The next morning I’m awoken by a very obnoxious noise that seems to be emanating from my brain.

It is time to get up Morigana, you asked to be awoken at 7am, it is now 7am so rise and shine!

“Ugh.” Is all I manage to get out.

My bed is so soft and warm and never do I want to leave it ever again. I cuddle into my pillows even more.

Your race is easily pacified by soft plushy objects; you are all doomed.

“You’re just jealous you can’t snuggle up in here like I can.”

No, I get the pleasure of existing in your head instead.

Sitting up, I feel different. A bit more firm and yet jiggly? Oh, right my physical improvements probably got further along while I was sleeping.

“How much longer until my upgrades are completed Merlin?”

Your upgrades will be completed in another forty-eight hours, at the moment you are roughly twenty percent complete. You need to consume a healthy amount of food over the next few days.

“Sure, sure Merlin, you just want me to be fatter.” I wave my hand dismissively.

You will weigh more yes.

I get up and drag myself into the kitchen like a zombie, my hair keeps getting in my way which is not helping. I love having such a full mane and hate it because it takes a lot of work.

Grabbing out frying pans, I whip up some scrambled eggs, bacon, and everything bagels, all real stuff not the cheap processed junk. Perks of money again.

I go ahead and make three because apparently, I’m a fatty and need more food, and chase it down with some orange juice.

Your point total has increase by ten by the way, for a total of five hundred and ninety-one. I have also cleaned your armor nanites by shuffling them around and allowing the contaminants to fall off. Now you have a mess on your counter to clean. You’re welcome.

“I can’t even right now Merlin…you, I whatever.” Maybe I need to invest in some sort of cleaning bot later.

Eloquently said.

“Hush you.”

Fed, and watered I jump in to take a quick shower and get my hair tamed. Then dress back into my now cleaned outfit. I leave it configured the same way I had it last night, but with my hat on. Just a little reminder of my Samurai status.

I head out to my car, I set the autopilot for TotST sit back and relax for my ride to work.

The trip is entirely boring, and I like that.

I arrive at the compound just before 9AM, enough time to make it through all the security check points.

Of which I forgot about, I’m decked out in Vanguard combat armor, and have a plasma whip meshed into my person somewhere.

“Merlin.” I whisper while waiting in line at the check point.

Yes Morigana?

“My gear won't set off these alarms, right? I ask.

They would under normal circumstances, but I figured I would suppress the data sent to their system and tell them it’s fine and let you pass.

I had every reason to trust Merlin, knowing the capabilities of the AI, yet I was still sweating like a whore in church.

I was next, the guard wands over me with a handheld device, checks my badge, and waves me through the walk-in detector.

Nothing goes off, no armed guards come running as expected.

I walk up to the receptions desk; a professional looking chubby woman is behind it on the phone. I wait for her to finish, trying to be polite.

When she’s done, she looks up and addresses me. “Yes, how can I help you?”

“Hi, I’m Morigana and I have a 9 AM with Mr. Vanderik.”

“One moment, let me check.” She says, clicking through menus on her computer.

“It appears there is nothing on the schedule…are you sure?” She says with skepticism practically oozing from her person.

“Merlin, some help?”

Of course, I have updated their system with your appointment, notified his actual secretary, and confirmed he is in his office.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Care to look again?” I smirk.

“Oh, would you look at that I see your appointment here. Must have been a glitch. She says. Her eyes squinting in disbelief. “Take the elevator up to floor twenty-nine, his office is directly ahead.”

I make my way across the lobby and slap the call button. Moments later the doors chime open. I step aside to let the occupants exit; don’t you hate when people trying to get on rush the elevator? Like you need to let people out to make space, don’t need to be a physicist to know that.

Stepping in once clear, I have the lift to myself and press the twenty-nine button.

The doors slide close, and some gentle music plays over the speakers.

A short ride up and the doors open, a heavy-set man sweating through his business suit rushes into the lift.

Rude.

I squeeze past him into the reception area. “Merlin, he seems in a hurry, and it would be a shame if the lift got stuck for a few minutes.”

Coincidently, the lift did indeed get stuck on floor ten, looks like it will take about five minutes for the system to reset. The cooling unit also seems to have malfunctioned.

Was that petty of me? Maybe, does it make me feel good though? Absolutely!

I walk up to the secretary a man sharply dressed in a very expensive suit.

“You must be Morigana, who has a 9AM appointment.” He says deadpan. Like I don’t even exist to him.

“Is that so hard to believe?” I say stepping up to his desk, I realize that my 5’4’’ stature is not exactly threatening but oh well.

“It’s not my place Miss, please go in he is waiting for you. It’s 9:07 you’re late.” He says with an air of flippancy. Holding his hand up just so.

“Merlin.” I whisper.

“Does he have anything on him that is electronic?”

Why yes, he does, observe.

The man’s very fancy suit starts flickering different colors and random patterns.

I laugh, and push in through the door that says, “Mr. Vanderik CEO”.

“It seems you are understanding my petty vengeful side Merlin, I approve.”

I aim to please, and I quite agree with your pettiness as well.

Entering the CEO’s office, it is decked.

Like bougie as all heck thick lush carpets, very expensive paintings, and random artwork sit on pedestals. His desk a huge honking chunk of real wood sitting like a monolith in the center of the room. Behind it, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the city.

Sitting at that desk in the world’s most over-stuffed chair is Mr. Vanderik.

“Welcome Miss Luxanne, I’m glad you were able to make it. Please have a seat.”

He motions towards two comfy, but less so than his, chairs.

I go ahead and sit and cross my legs leaning back.

“What did you have in mind?” He asks, sitting back in his power chair, looking down at me.

“After talking with my AI, Merlin.”

“That’s me.” Merlin says, using my hat like a mouthpiece.

I continue with a grin “I came up with an idea that will help me advance my Samurai arsenal, and therefore making myself better able to kill Antithesis, and in doing so making more points. However, it would be beneficial to remove some logistic and supply issues, to a more capable party, and in return that party would gain access to more readily available Samurai Tech. Not only that, but it will be integrated into Earth level tech readily sellable to the masses or the Government.”

Mr. Vanderik sits forward, steepeling his fingers.

“And this more capable party is this company? What supplies would you need?”

“My AI has a list of the basic materials that would be needed to start. Once I’m more functional and I get a chance to sit down and work I will send up updated requests.”

“And with these materials, you can produce what exactly?”

I access my aug’s armor settings and hover over the shift to the armor pre-set.

“Something like this for say ground troops.”

I stand up and initiate the change.

My office clothing shifts into the body armor in just a few moments.

“Customizable nano technologies, that can adjust use on the fly with some aug commands, or however you’d like to have them set.”

His eyebrows raise, showing some interest.

“That is just what I can do now, with time and resources I could come up with so much more. My record pre-samurai should speak for itself, but now that I’m paired up with a Vanguard AI my potential is nearly infinite.”

His face lights up, I got him now hook line and sinker.

“With some exceptions of course, some weapons and tech are restricted to non-Vanguards I will of course screen the tech released.” Merlin says from my hat.

He leans back into his chair, finger still steepled.

“You are correct, Miss Luxanna, I have reviewed your file, and your research has been most lucrative. I’ve also reviewed the materials your AI sent, and I believe we can manage these levels. The question then remains how much do you want in compensation for your research, and how much time do you need to present your first project?”

“That’s the thing, I’m not sure. Research and design are not easily predictable, it could take me hours, days, or months to come up with a satisfactory design. As for compensation I would like ten times my current pay, a bonus for every piece of tech delivered of say…ten percent of my annual salary, and then one percent of the sales of each item.”

His eyes practically pop out of his head. “That’s ludicrous! Why do you think your tech will be worth so much?”

“Well sir, easy I am a Samurai, and you can slap that on your product, and you can use field video for demonstrations instead of hypothetical lab testing.”

He deflates a bit and seems to be listening to someone else talking.

“Merlin.” I whisper. “Who’s he listening to?”

He appears to have his board of directors and department heads giving him advice. It sounds like they want you badly but are adding conditions. Like ensuring you work from their labs and you under constant surveillance while working.

“It seems that your terms are acceptable, if you agree to some of ours.”

I nod for him to continue.

“We want you to work from one of our labs, built specifically for you so you will have your own secure space. You will have to produce or show progress of completing something every month. There will of course be some fine print but that is the bottom line of it.”

That actually doesn’t sound too bad, I was not looking forward to supply trucks dumping materials off at my home. Defeating their surveillance would be child’s play for Merlin, so that’s not even an issue.

“I will add a few lines of fine print as well then, if I am out in the field on Vanguard duty your monthly check in will be paused until my return, and then it may resume. Stuff like that.”

“I would not expect you to stop fighting, after all that would help your gear showing it in use after all. Seems we have a deal; I will have legal write up a contract and have it to you soon.”

“Is there anything else?” He asks.

I shake my head. “Nope, a pleasure Mr. Vanderik.”

I walk out of his office and try to hold my composure until I get to his secretary’s desk. The man’s suit is still lighting up like a strobing disco ball.

“There seems to be something wrong with your suit, sir you should get it looked at.” I say casually strolling into the elevator, I can see his face turn beet red.

I return my armor to its civilian state before getting into my car.

“Take me home Merlin.” I say smiling at my win.

The trip home should be nice and relaxing.