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***
Well, that girl certainly has some lungs on her.
I grimly nod as I swim, clutching my hand against my slamming chest. I’m unsure if Emmelyn knew we were going to hear her sing, but the impact of that performance is still the same. The terrifying explosions, gunshots, the spine chilling sound of hammer breaking bone. The audible sorrow, the tears she managed to hold back as she finished the song.
It may have been an act, for all I know, but it still makes me wish I was close enough to Emmelyn to comfort her. Maybe we’ll be friends when all this is done.
That’d be nice.
As we reach the burst hole in the eleventh floor once again, I grimace and flutter myself to an abrupt stop. Nyvi floats down beside me, her adorable orca fins flapping as she does.
Something wrong?
‘It’s annoying.’ I mime a gag, shaking my head. ‘I really don’t like the smell of fresh cut grass, even with the hints of lavender mixed in.’
Pardon? Lavender? That’s a new one.
I chuckle, waving my tail behind me to accelerate again. ‘Honestly, I thought you would know what all the flowers are like on earth.’
I do. Lavender is just not a way I have heard humans describe Antithesis musk. Regardless, if you can smell it, they’ve probably moved inside since we were last here.
I raise an eyebrow, then actively sniff the air a bit more as I flip around into the flooded city.
I’m checking your olfactory sense, but I’m not seeing anything out of the ordinary. It’s likely just a strange effect of the bionites, I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
‘No, but seriously, this is weird. It’s totally lavender!’ I float towards the scent, moving into one of the larger openings between buildings.
Be careful, we don’t know what it might be.
I nod, readying my harpoon as I dip beneath a crooked metal bridge. Rushing forward, I take a sharp turn directly into view of one of the major plazas. I pale as I see a huge, boxy whale-like green alien casually sitting smack dab in the middle of the plaza, tiny fish-like models wiggling out of the several small blowhole-like crevices on its back. It has six large fins and is covered in what seems like chitin along much of its body. I immediately duck into a side building, anxiously clutching my weapon against my chest.
‘What the fuck is that?’ I breathe, nervously taking another peek, just to see more of the same.
A Model Twelve-A and a lot of Model One-As. We have two realistic choices here. Either take it out now, preventing the ones from spreading to create new hives in this area, or wait for the hives to sprout to easily take care of them. Both options will eventually get the hordes' attention, though.
I bite my lip, then ask. ‘Are there any explosives like that directional diode from earlier I can buy?’
For the same price, you can get a more general fragmentation version of it. All you have to do is push it towards your target.
I clench my fist, then nod. ‘One, please.’
As you wish.
New Purchase!
1x FDEC-LCP Diode
Cost: 5 Points
Remaining Total: 10 Points
As the orb appears in the water above me, I grab it before ever so slightly leaning out of the doorframe. I take a deep breath, then toss the ball up in the air, Nyvi locking it in place at the right height. I slam my palm against the diode, sending it sluggishly floating down the alley, a white will-o-the-wisp in a city of graves. The orb is ignored by the Antithesis at first, at least until it starts getting close to them. Several of the model ones swim down to check on it, but it’s too late. I close my eyes and hide inside again as I press the invisible detonator.
The water around me shifts as the explosive goes off, and immediately I zip out of my hiding spot towards the monster I knew was still going to be alive. The Twelve, now surrounded by its dead fishy friends and a bit disoriented, stands dazed until I am almost there. It starts to float upwards to get away, but I don’t give it a chance. Grimacing at the smell, I pull my harpoon back before stabbing it upwards into the bottom of the alien’s head, a disconcerting squelch coming as the monster flails to get away. I flip the switch on the harpoon to turn it on, then click the trigger for the first time.
A vibrant beam of rainbow light pierces straight through the alien’s head, burning a hole the size of my fist all the way through it. Unfortunately, It doesn’t die, changing it’s goal from escape to bringing me down with it. It swings its armored tail at me, but I simply swim backwards a bit to get out of the way.
Deciding it’s not worth it to extend the fight much longer, I wait for it to reposition to see what it’s going to do, and when I see it begin to charge at me, I take my chance. I push myself forward at it, entering into a game of murder chicken, but strafe to the side and stab my harpoon into its head again, burning a new line with my light, perpendicular to the first. I pull my weapon back as it goes into death throes, grimacing at the meat that comes with it.
Nicely done, good kills.
I grin, giving the little orca a thumbs up. ‘That went relatively well.’
Don’t let it get to your head, your battles with models in the teens have been easy as neither one was designed specifically for combat. Things would not have been so easy if we were to run into a model thirteen or fourteen.
‘Duly noted.’ I mutter, then sigh as I awkwardly pull the chunk of plant flesh off my weapon. ‘Seriously though, that thing reeks. Lavender is good in small doses, but this is just taking it too far.’
I’d like to test something, can you grab one of the Model Ones for me?
I shrug, then swim over to stab a fish bird. ‘Okay, now what?’
Smell it.
I groan, but oblige and take a whiff as she asked. To my surprise however, I willingly take a second one. “I think that’s… Milkweed?”
Fascinating.
‘Keeping me on the edge of my seat, huh?’ I sigh, then toss the model one back onto the corpse pile.
Well, my best guess is that you can read Antithesis pollen pheromones through your sense of smell.
I freeze, then glance behind me. ‘Okay, is that bad?’
Not particularly, no. It does have concerning implications that I think we will probably need to look into later, but it isn’t an issue at all for the moment.
‘Oookay.’ I blow a raspberry, then glance back the way I came in. ‘How long do we have until they start rushing in?’
Probably ten minutes. I’d recommend getting a quick upgrade for the SAD for biomatter disintegration, before doing whatever we can to set up.
‘How much?’
Ten for the upgrade.
I think for a moment, then ask, ‘Sounds fine, I want something though.
And that is?
I tap my chin. ‘Well, I want a well made bag designed for use underwater. It’s annoying not having one.’
Easy, anything else?
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
I grin. ‘Can it be filled with as many of the fragmentation diodes as it can and one or two of the directional ones?’
Ah, you’re going that route. Yes, we can do that.
I give a thumbs up, and the bag appears in the air above me.
Points Update!
Starting Points: 10
Enemies Eliminated!
1x Model 12-A
Reward: 100 Points
40x Model 1-A
Reward: 40 Points
Total Reward: 77 Points (55%)
New Purchase!
1x SAD Biomass Disintegrator Module
Cost: 10 Points
1x Subaquatic Combat-Ready Messenger Bag
Cost: 7 Points
2x DDEC-LCP Diode
Cost: 10 Points
5x FDEC-LCP Diode
Cost: 25 Points
Total Cost: 52 Points
Remaining Total: 25 Points
I catch it and throw it over my shoulder, peeking inside and grinning at the diodes inside. They weren’t too much, but they’d be a big help in catching stragglers. The SAD pops off of Nyvi’s side, floating over to begin to disintegrate the aliens. I take a deep breath, then rush forth out into the alleyways.
I don’t have long before the horde is going to be here, so I need to get set up fast.
**
As the airlock clicks shut behind me, I groan as I let loose the tension in my shoulders.. “Whew, that’s done. Gosh, putting a serious act like that on for so long is harsh.”
Achys pats me on the back of the head, leaning down to look me in the eyes. “You did a good job, but we probably need to work on your stamina a bit.”
I yawn as I nod. “Yeah, doing something like this after a day of work is definitely a bit much… Fuck, we still have ten floors to go through, don’t we?”
Achys snorts, then confirms, “Technically eleven, since we’ll probably also have to eliminate the Model Twenty-Seven that Prism and Nyvi saw.”
I blink, then quietly mutter, “...Everything going all right over there, Prism?”
Nyvi’s honey sweet voice is what comes next out of the bird’s beak. [“Oh, you’re just in time. Here, let me just…”]
A pitch black box pops up onto my glasses, which makes me frown and tap the side of them. “Either you just sent me a broken video, or it’s fucking dark there.”
[“Ah, yes, I apologize.”] The feed shifts, revealing a still dark but visible environment with a mermaid that has her back pushed up against the side of a door. [“That should be better. To be honest, I hadn’t considered how Prism’s eyes have adapted to this kind of environment.”]
I hum in interest, then walk out into the main stairlock when the door opens in front of me. “She seems pretty focused, can she hear us?”
[“Not at the moment, she’s entirely honed in on her sense of smell at the moment.”]
“Smell? What does that-” Before I can finish, Prism suddenly lunges out the door, stabbing her harpoon straight through the head of a shark-like alien with a three hinged jaw. “Oh.”
Nyvi follows behind Prism as she pulls the shark inside, sniffs it, then grimaces as she returns to her previous position. The little glass fish drone floats over, a dim red beam emitting from its head that slowly begins to disintegrate the Model Three.
I whistle as I start up the steps. “So, she’s just going to stay there doing this until she can’t anymore?”
[“Not exactly, she’s waiting for a signal.”]
Right on cue, a flash of rainbow light fills the feed, and Prism rushes out of the building once again. Following right behind her, Nyvi watches as the mermaid weaves through the alleyways, seemingly on a preplanned course. She jerks around a corner, pressing a button down as she brings her harpoon up, piercing a blinding beam of light straight through another Model Three. It falls beside two more dead aliens like it, burnt to a crisp with small holes piercing through their bodies. Prism takes a small glowing orb out of her new bag, holding it right above the bodies, where it seemingly locks into place.
Suddenly, a second explosion goes off, and Prism takes off towards it once again. A small smile spreads across my face as I mutter, “So she has those mines set, and she goes in afterwards to pick off anything that investigates the explosion, then resets the trap?”
[“That’s step one, two is still in the works. As a matter of fact, she has the diodes set to only detonate when there are sufficient models in the radius, so they’re difficult for the Antithesis to understand.”]
I watch in awe as Prism deftly stabs her harpoon through two smaller fishlike Antithesis. “How much do those things even cost? They seem pretty effective at what they do.”
[“They’re five points each, which means each of the Model Threes she eliminates is worth just enough for her to get one with half a point left over, despite the reduction.”]
I pause, raising an eyebrow. “She’s getting a reduction? Why?”
The two AIs are silent for a moment, until Achys nervously chuckles. “Uh, did we not tell you two that you’re sharing point gains for the moment? You each get fifty five percent of anything that either of you kill.”
I take a moment to think, then blurt, “Wait Wait Wait?! I’m getting points for her work?!”
[“To be fair, she’ll also be benefitting from you killing things while you climb. Over all, collectively you’re getting one hundred ten percent worth from each kill.”]
“Remind me to thank her for that later…” I say, then gasp as the camera suddenly jerks forward, the Orca moving to deflect a wave of spines that Prism hadn’t seen coming. The mermaid spins to face the new threat, burning a hole through the Model Five-T. That’s not the end though, as Prism is knocked back a few feet when an incredibly fast, macelike tentacle slams into her side. I bite my lip as she quickly rights herself only to be forced to retreat even farther to avoid a followup attack.
Achy hums as she watches Prism attempt to regain the advantage against her opponent, a model resembling a squid with three individual bodies linked together. “A model thirteen? Rare to see outside of a hive.”
[“It's concerning. It probably indicates that they’re confident enough in their hive’s defense that they can send them out for their secondary purpose.”]
Another mine goes off in the distance as Prism barely deflects a tentacle stabbing at her chest right as Nyvi blocks another aimed at her fin, only to be clipped in the shoulder by third. I go pale as the girl pauses, looks down at her shoulder, then screams as her demeanor entirely shifts.
Prism recklessly charges forward, fast enough that the little orca can only barely keep up. She deflects another two hits reflexively, as well as barely scraping by three more as she encroaches upon the Model Thirteen’s space. The squids try, yet fail to make a bit of room as the mermaid brings their doom down upon them. Ruthlessly, Prism burns a hole through one body, stabs another, then leaves her weapon where it is as she brutally begins to pummel the last squid with just her fists.
“Holy shit…” I bite my lower lip, watching the incredibly enraged girl turn a plant into pulp. “Is it bad that I think that’s sorta really fucking hot?”
Neither of the AI responds to my query, which just makes me start to giggle. Prism, her emerald eyes foggy, stares down as the now flattened Model Thirteen begins to sink, breathing heavy as she grabs her harpoon again. She raises a palm, getting an injector that she stabs into her shoulder, filling the admittedly painful looking gash with goopy white foam.
A fourth mine goes off in the distance, followed by a fifth. Visibly exhausted, Prism slithers into a small side room, hunkering down into a corner as she takes a moment to catch her breath.
“Prism, are you okay? That looked intense.” Worriedly squeezing my hammer when there is no response, I speed up my steps a bit. “Prism? Can you hear me?”
As the girl processes my words, she blinks, her eyes becoming more clear with each one, then it clicks and she goes a bit red as she hides her face in her hands. [“Y-Yeah! I-I’m fine, that happens sometimes. I-I definitely need some way to avoid those kinds of extended fights…”]
“Honestly, I’m more worried about you getting out.” A sixth explosion echoes out in the background. “How many of those are even left?”
[“Um… I-I think that was the last one. I-I’m a bit anxious about the second part of my plan, maybe I should get something to make it a bit safer…”]
“Maybe stealth? Might be helpful with how many enemies you said there are out there…”
Prism grins at the orca, then nods enthusiastically, sending my heart skyward. [“G-Great idea! How many points do we have?”]
Achys looks down at me, an unimpressed look on her face.
Do I even need to ask if you’re okay with sharing that?
I chuckle and shake my head before an expanded points update appears on my glasses.
“Ha… Emmelyn is at two seventy, Prism you’re at one forty three,” Achys declares, before the bird’s voice shifts to Nyvi’s honey sweet tone, [“Which means Prism alone doesn’t have enough to get a stealth catalog and item. However if Emme lets us use hers…”]
I roll my eyes, then say, “Yes, she can use some of my points. I’m going to be climbing here for a while longer, better she uses them to get some more points for us.”
Nyvi actually chuckles at that. [“Well dear, you heard her. Anything in specific you’d like?”]
Prism’s jaw hangs open for a moment as she thinks. [“U-Um… Maybe a cloak or something?”]
I raise my hand, then say, “I’ll pay half, so don’t be afraid to get something consistently good.”
Prism nods with a little smile, then stares out into space as I assume her AI speaks to her, before she gives a thumbs up to the Orca.
Dammit! I knew I looked dumb doing that earlier!
Points Update!
Prism
Emmelyn
Starting Total:
25 Points
117 (40+77) Points, 1 Token
Enemies Eliminated!
8x Model One-A: 8 Points
13x Model Three-A: 130 Points
2x Model Five-A: 40 Points
1x Model Thirteen: 100 Points
N/A
Total Gained:
(55% Split)
153 points
153 points
Catalog Unlocked!
Class-I Basic Stealth Systems: 50 Points (50%)
(Split cost:) 50 Points
New Purchase!
1x FDEC-LCP Diode: 5 Points
1x Combo Nano-Woundstop: 30 Points
1x ROC Retractable Cloak: 35 Points (50%)
(Split cost:) 35 Points
Total Cost:
120 Points
85 Points
Final Total:
58 Points
185 Points, 1 Token
A strip of black fabric with a silver bangle on the back appears around Prism's neck, and I take a moment to just stare at her as she fidgets with it. “U-Um, can I ask why you decided on a choker, exactly?”
Prism pauses, slowly looks up at the orca, then hastily taps the back of the neckpiece three times, from which a thick gray cloak pops out. She flips the hood, turning herself nearly invisible, before grabbing her companion to drag it inside the stealth as well.
[“I-It sounded cute…”]