Free Revenge of the Giant Robot Chickens by Alex McCall

easy enough just to prise open the automatic doors. Then we were in.
    In contrast to the Aberdeen University glass-cube library where Glen had spent the first part of the war, someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make this place look nice. The modern space had an intelligent futuristic feel. There was a wide white wall at the far end of a curving high corridor. This must be the atrium. There were several walkways for people to bustle along and look important and a few bridges over a long corridor. Off to the right there was an area shaped like some sort of gladiatorial pit. Maybe a reading area? The lights in there were made to look like pine cones.
    Glen was looking around with wide eyes, obviously loving everything he was seeing. He spotted a sign for the Computing Department, grabbed my arm and pulled me along. “Come on, this way,” he cried, practically dragging me. I dug in my heels, slowing him down.
    “Careful, Doc,” I said, using Jesse’s nickname for him. “Don’t run too far ahead. Keep together and move slowly. That way we can protect you, as well as each other and not get ambushed.”
    “Alright. Though I don’t think that thing’s going to be back. Is it?” He looked at me sideways, suddenly unsure.
    I didn’t know what to say. On the one hand I wanted to reassure him. On the other I couldn’t promise the giant black chicken wouldn’t be back. But Blake interrupted anyway.
    “I hope it does,” he said, swinging him shock-stick menacingly. “This time we’ll get to deal with it properly. No hiding in the dark. Just a fair five-on-one fight.”
    Blake’s crew all nodded confidently at his words. I looked at Glen and shrugged. “What he said,” I told him.
    Glen seemed to accept that and started off again. I followed, keeping an eye on my surroundings. I didn’t think it would show up again. But it never hurt to be careful.
    Glen led us up some stairs to a computer lab. Then he started rummaging about. I watched, alarmed. “Hey, Glen,” I said. “How long do you think this is going to take?”
    “I’ll let you know when I’ve found it,” he told me. I didn’t like the sound of that. I had assumed that he’d somehow know where it would be. There was nothing to do but wait and be vigilant.
    Until one of Blake’s guys who’d been standing sentry came running up. “Bad news, guys,” he said. “It’s back.”
    He pointed out the window and I followed the direction of his finger.
    There it was, stalking across the grass, the same as we’d done, its beak to the ground as if following our scent. For the first time I got a good view of it. It looked like a chicken, obviously, but more sleek. Itsfeathers seemed individually cut and rustled slightly as it moved. Except on the wings, which looked like solid slabs of steel. Green orbs glowed in place of eyes – the only colour on it, everything else was menacing black. It looked up at our building a few times and I had to tell myself that it couldn’t see us.
    Blake cursed softly and joyously under his breath. “Found what you’re looking for yet?” he asked.
    “No… not yet,” Glen replied, anxious. “I need more time.”
    “Then I guess it’s our job to buy you that time.” Blake jerked his head from side to side, cracking his neck. Then he cracked his knuckles. Carefully he took off his heavy jacket and laid it on the ground. The others did the same.
    “Come on, team. Let’s see how it likes being ambushed for once. Rayna, you stay here and look after Glen. And start composing some epic victory songs.”
    He ran off, his crew snapping at his heels. Crazy. They were absolutely crazy.
    Glen kept searching, but I turned back to the window. I wanted to see what would happen next.
    The chicken stalked up to the same door we’d come through. Blake and his team had vanished. The huge black robot walked through the door and looked right up at me. It took a menacing step forward.
    “Get it lads!”
    The chicken hunters swarmed