Humboldt's visor, previously opaque, was now clear as she gently patted me on the back while I desperately tried to clear the taste of vomit out of my mouth with the water bottle Nyx had provided me.
She was pretty, early twenties, short cropped blond hair with a streak of black hanging over one of her ice blue eyes, and a half a dozen piercings in each ear. “Sorry about that, I don’t normally work with other people and my suit is environmentally sealed. I’m Sharron Brookes, aka Humboldt.”
“It’s not your fault.” I sucked up one last mouthful of water, swished it, and spat it on the floor. Finally clearing the acidic taste. Sitting up, inhaling fresh air for the first time in a few minutes, I asked the question that had been burning in my mind. “I’m Evelyn, but everyone calls me Teddy. What’s a Samurai doing down here?”
She looked confused, “Like yourself?”
“I live down here. In my experience no one comes down to the undercity willingly, unless they don’t have any choice, or are trying to hide something.”
Her hand stopped. “That’s a pretty pessimistic outlook you have there.”
“I’m not a pessimist, I’m a realist. Would you be down here if there wasn’t an incursion?”
She laughed quietly, “You got me there kid. I’ll admit that the undercity wasn’t on my list of places to visit while in this city, but the Samurai aren’t just going to let the Antithesis run wild down here.”
I hmmm’d. I wasn't expecting anyone to come down here, but I could use all the help I could get. Not that I was going to admit it to someone I just met. Instead I stood up and went to check on my poor, devastated bot.
The damage was bad. The facade was torn away, and the needles penetrated quite deep into its metal skull.
“Nyx, I'm guessing this guy is a write off. I’m going to need a way to repair or recycle these guys in the future. I feel a little bad about him dying for me.”
I’ll flag some catalogs in the future.
“Thanks”
Humboldt was watching me from across the room, I sighed. “So what’s the plan? I was going to check the Precinct for survivors. I’m not sure what to do after that.”
“You don’t know any other secure locations?” she shifted, I could see the concern on her face.
“Checked the biggest one. People may have taken refuge in the gang strongholds, but I wouldn’t recommend checking them unless you want to get shot. Besides that, a lot of people make custom bolt holes to hide in, but who knows where those are. It’s ALMOST like no one gave a fuck prior to the Antithesis showing up here today”, Humboldt flinched, and I immediately felt a pang of remorse.
“Sorry, I know it’s not your fault. We’re used to not getting any help down here and I’ve been a little stressed, as you can imagine. I didn’t mean to vent on you.” I stuck out my hand, “I do appreciate the help, let’s get along”
A smile bloomed on her face, she took my hand and we shook. “Lets!”
She took a step back, I could feel the vibration in the floor with every step. “I’d recommend you pickup some sort of air filter before we head in, we wouldn’t want you to get sick again.” She looked me up and down, “And maybe some new clothes, or armor, while you’re at it?”
“Listen, my pants only have half a dozen rips in them. Granted, the hole where the four stabbed me is a little bigger than most, but these clothes are still good.”
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Humboldt looked at me, horrified.
A little protection wouldn’t hurt. I don’t think your new friend has the same sense of fashion that you do.
“I’d rather spend my points on more bots, but if everyone is so offended by my fashion choices.”
“It’s less about fashion and more about protection, did you just say you were impaled by a model four earlier?”
“I got better.”
She signed, “That’s besides the point. You might not be so lucky next time, a little protection goes a long way.”
We stared at each other for a long moment, her in concern, me in disinterest. I turned away first. I didn’t feel guilty that someone was worrying about me, not at all, I just didn’t want to get into another argument.
“Fine, just gimme some privacy for five to ten minutes, then we’ll go.”
She nodded, and I pushed into a nearby room, which turned out to be a closet. Whatever, good enough.
“Nyx time for an upgrade, assuming I have the points for it.”
You’re at 956. I think you’re underestimating how many Antithesis died on that bridge. The ripper also did a good job after you left, although you received severely reduced points after you left the area. I have a suggestion concerning that too.
“Enlighten me.”
For a hundred points you could unlock the Class I Command and Control Utilities Catalog, then for 50 points more a C&C aug upgrade. It’ll let you keep track of, and control your bots, eliminating the point penalties as long as you remain in control. Also, your current Augs suck.
“Rude, but true. Fine, if it’ll get me more points in the long run it’s worth investing in.”
Purchased - Class I Command and Control Utilities Catalog - 100 points
Purchased - Class I Command and Control Augment upgrade - 50 points
Points remaining 806
A small box, no more than two inches square, landed on the ground. Inside was a pair of tiny disks.
“What the hell do I do with this”
Place it at the base of your neck, and near your eye. Just like they say.
Squinting, I could see that, indeed those words were indeed etched into the disks. Humboldt was waiting, so I didn’t argue, this time. As soon as both disks were connected there was a sensation of heat, followed by cold. Then I was hit with the most intense headache I've ever experienced. My vision swam and I had to put my hand up against the wall to prevent myself from falling over. Suddenly it had a ton of windows popped into my vision, like a display screen inside my head. The top windows were a tactical map along with a series of updates on my bots. After a minute the pain and pressure in my head eased.
“The hell is all this?”
What most people see with their augs, I still can’t believe yours were text and sound only. Now you’ll be able to access the city’s network for information, and control your bots in real time. I blocked all the spam most people receive, you’re welcome.
“It’s weird.”
You’ll get used to it. Now clothing, anything specific?
“Nothing bulky, I already have problems carrying my gear sometimes.”
Right… How about the Class I Protective clothing. A reinforced coat, cargo pants and mask. The material will harden when struck, enough to protect you from threes or fours, but anything bigger will probably get through.
“Fine, but I want another hoodie of a similar style, and no full face mask, maybe a bandana or something instead.”
I can work with that, it’ll put you back 50 points for the catalog, 50 for the un-bearably cute armored hoodie, 50 for the armored pants, and 100 for the air filtering, armored bandana.
Purchased Class I protective clothing catalog - 50 points
Purchased Un-bearably cute armored hoodie - 50 points
Purchased Armored Cargo pants - 50 points
Purchased Armored Bandana with air filtering capabilities - 100 points
Points remaining - 556
The boxes appeared at the bottom of the closet, stacked due to the lack of space.
I took out the hoodie first, it was very similar to my current one. Falling between my waist and knees, dark green, this one had a zipper and a deeper hood. Of course it had the same signature bear ears my previous one had.
“Cute!”
The pants were fairly standard, but with multiple pockets for me to stuff gubbins. The bandana was black with a cartoon bear mouth, spread wide like it was about to bite something, imprinted on the front.
I smiled. “Thanks Nyx.”
Anytime
I switched up my clothes, leaving my old set shoved in the corner, before heading back out to talk to Humboldt again.