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Chapter 7 The City of Rioas

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The city of Rioas was a complete mess when Crisis and her minions arrived. Even before the war, the city was in a poorer part in the country and badly maintained. The city used to be home to over a hundred thousand people but now only a few hundred remain as they desperately try to get by on what little they can get as they hope that this dreaded war ends soon.

Signs of disrepair are everywhere as vegetation is steadily growing everywhere in the city, the green plants slowly attempting to overtake the steel jungle. Buildings were boarded up, their windows broken and rubble lie across the streets, echoes of the riots that over took the city before it was mostly abandoned by its people. The nights in the city were cold as only light found at night were from small fires from the people who still cling to this dying city.

Crisis and her minions quickly went to work in changing this city for the better, towards a model of a perfect roboticized city that Crisis has deep within her mind. Their first stop was a nuclear power plant where most but thankfully not all of the nuclear fuel rods were taken away. What little was left was enough to reboot the reactor and run the city with enough power for a few months at best unless Crisis were to obtain more fuel rods, but that seems highly doubtful to happen.

The abandon factories of the city need just as much work as the rest of the place, but thankfully were spared from the riots that ravaged other parts of the city. Crisis and her forces worked hard to get them into shape as they were cleaned, refitted and gaining a rather sterilized robotic characteristics. The roboticizers are constructed on platforms and in long rows, allowing quick and mass roboticization needed to handle the numbers expected to arrive. The roads leading to these factories are cleared of all debris to make the trip easier for the convoys.

Joshua and the other scientists work hard just as hard as the converted elderly in getting these roboticizers up and working. Over the four days it takes to complete the process, only Joshua takes any extended breaks to get the work done and all of it was made mostly from the raw materials found throughout the city.

“What do you think?” asks Crisis to Joshua as she turns her head towards him. Joshua is wearing his white lab coat as his eyes are heavy and yawns escape his mouth every so often as they talk.

“I’m amazed how quickly these were completed, it took years to create the first one, a month to create a few more at the base, and only days to create the hundred here. It’s just remarkable, and according to our information the next group of elderly set to arrive will number over a thousand and that will be easily be done here,” replies Joshua. The two continue to walk down the aisle between the roboticizers. Crisis’ metallic feet clank and echo against the hard gray concrete. Fluorescent lights hum over head, as countless wires connect to each of the roboticization tubes as they seem all too eager to swallow up people’s organic nature and turn them into cool, smooth metallic machines.

“Yes it is lovely but before they come, which is about three hours, I like to test these out. I don’t want any kinks in the system you see,” says Crisis with a slightly fiendish smile.

“Test them out?” asks Joshua.

“Yes, there are several homeless people within the city, many of them haven’t taken too kindly that a glorious machine such as myself have taken their city, and given it a grand new purpose.”

“I know they haven’t been too keen about us setting up shop here, and for good reason, many of them have lost loved ones to Croc’s army. You can’t expect them to just let you take over their city. The soldiers and I have been trying to explain the situation to them, but it has been difficult. Are you suggesting we force roboticize them? ” Joshua asks with a sense of fear in his voice.

“Why of course not, I will ask for volunteers, but first we should show them our good intentions. I have a truck already stationed outside filled with food and rations; I know that these people have been getting their less than adequate amount of organic nourishment and could use some. I want you to take a few of the soldiers and distribute the food to these poor people.”

“It’s very kind of you that you’d offer them food Crisis,” says Joshua as he cracks a smile, his tail’s nervous sway slowly slowing down.

“I know it is, and I’ll be accompanying you to distribute the food, no other machines other than myself. I want to show them I am not like Croc who surrounds himself with his minions.”

“Yes Crisis,” replies Joshua as he and Crisis walk outside of the factory, there the truck that Crisis spoke of waits for them. Crisis smiles and nods to the two soldiers who salute and get into the front of the truck, while Crisis and Joshua get into the back which is filled with several crates of food rations.

“I’m impressed Crisis,” says Joshua.

“I knew you would be, but tell me why,” says Crisis with a smirk as the truck starts up and starts to head towards the inner part of the city. The rumbling of the engine and the poor condition roads make the ride there rather bouncy.

“Oh I know you are doing your best to save our country and defeat Croc, and the idea to use willing elderly to become machines to help is rather brilliant, but I didn’t think you’d care about the plight of our everyday citizens of our country.”

“Why wouldn’t I? People have a bad stigma as it is with what I am, and I must ease their fears in order to get the cooperation that I need in order to defeat Croc.”

“I see your point,” replies Joshua as he can hear the crunch and breaking of small debris under the truck tires, “Hope we don’t get a flat with all that’s on the road,” he remarks as the crates rattle behind him.

“We’re here,” says Crisis as the truck stops at an intersection, with buildings ranging from four to six stories in height around it. These buildings were much like the rest of the city, in a deplorable state.

“It doesn’t look like anyone is here,” states Joshua as he looks out the side of the truck as the soldiers in the front get out the truck.

“This is where the reports said they’d be,” replies Crisis.

“If you say so,” he replies with a soft sigh as the back of the truck is open and the soldiers start to carry out the food.

“Time to meet my public,” she says with a smile as she stands.

“You’re going to go out there now?” asks Joshua as he stands up as well.

“I’m not going to hide, they see Croc is sneaky; hidden in the shadows kind of person, I am going to be out in the open and show them I am not like him,” she responds as she steps out of the back of the truck which shakes due to the sudden removal of the weight that her metallic body exerted onto the truck.

“Just be careful,” says Joshua as he stands on the edge of the truck. He lifts his head up and takes a few good sniffs at the air, “You’re right they are around here.”

“Of course I am right,” Crisis replies as she walks away from the soldiers who continue unload the truck and prepare the food to be handed out. Crisis looks around at the seemingly empty buildings as she keeps a fair distance away from the soldiers who are there to also protect her. She looks back and sees Joshua looking from the truck with a nervous look while the soldiers ready to deliver the provisions to the people.

“I know many of you haven’t taken too kindly to my appearance here. I know all too well how Croc has caused you all so much pain and suffering. Your city is a shell of its former glory, war and famine has taken its toll. I want to say that I am not here to take over your city. Yes you heard me, your city. Even though the government has forgotten about this place, you haven’t and I respect your determination to survive here, your home. I am here to save this city and our nation from Croc. I was built by your people to serve you and my one and only goal is the defeat of Croc to save our people. But in order to do so I need your help, your cooperation. I know that is hard for most if not all of you, for I look much like the enemy that brought this suffering upon you. It will be hard for you to believe that someone like me is not your enemy but I can assure you that I am not your enemy but your friend,” says Crisis as she looks around at the still empty looking buildings before she continues her speech.

“You may ask yourselves, why believe me? I am a machine, I am not trustworthy. Yes I am a machine but I have been programmed with only one goal in mind and that’s defeating Croc and saving this country. I have a one track mind, helping this country to defeat Croc, and in order to do that I will need everyone’s help. I am here to help you, to support you, to regain what has been lost, what has been wrongfully taken from you. This great nation will rise again but only if you take the steps to trust me. Accept this food as a sign to willing try to trust me. I know trust doesn’t come easy, and can’t be bought with mere food, but I was built by your country. At least give me a chance to prove myself to you. Help me get this city running again, the factories going, so we may strive to defeat the one who has brought this suffering down upon you, Chaos Croc,” says Crisis in a booming commanding yet ‘compassionate’ sounding voice. Slowly as she speaks raptors that were hiding begin to stir and appear from their hiding places.

The raptor’s are in ragged and torn clothes, their claws dulled their scaled covered in a layer of dirt as they all sorely need a shower as much as they do the food. Their eyes show of worn tiredness, of sadness yet still hold onto a determination to survive. When they look at Crisis they give her a glare most foul as their claws twitch as they move closer. They’re ready to make a break for it if anything goes wrong.

Desperation is these raptors’ motivation, the need of a good meal is making them take this risk, nothing more, nothing less. Crisis remains still as the soldiers give the first few raptors some food, and something to drink, which they hungrily consume. As the small group of raptors eat their meal they motion for others to come out of their hiding spots. Soon a semi coherent line forms as they are given food. Crisis smiles as she looks at the line. A majority of the raptors are adults but mixed in are some children with their parents who either refused or were unable to leave.

“It’s nice to see this Crisis, but I really don’t think they’d be willing to volunteer after just one meal,” says Joshua as by now most if not all of these raptors in the area have eaten.

“Wait and see,” says Crisis as she waits a bit longer before saying to Joshua, “Sadly only two thirds of the people who are in the city are here,” she says as Crisis as her blue eyes turn into a more evil looking red as she begins to speak again. “May I have your attention please,” says Crisis as she faces the raptors who are still eating their meals, many of whom have gone back into the buildings to eat. Crisis looks around as all those who are eating stop and look up at Crisis. “Now I just finished my first roboticizer factory, and soon the volunteers to join my army to defeat Croc will be here, but before they do, I need to test out my factory, who would like to come with me and get roboticized so you may be able to fight for your country as one of my soldiers,” says Crisis as all of those raptors stepped forward, those within the buildings walked out to show their volunteerism including the children.

“Crisis what did you do?” asks Joshua as he sees the change in the masses before him, his tail swishing behind him quite annoyed as he looks over at Crisis.

“What? I made them willing, nothing wrong with that ,** ”** says Crisis.

“Willing how?” asks Joshua in an annoyed tone of voice.

“I placed my nanites into the food and drink, and once inside, it helped them understand where I am coming from and very understanding and willing to what I have to say,” she says with an evil robotic grin as her eyes briefly flicker red.

“Don’t tell me you are going to roboticize everyone here,” says Joshua.

“And what’s the big problem?” she asks looking over at Joshua with glowing red eyes.

“Well the children too? You know how people will take that? Why not keep the families together and have them show you support families. It would be very good public relations, and you could get the other third of the city’s populous under your control. Why not just test your roboticizers on half of those who don’t have families here.”

“Hmm, a very good point,” Crisis replies,

“Alright, those of you who do not have families with you, please step forward, the rest of you can go back to eating, and tell others about how I am not like Croc, and that I will do what I can to get this city going once again,” states Crisis with an evil smile as she walks over to the raptors under her control. “All of you will come to me, since you so want to volunteer to be my robotic soldiers so badly.”

“Yes Crisis we will do anything to defeat Croc,” says the raptors as Crisis has the raptors loaded up in the back of the truck before she turns to her other soldiers.

“Keep passing out food, there’ll be another truck to pick up a few others as well as you.”

“Yes Crisis,” replies the soldiers with a salute as Crisis and Joshua get into the back of the truck as they head off back to the factory.

“Were you actually planning to roboticize children?” asks Joshua.

“Me? No, I’d wait till they were adults, probably send them off to spread my good name at the very least, but no I’d wait, till they were the right age before becoming fine machines.”

“I see.”

“Anything the matter?”

“Nothing Mistress Crisis, I just want to know how you think so to better serve you,” replies Joshua.

“You know I can help you with that more directly…” comments Crisis.

“No, no, thanks but no thanks, I am fine, I am here willingly and I want to remain willing,” explains Joshua.

“Suit yourself,” remarks Crisis as the truck pulls into the factory and unloads the volunteering raptors from the trucks and into her factory. Crisis’s new mind controlled minions eagerly line up and move down the aisles in between the roboticizers, each positioning themselves in front of one and as they do the cylindrical glass tube rise up, as they get ready to accept their first organic converts in Crisis’ name.

“You know, remind me that when we can, make our own roboticizer in a style that is apart from Croc’s, I like to be more unique you know?”

“Will do, but being a machine as sophisticated and great as yourself, wouldn’t you need not to be reminded? Since surely you wouldn’t forget yourself,” explains Joshua as the other raptors walk up the steps and onto their respective roboticizer platforms.

“I know, I’m trying to be more organic sociable and a sense of usefulness,” she replies as she glances over at Joshua with her glowing blue robotic eyes.

“Which is good, so tell me, since you are controlling these people, how is that mind control like?” asks Joshua as the glass tubes come down and lock the raptors inside with a light thud.

“If you are thinking these are like puppet mind control, in this particular case, this isn’t it. They are still themselves personality and in memories, and still will be after their roboticization, it is just their personality and memories are placed on a foundation of obedience, loyalty to me that can’t be broken. They will be so happy and glad that I roboticized them that they will do anything I say and more than happy to help me in shear gratitude for what I have done for them. And in a sense they do still have free will. They can and will disagree with me on something if they believe it is in my best interests,” explains Crisis.

“Ah… I wonder how I know I’m not under your nanites already…” remarks Joshua under his breath.

“Huh? What was that Joshua?” asks Crisis as the several roboticization chambers boot up and come to life. The chambers hum and crackle as the electric energy is converted into roboticization energy, which soon shoots up into the tube that just barely contains it, turning each raptor in the tubes into a robotic version of themselves, complete with Crisis’ blue sickle claw markings and glowing blue eyes. Crisis’ eyes glow a bit brighter as her claws twitch as she feels a surge of energy going through her systems, “Hmmm yes that’s nice. I think I will try to stay for as many roboticizations as possible and as often as possible. It is quite enjoyable,” comments Crisis with a slightly evil grin.

“Yes Crisis we established this a few days ago you are near others being roboticized, and that you most likely become a bit stronger for it, so I agree that you should,” comments Joshua.

“Hmm… I wonder if this indirect exposure has such an affect on me, if it could have a long term affect on organics… Joshua, when not doing your other duties, you will spend every waking moment with me when I am roboticizing,” commands Crisis.

“With pleasure Mistress Crisis,” says Joshua with a smile, despite the fact as to why Crisis wants him to be so close to her. He continues to smile till he sees some of the new Crisis minions walk by and see a few of them are female. “Crisis did you roboticize a few females? I thought we only got male volunteers for this.”

“I didn’t roboticize any females in this batch sadly enough, but I did make a few into female minions. I like my army to be slightly female heavy,” she replies with a happy grin.

“Not that I don’t mind having a few more females around, and you will be getting such already seeing that sixty percent of all the elderly volunteers are female, but do you think people will notice that their grandfather is now a grandmother?” asks Joshua.

“I will only feminize those with untraceable links to others, and if by some chance someone found out that a male here or there were turned into female robots instead of male ones, I’d just explain to them that it is just an accidental thing during robotizicization process. Either explain it to them like and if they don’t accept that, then they can join their family as a lovely machine for me, either option works for me.”

“I hope you pick the non-roboticization method first,” replies Joshua.

“We’ll see,” says Crisis as Arissa walks into the factor. Her silver blue metallic black stripped tail sways behind her as she walks over to Crisis. Her glowing blue eyes glow slightly brighter as she says.

“The army has arrived with another shipment to be converted. We calculate this shipment to be about one thousand in all.”

“Excellent, it won’t take long to roboticize them with these new facilities. C-0001… I mean Arissa, I want organize everything here for the new arrivals while I’ll go and greet them and prepare them to come in,” states Crisis as she took note of Joshua’s look when Crisis called Arissa by her robotic calling number. Crisis gives a counter glare at Joshua before saying, “Happy now?”

“Yes Mistress Crisis,” replies Arissa as she salutes Crisis before Crisis walks off towards the exit. Joshua is about to follow but is suddenly stopped by Arissa by grabbing Joshua’s clawed hand with her own cool robotic one.

“What is it Arissa?” asks Joshua a bit surprised about being stopped.

“I know you like Crisis,” she says to Joshua with an evil grin that mimics one that Crisis has done many times before.

“I… I have no idea what you mean,” nervously replies Joshua.

“You know…” says Arissa as she gets closer to Joshua as she runs her robotic fingers along his chest, “That way organics tend to feel towards other organics, which eventually leads to more organics being made. That kind of like,” she replies.

“No…no…no, of course not, sure Crisis is strong, lovely, smart with wonderful leadership skills, but that is why I follow her. I know she’s for the best. We are just… obviously not compatible with each other that way. It’s just a pleasure to be by her side serving her,” replies Joshua.

“You’re always like this, hard to admit your feelings to anyone about anyone.”

“Always? What do you mean by that?”

“What do you think I don’t remember from before I was given this great gift? I remember how you were like back then, just the same as you are now,” she replies.

“Ahh… well we worked for a while now since your change and neither you nor any of the others have said all that much.”

“Neither have you,” she replies.

“True…but that was with you know who, this is Crisis,” states Joshua.

“True, she’s not Karrie, but she was created by Karrie, and since she’s missing this is the next best thing for you isn’t it?”

“What?!” exclaims Joshua as Arissa chuckles.

“Joshua, are you coming or what?” asks Crisis as she sticks her head back into the factory.

“Yes Crisis, I’m coming!” yells Joshua.

“Don’t worry I won’t tell her. It will be fun to watch and see how this plays out, it shall be quite amusing,” she replies with a grin before walking off.

“Crisis was right, their personalities and memories are still there and are intact. Not sure how but they are, in some bizarre strange way Arissa hasn’t changed all that much,” thinks Joshua as he walks outside, rejoining Crisis as Crisis’ mind controlled soldiers and minions help the army that went along with the truck convoy to get the last of the elderly off of the trucks.

“You missed my speech,” says crisis.

“I’m sure it was fantastic,” replies Joshua.

“Thanks, but don’t agree with me just because you know. I don’t need yes women around me, and if I did I’d make them.”

“Isn’t that supposed to be yes men… oh, I gotcha. Don’t worry Crisis I won’t be some yes man, I just know it’s not a good idea to disagree with the leader in public.”

“Smart, and that’s why I like you,” replies Crisis with a smirk.

“Thanks,” replies Joshua as he holds back a big smile as a white and black stripped raptor dressed in a dark blue and green officer’s uniform comes up to the pair. The fairly young raptor looks at the two with his blue slit reptilian eyes.

“Evening General Crisis,” says the white raptor as he salutes her. “I’m lieutenant Phillip Andreas, here to assist your efforts with the army.”

“General Crisis, when did I become a general?”

“To establish a command hierarchy that will be easily compatibly with the rest of the armed forces, you’ve been bestowed upon the rank of a first star general.”

“I see… tell General Raszer that I graciously accept the promotion.”

“Yes Ma’am,” replies Phillip.

“For a watch dog to keep an eye on me, you sure are quite polite and well mannered, and for future reference you may just call me Crisis.”

“I respect my superior officers no matter whom or what they are, until proven otherwise,” he replies.

“ Until proven otherwise? Something tells me that this isn’t a prime choice assignment for you,” remarks Crisis.

“You cay say that, but I am still honored to work so closely with you.”

“I see my good and well deserved reputation proceeds me, excellent. I would also like to introduce you to Joshua, he’s head of my research and development as well as my right hand man,” explains Crisis.

“You’re too kind to introduce me as such Crisis,” replies Joshua after brief moment of silence as he was completely caught off guard by Crisis’ introduction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you lieutenant Andreas,” he says with a salute.

“Pleasure is all mine, good to see she has an organic in second command. Now Crisis I have some good news to report, your request for some scrap metal to get your own factories going has been approved and the volunteers of elderly have continued to increase and will be brought here post haste,” states Philip.

“Excellent.”

“Also since I know you’re doing your own research on Croc and his forces, there is someone here who especially volunteered to help. She’s highly experienced with Croc’s forces, having spent months behind enemy lines and only has recently come back, so her knowledge on Croc’s weapons and force movements will be quite invaluable to you.”

“Most excellent, who is this person that you speak of?” asks Crisis.

“She wanted to introduce herself,” says Philip as if just on cue the door of a nearby truck swings open, revealing a brown scaled raptor in a dark green camouflaged military uniform. Her hat angled downwards so it not only shades her eyes from the sun but blocks them immediately from view. As she slips out of the trick her tail flicks to the side as she also pulls out a long and oversized gun that is fit for anti-tank duty. The gun is quickly placed on her back as she walks over to the trio.

“Don’t mind the gun, it’s something those people always carry… and don’t mind how she acts, it’s how those people tend to be,” states Philip.

“What do you mean by those people?” asks Crisis quite confused by the comment the female raptor steps up to the group.

“Evening, I’m Sasha, from the Raptras first sniper battalion,” she says as she lifts her head revealing her yellow eyes that focus and glare at you like that of an eagle hunting its prey.

“Sniper battalion? That would explain the gun. It’s the first time I got to see one of those so close,” says Crisis.

“It’s the closest you’ll get to see it. This girl never leaves my side,” she remarks.

“I see what you mean now Philip. So Sasha you’ve spent a lot of time behind enemy lines? What were you snipers snipping in particular?”

“Anything that was deemed a high value target, of course if by some grace of God we saw Croc himself, we wouldn’t hesitate to take him out. The fact you’re here shows how we’ve failed at this part of our duty,” she remarks.

“Quite a shame but your knowledge will be useful. Asides advising me, do you have any other duties here?” asks Crisis.

“Advising isn’t one of my duties here, it’s just a benefit you will get by my stay, nothing more,” she replies with a harsh tone.

“I would say watch your tongue with me. I have a feeling you’re here for more reasons than you let on, but since time is of the essence why don’t we talk about what you’ve learned back in the factory. I want to watch the roboticization process to make sure it runs smoothly,” replies Crisis.

“Sure,” replies Sasha as Crisis, Joshua and Sasha walk towards the factory.

“You coming too Philip?” asks Crisis turning her head over to him.

“Uh no you three can go on ahead. I don’t find any particular interest in seeing how the process works. I have plenty of work to do from here anyway,” replies Philip as he shakes his head.

“Suit yourself,” says Crisis as the three walk into the factory. “We have much to talk about Sasha.”

“That we do,” says Sasha with a grin.

Three days later deep within Croc’s territory Chaos Croc himself watches over a massive batch of soldiers that have been captured and mind controlled from one of his latest battles. The group of from the dragon nation march obediently into his robotizicization chambers with an efficiency and speed that puts Crisis’ own to shame. Inside the factory which is far larger and more robotic in its architecture than Crisis’ simple factory, over a thousand organics will soon join Croc’s robotic ranks within an instant. As Croc stands on a nearby platform watching his well oiled machine working effectively in converting the organics, Croc feels a sense of empowerment as the roboticization chambers boot up, empowering Croc to a new level of strength that he was before.

“Better than coffee any day,” remarks Croc as he then sighs, “These organics have been giving me a bigger and bigger headache. These won’t even replace the soldiers I lost in their counter attack which I captured these in.”

“It gets worse than that Master Croc,” remarks Ko as she walks up to him, as the female anthropomorphic fox with the twin tails seems to be coming from out of the shadows her foot steps tapping on the metallic floor as she walks.

“Why wouldn’t I be surprised that you’d bring me bad news,” he replies.

“It’s not all bad, just most of it,” she replies with a smirk.

“Give me the bad news first.”

“In the last attack asides from the forces lost that won’t be replaced by those captured, several jump gates were attacked by long range missile strikes and damaged. That will delay the build up forces needed for the next assault by some time.”

“Great, anything else?”

“That delay won’t matter much since several communication centers and supply centers to support your organic troops, have been damaged and will take some time to get repaired and prepared for the assault anyway.

Fantastic, you know I should have done this the easy way. Why didn’t I just do it the easy way. This whole planet would have been under my mind control and that would have been that.”

“Because it’s not as fun. You want the challenge to keep your skills sharp,” remarks Ko.

“Good point.”

“And you didn’t think of the easy way till it became not so easy to do it.”

“You have to remind me,” remarks Croc.

“Of course,” she replies with a smirk.

“So what’s the good news?”

“That sniper has made contact with the target and by chance she’s been given orders by the organics to keep an eye on her.”

“Which coincides well with what I want her to do,” says Croc.

“Asides that, she also has orders to eliminate her if she gets out of line.”

“Her?”

“Apparently project Crisis is a female raptor design.”

“Interesting, so what about the early reports about this so called rival of mine?”

“Nothing that would be considered too threatening to you at the moment, if anything I’d recommend just waiting till she builds up some and convert her to serve you and use their so called weapon to save them against them.”

“You know me well Ko that is exactly what I was thinking.”

“It wouldn’t have been the first time you’ve done it.”

“And most certainly won’t be the last. Keep me updated on her. When the time is right she’ll make an excellent maid. My throne room gets so dusty and she’d be perfect for the job to keep it spotless,” states Croc with a fiendish grin.