One thing that always sucks when dealing with antithesis attacks on livestock farms is quite literally, the shit.
That stuff needs to basically be deleted off the face of the earth, because even if you know no living Models are in there, it will definitely have seeds or spores laced into it.
And manure removal always involves some sort of tech that while cheap; is slow, annoying to deal with, and just downright disgusting.
-Excerpt from an interview with the late Samurai Asuriel, 2039
I had barely taken four steps from the shelter doors before I had to defend myself. A group of walking bushes had come over to investigate the house and had seen me emerge from the bunker.
I quickly swapped my washer to flat and began hosing down the group. It wasn’t perfect, but it put down the horde much faster than the tighter sprays would. It even made dealing with the single One in the group easier, just had to wave the wand in its general direction and it fell to the ground twitching before my boot crushed its torso.
Very nicely executed! I do believe you should begin moving quickly, the antithesis likely has more than enough biomass and fertilizers to start a new hive.
“Well let’s go throw them a housewarming party then,” I say with a wide grin, “After all you can’t just forget to properly power a house, and it’d be a shame if I didn’t help the new neighbors with their wiring.”
Agreed. Also, have your point summary.
Targets Eliminated! Model One x1 1 Model Three x6 60 Model Four x2 30 Reward: 91 Total: 98
As I began walking towards the now suspiciously quiet barn I caught the Four trying to break into earlier I realized something.
I was just one person, and this was a farm complex that covered several acres.
“Pyri?”
Yes Spark?
I swept my free hand across the buildings in the distance “How am I supposed to clear this whole area?”
I thought you would never ask! If you would like, I can tap into the various security cameras and provide your hud with a map and mark occupied buildings. Another way to multiply your forces is to purchase drones. These are currently out of your budget, but I do advise getting at least one to help you mop up remaining Antithesis once you have decimated their forces here.
I had barely told Pyri to do it when a transparent circular map fizzled into existence in the lower left of my glasses. Focusing on it expanded it to cover my vision. Most of the livestock buildings, including the one I was walking towards, were highlighted red and gently pulsing as numerous red dots moved across the exterior areas. In certain areas that I assumed had no video coverage, there was nothing but a light layer of static.
Of particular note was the lagoon, lit up like a christmas tree with easily half the map’s dots covering it and the surrounding dirt. Far too much for my measly little Powered Washer.
Take note that this map is not all encompassing. Units that are tunneling with no discernible signs on the surface, or those that are flying above the collective camera field of vision are not included. This is what the current security system sees. If you enter-
Pyri was cut off by the map flashing red with a proximity warning and it dropping back to its corner. The cause of said warning was ambling around the corner, a massive lumbering thing with fine quills covering its back coming into view.
Take cover NOW!
I practically dove for the nearby remnants of an old concrete wall from the seventies as a chorus of whistling needles flew through the air, embedding themselves in the ground behind where I just was.
That is a Model Five, it can fire neuro-toxin covered quills at targets with lethal precision.
“I can SEE that Pyri!” I peeked over the top of the wall and sprayed out towards the bear-like thing only for the realization that it was still set to flat and only succeeded in flooding the air between us with steam. “For fucks sake!”
I swapped it back to good ol’ spray and pray, “Piece of goddess damned,” the wand roared as water rushed towards the Five, “GARBAGE!”
The xeno barely got off another volley, (which thankfully missed due to the steam obstructing its view of me,) before the jet struck it in the face and dropped it after a few seconds of salad boiling.
Spark, I advise caution. Your external storage tank has been struck, and is leaking. This will impact your ammunition reserves.
Target Eliminated! Model Five 20 Total: 118
I barely had a chance to process the points I gained before I heard shuffling coming from the other side of the corner the Five came from. Peeking around the corner I see a sight that has me quickly looking around and above me. Rather than a pile of pig corpses, I see a line of very mobile swine walking towards the finishing barns and lagoon. Strangely, none of them are seemingly bothered by the antithesis whatsoever.
They also have ugly white worms coming out of their mouths.
‘Pyri I’m gonna need some sort of anti-zombie something or other right now.’
Agreed, A package of Model Seven Proofing Pills will only cost you one point for a pack of ten.
‘Should I go back to leave the rest for the others?’
That would probably be advisable, at least after you clear some of the antithesis first. I am tapped into the bunker’s security system, if there is a problem I will alert you.
‘Fair enough, drop them for me please.’
New Purchase! Model Seven Proofing Pills 1 Points Reduced To: 117
A small sheet of foil with ten pill bubbles plopped into my outstretched hand. I quickly plopped one into my mouth and swallowed. As I fiddled around to put the rest away for later, Pyri put a helpful twelve hour timer with a crossed out worm symbol under my point counter.
Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
Twelve hours is the lowest amount of effectiveness the pills offer. Please do not take another pill until that timer runs out and an additional two hours pass afterwards.
‘Fourteen hours, or I’ll have to pump my own stomach, got it.’
You would actually have to take a Cleanse to rid yourself of the drug and purchase a utility that protects your grey matter from atomization.
Rather than truly address that frankly horrifying implication, I decided to do something about the procession of pig zombies headed for… whatever it is Sevens actually do with the bodies they snatch. Raising the wand I sighted the nearest zombie’s head and flash cooked it before anything else spotted me.
Several of the zombies immediately turned around to face me.
“Shit, Pyri I have grenades right?” I anxiously gripped the power washer as I watched them slowly begin to approach my position.
Yes.
I open my palm towards that air as I say, “Give me something that will take these things out without sending gore everywhere please.”
Press the button before you throw it.
I felt the pressure against my right hand again and upon summoning it, I threw the shiny purple orb with tesla coils sticking out and the charging horde. Before it had even reached them arcs or blue energy snapped from the ball to random spots on the pigs with a cacophony of loud snaps.
By the time its energy was spent, I had also hosed down two more zombie pigs and a trio of Model Threes.
Combat Report! Model Three x3 30 Model Seven x16 80 Jacob's Ladder Ball x1 -5 Reward: 105 Total: 222
I held my hand out for another which Pyri obliged, and this time I actually looked at the grenade closely. Not only did it have the button to arm it, but it also had a small dial next to it withhad options for timed fuses, proximity, and remote detonation. Looking at the barn’s blown out door, I got an idea.
“Pyri can you set these so that only one will trigger if their proximity sensors trip?”
For what I think you are planning no; however, you can set them to remotely detonate.
“In that case can you order me up, like, a box of them?” I ask, before explaining, “I want to ensure I’m not going to be surprised in there.”
New Purchase! Jacob's Ladder Ball x8 40 Points Reduced To: 182
Another case similar to what had the flesh melters dropped into my hands. It was a nice dark blue with white highlights.
They are preset to remote detonation, I suggest you clear the immediate interior first and then place them.
“Pyri, I think I know how trapping the door behind me works. I don't need to be instructed on everything,” I groan as I open the box.
Then why did you keep walking forward when studying your map?
That brought me up short. “I… have no excuses to be perfectly honest.”
Exactly. Please do be careful, I would rather not have to explain to your family that you died by walking into a Model Ten while reading a map.
I grumbled a light, ‘okay,’ to my AI as I pulled one of my grenades out of the case, then after setting it to a timed fuse, I threw it in. Oncethe snapping died down within the building, I walked in with my washer raised and found something flat out horrifying, beyond the corpses of pig zombies, and two Model Threes, I saw what remained of a breeding barn’s occupants. Normally this place would have two rows of pig crates facing each other with a nice wide walkway in between. Now, it was nothing but a lot of twisted metal and twitching livestock all over. In the center of the room, there was even a hole in the concrete bridging over the barn’s manure pit.
A giant fucking multi-segment worm was occupying it.
At least I had something to use another grenade on.
I quickly pulled out five more grenades and armed them as proximity mines before moving into the barn. There were a few blood trails leading to the Eight, which were probably pigs that pissed the Threes off enough to be considered enough of a threat to them. As for the Eight, I didn’t want to think about the fact that it was a biomass transport Model burrowed into what was basically a giant vat of manure slurry.
Clearing the slightly concerning thoughts, with a shake of my head I walked up to the worm, tossed an armed grenade in its mouth, then watched it die from the flood of electricity coursing into it. As it began wildly wiggling around in its death throes, I studied my map, which had transformed from a circle to an outline of the barn with each pig and the worm getting their own red dot with a few other slow moving indicators scattered throughout.
Wanting to make sure there weren’t any Sevens in the pit alongside their much larger cousin, I tossed another grenade down into the manure after the Eight had sunk into the mire, then backed off from the hole.
As the orb of electrocution was doing its work, I turned to notice a white worm with long hairs on either end slithering on the concrete towards me. With a roll of my eyes, I shot the thing with my washer, which also threw up an error about its worsening water supply.
“Okay Pyri, surely I have enough now.” I roll my shoulder, then loosen the strap of the washer. “Can I have that Vulgoran weapon catalogue and a basic gun now?”
Absolutely! I will include it and a low level weapon in your combat report!
Combat Log! Model Three x2 20 Model Seven x25 125 Model Eight x1 5 Class I Vulgoran Military Technologies -100 Amp-Thrower Hand Cannon x1 -18 Reward: 32 Total: 214
A box plopped onto the ground in front of me, and not wasting any time as I saw a freshly zombified pig start to twitch as if attempting to stand, I opened the box to find that Pyri sure knew how to buy a girl all the coolest toys. The large pistol was covered in glossy dark purple safety shields giving it a boxy look. Looking like a large plug tine that was pushed apart, its muzzle had a glow emanating from within.
The Amp-Thrower fires electrical blasts that have the punching power to electrocute most of the first tier of Models. The electricity doesn’t go too far before it fizzles however, so its range is limited. Of particular note is its particular niche of easily frying Model Sevens, even while inside their hosts. With regards to ammunition, it has a small built-in battery with a Vulgoran generator attached to it. The generator isn’t large enough to output the energy required to fire non-stop, but it will easily outlast the Powered Washer. I do advise not to continuously fire for more than ten seconds due to the gun’s potential for overheating.
I quickly pulled off the washer, and let it fall to the floor in a heap as I pulled the gun out of its box casing. Flipping the safety off had it glowing just a bit brighter as a quiet hum emanated from it. The grin from earlier was back, stronger than ever.
Oh Pyri, you spoil me far too much.”
I do aim to please, however I think that Seven host needs to be dealt with rather quickly.
Turning, I saw the pig from before fully rise to its hooves, it’s breathing coming out ragged as if whatever was working the poor animal’s lungs didn’t have the basics of it down yet. Further behind it, even more of the pigs were beginning to spasm, trying to stand as even more hostless worms slithered out of the woodwork towards me.
“I guess they really wanted me to power wash the place huh.”
As if agreeing with me, the freshly raised zombie pig lunged forward.