Arriving at the crash site, Max noticed Pops' Strand was standing to the side while holding something. When he saw it, his eyes sparkled in delight.
"My thruster!"
— Pops save it!
— W Pops!
— I decided. I like that old man kekekeke
— Someone saved the day, and it's not Superboy but Pops!
— It's me, Pops da!
"This looks useful, so I took it. I guess you like it?" Pops approached Max in the Strand and put the thruster down. He controlled the Strand to pat his shoulder and nodded. "Thank you, Officer. You saved my life. I didn't know you could pilot a Strand this good."
"No no no, it's fine. You also saved my thruster, so let's count it fair."
"Hahaha, you're truly kind. I am glad I didn't kill you back then! If I killed you, I would probably die right now hahahahaha."
"Hahaha, I am also glad I didn't kill you back then. If I destroyed this base, I wouldn't be able to get this intact thruster!"
The conversation went strange, but Max also laughed with him.
— ...
— Is it just me who thinks their heads are strange? Is there a brain specialist here?!
— I am a neurologist, but I don't know what I should do in this situation. I will pass this on to the psychologist.
— A psychologist here. I diagnose both of them as suffering from brain damage. X-ray required.
— Radiologist here. I don't think I can use X-Ray on a robot. The hole is too small for them!
— lololol the hole!
— Does the radiologist not use his brain? Obviously, the psychologist only asks you to X-ray the pilot!
The chat enjoyed the situation. They talked to themselves while Max looked at the thruster as if he had found a gem. At the same time, Pops seemed to talk to himself.
"The other dogs have retreated. Our force also managed to run, leaving only us here." The old man inside the black Strand said as he looked at him. "We need to follow them ASAP and inform them about our victory. Our Strands will also need to be fixed. Well, we can install this thing for you if you want to."
[New Objective Created.]
— This guy isn't a normal human. Is it already an hour and a half?
— Halfway to the story then... This is really too short.
'It's already halfway to the end?' Max was surprised as he read the chat.
That was fast.
"Welp, I just need to enjoy it." He shrugged his shoulders.
At that time, text appeared before him, explaining the situation that happened in the fast-forward. It was in the form of a note that moved slowly.
[Officer's Note.
A year has passed since I was stranded. I was having a good life, but I lost the way to return to my home. My last hope, Eva, was also gone.
On this planet, I gained friends and protected people while piloting a robot named Strand. There is nothing different from my previous life, except for the lifestyle.
It was hard at first, but I got used to it soon. Fighting had been everyday life. Engineers studied Mech-42's cockpit and upgraded all Strands. We can go against rogue robots and AI more easily.
However, I doubt we will survive long at this point. Pops, the leader of this shelter, thinks similarly as me. Humanity dies slowly. All we can do is to crawl and hide.
The plan to attack their main server was halted after that attack. But it will resume soon.
In three days, we will launch our first and probably last attack. All Strands have higher specs now. We used scraps from the enemies to upgrade them. Out of 127 Strands all nearby shelters have, 30 of them can fly and use railguns.
My Strand, which Mohawk named Stranded, is still the most advanced thanks to the technology I brought from space.
Talking about space, the remains of my spaceship were gone. I checked a few days after moving to the new shelter to find a communication device, but nothing remained.
This is my last diary and my will.
I miss my home. – Officer.]
The scene changed suddenly when the last word disappeared into void. Max sat inside a cockpit, facing a large tower that pierced the sky in the distance.
Around him, more than a hundred Strands stood fully armed. A tense atmosphere was brewing in the background.
Looking around the cockpit, he found a flying option attached to it now, but he was still clueless how to use it.
One thing flashed inside his mind right now.
"... Are you kidding me?"