Voices clamored through one of the broken windows, waking Lily with a start. She recognized the guttural sound of Pruessian, from her programming sessions with Delia.

"Clarence, wake up." Her whisper was a puff of mist.

He stirred, disoriented. "Where are we?"

"Hush."

Outside, she heard the mechanical whirr of robotic actuators and powerful hydraulics, and the crunch of snow beneath many heels. Bright lights flashed to and fro, contrasting angles against the blackout coverings. It came from all sides. There was no escape.

Clarence gripped her arm. "It's the Kaezer."

She fetched the rifle, and waved the transmitter glove, calling Test to stand over them.

"Arten treught." A man's voice shouted, deep and brash. He smashed what remained of the window with the butt of a rifle, and the strike of his cleated boot.

She gripped her own weapon tightly, but dreaded pulling the trigger. The recoil was too strong. The few times she'd practiced, Daddy had supported her.

Hopefully, the enemy would only see the robot, and not the two kids shivering beneath it.

There were several voices, and peals of laughter.

The first trooper poked his head in, and shone his light about the shadowed room. Then he climbed through, grinding the broken glass beneath his heavy feet.

Clarence whimpered.

The trooper yelled over his shoulder. "Mekanetri, forsvuht."

"Stay quiet, and keep behind me," Lily whispered. She crossed her fingers, and hoped for luck in what she was about to do.

The robot likely had no weapons, but it would at least be a distraction.

"Test." Her voice echoed through the frigid room.

Test acknowledged with a chime.

"Attack." She swung her gloved hand in the direction of the trooper.

The trooper made a startled noise, and turned his light toward them again.

To Lily's surprise, Test's main weapon turret deployed from the slot, and snapped into ready position. If the cylinders were loaded, it would have been instant death.

The intruder stepped toward the window, and aimed his rifle at Test. He caught sight of Lily and Clarence, and shouted to his companions. "Kindrener. Vadnas il portuner."

Test paused for a few seconds, as it processed its next action.

The trooper eyed the robot cautiously, but walked past it.

More troopers forced their way through the windows. Soon, there were seven.

Lily heard at least three walkers outside, crushing ice-bound earth beneath their impatient steps. Though her heart nearly pounded out of her chest, she tried to look fearless.

"Stay back," she said, and pointed her rifle at the approaching trooper.

He stopped a few feet away, with an amused grin. His mustache and pointed goatee appeared sharp in the wan light. Like his comrades, he wore a long, fur-trimmed black overcoat, and a helmet lined with insulating layers around his ears and face.

Behind him came the tapping scrape of four brass and steel feet.

Even on battery power, Test's dexterity was alarming. With the click of another device slot, six sinuous appendages extended from the hull. All were tipped with prehensile, razored effectors. They waved about a moment, then surrounded the trooper. The flurry of coiled blades hissed through the air, and a chunky mist of red gore sprayed the wall and floor.

The trooper staggered and groaned, stumbling to one knee. His blue eyes widened, and he collapsed, still grasping his rifle in twitching fingers. Blood gushed from the jagged wounds in his neck and back, spreading in a dark pool.

Clarence gasped, and hid his face in his hands.

Lily's stomach churned. She'd only seen the Krept models in action during practice runs. This was brutal, but efficient.

"Test. Attack," she said, and waved her hand at the other troopers.

They seemed confused at the sudden demise of their comrade.

She watched, with numb fascination, as Test advanced.

The appendages swung in a mad blur, but the troopers stayed out of range. They clustered together, backing away.

"Deaktiv kulgya il mekanet," one of them shouted.

There were several clinks as they loaded specialized ammunition, and then all aimed their rifles at Test.

Lily pushed Clarence's head down, and crouched beside him. "Keep low."

A rushing, liquid sound came from the weapon turret on Test's back. Seconds later, a searing wall of flame burst forth, incinerating all of the troopers.

Gurgled screams and panic followed. The whirling slicers finished all who fled. Blood and severed bits of flesh decorated the room. Four men soon wheezed their last breaths beneath the arced steel of the robot's legs, strewn in pathetic throes across the concrete floor. The odor of charred skin and hair was disturbingly sweet.

Lily covered her nose, and tried not to get sick.

Only two troopers remained.

One dragged himself toward the nearest window, his leg partially flayed and useless, leaving a red trail of fading life behind him.

The tripwire gun fired, the grappler embedding in the desperate trooper's neck. Gears and pulleys squealed within Test's copper shell.

He gagged, and clawed at the tightening tether.

Test circled, and wrapped the tripwire about his contorted face.

There was a futile sound, which might have been a scream, if breath were allowed through the crushed throat. The wire jerked, pulling the man forward several yards. With a wet, muffled snap, his neck broke. He soon lay next to the others, convulsing.

Test beeped softly, and the status indicator beside its optical pane blinked a pleading red. It stopped moving a few feet away, in need of fuel.

Lily forced herself to stand.

One young man still lived. Wild-eyed and drenched with the blood of his companions, he hobbled toward them. He yelled, and the walkers outside kicked the walls, rattling the building's foundations.

"Don't come any closer," Lily said. She held the rifle as Daddy had taught her, firm against her shoulder, eyes straight down the barrel.

Outside, she heard approaching shouts, and gunfire. The thud of the walkers receded, as they turned to face new attackers.

The last trooper lunged at her.

She pulled the trigger on reflex, and shot him in the face.

The gun slipped, and struck her in the jaw. Her voice sounded distant as she cried out, agony ripping through her body.

Clarence yelled her name, and the world spun into darkness.

She came to, not certain how much later, and felt the cold air against her skin. It helped to numb the pain throbbing through her shoulder, neck, and jaw. She was in Daddy's arms, looking at the ceiling.

"Lily, wake up. Please." Daddy's voice was fearful.

Everything she needed to say welled forth, but the words caught in her throat, and she gasped. Sharp air filled her lungs. She threw her head back, a cry for the exhale. The pain had a beat, like her heart, pulsing and ebbing with the slightest movement. The salted copper taste of blood filled her mouth.

Clarence pressed close to her side, and curled his fingers around hers.

"I never should have left you alone," Daddy said.

She saw Delia, and several others.

Captain Rutherford stood nearby, with a radio in his hand. The crackling voice on the other end was urgent. "More bombers have been sighted. Orders are to seek cover immediately."

"Everyone, get downstairs," Delia shouted. "To the basement. Now."

Daddy picked Lily up, and carried her. They followed everyone down the cramped stairwell, to the storage area beneath the station.

She was still dizzy, and tried to get a look at the faces around her. It was too dim to see beyond those closest to her—Daddy, Clarence, Delia, and Gabriel.

The captain latched the steel door closed behind them.

The only light came from the images flickering on Delia's wristcom, with a live broadcast from space on hologram.

Fear hung in the air, but all watched the display with incredulous eyes.

Delia's face was bathed blue and silver within the glow. She looked pale, and furious at the conversation hovering an inch above her wrist.

Another explosion outside indicated the bombers drew closer.

A news reporter spoke, his voice sputtering through the weak signal. His suit, tie, and sleek hairstyle were immaculate, and his smile perfect and white. He held an enormous brass microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen of the colonies, Luna, and Mars, we have here with us Mr. Folson, a representative of Swann and Company. Thank you for joining us at this most desperate hour. Mr. Folson, the Kaezer has devastated the surface. But, we're told that there are still free coalitions below, trying to fight back. Many of Celestine's citizens are in support of sending more aid. Why, then, has Swann withdrawn all of its support to surface-based companies and research today?"

The image shifted to a dour-faced man, with silver hair and mustache perfectly groomed, his eyes as black as his coat. "We must retreat," he said. "There are some who question the intervention of the off-world forces. Several of our constituents believe that the previous bureaucracy was inept, and largely responsible for failing to defend Earth. Perhaps it's best to see what arises out of this transition."

Delia shouted at the illusory faces and voices in her hologram. "Go to hell, Father, you heartless bastard. How could you abandon us?"

The hologram faded, and they were plunged into darkness.

Then the bombs arrived. Walls rumbled, and the ground shook.

Everyone fell to the floor. Several people cried out in terror.

Lily's own throat was too dry and weary to scream.

The surge from the blast, combined with the explosive pain in her head, was overwhelming. All faded to a stark, clear white, and her ears rang.

Massive engines and propellers drove the enemy bombers far above, loud enough to rattle one's bones all the way underground. They passed over, and the only sound left was the rapid breathing of everyone crowded together.

The captain's radio hissed and snapped. "Bannerman, of Hills Port here. Come in, Captain Rutherford."

The captain answered in a strained voice. "I copy, sir."

"Get out. If you have any way, get to the hills. More bombers are incoming. It looks like they plan to blow us off the map."

"Roger that. Best of luck to you, sir. Over and out." Captain Rutherford swore quietly, and stumbled up the darkened stairs. He threw the door open, and the cold air and weak light spilled in. "Let's move," he said. "We'll make for the Lookout."

Daddy still carried Lily.

She was starting to feel better, and was able to focus more.

The station remained, though half of it had collapsed. Smoke and flames consumed what was left of the ceiling.

"Krept 1A, come," Delia shouted.

A chiming response sounded from beneath a heap of rubble. The robot emerged, and traipsed to her side.

"Leave it. We don't have enough men to carry the fuel," the captain said.

Delia picked up a compact drum, and set it into the concave utility well on the robot's back. "Krept can carry its own fuel, as well as other supplies, if we have need."

"Very well. But move quickly, Miss Swann."

Clarence tugged at Daddy's sleeve. "When are we going home? I want to see Mama."

Lily wanted to ask the same question.

"Later," Daddy said. "We have to go, now. It'll all make sense later." His smile was feeble, as he playfully messed Clarence's curls.

Lily grew more confused, her voice a troubled whisper. "What's happening, Daddy? Where are all of the Unfortunates, and the rest of the militia?"

"Everyone's running away," Daddy said. "We have to get out, before more troopers and bombers come."

Delia returned, with Krept close behind her.

"Let's go," she said. She smiled, and smoothed a loose braid from Lily's eyes. "You're the bravest little girl I've ever known. Can you be strong for just a while longer?"

"Sure." Lily tried to smile, but it hurt too much.

Daddy grabbed an extra uniform coat from one of the remaining supply racks, and helped her slip it on. It was too big, but it was warm. He then wrapped his own coat around her.

"Think you can hold on, or do I need to carry you?"

"I can hold on," she said, feeling determined.

He helped her onto his back, and gripped Clarence's hand.

They hurried away with the others. She counted about twenty people, mostly militia. A few she recognized, but so many were missing. And what about the robotic fleet? Countless questions haunted her mind.

Their bedraggled troupe climbed the snowy trail to Lookout Point. It was one of the few paths to the other side of the hills, leading out of the valley.

Delia took the rear of the line, with a rifle under one arm.

Krept ascended the trail nimbly, even under the icy conditions.

A few men stumbled, but they all made it to the top. Everyone stopped to look, a natural reaction when presented with this expansive view.

"They'll pay for this," Delia whispered.

Dense black smoke roiled across the valley. Plumgrove smoldered. The distant sound of gunfire peppered the stillness of the forested slopes around them.

Lily searched for her family's property, their humble orchard and cozy home. Mama, Nana, and her sisters must be trapped below. A foreboding shroud of devastation concealed everything she loved.

"Daddy, where's our house?" Clarence asked.

Thick flakes of snow twirled around them, landing softly on Daddy's shoulder, and the fur trim of his helmet.

Lily felt him tremble beneath her.

"Not now, Mr. Fairpoole," Delia said, sounding as if she wanted to cry. "Let's all be good soldiers. You can tell them when we get to safety."

"Daddy, what is it?" Lily asked.

He sobbed, and murmured a name with misted breath. "Mayla."

Instinctively, Lily knew what had happened. Tears flooded her eyes, and she struggled to hold on.

"Why are you both crying?" Clarence asked, bewildered.

When they reached the other side of the hill, they stopped to rest.

Daddy sat down with them to explain. Several members of the militia were either missing or dead, including Lieutenant Barnhart, Ed, and Arthur. All of the robots had been sent to the front, and were likely destroyed, too. Only Krept 1A remained.

"Delia and I went to the house." He swallowed, tears glistening. "Everything's gone. We searched, and there were no survivors. But I found your Mama in the rubble. She looked so peaceful, like she was sleeping. I took this..." He reached into his pocket, and placed something into Lily's shivering hand. "Hold it. It's a part of her."

She looked at the small, golden ring in her palm. Mama's wedding band. She never took it off. Two names were engraved along the inside—Isaac and Mayla.

She closed her fingers around it, and fell into Daddy's arms.

Clarence sniffled, joining the embrace.

As more explosions rocked the valley behind them, Lily knew that tears were an inconvenience, now. She had to be brave, but she wanted to lie down in the snow, and let it cover away her sorrow.