Akari.OS

The others looked at me like I have two heads, of course I could if I wanted to but I don’t. I just smile at them as I start to go over my plan.

“The plan is to get you guys familiar with how to fight in the netscape since I have no illusions of all of the netscape fights going as easily as Queen’s did.” I explained. “So I’m going to train you all on my style of fighting in there.”

Xeriko and Ria nodded at my explanation of needing money. I panned my gaze across the room and smiled at my best Lylat Quadrant friends…and Seri. I then scanned the datanet for the public bounties posted.

“Hmm…” I said looking at the bounties. “I wouldn’t expect there to be other races here other than humans, but color me surprised.”

“It can be surprising if you’re seeing it for the first time.” Ria commented being supportive and smiling her thousand terawatt smile.

“Right, especially when one of them is you.” Xeriko sniped at me.

“Shut it, meatbag.” I snubbed back.

Seri just shook her head at our antics while Ria was chuckling softly at us. Then the room went cold when I let out a gasp. I started visibly shivering as I looked at Xeriko with a deer in headlights look.

“It happened.” I told him.

He looked confused before he searched his memories and came to the same conclusion I did.

“Don’t tell me…” Xeriko said flatly.

I nodded and projected the news reel.

“...We have what some consider the worst possible outcome as some people have defected to the AI’s side during this unfortunate conflict that has befallen Kreli 3.” The newscaster woman said as everyone in the room looked at the reel in horror.

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“I’m officially calling this a Code Red: All hands on deck scenario.” I commented while looking at everyone seriously. “Xeriko, we should add to your loadout, Ria, get your tool box, Seri, you in or out?”

“I’m in, this threat goes beyond personal opinions.” She answered.

“Ok, I’ll be making you extra kit too.” I commented before rolling out of the lunch room and de facto war room burning rubber.

I then dove on the Molecular deep fryer making a gun that won the war. A fully automatic Carbine. No, I won’t call it an assault rifle but we’re getting off topic here.

“Getting low on metals…good thing we’re going to be fighting robots.” I observe as The Killmonger got printed.

The Killmonger is one of my masterpieces, a drum mag on an Alumasteel base and Composite frame with a picatinny top rail and under barrel fitting. Boasting a large drum magazine filled with .75 caliber tungsteel bullets but this time I put extra explosive compound behind the bullets so they’ll fly farther faster and more accurately. I also printed some grenades for Seri…I just hope I can trust her with them. The grenades I made were spherical grenades with a pin and a spoon latch system so it’d be easy to use. I made the shell thin so it was more of an explosive device than a shrapnel delivery system.

“You finished Akari?” Ria asked, coming into the fabricator room.

“Yes, the Killmonger is ready and it’s ready for war.” I nodded and gestured to the just finished weapon. “So are the grenades for Seri.”

Ria picked up the Killmonger and nodded looking down at the crows feet sight and nodded.

“I think Xeriko will like this a lot.” Ria nodded.

She then tossed it to a passing Xeriko who picked it up and ran to the door. I hopped onto his suit as he put it on.

“Let’s go, Malware.” Xeriko commented.

“Agreed.” I nodded in his visor and he ran out with Xeriko

Seri came out holding the grenades on a bandolier I made that held them in place when she was flying. I still wasn’t sure if that was a good idea but we didn’t have time to worry about such things. I made sure the killmonger was synced to Xeriko’s visor and everything was reading out ok.

“Everything’s in order Xeriko, your weapons synced up ok.” I reported from my designated corner in his visor wearing my soldier’s outfit complete with my M1 helmet.

Xeriko nodded as he ran holding the killmonger with a tight grip. He then muttered. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting Kali happen again…”

I guessed that was related to his past so I didn’t pry but looking at him I could tell it was a very very deep wound.

Seri took to the air while us infantry took to the streets running like mad.

“Dammit!!” I shouted to no one in particular.

This was not something I wanted to deal with. I knew it was only a foolish dream to hope people would band together under the threat but I wished it could’ve worked like that.

“The Newscaster just announced that the AI terrorists are holding out in a…oh…” I gulped.

“What?” Ria asked as I added her avatar to Xeriko’s helmet for ease of comms.

“They’re hiding out at a foundry.” I commented, going pale.

“So…” Seri jumped in but I just made her a textbox.

No, I’m not petty and it’s not important right now anyway.

“We’re dealing with an entrenched, fortified, and heavily supplied armada.” I summed up groaning.

“Well shit…” Xeri commented, still running.

“The plus side is we get to break in the grapnel for Xeriko’s suit.” I noted trying to be positive.

“Do we have a plan?” Ria asked.

I thought it over for a moment before pacing back and forth while we ran through the neon jungle of Breech City. Its many holo-ads and candy colored neon lights projecting a pink tinge to the roadways and sidewalks. Looking at the newest Holo-Idol gave me an Idea.

“That’s it, three pronged attack.” I said, hitting my fist onto my open palm. “Xeriko, we’ll sneak in, Ria, humanitarian work and tend the wounded with the police, harpy, Try and de-escalate, with the human element we may be able to reason with them, or at least, catch them off guard.”

Everyone nodded at my plan and we ran faster to the material foundry hoping against hope we weren’t too late.