"What you are telling us is unbelievable," Azrak had said, leaning back in his seat with concern.
Labiba had explained the current situation to them at length. The war that awaited them, the TESO factories, how TESO3 had marked them as enemies, and the fronts of the war...
Azrak and Hikmar would need to take significant initiative once the war began. This transport vehicle would be the direct target of both Capazo and Hianyan. In this case, a massive responsibility fell upon Azrak and Hikmar. Labiba knew that if this transport vehicle was to reach its destination safely, he had to convey every matter with complete honesty to these two men.
"So, it means war..." said Hikmar. He looked toward the camera talking to him. "...this wasn't within the plans, was it?"
"It certainly wasn't," Labiba said and sighed.
"From what I understand, the war currently happening is somewhat your fault. In that case, your employer is likely not very pleased, are they?" Hikmar said in a very confident tone. "You spent years for this cargo to secretly go to its designated location, and now, because of a doctor girl you let slip through your fingers, all plans are about to go to waste... Tell me, General Manager Labiba, are you about to lose this job you've dedicated your life to?"
"No!" Labiba exploded. "I am not losing anything!" His voice was harsh, but there were cracks within it. "I... I will fight them. And I will win this war!"
Hikmar's face darkened for a moment. "Don't twist my words and answer my real question!" he said sharply. "I didn't ask you if you would win the war or not." He raised his voice. "Are you about to lose this job you've dedicated your life to?!"
In his anger at that moment, Hikmar's voice echoed uncontrollably for the first time. The fact that Labiba was still hiding things while their lives were in such danger was the final straw for him.
Azrak was startled when he saw Hikmar's rage. The fear that had been sprouting within him since the dialogue with Volem had now grown completely.
"I... I trust you in this matter," said Labiba. "You will take this cargo safely to that point."
Azrak looked at his drone friend Jul, who had come to him, startled by the shouting. As he stroked its head with his hand, Jul took its place in his lap. While Jul lay in Azrak's lap like a kitten yearning for warmth, Azrak thought about why he had accepted this job. If he couldn't succeed, his drone friend Jul would not be repaired.
"I... I cannot allow this mission to fail," Azrak said from the side, in a calm but determined tone.
Hikmar, his eyes narrowed with anger, turned to Azrak. He first looked at him, then saw Jul, whom Azrak was petting with his hand moving over the metal frame in his lap.
"But if I don't want it to fail, I must be honest," Azrak added. "Tell us about your employer... Tell us why we are going there! Tell us the importance of this cargo! Tell us so we know!"
Labiba sighed exhaustedly. If there weren't a war waiting at the door, he wouldn't consider mentioning this to anyone even if his skin were flayed alive. His tongue wouldn't move... The camera remained silently fixed on Hikmar.
"My employer... His name is John Crowrift..."
Azrak had been able to guess this. After all, John Crowrift was the one who brought this job offer to him. In fact, while Hikmar was talking to that man named Lee at the science facility, he had mentioned the name John many times. This man was planning something. Whatever his plans were, they had to be powerful enough to affect the fate of this planet.
"Yes, big man..." said Hikmar. "...keep talking. You're finally starting to open up."
"He reached out to me about 62 years ago. Strangely, the channel he reached me through was Haim Lehstorm, the general manager of the Dermovox Xenobiology Science Facility."
"He used the manager of the Dermovox Facility as a reference?" Hikmar asked.
"What is Dermovox?" Azrak asked. "Where did you hear of that facility, dear Hikmar?"
"During the Interstellar War, the hero Ronald Coldwer, the head of the SWR's Agency for Cosmic Innovation and Scientific Development, had established a science facility. It was promised that several biological experiments would be conducted in this facility to make progress in the field of medicine. However, a few inspectors revealed that the situation was different. From what I understand, those who caught onto this were the inspectors of the bioethics audit board. Because according to the actual situation, this facility was established to produce biological weapons against the SWR," Hikmar said.
"I had heard of this science facility only because I knew of the investigation into Ronald Coldwer, a former colonist. It was an insignificant facility... Because the research inside was shelved with Ronald Coldwer's execution."
"Was he executed directly?" Azrak asked in surprise.
"The SWR was more fearful back then, and thus more cautious... With Coldwer's execution, Dante Shade, a man who could be considered a trustee and was predicted to be an intelligence operative, was appointed. Its manager was Haim Lehstorm," he added. "So, I ask my question again, dear Labiba... Do you think that facility was working for John Crowrift?"
"No... I don't think so. As you said, although the man who bought the facility, Dante Shade, was a mysterious figure, he was definitely a powerful man of the SWR. I don't know if John is powerful enough to eliminate one of the SWR's intelligence agents. But even if the facility wasn't working directly for him, he must have been able to have a say in the facility through Lehstorm."
"So what kind of deal did Haim Lehstorm offer you?" Azrak asked, listening to the camera with suspicious looks and perked ears. Because John had promised him the healing of Jul.
"I think I've said this before. He offered me money with which I could heal this body full of mutations. In return, he wanted me to build the road on this route and take care of this strange creature until its carrier came to pick it up. I wouldn't receive the money until the creature reached the designated point. Not only that... I think the person who ensured Doctor Sevda came to this planet was also John. I don't know how he did it, but John told me the doctor I needed would be found on my planet."
"You let the doctor in the palm of your hand escape," Azrak had said. "Your employer is probably proud of you," he added mockingly.
Hikmar reached his hand toward the steering wheel of the autonomous vehicle. At that moment, a hologram appeared on the wheel. "As seen from the map, this godforsaken road ends at a point to the west of that lake in the middle. A point a bit further north-east of the TESO2 factory and south-east of the TESO3 factory... Right next to the lake... Did he tell you why this cargo needs to be taken there?"
"He told me how to process the road. He told me which locations the route should pass through. He told me how I could hide this road from other factories and how I could distract other factories during the creature's transport to my factory. The man even explained how I would bring this godforsaken creature onto the planet; how I could deceive the SWR. But he didn't tell me what the cargo was or why it was going there in any way. I assure you, I don't know..."
Hikmar closed the hologram appearing on the steering wheel. At that moment, he realized the man was not lying. Because there was no longer anything for anyone to gain from a lie. They were on the final lap. And this lap accepted no mistakes. If they couldn't get out of here alive, what they would lose wouldn't just be the cargo.
"Fine, we will do our best to deliver the cargo there. But our hand is not strong enough to shoulder a war. You must know this..." said Hikmar.
"Actually, shouldn't the clouds in the sky keep us safe until we reach the borders of Calos City?" Azrak said. "These godforsaken clouds must be cutting the connection with the SWR Network. They cannot use guided missiles and many other technologies against us while these clouds are present. Even the number of robots they can send must be limited. How many robots or machines can they use at most with their own antennas..."
"Already, it was Capazo who sent these clouds. The General Manager of TESO3, Korali Capazo... The reason this man sent the clouds over us is that he trusts humans more than those machines. Therefore, it is very likely that you will encounter many armed men from Jijige. But I might not be able to provide you with much support."
"Were the cannibals part of his army too?" Azrak asked.
"You also told me they weren't Calosians, didn't you?" said Labiba.
"They are definitely not from this planet..." said Hikmar. "...they dressed in Calosian clothes and camouflaged themselves. Perhaps they have even visibly assimilated because they have lived on this planet for too long. They almost look like Calosians..."
"I think they are men of neither Calos City nor Jijige City. There is another representative..."
"Oh, no!" said Azrak. "That means the cannibals are also our enemies separately. Dammit! I would have preferred them to be Capazo's men."
"Very interesting..." Hikmar said and stroked his chin.
"What is so interesting, dear Hikmar? What did you see that we couldn't?"
"How do we know those cannibals were there to attack us?" said Azrak. "What if those men following us from the west were coming to attack us and those cannibals took a stand to protect us..."
"But those three cannibals drove the vehicle toward us! They came at us to kill us!"
"How could they know we were the owners of the cargo? To them, we were two cybernetics on a front filled with their people who had been attacked and torn apart by someone..."
"Is there a group coming from the west and following your vehicle?" Labiba asked. "Why didn't you tell me this at the very beginning?" His voice was full of anger.
"We didn't want to occupy ourselves with theories we weren't sure of, but... But as it seems, we no longer have to give you an account in any way," said Hikmar. "We need you, and you need us. That's why we should see this as a partnership and look at our business that way."
"What does that mean?" Labiba asked.
"It means..." Hikmar said and held his hand toward the camera. While electric currents swirled over the camera, it suddenly caught fire and then exploded. "...from now on, we only allow you to watch and listen to us!"
"This!" Labiba shouted. "This is unacceptable! Why are you doing this?"
"That is none of your business, dear Labiba," said Hikmar. "Don't worry, we will deliver your cargo where you want." He looked at Jul out of the corner of his eye. The life of Azrak's drone friend depended on the money coming from the delivery of this cargo. "We have to deliver the cargo. But I don't want our vehicle to be infiltrated through your communication channels. Additionally, I don't want what I do to deliver this cargo to be recorded. We are two men imprisoned by this cargo and... and we will do our best to deliver the cargo."
"I..." A moment of silence. Labiba's mechanical voice echoed inside the autonomous vehicle. "...I trust you," he said out of necessity.
"Well, about that support..." said Hikmar. "...what kind of support will you give us?"
"I could try to send a swarm of robots from Uruzen City, but I cannot control such a large number of robots with a few makeshift factory antennas. But I can control one powerful robot."
"So we'll have a robot guard?"
"Let's not call it a guard, but a distraction for TESO2."
"Well, where is this robot?"
"Look to your right..."
Their autonomous pickup was moving along the road close to the shore. Even the scattered Uruzenians trying to live by small fires among the sunken ships and rusty metals had begun to notice the change in the lake. Some had left their boiling food by the fire, some had left their elderly behind while trying to save their children, and some couldn't even move with their trembling knees. For centuries, truly for centuries, there had been no movement in that dead sea, and for the first time, there was movement in that godforsaken tar-filled lake.
In the south of the lake, a shadow appeared rising, cutting through the black tar. While this thing, reaching meters in height, slowly straightened up from among the decayed waste of the lake, a terrifying alarm horn sound echoed along the shore in a way that would pierce the soul of every living being.
Hearing the horn, Hikmar and Azrak were looking out of the vehicle in astonishment as this massive robot, kilometers long, slowly rose from the water.
The head of this massive robot was the command deck of a huge battleship. Thick armor plates were still on it; the countless cannon barrels, missile bays, and unidentified technological weapons embedded in its torso stood like dull eyes aimed at the darkness. On some parts of the head, the ship's old coats of arms had not been erased; half-scraped symbols whispered that this thing was once part of a fleet. However, the body rising beneath this inconceivable headpiece... was almost humiliatingly simple.
Its torso consisted of a primitive skeleton seen in industrial work robots. Thick pistons, bare cables, and rusted joints trembled like an ordinary carrier forced to carry this cosmic head. Its shoulders were never designed for such a load; with every movement, metallic screams rose, and joints groaned on the verge of strain.
Its legs were long but disproportionate. It was as if whatever was available at the last moment had been joined together: parts belonging to different eras and different manufacturers were forced to fuse within an incompatible body. With every step it took, the surface of the tar lake split, and the black liquid rippled slowly.
While this robot tried to straighten up, barely carrying its heavy head, that mighty horn sound was heard once more. The sound vibrated not only the ears but also the ribcages. While the horn echoed over the huge pond, the tarred surface swelled with massive waves.
When these waves hit the shore, the toxic lake water adorned with waste was hurled toward the people. The Uruzenians trying to live by the fire fled, screaming; some fell flat on the slippery ground, some tried to get away by dragging their children. The lake had broken its century-old silence by screaming like an animal with its throat slit.
The moment the robot finally straightened up, the countless cannon and missile systems on it woke up at the same time. Lights turned on on metal surfaces, barrels opened, and locking sounds were heard one after another. Then the sky split.
The missiles had been fired from kilometers away; therefore, the sky over the point where the robot was located was still clear and calm. But that calmness was only the preface to the approaching disaster. Azrak and Hikmar were watching the flight of countless launched missiles in the sky with their naked eyes. Light trails were cutting through the darkness of the sky like knives.
And before long... the missiles began to come at them one after another. The sea shook. The sky was torn. The explosions spread around in a chain reaction. The robot was shaking with the blows it took to its body, but the robot was strong. The robot was designed exactly for this.
"How long will that thing last?" Azrak asked.
"First, let me tell you my plan. It is essential for Calos City to fall because the moment you emerge from the clouds near Calos City, you will be TESO2's biggest target. Therefore, I will direct my army full of robots toward your exit point. We will have a strong army to meet you. It is enough for this robot to create a distraction until you emerge from that cloudy region and my armies take their positions at your exit point." He paused for a while. Then he added. "And it can last that long."
"Well, what was that thing doing inside the lake?" Azrak asked.
"That thing you call a lake," said Labiba, "was formerly a uranium excavation site. It's not a natural lake or anything. The company that came for uranium dug the area to the end... then left without filling a single hole."
"Who was that company?" Azrak asked.
"Quartez, of course. Quartez, the subsidiary of Evoke Systems."
"Quartez?"
"Yes... they were the ones who first took END99141. They had even infiltrated the local people enough to deceive them, even producing so-called great leaders from among them. Then, when what they would obtain from uranium ended, they turned their backs on the people and disappeared."
After a short silence, he continued. "They sold the planet to Terraforming Solutions, that is, to us. Thus, all the remaining extractable metals fell to our share. The stupid Uruzenians had to pay the price for their own leaders selling them out. What happened after? A few coups... some corruption... plenty of betrayal... and uprisings. In the end, this planet officially turned into a colony. TESO worked very hard here."
"Well," said Azrak, "how did that hole fill up like this?"
"It had already filled before TESO bought it. Quartez had dumped all its industrial waste there."
"So," Azrak said slowly, "there is an unfilled hole... and you don't exactly know what's underneath."
"We know what's underneath," said Labiba. "We sent drilling ships many times. We examined the inside of the lake."
"And?"
"Just scrap," he said. "Massive metal scraps."
Azrak's voice was cold: "Are you sure they are scrap?"
Labiba's answer was more cautious this time.
"This robot you see," he said, "was a reconnaissance unit that conducted research under the lake for a long time for us. It didn't encounter anything noteworthy under the waste water. Even if they aren't scrap... the machines there have stayed in that chemical hell for so long. They have become even beyond scrap by now."
But something had interrupted the conversation.
Something that chilled Azrak even more than the monstrous ship rising from under that sea... A slight chuckle. A silent, muffled voice looking for its place. It was coming from Hikmar.
"Quartez?" he said in a tone close to a whisper.
He brought both of his right hands to his head at the same time. He took his long, sparse hair between his fingers and tugged; as if the thoughts inside his head wanted to come out. His chuckle deepened. It was irregular. It was disturbing.
"Did something happen, Hikmar?" Labiba asked cautiously. Hikmar didn't answer. He bowed his head for a moment... then a laugh exploded.
"Quartez, huh!" he said, his voice trembling. "Look at the irony of this damn life!" His laughter was neither fun nor relieving. This was the laughter of a man who had realized things far too late.
He brought his hand toward the steering wheel.
The moment his fingers touched the panel, all the cameras inside the vehicle went dark one by one. The lights didn't go out, but the gazes were cut. Labiba's voice was suddenly snatched from inside the vehicle, as if someone had squeezed his throat. A warning appeared for a brief moment on the windshield:
Connection terminated. Then it too disappeared.
"Volem, do you hear me?" said Hikmar.
His voice was no longer directed at Labiba, nor at the vehicle... but at something else.
"Quartez!" he repeated. "Yes... Yes! Damned Quartez!"
His laughter echoed off the metal walls of the cabin. It wasn't cheerful. It was uncontrolled. It was as if a door that had been kept closed for years had suddenly opened, and rust, anger, and memories were gushing out together.
Azrak was uncomfortable with Hikmar talking so friendly with a creature. He pulled Jul a bit closer to his lap. While stroking its metal body, he couldn't take his eyes off Hikmar.
He was just watching. And for the first time, he felt that he was so afraid of Hikmar, the wise man who was a guide for him.