This little beauty? I don’t know exactly what it is, but I found it after the last incursion. I think it’s a samurai weapon, considering it puts tennis ball sized holes into solid walls. Who the hell would dispose of something like this? And more importantly, what the hell did they replace it with?

- Bruce Edwards, Adams gun club

—

I checked myself out in the mirror as soon as I put on my new synth leather jacket and pants. They both looked good, and were a lot more practical to run around in than my previous attire. More importantly, they hid the undersuit, which was both a lot more comfortable and a lot more revealing than I had expected. It was like the thing shrunk to perfectly hug all my curves as soon as I put it on. I would have been mortified if anyone besides my girlfriend saw me in it.

Once I was satisfied with my new look, I quickly collected up my pantsuit and stuffed it into my backpack. It wasn’t that I thought I could save the outfit, as much as it was added padding around my grandfather’s urn. I certainly didn’t want anything to happen to it.

I was just finishing up when I heard something move out in the concourse. I froze for a moment, trying desperately to make out what it was. It certainly didn’t sound like the telltale echo of boots, which would indicate whatever out there was human, it sounded more like something sliding, maybe dragging across the ground.

I threw my backpack on, and crept towards the front of the store to peek out. About fifty feet down there were a half dozen antithesis that looked like the cross between a porcupine and a thistle bush. They were slightly larger than a Model Three, but also a lot more bulky than the compact, dog-like models. They also didn’t seem to know I was here.

[Artymis, what are those?] I punched into my augs.

Model Fives. They’re extremely dangerous, even with your new armor. Their spines are covered in a potent neurotoxin, and they are capable of launching volleys of the same spines up to a hundred feet. A single scratch could prove fatal.

[Well, that’s not great news, because they’re between me and the nearest exit. Any weaknesses?]

They’re not the swiftest model, but I’m not sure that makes a difference while you’re in spine range.

[Not helpful.] When I tried to slip back into the store, the nearest Model Five’s head snapped up, and the creature looked right at me. As soon as I saw it bristle up, I threw myself back into the store. It was a good thing I did, because a moment later the area around where I’d been crouching was coated in a thick layer of three inch long needles.

“Fuck!” I yelled as I scrambled back, struggling to get my feet under me and retreat further back into the store. I could already hear the mutant porcupines running closer.

“Any ideas?” I hissed as I weaved through the clothing racks, doing my best to keep my head down just in case one of the creatures wanted to take another shot.

There was a door to the storeroom in the back. It may lead you to a service tunnel, and give you more time to plan, but it’s not going to kill the Fives.

“No shit,” I muttered as I frantically searched the back of the store for the elusive door. I found it hidden behind the changing rooms, and when I turned the knob, it just popped open. Thankfully, the employees had apparently forgotten to lock it during the chaos of the early incursion. As I slipped through the storage shelves and stacks of boxes, I looked desperately for anything that could help me against the Fives. “I’m guessing these jackets won’t stop one of those spines, will they?” I asked quietly.

Their spines are propelled with enough force to pierce modern body armor. I can’t even guarantee your skinsuit will fully protect you at close range, Artymis replied.

“Well, that’s a problem now, isn’t it? I’m kinda all in on the close range thing right now,” I hissed as one of the Fives smashed against the storage room door, causing it to buckle slightly.

Unfortunately, your aversion to firearms has put you in a precarious position. Rather than berating you about it, I’ll offer you a choice: bow or traps? Those are your two best chances of getting out of here alive.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

“Both would be good,” I muttered as the door frame began to fracture.

Then I recommend the ‘Silent Hand’ compound bow from your Blades in the Dark catalog, and opening up the specialized arrowhead catalog. I’ll start you with an expanding monomolecular arrow already in the bow and a quiver of enzyme destroying arrows in the quiver.

“Just fucking do it!” I yelled as the door burst open.

Thankfully, the Five didn’t see me immediately. Whether it was because of the dark or disorientation from breaking the door, it gave me a tiny window in which to act. Artymis practically materialized the bow in my hand, so all I had to do was draw it back, aim, and fire.

The Five saw me at the last second, its spines raised as the arrow connected, and then… it turned into a fine paste. Not even joking about that. The arrow, which embedded itself in the creature’s face, erupted into millions of strands of wire, spilling out in every direction and slicing everything they touched. The thing just kind of fell apart.

That didn’t mean I could relax, I quickly drew another arrow and aimed at the now shattered barrier, and waited. It took a couple seconds, but I finally caught the hint of movement outside the door and fired again. It was normally hard to tell if an antithesis was dead because they didn’t ever make noise, but based on the bubbling and hissing noises, I suspected I hit one.

When I didn’t see any more movement for several seconds, I carefully slunk around one of the shelves, trying to get a better look at the outside. The first had apparently done more work than I first realized, spilling out and catching at least two more of the creatures in the storm of blending wire strands. That still left two.

I could hear them shuffling around. They weren’t exactly subtle dragging that heavy, spiky tail around. I just couldn’t see them.

“How smart are these things?” I whispered. “Are they trying to set a trap for me or what?”

They’re about as intelligent as a Model Three. Animalistic. They know you’re in here, and will attempt to get in if they can, but aren’t stupid enough to step directly into the monowire and kill themselves.

“So we’re at a standstill, unless they wander in front of the door?” I asked.

Not necessarily. You have something they don’t have.

“What? Survival instincts? Sapience? The ability to feel pissed off?”

Me.

“Of course… and what exactly do you suggest, all mighty AI?” I hissed sarcastically.

Now that the immediate threat is dealt with, you could unlock the Class I Optical Sense Boosting Utilities and get you a set of multispectral glasses.

“Okay… I don’t really see where you’re going with this,” I said as I watched the door wairily. “The lights are on, so I don’t need to see in the dark, and the Model Fives aren’t far enough away to require zoom or anything. What would that get me?”

The ability to see through walls. You combine that with high-penetration arrows and…

“I can shoot through walls? Fuck,” I lowered my bow slightly, then slid over to the side so the Fives wouldn’t be able to see me if they repositioned. “Fine, let’s give it a try.”

What appeared at my feet was not the regular plain plastic box, but a traditional glasses case and bundle of arrows. I carefully picked up the case and checked inside. The glasses looked like a regular pair of rimless, tinted sunglasses. Definitely my style, but nothing special. I carefully brought them up to my face and put them on, and as I did, they flashed to life, highlighting several things with a heads-up-display.

“How do I change them to detect the fives?” I asked.

It connects to your augs, so all you have to do is concentrate on spectal vision, it's a combination of X-ray and Thermal. I’ll send a complete rundown to your augs, explaining all the functionality. You can go through it later if you want.

I frowned for a second, but did as I was told, and after a few seconds the glasses flicked over to a new mode, displaying two glowing blobs shuffling around the next room.

“Excellent!” I whispered, scooping up the new arrows. The Fives apparently didn’t expect trouble. They were just wandering back and forth, watching the door, so I had no problem lining up my shots. The first Five died without even knowing what happened. The penetrating arrow traveled through the wall like it wasn’t even there before embedding itself in the creature’s brain. The second Five immediately panicked and started spraying spines everywhere. A couple even managed to partially penetrate the wall and poke into the storage room. I quickly put another pair of arrows into the creature before it got lucky and snuck a spine through to where I was.

Things finally went quiet.

“Fuck me. Are there any more models I should be aware of? You know, before I run head first into them?” I asked.

Plenty. I’ll fill you in on the more common ones while you make your way outside. You should probably check in on those civilians.

“Right…” I half mumbled as I headed towards the door. I only made it a couple steps before I remembered the mess of monowire completely blocking the door. “How do I get out of here?”