The primal survival instinct kicks in for the Integers, and they all scream. The Genesys might be physically superior, but they will not match this intensity.
“Alright, settle down,” 13 speaks up.
I walk through a couple of the Integers and toward Atom and the Genesys in the field's center. “You sure you want to do this?”
“Yeah, we are!” Cal, the Genesys that met us on the pile of rubble, shouts. Most of the other Genesys shout 'yeah' after him. This is the first that I've gotten a good look at all of them. Each one with unique and distinct features. Different faces, skin tones, hair and eye colors. The diversity the scientists used in creating them is a direct contrast to the carbon copies they built us drones to be. I look back at my team and their varied hairstyles, and I'm thankful for the bit of individuality we have.
“You better believe it.” Atom pulls me from my thoughts.
“Very well.” I look at all of them, each a perfect physical specimen. The scientist did not forget a single thing in their design. “The rules are simple. First to three scores wins. Get the ball completely into the other person's pit by any means necessary, and we don't stop for injuries.”
Atom looks over his team and back at me. “We're ready!”
“Suit yourself.” I toss the ball at Atom and smile. “You guys can start.”
I step back to join my team, each one of them ready to let off a lot of pent-up aggression. I look over at the sidelines and find Brianna looking at me. She nods at me, and I return the gesture, giving her the cue to start the plan.
“When do we start?” Atom yells from his half of the field.
“Now!” I shout, and charge right at him. My shoulder bores into his stomach, and he drops the ball. He falls, and I pin his shoulders down with my knees so he can't get up. “You okay there, Atom?”
He smiles and grabs my neck. Before I can react, Atom flips me over his head and to the ground. His sheer strength surprises me, and I realize that it's going to be impossible to hurt any of them.
I jump up to my feet and chase after him. He's about to reach the ball, so I dive at his legs and clip his feet with my outstretched hand. I pop back up as his face slams into the dirt.
Scooping the ball up as I run, I look around and spot no other obstacles, so I score with ease. I walk back to Atom as he picks himself up. “Give up yet?”
“No.” He spits the dirt and blood from his mouth.
“Good. The next round starts the second you grab the ball.” I smile and jog back to my side of the field. When I look toward the sideline to find Brianna, I don't see her, so I know she's started. Now I have to buy her time with this game.
When I get back to my team, 93, the Integer with the longer hair, speaks up. “They are all too strong. We can't hurt them.”
“Keep trying,” I reply.
“They're coming,” 13 interrupts.
The Genesys run at us in a wedge formation with the red-haired female as the ball carrier in the middle. They've left one of the darker-skinned Genesys to guard the pit. “13, 93. You two go after the ball carrier. Everyone else, pick one and do what you can.”
We take off, and I head right at Cal. I feel my history prevents me from hurting Atom, but the pretentiousness I get from Cal rubs me the wrong way, and I think I could unleash my full rage on him.
Our bodies collide, and we fall to the ground. Our hands push against the other's face, struggling to get the upper hand. He pushes off me, but before we can engage again, a large crack and a scream grab our attention. 93 has jumped on the leg of the red-haired Genesys and broken it.
By the time I stand, the dark-skinned Genesys has left his position, flinging 93 by his hair into the ground. With a handful of hair, the Genesys kicks 93 in the head.
Light applause from the few drones watching the game lets me know that 13 scored, but I'm more concerned with 93. That kick could have killed him. I run over and join the other Integers that have encircled him.
When I look down at him, I can see that his head no longer appears to be attached to his neck. His chest rises and falls, so I know he is breathing, but I'm not sure he'll survive.
“Make way,” an older voice commands. I move and see Dr. Peters and two drones run up to 93.
Dr. Peters checks 93's vitals but gives no indication one way or another to know what his fate might be. He signals the two drones to pick him up, and they rush him off the field.
“I'm going to kill them,” I hear one of the Integers murmur. Others state their nefarious intents in agreement.
I let my gaze follow Dr. Peters to the sideline, and then I search for Brianna. She's not back yet. “We're going to let them score.”
The Integers quiet down and stare at me. 13 steps forward. “But we can win.”
“I don't care about winning this game.” I look them over. “We need more time.”
“Genesys!” Atom and the Genesys yell from the other side of the field.
“You heard him. Let's go!” 13 yells for me.
We turn and charge at the Genesys once more. They are in the same formation as before. We engage in individual battles and don't make it easy for them, but they score after a few moments.
I run over to our pit and take the ball out. The Integers hustle over to join me. I see that Brianna still isn't back, and I need to keep as many scientists as I can on the sideline watching so
