I check my aug menu, find the device and mentally smash the big red button!

At first nothing really exciting happens, the device deploys a shield over the cave entrance that appears to the eye as a light blue barrier.

Major Devoy looks over at me and lifts an eyebrow, as if asking “Is that it?”

I raise my hand with one finger up, the universal “Wait a minute, you impatient man.” Not the finger you’re thinking of.

From the device a flash of light, then the shield turns a dark opaque blue blocking it out.

KABOOOM!!!

The next thing we know everyone is on their ass, the earth shudders in response. Rocks and earth crumble from the mine walls, the valley seems to vibrate as if alive. My teeth chatter in my head and it feels like Armageddon is visiting our locale.

From the mine I’m guessing about where the hive is a huge jet of fire erupts from the ground, no that does not do it justice, a friggin’ volcano of molten earth and fire rip out of the earth, spinning several thousand feet up into the air in a vortex.

Oh, shit balls!

I am tracking several objects from the eruption that will land in your vicinity. I suggest retreating farther before they land. Highlighting objects on your augs.

I can’t even squeak out a response, I try and climb to my feet and fail, falling on my face.

An arm reaches around my waist and hauls me up over their back like a rag doll.

All I see is the ground moving past as I’m carried further back from the mine; we don’t stop until there is no more space to retreat.

“SHIELD UP” A voice shouts from the person carrying me. At this point I’m fairly sure it’s Major Devoy, my hero.

I’m un-ceremonially dumped onto the ground, and Major Devoy drops on top of me.

Through his limbs I see a pale blue barrier pop up over us, and the rest of the unit is huddled around us as well.

Not that I’m complaining, but one of his hands happens to be on my breast, and one of his knees is parked between my thighs.

My face burns a bit noticing this, and also from the embarrassment of nuking the valley with what, according to Merlin, was supposed to be a low impact device.

On my augs I see the highlighted debris smash into the blue shield causing it to flare up. Several impacts later and a chunk of rock manages to break through the barrier before it snaps back into place.

My eyes go wide, it’s going to hit the Major, I try to wiggle free but can’t break his grip, my bodily upgrades are not enough to move the mountain on top of me.

“Stop moving Morigana, you’re safe.” He says, shouting over the roar and explosion.

I can only watch his face in horror as the piece slams into his legs. Blood and bone splatter everywhere, my point defense shield kicks on stopping the fragment from hitting me.

His body slams into mine, knocking the wind out of me.

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

“MERLIN PUCK THE MAJOR!” I shout out, tears welling up in my eyes.

Understood, activating now.

The Majors weight vanishes from my body as he is teleported away instantly.

The eruptions and debris falling trickles down till they stop.

I sit up on my elbows shaking, what in the fuck just happened.

“Merlin, explain how that happened, you said it would be safe to use that here!”

It should have been, there must have been additional elements within the hive to cause secondary explosions beyond what the mines structure could handle. The ceiling gave way at the vortex of the compression causing, as you saw, a huge structural failure. I apologize for the miscalculation.

“YOU APOLOGIZE?! The Major could be dead! Everyone here could have died, and it would have been all my fault for trusting you! Never again Merlin, from now on I will see the destruction done myself, no more indiscriminate weapons!” I shouted shaking with rage and frustration.

I understand, Morigana, I will not suggest them again. I hope you understand that I do hold the best interest of humanity at heart. I would never intentionally put a human’s life at risk. If it makes you feel better Major Devoy is being cared for now by Hank and his AI, and he should live. A side note that I hope helps, the Major was selected to be a Vanguard for his sacrifice protecting you.

I let out a pent-up breath, trying to control my tears and shaking.

“No Merlin, it does not, but I’m glad he is okay. Is the hive destroyed at least?”

It is indeed, you have accumulated…

“I don’t care!” I shout slapping the ground with my hands.

“Is anyone else hurt, and call Hank.”

No one else was injured thankfully, their shield stopped the worst of the impacts. Hank is on the line now.

“Hey little Mori, your buddy you sent over is in a class IV medical recovery pod, he will be okay.” Hank says over my augs.

“Clever idea using your puck to send him to me by the way. I don’t think he woulda made it otherwise.” He lets out a heavy breath.

“Thank you, Hank, he got hurt shielding me from a bomb blast that my AI screwed up analyzing the risk on.” I said between my teeth.

“Oiy now, the AIs are very good at what they do but shit happens out in the field that can’t be accounted for, I do understand your frustration though missy. Just remember being a Samurai ain't all sunshine and roses. People get hurt, people die, and this is only the beginning. You need to dig deep and make sure you can handle this. No one’s goina judge you harshly if you back out or take a breather.”

I wipe my face with the back of my hand, trying to clear out my tears.

Around me the PMC is collecting itself and accounting for everyone, going over the equipment, and staring in awe at the carnage from the blast.

“I…I know, I guess I was not ready to see it so soon. I need some time, I think, to process everything. Just yesterday I was an engineer and teacher and the worst I had to deal with were scraped knees and snotty noses.”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I pick myself up off the ground, looking at myself. I’m covered in dust and blood from the Major. I take a steadying breath. He’s alive, it’s just a mess, not a big deal, I tell myself.

“Thank you, Hank, can I come visit?”

“Course missy, address sent to your AI. Clean yourself up a bit yeah? Major here will be out for a while, so don’t worry, eat, clean yourself up, it’s okay.”

“Thank you, I will.” I say ending the call.

Morigana, again I am sorry for the error. Major Devoy’s AI has reached out and is assuring me that he is recovering and will be fine.

“Merlin, is it possible to split the points from that hive with him? Was he a Samurai long enough to get any credit?” I ask.

Sort of…given the situation and the proximity of the event I believe it is fair to award him a portion. I will confer with his AI and see what she thinks.

“Fine, let me know.”

One of the PMC soldiers walks up to me hesitantly.

“Excuse me Witch of the West, do you know what happened to the Major?” He asks, looking around nervously.

“Yes, he was injured and was teleported to a care facility. Uhm, and also you should let whoever know that he was selected to be a Samurai.”

The soldiers’ eyes get big, and his mouth drops open.

“Yes Ma’am! I will let dispatch know; do you know where he is though?”

Not sure if I should give out a Samurai’s address I respond with a shrug.

“Yes, but I can’t give out the location. I’m sure he will report in when he can.”

He doesn’t seem to be thrilled with the answer but what’s he going to do?

“Understood Ma’am.” He says walking off.

Morigana, after discussing it with Major Devoy’s AI we have determined that a ten percent portion of the points is an appropriate reward. Before you say that is not good enough, realize that this is not standard and is a significant amount of points for a new Vanguard.

“Fine, it’s good enough. Now I’m going to go home and pretend you don’t exist while I think about this. Unless the world is ending, or I ask something don’t bother me.”

Understood, Hank’s address has been loaded to your car. Again, I am sorry for my error I will be more diligent in the future,

I don’t respond to my AI, instead I head over to the soldier that spoke to me earlier.

He looks over as I’m approaching, rendering a salute, that I ignore.

“Soldier.” I look at his name tape, I don’t know rank symbols so whatever. “Stone, do you guys need anything else from me? My AI says nothing down there should be alive.”

“No Ma’am, we will do a sweep of the town, and the mine when it cools down enough to check. We will kill anything left, or if it’s too much to handle we will contact the Family for Samurai assistance.”

Oddly he does not seem overly upset with me for nearly killing them all and their officer. Are they that numb to this or are they afraid to show anything in front of me?

I go to walk away but turn and ask. “Stone, how do you guys’ cope with all this?” I say, emphasizing everything with my hands.

He stops for a second and thinks before responding.

“You either get used to it or have a mental break down. In that case a shrink talks to you to see if you can continue or get pushed out.” He says. I can see some shadows in his eyes, looks like he has seen his share of horrors and made it through.

“Thanks.” I say heading back to my car.

I don’t remember walking back to the car and setting the autopilot to home.

Somehow, I get home and into the bath without even realizing it.

The hot water soothing my body and mind, with some clarity, and in a place I feel safe, I finally process what happened.

I used an alien device of which I had very little hope of ever understanding in a setting with unaccountable variables. I should have known to ask about the mine’s integrity, the hives ability to have its own explosives, or even what minerals were present in the rock, or hell maybe the company that was mining left a huge load of explosives behind.

I scrub at my legs to get the blood and dirt off; the Majors blood. I drain the water out and replace it with fresh clean water, and a metric ton of bubble bath.

From now on, no huge uncontrolled explosions, precise and specific strikes only. I need a way to be able to take out huge swaths of enemies without injuring anyone else.

I don’t think my wand is a huge danger. Its area is small, and I can get predictive mapping for its explosion. Its short range also helps me understand what and where it will hit.

The cryo gloves are the same, short range and I can control what’s hit, the acid spray is only effective on Antithesis so no worry there. Lastly my plasma whip is probably my most dangerous weapon, but its safety is my mind and its shielding.

What can I do then, to take out huge areas safely?

My whip is my strongest weapon, how can I use that do to more damage? It moves around perfectly controlled by my mind through my augs. What if could make the plasma arc like lightning from target to target and move around or through targets I want it to.

Wait no, why not use lightning? I’m betting there is tech in a catalog to charge the air in a specific path, create a pathway of charged particles that avoid what I don’t want, and hit only what I want. I could upgrade my augs and sensors to create pathways quickly and direct it through huge swaths of targets.

The damage would be instant and fatal, lightning only strikes for two or so seconds and can go for miles! It also burns at fifty-thousand degrees! Yes! The crazy thing is, it would hardly use any power and is relatively low tech for the Vanguard.

“Merlin.” I say flatly.

I am here Morigana, what can I do for you?

“Don’t think I have forgiven you, but I have an idea and I need your stupid AI brain to see if it’s possible.” I say, I sink into the tub up to my face and take a moment to gather my thoughts.

“Lightning. Is there a catalog or weapon that will let me change the charge of my target and the weapon and the space between or whatever so I can create a safe pathway to multiple targets at once?”

There is indeed. There is a device in your Warcaster II catalog that is designed to do such a task. You would need to unlock three other catalogs to effectively use the weapon as I believe you are intending.

Class I enhanced Augment neural processing for two hundred points, and Class II of the same for six hundred and a token. Then use the Mk IV hive mind neural processing upgrade that will cost one thousand points.

Then unlock the Class II Advanced Sensory Technologies for six hundred points and a token then upgrade your sensor suite to Class II version for five hundred points.

After that the weapon system itself will cost you two thousand points. It re-arranges the positive and negative properties of atoms, creating arcs of lightning on very specific pathways. The temperature, speed, width, length, and connecting targets can be all be adjusted.

So, in all five thousand five hundred points, and you will have a lightning-based weapon that can target as many targets as you can identify, engage, and then destroy in just a few seconds.

I take a moment to let that all sink in, holy stars that is a lot of points for one weapon. But then, to think it will stop collateral damage to others, and I won’t hurt those around me by accident.

Do I even have that many points and tokens?

“What are my points and tokens Merlin?”

Eleven thousand three hundred and twenty after splitting with the Major, and two tokens.

Oh, wow that was a huge kill then I guess.

That is of course also after the penalty for distance from the kills themselves, there was a small penalty for that.

“I see. Be really clear with me, Merlin. What hazards would this system present to others and any other associated risks?”

Very well Morigana, I will try and give you every detail I can. I will provide you with a manual for the weapon for your own reading as well. The weapon discharge will be real lightning, so any risk associated with lightning will also be present here. You will need to be aware of conductive materials on and around your target. Objects near the pathways of the lightning may still be burned or damaged. The basic temperature of each arc will be around fifty thousand degrees. Water in the vicinity or around the target may cause un-intended deflections of the lightning or transfer to other objects. The software and upgrades that I have selected will increase your ability to process all aspects of the weapon. You will gain enhanced thinking speeds, perception, and a massive gain in your brains ability to process countless simultaneous actions at once.

I got what I asked for, Merlin went on for roughly forty minutes explaining all the details, along with providing a very in-depth user guide. And I listened to every single thing he said. From the looks of it this may be the only weapon I need, in conjunction with the acid I can kill and melt down almost anything.

“Okay Merlin, make the purchases please.”

You may wish to get out of the bathtub first, Morigana.

“Right, good call.”