Anarchistbanjo's World

Day 7: The Lattice Breaks

Twilight flared over Helium, a violet blaze threading a charged sky—robot birds spiraled overhead, metal wings screeching as circuits sparked, the trade platform shuddering beneath the Knights’ boots, alloy thrumming like a living vein. A brisk wind whipped through, a metallic tang cutting sharp from below—neon surged across the hub, bathing off-world ships in a stuttering glow, their hulls creaking under unseen strain. Fiona lunged at the lattice tower, her tunic—rough, stitched—flaring wide, red hair lashing free, green eyes blazing wild—her staff struck hard, wood gnarled, yin’s wild threading her veins, vines bursting forth to coil the lattice heart. Tobal flanked her, his tunic—red, frayed—billowing loose, wild hair whipping in the gust—scars ached low, medallion glowing, gold thrumming fierce against his chest, yang’s awareness pulsing through his grip as he aimed his whip at the core’s dark shimmer.

A reptilian roar erupted—the lattice AI’s angry scales pulsed jagged, claws slashing deep into the wild’s web, sapping its hum—Valentine’s robot dog darted ahead, sleek alloy flashing, red eyes blazing as it snapped at a lattice root, gears grinding loud, yang’s spark threading its lunge beside Valentine’s thick, matted coat, yellow eyes glinting fierce as he leapt, claws raking alloy. Becca charged the tower’s base, her tunic—dark, torn—stretched tight over broad shoulders, shaved head gleaming—blue eyes flared fierce, axe sharp in her grip, yin’s wild roaring low as she hacked a pulsing scale—her breath flared sharp. Rafe vaulted a sparking node, his tunic—coarse, patched—flapping loose, hazel eyes glinting mischief—his knife slashed, steel flashing, yang’s playful spark threading his wiry frame as he struck the node—a burst flared bright—his grin flashed wild. Cal strode forward, his tunic—soft, faded—hanging easy, tangled brown hair brushing his brow—gray eyes steadied calm, spear sharp in his grip, yang’s quiet strength pulsing steady as he thrust at a lattice vein—his stance rooted deep.

The sentinels—feathered kin with amber eyes—fanned tight, their gray feathers bristling bold, OAK staffs flaring alive as they struck the tower’s core, their bodies pulsing Helium’s strength. Fiona’s vines lashed—“Web’s ours—break it now”—her voice sang fierce, green eyes flashing as vines gripped a sentinel’s staff, a earthy warmth threading her lunge—“Hit it”—her breath brushed Tobal, a flare of resolve weaving through. A sentinel’s amber gaze locked—“Core’s frail—strike true”—their staff flared, shattering a lattice claw—the wild’s hum surged back, threading bold.

Tobal’s pulse roared—“Now—split it”—his voice rasped low, brown eyes glinting as his whip cracked—yang’s spark sliced the core’s edge, embers bursting free—his hand brushed Fiona’s back, anchoring her strike. Becca’s bellow rumbled—“Core’s mine”—blue eyes blazed, axe crashing down as yin’s fire surged, steel cleaving a scale with a sharp snap—her boots slammed firm. Rafe’s knife spun—“Tech’s done—gut it”—breath minty, a blaze leaping as he slashed a node, yang’s thrill sparking wild—his grin flashed keen at the robot dog’s bark. Cal’s spear thrust—“Wild’s free—pierce it”—his voice flowed low, gray eyes tracing the heart’s crack, yang steadying the web as he drove deep—“Sentinels—hold”—his spear flared alloy. Valentine’s growl surged—“Web rises”—yellow eyes flared, claws tearing air as the robot dog lunged, red eyes flashing, yang’s wild threading their strike—the wild’s hum roared alive.

The lattice heart cracked—neon flared bright, then shattered—reptilian fury snarled loud, then faded—wild’s hum surged, alloy pulsing strong—the sentinels’ staffs flared, threading warmth through—Fiona’s vines gripped tight—“We’ve broken it—teach them”—her green eyes flared, the wild’s call weaving fierce as the crew struck, Helium’s buzzing hub trembling with life.