ALBIA, 2019 AD

“Mission good, Norn dead,” said Coolcut, the NornRunner. He was 
explaining the mission. Essentially it had been a success, but the death of 
George hung over them like a dark cloud. But the mission they had 
completed was extremely important; they had deleted, and copied, all of 
the android Norns construction files, meaning the evil GrenDell 
Corporation could not make any more until they re-drew all the plans. It 
was a big blow for them, and an important strike for the Renegades. 
However, the Norns had not completely halted android Norn production. 
They had to analyse the construction files that they had using their own 
computer, who they called Alvin. Maybe they could find a weakness, 
something that would enable them to free all of the android Norns at 
once…

“Hello Coolcut. This is Alvin the Computer speaking. I have found 
something that may be of interest to you.”
“What? Say Computer, now!”
“Well, all of the android Norns have an antenna to keep them under control 
if they start getting any funny ideas in their heads.”
“And? What dat mean?”
“It means that, if we could somehow get hold of a big transmitter, we 
could broadcast signals to the Norns and tell them what to do! We could 
set them free, make them turn on their grendel masters even. Basically, if 
we could get hold of a transmitter, we would liberate Albia, and live in 
peace once more!” Coolcut thought about this for a moment. The 
computer wasn’t lying, so maybe they really did have a chance to set all the 
android Norns free!

He took the news to the others in the main hall, and proceeded to tell them 
about the exciting news. There was, unfortunately, only one antenna that 
could broadcast on such a grand scale, and it was deep into grendel 
territory, and most probably very heavily armed. Nevertheless, the plan was 
made. Most of the Renegade Norns were to cause a major disruption in the 
city, by attacking the main grendel palace, home to King Gren VI. There 
were some advantages to this plan; the biggest was that, although King 
Gren was a very important figure in the running of all things in Albia, the 
grendels did not expect any Renegades to be so stupid as to think of 
attacking the palace. Therefore, it wouldn’t be very heavily guarded, the 
Norns could cause enough of a disturbance to force more grendel guards 
and troops into the area, taking some of the protection away from the 
antenna. That was the plan, at least, but the Norns knew it wouldn’t be an 
easy mission. In fact, they knew it would be the hardest mission of their 
lives.
* * *
The Renegades lifted up the manhole cover and peered out towards the 
luminescent palace. There were around about a hundred of them, nearly all 
of the Renegades, and they were being led by Fysh in George’s absence.
“Norn go. Now!” commanded Fysh, as they popped out of the manhole 
cover one by one, carrying an array of weaponry. They approached the 
palace stealthily and silently.

Meanwhile, five Norns watched the huge antenna tower from a distance 
through special binoculars. Coolcut could see that the ten guards outside 
the entrance were looking bored. They never really got much action, he 
thought. Still, it would be to their advantage if they were somewhat lacking 
in concentration. It was going to be a long evening.

Shots rained out throughout the calm night. The Renegades had “de-
activated” two android Norns and dealt with about ten grendels, and had 
reached the inner palace. Already, alarm bells were ringing in the building, 
and the sound of grendel feet padding hurriedly towards them could be 
heard. The Norns had set up their defence in the main hall of the palace, 
with groups of Norns guarding each entrance, taking care of oncoming 
enemies. Already, the battle was raging.
“Cover! Cover! Norn Cover!” shouted Bilbo as he ran across the room 
firing shots into an entrance off the hall. Other Norns heard his pleas and 
took care of two grendels who were lining him up in their sights. Things 
were really hotting up.

“Look Norn! Grendels move!” exclaimed Coolcut, handing the binoculars 
to Wizkidd. He was indeed right; in fact, legions of grendel troops were 
visible in the distance, heading towards the palace. Clearly, they were 
taking no chances. Eight of the ten grendels on guard outside the 
transmitter had left as well, leaving only two behind. However, it was not 
yet known how well guarded the inside of the building was.
“Time to move!” said Coolcut, repeating a phrase he had heard on 
television. The five Norns began moving towards the building.

Already, the death toll of the Renegades had risen from one to five, but 
they were still holding out well against the grendels. They had a good 
defensive point, and not many grendels had been able to break through 
their ranks and into the main hall itself. Just then, Fysh heard something up 
above, like the pitter-patter of feet a long way up. Peering up into the huge, 
domed, glass roof, he saw shadows flitting around on top of it. Grendel 
shadows.

The Grendels broke through the glass and slid down ropes that they had 
hurled downwards, moving into the main hall. Fysh sprayed a few shots of 
his gun upwards, knocking a couple of grendels to their death below, but 
still, the grendels had infiltrated the area, and were a much larger threat 
now. The fifty or so Norns who were not guarding entrances started 
hurling everything that they had at them, killing many grendels, but they 
just kept on coming. Fysh hoped that Coolcut would hurry up.

A brief scuffle was heard, and then everything was silent again. The two 
grendel guards lay still on the floor outside the transmitter. Coolcut, 
Wizkidd, Ace, Howink and Deckard entered the building and began 
climibing the stairs that led up to the main control room, about half way up 
the tower. They were surprised at the lack of guards in the tower; maybe 
there were never that many there in the first place, he thought. The five of 
them entered the control room, quickly took out the two or three android 
Norns and grendels who were idly lying around, and Wizkidd started 
tapping away at a computer terminal. Just then, a door opened, and out 
stepped a very familiar figure…

“Put down your weapons,” said George in a robotic voice.

Coolcut stepped back in horror and surprise.