Loved by the War Machine

97 – Revealing Identity (1)

“…Unbelievable.”

“This is…”

“This is the size of Factory 001… I wonder about the rest.”

Walking along the corridor, what came into view was a vast pit extending below.

Starting from Exit 01, just emerged from the corridor, numerous doors with numbers written on them faced each other or stood side by side below.

Numbers increasing as you descended.

However, the space created as if drilled through the center with a drill did not show any signs of stairs or elevators.

Not even platforms that a person could step on.

“The central network… What on earth is PRT-000 decorating here?”

The fact that the wind was blowing meant it wasn’t sealed.

But there was nothing living.

Only red lights flickering, illuminating steel plates without a single railing.

“Down there… a lift?”

A faint light.

The orange glow from the overheated barrel was dimly lighting up the darkness.

In other words, there was a device supporting that colossal thing.

The boy, not missing it, immediately waved his wrist.

“…Which way should I go among these?”

“Which way to go. Indeed, you… must be looking for something here.”

Even while holding a pad, the woman with a mask shone a bright light towards the boy.

Grabbing the hand trying to shield the gaze, frowning.

“I should find out indeed. Hacking skills that don’t match your age, advanced tools.

And that courage too.”

“Everyone came here for the same reason -“

“Do you really think so?”

An arm-crossed Westerner.

And a woman speaking as if something urgent.

The eyes of the boy watching them flickered.

“You could panic seeing a plasma beam, but like we expected, just focus on the task right away.

People dying left and right doesn’t even register, just keep running.

…It’s one of two. Did you already know how this place turned out,

or were you prepared?”

“Which side are you on?”

“Don’t try to cover a question with another question.”

Intense vibrations erupted in the emotionless space.

The tremble of a person echoed in the steel dialogue.

“There’s something I’m looking for.

…Actually, I came here because I couldn’t find anywhere else.”

“Who?”

“Could you let go of my hand? If you’re wearing a mask, you might as well take it off.

It hurts my eyes.”

The hologram screen, which had been turned off, lit up again, revealing the internal structure.

For a moment, three pairs of eyes gathered on it, indicating the numerous barriers and the positions of the lifts –

Gathered into one person.

“You know, in a place where there’s nothing but machines, why are you so obsessed with finding ‘someone’?”

“…I haven’t answered the question yet.”

“Who is Taehyuk, and what kind of person was he to walk into the heart of the machine ruling the city?”

“Answer.”

The fingers that approached the empty lift pressed a button, creating a slight vibration in the void.

As if trying to break the frozen atmosphere.

“I’m trying to find a project the Central Network is working on.”

“A project?”

“You’ve seen it, the new weapon. One of those.”

A colossal plasma cannon.

A weapon that absorbed tremendous electricity and radiated a corresponding stream of heat.

Once a means to pierce even the defense shield was discovered, the technology would undoubtedly be lethal if used in war.

“Did you come here thinking of making money by handing that over to Tonho?”

“You didn’t ask for the reason. So, it’s my turn this time.”

The boy with black hair, who had turned his body while looking at the flickering light, seemed uninterested in the rapidly rising lift.

“Why are you trying to find a person in a space filled with machines?

Moreover, a specific person like Taehyuk.”

The lifted platform extended its fixing device and came to a halt in front of people who were not machines.

However, no one boarded.

“They talk about him as if they know him.”

“It’s strange. It’s like… you treat me as if you have huge expectations from me. Surely, today isn’t the first time we’ve met in person, right?”

The gaze hidden behind the mask collided with the eyes that revealed everything.

However, it was the one wearing the mask that trembled first.

…The boy’s face showed no expression, as if he were a machine.

“As expected, you’re strange.”

“You still haven’t answered the question. It’s unfair like this.”

“…No, you seem to already know why I came here. Even the reason for looking for that person.”

“I can’t understand why you’re saying that.”

The person with the mask took a breath.

Moments ago, the air was filled with the unpleasant ozone produced by electromagnetic waves, and now… the air, permeated with the smell of iron, scratched the throat.

And then, it was spoken.

“The more I see you, the more -“

[:: Abnormal lift approach detected ::]

However, that was swallowed up by the voice of a woman mixed with electronic tones.

The fixed devices of the lift that had finally arrived began to release one by one.

“Ah, darn it. Get on!”

“…Ugh.”

The boy’s hand caught the trembling girl.

The man in black gloves, who got on first, hastily manipulated the lift, tapping on the pads.

“Where to?! Go up, or -“

“We have to go down. What I’m looking for is down there.”

“How far?!”

“The bottom floor!”

When the girl, who had finally thrown away the mask soaked in moisture, wiped her eyes and grabbed the pads, the boy’s eyes gently scanned her face. He stopped his hand.

There was a line under the girl’s eyes.

As if on the face of a retro android.

“Sis, were you… a machine, too?”

“No, not now – let’s quickly break the security. We can talk later.”

[:: Simultaneous abnormal access confirmed ::]

[:: Prototype Sierra – Kilo – Yonder 001 activated ::]

Somewhere, the sound of barriers opening echoed.

And then, in the faint space, the wind began to fill the air vigorously.

“Another prototype weapon… Sierra, Kilo, Yonder… if we only take the front in English, it becomes Sky?”

“I’ve confirmed the information on the prototype weapon… A vertical takeoff and landing aerial battleship?”

“It seems like the wind is coming up from below… Is there anyone who has activated Barrier 30?”

Descending on the lift.

The number that passed by the eyes of the three was 20.

Without anyone needing to say anything, everyone turned their screens towards Barrier 30.

“Close it, close it!”

“I’ll try to prevent the weapon from deploying, you two – “

“No, I’m blocking the command to stop the lift – you block the door with Dayeon!”

A name emerged in the urgent situation.

For the woman with lines under her eyes, there was a clear name instead of the mechanical designation.

The boy didn’t miss that.

[:: Warning. Abnormal access to Barrier 30 confirmed ::]

[:: Sierra – Kilo – Wonder 001, abnormal procedure for sortie ::]

23,

26,

and just before Barrier 29 passed by.

The sound of the massive barrier starting to close began to be heard at the right moment.

But they couldn’t see what was in that gap.

“…The door, it’s huge, isn’t it?”

A massive door that occupied an entire wall of the facility alone.

Afterward, the wind from the slowing thrusters belatedly fluttered the three’s coat collars.

“Ugh, damn it…!”

[:: Sierra – Kilo – Wonder 001 Launch Procedure Halted ::]

[:: Searching for Countermeasures ::]

Revealed between vertical and horizontal gaps was something several times larger than a human, resembling giant eyeballs – scanners.

Beneath them, slowly patrolling above, below, left, and right, were multiple medium-sized turrets.

The numerous armaments hanging below the now-covered wings sent shivers down the spine of a man who once worked for a corporation.

“…They made something like that?

That’s an unmanned weapon?”

A bird made of steel, heavily armed.

Until the door closed, it stared at people with its own eyes.

“That’s the thirtieth one. Aren’t you curious?

About what’s beneath this ground.”

A boy, hands slightly trembling, operated the lift in place of the frozen man.

A faint red light blinked on the bracelet around his wrist.

“It looked similar to the plasma cannon installed on the train, beneath the wings.”

“If it can shoot on the ground, it can shoot in the air too.

If they’re moving something like that to kill us, I wonder what they’ll use next.”

A face, whether concealing fear or having none at all, moved only its eyes and ears.

While scanning passing words, the man heard the gradually approaching footsteps of a woman.

“That indifference… that face.

That, smirk.

You…”

“Noona, the work isn’t finished yet. The second plan of action will be here soon.”

An outstretched hand.

A single drop of water, glistening with gold, rolling down beneath the eyes.

Just before it could touch the living cheek, the warning of the machine echoed through the vast space.

[:: Access to the lift confirmed as impossible ::]

[:: Project Agape activated ::]

“Agape? That’s not a name that suits a weapon.”

Leaving behind the man trying to calm his trembling breath, the boy hurriedly searched for the blueprints and displayed them before me.

And then he hardened his expression.

Together with Da-yeon, who saw it too.

“…”

The picture and blueprint of the second plan of action appeared fleetingly on the passing screen.

In that place, there were a pair of mechanical bodies.

A shield, a heavy machine gun, and…

A revolver placed next to them.

***

“…Where is this place?”

“This way. Can you hear me?”

“Ah… Is someone there?”

“Yes, I am here by your side. Always.”

“I feel a bit strange. Something… chilly.”

“Do you remember? We are… on a mission. There’s an intruder inside the facility that needs to be dealt with.”

“Facility? Intruder? Mission? I, I’m sure…”

“Calm down. I know it might be confusing. Just… will you trust me?”

“…”

“Are you okay?”

“Alright, I get it. Intruder… facility… how many?”

“We’ve identified three.”

“I don’t feel physically unwell, but something is… odd.”

“I’m here with you.”

“…”

“Have you calmed down?”

“…A bit.

You mentioned three?

Alright… let’s see.”