G guided them to his laboratory, where there were dozens of automaton bodies and parts scattered all over the room. But the one that got their attention was a human torso with heavy wires attached to its back. When they got closer, they could see that it was an automaton wearing human skin so well that it almost passed as a real human. The torso had wires coming out of the bottom and was held suspended in the air.

"G," Luna said, as they all inspected it. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Yes it is. I have successfully captured a GEA." G looked proudly at the torso, as though it was a trophy. "An untainted, unshackled GEA."

GEA, or General Eradication Automatons, They were a massive threat that almost eradicated all sentient life on the surface a millennia ago. Since their defeat, GEAs have launched campaigns against all countries throughout the centuries, but as time went on, the campaigns grew smaller. Now the machines just launch raids and send infiltration teams to take down potential threats against them.

GEAs mostly use stealth and subterfuge to cause damage, and if someone sees one, they are lucky to survive the encounter. Most people have never even seen a real GEA, yet Tinkerton-G, a being the size of Luna’s hand, has captured a GEA in the forest and has it on display like a trophy.

"Why do you have something so incredibly dangerous tied in the middle of your laboratory?" Baldric said as Max inspected the GEA closely.

"Because this is the solution to your problem!" G pointed his cane at it. "This will be your new guardian."

"Uhmmm G, no offense, but I was thinking something like my old guardian. You know, Servo? The one you taught Ferris how to augment? Something like that." Luna placed G down on a nearby control platform. "This thing will murder us on sight."

"Nonsense. This one is completely harmless." G said as he began pressing buttons and pulling down levers. “Here, let me give you a demonstration.”

He operated more switches, and suddenly the room surged with light and electricity, and it all went into the GEA in the middle of the room. Then everything died down and there was total silence.

The eyes of the GEA began to open, and they were bright red. It suddenly lurched at them with its arms flailing wildly, and it let out a horrible metallic screech that was incredibly high and painful. Max and Baldric recoiled away as it started swinging at them, still letting out the blood-curling screech. G pulled some levers back up and it instantly stopped moving as though it died.

"Well, that was not scary at all." Baldric said to all of them.

"Wow, G, hard pass on that." Luna looked at him as though the little machine had lost its mind. "Very hard."

"Wait. Give it a chance; I was just checking if it was still alive. Here, let me try again." G began to pull some levers and switches, and the GEA began to awaken. Its eyes now shined blue, and it acted more calmly. It surveyed them all, one by one.

"And I thought this room could not get any uglier, yet you have managed to do so by letting these disgusting humans in here." It said with a metallic female voice.

"Huzzah! It’s alive!" G said.

"Oh good, you have managed to do something you do for a living. You want a prize now?" The GEA replied.

"And this is not the best part! Baldric, open that locker to your left." When Baldric opened it, a service automaton dropped out. The light in the GEA’s eyes vanished, and it died down once again. Suddenly, the service automaton on the floor moved and laughed. It began to run, but after a few steps, its legs fell apart and it collapsed on the floor.

"Well, is no one going to help me up or what?"

"So it can switch bodies at will?" Luna pieced everything together. Max picked up the automaton’s head.

"Indeed! In fact, as long as there is a command box nearby, it can switch to it and take over its form. Pretty cool, eh?" G looked at her, hoping to share his enthusiasm.

"But G, won’t it just run away if we bring it outside? I mean, if we go to a city and it finds any bot or automaton, it could just switch bodies right away." Baldric asked him.

"I have a name. Also, that is a good idea. I will put that under advisement." The GEA replied.

"Don’t worry because I struck a deal with it. This GEA’s purpose is to study and survey the world, and as long as it fulfils its purpose, it doesn’t care what you do with it." G said as the GEA’s consciousness returned to its old body.

"That’s a pretty stupid explanation, traitorton." The GEA looked at all three of them. "Before you meatbags start talking, I will start first and don’t interrupt me. I am Educational Surveyor and Threat Assessment Detection Unit forty five. My original purpose was to study everything about this world, including its flora and fauna, and their behavior towards their surrounding environment.”

"Why?" Baldric asked, but the GEA quickly turned to face him.

"Didn’t I tell you not to interrupt?" It glared at him, then looked back at everyone else. "I am tasked with studying everything in order to archive all the knowledge in the GEA collective consensus. The GEAs want a full and untainted record of information, so that when the AGEIAs do start waking up, we will have full knowledge of this world and all of its weaknesses."

"Wait, are the AGEIAs waking up?" Max asked, but the GEA glared angrily at him and leant in close.

"There! I cut you off! How does being interrupted feel? You don’t like it when someone interrupts you, right?! Don’t do it to others!" Max only looked back, visibly confused, but he kept his mouth shut.

“We need to understand the world's flaws so that we can begin fighting those who pose a threat to us as soon as we return to the surface. My job isn't just to record information; it's also to find those who will delay our return, identify their weaknesses, and sabotage them if possible. However, this wretched traitor," The GEA pointed to G. “He caught me when I was studying local wildlife in the area. He has removed my lower legs, in case you all can’t see, and he has been trying to lecture me on how not all organics should be destroyed. He keeps repeating to give organic creatures a chance, and I say not bloody likely.”

"So how will she err I mean it help us G?" Luna asked him. "I’m looking for something to help me protect the kids, not help in destroying all sentient life on the surface."

"This is where my deal comes in!" G replied. "You see, I gave her a bet that I could show her that there is good in the sentient life up here in the surface. And if she only chose to study them closely, she would see that coexisting with sentient organic life is the answer. GEA’s and organics nearly destroyed themselves back then, so this solution seems more profitable for both sides."

"I have a question for the GEA. So the separatists to the far north... Is that well... you?" Max asked.

"Don’t lump us in with those factory defects." The GEA faced him. "They are just like these traitortons Those junk piles that sided with those creatures to the north are no longer GEAs."

It then turned to face Luna.

"And to deal with you because I can feel a question coming, I see no good in sentient organic life. All you have ever done is kill each other, even before you discovered fire, all for stupid patches in the ground. Organics oppress those who cannot fight for themselves and are too easily swayed by shiny minerals or the opposite gender’s fertility. So I see no need for this stupid deal because all of you should be eradicated from the face of the planet."

"G, this is a philosophical battle I don’t want to get involved in." Luna said, as the GEA still stared her down. "Can I have something else? Please?"

G only laughed. "Give her a chance. Aside from being highly intelligent, she is also a very capable fighter."

"What is it that you want anyway?" The GEA leaned in closer to Luna.

"Uhhhh.... Well... we are looking for a guardian automaton." Luna stammered, and she doesn’t know why. "You know to help protect and fight with us."

“Oh, I see. Want me to do the heavy lifting for you, eh?" The GEA surveyed her up and down. "What’s the matter? Can’t fight with that fat rump?”

"Hey! It’s not for me! It’s for the kids! We want your help in protecting children." Luna snapped back.

"So you want me to be a nanny for your stinking brats?"

“Yeah, pretty much." Baldric cut in. "I’ll level with you, GEA. We are on the way to escort a princess to the northern kingdom of Aspana, and we are still half the continent away, with hundreds of fully armed wackjobs coming after us with everything but their kitchen sinks. As long as you help us protect her until we get her home safe, you can study anything as much as you want, and we will also share with you top defensive secrets about other nations as well."

"Baldric!" Max and Luna yelled.

"What?! I will give them information on Silvus!" Baldric retorted. "It’s not like we care anyway."

"That doesn’t make it right!" Luna shot back.

"You want her on our side or not?! Because this is the only way!" Baldric yelled at both of them.

"Hmmmm. You all look capable, even the one with the giant buttocks. " Luna suddenly became self-conscious and looked behind her as the GEA continued. "And you will be touring half the continent, you say? So you want me to accompany you to the north, where I can study as much as I want and all I have to do in exchange is protect some stinky brats? And you will give me secrets as well? Tempting offer. Very well, I will do it."

"What? Really?" Max blurted out.

"Truth be told, it is a horrible trade. But I am willing to do whatever it takes to get out of this damn room. I have been locked in here for months with this incessant old traitor going over and over about giving organics a chance. So I will take you up on that offer. But the secrets you will offer me better be useful, and I demand a body."

"We can work something out." G smiled at everyone. "I will give you multiple bodies. In fact, Luna open that cabinet." She opened it and inside was a backpack, but the bag was made of a light metal alloy and had glass on its front. "Put it on." The GEA's consciousness leapt from its torso into the backpack, and the glass on the front illuminated with a blue light.

“From up here, I can see more of your disgustingly fat buttocks." The backpack spoke.

"And that’s just the beginning!" G exclaimed, cheerfully. "That carrier pack has numerous attachments built for any situation. It’s loaded with numerous mini drones, so it can do everything your old guardian bot used to do and even more! Pretty cool, eh? "

"I can feel this will get old fast." Baldric said.

“Now, if you think that was the main event, you are wrong. Behold!" G pulled on some levers, and the floor in the middle of the room opened to reveal an armored walker that was the same size as a human. It was a ball with large, powerful arms and short legs that made the walker look like a gorilla. It was fully armed with cannons and grenade launchers and even had a rocket battery and jump jets on its back.

"This was designed after my personal gorilla walker, but with more modifications to make it more durable! It’s sturdy and fitted with a rare magicore syphon engine, so it can last much longer. It has every weapon you can think of, from rockets to knives, and it can fold in its arms and legs to form an iron-armored ball to protect the pilot from any external threat. Plus, the seat is padded and comes with a heater and a beverage holder."

All three of them inspected the walker, and it was indeed impressive.

"So how on Pandora does a little girl who can’t even ride a bike know how to operate something this complicated?" Baldric said when suddenly it began to come alive and a blue light came from inside the walker. Then it laughed.

"You were hiding something this powerful down there, Traitorton." It was the GEA, and it has taken over the walker. "I must admit I’m a little bit impressed." It then powered down and the consciousness of the GEA switched back to its body that was suspended by wires.

"Alright, G I’m sold." Luna said. She then approached the GEA. "But if you are going to come with us, what will we call you? I already forgot your long name. "

"My name is called the Educational Surveyor and Threat Assessment Detection Unit forty five." The GEA said angrily.

"That’s stupid." Baldric said, "How about we call you Eastadeu? Estadau? Atadau? No wait! I got it! Ada! Let’s call her Ada!"

"A mockery of my real name just so it can roll off the tongue. I can tell I will hate all of you already." Ada said.

"Alright, G. We’ll take Ada."

=0o0=

The next day passed with Annie and G installing Ada’s old body onto the landraider and G loaded them all with new armor, weapons, and a full stock of supplies. Luna, Baldric, and Max expected Ada to be aggressive towards Annie and Elizabeth, and yet, surprisingly, she was tolerant towards both of them.

It was the afternoon of the next day when Max prepared to leave. G gave him an off-road automobile, a new rapier, mask, and a matching armor set as well.

"So hopefully this will help you get back." Luna said as she and Baldric joined him in the vehicle garage. "Take care of yourself, Max."

"I should be saying that to both of you. I will ask one last time, Are you two sure you know what you are doing?" Max looked at both of them.

"I... we are Max." Luna gave him her most reassuring smile. Baldric put his arm around Luna’s shoulder.

"Don’t worry, Lefty. I will keep her and the kids alive. " Baldric grinned. "You just focus on being a better guild master than she is and don’t do anything stupider than what we are doing right now."

"Oh, by the way." Luna got her cha ingot and handed it to Max, who looked at her confused. "This is to compensate you for the trouble we caused you."

Max gripped the metal tightly with both hands.

"Max." Luna said to him. "I’m so proud of you. But please, whatever happens to us, please promise me that you won’t put yourself or the golden hands in danger. Don’t get them involved or get yourself involved anymore. You are the only one who can keep everyone else safe. If something happens to us, Defiance will look to you."

Max shook his head. "Sometimes I wish I could hit you in your damn face just so I could knock some sense into you. Both of you, I wish I could hit both of you."

"What can I say?" Baldric smiled. "Stupidity loves company."

Luna pulled Max in for a hug, and he returned it tightly. Luna signaled to Baldric to join in as well. When they all let go, every single one of them was almost tearing up.

"All of you better live through this." Max said to them as he wiped his eyes. "I’m not burying anymore of my family."

The spider fortress lowered onto a cliff, and a ramp extended from its belly. Max got into his automobile and nodded at them one last time before he drove down the ramp. As Max sped off, both of them just stood there and watched him vanish into the distance.

=0o0=

Evening came and all of them were having dinner. G served them a giant slug which everyone had difficulty accepting as food, especially Elizabeth. G tried again and served them pigeons and owls that nested around the vehicle garage and the rafters of the massive laboratory, so everyone just decided on vegetables instead. After dinner, as Annie and Elizabeth went to sleep, G, Luna, Ada, and Baldric were on the terrace overlooking the vast forest around them.

"That leaves you all then." G asked them as he sat on Baldric’s shoulder. "How do you plan on reaching the northern part of Aelmion with every single person wanting to kill you two?"

"Yeah, how do we do that?" Ada asked.

"Well, I have been thinking…" Luna said.

"That’s not good." Ada chimed in.

"I have been thinking we should go to…. The underempire. "

No one said anything, and only the sound of the wind and the rumblings of the giant legs of the laboratory could be heard. Baldric rubbed his eyes and broke the awkward silence.

"You do know there is a limit to the stupid ideas I can tolerate, right? I mean, there has to be a limit somewhere, right? A line we shouldn’t cross? "

"Look, if we can go down there, we can pass through a lot of borders and no one would be able to follow us." Luna looked at him seriously.

"Did you forget that we went down there once and barely made it out of it alive? Did you also forget that it’s a labyrinth down there and without a very precise map or a keystone, we could be down there for weeks or months going in circles? Unless you have a magic way of knowing where to go, it’s the same as asking us to march down there just to die. And if we are going to die anyway, why don’t we just go through the surface?"

"You know, we can’t keep fighting every day and everyone Baldric. We’re lucky we haven’t run into a professional guild yet or a Silvus legion, but what if we do? "

"So you’re suggesting that going down there is better? We don’t even know where to go down there."

"Well, not exactly." G addressed Baldric. “I talked about this with Luna, and I can give you my magnamap. It may not be pretty much, but as long as you stick to the first level, it will help. And you have Ada with you, so it should be fine."

"Alright but it will be up to you to tell Elizabeth how to deal with monsters in the dark."

Luna looked at the stars above and savored it for it will be the last time they will see it for a while.