“Samurai come from all walks of life. Some from the upper crust, who grew up in the lap of luxury. Others are homeless orphans. Still others are working class. While most are young, some are old. However, they do have some similarities. They value the lives of others. They don’t feel as bound by laws. And most importantly, they will not easily be stopped.”
– Intro to Sociology at Rutgers
How typical. He didn’t last very long. But then, I counted on that, due to my research. I got off of him and out of bed. My clothes were on a nearby table, along with my purse, which I grabbed. I left the bedroom and headed to Roger’s private office. The view in the penthouse apartment faced my city, Sheridan, and all the lights prevented seeing any stars. The view was somewhat limited by the farm towers on either side.
Passing by the game room, I noticed he had some weapons showcased on the wall. I knew I had time, since he had drunk a fair amount of wine, so he wouldn’t wake for a while. Once in the office, I searched for the safe. When I located it, I pulled out my tools from the false bottom of the purse. An hour later, the safe was opened and the information there copied. I closed it and wiped it down.
Removing all traces I had been there, I returned to the bedroom. On the way, I got two glasses of water and put them on his bedside table. I placed my purse back with my clothes and got back in bed. In the morning, as he stirred, I woke. Lifting the covers, I saw he was ready for another round, even if he wasn’t quite awake. So I woke him up in an enjoyable way.
“Wha…?”
“Good morning, Roger.”
“… Yeah, good morning, Mary?”
“Jane.”
“Right. Jane. I think I have a hangover.”
“I placed some water over there.”
Roger looked to the side and said, “Ugh.” Then he reached over and drank one, slowly.
We finished, and I headed to the shower. He joined me a few minutes later. Leaving the shower, we got dressed, and I went to fix my makeup. He had a holographic mirror, so I could see myself, front and back. My outfit was too sexual for daylight, but that is normal for one-night stands. I had a blazer, skirt, heels, jewelry, and way too much skin showing. In fact, the blazer was of the disconnected style. There were magnetic edges to pull the left and right sides together, but they had about an inch separating them. At the club last night, it was perfect for latching onto my target. He was too arrogant and stupid or drunk enough that he didn’t even consider the possibility someone would target him.
I was putting on the finishing touches when my augs flashed:
INCURSION DETECTED
I yelled, even as I put my makeup away, “Where’s the bunker?”
Rushing out, he said, “Center basement of the cannery.”
I noted he didn’t head to the elevator to the garage we entered by but instead went to an elevator on the other side of the penthouse. I ran after him and the door closed before I got there. He didn’t even hold it open for me, the jerk. Looking about, I saw a door next to it that opened to a stairway down. I ran down as quickly as I could.
By the time I got to the bottom, I saw flashing lights indicating a path. I ran, following them, and came to the bunker. Just outside were several people, banging on the door, yelling to be let in. I could hear Roger refusing to open the door. I forced my way forward and managed to get to the bunker’s intercom.
Pushing the man there aside, I pressed the button and looked into the camera. “Roger, open up.”
Panicked, he said, “No way! We’ll all die if I open the door before the incursion is over.”
“There are no antithesis here yet. You can safely open it long enough to let us in.”
“I don’t care. You don’t matter. None of you matter. I’m not opening up.”
I tried several more times to get him to open it up, but he refused. Slamming the console, I slumped down, saying, “Damn you.”
Soon after, one of the guys said, “We need weapons. Can we make any from this stuff?” He waved his hand at the canning equipment.
No one said anything for a while, so I straightened up and said, “I saw some racked weapons in the penthouse.”
The man responded, disbelieving, “You have access?”
“Maybe. I was there a few minutes ago.”
“Then lead the way. Maybe we can get something there.”
I led the way back. The elevator would not open to me, but the stairway door did. Apparently it didn’t close fully when I came down. But our luck didn’t hold. Several model threes found us on the stairway. The two men told the women to run up while they bought some time. I didn’t think; just climbed as fast as I could move. Five flights up, we finally entered the penthouse. Behind us, we heard the dying screams of the men and feared ours would join them soon.
I couldn’t run after climbing down and now up, but I managed a jog into the game room. The others rushed for the guns; I was too tired to get there first. I claimed a machete, as that was the only thing left. I barely managed to close the stair door before they got here.
I yelled, “Aim at the door. Be ready for when they crash through.” I waited to the side of the door, hoping they would not notice me, and I could get a hit in from behind.
Even as they banged and banged at the door, we all caught our breath. The first crack startled us, but no one was ready for the top of the door to burst. The four women shot as soon as the door broke. Their aim must have been low. I was in luck, as they went for the sound. I waited a second to be sure no more were coming, then struck one from behind.
My attention was so focused on the antithesis I was slicing that I didn’t hear the gunshots a few feet away from me. When the last one was killed, I slowly recovered and saw all the blood. I dropped the machete and almost passed out when my head suddenly hurt. Through the sharp pain, I heard a voice:
System Initialized!
Congratulations. Through your actions you have proven yourself worthy of becoming one of the Vanguard, a defender of humanity. I am Ysys. I will assist you to uplift humanity so that you may defend your homeworld from the Antithesis threat!
Rise, Jane Anderson, and become a protector of the weak!
“What?” I whispered. Then I continued, “How?”
You have protected others and slain antithesis.
“But they shot them.”
True, but they did not harm them. You did. Those bullets were designed for paper targets, not killing. Your machete got them in the end. You have 130 points and are injured. Might I suggest you get the Class I Medical Utilities catalog for 50 points and, from that, a WoundStop for 5 points?
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
One of the other ladies asked, “Who are you talking to?”
I just said, “Yes.”
Opened Class I Medical Utilities – 50 points
WoundStop – 5 points
New Total – 75 points
Even as she asked, “What?” a box appeared before me. I opened and applied it, and my wounds were healed. Before anyone could react, a window shattered and everyone turned to see what happened. Without thinking, I grabbed my gory machete and attacked the model ones that came in. Only three more shots rang out before they ran back behind some furniture. When it was over, Ysys gave me an update.
Targets eliminated
Model one X 6 – 6 points
New Total – 81 points
The same woman said, “Are you a Samurai?”
“Apparently. How is everyone?”
Everyone told me, so I asked, “Ysys, can you get meds for them as well?”
Sure. Here you go.
WoundStop X 4 – 20 points
New Total – 61 points
Boxes appeared next to each of them. I said, “Open the boxes and take the medicine. Just follow the instructions.”
A different woman said, “We’re saved. We have a Samurai to protect us.”
“Maybe, but I’m too brand new and don’t know anything about saving anyone.”
“Let’s go back down to the bunker. Surely they will open it for us with a Samurai.”
“Do I look like one? No. He won’t open it to me.”
“What do we do?”
“I don’t know…” I suddenly remembered Roger’s car was in the garage, and there were no people or plants there to attract antithesis. “We might be able to drive to the city.” I stood and went back to the game room to see if there were any real weapons there. I would need something ranged, as we would likely be followed by model ones. I found a shotgun hidden behind the bar. I didn’t see any ammo, so I started opening nearby drawers and cabinets. I found a box of buckshot shells for the shotgun.
“Ysis, will this take down the antithesis?”
If you are in close range with a model one, you might kill it, but that’s about all.
“I don’t want to get close to these things. I need distance.”
Might I suggest purchasing a weapon? There are many catalogs to choose from. I recommend the Class I Basic Kinetic Weapons catalog for 50 points. There are a number of ranged weapons you can get.
“Just get me one that can shoot far.”
Opened Class I Basic Kinetic Weapons – 50 points
SMG Rifle – 10 points
New Total – 1 point
A box appeared on the table next to me. I opened it and checked it out. It looked like an SMG from one of the VR games I played. It had a 120-round magazine. I picked it up and then decided to take the machete as well, so I wiped it off with a towel from the bar.
We went down the garage elevator, and I told everyone to wait in the elevator until I checked out the garage. When the doors opened, I waited between them, machete raised. Nothing happened, so I slowly went into the room while someone else held the door open. Once I circled the car, I called for them to enter. Then I checked the car door; it was locked. Digging in my purse, I used the same tools I opened the safe with to open the car. Getting in, I unlocked it, then set about hot-wiring it.
When the hovercar started, I got out and said, “Everyone in, I’m riding shotgun, since I have a rifle.”
There was a brief moment of confusion, but soon everyone was in the car.
I called to the women in back, “Hey you, keep an eye out for model ones.” To the driver, I said, “As soon as we are out, head upwards and to the city.”
She pushed the remote button to open the door, then pulled out slowly.
“Faster, the sooner we are in the clear, the safer we will be.”
She nodded, and I felt the acceleration, but then she swerved back down.
“What… Oh shit!” Apparently, there was a swarm of model ones above us. Way more than I could shoot. I quickly looked around all over, and I spotted a fuel truck below next to some sort of warehouse. Pointing, I yelled, “Fly past that fuel truck. When they follow, I’ll shoot it and blow it up. That should clear them.”
Turning that way, she wove a bit more, but we did fly past, and the flock followed us. I aimed at the truck, and when the swarm was as close as it would get, I fired at the truck. There was a large fireball, and I got a message:
Targets eliminated
Model one X 21 – 21 points
New Total – 22 points
“Fly us out of here before more find us! You in back, see if any survived.”
We straightened out and accelerated toward the city. A minute later, no more model ones appeared. However, we saw a number of model threes and others below heading for the farms. I noticed that the warehouse apparently caught fire.
That’s when the driver called out, “What’s that?”
Looking at her, then what she was looking at, I couldn’t tell.
Those are model fives. They shoot quills, and we are in range.
“Go high and floor it.”
Even as she accelerated again, there was a huge explosion, and the car was tossed higher and faster. It lost stability, and started tumbling fast. The next thing I knew, the interior filled with foam to protect us. We still tumbling through the sky, and I heard the engine die, indicating whatever happened broke the car. To add to the confusion I got an unexpected message:
Targets eliminated
Hive pod – 500 points, 1 token
Model one X 247 – 172 points
Model three X 184 – 1288 points
Model four X 21 – 220 points
Model five X 8 – 102 points
Model six X 4 – 42 points
Model ten X 7 – 5 points
New Total – 2351 points, 1 token
“Ysys? What happened? Where did all these points come from?”
When you blew up the truck, it set the warehouse on fire. That warehouse held fertilizer, which can be an explosive under the right conditions. The conditions were right. The ensuing explosion blew up the antithesis pod, which had all those models in it. Because it was at a remove, you don’t get full points. Even so, taking it out earned you a token.
As I processed that, our tumbling came to an abrupt end as we crash landed. The foam absorbed a lot of the impact, and then it disintegrated, leaving a minor mess. We were on our side.
I looked back, and the cannery building still stood. “How is the building still standing?”
Safety codes require sturdy walls, and they fulfilled their purpose. They won’t a second time. As to why the explosion seemed so big, it wasn’t as big as you might expect. The shape of the wall, and the nearby farms caused most of the blast to head our way, which happened to be where the pod landed.
Hearing some groans, I looked about and saw the other women were recovering, just like me. Shortly, even as I was wondering what to do now, I heard a shout.
I looked, and saw a hover car heading straight to us. As it got closer, I realized it was not a car, but some PMC’s APC. As I tried to get out, the door wouldn’t open. Apparently it crumpled enough to prevent it opening. Before we could force our way out, several PMCs exited the truck, righted the car, and with their tools, cut open the doors. We got out, and soon they had us bundled in back of the APC, heading to the city.
I asked, “How did you find us?”
One of them said, “We followed the beacon. When you crashed immediately after the big explosion, the beacon went off.”
Actually, it went off when the foam deployed.
“Oh. Um… Where are headed?”
“We’re heading back to the command post, where we will drop you off before returning to the fight.”
One of the women chimed in, “I knew we would be safe with our Samurai.”
He said, “Samurai?”
“Yeah, apparently killing some aliens was enough.”
“No, ma’am. We do that all the time. It takes a lot more. Johnson, call it in. Ma’am, after we drop the others, the commander will want to talk with you.”
“Oh.”
“We could use your help.”
“Uh… sure. Um, wake me when we get there. It’s been stressful.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I closed my eyes for what seemed a moment when someone shook me awake.
“We’re here.”
Suddenly, I got another message:
People saved X 4 – 4 points
New Total – 2355 points, 1 token
