carnage?” Carl gleefully asked his girlfriend as he primes some explosives on the HQ door.

“I’m always ready for carnage!” the redhead giggled as she unsheathed her dual wakizashis. The blades were slick with black blood and she breathed the metallic scent deeply as if it was a drug. They stepped back and smiled evilly at the blast doors.

“Knock knock!” Carl laughed as he pressed the button.

The explosion sent a massive shockwave through the blast doors, directing shards of metal and heat right into the command center. Carl and Ashen leisurely walked in, their advanced eyes penetrating through the smoke. They couldn’t count the multitude of mutilated body parts that littered the bloody steel floor.

“Awww… I wanted to have fun with them!” Ashen complained as she picked up a disfigured hand. She crushes it in her palm, enjoying the feeling of blood soaking her fingers. Suddenly, labored coughs penetrated the smoke and the couple perked up.

“Alright, call for High Command! The Lead Executive is dead so – oh god, the Grim Reaper and the Morrigan are here!”

The smiling faces of Carl and Ashen glowed above one of the surviving executives.   “Gather all of the survivors and line them up,” Carl ordered his AI.

“Oui monsieur,” Marianne said coldly. She scouted the command center and herded two more survivors into the center. Carl reloaded his magnum while Ashen readied her blades.  

“Madame, what are you going to do to them?” Siegfried asked suspiciously. The redhead ignored her AI and placed her blades on one of the executive’s neck.

His death was quick, the Bifrost steel cutting through the sinews of his neck like a hot knife through butter. Red blood gushed out and stained the redhead’s arms, her hands, and the silver blades. She breathed in deeply, enjoying the pleasurable scent of fresh blood. Carl on the other hand, pressed the barrel of his magnum right at the executive’s forehead. He pulled the trigger and blew his brains out in one go. The couple then advanced on the last executive, who was trying to crawl away.

“No, please spare me!” he cried out. Carl spat at him and placed his boot over his chest.

“We’re sorry, we do not understand the meaning of the word spare…” the couple said in unison. They tear him apart, using their bare hands to shred the executive into pieces. Suddenly, the couple regained their humanity, and a splitting headache claims them.

“Argh… what did we just do?” Ashen groaned. She had her arm around her boyfriend for support.

“I don’t know…I felt like all I could think of was spilling blood…” Carl moaned. He looked at the disfigured remains but he saw nothing wrong with them. However, his slasher smile was gone.

“Madame, are you alright?” Siegfried asked with concern.

“We’re fine. It’s just…” she tried to say before she lost her train of thought. She could still remember the faces of the cyborgs she killed as she either gutted them or shot them. Like Carl however, she strangely saw nothing wrong with it at all. In fact, she kind of liked it…

“There you guys are!” a voice said from the entrance of the command center. There, Annabelle stood at the still smoking hole in the wall.

“We’re sorry for getting ahead of you guys,” Carl apologized. Annabelle shook her head.

“Oh don’t be sorry! The amount of carnage you guys did forced Bifrost to concentrate on you guys! Thus, we managed to rescue nearly two dozen kids from Bifrost’s hands! Well done!” the blonde said proudly. She went up to the couple and gave them a hug.

“Alright, let’s get back to the commander. He’s so proud of you guys!” she beamed. Suddenly, her radio squawked.

“Sergeant Major Annabelle! The Lieutenant has been attacked!” a frantic voice cried. “Double time into the main entrance, pronto!”

“Oh crap…” the trio said in unison. They instantly ran out of the command center, rushing through the bloody halls to reach their fallen commander.

When they arrived at the main entrance, the couple was greeted by with a somber hero’s welcome. Their fellow troopers smiled at them, but they remained silent. “Where’s the Lieutenant?” Annabelle asked a soldier.

“He’s in that tent over there,” the trooper pointed out. The trio brush past him and rushed towards their commander.

“W-welcome back, heroes…” Goth’s labored voice called out. Carl and Ashen gasp when they saw their commander’s sorry state. He had lost his legs and arms, and there was a hole right where his stomach was. It was clear there isn’t much time left for him to live.

“Sir, what happened?” Annabelle asked, her voice almost breaking.

“That’s not important…” he croaked. He turned his sad blue eyes to face the couple and put on a smile.

“I doubt we would have won this battle without you two. For that, I’m promoting both of you to Lieutenant,” he whispered. Carl and Ashen just stare at him blankly.

“Sir, can you repeat that?” they asked flabbergasted. The Lt. laughed, but he stopped when he began coughing up blood.

“You guys are now the commanders of the Midwest.”

“Sir, we didn’t –”

“No, it’s my final gift for you guys. Beside I’m…”


Lieutenant Daniel Goth expired before he even managed to finish his sentence. His position is now in the hands of the Grim Reaper and the Morrigan. They looked at each other and just lower their heads. Meanwhile, Annabelle was bawling her eyes out.

“Je suis désolé, mes amis…” Marianne whispered to the couple.

“He was a brave soul…” Siegfried said. Ashen patted her AI on the barrel of his gun.

“Lieutenants, what do we do now?” asked a soldier outside the tent, interrupting the trio. The couple turned to face the soldier, who himself had a few tears streaming down his face.

“Gather up the wounded and the dead,” Carl ordered.

“We’re going to leave this cursed base,” Ashen finished. The soldier saluted the couple and left to relay their orders. The two then left the tent and went behind a pile of ammunition crates. Carl sat down on a box while Ashen sat on his lap.

“As long as we have each other…” he whispered to her as he claimed her lips. Ashen smiled and embraced her boyfriend.

“We’ll be fine…”


Meanwhile, in the West Coast


Camp Richardson (formerly Camp Angeles) had just suffered from a vicious Bifrost assault. They won, but at the cost of losing their commanding officer, Tyrone Richardson. Now, Peter had taken the reins of the base after the former Lieutenant had promoted him before dying.

“The dead now know peace…” he whispered as the last coffin was lowered to the ground. He sheathed his blade and turned to his friends, Vien and Ricky.

“Well, this is our life now,” Peter told them.

“We can’t go back to our old lives?” Vien asked.

“Sadly yes…”

“Hey, at least we have each other!” Ricky said, trying to lift the gloomy mood. Surprisingly, it worked!

“That will be good enough for us,” the Lieutenant said. They were about to go back to base when a fellow soldier walked up to them.

“Sir, we got word that reinforcements from the South have just arrived at airport!” the trooper said.

Peter slightly smiled. “Well? Let’s give them a welcoming party.”