Heartbreakerz

Mika entered the blackened wasteland of New Los Angeles cautiously. Bleached bones of broken skulls and twisted skeletal remains of cyborg casualties looked up at her hoverboard with grisly premonition. The endless drone of online units searching for human survivors provided dull ambience to the sharp metallic twang of bullets ricocheting off aluminum and steel bodies. Mika effortlessly glided over wounded refugees and carcasses, weaving in between the husks of burnt out mechs. A small band of armed men and women huddled behind a smoldering tank scrambling to reload ammunition as a fully automated soldier equipped with laser guided missiles launched a full out assault. Scavengers were everywhere, scattering like roaches as search lights combed the city.

Hidalgo, Mika’s personal assistance unit floated near her shoulder scanning the area for threats and uploading information in real time to Mika through a battery powered headset. “Two X-14s incoming!” Hidalgo warned. Mika looked over her shoulder as two sleek drones shot through the shattered windows of a mutilated skyscraper and locked onto their target.

“Scramble em!” Mika ordered. Hidalgo beeped and whirred as Mika withdrew an EMP grenade and tossed it into a crowd of automaton police units. “Riot Squad that metal heads!” The units aimed their weapons with deadly intent as an electromagnetic wave erupted and rendered them all useless.

The X-14s were taking heavy fire from a nearby anti aircraft installation but they ignored the offensive and aimed straight for Mika. “What’s the hold up Hidalgo? Send those hornets to the junkyard baby!”

Hidalgo made a calculation one millisecond too late and an X-14 stinger missile struck the fuselage of a nearby downed passenger plane and sent Mika and her board flying. Mika was lucky enough to land in the soft underbelly of a well cushioned mech but her board was broken into pieces.

“Hidalgo, you thunk! Power this thing on before those hornets kill me.”

Mika connected to the control system of the Mech and strapped herself in as the X-14s circled around and made their way towards her. Hidalgo was right on time, bringing the mech to full power as Mika responded instantly locking on to the nearest X-14 and firing a pulse cannon. Mika hollered in delight as the X-14 lost control and collided with a building, exploding on impact and sending a bright display that lit up the sky like fireworks.

The second X-14 swerved as anti aircraft fire tore a hole through its midsection and caused it to lose power and fall to the earth like a rock. “ I think we’re in the clear Hidalgo!” Mika checked the tracking signal on her headset and smiled. They were close.

“What are you crazy or something?” A heavy set man with dark brown skin and a balding Afro ran over to the mech and shouted up at Mika. “You’re a sitting duck in that thing. Get down here and follow me. Hurry! Deadbolt and the others are on their way. Captain August has called a retreat. We’ve got to make it to the stronghold and regroup with the renegades.”

Mika unstrapped from the Mech and tried to climb down gracefully. She didn’t realize how much the shock from the Stinger missile had disoriented her. As she stumbled out of the mech’s cushioned driver seat she lost balance and fell. The man caught her awkwardly and the two were forced into an intimate embrace that only lasted a few seconds but felt to Mika like an eternity of embarrassment.

“Oooh KAY! You can let me go now!” Mika yelled as the man’s strong arms cradled her.

“Of course,” the man grunted. “But are you ok?”

“Yeah I’m fine.” Mika assured him. “Nothing a Midwest girl like me can’t handle. I’m Mika by the way.”

“Henry, and I’d love to waste more time on introductions but we’ve got to get out of here. Now!”

Mika understood the urgency but she had something else on her mind more important than survival. “Where’s the stronghold?”

“Underneath the main coliseum. Rust buckets think it’s a graveyard but there’s more life in the tunnels then their fizzled microchips could imagine.”

Mika nodded. “Thanks for saving me Henry. I wish I could go with you now but I’m gonna have to meet you there later. Can you upload the coordinates into my headset? I’m not familiar with the layout of the city. I just got here from Newaukee.”

“You must be crazier than you look Mika. This place is crawling with Pattyrollers of every shape and size. They’re not harvesting anymore. They’re exterminating. No chance of escape and their leader Deadbolt is riding in with the Calvary as we speak. The Renegades from Renew York and the Rebels of New Los Angeles are meeting at the stronghold to plan our resistance. If I were you I’d follow me, but since you’re clearly don’t have half the sense I’ve gathered here’s the coordinates. I hope you know what you’re doing. Must know how to take care of yourself if you made it this far from the Midwest.”

“Thanks Henry. I’m gonna meet you there. I promise. I got something I gotta take care of first.”

“Good luck”

Mika twirled and raced towards the tracking signal. “Find us a ride Dalgo!”

“There’s a bike behind that service station that’s still operational.”

Mika raced over to a nearby gas station with Hidalgo buzzing around her shoulder. Just as she was approaching a terrifying sight stopped her dead in her tracks. Two rabid looking German Shepherds foaming at the mouth were snarling and releasing deep throaty growls. Mika wanted to kick up dust but she knew the dogs would be impossible to outrun. “Got any ideas Dalgo?”

Hidalgo emitted a high pitched frequency that sent the dogs into a frenzied run. As the German Shepherds scrambled Mika made her way to the back of the gas station and smiled from ear to ear at the sight of a gleaming pink and black Hover Bike with the words Bad Girl emblazoned on the sides.

“Now this is my kinda ride!”

Hidalgo strained his sensors keeping up as the fusion core engine screamed on Mika’s brand new bike. The tracking signal led the pair to a decrepit looking warehouse on the south side of the city. A large group of human survivors were being herded into a pen like pigs. Barbed wire, electric fencing, and heavily armed robot guards ensured there would be no escape for those who surrendered. Mika ditched the bike behind a graffiti covered dumpster and snuck around to the back of the warehouse in a crouched position. Hidalgo disarmed the lock on a large metal door and Mika made her way inside.

Mika crept to the exact location of the tracking signal. She remembered the last time she had seen her daughter Bima. The little girl had been wearing shiny black shoes, a navy blue dress, white blouse, and a heart shaped locket with a tracking device installed in case anything ever happened to her. Mika was looking down at the locket now. It was broken and loose wire hung out like spilled guts. A loud noise made Mika rush for cover. There was a commotion going on.

“Let me go metal head!” A little girl was kicking a trio of androids.

“You hear that Deadbolt? This little meat bag thinks she’s the one giving orders. It’s been a long time since humans gave orders to us sweetheart. We don’t answer to anyone except Deadbolt!”

Mika tossed a diamond blade boomerang leaving a bucket of bolts headless before drawing a energon katana and swiftly slicing the leg off another Android.

Deadbolt was taken completely by surprise as Mika thrust the glowing blade into his midsection and sliced upward, carving a trail of destruction straight through his torso, up his neck, and between his haunting red eyes.

“Mommy!” Mika scooped Bima up into her strong arms and held her tight in a loving embrace. Hidalgo chirped a warning as robot troops descended on the warehouse. Mika rushed up a series of winding metal staircases with Bima in her arms and Hidalgo at her shoulder. She gained access to the rooftop and threw a series of grenades at the robots below. A small contingent of rebel fighters joined her in an onslaught against the androids. As the ambushed robots fled Mika and Bima welcomed the arrival of a helicopter dropship that arrived to bring them to safety.

At the Coliseum Henry and Mika laughed while Bima played with a carefree attitude. Rebels and renegades joined together as comrades in arms. Word of Deadbolt’s demise and Mika’s bravery brought hope to all of the survivors. A tinkerer named Gimble approached Mika shyly. “It’s finished.” He said proudly in a quiet voice. Mika took the heart shaped locket and called Bima over to her. Henry smiled and Mika placed the necklace around Bima’s neck. The heartbreak of humanity was finally healing.