The Marauder city was a sprawling affair. The slave slums-basically a fuel base for their mechs -housed the lifeless souls of humans who knew they’d be better off dead.

It also, according to Maius’s scan, gave the shortest unguarded route to the Library.

“Shift over a bit,” Jiana complained. “I’m getting cramp.”

“I can’t” Sweeper moaned back, “You’ve already taken up 59.2 percent of the CPU .”

“Reflects my extra intelligence level-”

“Guys,” I snapped. “If you don’t mind, we’re hip deep in enemy territory. A little cooperation between all of us would be welcomed.”

“Sorry Strake,” Sweeper said.

“I guess you’re right.” Jiana sighed. “By the way you should be hitting a Maruader checkpoint at the next left.”

“S**t!”

I turned the next left two seconds after Jiana warned me. Fortunately the mech we rode appeared to have high enough clearance as the guards didn’t even bother to check on me.

“A little more warning would be appreciated,” I told Jiana. “This is Hell enough already.”

“K.”