When I enter, Tran is invisible and hisses in my ear, “Hey, Jasher what do you think of this war zone?” Of course I am startled. He is such a joker.

“Being sent into this battle is as desirable as lying bare-assed naked across a nest of fire ants,” I answer looking toward my buddy’s voice, he materializes. With a smirk I add, “I got the information to come here, while I was sitting at the kitchen table watching Hovers, BBs and ABs hammer past us heading North, so I knew a war was brewing. You’d better believe I left pure heaven because of this budding battle. Our job, old boy, is to wipe out the BBs. This is no fun for us, so, what’s our game plan?” 

Without answering, Tran leaps to his right, I see flames where he’d been and look up, see the Hover, and aim my laser gun at that huge flying object about two hundred feet above my head. I obliterate it with my shot. The explosion is loud and the flash of fire is blinding. Pieces of the Hover scatter in flames and land around us. In front of us, the gathered people stop and turn to see what has happened. Wiping out the Hover catches attention.  My heart is racing and I break into a sweat. Every time I confront these disgusting brain-thieving BBs and their assistants I am repulsed. “I hate fire. ” I search the crowd, knowing in the middle of them will be several BBs.

“There!”  Tran shouts and points at them.

“Got him. Let’s get on with deactivating every sick mind-swindler.” I grimace, knowing what is ahead.

“Take these.” Tran hands me a couple of jump-bombs.

“Thanks, Pal.”

I put the jump-bombs in the pouch in the front of my outfit to keep my hands free and where the Jump-bombs are easy to grab when I’m ready to use them.   Jump-bombs have a minimal explosive circumference, leaving the nearby RMs safe unless they are right next to the BBs.  I place myself in the center of the terrified screaming crowd, prepare the jump-bomb and squarely face the nearest BB followed by nearly a dozen more. They don’t have expressions, but reveal a ‘tell’ when confronted adversely: Their arms twitch back and forth and their hands move randomly.  As the jump-bomb is counted down, I realize a BB is firmly gripping me and I can’t escape.  I twist and tug, putting all my strength into freeing myself. Tran ‘reads’ my frantic situation and nearly stops to help me, I warn him off because there is almost no time left on the timer. He could die trying to help me. Besides he is busy. He stays on point and helps the RMs. Near panic, I break free and barely make it away in time.  We can program jump-bombs for larger explosions when necessary, but at this moment I am more than relieved it was not larger or I would be fried.

We use our stun-bombs to short-circuit the Nanos in the RMs brains. Tran takes care of them. Damned BBs, that are merely metal and plastic weapons, are unfeeling and fight dirty.

     Tran whispers, “I’ve checked the area around us.  Because there are only single story buildings scattered in a mile or so radius, and the land is bare and sandy with occasional short dry weeds, visibility is not a problem. Stay alert, Man, the place is crawling with ABs. Let’s transport close to the BBs.” He points Northwest of our position. ”We can deactivate them, make a quick in and out attack.  I’ll initiate the first jump-bomb, you follow with a stun-bomb, and meet back here, ASAP. Sound OK?”

    “Yup, Got it, Tran.” I answer. I have an adrenaline overload.

Tran lands in the midst of the circle of herded people as the first explosion shakes the ground.  Around the non-functional BBs, the crowd is yelling,  making a sound that is a mixture of relief, choked free from primal fear. No longer confused, then realize they are free, and bolt to safety.  He points to the many motionless RMs, “They are ready for the
deactivation crew.”

 I nod. “That turned out well, Tran. Those people are safe and free. We saved many from a nasty fate today.”

“We are making progress cleaning up this mess, Jasher.” He elbows my ribs.

    “Absolutely, no mess left.” I raise my eyebrows as I say this.  “Let’s dance to the music.  The RMs will be healed after deactivation.  The crowd can return to their homes and lives.  We’re lucky, buddy, to be in one piece.”

    “Did you count the number of BBs we’ve put out of commission
today?” Tran asks as he looks around.

“I wasn’t keeping track, but there are a lot left, buddy. I counted over a dozen loaded combat units as they traveled past The House. I sensed each Hover was loaded, holding a maximum of ten BBs each, as they passed us.”
 
Tran looks at me with concern at those numbers. I know his focus is to wipe out the remainder of the BBs on this duty.

“You know where the next hot spot is waiting for our expert elimination?” Tran asks.

“ Yeah, ABs and Hovers are less than 20 miles North of us, you know?”

“Sure as mad dogs bite. Land up there is worse than this dry barren zone.  The weather controllers have destroyed every bit of its beauty. The destruction is severe.  My stomach churns thinking what has been done to ruin this planet leaving everything to be a blanket of sand-beige. I don’t see any green growth, not even a weed.” Tran pauses, then asks, “Hey, the BBs are in position to inflict the Nanos into the crowd as we speak. Lets boogie.”

“Oh, bug spit. We have to get there while the BB Leaders are there, with the people still contained.  I wish we knew who is behind all the attacks. What would they want with a dying planet? The Hovers and ABs came into the area quick, prepared for combat. They passed this area not long ago and will double back to pick up all the BBs so we can’t delay.”

Boy, I don’t like fighting the ABs or Hovers. Thank goodness it is another units job to eliminate them.

“Don’t you find it odd that the common name of the brain busters is Nanos when it is such an old name. Pico-nano-micro-macro-and more, wouldn’t you think they would follow the progression of newer microstructures and name them accordingly?” I mutter.

“It’s funny you said that. I have wondered about that too. Using an old, familiar name is supposed to make it less frightening, I guess.” Tran answers me.

I only have to be touching Tran to transport with him.  In a blink we are back in the middle of the neighboring combat zone.