Gene. Sys. by Aaron Denius (best ereader for comics txt) 📕

The other Genesys and I run to Mag as the drones run to their fallen teammate. When I get to Mag, Ox has already scooped her up in his arms. She moans through the tears running down her cheeks.

Ox looks at me. “This is your fault!”

I back up and sense a few others’ eyes on me. They share his sentiment.

“No it’s not,” Mag struggles to get out.

We all look at her. Ev starts to say something but stops herself.

“Put me down. I can walk,” Mag demands.

Her resolve has not only surprised me but everyone else as well. A few of the scientists applaud as Ox gently sets her down. Mag lets out a yelp as she puts weight on her leg and draws it back into a moan.

“Let’s play,” she says as she gingerly takes a step toward our pit. She uses Ox for support.

I can tell that Mag’s toughness has rubbed off on the other Genesys because they are starting to get hyper.

“We can do this!” Al blurts out. The other Genesys shout in agreement.

When we reach the pit, I look back to assess our opponent. I only count eleven drones, and when I look to the side, I see the longhaired drone lying on the sideline. Dr. Peters is tending to him.

“Okay, it’s eleven on eleven.” I turn to the group.

“Twelve. I’m still playing,” Mag says defiantly. “I’ll guard the pit.”

“What about your leg?” Ev asks.

Mag smiles. “Don’t let them get the ball, and it won’t be an issue.”

“Deal.” I chuckle and then remember what Dr. Kivuli suggested. “Does anyone have any ideas?”

“That last strategy almost worked,” Titan speaks up. “I think we just need to add a little twist to it. Maybe some deception.”

Everyone’s attention turns to him.

“When we did this last time, the drones left one half of the field wide open. I say we attack as we did, but just as we engage with the drones, the last wingman peels off and takes the ball from the person in the middle. They then sweep around to the other side of the field that’s wide open,” Titan says, exhausting himself.

I look around at the other Genesys. “What do you all think?”

“I like it,” Hydro says.

“Okay. Titan, do you want to be either of the ball carriers?” I look at him.

“Nope. I’m having too much fun fighting,” he responds.

“I think Ox should do the sweep,” K adds. “After what he did to that drone, they might think twice about standing in his way. I can start in the middle.”

“That sounds like a plan. Are you ready?” I ask. Their reaction isn’t quite what I want. I want them to scream.

“What are we?” I demand.

“Genesys?” Sil mutters.

“Come on. We are smarter! Faster! Stronger!” I shout. “Who are we?!”

“Genesys!” They all yell.

K grabs the ball, and we take off in the same formation as before. The drones charge at us as they did before. We collide into them, and I ram hard into the drone in front of me. We both fall to the ground.

As we grapple on the field, I hear a loud roar from the scientists’ side of the field. I look up, and I see Ox running alone with the ball toward the drones’ pit. A couple of drones chase after him, but they aren’t fast enough.

Ox drops the ball into the pit and yells. Just as I stand to cheer, I feel a hard kick to my thigh. I’m too excited to care, so I push the drone away and head toward my side of the field.

I get back to a cheering group, and I high five a few of them. “Be ready, everyone. The second they grab the ball, we start. Be smart and use your speed.”

I turn around and see that 80 has already taken the ball out of their pit. They are weaving in and out of each other toward us. As they move, they pass the ball back and forth among themselves.

“Let’s go, guys! Spread out, and don’t let anyone get behind you!” I run off toward the middle, and the rest of the Genesys spread out to my left and right.

This time around, there is a lot less contact and more passing by the drones. We barely miss getting the ball a couple of times.

“Now!” 80 yells.

Instantly all the drones drop and roll at our legs, knocking us down. I manage to keep some of my balance and fall to my hands. I push myself up quickly and look around. 80 is running straight at our pit.

I kick the drone who rolled in front of me in the stomach to make sure he doesn’t get up, and then I take off toward 80. I catch up to him pretty fast, but he passes the ball to another drone charging from the other side just as I tackle him.

Right before he catches it, I see Mag launch herself at the chest of the approaching drone and knock him hard to the ground. The ball bounces off them and back toward 80 and me.

We jump up to our feet, and I grab 80 by his right arm. I spin and fling him in the opposite direction. The ball bounces a few feet away from me, so I pick it up and look out at the playing field. A few fights are happening in the center, but I notice Cal and Sodi are relatively unengaged. Sodi is to my far left and Cal to my right.

“Sodi! Cal!” I yell, signaling them to run toward the opposite pit. They take off, and I hurl the ball ahead of them.

Both Cal and Sodi have no trouble outpacing their accompanying drones. Cal gets to the ball first, and when the drone trailing Sodi peels off toward him, he passes her the ball. She drops the ball in the pit, igniting a roar of cheers from the scientists.

Just as Cal turns to walk back, 13 levels him with a shoulder