LazyLurker: Did you see SSS? She's bad ass and SO HOT!

SilentReader: SSS?

LazyLurker: Steampunk Shotgun Sally too much effort to type it all out lol.

WinstonsPacking: What would Woodland Sasquatch Wraith be?

LazyLurker: WSW but why are you talking about him? SSS is badass and hot. He's just badass and not hot or new.

WinstonsPacking: Steampunk Shotgun Sally might disagree and shoot you.

SilentReader: How can you tell he's not hot?

LazyLurker: He's a guy. She needs a good woman in her life.

WinstonsPacking: Pray SSS never sees this chat.

A SSS Discussion Chatroom

STEAMPUNK SHOTGUN SALLY

We found a thrice damned hive. Fortunately, the antis didn't know we were there yet. The plan is, Woodland will get their attention, while I plant bombs of various sizes around the chamber. There were other tunnels around the perimeter of the chamber, presumably leading to other sections of the city. With Woodlands's help I planted bombs to collapse every tunnel, except the one we had used to enter the hive. This took some time, as we had to wait for groups of antis to pass since we didn't want to start fighting until we had sealed the tunnels, so whatever had left couldn't come back.

Once we had rigged every tunnel except our way out, Woodland walked into the room and got close to what our AIs had informed us was a model 12. Then he dropped out of stealth, jumped onto its back and started cutting at it with his newly upgrade blades. The teeth of the chainsaw now coated in energy like my sword or his machete. I detonated the tunnel charges and started placing new bombs. These released a gas that was acidic to antis and also highly flammable. I started placing these on the opposite side of the room to give Woodland time to play with his new upgrade.

Then I moved counterclockwise around the room. Woodland saw this and started to move the fight away from me. His blades were still out but they no longer had the glow of heat on the teeth. He was firing his smg and using the blades at the same time. The injuries the Antis were receiving from the smg were different than I remember seeing before. The edges of the wounds were melting. He also had some sort of launcher on his right shoulder now. Something to ask about later. I looked up to see swarms of flyers. Each round from his launcher took out over fifty when it detonated. He was also throwing grenades that emitted the same gas as my larger canisters.

When I reached a pillar of hive material, I used a steampunk version of a shaped charge to ensure it would break apart. I did this with every hive pillar I came across. Once I had made a complete circuit around the room, I approached the central hive pillar. Due to its size, I placed several steampunk charges on it. For good measure I placed four of the flammable acidic gas canisters around it as well.

I made my way back to the tunnel we had left open, to find another model 12 running down the tunnel, presumably to defend the hive. I raised my blunderbuss and fired five slugs into it. I jumped out of the way. I turned to face the 12 again, put two more slugs in it, and had to reload. I moved to the opposite side of the tunnel that I'd fired from to do so. I signaled Billy that it was time to leave while reloading. The 12 was still moving but not enough that I had to worry about being charged.

The antis being released from its sides were a different concern. Neither of us could shoot them as we would also be shooting at each other. There were a lot of them, but I drew my sword and waited for them to close the distance. Fortunately, they were headed to the side of the tunnel that I had fired the last two shots from. I killed the three of them that came close to me quickly, however, that alerted the rest to my presence.

Then Woodland, who was now invisible to them, waded into them. There was a technique to his movements. He threw hooks using the movements to cut through multiple antis until the punch landed and speared what he hit. He used jabs to spear antis that were getting too close. His footwork was also impressive. I did my best as well, and cut down a few more myself. Then we started walking back to the surface.

"Woodland, when did you learn to kickbox?"

"After I killed the 12 I jumped on top of. You're still impressive with your blade, as always."

"You learned kickboxing in the middle of a fight?!"

"Yeah, apparently they have hellishly quick learning programs you can buy. Mara doesn't recommend them, said that learning something the old-fashioned way is better for our brains. They're good for learning something to get you out the hell of trouble, though."

Reckoner wishes to add that the programs, like the one he used, are only dangerous when used to learn multiple things repeatedly. There are other fast learning programs that teach you in your dreams. They teach a subject over the course of a week or weeks, depending on the subject, instead of in a second. These, while not as fast as what he used, are much safer and can be used repeatedly without fear.

"So, you're saying that I could learn how use other types of swords? Or shoot guns properly, and not need the aim assists added to any gun I buy, in the future? In a matter of days or weeks, instead of months or years?"

If that is your wish, then Reckoner can arrange it.

Another group of antis was coming back down the tunnel to defend the Hive. With both of us together again, we switched back to the blunderbuss and rifle combination and made quick work of them. I decided we were now far enough away to be safe and detonated my bombs.

Voretexia

I had just finished off another massive group of Antithesis that I had lured to another LFC owned building. I destroyed the antis and building by placing a tornado on the building and keeping it stationary over the property. I was on the way to the next location when it and two other buildings collapsed into a sinkhole. What the hell? How? Then a link to a video was sent to me by Matchbook. It showed a small hive and Woodland Wraith, not in stealth, fighting numerous antithesis. Bombs were being placed on structural support pillars, that had been entirely covered in hive material from floor to ceiling. That explained that. I looked up the owners of the other buildings, to see who we would have to send letters of apology to. One of the buildings was owned by the parent company of LFC, so no letter for them. The other was owned by a company owned by LFC, so no letter for them either. I swear Woodland Wraith has the luck of the devil. As I was distracted by the video and research, something big knocked me out of the air.

Matchbook

I had set fire to several buildings owned by LFC already. For being a clothing company, they had a surprising number that weren't warehouses or store fronts. Sasquatch had promised a very injured and scared little girl that LFC would only be an unpleasant memory by the end of the week. The rest of the Samurai, including myself, who had checked in on the girl when they had a chance, after Steampunk and Sasquatch had left to kill antis and make good on his promise, decided that this was a promise that needed kept. That, and they had messed with a newbie Samurai. That alone warranted a response.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Apparently, the Bertarelli Foundation agreed as well, as they were destroying LFC's parent company in court, thus keeping them from interfering through the courts. The Foundation had aided Sasquatch in the past. However, the lengths they were going to this time didn't make sense, to just stay on his good side. That was a problem for later, however.

Sasquatch and Steampunk had found and destroyed a hive. Considering this was their first incursion, that was impressive. That they also destroyed an LFC building at the same time was... surprisingly lucky.

Wraith

We ended up having to run. While we were outside of the blast radius of Sally's bombs, we had not taken into consideration the fucking damage that would be done to the foundations of the buildings above. We barely escaped the damned buildings collapsing into what had been the hive, and caving in the tunnel we were in. We made it back to street level and found antis swarming the street. I was starting to curse my fucking bad luck. Aside from a brief rest at Winston's place, I hadn't not been fighting. We started firing into the massive shitloads of antis.

"Mara, how far to the next LFC property?"

The next closest LFC building is in the inner city, and neither of you are currently capable of dealing with the Antithesis in that area, as your fights with the 12s have demonstrated.

"Fair enough, but what the hell happened to the other properties out here in the outer city? We only destroyed two by my count.

Yes, and other Vanguard decided that the promise of LFC being an unpleasant memory, was a promise that needed to be kept, sooner than the end of the week. Afterall, they kidnapped a child, and a Newbie Vanguard that hadn't even gotten a name yet. It seems that similar to you wanting to remind the world 'not to fuck with anyone connected to Woodland Sasquatch Wraith', they also wanted to reinforce the idea of 'don't fuck with the Vanguard'.

"So, that was what those fucking stationary tornadoes and fires that didn't spread were about. Good to know."

That's when a hover car damn near crushed Sally. I saw a massive flyer, flying further down the street in front us after dropping the fucking car, above the swarms of 1s. My shoulder mounted missile launcher was already firing as fast as it could keeping the fucking 1s away from us. Liza activated her stealth, and we moved into the cover of a building. Reckoner was the one to inform us that the large ass flyer was an 11.

There was two ways for me to deal with this new god damned threat. I could either upgrade my explosives catalog and be able to add more powerful warheads to my miniature missiles, or I could upgrade my Sasquatch catalog and upgrade the launcher to fire faster. Both really good choices. In the end I went with the Sasquatch upgrade, since I would also be able to upgrade my armor and guns. Sally also upgraded her Steampunk catalog and bought a floating cannon. A fucking floating cannon.

We moved to the fucking roof, only to see the 11 circling back around with another hover car in its damned claws. The shitload of antis on the ground were milling around trying to figure out where their attackers had gone. We aimed at the 11. Sally fired her blunderbuss in rifle mode, her new cannon went off, I fired my own rifle with explosive tipped ammo and a missile fired from my shoulder. All of it struck at the same fucking time, what little was left of the damned 11 hit the ground. From the roof we fired into the antis below, as my missiles now fired every ten seconds. We point farmed for maybe two more minutes.

I just received a request for help from Charybdis. Her Vanguard partner, Voretexia, has been knocked unconscious, and landed on a roof not too far from here. You two are the nearest to her. The 11 that tried to drop cars on you slammed into her, which made her lose control of her flight. She crashed through a billboard and smashed through several ac rooftop units before coming to a stop.

We made our way back down through the building, and took a bridge across the street, heading towards the marker that indicated Voretexia's position. We were able to keep a somewhat quick pace by going through the buildings, as most of the fucking antis were now swarming the streets. We made it to the building that Voretexia was on and started up the god damned stairs. The elevators were FUBAR. A group of 4s tried to ambush us in a stairwell, tried being the operative word. Have I mentioned I might be a little jealous of Sally's blunderbuss? My shoulder launcher took care of one, she shredded three others, and I got the last with my smg.

We got to the roof, and with the help of Charybdis, gave Voretexia the meds she needed to wake up and get rid of a concussion.

Voretexia

I regained awareness with Charybdis explaining she had called for aid, that I was safe, and that my stream was still running. I saw Steampunk Shotgun Sally looking at me with concern.

"Steampunk Shotgun Sally, thank you for your help. My fans also thank you for keeping their favorite Samurai alive. My fans also have many questions for you."

"Woodland, do you think we have time to answer some questions?" Sally asked looking to her left. I looked in the same direction and saw nothing. A male voice came out from thin air. Right, Woodland Wraith uses stealth.

"How much time do you want? I will make the fucking antis give it to you."

"No need for that. We can talk as we walk." I answered.

"You wish to travel with us?" The vision of steampunk beauty asked.

"Yes, they also have questions for Woodland Sasquatch Wraith as well."

"Just because they have fucking questions, doesn't mean I have any damn answers for them."

"Woodland, please. There may be children watching. Be mindful of your language."

"No promises, but I'll try."

We started walking, then running, towards the stairs to the building when we all heard a tell-tale whistle in the air. Artillery shells started raining down from the sky.

"Charybdis, the PMCs should know that there are Samurais in this area, so why are they firing?"

You are correct. All PMCs are aware that there are Vanguards in this area. That is the very reason one of them is firing artillery at this area. The PMC in question is owned by the company, Lurkeroff's Imports, which had been the parent company of Marcus's Furs. It is also currently the parent company of Grimfool's Manufacturing, which is in turn, the parent company of LFC.

"Woodland, do whatever you think is necessary." Sally said very softly.

"As you wish." Was all he said to her.

"Voretexia look after her for me, this might take a bit." Although I couldn't see or hear it, I knew he had walked away.

"What's going on? What's wrong?" but Sally didn't answer me and had stopped moving. I grabbed her hand and pulled her through the building as it continued to get shelled. Charybdis was the one who started to give me answers, that made me realize something I been missing so far.

As I previously stated Lurkoff had owned Marcus's furs when the Woodland Sasquatch Wraith first showed up. More recently the CEO, a 70yr old man by the name of Thergood Lurkeroff, married the 19yr old heiress of Lockhart Industries, Mellissa Lockhart. Nine months after the marriage, Mellisa was declared dead, but there was no memorial service or funeral held. She was a close personal friend of Elizabeth Bertarelli.

"So, Lurkeroff is trying to kill Woodland Wraith, and we got caught in the crossfire?"

If that was the case, they would have stopped shelling this building when he revealed his location in a different building a full minute ago.

"They're trying to kill me as well. Woodland was all over the news. No one paid attention to what I was doing to Marcus's Furs or its parent company."

"Pause the stream, Charybdis." Once she confirmed that the stream was paused. I asked, "Are you Elizabeth Bertarelli?"

"Yes." It was a simple and quiet word. It made a lot of what was happening elsewhere make sense. I resumed my stream. After several more minutes of running the shelling stopped. I looked at camera footage from the city system and found Lurkeroff's PMC fighting Bertarelli's. I formed a tornado and had it tear through the Lurkeroff's support area, sending tanks and artillery pieces flying in random directions.

WRAITH

So, almost having a damn tank or two land on you isn't fun. I assume that, even while wearing power armor, that would have fucking hurt. I waded into the line of Lurkeroff troops that were still putting up a fight. I deactivated stealth when the last headless body hit the ground. I turned toward the Bertarelli troops and saw an unfamiliar face walking towards me.

"Sasquatch, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Matchbook. If I knew you were coming, I'd have stayed in my command post. How is Voretexia?"

"She was healthy when I left to deal with this damn mess." I replied, "You know who in the Lurkeroff group gave these fucking idiots orders."

"From the information we got from their computers it came from Thergood himself. He lives in the inner city. I'll send you the data on his location."

"Mara, what the hell do I need to buy to survive a trip to the Lurkeroff estate?"