One Week Later

Rijohe 94,078/100,000

Tom S. Controlled: X Killed: X

Juli B. Controlled: X Killed: X

Jon M. Controlled: 2,003 Killed: 2

Time Remaining for Step 1: 20:08:22

I swiped away the challenger update and tried to focus on what Kendall and Arjun were telling me. I lazily scratched behind Sally’s ears as I realized the gravity of the situation. Twenty days left to increase our legion by ten times its number. At least we had a plan. Arjun was one of Tom’s old people, an expert strategist and one of the rare former military members I’ve come across.

“You got that goofy look when you blank out again. Ok one more time,” Arjun started again exasperated.

“The few people you didn’t 'Free' back at the mall all came to the major military base. We have 10 of our guys there waiting for you to Warp to them hiding among the outside security. The base however seems to be heavily fortified against challengers. There are visual and auditory disruptors everywhere to inhibit your concentration. This one building especially we have never been able to infiltrate but it’s where the workers are. That’s the atomic printer building we believe.”

I looked at the local gas station maps we had found and drawn on, and mentally connected to Lonnie and the people we had inside the base for a moment. They couldn’t risk being seen by Rijohe’s people now, but it was easy to hide them among the initial horde of new workers as they headed to the base. Now we were back at shelter with only a small core of my legion while the rest were organizing and preparing for an even larger influx of people.

Kendall was right in a way regarding the ropes and saving people in odd situations. After the outdoor mall we had found plenty of places throughout town where people were trapped and unable to escape. I was able to grow the legion by a half dozen here, and a few scores there, all by checking random buildings and emergency areas. However, even this method was slowing down as time passed and people were dying in one way or another as they were left behind. The numbers on the challenger screen sadly confirmed my theory. This was our next logical step.

“To make matters worse the giant bird men are there. They have those weird ass rifles that shoot laser beams. Cindybot calls them Pulse Rifles and they can and will kill you. I don’t think this area is part of the “challenge game” they want you to be playing.” Arjun concluded.

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I looked down at Moto who now covered half of my right hand like an ill-fitting hobo glove. He couldn’t truly communicate outside of these weird flare outs he did sometimes that I didn’t understand. This next mission was stupidly dangerous but it would help them immensely with both the challenge and probably the Yuini if his hunch was right.

“And what about our other pressing concern outside of the base?” I asked Kendall. She was also in charge of the situation with Julio much to her dismay.

“He tried to steal a bike and keeps hitting on your former aunt. I still don’t think they’ll let him go,” Kendall replied.

Sally gave a soft growl at the reply. Her and her symbiote had advised Julio to not deviate from their plan. Not only that, Sally insists that Linda wasn’t my aunt. At least not anymore.

It turns out Cindy was with my aunt Linda, well, my ex aunt Linda, and some other Yuini at the distribution center that Julio and Sally found. They wanted to discuss some big plans but only face to face with me. Things went to shit after Julio swore that he saw his old motorcycle and tried to leave with it. He’s in a makeshift holding cell and they won’t let him out until I personally go see them, no matter what we try. Instead we're assaulting the military base. Am I running away from my problems? Some might say that.

“They know they can reach me through him. It smells like a trap and it has since the grocery store note. Something else is going on,” I said shaking my head. Kendall wasn’t convinced.

“I hope when I get put in fake alien jail you don’t leave me stranded for a week,” she muttered. I let it go. It was hard to argue with someone who could read your mind.

“Julio’s fine, he’s tough,” I assured her.

JESUS PLEASE THEYRE SO MEAN Julio yelled in MindChat.

“How’s the HiveQueen program working? Do you feel hungry?” I asked them ignoring Julio. The HiveQueen program came in at the thousand legion member mark. It allowed a designated “Queen” to be the one that ate for the legion and the spaceship’s systems distributed the nutrients to everyone through our link. It was a constantly exhausting job that had to be rotated due to how disgusting it was to just sit there and eat all the time, but it helped immensely with our limited food inventory.

“Right now it seems to still be ok as long as the current queen eats a little over 10,000 calories a day. Anything less and we feel hungry. I miss eating on a psychological level though,” Arjun replied with a grimace. Whatever technology was sustaining us was probably taking away body fat/nutrients from the host HiveQueen as well. We just didn’t admit that part out loud.

“We need a backup plan we’re running on fumes all the time,” Kendall argued again.

It was our biggest discussion/fight. She wanted to set out and send people to farms and make some sort of giant hippie commune. I argued back that we didn’t have time for that due to the giant bird men trying to control us all. Right now it was in a tense stalemate until we figured out if we were even going to get to the 20,000 legion goal for step two.

“Keep alternating the queen every other day. If we can take this base we’re all moving there. They have a ton of solar generators and it’s right next to the river, perfect spot for us. It’s all down to this next mission anyway,” I told them.

Kendall nodded and looked around the shelter.

“Where’s CB? I haven’t seen her all day and you’ve barely thought of her,” she asked.

Sally let out a soft whine as I stood up and shook my head.

“I wish I could explain it more but it’s absolutely insane so I’ll just let you know if it works for now. She’ll be here soon,” I said trying to not think of it.

Cindybot was trying something that she swore would work but it made me gag to even consider it.

“Are we ready? What else should I know before I head in?” I asked them.

“Umm. Don’t do it. You don't even know if your powers will work on the birdmen. Go see Julio instead. This is legit insanity?” Arjun pleaded again as Cindybot finally appeared looking haggard.

“Nope. Too awkward still. Would rather face probable death. Warp,” I commanded thinking of Lonnie at the military base.