“I have been wondering about this for a while now. A lot of samurai have changed their gender, right?”
“I know you don’t want to go to a gynaecologist, but getting a sex change is not getting you out of it.”
“What? Right, no, not what I meant. I was just wondering if that was one of the deciding factors that makes you a samurai.”
“You know not all samurai change their gender.”
“Ooh, maybe it is because people who already want to change their gender are less resistant to other changes.”
"You're still going to the doctor."
"Fuck!"
-- discussion between Sam and Evelin ‘Maniac’ before initialisation.
Class I Prolotor Viral Modifications unlocked!
Points reduced to… 1314
Class II Prolotor Viral Modifications unlocked!
Points reduced to… 864
Tokens reduced to… 0
Class I Prolotor Drugs
Points reduced to… 764
First, I believe it best you purchase a natural upgrade to your muscles and reflexes. The Class II Rabid Acrobatic Canid Viral Sample would be a good fit for your, odd, combat style. I would supplement it with a Class I Mutagen X to increase your susceptibility to mutation, and a Class I Viral Immunity Booster, to increase your resistance to any harmful side effects. It will come out to a total of four hundred points.
‘Will it finish fast enough?’
The footsteps are getting louder, and whatever is approaching us, probably another group of Threes if the even patter of claws is anything to go off, is nearly here.
Yes.
‘Do it then.’
New Purchase: Class II R.A.C Viral Sample
Points reduced to… 564
New Purchase: Class I Mutagen X
Points reduced to… 464
New Purchase: Class I Viral Immunity Booster
Points reduced to… 364
Three boxes spawn at my feet, each with a different graphic of a raccoon printed on the top.
Please inject the Mutagen and Immunity Booster first.
I nod and reach for the box with a raccoon fighting a cartoon virus with a comically oversized sword.
‘I assume this is the Immunity Booster.’
Correct.
I pop open the box and find a thick glass tube of translucent blue liquid with a nasty-looking mechanical silver head at one end. I pull back my sleeve and hold the metal end against the inside of my elbow.
‘Is there a bu-‘
The tube starts draining into my arm before I can finish my question, and I feel a tingling warmth spread across my body. The tube empties, so I remove it from my arm and drop it to the floor, moving on to the box with a raccoon hugging a strange glitching blob.
There’s a similar injector inside, but the liquid within is an unsettling yellow that almost glows. As it flows into my arm, an excited buzz floods my veins, as if every cell in my body is coming alive.
I resist the urge to bounce in place and pop open the last box, ignoring the flexing raccoon printed on it. This third injector is twice the size of the other two. The needle at the end is long enough to make me a little nervous, and the strange, thick grey sludge bubbling away inside it makes me swallow a lump down my throat.
‘This is safe, right?’
Mostly. Please place that one against your chest. It can be over your clothes if that makes you more comfortable.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
‘Why did you brush over that question!’
She doesn’t respond and I grit my teeth as I place the thick silver contraption against my chest. The sharp needle shoots out, punching a hole in me and dumping the contents of the container within a second.
At first, I don’t feel anything as I pull the needle out and discard the empty injector. I glance down at my chest, waiting for something to happen.
I wonder if Mind Krank will help with the pain?
I get my answer much faster than I would like as pain consumes my thoughts. It explodes out of nowhere, starting in no particular spot and tearing through every single fibre of my being. I try to scream, but the muscles in my throat are being ripped to shreds just like the rest of them, so nothing happens.
The only sensation I can even start to discern is the revolting sensation of something wriggling beneath my skin.
I don’t know how long it lasts, probably only a few seconds, but it feels like hours. Then, the all-encompassing pain vanishes like a lie. I’m left gasping for breath while feeling completely refreshed. It’s weird.
‘That was horrible. Will every change be like that?’
Some will hurt less; some will hurt more. You’ll get used to it.
‘Can’t we use any painkillers?’
Unfortunately, no. One of the few main drawbacks of this method is the inability to make it comfortable for the user.
‘It better have been worth it.’
I raise one of my hands, flexing my fingers and trying to see if anything feels different. There’s no pain, even as I stretch them past what should have been the limit of their flexibility before. That’s a good start.
I put my hands down and push off the pipe, expecting to stand up. However, instead I fling myself forward a few metres, tumbling and rolling to my feet.
‘Woah.’
I slowly stand up straight, then I lightly flex my ankles, sending myself several inches off the floor.
’That’s weird!’
The sudden shift in strength may be a little difficult to get used to. I would recommend purchasing a Hyper Thought for ten points to temporarily boost your processing speed in order to adjust.
‘Okay.’
New Purchase: Hyper Thought
Points reduced to… 354
Another syringe spawns in the air in front of me. It’s a good thing I don’t mind needles.
I place the injector on my arm, ignoring the fizzling yellow liquid inside. As it flows through my veins, I feel a rush to my head and my entire viewpoint seems to zoom out a little.
‘This is even worse!’
I move my arms, expecting the shift in perception to make the action feel strange, but instead, the movement feels completely natural as if I never got a muscle upgrade at all.
‘Never mind.’
I flex my fingers again and smile before stepping forward and closing the distance to my siblings suddenly enough to make them jump. I bend down, folding at the waist in a way I’ve never been able to before due to my tight legs to pick up my gloves and knives.
I slip the gloves on and hold a knife in each hand.
I should buy a way to hold these next.
A group of Threes finally enter my torchlight, revealing their blackened, half-burned bodies. The plants charge into my light one by one until there are nine shapes hurtling towards us. My siblings move to confront our enemies, but I don’t think they’ll need to.
I crouch and lean forward, compressing my legs and building up power while angling towards the leading dog. I burst forward, closing the gap in an instant and reaching out, slamming my curled fingers into the plant’s skull, ripping a chunk clean out of it and killing the creature instantly.
I bounce between the Threes, lashing out in a hail of blades that shreds the half-cooked xenos to pieces, scattering plant matter and green blood across the pipes.
Targets Eliminated!
Points increased to… 444
I slide to a stop behind the dead plants, looking back over my shoulder while lightly panting.
‘Whoa!’
So, do you think it was worth it?
‘Yes! That was a rush, and it felt so easy! I’m a bit tired already though.’
Both the mutation process and the usage of your new muscles consume a lot of nutrients. You should look at taking a break to take in some sustenance soon.
‘Got it. Should I be doing something about all this dead plant? Can’t they use the bodies to make more of themselves?’
Yes, Antithesis gather biomass to produce more Models. On that note, I would suggest purchasing a Mark I Flesh Melter for three points.
‘Buy away.’
New Purchase: Mark I Flesh Melter
Points reduced to… 441
A silver can pops into existence, so I reach out and grab it. It has a classic pop tab on top like a drink.
‘This is a grenade, right?’
Yes, it is. Pop the tab, throw it into the centre of the bodies, and stay ten metres away from the deployment zone.
I whistle, calling my siblings over so we can head towards the undercity before following the instructions. A slow sizzling starts behind us as we head towards the junction I lit on fire.
I walk slowly with my siblings, and we turn off at the last side pipe before the dead hive, settling down on a large half-melted pile of metal scrap.
‘Can I buy food from you then?’
Yes, basic food is included in a general catalogue available to all Vanguard, just like that head torch.
‘Cool. Four meals then please!’
New Purchase: Basic Ration x 4
Points reduced to… 433
Four white plastic trays with clear plastic tops spawn in my lap. My siblings all surround me, eying them with interest as they catch the smell of hot food. I place three of the trays out for them and pop the lid off my own.
A large, steaming plate of spaghetti stares back at me as I pick up my cutlery and prepare to dig in.
Could I interest you in some purchase suggestions while you eat?
‘Sure, what’s next?’