Scattered Suns - Kevin J. Anderson [194]
“He’s dead.” Cesca clenched her teeth in fury, then grabbed Nikko’s arm as he stood staring. “We’ll mourn him later. Right now we’ve got to get off of Jonah 12!”
Behind them, more robots scuttled over the terrain, relentlessly closing the distance. Cesca muttered a curse and knew they would have to leave Purcell’s body with the other fallen Roamers. She and Nikko raced to the ship, hoping they could take off before the robots caught them, and before the reactor blew.
Chapter 97—DD
As their sharp-angled ship entered the outer system where the last Klikiss robots hibernated, Sirix continued to tell DD horrifying stories about his progenitor race. The Friendly compy was much more disturbed to know that the robots’ plans for the extermination of the human race were about to begin.
Upon approaching the distant planetoid that held the final cluster of dormant robots, Sirix discovered a great deal of unexpected activity. “I detect numerous Klikiss language transmissions. These robots should not have been activated yet. Something is wrong.”
Their ship descended toward the small icy world, and the glowing base camp suddenly came into view. Sirix displayed the full complex on their tactical screens. “Those are indications of human technology. Your creators have come to this world before us.”
Now DD was interested. “A human habitation? Did they awaken the robots by accident?”
“That is an advantageous possibility. Our remaining companions appear to have nearly completed their own work. They have independently acquired materials and components from the humans there.”
Acquired. DD saw to his dismay that the human settlement was destroyed; no doubt the people had all been massacred, just like the colonists on Corribus.
Transmitting his identity and mission, Sirix flew toward the central base where a flurry of reactivated machines moved about. “I detect anomalous power levels and unusual energy buildup. There are many simultaneous transmissions from the robots on the ground.”
“It sounds like they’re distressed.” DD spotted a blip of engine exhaust as a ship lifted off from the planetoid’s surface. Even with the limited scan, he recognized the configuration of a human ship. Someone was still alive down there.
A ragged human voice came over the communications system, a frightened-sounding young man. “Incoming ship, back off! Jonah 12 is going to get awfully hot in a few seconds. I’m not kidding—” The voice cut off in sudden alarm as the pilot realized he was not in contact with a human vessel.
Sirix swiveled his head toward DD. “If humans have discovered our secret enclave of Klikiss robots, we cannot allow them to escape and spread a warning. This is a crucial time in our plans.”
Sirix changed course toward the human vessel as it raced up out of Jonah 12’s gravity well. DD heard a hum of systems, hydraulic machinery locking into place. Sirix said, “Until now, DD, you have been unaware of the weapons systems built into this craft.”
“You do not have to kill them,” the compy pleaded.
“It is necessary.”
Without delay, Sirix launched two heavy-artillery projectiles, which streaked toward the human ship. Shouting, the pilot spun his craft, wildly changing course. The projectiles soared in, converging in space.
The escaping vessel swooped and corkscrewed, but one of the targeted projectiles slammed into its engines. The explosion sent the human spacecraft into a tumbling dive, out of control. DD watched the ruined ship plummet toward the icy surface. It fell near the horizon and struck a frozen outcropping, crashing far from the robot-infested base camp.
“Now I can concentrate on what has agitated the other robots,” Sirix said. “The human pilot implied that a disaster is about to occur.”
DD desperately wanted to scan for survivors, to help them, but Sirix would never allow it.
The black robot said, “You need