Humans like to think that antithesis has something out for them, but that’s simply not true. They just want biomass, and don’t care where it comes from. Trees, animals, and even tiny insects are acceptable targets for the antithesis. They are ravenous, and they truly do not care what they need to sate that hunger.

-An introduction to antithesis - Junior High Curriculum

—

The APC slowed to a stop right next to the ruined pet shop. I tried to peer through the ruined windows, but I could only make out the smashed vanity accessory displays in the gloom.

“That’s a lot of damage,” Bulldog muttered.

“I think we know where all those antithesis went,” Emily agreed.

Skyler bit her lip as her eyes darted back and forth across the storefront. She had loved the time we’d spent here and animals in general, so she probably dreaded seeing what was inside.

I pulled her into a side hug. “Do you want to wait out here?” I whispered to her. “You don’t need to follow me inside. There’s a glass roof above the main display area, remember?”

Skyler shook her head slightly. “I can handle it.”

“I know,” I replied quietly. “I just thought I’d give you the option, save you from dealing with it.”

“I can handle it,” she repeated, with more confidence this time.

“Alright,” I said with a smile. I planted a quick kiss on her lips, then stepped forward and grabbed Skyler’s hand. “Then let's go catch up with the team.”

When we caught up with Emily and the others at the front of the shop I noticed that Bulldog was cradling a massive weapon. “Repeating micro missile launcher,” he said quietly when he noticed me looking at it.

“Come again?” I asked.

“It’s the only portable weapon we have that could injure one of the teens,” Emily explained. “It’s heavy, awkward, and expensive to fire, so we don’t bring it out that often.”

“But you think it might be necessary here,” I finished.

Emily nodded.

“Just make sure you don’t catch me in the explosions,” I told the big man as I stepped past him. All the displays and merchandise in the front of the store had been flattened, and the doors into the animal area had been smashed open. Strangely, they appeared to have been broken outwards, not inwards.

I slipped across the room right up to the door and glanced inside. There were a surprising number of animals still alive, sitting calmly in their displays. The roof at the back was shattered, and there was a titanic pile of plant matter underneath. There was a decent sized group of antithesis were slowly chewing through the plant mass and another smaller group scratching at one section of the wall, but otherwise the place was quiet.

I was about to pop my head back around the corner and report to the team when a flash of iridescence caught my eye. When I first scanned the room, I’d thought the thing was a feather from some sort of bird of paradise, but it was moving. I watched as it shot a long feeler out, grabbed something behind one of the displays, then pulled itself out of sight.

Back! Artymis snapped.

[What’s going on?]

{Arty: The place is full of sevens. You both need to buy Anti-Seven pills this instant, and make sure that everyone on the team takes one.}

{Rei: Fine, give me some.} I held out my hand and felt a small pill box appear in my hand. I popped one of the vacuum packed pills out and swallowed it down as I made my way back.

{Rei: Now, what is a Seven, and why is it such a big deal?}

{Athy: They’re small antithesis models that resemble worms. They’re extremely dangerous because once they latch onto a target, they dig into the nervous system and take control of the body. Once it’s integrated, the host cannot be saved, and the Seven will attempt to walk their prey back to the nearest Hive. Some people call them zombie worms.}

By the time I got back to the team, Skyler had already distributed her set of pills.

“Is it bad in there?” Emily asked.

“Honestly? Not really. There are only a few antithesis inside, but I saw a Seven in there. It looked like a tree exploded in the back of the store, and most of the antithesis are busy chewing on that.”

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Emily’s eyebrows raised. “A landing pod? This far out? It would certainly explain why the rating went up in this area. A whole lot of antithesis smashed their way out of here in order to look for other prey.”

“There were also a couple animals still alive in there. The antithesis just left them sitting in their cages, calmly staring into space.” I added, glancing at Skyler.

She looked at me strangely, then went pale. “You don’t think…” she began. I just nodded. “I think I’ll wait outside,” she said quietly. I nodded again.

Emily whispered something to Terrier, and the big man ran back to the APC, returning a few seconds later with his flamethrower.

While we were waiting, I walked over to Skyler and grabbed her hands. “I know it’s tough to think about, but if you send a drone up to the rooftop, you should be able to monitor us without seeing too much detail. Ask Athyna to censor it if you need. I’ll handle things inside.”

She was still a little pale, but she still smiled. “Thanks,” she said quietly

“Ready to go in?” Emily asked from behind me.

“Not really,” I replied quietly, but I still turned around and jogged back to the team. “But it’s got to be done, so let’s do this,” I muttered as I strode past them.

I took a deep breath in, slowly let it out, and stepped right through the shattered doorway. None of the antithesis reacted for several seconds. They were all too preoccupied with their current jobs, but when I stepped past the first pet display, the hamsters inside all turned and started chirping in unison. They were disgusting; The worm-like model Seven barely fit in their tiny bodies. It was wrapped around them, just under the skin.

Several of the Threes and Fives chewing on the pile of plant matter turned to see what was happening before quickly being gunned down. As soon as the gunfire started the rest of the antithesis turned as one and charged.

The closest antithesis to me, and one of the fastest reacting of all the models was a Five that turned and fired a volley of quills in a single swift motion. My shield flared and held for once, which allowed me to close with the creature.

Rather than attempt a second volley, the antithesis swung its tail at me, trying to block my advance with a layer of toxin quills. In a single motion, I drew my blade and severed the offending appendage, and before the Five could react, I reversed my blade and beheaded it.

The Threes came next, bounding at me from my front and right. Since the ones coming from the broken pod were closer I stepped to the left, past the first pouncing Three and ran my sword down its side. It wasn’t deep enough to bisect the Three, but it was more than enough to put it down.

The squad raked the remaining antithesis and managed to put down the majority, but a pair of Threes did manage to complete their charges against me. Unlike any faced before, this pair of Threes seemed to work together and rushed me at the same time. I shifted and tried to turn this two on one back into one-on-one, but they were too fast. As they lunged, I decided to follow the tried and tested strategy of kicking one and stabbing the other.

I shoved my sword right through the face of the model Three on my right, skewering it just as the other hit me with its full weight. The heavy dog-shaped creature clamped onto my boot as I fell back, twisting and thrashing. Pain blossomed in my leg just before I brought my sword around and beheaded the monster.

I tried to push myself back to my feet, but it was difficult with both my injured ankle and the fact that the head was still clamped onto my boot. I stared at it in irritation, then rammed the head repeatedly against the side of a table until it finally let go.

“Are we clear?” I finally asked Emily.

“Seems like. These bastards couldn’t have landed too long ago. Usually the pods are consumed within the hour,” Emily explained as she crouched down a couple feet away from the giant pile of plant matter. I noticed she gave the entire thing a wide berth. “We need to burn the entire place to prevent the thing from taking root.”

“That mess will take root if we leave it?” I asked in surprise.

“Anything antithesis will take root, given enough time. Even those.” Emily replied, gesturing to the hamsters.

I stared at the little creatures. Then swept my gaze over the other half dozen creatures still in their displays. I felt badly for the little guys. I knew deep down that they were already dead and gone, but it didn’t make the fact that I had to deal with them any easier.

[Anything I can give these creatures that’ll kill the Seven, without having to destroy their bodies?]

If you spray them with a sufficient amount of antithesis dissolving enzyme it’ll get absorbed into the body and kill the parasite.

[Give me two bottles then.]

What dropped into my hand were literal spray bottles. Skyler had used one to dissolve some bodies earlier. I just didn’t expect them to be so versatile. I motioned Trevor and Steve over, then handed them each a bottle.

“Use these to soak the pets,” I said. “It won’t save them, but it’ll kill the parasite inside. You can also use it to soak any Sevens you see crawling around.”

“You think that’s a good idea?” Trevor asked.

“Well, you could go around shooting each one, but I’m not sure if that’ll kill the seven or not. This is probably safer,” I replied. “I’d do it myself, but I have to deal with my leg again.”

The man nodded and wandered over to a ferret display and started hosing the creatures down.

I leaned back against a table, and started leaning down to take off my boot, when I heard a tiny ‘Mew’.

“Did you hear that?” I asked.

“Hear what?” Bulldog asked as he inspected the pod’s remains.

“I heard a cat,” I replied. I quickly scanned the area, looking for any place for an animal to hide when my eyes passed over the area that the Threes were attacking earlier. It was a bookshelf full of old-school paper pet care books. The bottom two rows were a mess, but the top few were untouched, and there was a slight gap on the top shelf.

I grabbed a stool, hobbled over, and climbed up the shelf. Sure enough, right at the back of the space, backed as far back as it could go, was a tiny tawny kitten. I gently reached in and pulled the tiny survivor out. It hissed and swatted at my hand with its tiny paws, but that just made me smile.

“It may only be a single life, but it’s worth it,” I whispered.