Jackal Hunter Lori Kruger yet to beat in recent showdown
EVAcorp engineers: "We did all we could, and she won fair and square"
Fans rediscovering love of Lorianne Kruger, Jackal Hunter after out-scoring robotic competitor
"It's charming to see her regain her excellence, isn't it, Directors?"
"Yes, and we credit you for the idea," the chorus of anonymized voices reply to me.
"Props to your execution. We will speak again soon," I close the window.
Within the Compound, the video feed shows Ari and Magdalene shuffling about in the kitchen. Thankfully the two together have seemed to re-engage– or perhaps, pacify– Corvus, for now, at least.
Ari quietly mops the floor while Magdalene gleefully dances about, carrying dishes, seeming to challenge herself on how well she can maintain the balance.
~~
“Mother Elin,” Chuji rings through Earworm.
“Chuji.”
“Requesting your… in-person presence as soon as possible. Sending you our coordinates.”
How odd. “En route.”
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FABIAN opens the door, handing me my field coat and boots. “These are suggested for the environment you are likely to encounter,” he rolls into my office.
I remove my gown. “No video feed as to what she and the others are up to?”
“No, Mother.”
Within the coat, the armor plates are intact. “Bring me some armaments, to discourage any reckless behavior.”
“As requested,” he retrieves pistol-caliber small-arms modules, holding them toward me. I extend my hands, and the magnetic mounts attach themselves at my forearms, and grab the short-sleeve jacket.
~~
The Sunbird lands in a windy flat, visibility poor due to a light sandstorm.
“Mother Elin,” Chuji and a few sergeants stop and salute me, standing in line.
“Afternoon, Daughters,” I stand with my hands behind my back, emerging from the Sunbird’s ingress ramp.
“We turned our comms off after seeing this. Requesting your judgement,” Chuji motions the sergeants to stand aside to reveal the dismembered remains of a Jackal, riddled with holes left from cannon fire. A few sergeants turn away, ashamed of something.
“What is abnormal here?”
4 of the 8 sergeants step away to reveal a small, bloody skeleton, proportionate of a child. The limbs and sections of its spinal column are scattered about within a few meters. It seems as if the flesh was removed only hours ago.
“Hm. How odd.”
I look around, to see any other suspicious evidence. “Seems like little more than a gap in the Fence’s automation. Two of you will collect evidence in an opaque container and I will mobilize a closed investigation team to determine the origin of this possible child.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Daughters, what you have witnessed today is top secret, and you may also opt for memory revisions to prevent further disclosure and reduce liability for yourselves. Once all evidence is collected, clean it up, and under no circumstances outside of right here and today, do you even speak of this incident.”
I face Chuji. “Lieutenant, Engineering needs to tighten the response times of the network. I am counting on you and FABIAN to keep the news off of this.”
“I’m sorry you had to see this, Mother. I didn’t know what to do.”
“At ease. The wilderness does not care for human sensitivities, and continued vigiliance is the only appropriate response.”