Hard Luck Hank Screw the Galaxy(95)

“We’re on the same side now,” I said.

Then Jyen abruptly cried out, pointing.

It was the Dredel Led, and it was moving towards us.

“Everyone get ready,” I commanded.

The soldiers fanned out. Jyen did like I told her and got off by herself near a building. Delovoa hid behind one of the cars. Jyonal began taking drugs. And I stood there alone making myself a very convincing target.

“On my mark,” I shouted.

“I kill you,” Wallow yelled, and I realized he meant me.

The robot paused. Maybe it was deciding what to demolish first in our target-rich environment.

“Wallow,” I said, momentarily looking away from the machine, “I’m an Oberhoffman in the Navy now.” I stood on my tiptoes so he could be a whole few inches closer and see my insignias. “I’m the highest-ranking person here.”

At that, ZR3 definitely swiveled and started to run straight at me.

“Oh, right, so NOW you can understand Colmarian?” I asked it.

Delovoa began spewing nonsense to the Dredel Led at break-tongue speeds. It was moments from impact with me. I had instructed everyone to give Delovoa as much time as possible before fighting back, as he theorized that once it was engaged in combat, talking to it might be impossible.

The robot clanged up, its metal feet screeching on the sidewalk. It stopped in front of me, took that huge handless arm, and swung it for a mortal blow to my chest.

I saw it coming in slow-motion.

Closer. Closer.

And it passed right over me.

Because I ducked.

I was ducking! I was crouched on my knees, my head down. I couldn’t believe it. I was both surprised and ecstatic. This was easy.

But the Dredel Led’s torso could spin. So it just whipped around and its other arm hit me in my now-lowered position.

I went rolling like a ball and crashed into a car, practically splitting it in half.

My sight dimmed briefly. But I knew I had ducked. It couldn’t take that away from me.

I heard what sounded like twenty rockets exploding nearby, because twenty rockets exploded nearby.

I looked up in time to see ZR3 walk over and stand on my leg. There was a terrible cracking noise followed by me shrieking in pain.

It raised its arm and I knew I had a few moments to live.

I lay in front of this stark white robot, its crude, hole of an eye staring at me. I wanted to think a profound thought before I died, but all I could think of was, “Ow.”

There was a blinding flash and for a split-second I thought I might be in some kind of afterlife, but I was in way too much pain for that.

The light grew so bright I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

It was Jyen. She was throwing about a hundred thunderstorms at this thing and I was right next to it. I had to cover my face and ears.

My body shifted and the lightning was over. The Dredel Led had moved.

No, it had been moved.

As my hearing returned and I could almost see again, I looked up and saw Wallow. And heard him. He roared as he picked the robot up.

He cupped it in his hands, but it was obviously incredibly heavy. His knees buckled as he hoisted with his back. Then he pushed it over his head, triumphant.

There was no corner of the city that did not hear Wallow screaming. His face was the living embodiment of violence. It was so ferocious I nearly forgot the only thing keeping my leg from separating from my body was my mangled armor and skin.

Wallow stood fully erect, his arms stretched high above. You got the idea he could hold the Dredel Led there forever, like some benevolent god sacrificing his life for all of ours.

But that was not how Wallow worked.

He brought his arms down and slammed the Dredel Led into the city floor.

I flew four feet into the air and felt like I broke another few bones from the shockwave. The Dredel Led was literally wedged into the superstructure of the space station, only half of it visible.

Nothing. Nothing could survive that.

Except ZR3.

I sat there in disbelief, and considerable agony, as I saw it trying to extricate itself. It was beyond comprehension. What use were rockets, or even lightning, against such a construct? It had just been forced four feet into solid metal and was still going.

It whirled spastically until centrifugal force popped it out.

I looked over and saw Jyen slumped against the building. I didn’t see any injuries though.

ZR3 showed the first real signs of intelligence I’d seen when it turned to face Wallow. All the rest of us it could kill at leisure.

Wallow wasn’t going to go easily. He lifted his massive foot and stepped on the robot, knocking it down. I think.

It was hard to tell because he kept stomping and stomping and yelling and I was getting bounced around and my leg hurt and I wanted to be in my apartment or even the hospital. Anyplace but here.

Then Wallow yelped in pain.