I winced as I examined Spooky’s face. It looked like something struck it right in the right visual sensor and caved in part of the faceplate.
“You sure there’s nothing I can do to fix Spooky? He’s been a lifesaver so far.”
Unfortunately, yes. You could unlock some catalogs for replacement parts, but you’re not equipped to do repairs out here. The other option would be to install an auto repair function, you’ll need a Tier 2 catalog for that.
“Sorry bud, guess the new guy gets to scout for now.”
A few feet away stood another bot, the exact same design, this one in pristine condition.
“This is going to get confusing pretty quick if I keep investing in bots."
There are a few catalogs which allow you to customize your bots. Robotic Facades would only cost you 50 points, and 5 points per unit for a covering. You have 209 points, so it wouldn’t even put you below your reserve.
“Later, when I have more time to browse. We’re almost to the terminal, I think.”
You are.
“Good, Let’s take a look.”
I made my way through the last few, slowly widening streets, until I hit a wide open space with a titanic concrete structure in the middle. The space was not empty.
Hundreds of people stood out in the open, although I couldn’t make out any details, they weren’t alone and that made me pause. Even when they were several hundred feet away I could make out the shapes of several model sixes towering above the crowd. Worst of all, one of the Terminal’s shutters was up.
Get down, you idiot. Nyx hissed, I did as I was told.
“What? What the hell is going on?”
Model sevens, it would have to be if the Antithesis weren’t attacking them. They infiltrate an area, and take over the hosts, then proliferate instead of just slaughtering everything in the area. It explains why there was a lack of bodies in the slum, they must have run rampant there. They usually take much longer to take over hosts… there’s something strange about this incursion, it’s progressing much faster than usual.
“Could it be because of the surplus of easily accessible… ‘Biomass’.” Saying that word made me nauseous, we were talking about people after all.
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Maybe, I doubt that’s it.
“So, how do I save those people?" There was a pause “Nyx?”
I’m sorry, you can’t. If you get to the victims early enough, before the model seven fully merges with the host it may be possible, but once they’re up and mobile there’s no way to separate them.
“Fuck me.” The crowd milled about mindlessly. I caught sight of something huge as it scuttled out from the streets and right up to the edge of the mob. Several zombified people clamored over and started hanging from its body, when it couldn’t carry anymore it skittered off again.
A model twelve, it looks like they’re using it to ferry their spoils away to a new lair site.
There was a moment of silence. “You think there could be anyone left alive inside?”
Unlikely, but possible. Time is of the essence if there are.
“Right” I eyed up the crowd, judging my odds. “How fast are the infected?”
Depends on how far along the model sevens are in their integration. Early on they should only be able to shuffle, once they have full control the model sevens can cause the host to use their full athletic abilities.
“So, assuming they’re progressing faster than usual, we’ll say a fast walk at most.”
We can hope.
“Alright, get me another bot, even though it’ll put me below my reserve.” A moment later there were three, nearly identical bots standing in front of me.
Purchased - Class I modular autonomous combat unit - 150 points
Purchased - T-22A Blackpaw assault rifle - 10 points
Points remaining - 64
“You three, setup where you have a good line of sight on that mob.” They did, scrambling up walls and jumping to higher locations.
“Nyx, make sure everyone has a reload ready for them at all times.” I took aim with the CAR, sighting the nearest model six.
“When I open fire start cutting down everything out there, we don’t stop until it’s done.” The model six turned its head, looking in my general direction. I pulled the trigger.
**********************
A few years ago I was shown an old war movie, I’m talking pre-incursion, when people fought each other instead of the Antithesis. It had hundreds of people trying to storm a beach, only to get cut down by heavy machine guns and anti-tank guns. Apparently the movie was historic, I just remember thinking how horrible the situation was.
Facing down this mass of human bodies reminded me of that movie. Experiencing it was so much worse than I could have possibly imagined.
The model sevens were still at the shambling stage, that didn’t stop them from trying to get to me. Unfortunately for them, they didn’t even get close. Pushed on by the model sixes, which fell in the first minute to my CAR, the infected rushed my position only to be quickly cut down by precision rifle fire from my bots. It was a slaughter.
It’s unfortunate that this will barely slow the Antithesis down, they’ll just recollect all this mass and re-use it somewhere else.
“Just shut up for a minute. I know it was necessary, I just need to process.”
I had to keep reminding myself that all these people were already lost when I killed them, it didn’t mean I could look any of them in the face. Samurai were meant to protect people, and I was going to do my best to prevent this from happening again.
The open security door was huge, which made sense, since the Terminal was originally designed to house trains. It didn’t look blocked, just left open, which meant it was either broken or they just failed to close it. Bad sign either way.