Mechanical by Bruno Flexer Read Free Book Online Page B

lab-coat person said, exchanging a look with the man holding the laptop still connected to the computer embedded into the back of the Serpent's left arm.
                "Are you ready to take the fight to the enemy, Lieutenant? Ready to fight for your sister?"
                "I'm ready, Sir. The Serpent's a hell of a weapon, Sir," Tom said. He didn't fail to notice that the general exchanged another look with the lab-coat person who glanced at the laptop guy who stood behind Tom's Serpent.
                "Lieutenant Riley, if you please," said the man with the laptop. Tom lowered his arm and the man disconnected the cable and returned the Serpent's armor plate that covered and protected the arm computer.
                "Soldier, we have less than three days to train you before you go out. In that time, we'll go though basic Serpent training, comprehensive target intelligence assessment and weapons practice. Feel up to it?" The general had a fierce look in his eyes, and his face appeared a bit more animated than Tom had ever seen before.
                "Sir! Yes Sir!"
                "We commence in fifteen minutes. You are now piloting one of the most expensive weapons that the United States military forces possess. Lieutenant, do not disappoint me," the general said, a dark look entering his eyes, and his face hardening into a mask again.
                The general left the hall.
     
     
                 

Chapter 5
    Day Two, Fort Belvoir, Virginia
     
    They had taught Tom how to fold down his legs and arms, and now he moved awkwardly in the corridors of the hangar, a butterfly waiting for the chance to unfurl its wings and fly but still forced, for the time being, to crawl on the earth.
                He was still being escorted by troops in full combat gear toting anti-tank missiles who moved alongside the tech types, but Tom barely noticed them. A heady feeling of power flooded him. He felt strong, in control, able to do anything. Everything around him seemed to be made of cardboard or paper. He could bend metal, punch through walls, jump incredibly high. In fact, Tom had to struggle just to keep sedately walking onwards.
                Once, they stopped before a security door, and Tom reached out with one hand towards a hole that had been made in the plaster wall. Then, he extended one black finger to its full ten-inch length and touched the hole. The dimensions fit perfectly. A Serpent had made that hole. Apparently, he wasn't the only Serpent pilot to feel all that power surging inside.
                "Lieutenant Riley!"
                They had entered another large hall, and Tom looked inside in amazement. There were already two Serpents there, extended to their full height. One moved towards Riley enthusiastically.
                "Sergeant Jebadiah?"
                "Yes, Sir. How do you like the Serpent, Sir?"
                "It's fantastic," answered Tom slowly. It was quite incredible seeing a Serpent moving from inside another Serpent using its unparalleled quality vision. Even just walking across the floor, Sergeant Jebadiah's Serpent moved with a smooth, powerful motion that resembled nothing Tom had ever seen before. A panther's movements seemed paltry in comparison.
    Tom paused to watch Jebadiah's Serpent's motion. He saw power, sheer power. Tom had never seen anything that gave the impression it held so much compressed power, just waiting for the chance to rip away and explode into action.
    "And it is a good thing too, Sir. Let me tell you, I really hoped we’d get some good chow in this here base, but they just stuffed me in the machine. It’s a great machine Sir, but they should have fed us first, know what I mean, Sir?" Sergeant Jebadiah asked.
    Tom looked at the third Serpent in the hall. Ramirez's Serpent just moved in small circles. A lion inside a cage, Tom couldn't