Art

Art was awakened by a noise outside. The storm which was roaming the area, suddenly invaded the castle walls. Metal doors opened with a loud noise, and a very bright light shone through the window. It was as if a giant flashlight was directed on Art’s face. “What the hell!” said Art, who wanted to scare the intruder. He leaped out of bed, opened the front door and saw nothing. He was about to go back to bed when a loud alarm sounded. It was coming from the elevator. He had activated some kind of alarm system, which was now telling everyone on the base to assemble at the main lobby. After a short conversation with a guard, he realized something serious had happened and left the room.

The main lobby was completely dark. He stood there for a few seconds, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. “What’s happening?”. He was about to go back to bed when he realized he had already been asleep for two hours. He checked the time, and the first thing that registered in his mind was that he had over slept. The next thing he noticed were two guards at the entrance of his room. One was a soldier, the other was an officer. “What’s happening?” he said

“The base is under siege”, said the soldier. “The invaders took over the towers, and they have somehow taken control over our turrets”.

“We don’t know how they are doing it, but they are firing at everything.” said the officer. “They also used a bunch of remote controlled robots. They got in and out of the base quite efficiently.”

“So what do we do now?” said Art.

“We have assembled here to defend the control center.” said the soldier. “They haven’t breached our secure systems yet, but if they do, we can’t stop them from emptying our storage.”

“So if they want our food and supplies, why are they shooting?” asked Art. “And what about the turrets?”

“We don’t know how they are doing it.” said the officer. “The people in this base are the best engineers in your planet. They are very intelligent, and they are working hard to figure it out.”

“This is not the kind of building which can be stronghold-ed.” said Art, who was trying to hide his confusion.

“Either we find out how they are controlling our turrets, disable them, or we take them down.” said the soldier. “It’s either taking them down with us, or leaving them for the enemy to take the supplies.”

“I’m an artist.” said Art. “I have no place in this battle, besides I need to explain it to you, but I don’t know how to.”

“Well, we are in trouble” exclaimed the officer. “This base is useless now that they have stolen it away. We are losing everything, and we don’t know how to defend it.”

“We still have a small chance of survival.” said Art. “I would like to be part of a team with you guys, we are fighting together, but this part of the work is unaffordable.”

“You will be ok. I’m a soldier. We’ll have to fight but we’ll be ok.” said the officer. “You are going to be fine. I am going to stay with you.” said the soldier.

“How many guys like you are there in my planet?” asked Art.

“A lot of them. Most of them were sent on a grid of surveillance, we got to protect the supplies.” said the officer. “That’s going to be the only way we survive now.”

The place was alive with lights. All the rooms and corridors were illuminated by holographic schematics. Everything was explained in great detail, and all the bases important elements were highlighted in yellow.

“What’s that?” asked Art.

“It’s an element of our storage system. These are the ones that can be opened from the inside.” said the officer. “You have to be careful, some of them contain toxic substances or materials. You can check any of them, but please be careful”.

“I will, but I’m not sure what you are expecting from me. I can’t just open them.” Art’s eyes were covered by signs of anger.

The entrance of the elevator opened, and a group of soldiers came in. They were wearing desert camouflage suits and were equipped with a lot of guns.

“Didn’t you get the message?” said one of them.

“I did.” said Art.

“You should have joined us in the fight.” said another voice. “If you want to survive, you should join us now.”

“I’m trying to do something useful here” said Art.

“We need all the help we can get.” The soldier looked uncomfortable. “It’s horrible. We are sitting here without weapons and food, eating the same disgusting food.”

“We have the tech and you can help us by using it.” said the officer.

“There’s no tech which can give us from a point of no return.” said Art.

“You could still join.” said a soldier. “If you want to survive, you have to join us.”

“Maybe it will be only a matter of time until we have a change.” said Art. “I can’t predict the future, and this is not my fight. I just can’t.”

“They attacked us in the middle of the night”, continued Art. “I need to think about that a little more.”

“It’s just a matter of time.” said the officer. “Join us and control our weapons, and join against rebels who want to set us free.”

“You are an old man, and you don’t know what you are talking about.” said Art with a smile. “I’ve seen governments in your world before. They have used this kind of propaganda to indoctrinate soldiers.”

“We are youtheds.” said the soldier.

“I’m going to sleep, tomorrow will be a hard day.” said Art. “I need to think about it.”

In the middle of the night he heard the sound of cryo-blades opening from the rooms above.

“The enemy is already here.” said the officer. “I bet we don’t have much time.”

“It’s getting very late, but I’ll keep on trying. You can’t trust this guy.” said another soldier.

Art went back to bed and tried to go to sleep. He realized the enemy was already inside when he heard the sound of cryo-blades opening and he wouldn’t be able to sleep anymore. Art went to the showers and cleaned himself up.

“Ok”, he said. I’ll fight with you.”

I’m going to open all of the cryo-brains of whatever cryo-blades we have.”

“I’ve already tried that.” said the officer. “We already tried that, it’s not going to work.”

“I’m not going to stick around here” said Art. “Get ready to fight.”

“Ok” said the officer. “Stand by me.”

Art walked to the corridor with the cryo-blades. He opened all of them the same way the enemy was opening them.

“I’m in,” said Art. “This is the way.”

He went to an elevator and made it to the second floor. The hallway was decorated with pictures of great achievements of the government and military. Art opened the door of the first chamber, and a clogged gun was found on the ground.

“I’m stopping here.” said he. “Where are the other rooms?” Art walked into a corridor and saw symbols of metal on the doors.

“I can’t open them”, he said. “This is the way.” Art opened another door, and he saw a door with a sign on it that said: “turn to your left”.

“I think I gave up.” said Art. “I can’t open this door. There’s no way I could open it.”

“What are you doing here?” said a soldier.

“Looking for the way out.” said Art.

“We can’t go up”. said a soldier. “I don’t want to die here.”

“We shouldn’t open any more doors.” said another officer. “If they find out what we are doing, they are going to storm us. Let’s be as focused and safe as we can be.”

“What’s going on?” said a dying soldier, who just was shot.

“It’s unreal.” said the officer. “I’m so tired.”

“I can’t help you”. said Art. “You are all by yourself.”

“No, you can help us.” said one of them.

“I want to go find something to eat. I need to go to the machine room.” said the officer.

“Ok, I’m going to open the doors for you.”

“Ok, I’m going to join you.” said Art.

“What’s that going to do?” asked the last soldier. “Open everything we have here.”

“Come out of here. I will open everything for you. You and those of you who will come with me.”

“Ok, I’m going with you, you can take me with you.” said the soldier.

They followed Art to the elevator and made it to the second floor. They walked as far as they could, and opened all of the doors.

“We are going to play cards: who is going to get the weapons?” said Art. “I don’t believe that the people who are in charge of the base would let all those weapons fall down to us, so the only thing we can do is to open the rooms.”

Because of the traps, Art had to point all of the guns to the ceiling and aim at either the corner or the ceiling. Art opened all the doors with caution, and all the people kept quiet.

“I have to admit I’m enjoying this.” said Art. “You have to understand that I’m not a soldier. I’m a pilot, but I had to leave my plane and take flight. I’m trying to have fun.”

After all the doors were opened, Art was going through some of the rooms. He saw a yellow suit similar to the one which he had, and another one similar to the one which the man in the balcony had, and a white and shiny suit similar to the one which Art had.

“It’s a matter of perspective.” said Art. “I see you in your armor, but I see myself too.”

The suits were very heavy and they were feeling they were wearing the whole armor. Art was thinking how it would be like to fight in a suit like that.

“How’s your shoulder?” asked a woman with green hair.

“I can’t feel it.” said Art, with a smile.

3 minutes later, Art found the buttons of the suits, and he pressed them. Art was ready to climb up the walls with ease.

“This is really fun, one’s to the next! ” said Art.

He saw all of the soldiers as insects. He closed doors with traps to them.

“You are a good soldier.” said art, to one of the soldiers. “Now you should remove your helmet.”

He lifted his right arm, and the soldiers who were still alive did the same.

“I can’t shoot anymore.” said the soldier.

“I just can’t feel my body.” said the soldier standing next to him.

Art was going to the next room, he saw all of the soldiers playing cards.

“I told you I wanted to go play cards.” said art.

“Ok, what’s the point of us playing cards?” asked the officer. “We don’t know if we’re going to wake up. We might not even be alive tomorrow.”

“I awoke from my sleep.” said Art. “The deal is simple. At the end of the game, you’ll see if you have won or not.”

“Ok, what should we bet?” asked the officer.

“We can bet everything we have.” said Art. He started the game and everyone was looking at him. “I know I’m an American, but this is just a game. More than a game, it’s an art.”

Art and the others were playing cards, the game was far from being a party, but the people were happy.

“Give me the edge and I’m going to play.” said Art.

“Well, you’re playing.” said the other soldiers.

“I’ll bet both of my arms.”

“Ok, here’s our lost.” said one of the soldiers. “What does it hurt to do it?”

Art was happy and full of pride for the other soldiers. He was already a hero.

“Someone hold my hand, please.” said the officer.

“I think we are going to play some more.” said Art.

“Ok, we’re going to play one game.” said the other soldiers.

In the next two hours, Art was playing cards with all of the soldiers. Every now and then, some soldiers were waking up, Art told them how the game was played and how much luck was involved in one’s life.

“Get everyone up” said the soldier. “Don’t let anybody sleep.”

“Keep going.” said Art.

“Ok, we’re going to play blind.” said the officer. “If you want to know what card you are, you are going to be blindfolded.”

“You know, I'm going to miss talking to you.” said Art. “I had a lot of fun with all of you. This is the first time that I ever had a good time.”

The officer took his glasses, and then the other soldiers did the same.

“Ok, you are going to be sitting here.” said the officer.

The soldiers that were able to move were blindfolded in their chairs.

“Are we going to play cards, or what?” asked a soldier, who was blind and could not hear.

“We are going to play cards.” said the soldier who was blind and sat next to him. “You are going to do a lot of good.”

The soldier in the wheelchair and the soldier who was blind opened all the doors, told Art all of their names, and then they went back to their chair.

“Not blind.” said the other soldiers, who were blind and were sat all around Art.

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