Jinn Part 7

Sam sat outside her house. She was always early and was counting down the
seconds until Kai had to be there. 3...2...1...

 

“We're here! We're here! Not late are we?” Kai was bouncing on the spot
but Horun was a little out of breath.

 

“Actually, you are precisely on time. Good job guys.”

 

Horun smirked and caught her breath. Kai continued to bound around
like a wired hamster and Sam carefully stood up, took off her pack
and threw two more at Kai and Horun.

 

“What's in these? They're pretty heavy.”

 

Horun examined her pack. A matt black nano-skinned canvas bag with
water tight seal and a multitude of pockets as well as a compass on
top, built in clock and alert beacon.

 

“Seems a bit fancy doesn't it?”

 

Horun was clearly worried but Sam just smiled and nodded.

 

“Trust me, we'll be needing it where we're going.”

 

Sam tapped on a reflector crystal. It span a little and then hovered
in front of the three of them before projecting a 3D image of
buildings and terrain with instructions over-layed.

 

“This is our goal. Right here. District 1kAlpha, or Munich if we're being
'old' and to be precise, we're going to break into it. Tonight. We're
going to bring back a relic meant to be hidden inside the Sapphire
Spire at the heart of the city. If we can get that, we'll be heroes!”

 

All eyes peered into the 3D map and silence fell on the group for a
while.

 

“Well, what do you think? I've mapped all possible routes, the safest ones,
the quickest and the most dangerous, just in case we're feeling
adventurous.”

 

Horun twitched a little and snapped out of her daze.

 

“Are you guys insane? Didn't you hear what happened to the last group of
people who tried to get in there? None of them came back alive. Not
one. They were all experienced, strong and much older than us! One of
them was even a Tracker from another village!”

 

Kai looked concerned but still remained excited. As he looked on he
sat down on the rock by his house as Sam and Horun argued.

 

“Don't you see, that's why it's perfect! Not only are we the brightest and
best that there has ever been, we're also much younger. We have no
experience in the outside world so we have a fresh look on it. We
don't know it's dangers so we'll be more wary. Other people have seen
robots before but we haven't. They got cocky, whereas we won't. I've
thought it through carefully and this is the perfect time to do it
and I have the perfect ways in and out as well.”

 

Horun bit her tongue for a second, she had something important to say
but stopped, she remembered something important.

 

“And you know that I've studied the machines through my books. I know all
of their routes, their times, their weapons, defences, everything.
That's why you need me.”

 

“Not only that, you have a creative mind. We need someone imaginative in
case we get into trouble. I can plan and plan but something will
inevitably come up that I can't deal with, and for that we'll need
you. Please, come with us?”

 

“Hold on, you're assuming that Kai will go through with this insane plan?”

 

They both looked at Kai. He was staring off into the distance, being
unusually quiet and contemplative.

 

“I'm in.”

 

He didn't look away. His voice was cold and resolute. Completely
calm.

 

“See. Please, come with us Horun. We need you to make this work. Just
imagine what the village would do if we returned with it.”

 

“You keep talking about 'it' but what even is 'it'? Do you even know?”

 

Horun looked a little smug.

 

“Actually, yes I do. My father was talking with other councillors and they
discussed the Command Module for all of the robots in the city. The
central processing unit. It's similar to our Cultural Hub but instead
of storing and relaying memories, it stores and relays commands.
That's another reason why we need you. You're the only one who-”

 

“Who can access the database. I see now. So you do actually need me after
all.”

 

Horun sighed. She looked at Kai, then Sam. Both of them stood
together across the 3D projection. Sam closed down the projection and
held out her hand. Kai soon clasped it.

 

“Come with us and become a legend. Please?”

 

Horun eyed up their outstretched hands and sighed heavily, held her
head in her hands and groaned loudly.

 

“Fine. But only because you guys need me, okay?”

 

“Success!”

 

Sam ticked something off of a list she had on her holopad.

 

“So, what's the actual plan then?”