“Where were these hiding?” Lot laughed out loud at the sheer size of the machines. “There is nothing we can’t do with these.”
Uther smiled. “Exactly, Lot! Galois, what’s wrong? We’re safe now.”
Galois had not uncrossed his arms the whole time and surveyed the wonderful machines with more than deep scrutiny. “Uther, they’re amazing, I’m sure. But think of the destruction they’ll bring. What are they exactly, do you know?”
“Merlin, explain it, please,” Uther summoned the wary D.R.U.I.D over.
“The mecha are of Avalonian make,” Merlin said in a calm voice. “There are none like Excalibur, so you need not worry about mental damage. They act as a suit of armor and can be equipped with weapons and shields, cloaking devices and silencers for the engines. Of course, once a mecha is suited up for war, it is far heavier than it is now. The use of fuel for transportation will astronomical.”
“Merlin,” Uther moaned as Lot’s eyes lit up with a bloodlust.
“Mental damage?” Igrain asked, her elegant brows rising up.
“Excalibur uses the mental capacities of the pilot. The first Constantine had it made to suit his brain patterns and emotions. His chemistry, if you will. Only one of the House of Pendragon can activate it. Something similar to hemo-sensitivity.”
Galois and Igrain exchanged concerned looks. It wasn’t like Galois to be so cautious, but he had changed once on Camelot. Lot had more of his father-in-law’s ravenous hunger in his tense jaw now.
“It sounds fun,” Galois said. “But, Uther, that’s not good. There is no way you can lead an army, against our friend, with a machine in your head. What if it gets hurt?”
“Then Uther would suffer the damage,” Merlin said.
“I won’t get hurt,” Uther cut in. He hadn’t wanted to defend the machine or his ideas, but Galois tried his patience. “Why the change in spirit, my friend? You weren’t like this at the academy. Or even on the colony ship.”
Galois drew himself up. “I didn’t have the same priorities, Uther. I had a family and I ignored it. We have a home now. This coming war could be dangerous. You could die in this machine!”
Uther held up his hands to silence his friend. “I see where you’re going with this. You don’t want me to use it. I understand, but what you need to understand is that our new city is under threat and it is my duty to do what I must to save it and protect what we’re just staring here. I want to protect that life you are creating.”
Galois raised his head, his expression turned to disbelief. “You sound like a warlord, Uther.” His voice grew calm. “What is it about fighting Vortigern right now that you love so much?” He pressed his hands to his face. “You said you have to protect us. Do what you must? What if it’s not right?”
Feeling the change in Uther’s air, Morgause took Lot’s arm and backed away a pace. Igrain tensed as well.
“Loving war was my father’s business,” Uther said evenly, trying not to spit out every word. “But he was a great man. I’m sorry I’m not noble like Constans would have been or brave like you. I can’t meet a man in physical battle, guns blazing. This technology is our chance to make sure what we’ve started here isn’t taken from us so soon. Can’t you understand that? The people of Camelot are depending on me.”
Igrain took her husband’s hand and squeezed it, telling him to let the argument go before he exploded in rage and confusion. Instead, Galois saluted Uther.
“Do as you see fit, sir.” He turned calmly and left with his family in tow. Uther watched them go, feeling unsatisfied. The sun seemed to light up Igrain’s hand as it clutched Galois’s. She loved a foolish man.
“Ready all the mecha,” Uther ordered Merlin, turning away from the sight. “Or rather, have Vivian prepare them. I want you with me.”
That evening, Uther commanded his generals to assemble all the troops who could fight. They had been taking surveys the last few days trying to sort out the new population of Camelot and Uther fell behind on reading all the information. He tried to catch up on it all in his private chamber—a clean, white suite of rooms in the central fort—reviewing on a glowing tablet what had come in thus far.
“So many children,” he mused out loud to Merlin who stood perfectly still near the window. “Have the medics reinforced our stalk of the life elixir?”
“They have been preoccupied by the presence of the D.R.U.I.D facilities on this planet. I don’t believe they have ever seen such a production reactor before, sir.” The D.R.U.I.D’s voice came in a monotone.
Uther shrugged as he went through the other stats. “What are those?”
“Camelot is full of D.R.U.I.D technology. It’s how we built this world for you while you slept. Cell research and regeneration, bio-metals, telepathic communication technology…among others.”
“I saw your tower circle while I was out with…” he stuttered a moment. “While I was out exploring the terrain,” he finished. No need to tell the android he had been with Igrain.
“Our gateway to Avalon,” Merlin explained. “Our home is so far away. It allows us access to our planet. Keeps us who we are, in touch with our past.”
Uther sighed and tossed the tablet onto his desk. “I never know how human you are. Pasts and histories are humans, not machines, to pour over.”
“I am neither,” the D.R.U.I.D replied.
“I wasn’t really asking.” Uther rubbed his face in embarrassment and thought. “Merlin, what are the chances of me dying while piloting Excalibur?”
Reaching a white hand up to the dimming button by the window, Merlin said, “There is as much of a chance as you dying in the Avalonian mecha as there is of you dying in real battle,
