NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 17: Sleep.
September 2184. Martin's Office.
The air in the room felt thick, almost suffocating after Jason had laid out the grim reality of their situation. Now, the weight of what to do next pressed on everyone present. Jason rubbed the visor of his helmet, frustration and confusion warring inside him, clouding his thoughts. After a deep breath, he refocused on Martin, whose calm expression was a stark contrast to the tension gripping the room.
"At this moment, I've got my men on the SES ships running an inventory check," Jason began, his voice low but steady. "We're working on setting up mining operations to maintain a flow of resources. But as it stands, everything—parts, bullets, fuel, food, water, medical supplies—is severely limited. We'll have to make do with what we've got."
Martin nodded gravely. This wasn't new for the drones—they had been scraping by for years—but what struck him was the stark reminder that they had let the systems humans depended on deteriorate.
"We've been here before, back when humans lived among us," Martin said, his tone harder than usual. "The real challenge now is getting everything up and running. You might have to scrap parts and rebuild from scratch." His optics dimmed slightly. "We never thought humans would be living with us again. I'll need to call a meeting with the others."
As much as he despised humans, this was not the time for petty resentments. Both sides faced annihilation. On the far side of the room, N and V's optics flickered, showing the fear and concern they all shared. The reality of the situation was finally sinking in.
V was the first to break the silence, her voice steady but tense. "What do you need us to do, sir?"
Martin turned his attention to her, his tone decisive. "I need you to gather the combat drones, including those on perimeter patrol. Many of them distrust humans, but they need to swallow that down. If they don't, it could get us all killed. It won't be easy, but we have to keep things under control."
He shifted his gaze to N next. "N, head back up and inform the worker drones. They need to start assisting the humans. Jason will brief them on the situation. This isn't about pride anymore. It's about survival."
N nodded silently, understanding the gravity of his orders.
"If there's nothing else, get moving," Martin said, his voice commanding. "I'll call a meeting in the morning. There's something I need to take care of before then."
With that, the three of them left the office, the door sliding shut behind them with a soft hiss. The corridor leading to the bunker entrance was eerily silent, none of them exchanging a word as they walked. The cold, metallic walls seemed to press in on them, amplifying the isolation they all felt.
It wasn't until they reached the entrance that V spoke again, her voice laced with an emotion she rarely showed—fear. "It's happening all over again..."
Jason stopped, turning to face her. N stood beside V, placing a hand on her shoulder in a quiet gesture of comfort.
"I imagine this isn't any easier for you than it is for us," Jason said, his voice softening. "But this time, things are different. We have ships, we have supplies... we have a chance. It's just going to take time. My men, we have families, friends—just like you do." His voice faltered for a moment. "I had to tell them we can't speak to or see them. From now on, this place is all we have."
V and N exchanged a glance, the weight of his words hitting them hard. The last time humans and drones were forced together, it ended in bloodshed. But now, they had no choice.
"We have our missions," Jason said, his resolve hardening again. "You know what you need to do. Let's get it done."
He walked away, stepping through the bunker doors where most of the personnel had already gathered. The team recovering the body of the abomination was notably absent, but Jason barely spared a glance. His eyes fell on the pilot who had transported him—sitting slumped on a crate, helmet in hand, soft sobs escaping him.
"So, is it true, sir?" one of the engineers asked, his voice shaky. "Are we stuck here?"
Jason nodded grimly. "I'm afraid so. We're under a total communication blackout. If anyone tries to leave the system, they'll be executed—and Copper 9 will be glassed. Nothing left alive." His voice dropped as he continued. "I don't know why command has ordered this, but until we figure it out, this is home."
His words sank in like a death sentence. Everyone knew what that meant—forced to work and live side by side with the drones, machines that many SEAF members still viewed with mistrust if not outright hatred. And that was without taking into account the betrayal of a century ago that still lingered in the minds of the drones.
"Sir... what about our families?" one engineer asked, his voice barely audible.
Jason clenched his fists inside his gloves. "I don't know. But I doubt command is targeting them. Worst case, they'll hear we died heroically, fighting Super Earth's enemies." He tried to sound reassuring, but even he wasn't convinced.
A heavy silence followed, the weight of uncertainty hanging over them like a storm cloud. After a long pause, one of the engineers broke the tension.
"Let's... let's get the rest of the supplies unloaded. We have work to do."
Slowly, the group dispersed, each person returning to their tasks, trying to distract themselves from the grim reality.
"You going to be alright?" N's voice cut through the quiet, addressing Jason.
Jason sighed, his fatigue showing in his posture. "No... but I will be. I just need some rest." His voice was drained, both physically and mentally. "I'm heading back to the ship. I need sleep."
N watched as Jason boarded a nearby Pelican. The engines roared to life, and the ramp closed behind him. As the ship took off into the darkened sky, N turned back toward the bunker. He had a job to do, just like everyone else—gather the worker drones and prepare for what lay ahead. His biggest concern, however, was V. The last time humans had been among them, it had ended in violence. He feared history might repeat itself.
2085. Bunker 00. Bunker Entrance. One year after the nuclear bombardment.
Cold winds and snow battered the front of the bunker, the howling storms now a permanent part of life after the bombardment. It made the wasteland outside an inhospitable hell for both drones and humans to scavenge for supplies. As the doors groaned open, a team of four combat drones and two humans trudged in, their backpacks heavy with salvaged goods. Yet the sight of their return offered no comfort to the weary humans inside. One of them silently flipped a switch, and the massive door was sealed shut.
"How is it out there? Any changes?" a voice called out as the leader of the group removed his helmet, his face grim.
"Storms are getting worse," he said, his tone hollow. "We checked the water sources we marked. Everything is contaminated. Radiation's tainted it all."
It was the last thing anyone wanted to hear. The filtration systems were already on the verge of collapse, struggling to purify what little water they could find. It was only a matter of time before they failed completely.
"Where's V?" the leader asked, scanning the room.
"She's… with Commander Anderson, sir. He's not doing well. Been coughing up blood for hours. Medical says he has until morning, at best."
The weight of the words hung over them like the storms outside. Death had become routine, but it never got easier.
"Sir, go on ahead. We'll handle this," one of the combat drones offered from behind him.
"Thank you. I'll check on her and the others. At this rate, there'll be none of us humans left."
He turned and made his way deeper into the bunker. The corridors were eerily silent, every room he passed a haunting reminder of the lives once lived there. Now, each was a tomb, a testament to the dwindling human presence. As he rounded a corner, he spotted N standing vigil outside a door. The soft clank of his boots on the metal floor caught N's attention, and he turned, his optics dim with sorrow.
"He just passed not too long ago," N said quietly.
Inside the small room, Commander Anderson lay motionless on the bed, his chest still. V sat beside him, her head bowed, her yellow optics dim with grief.
"Liberty dammit…" the leader muttered under his breath.
Everything was falling apart. The drones could withstand this ravaged world, but the humans couldn't. Their numbers were shrinking fast, and there seemed to be no hope left.
"V?" he called softly.
She lifted her head, her optics leaking faint yellow tears. N stepped forward, kneeling beside her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.
"I'll leave you two for now… but we need to talk. We need to decide what to do when we're gone," the leader said, his words heavy with the weight of inevitability.
V clung to N, her arms wrapping around him as if to ward off the harsh reality. These were the memories she had tried so hard to bury, but they had come flooding back. The end was looming closer, and they all knew it.
2184. Bunker 00. Deep within the complex.
V moved slowly through the dimly lit corridor, her steps heavy with the burden of a task she had hoped to avoid: informing the other combat drones that they were once again working alongside humans. The thought stirred painful memories, ones she had long wished would remain buried, not only within herself but within the others. She prayed that J wouldn't stir up more trouble this time.
Reaching a rusting door, V pushed it open and stepped into the old communications room. Most systems had fallen into disrepair, save for one—the short-range communications system, which allowed them to maintain contact with anyone within a few miles of the bunker. It had been vital during the days of the Steel Terror attacks, but now that those horrors were a thing of the past, she needed to recall the patrolling drones for a more pressing matter. Flipping a switch, the screen flickered to life, displaying the locations of the combat drones scattered throughout the area.
"This is V. All combat drones are to return to the bunker immediately," she said into the intercom.
"What's going on? Is there an attack?" came a voice in reply.
"No… We just need you all back here now," she answered curtly. There was no time to explain everything over the system.
As the voices crackled in with acknowledgment, V's eyes landed on one particular figure on the screen—J. She frowned. She had a reputation for causing trouble and, unsurprisingly, was somewhere she shouldn't be. Her signal showed her near Camp 98, a location that had been off-limits ever since a past incident.
"J, mind explaining why you're near Camp 98?" V's voice took on a sharper tone.
"I was following a signal in the area, it looked like a worker drone. But whoever it was moved fast; I couldn't keep up," J replied, sounding casual.
"You're getting too close to Camp 98. Pull back and return to the bunker immediately," she ordered.
A groan of irritation came over the comms. "Yes, mom."
V sighed, exasperated. It was going to be a long, difficult night, and she could already feel the weight of it settling over her like a storm ready to break.
2184. Copper 9 Orbit. SES Aegis of Integrity.
As the Pelican docked once more within the hangar of the SES Aegis of Integrity, Jason disembarked, moving past the crew, who greeted him with grim expressions. The weight of recent events pressed down on them all, and he knew the toll would only worsen over time. The tension and stress were palpable, but for now, Jason's only concern was one thing: sleep.
Entering his quarters, he shut the door behind him with a sigh, reaching up to unlatch the clamps on his helmet.
"Damn it all…" he muttered.
For a few seconds, he stared at the helmet in his hands before letting it drop carelessly to the floor. Piece by piece, he stripped off his armor and clothing, letting it fall in a heap. Normally, he'd make his way to the armory to store his gear, but exhaustion had overtaken his routine. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he rested his head in his hand, rubbing his forehead in an attempt to dispel the tension. He turned to pull up the sheets, sliding under the blankets, hoping for even a few precious hours of peace.
But he would be denied even that.
Edited thanks to ELE73CH.