I spent the next few days concentrating on the construction. Although I had no problem getting the raw materials, Class I bots couldn’t work miracles. It was going to take at least a week to get the outer walls up, then several more to get the internal floor plan finished. That was okay, I wasn’t in a huge rush, as long as the job was done right. After a couple days of busy work, Nyx brought a couple of surveillance images to my attention.
“What exactly am I looking at?” I asked Nyx, while flipping through the images from the squirrel vanguard. The images showed a series of storefronts, and crowds, in sector 58, near the middle of the undercity. I flipped through the images, but didn’t see anything particularly special about them.
I’ll highlight the important sections.
The images instantly changed, either getting zoomed in to a specific part, or highlighting an object. I squinted my eyes, not that it helped when inspecting something digitally, and concentrated on the changes. “Lighthouses? On the flyers in the windows, and patches? You think they’re related to the cult?” I asked. They were similar, but still different from the pattern on the flyer I’d seen.
I predict a 97.8% chance these icons are used by the cult, modified so they won’t be immediately identified by the surrounding gangs.
“That’s still a fair number of people… we must be getting closer to where the cult is established. Still, there’s more support than I expected, considering what the Guiding Light did a couple years ago.” I continued flicking through the images, until something on the last one caught my attention. “They’re holding a seminar?”
Indeed. It seems like something that happens regularly outside your sphere of influence.
“And the gangs allow that to happen?” I sighed. “Some of them really do deserve to be wiped out, if they’re not willing to pay attention to such blatant rabble-rousing in their territory.”
I assume you want to send some squirrels to the area, so you can follow them back to the headquarters?
“Yeah… no wait, No.” I replied, stopping in place. “Not yet. I have a better idea.”
You want to go watch the presentation, don’t you.
“You’re no fun… but, yeah, I was thinking if I showed up at the presentation, I could find out how they’re attracting so many followers.” I tucked the tablet I was using to monitor the drones under my arm, and jumped down from my perch. “Do you think I could get close enough?”
We don’t have enough knowledge on exactly what surveillance equipment the Guiding Light has access to, but even if they don’t have samurai tech for that, their supporters will probably report it if they see any of your vehicles, or bears.
“So I’ll go incognito. Throw on anything other than a bear hoodie, and get dropped off a long way from sector 58 and walk. Maybe we can stage a sewer-cleaning mission or something, to throw them off the scent.”
That may work. The meeting is in three hours, so if you want to get dropped off at a believable distance, and still make it, we need to start preparing now.
“No problem,” I replied, breaking into a jog, “I’m sure I have something I can throw on, and once I do we can get moving.”
—
I did not. I had a dozen or so hoodies, but they were all in my signature style, even the ones Jane bought for me, so I had to buy one with points. I ended up choosing a tattered black hoodie and jeans, typical undercity wear. I put two squads of bears into some APCs, then ordered them to fly over to a random sewer access Nyx found. I hid myself within the fuzzy swarm as it entered the system, then snuck back onto the surface through a remote manhole.
Once I was back on the streets, I just blended in, and slowly made my way to my destination.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Sector 58 was on the edge of an industrial district, which meant easy access to scrap and garbage dumps, but also thick smog. I’d almost forgotten how bad it could be in the industrial sectors, with so many people sick from the pollution. Since I couldn’t do anything for these people right now, I just put my head down, and pushed through to the meeting place.
The meeting was being held in an old warehouse, abandoned, but not completely destitute. Someone had obviously spent the time to clean up all the debris, sweep the floors, and put down folding chairs. No one in the undercity would put in that much effort, unless they wanted something from you. There were enough chairs for about fifty people, and there were about a dozen people already inside when I arrived. I quickly glanced around, and since I couldn’t see any cult lackeys yet, I slipped into a random chair to wait.
People slowly filtered in over the next half an hour or so, not fifty, but enough to make the place feel full. I was just starting to wonder if this whole thing was a dead end, when the cult showed up. They were far from subtle. Each had a matching outfit, new and clean, and each one was carrying either equipment or guns. I really had to wonder how the gangs let the cult operate so blatantly in their territory. Maybe I’d look into it after this was done.
While the majority of the group was setting something up at the back, a pretty blond woman walked to the front, and started addressing everyone. “Good evening everyone. If you’re here, that means you’ve heard our message, or seen one of our fliers, and are interested in what we can offer you. Thank you for giving us your time,” she said with a small bow. “In a few moments, my compatriots will be showing you a video, which I hope will answer your questions. After it’s done, we’ll have a small Q and A. Hopefully some, if not all, of you will be satisfied by our presentation.” She smiled at everyone, then stepped to the side. The way she moved… bothered me, but I couldn’t figure out why. I didn’t have enough time to think about it, because a few seconds later, the video started. They projected onto the front wall, like a movie.
The video displayed a simple, but well-appointed living room, or lounge. There were plain concrete walls, shelving with books and nicknacks, and right in the middle was a man sitting in a comfortable-looking chair. He was handsome, with a well-groomed brown goatee, and beautiful brown hair.
Wait, that wasn’t right… the man was like twenty years older than me, and plain. He wasn’t that handsome.
I shook my head, just as the man started talking. “Greetings, my children, I am Father Mathias, leader of the Guiding Light. If you are here today, you’d like to know more about us, what we’re about.” He paused for a moment, “Let me be honest, our main goal is to end the tyranny of the gangs. What happened six years ago was a tragedy, but that does not mean that our goal was wrong. Look at what’s happened since the gangs re-established themselves. Oppression, violence, and death, are a daily occurance; Terror is a way of life. I do not believe people need to live like that. Regular people, like yourselves, can rise up, and shake off the yoke of oppression, with our help.” He leaned back, and smiled. I’d seen that smile many times before, the smile of a con-man.
“When the time comes, we can provide you with the support to free yourselves, but in the meantime we can provide work, food, and housing. At least for some. As much as I’d like to shelter every person in the undercity, it simply isn’t possible at this time. If you’d like to work with us, please talk to one of my associates, but if not, that’s fine. Even though we have ‘radical’ views, we won’t force anyone. All I ask you to do is think about it.” He smiled again, a charismatic smile this time. “My associates with you have more information for you, they can either provide you with more in-depth literature, or answer your questions one-on-one. I hope they can help you find what you’re looking for. Thank you for giving me your time. Go into the light.” He smiled one last time, and the video cut out.
I blinked a couple times, “That was weird… what was that?”
That video had Class I influencing tech built into it.
“Pardon?” I whispered. “You mean like brainwashing?”
Not to that extent, but it would make viewers more likely to trust the message, if they were already predisposed.
“Wonderful,” I muttered, as I rose to my feet. The presentation wasn’t a huge surprise, but at least I had a better idea who I was after now. “Get the local squirrels over here, to track whatever vehicle they have. I’d really like to start clamping down on these crackpots as soon as possible.”
As I walked towards the door, the blond woman stepped in front of me. “Did you enjoy the presentation? Did you have any questions?” She asked with a smile.
“No thanks, not my sort of thing,” I replied, trying to step around her. When I did, two other cultists stepped forward, guns held at their sides.
The woman smiled again, “That’s unfortunate. I know you don’t have any questions for me, but maybe you’ll have questions for Father Mathias? I know he has some questions for you, Teddy. Perhaps you’d be willing to accompany us to meet him?”
I looked up, slightly surprised. It was an obvious threat, but I was fairly confident I could easily overpower the two thugs and step out, if I wanted to. I knew following them was a bad idea, but if it led me to their stronghold… Maybe it was worth it.
I put on my best fake smile. “Then please, lead the way.”