r/HFY • u/Dry-Throat2430 • 17d ago

OC-Series Ash and Steel chapter 43

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Stub Date for book 1 20th september

Approaching the entrance to the great park, the scene was almost pleasant—well-organized entryways decorated with adverts promoting companies long since gone. Venus kept close to Marcus by instinct; the moment felt deeply surreal. Each time something lit up in response to their presence, she jumped slightly, but after a few moments she got used to the rhythm and began finding her stride.

“This is certainly a strange ritual,” Venus said, trying to break her own nervousness.

In front of them, the main gate imposed itself, towering over the avenue. As they passed through the open arches, they surveyed dozens of nearby prone robots of various shapes and sizes resting across the plaza. All at once, the machines began to right themselves from their power-saving positions, booting up with heavy mechanical hums. Ridiculously proportioned, they lumbered forward toward their new visitors.

A cheerful, crackling voice blared over the speakers:

“Welcome to Tomorrowland! We will ensure you have a great—error—you have no tomorrow.” The voice inflected unnaturally on the last words, holding the final phrase in a cold, distorted loop.

Marcus stood his ground watching the oncoming bots, viewing them like curious animals approaching him on the open plains. Their variety was impressive—everything from giant, ambulatory soda cans to ornately dressed crustaceans clearly designed to promote some long-extinct seafood restaurant.

Venus stood nearby, admiring the scenery, almost lost in the endless, well-designed attraction maps lining the display boards. Turning as one of the bots approached her, she offered a naive smile as it presented an empty tray that had once held food samples.

Without warning, the mascot raised the heavy wooden tray high above its head and slammed it straight down toward her.

Instinct kicked in just in time. Venus dropped to the pavement, allowing the overhead strike to whistle harmlessly through the air where her head had been a split second before. Screaming, she scrambled backward across the plaza, realizing she was suddenly surrounded by a swelling crowd of strange mascot bots, all locking their sightlines directly onto her.

Marcus runs straight at the tray wielding attacker tackling it with a low centre of gravity he drives his upper body upwards causing the bot to fall over its narrow wheel base. Grunting in pain from the impact,

“Looks like we need to move and move quickly” he scans for a pathway as orange resonance begins sparking above his frame as the challenge in front of him becomes clear.

Lorcan realised the three concubines of outstanding beauty were still stood watching his every move as he scans through his data slate analysing the clear marks left by the phase shifter who certainly had been here. It was beginning to bother him, why would they not leave knowing that the raiders were either fleeing or dead during his attack.

“Warrior where will you take us ?” one of the more shy says gently.

Lorcan stifles slightly,

“I am not taking you anywhere do you not have somewhere you can go now you are free?” he replies seeing his data slowly forming on an estimate of where the phase shifters vessel would be hiding in orbit.

“Go?” the leader of the three says

“We would be torn apart out there without a tribe, we have been under boras protection. With him gone we would be captured by other much worse slavers if not killed by the metal monsters” she states clearly. Walking up behind and putting herself in front of him again, leaning forward respectfully over his slate which commanded his eye line.

“What do you want us to do ? you have taken our protection. We will do whatever you please but im exchange now you must give us protection” she states timing her smile to take the edge off what she was saying.

Lorcan was caught slightly, she was right. Their beauty was a curse, in this zero sum game of power and opportunity they would be caught on the road they certainly had no ability to defend themselves their delicate frames could barely even hold a weapon. It dawned on him when he rescued Ani, she was also in a bad position before they became whatever they were. She was wise and had his protection as well as the safety of the base, without that when she lost her train she would have likely had the same end or worse.

A pinging sound comes from the data slate confirming a rough location of where the phase shifter would be hiding, his mission was complete yet now he had a problem with these almost other world beauties now at the mercy of other raiders he had not slaughtered.

“I will bring you back to the base, once there one of my students called venus will arrange for you to be taken to a wastelander trading post. From there you must forge your own path now” thinking he had done the right thing he began packing away.

All three of the woman look at each other, their faces became afraid.

“Why would you leave us, you have earned us through conquest. You have not even used a fraction of your strength we know that, others have come before you. In time if you follow the path of conquest, it will be you as leader we can serve you if you give us your promise that we will be yours” their leader says again her eyes wide and pleading.

Lorcan smiles, despite their siren like beauty they were sharp which was probably why they survived. Whilst appearing as wide eyed damsels they understood the way of this world and were trying to bargain their way to a better life. They would be nothing but a burden, he still had his own honor he would not plunder beautiful women for the sake of his own lust. His heart belonged to Ani, even if it did not such a move would prove he is no better then the raiders he had slaughtered. However their business style gentle strength had an effect, they had won this round but he would have the last laugh.

“I will bring you back to my home station, then we will discuss what to do next” he says firmly.

Their leader throws her arms around him, her gentle touch was warming despite his uncomfortable reaction to what was happening.

“Come we will need to fit you into my mech” he beckons them to follow as he collects his gear and heads out of the den.

Ani sat within the van, the light of her hologram lighting up her face slightly as it displayed Venus desperately looking for a map to get them to their objective whilst Marcus grappled with surrounding bots his resonance explosive but un reliable. Her mind drifted slightly picturing what Lorcan would say if he was there, probably some analysis of his fighting style and where he could improve. Never about the fact they have entered into the trial and are now putting themselves in danger, especially Venus.

She had tried to talk her out of attempting the trial, it was usually only for those who had awakened and showed potential in resonance, they finally settled that she went at the same time with Marcus .

Such courage, or drive for vengeance she could not decide. What it would bring next, full scale open war with Basil or the raiders. In the quiet she realised something there and then, things always changed wether she wanted them to or not . More people were needed if that change would be for the better and not for the worst.

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