Wednesday, September 23rd, 2048

It was time to increase the manufacturing capabilities of Styx Base. The first step was another recycler-storage-fabricator combo like the one in my Colwood shelter. It would not give me anything new and different, but increase overall capacity and serve as a backup if the other fabbers broke down.

Whenever a batch of parts was ready, Wendy helped me assemble it, asking quite intelligent questions about the technology along the way. Questions I had not expected from a business-oriented person.

Overall she seemed more in control now, but a deep, unforgiving hate still smoldered below the surface.

I wondered if she might make a good lieutenant for Vanguard Command (heh!). For that, we would need to give her rage a bit of professional restraint and direction. As in, teach her not to go off half-cocked but with a decent mission plan.

For that purpose, I might need help from someone who understood military operations. I was not sure if the regular military would be willing to work with a slightly unhinged person instead of sending her straight to the psych ward.

But who else might be? Roger and his little militia? Maybe, but I would absolutely have to tell them up front what was going on. And talk to Wendy first of course. So I did.

“Wendy? I am quite in favor of killing a fuckton of Macks. I just want to do it smartly, which requires learning some tactics and coordination. You don’t want to shoot your friends in the thick of the battle, because you confused them for the enemy."

“I have some basic training already, Haven has mandatory military service for any adult. But I understand you don’t need friendly fire on top of Macks who try to kill you.”

I was a bit embarrassed at that, being more of a hobby soldier myself. Wendy presumably had more military training than I had. Nevertheless, I laid out my thoughts.

“I see two options here. First, we go to SHOCKS and tell them your story. There is already a person in your situation, so they are not completely unfamiliar with the problem and might be willing to help. I’m told they have some pretty good therapists too. I am, however, not sure if they would consider you mentally stable enough for military service. If that is what you want for payback against the Macks anyway.

“Second, I’ll help you to try and get your life back without involving SHOCKS. That includes me paying for a place to live, therapy and legal assistance to hopefully keep your status as a citizen, despite the whole robot girl thing. I would, of course, also visit frequently, just in case you need someone to talk to.”

I could easily afford this, earning well from the weapons and other stuff I sold to HANAF. I continued “Once you feel better and are sure about where you want to go from there, I’d be happy to have you back as a deputy leader for my Macks. Or maybe in a support role. Logistics are always something that is needed.”

“I’d certainly like to talk to SHOCKS, just to get an idea what the situation is for people like me. But if they have no place for me, I’ll gladly accept your offer!”

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Satisfied with Wendy’s more constructive attitude today, I called B.S.O.D. I received a somewhat curt answer of “What is it?”

Understandable, it was already in the early evening and for most businesses past closing time. So I cut straight to the case and said “I picked up another Mack victim. This time not an MG, but a civilian. But she is otherwise in the same boat as Arina, so an update on how you handle such cases, and how successfully, would be welcome.”

I heard a sigh over the telephone, and with a softer voice B.S.O.D. suggested a meeting the following day. She added “I’m not sure how much we can do for someone outside SHOCKS, but we will do our best.”

Thursday, September 24th, 2048

In the morning, we finished assembling the new fabricator slash recycler slash storage combo. Already having two assemblers in Herbie and in the base had sped things up. So had Wendy’s help.

En route to Victoria with the Variocopter, I told Wendy about my business relationship with SHOCKS and how I had found Arina. Wendy shuddered. “As much as I hated my Mack body, having it ripped up like that while being inside must have been horrible.”

After a bit of mulling things over, she asked me “Do you perhaps need someone who runs your business on the Victoria side? You know, I already have some experience as a businesswoman.”

I was quite surprised at this sudden departure from wanting to go ham on the Macks to a more reasonable and indirect approach. Sure, hurting the Macks indirectly by providing equipment to HANAF was still hurting them. But it was not the same as shooting them personally, which might slake a thirst for vengeance much more viscerally. Or was there something else behind it?

As we arrived at SHOCKS, we were greeted by B.S.O.D., whom I still only knew by her code name, and Arina. We exchanged the obligatory hug, this time without kisses but still heartfelt.

Once settled in a meeting room, B.S.O.D. explained the state of robot girl affairs from the SHOCKS perspective.

“We are, of course, happy to have Arina back and we are still looking for the place where she can contribute best. But we are also looking past her military career and trying to ensure Mack victims that were forcibly roboticized retain full citizenship. I think we have a good chance of making this happen on the political front, as long as nothing goes majorly wrong.”

I whispered to Wendy “No rampages on Victoria Island, if you can help it!”

She gave me an indignant but also somewhat guilty look. My suspicions that there might be some kind of trouble brewing intensified.

Meanwhile, B.S.O.D. continued “Unfortunately, I see no way how we can fully integrate a civilian at SHOCKS, especially one who has no prospect at becoming a Magical Girl. As all of you know, that requires being compatible with the nanite organs supplied by Sanctuary.”

Looking at Wendy, she continued “That said, perhaps we can organize a mini-therapy group with our therapists, Arina and you, Wendy. You have gone through a similar ordeal together, and I’m told this often helps with mutual support.”

Wendy replied ”Thank you, and I'd be happy to take the opportunity!”

I interjected “Have HANAF already decided about adopting the Shiv? Because we found it works quite well for Wendy with an adapted version of the Ocular Aimbot. Assuming the same goes for Arina, I could see the two of them becoming excellent markswomen.”

After we left SHOCKS, I asked Wendy “Where would you like to stay, Victoria or Styx Base?”

She answered “Victoria, I think. Being a hermit at the ass end of nowhere was never my preferred lifestyle. No offense intended.”

“None taken. Because Styx Base is at the ass end of nowhere.”