“So, uh, do you know if my brother and his family made it to safety?” I tried to keep my voice casual as Ashlyn sped down the road. It was easy enough since the streets were all cleared of any traffic at this hour. The suburban style neighborhood felt so wrong this quiet, it felt dead.
Bad phrasing.
At least we hadn’t seen any more antithesis inside Traverse yet.
Yes they are all safe, his wife had posted several times on her media feeds before the net connection went down. It seems that they both had attempted to contact you to no success around an hour ago.
That was kinda concerning, but connections were spotty at best on the highway sometimes. But that was a big weight off my conscience. I felt my muscles relax partially at the news, though I knew this was all far from over.
“So all-knowing-oracle, where exactly is the first group of antithesis?” I teased.
The answer you seek is… I do not have enough sensory data to accurately predict where they are. I don’t have access to any cameras or sensors other than your own augs and what is available on public media feeds.
I am currently directing you to the last reports from the local PMC, from there it is up to you to locate and eliminate the enemy.
That wasn’t the news I wanted to hear at all, Traverse might have gone downhill with the antithesis surge of the ‘30s but it was still a large town as far as size went. If I had to search every farm, every house and all of downtown I would be here for weeks.
“Please tell me there's a way to fix that, or I don’t think I can stay awake for another full day, let alone a week of searching through cherry groves.” I doubted the stimulants I took were that strong.
Of course there is, there are many solutions to that particular problem. There are reconnaissance drones and robots available, though you would need to purchase an appropriate catalog.
You could invest in electronic warfare to allow me access into more cameras and other forms of surveillance.
Or there are the more biological solutions, enhancing your own capabilities either with prosthetics or genetic alterations. Purchasing loyal creatures to assist in combing the area is also an option.
“The loyal creatures sound interesting, but also feel very morally wrong.” It would be pretty cool, like a ranger or beastmaster build.
Then maybe you are interested in a secret fourth choice?
“You have my curiosity peaked, always gotta see the secret options.” I was still looking around, we had gotten away from one of the neighborhoods and into farming territory. Cherry groves and berry patches as far as you could see. Which wasn’t very far at not even three in the morning.
I may have been a bit misleading, because those choices are not mutually exclusive. There is a catalog that might be of interest to you, from a race known as the Cog Collective.
“Sounds like I'd be buying a bunch of clocks from them.” I half joked. I wonder what Samurai grade clocks were like?
Nothing so trivial my dear Ness, they were specialists in biological drones. Bio-drones bring a lot of the pros of using robots and living organisms together in one package.
“That does sound pretty neat I guess, if kinda messy. And still kinda weird?” I wasn’t sure where Ashlyn was going with this, but they seemed very excited so who was I to stop them.
Not messy at all, or no more so than any of you organics. A bio-drone is simply a biological creature whose brain, along with several other organs, have been replaced with cybernetics.
It varies from drone to drone, but the brain is always replaced with an advanced AI computer. The AI would be adherent to you and any rules you set for them, but have enough intelligence to effectively solve problems. At least with higher tier AI, for tier I they would be limited to very simple commands if you are not directly linked to them.
“You ah, are pretty passionate about this Cog stuff huh.”
They were a very interesting civilization, blending machinery and bioengineering in such interesting ways. The catalog does also include some gene altering tools and some very unique implants.
It's a shame that- Ah it seems you have company, one moment.
They cut their rant off as a small pack of Model Threes came into the view of the headlights, and Ashlyn steered off the road and turned around.
“What are you doing?” I kinda thought the point was to exterminate the weeds, not avoid them.
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Merely repositioning so you have a better shot. And if I were to kill them by running them over you would not receive any points.
“Alright, one second.” I started to reposition myself so I was leaning out of the window when I remembered an important detail and looked behind me at the turret sitting right there.
“Ah, right.” Feeling like an idiot I quickly climbed out, keeping the pistol with me and leaving the hand cannon inside.
I tried to be quick about it as the murder dogs have not conveniently forgotten I exist unfortunately. When I finally sat my boney butt down in the gunners seat we were reversing to match the speed of our pursuers.
It was pretty easy to hit them with how many bullets this thing sprayed out, and the illumination of the headlights was good enough to aim by.
Targets Eliminated!
Reward… 40 Points
Checking how many bullets this thing had left, I saw it was belt fed. I hadn’t even used a tenth of a belt, and there were two more in a little cubby that was below the chair.
“I could get used to this, but it’ll be a bitch to see anything sneaking up from the sides”
Don’t worry, a few more kills like that and you’ll have plenty of points to remedy that issue if you wish.
So that's what we did, we spent the next thirty minutes driving to the western gate, picking off the occasional pack of threes, and a couple of tentacle monsters that tried to grab me from up top. A few shots from the pistol took care of them but made me much more paranoid.
We did also see our first signs of Model Ones, the black birds almost invisible in the dark sky but it was possible to get them with the Marooners tracking rounds.
They were pretty worthless pointwise though, which kinda sucked but they still needed to be taken out either way.
I’m glad we didn’t see any more of those big six legged ones that broke the delivery van, not sure I could take another one out without a repeat performance. I’d rather not do that especially when I’m not even inside the truck.
“Hey, what's my point total at?” I asked as we were only a mile or so out from where they initially broke through according to Ashlyn.
You currently have 203 points. Would you like to spend your well earned bounty?
“I mean, can I get something to help see in the dark? It's starting to be real annoying.”
There are a plethora of possibilities in your price range, would you prefer a cybernetic implant or perhaps a more external solution?
“Uhm, well I’m not opposed to a new pair of eyes, but now doesn’t seem like a great time to perform surgery on myself. And uh, would an external solution work with my glasses?” Somehow they had survived the crash with only minimal cracks, though they weren’t in great condition before either.
Of course, they can be easily adjusted to your ocular needs. I know just the item for you, and if you’re willing to spend the extra points there are several additional features that could be added.
“I don’t know, I don’t want to just throw my points to zero again.” Especially if I needed more healing, or more ammo.
It would be a worthwhile investment, and still leave enough for a nano-regenerative suite for an emergency. Not to mention that if you’re able to see properly you can aim and earn points properly.
“Fine, go ahead then.” I wave my hand in surrender. Who knew Samurai AIs were so pushy?
Class I Utility Garments unlocked!
Points reduced to… 130
New Purchase: Mask of the Watcher
Points reduced to… 20
Another fantasy looking chest plopped into my lap, this one a bit bigger than the last. This time it had some sort of jester logo where a lock might be otherwise.
I feel like I should be more amazed at being able to get the real life equivalent of magic items just teleported to me. Maybe after having to buy so much in such a short time it was already losing its flair?
Or maybe I’m more worried about Traverse being taken over by a swarm of antithesis. Guess we’ll never know.
Popping that loot open leaves me staring at a very colorful mask. It was an outline of a human face, the best way to describe its expression would be shit eating smirk. It was very intricate, with designs and textures of all sorts in a vibrant clash. It was painted with bright neon colors on a dark gray background, the facial features painted in bright white lines.
It should have been gaudy, but it worked well to give a mysterious trickster vibe.
It wasn’t the mask of a hero or a villain, but the mask of a heckler who already knows the punchline. The jester mocking the king, the rebel taunting the system. It was clear that Ashlyn knew me a lot better than I thought because I loved it.
“This is pretty great, though pretty damn expensive.” It wasn’t a complaint, just an observation as I twirled the mask around in my hands with a grin to match its own. I still had at least half an eye on the road, though we had slowed down to a crawl.
I am glad you like it, Ness, but why don’t you try it on? The points you put into it only add to the features, I am 97% positive you will find them useful.
“Someones feeling confident, heh.” And they probably had a good reason to be since I already liked it.
Plus, if it was even half as useful point for point as the guns it would work out.
Not wanting to wait to find out I quickly remove my glasses and push the mask to my face. It feels like I stuck my face behind a fan for an instant as it clings perfectly to me.
It was pretty overwhelming at first, like getting flashbanged as everything came back in full color like it was midday. It passed just as quickly as I took in my surroundings again. Nothing close to us, but I can see more smoke around where the west gate would be.
I was seeing more clearly than I ever did with glasses too, it was incredible. It was like when I got my glasses for the first time all over again.
I could even make out several small black shapes circling over the PMC headquarters not that far away. With the occasional bird exploding into mulch, it seemed some defenders were left after all.
Ashlyn then helpfully pointed out the settings for the mask, which was connected to my augs. There were options for night vision which was currently active, along with thermal, infrared, and a telescopic zoom which let me see the Model Ones like I was right next to them.
Then I saw the last setting, with the same jester design that was on the box it came in.
“What's this one do?”
That feature was the most expensive one to implement, but I know you will have plenty of fun with it after this whole mess is over. It is a facial disguise, a simple hologram showing whatever face you’d like over your own.
It isn’t the most versatile without a full body system to match, but it will make that cheaper in the future. It could even be upgraded to allow for full invisibility, though that will be much more expensive.
In a pinch it can be used to temporarily blind your foes as well, though it isn’t bright enough to last very long.
“Wow, I don’t even know what to say. That’s just actual magic isn’t it. Just change my face like that.” I said with a snap. Guns were simple in a way, even very fancy ones. The healing was incredible but that crossed a line into the extraordinary. I was so awestruck at the possibilities that I felt like a kid again. I switched between a few of the preset options, random faces that blended in well enough with the rest of my body. There was even one that was literally just my own face. Weird as that was, there were other more… lets say unique options.
A pure void, with outlines for my eyes. Swirling neon colors that looked like an optical illusion. And of course the original look of the mask, though I guess that wasn’t a hologram but the deactivated state.
If that is what you wish to believe, but no it is just so advanced compared to the rest of your planet that it seems like magic.
You will have plenty of time to play with your new toy later though, young man or is it young lady at the moment?
Ashlyn spoke in a voice that sounded like an old-timey father figure. Stern, but not unkind at all.
A warm feeling filled my chest and my face at the acknowledgement. Even if it came from a machine, it still felt nice.
“Either is fine, but right now I do feel like a young man being sent to war if I’m honest.” I half chuckled and half tried not to think about it too much.
Ashlyns next quip was in the tones of a grizzled general.
Well soldier, let's get you marching on. The Xeno scum won’t exterminate itself.
Following their own words they accelerated hard, right in the direction of danger.