Four hours earlier…
After an all-night march, K18772 finally caught up to CBG-02 Squad before dawn. The column had kept its steady pace, neither rushing nor slowing, pushing west into the storm’s teeth.
But something had changed. The formation was bigger—nearly double—and now included three all-terrain vehicles and more than a dozen CTR-5 engineering units. In the ten-plus hours since K18772 had slipped away, another squad had merged into the march.
The terrain had also turned rougher. Scattered boulders broke up the ground and made a clean formation impossible. K18772 picked a forgettable spot near the rear and blended in.
Two hours after daybreak, the wind eased and visibility stretched farther. The surrounding mountain silhouettes sharpened into real ridgelines again.
Heavy footsteps pounded from behind.
K18772 turned—and froze.
Firecaller BT-Y4139 came running up at a hard jog, drawing curious glances from the units at the tail. But Y4139 acted like nothing was wrong, slid right into the rear of the column, and kept moving.
Most robots shrugged and marched on. A three-star Umbral, however, broke from the line and approached, suspicious.
“What happened?” it demanded.
“Terrain got messy. Wind and sand got worse. I fell behind,” Y4139 answered.
The Umbral’s optics locked onto the Firecaller’s chestplate. “I mean that.”
“Those bullet holes. Where did they come from?”
Y4139’s core sank. It had forgotten about the pockmarks left by the Hyena’s cannon.
“Looks like a twenty-millimeter weapon,” the Umbral pressed. “Who did you exchange fire with?”
“They… were already there,” Y4139 blurted—the worst excuse it could have picked.
“They’re fresh.” The Umbral didn’t hesitate. “Those were made recently.”
K18772 saw the situation about to ignite. It stepped forward and released the consciousness field.
The Umbral noticed instantly and snapped its head toward K18772—just as K18772’s awareness slid into its mind.
“What are you doing? Stop right there!” The Umbral extended an arm weapon and aimed at K18772.
K18772 reacted fast. It erased the Umbral’s last few seconds of memory and pushed a single command into its head.
The Umbral’s optics flickered.
Then, in Y4139’s stunned stare, it lowered its weapon, turned around, and walked away as if nothing had happened.
“Why are you back?” K18772 snapped the moment it was gone.
“It… it left?” Y4139 whispered, still shaking. “Just like that? I was about to start smoking.”
“Don’t care about that,” K18772 said. “Why are you back?”
“I wanted to help you,” Y4139 said quickly. “Help you figure out who you’re.”
“I didn’t ask.”
“But I…” Y4139 looked genuinely lost. “I don’t know what to do alone.”
“You were the one who wanted to run,” K18772 growled. “So why come back? Did we waste last night for nothing?”
“No! Not wasted.” Y4139 rushed the words out. “I drove the supply truck over. It’s hidden nearby. Escaping is easy for you—once you sort your memory out, we can escape together and go back for—”
“You make it sound easy,” K18772 cut in, bitter. “Do you understand how dangerous that just was?”
“I do,” Y4139 said, and then—earnest, almost worshipful—added, “but you still handled it. It only proves what I already believe: no matter how hard something looks, once it’s in your hands, it becomes simple. Really simple.”
K18772 had no response for a moment.
They were standing still while the column continued moving. More and more units glanced back. Sending Y4139 away now was impossible.
“From now on,” Y4139 began again, “whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it. I can definitely help—”
“Shut up.”
K18772 cut it off cold. “Before CBG notices us, catch up. Now.”
It strode forward.
“Yes!” Y4139 chirped, hurrying after it.
***
About half an hour later, an order came from the front: halt.
A newly uncovered hidden beacon confirmed the destination was here—down in the valley below.
Several Hyenas fanned out and, with ridiculous ease, found the buried wreck of a massive starship. CBG ordered the formation down the slope.
K18772 crossed the final ridge and saw a relatively flat basin spread out ahead. CBG was walking toward the Hyenas clustered around a concealed opening.
And K18772 spotted a second CBG there as well—another commander from the newly merged squad.
By the time the CBG arrived, the Hyenas had already opened the hidden entrance and were waiting beside it.
The two CBGs exchanged a few words. One took a handful of Hyenas and entered the opening. The other ordered the rest of the units to hold position.
K18772 stared at the open mouth of the entrance.
A surge of memory turbulence rolled through it—like a storm inside the skull. That black opening felt like it was calling. K18772 was sure it had come to the right place. It wanted to go in now—
but CBG-02 hadn’t given the order.
***
From the mountain top, Linneya saw everything.
She stared, wide-eyed, so scared she didn’t move for a full three minutes. Only when Pinecone squeaked frantically did she snap out of it, realizing her clothes were damp with cold sweat.
“What do we do?” she whispered, stamping her feet in panic. “The Hyenas went into the ship! Starling is still inside!”
We have to find her.
But the entrance was wrapped in rings of robots—layer after layer. Linneya knew she couldn’t get near it.
She swallowed and looked at Pinecone. “Pinecone… you’re the only one who can slip in.”
“You’ve to go in and warn Starling—and those robots too. Tell them to hide. Now.”
Pinecone nodded and sprinted down the mountain like a dart.
***
About ten minutes later, the CBG that had entered returned to the surface. The two CBGs spoke again, and then one of them turned, gathered the formation, and announced:
“The entrance leads to our target: the wreck of the interstellar ship Sunflower.”
“But CBG-01 entered earlier and lost contact with us. Something may have happened inside.”
“Next: all units originally assigned to CBG-02 Squad will enter and search the ship.”
Updated mission directive:
1) Locate CBG-01.
2) Locate a living human and ensure its survival.
3) Collect any data storage devices.
4) All other enemies may be terminated. Do not target the head. I need their data.
“Orders received, Commander!” the squad answered in unison.
CBG-02 led them into the entrance. It was narrow enough that they had to file in single line. Meanwhile, CBG-03 Squad spread out around the valley and sealed the perimeter tight.
Minutes later, K18772 and Y4139 entered as well.
The light dimmed. Broken steel structures emerged from the darkness. Y4139 kept glancing around, curious, even now.
Not far in, a sunflower emblem and faded text appeared on the wall.
K18772 brushed the worn letters with its fingertips.
In its mind, the corrupted noise suddenly formed into the shape of an old man—sad-eyed, calling a name K18772 couldn’t quite hear. The words were distant, broken, intermittent:
“…The Sunflower is humanity’s last hope… please… protect…”
It had stopped in the corridor. Units behind began to shove and complain. K18772 moved forward again, numb, while images flashed in rapid bursts across its mind:
lush green forests; birds flying in formation; rivers and waterfalls; massive cedars; a cabin in the woods; a sea of flowers; deer; islands…
It drifted all the way into the island without noticing Y4139 trying to speak to it.
Then it heard a girl’s voice.
“Wyatt… we all thought you were gone, but Dorian insists you’re on your way…”
K18772 turned.
A CTR-5 unit was watching a camera. On the screen, a young woman’s face was pale with panic and despair.
“Wyatt…?” K18772 whispered as it walked closer.
“…Please open the next video. It requires a password—the date of our first call. There’s an enemy on the ship. Find somewhere safe to watch…”
“Give it to me,” K18772 said.
It reached for the camera. The CTR-5 glanced back, noticed the lack of stars on K18772’s chestplate, and ignored it.
K18772 released its consciousness and pushed a direct command into the CTR-5’s brain.
The CTR-5 immediately handed the camera over.
“The date of our first call…” K18772 searched its own database. A set of numbers surfaced.
It entered the code. The next video unlocked and began to play.
▶ “Wyatt. I’m Starling—Janiel from comms.”
“If you’re seeing this, everyone is in extreme danger.”
“Your companions… Dorian and Eisen are terminated… Minks is missing—alive or dead, I don’t know.”
“And me… I’m gone, too.”
“Give me the camera.” A voice cut in sharply.
K18772 finally looked up. CBG-02 stood nearby, and at some point a crowd of robots had formed around them.
K18772 only glanced once—then lowered its eyes and kept watching.
“Interesting,” CBG-02 said. Its voice rose. “I order you to hand the camera over!”
With a chorus of clicks, the surrounding robots raised their guns and aimed at K18772.
K18772 didn’t react. In the strange hush, only the girl’s trembling voice continued from the screen:
“…But Linneya—she’s a human girl—and she’s still alive.”
“She’s outside. Not far. In a cave in the mountains.”
“Please save her… please… I’m begging you…”
“I…” K18772 murmured, barely audible. “I remember… something.”
“I think… I remember who I’m…”
Then something impossible happened.
Centered on K18772, within a ten-meter radius, every robot—Exilers, Firecallers, Hyenas—swiveled their weapons in perfect unison and aimed them at CBG-02.