“Sir. The Antithesis have completely overrun the sector. If we don’t send reinforcements we could lose any remaining people in there!

What do the Samurai say about what Amadeus sent?

They aren’t willing to enter Sector 8. They know it's a trap and are preparing counter measures in Sectors 7 and 9. They won’t say anymore.

Then seal Sector 8.

Sir?

Seal it. Lock the structure’s doors and prevent the outbreak. If the explosion and fallout does happen then we might be able to keep it contained.

What of the people still inside?

What of them?”

* Overheard conversation in the Macroon Command Center, right now.

***

Sky’s body lay in a crumpled smoking wreck.

Everything above his shoulders was in pieces and most of the organic material of his body was charred and it revealed that not much of him was still organic.

Under the hoodie was a metal frame of metallic bones connecting to the mechanic arms.

Strange machines were blinking from inside his abdomen, wires and tubes that ran from the machines fused to the bones.

As I neared, everything was still. Even the smoke didn’t appear to move as I stood over his body.

Then his arm reached out toward me, I stood in abstract horror as the beheaded Samurai moved.

His hand opened to drop a few things at my feet and then the limbs went limp.

“What the fuck?”

“What the fuck?”

I looked from the tablet to the body and back.

“What the fuck!”

“He isn’t alive. There is no way he survived.

That meaning said…That shouldn’t have happened.

Unless…”

Suddenly a tune played from the body. A haunting, longing melody.

~~Think of me, think of me fondly~~

“Did you..?”

“No. It is broadcasting to any open device this song. I couldn’t hack it until the song began. It's empty but there were clear subroutines running that would activate when a “tagged” person approached.”

~~When we’ve said goodbye~~

“Then I was tagged?” I guess if Aerthyos set all of it up then it was not impossible.

~~Remember me, once in a while~~

I tried to think back if there was anything that could’ve been used to tag me when I realized Sky gave me his holo disc.

~~Please promise me you’ll try~~

With that mystery solved I looked at what was for me. It consisted of a thin flat electronic stick, a single magazine of 10 mm ammo, and a small black box.

“The first item is a container for a standard Central Processing Unit, or computer chip but it’s much smaller as if it would contain a microchip or smaller. The last item is a closed system that probably needs to be plugged into a server to be accessed.”

“What is this song?”

“‘Think of Me’ by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, and Richard Stilgoe from the 1986 musical The Phantom of the Opera.”

~~Spare a thought for me~~

After the last note held for a long time with an intense yearning, clear desperation for the listener to think of them, the song ended.

I felt my cheeks grow wet and I wiped at my face.

I pocketed all three but was mindful to put the 10 mm ammo in a separate spot so it wouldn’t be confused with the others.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

But regardless of the new events, I had a weapon to find.

The ammo might be strong enough to kill Amadeus, and if so, would be a lot safer than what I planned on using.

I retraced Sky’s path from the fight until I stood where he was running when he threw the first knife that cut past Roody’s ear.

The same knife that Amadeus deflected into the wall.

Following the pathing and my memories of the fight I found the knife buried deep into the wall panel.

It took a considerable amount of effort to pull the knife from the surroundings as it make a very precise hole that didn’t have a lot of gaps.

I inspected the blade and found it undamage and with an almost invisible wire running from it.

“Don’t touch that. Huron’s Claw Mk. II are a Tier 2 Fixed Point Lethal Melee Weapon with a monofilament wire that trails it that can be used as part of its handle or another lethal silent weapon.

The blade itself is a blend of metals that refine to a point that will cut through most earthen materials. As seen in the fight with Amadeus, they will pierce his armor if placed with enough force. But he can deflect them if he is aware of it.”

“I’ll try my best to make sure he doesn’t see the blade coming.”

“Even that won’t kill Amadeus. You’ll need to destroy his brain. Otherwise with enough time he can recover. You’ll need to hit hard and hit fast to kill a Samurai. Otherwise he’ll figure out how to stop you or kill you.”

Ok…Not sure how exactly to go about that.

But I did have a plan.

A stupid plan.

“Is there a way for me to use it as a wire?”

“No, use pliers to grab it and carefully wrap it around the handle. It only cuts at high speeds and with tension. Once you have it wrapped, press the button near the top of the hilt to tighten it completely.”

I did as instructed.

Then because I wanted my plan to work, I opened the wall panel and withdrew the destroyed cables inside.

Stripping off the casing I pulled a similar color wire out and tied it to the bottom of the hilt so I could throw and retrieve the Huron’s Claw.

I practiced throwing the blade and it sank deep into the wall.

“What? I never threw a knife before? Why did it work?”

“Because it is a Tier 2 Vanguard Class weapon. Do you really think that the sharpness and wire is worth a Tier 2 grading? It has properties to allow for balanced flight and precision piercing.

It should be noted that other Tier 1 Fixed Point Lethal Melee Weapons could do more damage but have different properties. It is important to discuss with the A.I. about preferences and goals to sort out the incomprehensible amount of catalogs available for Vanguards.”

“Wow. I’m sure your Samurai values your knowledge and assistance. I sure do.”

The screen glitched out for a moment before returning to the last blue box.

Maybe my tablet was finally dying?

Shrugging that off for now I had to focus on the plan.

I know nightmares.

I know how they affect people.

Time to play up for Amadeus.

I played with the holo disc for a moment to be able to display Sky’s helmet over my own head.

Positioned it so I could move around with it and then throw the knife while the hologram was slightly obscuring my vision.

That was half the plan. Maybe. Unsure the percentage now that I think of it.

I would save the special magazine in case I needed something unexpected.

It looked like if I played my cards too early then they could be countered.

There was a saying about keeping an ace up your sleeve. Well, that’s always been the case for me but this time it will be metaphorical as well.

Now for the second? Third? Whatever. The next part of the plan. I had the weapon, now I needed a distraction so he didn’t just flame me as soon as I walked into the room.

I started moving toward the nuclear reactor. I was sure I could find it along the way.

The hallway ended in a massive courtyard, an entrance to a community neighborhood. It was eerily familiar.

The sign on the gate had lettering of Sapphire Plains with the same style of Sapphire Plaza. Maybe a sister campus? Sister community?

Entering the community I knew it would be terrible. A lot of people lived in these communities and Antithesis targeted them.

I crept through very careful of the noise I made and exited on the other side of the courtyard that was surrounded by the apartment complex.

I found the passage toward the nuclear reactor. It was positioned in a way that made me feel like Sapphire Plains chartered to some of the nuclear technicians and security of RuCorp’s reactor.

The passage was secure. Emphasis on the was. Massive steel security doors were broken and melted as a metal giant moved through here.

I slinked up to the entrance and saw him. Amadeus standing in the blue aura of the machines maintaining the nuclear reactor. The cool reflection of the water tanks a stark contrast to the small tongue of flame at the end of Amadeus’ weapon.

I backed up.

He was positioned in a way that my plan could work.

Now for the help.

I backtraced to Sapphire Plains.

The buildings were made in a modern 2050s style with beautiful balconies. Some of those balconies had plants on them. Some of those plants moved as they dragged corpses of the previous owners away.

The other plants were still potted.

I unwrapped the bait Magnella gave me.

Then I walked into the lobby of the apartment building.

Immediately I saw five Antithesis dragging bodies. They paused to look up. Once they realized I was there they dropped the bodies and started after me.

I took off into the apartment trying to gather as many Antithesis as possible. Most were Model Threes, the fastest of the Models I’ve seen so far.

The rainbow of colors of the 2050s style made running through the complex feel like I was in a kaleidoscope. A bloody kaleidoscope with angry plants.

Jumping over a Model Three that just stepped out of a doorway I looked behind just in time to see it trampled by the other doglike monsters.

I had a lot of attention.

I didn’t think a wave of Model Threes would do much against the seasoned Samurai but at least I wasn’t alone.

Not that the Antithesis were great company.

I did have to duck to avoid the tentacles of a couple Model Fours but they were lost in the mass of alien plants. But they didn’t get crushed as they were safe from the mass of feet while they followed on the ceiling.

My legs started to burn so I needed to wrap this up.

I had finished one wall and turned the corner to see Antithesis ahead of me running my way.

I just had to get past them and I could make it to the northern lobby and exit into the courtyard with my new friends.

I had the Huron’s Claw in one hand and the Hammerhead in the other as I ran toward the Antithesis.

I had to get through two Model Threes, two Model Fours, and a new model that I remember Sky showed me. On the list it was set after the Model Four so I assumed it was a Model Five.

The Model Five took up most of the corridor, the size of a hover car standing on four legs. Its strange compact form was covered with fur like spikes. Quills maybe?

I didn’t have time to assess anymore and aimed to bully the Model Threes out of the way.

The Model Threes were ready to attack but when the one on the left leaped, it was late and I met its face with my knee, knocking it aside.

The right one bit at my back and found my vest. Thank you Magnella!

As it ripped the outer fabric I was free to shoot the Model Five in the face.

The shot impacted near its eyes and it flinched. Using that reaction I dived and slid under the pointy monster.

On the other side I scrambled to my feet. I was very glad this wasn’t a Model Six - D or else I might’ve been hit by the tail.

The Model Five didn’t have a tail at all, but I didn’t care because I was so close to the northern lobby.

Running out into the courtyard I realized my shot announced my presence nearly as well as the bait did.

The courtyard also had a Model Six - D staring me down.

Oh fuck.

Oh fuck yeah!

I made sure it would chase me and took off with a light jog down the passage to the nuclear reactor.

I needed a little distance between the Antithesis and myself to start the fight.

And it was time to stop Amadeus once and for all.

“Hey monitor. Is there anything else we could do to imitate Sky-Blue Wire?”

“I might be able to arrange something.”