Chapter 97 - 97

Words : 1395 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

"Buddy, what's the status of the defensive systems in the building?" Adam asked. "4 of 14 turret systems are reporting active, both safe room doors are broken, safes are disconnected, lab security incinerators are below 20% operating efficiency." Adam nodded slowly as he took it in. It sounded like the only systems that he could still use were the incinerators in the lab and the turrets. "Wait a minute." Salvatore chimed in. "What kinda building has 14 turrets? What kind of work was going on here?" He asked, shocked. "Government contracts, dangerous experiments, secret agent shit?" Adam shrugged. "Fuck if I know." He chuckled. "You worked here! How the hell do you not know?" Adam shrugged again. "It was all compartmentalized. I worked in IT. Servers, robots, sentries, computers, and the only time I was allowed into the labs or near confidential stuff was under close watch. Nothing more boring for a guard to stand for hours watching me type on a computer, I tell you." Salvatore sighed and shook his head. "Okay whatever, so what's the plan? I assume we want to get to the lab?" "No." Adam said as he looked over at Buddy for a moment. "We need to get to the CEO's office, on the top floor." "Of-fucking-course. Because it wouldn't be simple." Salvatore rolled his eyes. "Why? What's wrong with the lab?" "Protocol." Adam said simply. "I can name about 5 different regulations on how the information in the lab would be disposed of in many different events. They did not want the information getting out. Granted the bombs dropped suddenly, so I've heard, so it's possible it didn't happen. But Buddy here likely would have incinerated the lab after some time of no activity in the building. What I do know is that the CEO's computer contains the master links to all the files. All of it backed up for his use. Assuming that the computer is good, and or any files, I'm sure I can find the answers I'm looking for. Salvatore threw his hands up in defeat. "Alright, whatever, how do we get to the top floor? Even from the outside it looked like this place was crawling with them." "Well We already have two advantages. The turrets, and…" He looks at Buddy. "Buddy here." "Kid, I hate to break it to you but Protectron aren't exactly known for their overwhelming combat capability." "Usually, yes, but Buddy is special." He then turned to face Buddy fully and spoke to him. "Buddy, enter combat mode." "Combat mode, engaged." Buddy said as its head sensor began to spin much more rapidly and its laser emitters embedded on its hands began to glow. A faint hum could be heard coming from inside Buddy's chassis. Adam grinned at Salvatore. "As I said, I had lots of free time." "Alright, whatever, sounds like you got a plan, I'll just follow your lead on this. This is what you hired me for, I'll make sure you get to the top floor no matter what." Adam smiled warmly at him. "I knew you would." He then turned back to Buddy. "Buddy. Activate the turret system, anyone without administrator level access is to be treated as an intruder." He said with a commanding tone. "Request processed. Turret system activating." "Buddy, eliminate the intruders." Adam said with an evil grin. "Proceeding to eliminate the intruders." Buddy said before his head sensor light began to glow red and he began to head back towards the stairs to head up stairs. "We will follow in Buddy's wake, use him as mobile cover and a distraction as we eliminate the hostiles on the way up to the top floor." "And you sure the turrets aren't going to target me?" Salvatore asked, a bit worried. "Don't worry, I told Buddy to add you as an administrator as soon as we met him, since he is linked to the system, what he sees as a friendly will translate to the turrets." Adam then pulled out his laser pistol and held it in his hands as he watched Buddy begin to slowly ascend the steps. "You could even attack him now and he wouldn't even retaliate, hence the administrator." "Well, let's just hope your work isn't shoddy." Salvatore grinned, clearly busting Adam's chops. "Har har." Adam responded with a deadpan tone. "Let's do this." The two followed behind Buddy as he emerged back onto the main floor, Buddy began to head to the other stairway to head up to the other levels. As soon as the two of them were back on the main floor they could hear shouting and laser fire, presumably from the turrets that were still active, from upstairs. "Seems like your little plan is panning out well. Hopefully we can make it up there before they destroy all the turrets." "Don't worry, I have faith in them. They will hold out for a while, even if they are stationary. But we should hurry." Adam looked at the stairs Buddy was walking up. He took a deep breath, tightened the grip on his gun and then nodded to Salvatore, marching after Buddy. As soon as they emerged onto the second floor bullets whizzed past the door as Buddy entered the floor and began its own onslaught of fire at the intruders. "Intruders found. Proceeding to utilize deadly force. Vacate the premises if you do not wish to become deceased." Buddy said as its laser emitters fired off laser rounds at rapid speed. Over 4 times faster than a normal protectron speed. It was damn near the speed of a human using a semi auto laser rifle and firing off shots fast. "Damn kid you really souped him up!" Adam grinned and then dove across the hall, taking cover behind a door that led to a janitor's closet. "I know! I'm really proud of him!" Adam said with an almost manic grin as he too fired a few stray laser shots down the hallway, past Buddy, and towards the three or so identified raiders at the other end of the floor. There was no laser turret on this floor, so they were clearly aware something was happening and were far more prepared for an attack then others would be. As such they already were behind cover and were watching the floor. Bullets dinged off Buddy as round after round were shot towards him. Some hit their mark, others failed miserably. Salvatore got off a great shot, managing to nail one of the raiders in the head causing him to slump over onto the overturned desk he had been using as cover. A bullet shot clean through the door Adam was using as cover, instantly informing him it was a poor place to take cover. He charged forward, using Buddy as a mobile wall until he was right up against his back. Despite being marginally taller than buddy, the protectron's body offered ample protection as it continued to slowly march forward, ever shooting its lasers off towards the two raiders still in cover ahead. Once Adam had advanced far enough he ducked out from behind Buddy's back and slid behind a concrete divider that separated two office desks. He then used it as cover as he once more fired a number of times at the raiders. This time his laser fire connected with the shoulder of the raider closest to him, causing him to fall back gripping his shoulder in pain. Salvatore didn't miss the opportunity and nailed him with another round to the head a moment later. Buddy was the next one to get a kill. As the last raider realized he was outnumbered and outgunned he turned to try to change his position, possibly to try to retreat to a higher floor only to get hit right in the back of the head with a laser round from Buddy's hand. The fighting ceased instantly. "No further intruders found on floor 2, proceeding to floor 3." Buddy said as he turned around to begin climbing the floors again. Adam sighed and then looked to Salvatore. "Well, that's one floor down… only 29 more to go." Adam grinned.

Chapter 97 - 97

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