I spent the next couple hours hunting down small groups of model threes, which seemed to be everywhere, and trying not to be noticed by larger groups. I sometimes failed, but I was able to avoid taking any injuries that would have killed me outright, and what injuries I did take were quickly fixed up with more regenerative nanites. Even with that expenditure, I had earned a tidy little sum of points to spend.

Current point total: 260

When Cyara told me the factory had finished demolishing my old car, I followed her directions back to where I had left it, and found only the small metal box next to an indent where my car had crashed. The model eight had apparently finished with all the dead Antithesis here and moved on, as there was little trace any aliens had ever been here. I tried to pick up the nanite factory, but it was much heavier than it had been, and I couldn’t even budge it.

There’s a ton and a half of recycled car in there, you won’t be able to move it. But with your points you’ll be able to buy one of the catalogs you’ll need to make those nanites functional. I would suggest Class I Nanite External Enhancement or Class I Nanite Interlinking. Those will give you the basic features you’re after, and cost two hundred and two hundred and fifty points respectively.

“That sounds perfect, thank you Cyara. Get me whatever will make the nanites immediately usable.”

I do aim to please.

Class I Nanite Programming Unlocked!

Points remaining: 60

New Purchase: Class I Nanite Interlinking

Points Remaining: 10

Now that you have the catalog, you can spend your last ten points to receive a neural interface that will allow you to control the nanites as if they are another limb.

“Nifty. It won’t screw up anything in my brain, right?”

That is correct.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

New Purchase: Class I Neural Nanite Controller

New point total: 0

I felt a sharp pain at the nape of my neck, then I was almost overwhelmed with new sensations. I was perfectly aware of the billions of nanites sitting within the small box in front of me, and I knew they would do whatever I wanted.

I formed a mental picture of a large metal hand in front of me, and a wave of blue and silver emerged from the box and slowly filled in what I had pictured. Soon there was a hand about five feet tall in front of me, made of shining blue and silver.

I took the liberty of having the fabricator create the nanites according to the color scheme specified on the plans on your profile.

It was pretty blocky and not exactly what I had pictured, and the nanites moved quite slowly, but it was a start. Next, I pictured them forming around my body, a sort of suit of armor, and the nanites started moving to comply. I had to stop them and revise my mental image several times when I felt sharp edges digging into my skin, but eventually I had a coating of nanites over my entire body except my face.

Then I tried to move, and everything went wrong.

I had imagined that the nanites would seamlessly follow my movement, but the reality was not so. As I moved to take a step, the nanites stayed in place, barely shifting. This led to me fruitlessly pressing myself against the metal shell that encased me.

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I had never done well in tight spaces, and a feeling of panic welled up in me. I struggled harder to move, to shift, to do anything, but nothing happened.

Garrett, you're starting to panic. Breathe.

I took a breath, inhaling as deeply as I could against the metal suit. Immediately, I could feel the panic start to recede, my mind calming.

Good. You need to tell the nanites what to do, not just flail wildly. They are very basic, and until you upgrade them they can only follow clear instructions.

I imagined all of the nanites draining off my body like liquid and pooling on the ground at my feet. They followed my instructions, and soon I was again free.

"Okay, so no suit yet. Got it." I went to pick up the box again, but still couldn't lift it. "Cyara, what's going on here?"

Your neural interface can only control so many nanites at once. As you upgrade your equipment, you will be able to control more. And until then, when you lose nanites, you'll have ready replacements.

That... actually made sense.

"Okay, so if I can't lift it, how am I going to transport all these nanites?" I didn't want to leave a resource like that just sitting there in the middle of the mountains.

Kill enough Antithesis to class up.

I rolled my eyes. "Of course you'd say that."

You'll find, Garrett, now that you are a member of the Vanguard, the solution to most of your problems will be the same.

"Yeah, kill aliens, get points, then buy my way out of my problems."

While there are some things that no amount of points can fix, such as death, you are essentially correct.

I snorted. "Okay, then. Back to the nanites. If I can't take them with me, will I at least be able to find them again?"

The Mobile Nanite Factory is made for situations such as this, and as such contains a unique transponder which will allow me to find it over a sizeable area. You do not need to worry about losing it unless you travel quite far. I will warn you if you are about to leave the range.

"Okay, enough talk. Let's go kill some more aliens."

Leaving the metal box where it sat, I hefted my bat and set off, a pool of metal following behind. As I walked, I experimented with the nanites, and found I could have a portion of them form into a shape, like a shield, and then lock them into that position, so they didn't do whatever I commanded my other nanites to do. Using this, I created some metal plates and tied them onto my body using the remnants of my shirt, so that I had a rudimentary breastplate and protection for my arms. It wasn't ideal or comfortable, but it would afford me a bit more protection.

After running into a couple small groups of model threes which I dispatched fairly easily, I came across a small opening in the ground, just behind a large boulder. As I watched, a few model ones emerged, taking to the sky.

Ah, it seems you have found a burgeoning hive. Under normal circumstances I would tell you to leave it be and look for easier prey, but if left alone, it could spell the end of all surrounding civilizations. And I have faith you can destroy it.

"If it could destroy everything around, how many antithesis are in there?"

Right now? I would estimate a few hundred to maybe in the low thousands, if it's been active for a few days. But if left unchecked, that number will double or more every day.

"Okay, that does sound bad. But I think I could deal with a few hundred, if it's only three or four at a time. But what if I get swarmed, like back at the campsite?" I shuddered at the memory.

Now you have a few hundred pounds of nanites.

I took a breath, noticing that it was a little shaky. "Okay, but remember how I don't like tight spaces?"

There are some rather large models, especially at the center of a hive. The tunnels should be quite spacious.

"Well, you haven't led me astray yet."

Your faith in me is admirable.

Somehow, Cyara sounded both sarcastic and genuine.

I chuckled. "Funny you should say that, as I've never been one to rely on faith. Guess there's a first time for everything."

And with that, I started crawling down into the cave.