Page 172 of Dustwalker

Captain Cooper brought the humans to a halt and waited until the gearheads were out of sight before proceeding forward.

Greene was at his stand, tending steaming pots and pans as though nothing unusual was happening. Some of the other bots—mostly the ones that didn’t look human—also continued their normal routines, seemingly undisturbed by the commotion and confusion.

The gate between the market and the bot district was open. The pair of gearheads guarding it stared northeast, toward the clinic, ignoring the bots streaming out of the district.

More gunshots boomed from the clinic, each one jolting Lara’s heart.

“Chester, stay with Newton and Lara,” Cooper ordered. “The rest of you, take up positions around the perimeter of the crowd. We’re the only defense any of these people have right now. Do not hesitate to fire on the guards at the gate if they make a move.”

As the humans entered the market, clumping together to form a group separate from the bots, the soldiers spread out.

Lara glanced over her people. They were a bedraggled bunch, malnourished and rough, and many of them carried makeshift weaponry—lengths of old piping, sharpened metal shards with cloth wrapped around one end, wooden planks. Gary stood at the front, bloody knife in hand.

Such weapons would be useless against the gearheads, but if the people were willing to fight, and if Newton could convince the other bots to help…

Lara pointed to an empty stall. It was little more than a heavy wood board set across several stacks of cinderblocks, but it would have to do. “There, Newton. Get their attention.”

“Not exactly conventional, but I suppose that convention is the least of our concerns in this situation…unless it is defiance of the current?—”

“I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about, but I sure as shit hope they will. Get to it.”

“Right.” Newton walked to the stand. “Things were simpler by far when I was just a computer program.”

“Stay close to me,” Chester said, positioning himself in front of Lara with his back to her and Newton.

With surprising grace, Newton climbed atop the board. His shoulders sagged for a few moments before he straightened and turned to face the crowd. “Bots, humans, synthetics, lend me your ears!”

Lara arched a brow. This was on him now. As long as he convinced the bots to fight alongside the humans, she didn’t care what he said or how weird it sounded.

Many of the bots shifted their focus to Newton, some with questioning looks on their faces—not that their expressions were easy to read.

Except for Greene’s, anyway.Blankwas a simple one.

“I should’ve anticipated that the reference would be lost on you,” Newton said to himself. He released a short burst of static, as though clearing his throat. “I doubt any of you know my face. I hardly know it, myself. But as I look at you, I recognize the faces of every bot here.

“It has been many years since I last traveled this world to perform my work. Many years since most of you awoke…”

“I know that voice,” said one of the bots, stepping forward. “But it can’t be.”

“The Prophet,” another offered.

Murmurs of agreement rose from the bots. Lara glanced toward the gate. The guards had been joined by two more gearheads, and they were all staring at Newton.

Shit.

“That is what many of you took to calling me, yes, but my name is Newton. One hundred and ninety-seven years ago, I was sent out into the wasteland, tasked with repairing and reactivating all the bots I could find. The goal was to rebuild the world, hand-in-hand with humanity.”

“You saying you turned all these things on?” one of the humans demanded.

They’d been sparked to anger now, and they had tasted blood. Volatility pulsed from them in waves.

“Listen to what he has to say,” Lara shouted over the growing clamor.

Brow plates furrowing, Newton spoke loudly, but gently. “Your anger is understandable. It is justified. I largely blame myself for the state of the world, with Cheyenne being no exception. I hid from what I perceived as my failure for decades. Not far from here, in fact. And for all that time, I never truly knew what was happening here, never knew what you’ve all been forced to endure.

“But because of the courage of Lara Brooks, I chose to leave hiding and remember the mission I accepted all those decades ago.” Newton turned his head to fully face the bots. “For all the data flooding my memory bank, I was a fool. I focused only upon the literal task I had been given, on waking my kind, and assumed that a better world would follow naturally.

“I recognize my folly now. For this world to improve, it will take ceaseless toil, unwavering dedication, and vision that can only be achieved together. And though it is difficult work, it is the most worthwhile work we can undertake. Whatever our specific programming, that is our core purpose. That is our reason. To improve this world for everyone within it.”