[4-12] The Mines

[Marcus Wright]

The group was a twisted mess. Everyone shared an awkward silence as they began to register the loss of one of their teammates, the Vision. Marcus confirmed the obvious by bending down and placing long, muddy fingers on the Vision’s metal shell. Fiara placed black stones on the vision’s eyes and Marcus was silent, as respectable as the Terminator could get.

Marcus found a few old sticks and configured the sticks into a makeshift tombstone into a cross shape. He remembered an old quote a human once taught him-- that we bury our dead. He hauled
the android over toward the gravesite. Okor grunted, not so impressed. He was losing patience with the other male android in the group. He increased his volume, cutting the intended silence. “Didn't you listen to what I said earlier? They will come back. They are primes.”

Marcus’s sea blue eyes shone with a fearsome crimson light through his narrowed retinas.Feeling a tingling sense of emotionless behavior, he switched to a cold, terminator like state. Emotions meant he was weak. Okor didn't need emotions to judge his opponents, even Fiara was ready to jump someone willing to attack her. Was he a man or machine? He was sent to kill nobody, but many lives were lost by his hand. No, he wasn't weak, senseless or a monster. He wouldn't compare himself to the metal men designed to kill. But he still avoided eye contact to worry that he could of done more to help the vision. But one story was over and another began.

The ear piercing noise made everyone fall to their knees. The green coated man fell down face first in the mud. He started screaming data mixed with a few obscene words.

Marcus’s once thick and healthy face had red blood cells mixed with complex metal parts gleaming in the sunlight. As he was about to move, a loud buzz went off in his dirty trench coat, worse off for wear. The lit screen showed a message from none other than Hiro, the same hacker that had been with him when Skynet attacked the arcade that day. He pulled out the muddy device, trying to wipe off the screen. He pushed the button as he connected to Hiro via private server.

Hiro had wondered who he was with and where he was. His thoughts trailed off as he thought about what the digital samurai was saying. Hiro had somehow activated communication on the island and was giving him a way to find shelter and food. He turned toward the giant General and the young phoenix. Marcus gave a weak smile, confident in his speech. “Okor, Fiara, I just got a message from Hiro.He’s offering up his shelter and some extra food.” I don't know if we need the time but rest could be good for all involved.

Okor was pondering a thought, many things on his mind. The putrid man in reality couldn't give a crap about the others. Disgusting claws surrounded thoughts in his head, just a reminder that the others had one purpose and once they were used up, they too would be cast aside like toys.

A cold reminder of this was Okor’s chilling statement “Do you fear?”

Marcus turned his head and frowned,his breathing slow and calm. He mentioned “fear is a beast that feeds on attention.” I'm metal and I'm a man. Terminators can't feel pain or fear, but I can.

All of them started to head toward the distant caves ahead but the real choices were still to be made.

Marcus inched his leg, shuffling a bit as oil dripped like a bad science project. The smell of oil mixed with blood would make the most battle worn soldier puke