“The Resistance base is in Brighton. It’s a building disguised as a warehouse for plant and flower businesses.”
Maphira couldn’t stop herself as the truth came out. Bender was simply too strong, snapping her will to resist like a twig and ripping the words out of her. She felt sick, having revealed the location of those who would oppose the Conclave of Mechanists.
As the words came out of her mouth, loud enough for everyone in attendance to hear, something changed about Bender. The robot began to shake violently, electricity bursting from its joints. Zaps obliterated the shackles that held Maphira in place, just as Bender burst with a bubble of blue energy that threw her back into the wall. Maphira collapsed onto the ground, her body unable to move from the surge of power that had passed through her.
“What is going on?” called Dr Dark McBane. “Vai, are you sure that you used several 30KW solar systems, as I requested?” The woman gave no response, so McBane continued. “Oh, please tell me you at least did multiple 50KW solar system installations!”
Maphira was just able to see, from her position on the ground, that Vai was grimacing.
Bender walked back to the centre of the theatre, still surrounded by that bubble of energy. Its head began to spin and its wings spread outwards at an alarming speed. Lasers began to fire across the area, coming from Bender’s eyes. People dove for cover as the robot went haywire.
Nice one, Vai, Maphira thought.
“This is why I specified how many solar systems we needed!” shouted McBane. “For the love of all robots, please tell me you at least completed two installations of a 250KW solar system!”
Hiding behind an old car, Vai shook her head. “We went the full 500KW, I’m afraid.”
Dr McBane paled. “You have doomed us all, then.” He stood tall, looking up at the Great Mechanist. “We need to get out of here and regroup. Bender’s destructor mode has been activated.”