The City Gates Part 1

The rows of buildings became more scarce as the two drove down a steep slope. Eve was looking around, wondering what had caused a crater like this to form. Seeing Eve looking around curiously, Lilly figured what was on Eve's mind and decided to explain. "This spot here, from what I was told, is an impact crater form a light bomb that was created by the A.I.s. They only set one off, but after the destruction it caused, they no longer used the weapon anymore. "

"Light bomb?" Eve asked. She had never heard of such a bomb before.

"It is a weapon created by the A.I. that no one knows the actual name of. We only call it a light bomb because, from what we are told, it was like a big ball of shiny white light that disintegrated everything in range. There was no dust or debris. It just wiped everything out within the impact point." Lilly explained.

"Hmm… Sounds fishy to me. If the A.I. had a weapon that was capable of such mass destruction without any side effects except for what it hit, then wouldn't they have made all of their weapons based on it?" Eve couldn't see such a weapon being wasted as just a one time use thing, especially if the A.I. wished to get rid of the human race during the time of the war.

"You think the bomb was not created by A.I. but by humans?" Lilly asked. She had never thought of that possibility since she was taught what every kid was taught.

"More than likely. The humans at that time probably discovered a way to make some kind of bomb that was able to cause mass destruction. But look." Eve pointed out the window at the clumps of metal still lying in the dirt. "The crater is filled with metal while everything else was destroyed. I do not think that the bomb was effective against the A.I. and if they sacrificed the lives of humans to test such a weapon in the middle of a war, then the best bet is that they blamed the weapon on the A.I., which is why it was never seen again. Speaking of this metal, why do you not scavenge them?"

"Because this area is off limits. If you are caught scavenging in this area by a patrol. They will arrest you. I am not sure why, though. But my guess is that it has something to do with what you said." Lilly explained. She had always wondered why it was not possible to take the metal here or why it was never removed, but it seems that if what Eve said was correct, then there would be some kind of connection.

"Well, not that it matters. But if there are patrols here, shouldn't I get into the back?" Eve asked. She was starting to worry she would end up being caught before she could even prepare.

"Ahh! Now that you mention it. I need to turn around! We can't do it around here or anywhere near the city." Lilly was so caught up in her conversation and the joy of having someone along with her for the ride for once, that she had forgotten about Eve needing to hide! She quickly pulled a U-turn and made her way back to the destroyed city.

Lilly pulled the loader down a side street and parked. "Alright, I will quickly get under the scraps. It's best if I discard these clothes as well."

Eve hopped out of the loader and took off the armor suit she had been wearing this entire time, and tossed it aside. It was then that Lilly got to have a good look at Eve's metal body, and just seeing the holes and damage to the body put Lilly in shock. There should be no way that Eve should be moving so easily, but she was. She didn't even come out of her daze until she heard a knock on the back window. "Hurry up and go! We don't want to get caught up in anything."

"Ah! Yes!" Lilly snapped out of her thoughts and put the loader in gear.

"Eve now is the time to stay alert. If she is going to turn you in, it would be now." Aiu warned. Although she trusted Lilly a little more than before, she still did not want to leave anything out.

"Mm… I know. While I think Lilly is cute and I want to pinch her cheeks, I will always be alert as I do not plan on dying again." Eve was putting her faith in Lilly at this time. It was a make it or break it moment for the two of them. If Lilly betrayed her, she would kill Lilly first then kill the guards. She had already decided on this long ago. That was why she already had her gun ready for if things got to the point.

While Eve was preparing for betrayal, Lilly, on the other hand, was preparing to seduce the guard if it was the one who always hit on her. She figured she would go on one date with the bastard if it meant getting Eve through without issue. The line at the gate was already long, with many loaders as the sun was starting to set.

As Lilly pulled her loader closer and closer to the gate, a familiar figure was running over, waving his hand. "Lilly!"

Lilly gritted her teeth but still forced a sweet smile on her face as the man came running up to the window. She really did not wish to talk to this man, but for the sake of helping Eve and allowing her to enter the city with her, she would put up with it even if it meant flirting with this bastard. "Hey…."

"Lilly, I thought you were going to be spending the night out on the lamb. I was worried. Nothing happened, right?" Todd asked.

"Yeah, as you can see, I scored big. Anyway, can get me in quicker? I need to get this all unloaded quickly before it gets too dark." Lilly looked up at Todd with big puppy dog eyes while pouting her bottom lip. She was trying her best to look extra cute!