The Heart Of the Machine
819 Words
Xin stood on the edge of the roof, his heart hammering against the silver mark in his chest. The three Elementals moved closer, their shadow-blades glowing in the dim light.
"I don’t even know how to use this!" Xin yelled, his voice cracking.
"Don't worry," the leader hissed. "The pain will be over quickly."
The leader lunged. Xin closed his eyes and threw a desperate punch. He felt a surge of heat rush from his chest to his fist. c***k.
Instead of hitting a body, Xin’s fist hit a shield of silver light that appeared out of nowhere. The force sent the Elemental flying backward, crashing through a brick chimney.
"Warning," a calm, female voice echoed inside Xin’s head. "Energy levels at 5%. To survive, please do not die."
"Who said that?!" Xin scrambled back.
"I am the Engine’s Core," the voice said. "You are currently a Level 1 Host. You are very weak. I suggest you run."
"Run where? They're everywhere!"
Suddenly, a metal trash can lid flew through the air like a frisbee, hitting one of the Elementals in the back of the head. It didn't do much damage, but it was enough of a distraction.
"Over here, kid! Unless you want to be an alien’s dinner!"
Xin looked down. Standing in a doorway below was a girl about his age. She wore greasy mechanic’s overalls and held a massive wrench that looked far too heavy for her.
"Jump! Now!" she shouted.
Xin didn't wait. He leaped off the roof. He expected to break his legs, but the silver light cushioned his fall like a pillow. The girl grabbed his arm and yanked him inside a dark garage, slamming the heavy iron door shut.
"Names Mei," the girl said, wiping grease onto her forehead. She looked at the glowing mark on his chest with wide eyes. "And you... you're the guy everyone is looking for. The 'Spark' from the sky."
"I'm Xin. And I’m just a window cleaner," he panted. "Mei, those things outside... they're turning the street into lava."
"I know. They're Elementals," Mei said, walking over to a pile of junk that looked like a half-finished motorcycle. "My grandpa used to tell stories about Earth-6. He said they don't want to live here; they want to use our world as a battery."
Outside, a massive THUD shook the door. The metal began to glow red-hot.
"Listen to me, Window Boy," Mei said, her voice serious. "That thing in your chest? It’s not just a battery. It’s an upgradeable engine. My grandpa left me blueprints for Earth-6 tech. If you can give me enough energy, I can build you things to fight back."
"New Objective," the voice in Xin’s head whispered. "Sync with the Mechanic. Upgrade Path: Level 2 - The Rebounder."
"I have an upgrade path?" Xin asked.
"Everyone has a path," Mei muttered, grabbing her wrench. "Yours just happens to involve not getting turned into ash. Now, hold out your hand and touch this engine."
She pointed to the strange motorcycle. It had no wheels—it looked like it was designed to float.
"What happens if I touch it?" Xin asked.
"Either it starts, or we both blow up," Mei shrugged. "Better than being eaten by a shadow monster, right?"
The door behind them began to melt. The leader of the Elementals was stepping through the liquid metal, his fiery eyes locked on Xin.
Xin looked at Mei, then at the machine, then at the monster. He reached out and pressed his glowing palm against the bike.
The silver light poured out of him. The motorcycle roared to life, its parts shifting and clicking like a puzzle, forming a glowing blue shield around the entire garage.
"Holy... it worked!" Mei cheered. "Xin, get on! We’re going to find the others."
"What others?" Xin asked, hopping onto the floating seat.
"The Resistance," Mei grinned, twisting the throttle. "The world is ending, kid. We might as well enjoy the ride."
As they blasted through the back wall of the garage, Xin looked up at the sky. The golden fortress was opening its massive bay doors. Thousands of smaller ships were pouring out, heading for every major city on Earth.
He felt the power in his chest hum. He was still Level 1. He was still just a guy who cleaned windows. But as he gripped the handlebars, he knew one thing: he wasn't going back to his old life.
"Mei!" Xin shouted over the wind. "How do I get to Level 2?"
Mei pointed to a giant Elemental blocking the road ahead—a beast made of solid rock and lightning. "See that big guy? Hit him really, really hard!"
- Writer
