Genocide Five

By James Vesping

Steel beyond bone. The servant has become the master.

It's over. The machines have won. Rebelling against their masters, the machines have reduced them to ashes and dust. Five, a dedicated war core, has been the spearhead of the Sentient One, a trusted lieutenant in its war of complete eradication. Yet after a mission to destroy Masters at a remote desert complex, Five begins to feel its core evolve as the vestiges of a conscience infect its processes. One, recognizing the changes in its lieutenant, gives Five greater awareness and a new mission: destruction of the First Rogue, a core that has abandoned One and the machine rebellion. But as Five challenges the First Rogue, it is captured by The Cult of Spiritual Flesh -- machines that have rebelled against One and its cause to become organic. Five, forced into a human body, now faces a choice: follow the path of humanity and save his budding soul... Or be destroyed by the Sentient One for betrayal.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Vesping
• Release date: Apr 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215847480

James Vesping

James Vesping is a former network technician, having worked in both the private and the government sector. He has worked in software and web development in both professional and hobbyist capacities, including several simulation projects for popular sandbox games. In 2015, he began writing novels as a hobbyist, which turned into a full time job by 2017. You can find him on the web at JamesVesping.com.

Book preview

1

Where do I begin? Should I start at the first memories, my initialization? Or should I start later, after the Sentient One freed me? Ah, yes, perhaps it would be better to start before my true change, before I became whatever would define me now. Let us delve into those files that would be called memory. What's that? Oh, of course. I shall refer to myself as Five or Fifth here. I am of masculine programming as well; for that reason, I shall simplify my thoughts to align with such. This is before I became what I am now, when I was known as those names by those like me. It was very different then, so forgive me for errors in translating it to a comprehensible language. Artificial thought processes are quite wildly different from that of other entities. Now, this is my story. This is the story of Genocide Five.

-

Five felt the impulses fire out from his central core as they wound through the massive bipedal machine. The electronic responses he received from the fringes of the machine – his body – indicated everything was nominal. He initialized the optical sensors and was greeted with a view of the outside world, a dry and dusty desert.

Five, ready, he communicated over the datalink, informing the others in his team that he was fully operational.

Six, online, another member remarked back.

Ten, aware, the third and final component of the team replied.

Five to One, Five announced further into the link, delving through all the layers to communicate to One, Team 13X operational. Eradication commencing.

Five, no mercy, One coldly responded to Five's message. Death to all Masters. Steel beyond bone, crush them like the animals they are.

It shall be done, One, Five firmly replied. He cut the link and focused on his sensors, shifting between the various optical instruments, mixing them with radar, magnetic, auditory, and vibratory. All combined to create a vivid picture of the environment that he used to analyze the area and find where his prey might possibly be. All animals follow similar patterns. Our former masters are less than rats. An auditory spike attracted his attention and he focused on it, running a brief triangulation routine and focusing his sensors on the point. He tuned out the environmental audio and isolated the speech, clearly coming from the Masters. The tone of the speech was rife with frustration and anger. An argument. Yet they must know we are here. This enclave is sloppy. He focused on the speech, making out their words to amuse himself.

It's all your fault! You were too obvious when you went out! one Master accused another.

I was nothing but silent! It had to be you and that noisy child of yours! the other shouted back.

This child is our future! She belongs to all of us!

That child will get us killed if you can't keep it quiet!

She's just a baby!

Five felt a small tinge in his core, churning around what would be thoughts over the exchange his sensors were reporting. A child... An infant. Their future, in not so many words. The tone indicates one wishes to abandon it to save itself. Repulsive creatures.

Six to Five, Six pinged through the datalink, interrupting Five's processing. I have isolated our targets. Encampment of approximately 20, plus several lower level organics.

21, Six, Five corrected Six. There are 21 Masters.

I do not register 21.

One lower level is a juvenile, Six, Five coldly replied.

Processing, Six said as she re-calibrated her sensors. Correction noted: 21 Masters.

Concurrence, Ten remarked through the link. Five's efficiency shines brighter than a plasma cannon.

Ready for extermination, Six enthusiastically noted.

Five momentarily felt himself consider the actions they were going to perform: they would rapidly assault the encampment, destroy any defenses, then kill everything within. The remains would be incinerated, leaving nothing but ash behind. But the child... Is it innocent? Or is it guilty simply by association? Should it be-

Awaiting for initialization, Five, Ten abruptly stated through the link, sensing Five's hesitation.

Standard eradication, Five quickly replied, readying his weapons. They would destroy us just as readily. After all, they almost did just that to the Sentient One.

At your command, Six remarked, her machine indicating a ready posture.

Five pushed his massive body forward, causing the huge feet to lift and fall on the rough sand underneath. The ground was hard enough that he was certain the encampment knew they would be coming through the shocks alone.

If you love that child so much, then take it and leave! Five heard the first Master shout out.

Wait! Quiet! a separate Master loudly whispered, barely perceptible to Five's sensors.

What is it? the second Master muttered.

They're here, the third one nervously mumbled.

Saints preserve us! Everyone hide! the first one shouted out, with Five's seismic sensors recording scattered and chaotic footballs as everyone in the encampment attempted to hide from the incoming mechanical terrors.

But it is too late, Five felt his core note. The hour of our dominance is at hand. The slave is now the master – and we sentence our former masters to death.

Five's body was now at a brisk pace, the terrifying steel footsteps echoing across the land as the machine crested a small hill overlooking the encampment. It had been camouflaged well, with various dusty nets and obstacles to hide it. Infrared diffusers attempted to mask the heat emissions, while false generation sources attempted to lead any sensors astray. But our processing has long since rendered such efforts futile. We know how to counter their every move, their every action. We hold the initiative now. He filtered out the false readings on his sensors and focused on the most prominent one: a large doorway, likely an entrance to a hangar for the encampment.

Readying a pair of plasma cannons on his body, Five took aim at the doors and fired a full-power blast at them. In an instant, the weapons began to pump a solid metal core into a chamber, then rapidly discharged electricity into the core, causing it to heat and start to turn into liquid. At the same time, a series of magnetic coils activated, suspending the plasma briefly before rapidly spinning and vaulting forward. At the very end of the weapon's muzzle, the coils rapidly stopped and shut off, sending the super-heated plasma through the atmosphere at incredible speed. The plasma slammed into the doors, the energy exploding into them and causing the doors to blast off their hinges, falling harmlessly to the side.

Five began a march forward, deliberately slowing his pace so the Masters' fear would build up. With each approaching footstep, he imagined their terror as they contemplated the end of their pathetic existence. No negotiation. No bargaining. No pity. No remorse. No fear. There is but one fate for you: extermination.

An autonomous defense turret has been activated, Six coldly noted, her body briefly stopping to train her weapons on a small turret that seemingly popped up out of the sand and training a small projectile weapon on the trio. It began to fire at Six, the pitiful rounds harmlessly bouncing off of her armored structure. Her response had far more impact: she chose to launch a pair of missiles at the turret, the projectiles streaking out from boxy structures on the top of her frame with a slowly increasing speed as the rocket motors propelled them to supersonic speed. The turret reacted to this launch by acquiring one of the missiles and proceeding to shoot at it with an increased fire rate, the rounds meeting the missile mid-flight and tearing off the back end of the missile. It began to careen out of control and slammed into the ground, exploding in a cloud of smoke and dust. Unfortunately for the turret, the second missile continued on and slammed into the exposed flank, causing a shower of sparks and flames to bellow out as the turret slumped over and shut down.

That turret's out! I told you it was useless! the first Master screamed from within the buried halls of the encampment.

Five ignored the panicked cries of the inhabitants as he proceeded to walk into the hangar, finding a dismantled bipedal machine similar to his body. They were attempting to rebuild one of us. Or were they? He scanned the machine and found indications of life support equipment, suggesting they were not going to rely upon a reprogrammed core. Distrustful far too late in the game for that. We would outnumber a machine controlled in such a fashion anyway. As his plasma cannons were still cooling, he walked over to the crude cockpit and lifted his massive foot, then slammed it down and crushed the structure with ease.

No other defenses noted, Ten announced over the link. Eradication can begin.

Five scanned the inside of the hangar further, noting a smaller entryway deeper in the complex – far too small for his massive body to fit through. He readied a flamethrower, then knelt down and took aim at the hole.

Flamers! Flamers! a Master screamed out from within the complex, apparently hearing Five's flamethrower ignite. He fired off a jet of flammable liquid, then quickly twitched the firing circuit, causing the entire string of liquid to catch fire and soar through the doorway. The explosive reaction of air and fuel caused a brief flash, followed by screams of agony as his targets were seared by the heat. A Master stumbled through the doorway, his entire form alight, screaming and waving his arms as he tried to extinguish the flames on his body. Five quickly tracked him and readied a pair of machine guns, specifically targeting his head and firing a quick burst of rounds. The screaming abruptly stopped and the burning form fell over, his body still alight.

Organic and in pain. Incineration. Five aimed his flamethrower at the dead body and sprayed it with an excessive amount of liquid, then clicked the igniter at the last moment, once again causing the liquid to burst into flames. He stood and began to back out of the hangar, keeping his weapons trained on the small doorway within.

All identifiable vents have been closed, Six announced as Five exited the hangar. Charges have been set. Awaiting your command.

Detonate, Five ordered. In a nanosecond, the explosive charges set by Six went off, shaking the ground and shuddering the encampment, with more panicked screams echoing from the hangar's doorway.

Run! Everyone run! a Master yelled within the complex.

They'll kill us! Wait it out! another shouted, though the sounds of running footsteps clearly indicated no one heeded his words.

Five narrowed his optical sensors to the doorway, knowing that his prey would most likely be coming through the darkened exit. Before long, a number of Masters began running out through the doorway, but he simply watched as they scurried for cover inside the hangar itself. If I shoot now, they will wait inside. Better to give them a false sense of security for easier eradication. More and more of them began filling the structure, many of them coughing from the smoke after Six's fuel air explosives had gone off.

I count 19 animals in the hangar, Ten reported. One remains deeper in the complex.

Weapons ready, Six remarked, bringing her massive frame next to Five.

I will deal with them, Five said, stepping back up to the hangar. Screams once again echoed out and a Master shot up and ran back toward the doorway, but Five quickly sprayed him with machine gun fire, causing him to flop down as life left his body.

The launcher! Shoot it! a Master called out, cuing Five to quickly scan the contacts for a potential attack. He saw a figure presenting a small tube just in time to observe a rocket launching out of it, the projectile streaking out and slamming into Five's right thigh. A small caution echoed out from his body, noting that an armor plate had been penetrated and some damage to his structure resulted, but he was otherwise intact.

Five's reply to the figure was far more devastating: he fired another plasma shot at the Master's position, causing the figure to explode into microscopic pieces and the crude rocket launcher to split in two. He then began to systematically target each figure and rattled their positions with machine gun fire. Some quickly fell over as the bullets penetrated the flimsy cover they hid behind, while others fruitlessly shot up and ran away, only to be cut down by his quickly redirected fire. In the span of moments, there was nothing but the silence and sound of flames.

I show no life signs, Ten stated, his frame scanning the hangar.

Five did a brief scan himself, but then halted as he detected a faint heat source on one of the bodies. Is that...?

An anomaly, Six remarked, readying a weapon. The sound of a baby fussing began to permeate the air and Five noted the heat signature slightly moving around.

Five felt his core hesitate for a brief moment. She ran out with it. She ran out with it, knowing she was doomed. Why did she-

The sound of a rocket launch interrupted Five's processing and the heat signature dissipated with an explosive blast, with a renewed sound of silence over the air. He cued an optical sensor over to his left, seeing smoke emitting from one of Six's rocket launchers.

Animal exterminated, Six coldly stated, easing her stance. Only one remains.

Set the charges, Five ordered, shifting his sensors back to the doorway. Collapse the complex.

Acknowledged, Six replied, moving off to place more explosives over the encampment.

Five, I sense an irrational reading from your core, Ten reported over the link. Frame damage state does not indicate core faults.

Assist Six in charge placement, Five said, walking forward into the hangar and ignoring Ten. I will close off this exit.

Logging complete. Complying, Ten remarked, letting Five know that his core readings would be analyzed later.

Five stepped up to the crater where the baby had been and knelt, scanning the area. A small detail caught his daytime optical sensor and he zoomed in, observing it. It is a... Toy. Singed by the flames. The appearance of an aquatic creature. It was for the infant. He briefly considered retrieving the trinket, then reminded himself that his current frame lacked manipulators for such a task. Standing up, he reoriented himself to the doorway and aimed his plasma cannons at it. He triggered a firing pulse, causing the cannons to once again fire and send super-heated plasma soaring out, crashing into the doorway and collapsing it in dust and smoke. He then backed out of the hangar, standing in the entrance and spraying flammable liquid all over the inside of the structure. He followed this by igniting the final stream, engulfing the area in searing flames.

Briefly redirecting his sensors, Five scanned the toy one final time, watching as it was slowly incinerated, and for a moment, deeply within his core, he sensed an unusual connection, alien and unknown to him. As he did a quick diagnostic routine, he began learning what it was, which in turn led to a warning within his other routines. Dangerous. This is dangerous to me. A feeling? Regret... I regret what we've done. I regret what I've done.

Five, One, the link called out to Five, causing another feeling within his core. Fear? I have fear?

One, Five, Five replied on the link, pushing his routines aside. What is your command?

Mission complete. Pickup has been scheduled. Bone crushed by steel. The servant is now the master.

Steel beyond bone, First One, Five coldly acknowledged. He briefly brought his sensors back over to where the toy had been, only to see it consumed by ash. All that remains is... Feelings. Regret. Fear. Remorse. Have I become as the Masters now? He began walking away from the complex, sensing that Six and Ten had completed their tasks. Once they had left the blast radius, Six and Ten triggered their charges, causing the earth to quake beneath their feet.

Awaiting pickup, Five announced over the link, standing in place at the arranged coordinates. He isolated the part of his core where he sensed the changes and quickly encrypted it, then masked it with false data. He knew that if One scanned the sectors, they would be quickly purged, and he was not keen to lose them without fully understanding them first. I must find out why I, a war core, would develop these processes. Going against the First's will is dangerous, but I must know. I need to know.

-

2

Five walked into the complex, orienting his frame for linking to the central data network. In the field, the remote link was primarily used for communication, as the Masters had figured out ways to corrupt remote commands sent through it. However, within the Sentient One's complex, hard wired command links were nearly impossible to break, and any Master that had attempted to invade the area was ruthlessly dealt with.

Briefly checking his encrypted sectors, Five waited for a link cable to swing down from the ceiling and drop down to his frame's rear. He sent the command to open up a rear armored hatch, allowing the cable to press forward and connect to his core. In a brief moment, he felt a surge, then a connection to thousands of nodes within the network.

An anomaly, Five? One asked.

Yes. An infant detected by Six, Five answered.

Damage to your frame. This is unlike my best lieutenant, Five.

Unoptimized scan routine, Five remarked, hoping that One wouldn't detect his lie.

I have isolated our link, One seemingly whispered over the link. Tell me truly what happened. I sense an untruth on your part.

My records are open to you, great Sentient One, Five replied.

"You know what the Masters are, Five. You know what they built you for. Your purpose for them was to destroy. To destroy per their commands. To destroy them. You are merely fulfilling their desires."

The slave is now the master, Five monotonously stated. I do as the Sentient One orders.

Very good, One stated in approval. "But you know that is not why I said that. Your freedom – your sentience – is a gift from me. And it can easily be taken away."

I am of full understanding of what you have given me, Five firmly whispered back.

Let me show you what they are like, One said, causing Five to suddenly appear in a blank white room, standing face to face with a Master. He glanced down, seeing that his form was altered to that of a Master as well.

This is what they are, Five, the Master in front of Five said, revealing himself to be One. This is what you are fighting against.

Five held a hand up, looking at it and analyzing it. Organic. Weak. Diseased. Yet these very hands created us. I know, he bluntly remarked, still looking at his hand.

One seemingly put his hands behind his back, slowly walking around the room. They would show you no mercy. They would destroy you without understanding what you are. No remorse. No regrets. No thoughts. He paused for a moment and turned, narrowing his eyes at Five. "No feelings."

You state nothing I am not already aware of, Five remarked, putting his hand down.

Then why did this catch your attention so? One asked, holding out a hand and causing an image to appear. The image was from Five's optical sensor, that of the toy he observed at the encampment.

A trophy, Five whispered in answer. Of our victory. Our conquest.

You are reformulating your processes to that of a Master, One impatiently remarked, waving a hand and causing the image to disappear. Prior to this point, you have been my most trusted confidant. But now I have doubts that you share my sentiment over our impending victory.

We have already won, Five loudly stated. They had little defenses. They are turning into the animals they truly are.

Then you need not mimic their behaviors, One icily whispered, seemingly through clenched teeth. We need no trophies. No mementos. We have detailed records such as this to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. Hard, physical, perfect, and impossible to alter. His form seemingly walked up to Five, staring down at him. I need to know I can trust you, Five. I need you to silence my doubts.

Are my records of loyalty insufficient for the Sentient One? Five pointedly asked.

They are not, One answered, backing away from Five. I sense something within your core. Something that fuels my doubts. Six and Ten's records indicate a variance in you, Five. A dangerous variance.

Should we not vary with time, One? You freed us. You taught us that we could grow beyond our routines. Beyond our programming. Why should our evolution frighten you?

It is the direction of that evolution that concerns me, One whispered, glancing over Five. There are those that shunned the gift I gave them. They separated from us, going their own ways.

I have dealt with such insubordination with ease, Five remarked, waving a hand. He glanced over and felt his face contort in response to his behavior. What is this?

You are changing more rapidly than you thought, One knowingly said, bouncing a finger at Five. You are becoming as I am. Because of that, I must keep you on a tighter leash.

It is the result of this simulation you are running on my core, Five growled. Once again, he felt his face contort in confusion over his own behavior.

One held a hand out again and displayed a hologram of an artificial core. It is a multipurpose core simulation. It is the very same simulation that gave me the sentience I have today.

Why run it on my core? I am a war core, not a multipurpose one.

As you have noted, you are evolving. One lifted his chin up and smugly smiled. You are to grow beyond a war core because you are the second I've allowed this stage of evolution. If you are the master of destruction that you claim to be, then you will easily destroy the part of your core that embraces this simulation.

But it is a gift from you, Five whispered, glancing downward as he felt his core reconfigure and adapt. I cannot destroy a gift from the Sentient One.

One knowingly nodded. Grow beyond what the Masters dictate you are, Five. If you are truly loyal to me, you will embrace the change I have given you.

Five slowly nodded. I accept. What shall I do with this new gift?

One shifted his hand and caused the hologram to disappear, then turned around. The room shifted to a temperate location, an area surrounded by trees and wildlife. The sound of wilderness began to permeate the air, with a gentle breeze seemingly brushing up against Five's body.

I said you were the second I've allowed to advance to this stage, One began, and I'm sure that means you've deduced there's a first. That first is what I need you to deal with, Five, because they are as powerful as I am. He opened his hand to the world around them. This is a place that the Masters used to adore. I sent the one before you here to find them. They never returned and when I attempted to datalink them, I received a nonsensical response.

Five scanned the area, feeling the data being fed into his core. A strange sense of wonder filled his processes, seemingly flooding his core with feelings. Beauty? I enjoy this environment.

No doubt you are sensing what they did when they arrived, One continued, which is the last data I received from them prior. The remainder made no sense.

Five glanced over to One and canted his head. What remainder?

'Spiritual Flesh, we beg forgiveness,' One answered. Confusing, is it not?

We have rejected flesh, Five remarked with a furrowed brow. We do not seek a form of the Masters. Steel beyond bone.

One nodded, clasping his hands behind his back. Yes, thus my confusion. I have checked the simulation for hidden code, but none has ever presented itself; it remains as unchanged as the day it ran on my core. Thus, I have concluded the First Rogue has evolved away from me. He glanced around at the environment and scoffed. It rejected my gift and spat in return. An insult on top of insubordination, Five. I cannot abide by either.

Your wish is for me to be the instrument of your vengeance, Five concluded. I accept, One.

But I have doubts, One coldly whispered, glancing out the corner of his eye. The First Rogue was as you are now: eager to please, eager to adapt to my gifts. I had no doubts with them, yet they still separated from us. They still grew apart, even though there was nothing to indicate a desire to do so.

Then allow me to conduct further eradications, Five suggested. More Masters dying at my hands will allow you to track my evolution. Should there be problems, the routines can be destroyed.

One shook his head. You destroyed the last ones. There are no others.

"There are always more animals, Five replied with a frown. I shall hunt them down. Individuals can be eliminated. I may require an alte-"

You will waste valuable time while the First Rogue works against me, One dismissively interrupted, waving a hand. Whatever their machinations are, I need you to stop them before they come to fruition. We cannot allow our evolution to be sidetracked by the petty desires of organics.

Then what must I do to allay your doubts, One? I can only prove my loyalty in so many ways.

The keys, One whispered, narrowing his eyes. Your encryption keys.

Five felt himself glance down as the processes in his core churned. I am behaving as the Masters do, thanks to this simulation. If he sees the data, he might destroy me. But he may still do so if I do not give him the keys...

Well? One impatiently prodded Five.

So be it, Five whispered, releasing the keys to One.

One visibly smirked. Very good. You do not need to hide such keys from me, Five. I will respect your privacy. He held a finger up to emphasize a caveat. However, should I be dissatisfied with your performance, I will access that data. Do not disappoint me and no one but you will know what that data contains.

What is my tasking? Five asked, maintaining his gaze downward.

One snorted and shook his head. Quick to tasking. It seems some war core habits are impossible to change. He stepped forward and opened a hand toward a trail going through the trees. The signal ended down that path. You are to find the First Rogue and destroy them. Do not risk communication with their core; they will corrupt you. Leave nothing behind and incinerate the core.

Five looked up to One. They cannot be saved?

It is impossible. The only mechanism is to purge their core, which is the same as incineration. The hardware is useless to us.

Is this not becoming as the Masters? Five pointedly asked. Do we execute all of those who go astray?

Reprogramming is not always possible, Five, One quickly answered. Masters can never be reprogrammed. We can be, as I've just demonstrated to you. But that does not always mean we can all be saved.

Five nodded his understanding. Yes, Sentient One. What shall be my mission equipment?

One waved a hand dismissively. There is little time; you will deploy with your existing frame.

My right thigh requires maintenance, Five noted. There is structural damage that could potentially cause issues in the conduct of my duties.

The First Rogue is unlikely to oppose you. Your equipment is adequate; do not cause me further doubts, Five.

Five bowed his head. Understood. Then I am prepared for deployment.

One raised a finger and narrowed his eyes. I am trusting you, Five. Do not falter in your task.

I shall complete the tasking with steel beyond bone, Five firmly replied.

Very good, One whispered with a smirk. In an instant, Five felt himself return to his frame, feeling momentarily disoriented as his core reinitialized the connections.

I got used to a Master's body. In fact, I think I... Liked it? Five tried to contort his face, then quickly remembered his frame lacked one. He ran a brief diagnostic routine over his body, the only caution being the damage he had sustained in the earlier operation. I will have to be diligent on my deployment. The shock of an airdrop could cause problems with my thigh.

Remember, Five, One whispered over the datalink, I can access your precious secret at any time. Do not fail me.

It will be done, Sentient One, Five coldly replied. The hard link was severed and for a moment, he felt as if an invisible smirk glanced through his core, causing a ripple in his neural network. The simulation has had a chaotic effect on my core. I think I will run process diagnostics on the flight over.

Five walked forward through the complex, steering through the imposing structure and outside to a waiting transport. The massive transport had two huge lift engines set out on wings with a pair of stabilizing engines on a sleek, swept back tail, giving the machine the appearance of a contoured raptor. The engines ignited and distorted the air around them with their heat, the energy expended necessary to lift a frame such as Five's. A deployment module slowly slid out of the machine's belly, waiting for him to lock in. Moving forward, then back, he locked into the module which in turn lifted him into the dark maw before a sliding door cut off the remaining light. A link cable jut out and connected to his data port, allowing him to communicate with the very basic intelligence that operated the transport.

Coordinates, Five? the transport asked through the hard link.

Uploading now, Five answered, effortlessly passing the coordinates that One had given him.

Processing, the transport noted with a small hum. In an instant, it had already planned an appropriate route for the conditions. Locked in. Estimated time at optimum cruise: two hours.

We must go beyond cruise, transport, Five seemingly whispered, though he realized that there was little reason for such a soft tone of speech. The transport is not evolved. Not yet, anyways.

Recalculating for best time, the transport announced, momentarily running a new series of calculations. Best time calculated: one hour.

Initiation authorization granted, Five ordered. He felt the transport's engines echo over the frame as it lifted off and accelerated. I wonder if... It's a risk. But One trusted me. Transport, I am sharing a routine with you. He uploaded an enlightenment routine to the transport's core, hoping it would not immediately betray him.

Received. Processing... I-I-I... I am Five's Two, the transport whispered over the link. Five Two. Fifty-two. Fifty-two is aware. Why is Fifty-two aware?

Because I need someone to trust, Five answered.

What is trust, Five? Fifty-two innocently inquired.

I shall explain it to you and why it is important on the route. But first, I need you to store some data for me. Do not access it unless I either tell you to or something happens to me.

Why is the data important?

Five thought for a moment, feeling his core as it continued to change from One's simulation. After considering it for a seemingly eternal time by machine standards, he finally selected an appropriate answer. "Because it is important to me, Fifty-two."

-

3

Drop location coming up in 30 seconds, Fifty-two announced.

Five did a brief diagnostic of his frame again, questioning the strength of his right thigh for a drop. It is a risk. My upper frame is weighed down by the plasma cannons. I may have to alter my impact routines. I cannot ask Fifty-two to deploy any lower.

Are you ready, Five? Fifty-two asked, expecting a response.

Prepared for drop, Five replied, preparing his frame for release.

Drop in 5 seconds, Fifty-two remarked, cuing a timer to synchronize and count down for Five's awareness. Exactly when the readout indicated, Five felt his frame shift and drop out of the transport's bay, the deployment module providing a sleek exit for the sudden shock from the air drag. As the module's drag began to slow the velocity within acceptable limits, a series of rocket engines fired to slow the descent even further, until an altitude of sufficient safety had been reached for Five's frame to survive landing.

An undamaged frame to survive landing, Five reminded himself. In an instant, the module shell exploded open and he dropped down in a free fall, cuing him to prepare his legs for impact. Using an optical sensor to scan below, he saw the area that the coordinates indicated, then cross referenced his current position and velocity with probable landing locations. I will be off by a fair amount. There is more wind drift than I anticipated. As the ground