Chapter 9

  "Home is an important place. A place were you can rest after a long day of Happy work. That is why we here at Sunset Biosolutions are happy to offer our valued employees discounted safe housing close to work and always protected by our brave men and women of the security team. So sign up today. Join our happy family with a simple twenty year contract and live in comfortable safety." - Recruitment ad for Sunset Biosolutions.

  -2054

  I'm quite happy that Yakov decided I could walk on my own before we headed up the stairs back to the Den. Jack in the lead as we quickly went up the stairs. Stopping by the door Bill moving up behind him as Jack spoke, "Evan get up here I will open the door a bit, once its open toss one of those wailing grenades of yours and step back." I move up to stand just behind him to the side of Bill pulling one of the resonators holding it ready as Jack opened the door just enough for me to reach over and toss the resonator. I took two quick steps back as the wailing begun, barely a moment later Jack ripped the door open and charged in Bill and the twins following and spreading out, Roberto motioned me to follow them.

  On the other side I already saw some Model 4's turning to move towards our group along with a pack of 3's only to all quickly get cut down by the group. “Fen refill my bag please” I said moving towards the direction we had come from only to be stopped by Jack. “In to the square. Toss your grenades as we shoot”

  Most certainly!

  New purchase

  4 x Class I resonator MK I – S “Sticky” - 28 points

  2 x Class I MK I Gravity shaker – 10 points

  New total:915

  We advance towards the door I grab a resonator and tosses it to land just outside the door, I shudder a bit as I enter the range muttering under my breath. “That is uncomfortable..” As we leave the Den and walk out in to the open we can see that there aren't that many Antithesis left out there that are moving a few packs of model 3's running between their dead brethren making it hard for the people in the casino to hit them. I spot at least one model 5 that's half buried behind a pile of dead model 3's, tossing its quills towards the casino. Some model 4's still moving around in groups of two's and threes.

  I would imagine that it is quite possible, the vibrations caused by the resonator is keyed towards the antithesis but it is still designed to cause matter to fall a part.

  I pull out an other resonator and tosses it towards a pack of model 3's. “Does that mean that you can have them target other things or creatures?” I asked as I pulled and tossed a shaker towards the hidden model 5. Watching as it pulls a quill to toss only to have the same quill slamming down into its own back. At the same time the rest of our little group is shooting and killing. Quite quickly a group of gang members move out in to the square shooting and killing the last remaining antithesis in the square.

  Of course they can be. But somethings requires more powerful versions. And there are more effective ways to deal with non-swarming enemies. But if you ever run in to nest of giant ants or something like that. Then it can be effective.

  I stop and shudder a bit at the image of someone getting vibrated apart. Looking around at the scene around me I see piles of dead antithesis. “This place is a mess” I said and Roberto nods beside me. “That it is. And quite sure we can't burn them all without burning down part of the city.” He then looked towards the group that came out of the casino. “The plan was to clear things so we could head to the pit right? In that case I'll go and organize thing so we can move” He then left without waiting for a reply.

  Actually now that you have the points and catalogs you should clean up the square. And that reminds me! Enemies eliminated:

  7x Model 3 = 70 points

  2x Model 4 = 30 points

  1x Model 5 = 30 points

  Points earned by provided gear: 47 points

  New total: 1092 points

  And as I was saying it is quite important that we don't leave any behind when it is possible. Even a small amount of antithesis matter could take root and start a hive. And so when possible clean up. Oh! And when cleaning up full on battlefields like this you might actually be able to earn a few points. I recommend you get a Class I Wide-area interconnected Sanitation Platform-system

  from your Battlefield clean up catalog for 40 points.

  Jack came over and motioned back to the casino. “We should head back and help.” He said as I looked over towards him. “Oh right I need to do something out here. That might help with all of this” Motioning to piles and piles of dead plants, “That would help a lot. I'll take the twins and go aid the others” He said before motioning to the twins to head back. “Bill remain with Evan. In case something is playing dead” He said to the thin man. “Sure thing” He replied. “Fen lets do this.” I said.

  I need you to walk in to the middle of the square. And I will deploy the system it will be have a few things deploying around the square too.

  New purchase:

  1x Class I Wide-area Interconnected Sanitation Platform-system – 40 points.

  New total:1052

  As I reached the middle of the square nothing happened for a moment, then a small pop could be heard as air got displaced as a thin tower the about as tall as your average streetlight appeared in front of me. The base of the tower had a pentagon shape that slowly finned out. About half way it changed in to a round pole.- It was a simple gray colour and had a that familiar logo on the side a black hooded head with white glowing skeletal grin and glowing soft-cyan eyes and something that was blurred out on top of its head. “So how do I start this thing?” I asked looking it over.

  Very simple just put your hand on to its side and I will start the process.

  Looking around I could see similar pillars surrounding the square in a rough five pointed star kind of shape. The surrounding pillars were slimmer and had glowing white lines that made it look like something was moving upwards. Placing my hand on the pillar, it let out a low hum before a releasing an expanding layer of mist that came up to about my mid thigh. Then the tower pulsed in a cyan light causing the mist to light up in a slightly eerie manner. Then I saw something starting to float out of the surrounding pillars in between each pulse of light. They looked like small glowing balls of light with a slightly chaotic spin to the colours shifting between white and the same cyan light that pulsed out every few seconds. With each pulse more and more of these whips appeared. Moving around crashing into and slowly dissolving the dead antithesis. “Are those?.. Will-o'-the-Wisp's?" I asked out loud then the name of the thing I just got registered and I couldn't help but laugh.

  Oh yes they are! And I see that you like! I knew you would come around to this in the end. Considering your gaming and book history. You can leave these here they might not look it but they can take a bit of a beating.

  Bill just stared at the scene around us before quite visible shuddering “I will so have nightmares after this..” He said looking at me. “You will owe me a drink at the very least.” He said with a grin. “I have been told that Samurai drinks are great after all” I looked at him a shook my head slowly. “Lets see if we can get back first then?” I asked turning to walk towards the casino only to find that a lot of the people that had been protected in the back of the main hall, were now staring some in fascination some in quite a bit of fear at what was happening. “Seems like I won't be able to hide what I am now.” I said to Bill. As we got closer Roberto walked over “We are ready to move out. There are a little over one hundred people and way too few guards.” He then motioned to a group that stood a bit a part from the others. Most of them wearing expensive fine clothes and even a suit or two. A long with some people that were clearly bodyguards. “Then their guards as well. But I don't trust the people that come down here for cheap thrills.” He said.

  “We can't leave them behind.” I said with a sigh. “Not that I care for them. But we all know that the enemy will use any biomass to fuel their own needs.” Roberto said in response to that “So we bring them along.” He said. “And then hope that their families don't attack us?” I asked. “That's what mine would have done to get any of my brothers back.” We walked to join Jack in the lead front of the group. “Your family sounds like the worst kind of asshole or corpo-scum.” I laughed at that. “Oh they are among the worst. And calling them corpo-scum is an insult to actual corpo-scums” I said with a grin under my mask.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Once we got to the front I nodded to Jack. He looked over my shoulder at the mist and dancing lights. “Guess we might need to change it from the undercity to the underworld at least if you get more of those things.” He said before laughing a bit. “Oh Hal's gonna hate that as well. It will 'drive away' customers. He'll say” Jack then checked the people and shouted. “We are moving out. If you leave the group then you are on your own! Now move” He then turned and started down the street.

  The group at the front walked rifles raises scanning every thing. The group had the three I had yet to get the names of along with Jack me and Bill. The street up were among the cleaner parts of the district yes there was an abandoned long dead street car or at least the frame of one. Once we came to the last stretch of street leading to the forts gate we could see some dead antithesis and hear the occupational gunshot from the side. On up on the walk way beside the gate stood a guard, she turned and yelled something in to the fort and slowly the half rusted steel gates started to roll to the side.

  When it was half way open we heard how the gunfire from the side started for real a constant sound of automatic fire. This caused us in the lead to move more quickly, rounding the corner we saw a familiar scene model 3's and some Model 4's rushing down the street. Jack and the rest of us quickly spread out and started adding their fire to that of the people on the wall. Someone yelled in the crowd. “Keep moving once the gate is open just run.” No-one seemed to object to this order. They started to run.

  The rifle fire slowed down as the antithesis were killed off soon enough there were about twenty or so more antithesis corpses in the street. I sighed. “Will I have to deploy an other of those things for this?” I asked

  Not this time. It is a much smaller amount a Mark I Flesh Melter or two would work just fine here. They are grenades that release a similar nanite to what you had the twins toss in to the river. Just a smaller amount. Oh! And!

  Enemies eliminated

  8 x model 3 = 80

  1 x model 4 = 15

  Points from gear used by others: 23

  New total:1170

  “Two of those then” Jack remained beside me as the others started to move in through the gates in to the pit. Someone ran up on the walk way behind the walls and waved “Hey Jack! Where In all that's fucked up down here did you get that gun?!” A short woman that looked to be in her mid forties with short blue hair peeking out under a combat helmet asked. Wearing simple body armor over some overalls lower face hidden by a rebreather. Her dark eyes locked on to the gun in question.

  New purchase;

  2 x Mark I Flesh Melters – 6 points

  New total: 1164

  Two grenades appeared in the third compartment of my grenadier bag. Pulling one of them out it looked quite similar to the resonators if not a bit larger. I then toss the grenade to land among the closer group. Then holding the other grenade out to Jack. “I don't think I can toss it to the next group from here.” I said. He wordlessly took it and tossed it. We then turned and ran inside the gate closing behind us.

  Then the woman jumped down and ran over to Jack “Hey don't ignore me! And where was that rifle I gave you earlier. Don't say you broke it?!” She asked before looking over towards me then she froze a bit. “Hey.. Jack who di-.. Is that the one that joined your group? What happened and where is the shotgun I handed to you?!” She shouted before taking a step over and freezing as she scanned me up and down the trench-coat the boots, rifle bag and mask. “You got sam'd didn't you?” Narrowing her eyes “I hope you didn't forget your friendly and ever helpful quartermaster now!” She said.

  I just stared at her “I--.. What?” I asked and Jack answered. “Right you never actually met her as I got your gear.. This is Ginette. She's from the same company as me and Bill. Also the one that does her best to take care of our guns and getting us more ammo” He said and I just nodded. “Right umm nice to meet you?” I asked and she nodded moving her hands as if reaching for my gun. “And she's a bit of a gun nut.. And forgetting that we are basically in a combat zone” Someone spoke up from behind her. I looked over her shoulder to see Hal standing there an old rifle slung over his shoulder.

  Ginette took a quick step back “Oh right. Work first stealing all the new guns later. But it is nice to meet you.” She said then looked over to Hal and back to the wall.” I'll head up and make sure the old machine-gun don't jam again.” She said before walking off. Hal shook his head “It seems a lot has happened. But it might be some good luck at least” He then looked to Jack. “Head to the wall in case any more of the antithesis shows up I will need to head over and help Roberto get the people to a place were they can't steal anything.”

  Jack nodded and walked off to head up on to the wall. I then took the chance to pull my mask down down to rest It around my neck. Hal's attention was back on me. “We might need to speak later. But for now. I will ask is there anything you can do to aid with our defenses?” I blinked slowly at his wording but nodded. “I think I can do something about that.. And talk about what?” I asked.

  He sighed a bit “We both know that I let you join us because it would be a big fuck off to the corpos. And you joined because you wanted to stick it to your father.” He said and I nodded. “It was a mutually beneficial agreement in that.” I said with a grin causing Hal to chuckle softly. “It was but what I wonder now that you have become a Samurai. You will have much better options then sticking around here is all” He said

  I looked at him standing silent for a moment then shook my head. “I did come here to piss them off yes you accepted me as a big fuck you, to the corpos. This is all true. But I was accepted at least by Jacks group I was treated as one of you. And you didn't spit on my ideals at least not in front of me” I shook my head again. “What I'm trying to say is. I'm planning to stay if you will let me. And I might be able to help build this place up a bit. As a bonus that will piss off the corpos even more. An area that gets developed that they don't have all that much influence in” I said with a grin only to get a grin in return. “I'll go and see what I can do to help” I said before turning to walk away. “And I will go and help Roberto.” He said before rushing off.

  Pulling the mask back up “Fen.. I needed at least 1000 points right. Or can I drop lower?” I asked as I headed towards the wall and running up the stairs. Once at the top I looked around seeing a few of the gang members glancing my way before going back to scanning the street.

  The lowest you can go and complete things with minimal upgrades would be 800, As you would need some new gear once its through as well. As for defenses there are a few auto turret options. I would recommend unlocking the Class I Moonstalkers Technologies for 120 points and the Class I auto-turrets for 50 points as well as the Class I light based weaponry for an other 50. The auto-turret one allows you to get some simple defensive turrets and with the light based weaponry you can get them without the need to reload for a longer time. The Moonstalkers got great turrets for low light conditions. Then I would recommend getting two Mark-4 Light-fang wall emplacement auto-turrets. 25 points each. It will leave you with just enough to manage.

  I nodded before speaking. “Do it and what do I need to do to attach the turrets? I mean” I asked

  All you need to do is walk along the wall and I will take care of it. Their batteries will last about 15000 shots or 5000 super charged shots before needing to be replaced or recharged.

  Unlocking Catalogs:

  Class I Moonstalkers Technologies -120 points

  Class I light based weaponry -50 points

  Class I auto-turrets – 50 points

  New purchase

  2 x Mark-4 Light-fang wall emplacement auto-turrets – 50 points

  New total: 804 points

  A boxy looking black turret would appear on the edge of the wall holding itself in place with two large clamps. The turret was a rectangle with what looked a lot like a power-tool battery and white glowing pipes attached to its side. I walked closer and leaned over to have a look at it from the front and I could see two vertical lenses glowing a soft cyan. I quickly walked down the line to the other far side of the wall next to the main building to allow the second turret to deploy attaching itself to the wall. Some of the gang members on the wall just stared one a skinny guy grinned. And spoke. “Looks like we can start taking a few breaks” That caused a small cheer to break out. Of course Jack spoke up as he walked over. “That might be true. But you know the rules. Hal or Louis need to approve such a change. But I'm sure Evan here could go and inform them of the change to allow that to happen.” He said and I nodded. “I will do just that.” I said before heading to the stairs.

  Crossing the courtyard I took a look around. The area was open with the wall to the front with its gate. The outer walls of the undercity to the right, the two remaining sides were cornered by the same wall that If I remember correctly housed the basement levels of one of the larger mega building that also acted as a support for the plate up above us. On the left side of the small fort were a short brick building with a metal door and barred windows that the gang used as an armory. To the back of it stood what once had been an old apartment block the back half cut off by the outer wall of the raised city. This building had four floors and it still had some of its old fading colours of yellow and white. And it had a painting of a Rattlesnake that was just about to strike painted in neon-green just above the main entrance. Lastly was the headquarters building. It has two floors and looks to have been an old police station.

  I went to the old apartment block and entered through the main gate. The first floor had few open areas. One that looked like a mess hall that was currently occupied by the people we had pulled out from the casino. There was a small argument between King and one of the bodyguards that was with the group of corpo's. I started walking around to see if I could find Hal when the bodyguard spotted me. “Hey! Samurai come and tell your underling that my charge can't remain with the common trash!” I froze and slowly turned towards the man. Thinking to myself 'hasn't this guy heard of the term suicide by samurai before' I looked over to King and sent him a message over the augs

  Evan: Could you take a five or six large steps back. I'm going to toss something at this guy.

  Louis: Don't damage my floors now.

  As he sent the message and moved away a bit from the bodyguard that was still staring at me. I muted the speakers in my mask before speaking to Fenris. “Fen can you dial down the shakers effect so that it only slams the man in to the floor. Without killing him?” I asked

  Of course and done!

  I reached in to my bag and grabbed one of the gravity shakers pressing the button and tossing it over towards the bodyguard. “Catch.” I said after activating the speakers in my mask again. The bodyguards eyes went wide and he took a few steps back only for the first whomp to sound and sending the large man to the floor. He tried to scramble away only to get caught again. With each whomp the room lit up in a soft cyan. I pulled out an other one of the shakers as I walked over to King. And handed it to him. “In case they cause more trouble” I said and the man grinned wide. “Oh that is some good stuff. Hopefully I wont be needing it” He said loud enough for the others to hear over the yells and threats of the bodyguard that got repeatedly pulled down on to the floor. “Oh I might as well tell you. I put some turrets on the wall. And the guards there wish to start rotating out for breaks. And I will be heading to the infirmary for.. Some upgrades. I might not look the same when done.. So” I trailed off and he nodded. “I understand. I'll send someone over to be there once you are done if Hal or I can't be there. Just to know how you look.” He said before turning to look at the struggling bodyguard with clear amusement written all over his face. “I will see you around then” I said as I walked away only getting a chuckle in response.