13 Deep Though (1/2)

Even though they don't know it, all the people on Earth are thinking at the same thing: how to write a formula that can kill an alien robot.

Not consciously, of course. Many of them are asleep. Many don't know how to count. They don't focus their attention to the task; in fact, they don't even know how they're doing it.

Noriko's brain is doing most of the work, actually. Every other mind is handling a microscopic part of it…seven billions are starting to add up.

When Noriko's silver eyes disconnect from the human mental network, they stop shining: the formula is complete, ready to be written down.

A pity she can't do it, because two thousand pounds of alien robot have just landed in front of her.

The Talos grabs her by the leather jacket, unfazed by its horrible shade of green, lifting her as if she didn't weight anything at all.

it asks.

The robot hesitates to answer. It's subtle, lasting maybe a second, but Noriko notices it.

Noriko asks, smirking.

the Talos answers, throwing Noriko away like a boring toy.

Even when it isn't accessing the collective knowledge of humanity, Noriko's brain works faster than it should. She calculates that the force of the impact with the nearest wall will be enough to kill her, and that she doesn't have enough time to do anything about it.

Luckily for her, Vesta can fly fast enough to catch her. It's not a pleasant experience either, but it's more like getting the wind knocked out of you than being killed.

Vesta shouts.

Noriko mumbles, still out of breath but refusing to lose consciousness.

The Talos notices that its target is still alive, but is distracted by the lightning strike.

The electricity flows through the body of the robot, before turning back into human form.

Quantum yells, transforming its body into pure concussive force and throwing all he's got at the robot.

Concrete and asphalt get blown away like sand in the wind, but he Talos doesn't slow down. It keeps walking towards Noriko.

she orders, writing down symbols as fast as possible.

Vesta flies right in the middle of Quantum's energy form, pushing the Talos in a desperate attempt to slow it down. Noriko doesn't look up: she has no time to worry about them.

She knows she will only get one shot. She has to double check an impossible mathematical expression and estimate the inner workings of an alien artificial intelligence, based on second hand data. And she has to do it all in ten seconds now.

Noriko answers defiantly, showing the Talos a single sheet of paper crammed with information.

At first glance, the formula is impossible. But why would a mortal show you this information at such a crucial moment? It warrants more scrutiny. And when the solution doesn't make any sense, there is only one course of action in your programming: think harder.

Imagine for a second you were designed to be an unstoppable force. You are not allowed to consider anything as a threat: everything that isn't a god is to be steamrolled in your path.

If presented with an intellectual challenge, you would treat it as any other opponent: with overwhelming, unadulterated brute force. Even when brute force is meaningless.

And that's when the unstoppable force stops.

The moment of silence following a battle is a weird thing. Your body is still high on adrenaline, still expecting danger to come from any direction. Then the rush disappears, and you feel more tired than you ever thought possible.

The utterly devastated road. The car carcasses. The smell of molten asphalt. The distant sound of sirens and alarms.

The Talos is at last immobile, a black and white statue frozen in place. Vesta knocks lightly on its head, but the robot is dead.