Cyrus looked over the tattered map Jence had spread out across a scrapped refrigerator that was currently laying on its side.

"We're about here," Jence explained while pointing to the location on the map. He adjusted the position of one finger while also designating a different location with the opposing hand. "Because we were hit from two sides, we can estimate the attack groups came from the bases located here and here."

"With their forces weakened, wouldn't now be an opportune time to hit them?" Cyrus asked.

"It would," Jence agreed. "However, that's how my people ended up here. We were cleaning the place out of everything we could when we got surrounded. As tempting as a target they may be, we've too many wounded and too much plunder to push out into the world any further. Besides, we might be surrounded a second time."

"You know the area and locals better than I do, so I'll defer to your judgement on this," Cyrus accepted.

"The closest tunnel to the fortress of my warriors is here," Jence explained, designating another point of interest on the map. "It isn't large enough for your aircraft, and I wouldn't recommend leaving it on the ground anywhere around here unless you want it stripped for parts."

"Where's the robot city with the mind controlled people?" Cyrus questioned.

"Here," Jence answered. He pointed out the location on the map.

"I can have the Hawk do some flyovers and get detailed sensor scans of the place and its defenses," Cyrus suggested.

"Be extremely careful," Jence cautioned. "The city has very high end technology, pre-war or better. They've been able to advance while everyone else fought to survive, so if they've made technological progress in the area of weapons, your ship could be in danger."

"I appreciate the warning," Cyrus said genuinely. "I'll be sure to tell my pilot to be on guard. After the scouting flight, I'll have it head home with orders to come back for us in a few days. It should give us enough time to clear the last of the plunder from the field, tend to your wounded, and set up the shield at your fortress."

"Sounds good," Jence agreed.

"Pardon me a moment," Cyrus said to Jence before putting his helmet back on and opening a communication line to Deborah. "Deploy the gear over this raider base then take a course of 029 to reach a robot controlled city. They possibly have better tech than us, so watch yourself. Call off the scouting flight if necessary."

"I'll be careful," Deborah promised.

"After the flight, head back to the outpost," Cyrus instructed. "We're going to stay a few days to help. You're in command for the duration of my absence."

"Does that mean I get to use your office?" Deborah joked since they already shared an office.

"Just keep your feet off the desk," Cyrus replied in kind before laughing with his wife. "If we can get a dependable comm line established, I'll talk to you soon. If not, see you in a few days."

"Love you," Deborah said in parting, her voice cracking slightly.

Cyrus felt a lump in his own throat. In the violence of the current world, tomorrow was never certain to arrive for anyone, so Cyrus and Deborah being out of touch would seem like an eternity, especially if broadcasting messages were prevented by their limited equipment. Every day would pass with the question if their dearest love was still among the living.

"I love you too, Deborah," Cyrus managed to say, forcing his emotions to stay in line long enough to finish his message. He closed the channel before his composure could break.

"Jence," Cyrus said, banishing the traces of lingering emotion from his voice and becoming all business. "You know the way to your home. Let's collect everything you're taking with you and get moving."

"Right," Jence agreed.

Quickly giving orders to his own people, Jence set them to collecting the last of the plunder remaining in the base. Cyrus and his squad removed all useful weapons and armor from the dead marauders as well as retrieving the supplies and equipment Deborah airdropped from the Hawk. In less than ten minutes, the warriors were ready to depart.

Because of the injured they carried with them, the warriors were forced to move much slower than usual.

Cyrus had his people spread out on either flank and in the rear, keeping his heavily armed and armored squad in positions where they could protect Jence's warriors. Although he didn't say it out loud, Cyrus had an ulterior motive behind the formation. They appeared to be escorting and guarding Jence's people, but they were also perfectly positioned to eliminate them in short order should they prove to be a threat.

Jence, in a similar move, had assembled his forces in a circle. The wounded were clustered in the center with the stronger and healthier warriors on the outside. Jence would occasionally cast a glance toward Cyrus and his people, and Cyrus knew Jence was planning for the possibility of defending his people from the armored warriors around them.

Cyrus admired Jence's caution as it mirrored his own. Neither side could afford to trust the other blindly. Too many murderous fiends waited in ambush across the world, and an act of good faith could easily prove disastrous. Trust could only be earned gradually with time and experience.

***

When the massive door leading into the underground cavern of the warrior's stronghold was pushed open, Cyrus got his first look at the fortified home of his new allies. It impressed him greatly. The shield over his outpost was the only thing that had kept Cyrus' people alive, but these warriors had survived behind an ancient defensive structure with almost no high end technology at all. It was a true marvel that staggered his mind.

The main gate was opened, and the warriors marched victoriously inside to the cheers of their relieved families. Plunder from the raid on the surface base was quickly portioned out and carted away. Medics came and took charge of the injured, tending to severe wounds immediately and the escorting the rest to their medical area.

The treatment of the newcomers was exactly as Cyrus would have wanted it. Swords and spears were held ready by the defenders of the fortress as they casually took up positions on all side of Cyrus and his people. They took no openly hostile actions, but they were prepared for trouble should any arise. Cyrus suspected their suspicious nature of outsiders was one of the many things contributing to their longevity in a world gone mad.

"Before we set up your shield, we'll need some of your technical people," Cyrus explained to Jence. "We won't be here for long, and your people will need to know how to operate and possibly repair the unit."

"I understand," Jence accepted, singling out two of his people. Cyrus also took one of his warriors aside and explained the situation.

"Kaden is our best shield tech," Cyrus stated. "She'll get you set up right."

Jence's people followed behind the armored warrior Cyrus had named Kaden, heading toward the central point of the cave where the shield would have the most coverage area.  Kaden carried a large black container in each hand.  The plastic boxes had the appearance of futuristic suitcases and would deploy into the shield generator once she had them in place.

"While they're working, I'd like to know more about the robot controlled city," Cyrus mentioned.

"Of course," Jence agreed. "Our medical files are rather extensive on the subject. Follow me to the archives."

***

Cyrus sat alone in the archive room. The chair he was using was a block of solid metal with a slab for the back, so he knew it would hold the weight of him and his suit. Cramped with overflowing bookshelves, the archive room had almost prevented him from being able to reach the table and sit down in his bulky armor. He'd been tempted to remove the armor, but Cyrus didn't feel comfortable leaving himself so vulnerable in the presence of his new allies.

Old style paper files and folders were stacked on the table in a forest of tall piles. Cyrus sorted through several stacks and found a medical analysis of the mind controlling chip.

"When active, the chip intercepts all signals in and out of the brain, putting the subject into a comma-like state while the chip maintains full control of the host body, ensuring functionality, productivity, and health," Cyrus read, whispering the words as was his habit. "Originally tested on prisoners, prototype chips prevented escapes and riots by being able to instantly neutralize all parties involved."

Cyrus sat back from the table. His mouth hung agape, and he covered it with an armored hand. This was the answer he'd searched, what he'd longed for. The use of the chip could provide a way to secure the world from the savages prowling the ruins of civilization without the need for wholesale slaughter. Cyrus didn't want to have to purge the world, and with this piece of technology, he wouldn't have to.

Humanity had endured a very dark time, but Cyrus could see the end of it. The chip would let him turn the page of history, bringing a conclusion to the violence and bloodshed raging across the world, and make things better. A brighter future for all humanity was within his reach, and it would start right now.