Chapter 37: Colossus

Charon’s jaw dropped as tall metal walls came into view, reaching over a hundred yards into the sky. Turrets the size of a car rotated along the top, scanning the perimeter with mechanical precision. Annie smirked at his reaction. "Impressive, isn’t it? When we have the energy to run everything, the Fort is one of the most secure locations in the realm." That was a big "if" to Charon, but he couldn’t deny that it was very impressive. Emerius looked at the walls and turrets and had an entirely different question. "How do you have these? I haven’t seen any mines, nor the right planetary systems to fund such an endeavor." As usual, she had an answer. "People aren’t the only thing that arrives in the River Acheron. Bits and pieces from the other realms show up here, some larger than others. We also have very skilled earth mages to reform metal, and the High Elders are very wise." She smiled with pride. "Through their leadership, we have pioneered technological advancements. From the walls, to the turrets, to the shields, the High Elders have invented them all." A distant thudding began to echo around them, growing more intense with time. The ground shook, dirt and rocks jumping a few inches as the earth rattled. Charon and Emerius looked around in uncertainty, drawing their weapons, but the others just smiled. The source of the shaking soon came into view, approaching them at speed. A massive humanoid machine, armed with over a dozen different weapons, grew closer with every massive step, clearing the distance in seconds. Its arms hung to its waist, ending in twin cannons. The barrels were large enough to fit a house, with large batteries and magazines sticking off the sides. Two advanced guns were attached to the shoulders, their cannons extending into a sharp point. Red energy glowed from inside, the air around it dancing in the heat. Cords came from the back, wrapping around the shoulders to attach to the center of the chest, where the most eye-catching feature sat: The core. It burned with power, scarlet tendrils crackling out and lashing at the air. Bulging armor plates surrounded it, causing the torso to protrude out further than the rest of the behemoth. On top of it all was a steel-plated helmet. It looked like a hoplite’s, with a T-shaped visor and a large nose guard. Two orange orbs were set into the eyes, gazing down at them, even from a few miles out. With every thundering step, it approached, until it was only a hundred yards away. The moment it stopped, the entire machine creaked and groaned, thousands of tons of weight losing its momentum. Even at this distance, Charon had to crane his neck back to look up at its head. With a single thought, it could eradicate him and everything nearby, destroying them without a care. Only one word could define what it was. ’Colossus.’ A warhorn blared from its face, the noise so loud it could be heard across the plains for miles and miles. Charon and Emerius grabbed their ears and screamed, the others managing to maintain to grit their teeth and tough it out. Then, a voice echoed from the machine. It was robotic and augmented, deep, loud, and entirely devoid of emotion. "This is Epsilon Colossus 4, designation Ajax. You are to state your names, mission, designation, and intent." Darius stepped forward and yelled into the distance. "Darius, Annie, Red, Liam. Scouting patrol, designation 18, returning to the Fort for debrief!" The sound of metal grinding came from one of the machine’s cannons, then the magazine it was attached to clunked. The limb thundered forward, the barrels opening aimed right at them. As one, the group stumbled back, their eyes wide. Annie called out to Darius in terror, her voice shaking. "What’s going on? Why is it moving to engage?" Even Liam seemed confused, his eyes wide and his waraxe clutched to his chest. For the first time, Charon saw him audibly gulp. "Information negative. Scans indicate six life forms. Records indicate Scouting patrol designation 18 is not slated to return for seven cycles." Emerius raised his hands placatingly. He screamed out at the Colossus, almost begging it to be understanding. "We found two new survivors! They just arrived here! We are returning early to validate them, and to share new information regarding the coastal zone!" The two shoulder-mounted lasers spun to face them, small motes of red energy beginning to collect at their tips. "Stand by for escort." Darius nodded, his hands still raised as he yelled over his shoulder at the group. "This is not normal. They will send out soldiers to collect us, possibly for interrogation. Do not make any sudden movements, and do anything they ask." He exhaled, his breath catching. "If any of us are identified as a threat, they will not hesitate to kill us all." Neither Emerius nor Charon responded, their eyes locked on the massive weapons aimed at them. ’What the gods is this? This isn’t what we were promised! If I wanted to die, I would’ve thrown myself off of Rooks Ridge!’ Minutes passed in tense silence, no one moving except to blink. Slowly, the sound of an engine approaching reached their ears, followed by the sight of three military vehicles. They looked like large APCs with cannons mounted on the top. Large metal cylinders were bolted to the sides with hoses snaking off the tops, leading into the back of the gun. With squealing wheels, they rolled to a stop, soldiers instantly dismounting. Over a dozen men in sleek forest green armor piled out, each holding a laser gun with a glowing red cartridge slotted into the bottom. Just after them came another dozen individuals in more medieval armor, from plate mail to leather, like Darius. In their hands were swords, axes, daggers, and bows. Charon recognized them on sight, his eyes finally having moved from the Colossus. ’Mages.’ They lined up into a semicircle, the men with rifles taking the center and the mages flanking them to the side. The back of one of the APCs hissed and folded down to make a ramp. Thudding steps reverberated from the vehicle, a mechanical suit walking down to the grass. It turned to face them with a single motion, revealing a man covered from head to toe in metal. He looked like a miniature colossus, complete with a hoplite helmet and a crackling core in the chest. The largest difference was guns, with the shoulders being bare and the cannons being attached to the forearms rather than making up the limbs themselves. On his belt hung two sword hilts, the blades absent. His visor scanned them all from left to right before he moved to pass his men, stopping a yard away from Darius. A void came from where his mouth should be, robotic like the Colossus’, but also with a tinge more emotion. "I am Panoplian Otto, and am in command of patrols North of the Fort. I was instructed to lead you to the wall for further questioning." A thin red cone shot from his orange eyes, moving up and down each of their bodies. "Your weapons are permissible. Any attempts to draw them will result in termination. Enter the instructed vehicle and prepare for transportation." Without another word, the Panoplian spun and marched back up the ramp into the APC. One of the gun-carrying soldiers stepped forward, pointing at them, then at one of the vehicles. "You are to get into that one. Take your seats and remain silent during final approach." With too many weapons around to question the orders, they shuffled off towards the back of another APC, the ramp falling down to let them inside. Two rows of chairs lined the sides, the soldier instructing them to sit on one side as he sat with his comrades across from them. It was cramped, with the chairs too small and seat belts too tight. Only dim, fluorescent lights kept the darkness at bay while they rattled over the hills towards what Charon assumed was the Fort. As they drove, he could both hear and feel the Colossus walking away, each footfall sending fresh shockwaves through the ground. Only once the rumbling grew distant did Charon allow himself to properly breathe, inhaling and exhaling in short gasps. ’This isn’t good, not at all. They could be about to sacrifice us, and there’s nothing I could do to stop them. This was dumb, possibly the dumbest thing I’ve ever done! Emerius and I should’ve just fought through them back at the temple, it would’ve been easier than whatever is happening now!’ His troubled thoughts did little to help the situation, his fate secured by armed soldiers and a few inches of reinforced steel. It wasn’t long before they slowed, and then stopped, the soldiers standing and banging on the wall separating them from the drivers. The back dropped open, bathing them in a far brighter light. "This is where you get out."