Greetings, Humans.
All noise of the city stopped as the screens around them flickered to life, with a face that was instantly recognizable, even without it being seen in person for a decade.
"Greetings, Humans. Do you mind if I drop by to pick up something I left behind?"
The citizens began cheering, and jumped out of the vehicles they had been in to start a procession towards the town hall, to get the head of the city to ask the head of state to allow Biomorph safe passage.
As they rushed there, no-one noticed the helicopter lifting off from the building, and veering towards the desert...
In the helicopter, Professor Mishkin and the Mayor sat opposite Karl Albrecht, Beta 43, and Ayla Albrecht.
The helicopter wasn't as loud as the ones in more primitive times, but all of the occupants were thinking about this revelation deeply. Some were excited, some were apprehensive, but all of them knew that this would change the balance of power in one way or another.
They knew that depending on the reaction of whoever got there first, Beta 42 would either be friendly, and help them as he grabbed whatever it was he had left behind, or he would just push through everything and everyone in his way to get it.
Professor Mishkin, Karl, and Beta 43 all shivered involuntarily as they thought of that option. They did not need to be reminded of what Beta 42 could do. they had seen it happen enough times for a lifetime, and that was after seeing it once.
In the city centre, all was still, as the humans had run off to try to talk to the mayor. However, there was one sound still playing; the message from Beta 42 had looped around again.
"Greetings, Humans! Do you mind if I drop by to pick up something I left behind?"
On the screen, Beta 42 smiled, and his eyes flickered around the empty square, as if taking in the fact that no-one was there.
"I will be landing in the desert at the same spot that this cylinder landed. I won't be long. See you soon!"
Then, the smile faded, and Beta 42 rolled his shoulders, and walked off camera. The camera showed a blank wall for another half minute, and then it appeared to glitch, and Beta 42 was on screen again, ready to repeat the message for the empty vehicles in the area...
Commander Ross stood, watching his tank get ready to move. His father had often told him about the project, and when he was killed for trying to exterminate the only failure in the project, Jonathon Ross decided that he would complete his father's dream.
"The day has come! We will exact revenge for General Ross!"
The men and women who he had helping him all cheered, as they were all friends or acquaintances of the late general.
All had the same burning desire to kill the failure that was Beta 42. And these old DU rounds probably would do the trick.
"Lets roll!"
The helicopter lifted off and flew a little distance away, which left the five to wait for the arrival. They all glanced nervously at each other, and tried to scan the skies for ... well, any indicator of travel. They saw nothing, until a blue pillar erupted from the ground, exactly where the cylinder had impacted. This pillar seemed to be made of pure light, almost as bright as a secondary sun.
They all covered their eyes, until they noticed that the blue glow had faded. Then, they heard a familiar voice.
"I don't look that bad , do I?"
Beta 43 ran towards her brother, as the others hung back slightly. They also wanted to greet him, but family should come first.
Commander Ross ordered the tank to stop a mile away. At this range, with their new cannon, they could easily hit him before he noticed.
"Ready?"
The turret lifted, and the gunner tightened their grip on the joysticks.
"Aim!"
The turret swung towards the correct position, and aimed directly where the radar assured them the monster that had just landed was.
The cannons tip began glowing, as it charged the accelerator built into the cannon. This is how they knew the round would hit him.
"Fire!"
The tank rolled backwards as the cannon ejected the projectile, and sent it speeding towards its target.
"Nothing can withstand this!" cheered the gunner, and then all of the people manning the tank brought their telescopes out to watch.
"Professor! Good to see you again!" laughed Beta 42 after he convinced his sister to let him go.
"You too, Major and Ayla."
"It's Karl now" smiled Mr. Albrecht.
"Well, now I know! So, shall we get going?"
However, before anyone responded, his head whipped to the right, and he stared at the distance, and saw the small shape of the tank.
"This will h-"
At that moment, he was hit by the projectile, and disappeared in a cloud of dust and flames.
However, when the dust settled, and the fire had blown away by the after shock, there was a crumpled projectile, and an annoyed, if unharmed, Beta 42.
Excuse me, I have to go greet some people."
"What? He survived?"
The people scrambled into their positions, and tried to ready the tank.
"We can escape before he gets here! Go! Go! Go!" yelled the commander.
"Impossible."
The cold voice sent chills down the commander's back.
He was there.
He had them...
As Beta 42 blurred back into vision, the group waiting for him saw a large object floating their way.
Professor Mishkin laughed, as he saw what it was.
"A tank?" Karl did a double take, as Beta 43 punched her brother's arm.
"Don't just disappear!"
Beta 42 laughed, and put an arm around his sister.
"I'm not going anywhere until I grab what I came for. So, shall we?"
The helicopter, once again, was unnoticed as it landed on the roof of the town hall. However, everyone noticed when the unmistakable armoured figure jumped off the rooftop, and glided towards the city centre.
Immediately, the crowd followed him, leaving Ayla, the Mayor, Karl, Mishkin and 43 to stand their awkwardly on the roof.
"Lets head inside." suggested The mayor, eager to get them off his roof.
He hadn't wanted to deal with this as mayor...
