“What’s this,” I said as Isabelle shoved a tiny model into my hands. A model of myself.

  “It’s for chessers!” the girl said proudly. “We now have multiple samurai to choose from at the start of the game.” She ran across the room aurned with a handful of little pstic bears, which she started pg on a nearby chess board. “y?”

  As Isabelle started pg a little pstitithesis oher side of the board, Aeonys suddenly spoke up.

  There’s a serious situation brewing. Mirage wants to talk to you, ASAP.

  The sudden interruption was surprising, sihere hadn’t been any incursios. The only emergency I was aware of was the tunnel situation. I suddenly had a bad feeling.

  “Maybe in a few minutes, Issi,” I said, trying my best to avoid the tot’s disappointed look. “I have samurai busio take care of. I’ll be back soon.” Once I expined, she perked up, gave me a quiod, and immediately went back tanizing her board.

  While she was distracted, I stepped out into the garage. “ you ect me te?” I asked Aeonys. A sed ter, my augs fshed to life.

  “We need you back here, now.” Mirage said the instant the call ected. The man looked rough, like he hadn’t slept in a couple days.

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “The situation in the Rockies has gone south. Teddy and Bright-Eyes have been keeping us up to date ouation, and based upon the most ret data, there’s a huge problem brewing.”

  “How huge?” I asked.

  “There might be a model forty her gestating in the hive hidden there,” Mirage replied heavily before slumping down in a chair. “We’re not a hundred pert sure, but based upon the yout of the tunnel system, it looks like the antithesis has been trying to leech materials out of the mountain in order to kickstart the process.”

  “Fuck me…” I muttered.

  “The staff is n to identify exactly what minerals they might have to work with, but we’re not sure what they have access to.”

  “So, what are we doing?” I asked quietly.

  “We’re calling in all avaible samurai in order to reinforce the teams already on site. We’re also iigating nuclear options.”

  I squinted. “Literally, uratively?”

  “Both. If we could pull our people out and he site, we would. Unfortunately, based upon our estimations it’s too deep for our bunker buster nukes, and orbital ons to reach. We’ve tacted some of our other brao see what they have, but, so far, no luck. There are a couple super ons avaible, the precision psma translocator and quantum sers would probably do the trick, but we need exact coordinates for them. Sihe tunnels are coated by a fug polymer, we ’t get det ss for targeting,” Mirage sighed heavily. “Look, I know you hate those tunnels, but you have the most experieh the tunnels, we could really use your help up there.”

  “Fuck…” I muttered. “Do we at least have a pn?”

  “A very basie. The antithesis are actually being pretty smart for once, and closing off the tunnels. We’re going to send reinforts to Jasper with thermal cutting tools to try and catch up. Although the backup team should have time to catch up, Barricade and a couple others don’t think we should pletely it to a siion, so they suggested drilling down into the plex from up top.”

  “Is that feasible? Digging straight down in order to ect to the work?”

  “Normally? I’d say no, but Barricade and his poraries in Edmonton say it could be done by vaporising the rock using a psma drill. We just o assemble an assault team to go down there,” he sighed. “I know you don’t want to go down there, but you’re probably both the most experienced a equipped to deal with tunnel work.”

  “That’s something I really don’t want to do…,” I said quietly.

  “I know, but we’re all hands on deck here. I ’t force you, but if we don’t get down there fast enough, who knows what’ll happen? We o shut that hive down.”

  “Fine… I’ll help,” I acquiesced.

  “Good! I’ll send you the details. Barricade is gathering his equipment aing ready to ship out. Silent and a couple others will meet you at the dig site to join in on the assault.” Mirage twitched for a moment, then gave a small smile. “I’ve got to go, a few others are cheg in and I o coordihings. Call me if there are any issues.”

  “Fine, I’ll talk to you soon.” I shot back. As soon as he disected, I checked the data package. The situation iunnels wasn’t good.The teams were stantly getting cut off and ambushed by the swarm. At least they didn’t seem to be in any trouble, the biggest antithesis iunnels were ieens, aween Teddy’s troops and Broodmother’s bugs they were strong enough to deal with those. They just weren’t making much progress.

  Once I was done, I took a deep breath auro the residence. Isabelle was still at the table. She was still carefully bang miniatures on her board, two or three pieces per spa some cases. “Chessers?” she asked cheerfully as I entered.

  “Sorry, kiddo, Teddy needs some help, so I o go,” I said, patting her on the head. The little girl pouted, but didn’t argue. “Where’s Jane?”

  “In my room, talking tington,” the girl replied as she sat down and started to fidget with one of the figures.

  “I promise, I’ll py with you when I get back.” I told her as I marched down the hallway.

  When I got to Issi’s room, I found Jating on the bed, her knees supp a small tablet. “That ’t be fortable,” I said as I walked in. “Why don’t you work in the dining room?”

  “Chessers,” Jane replied without looking up. “Anyone who ehat area is almost instantly pulled into Issi’s game.” She paused, “How did you get out of pying?”

  “There’s an emergency up north, and they need backup. I feel bad about leaving you all like this, but it’s urgent,” I replied.

  “Then go!” Jane said, with a shooing motion. “I know Teddy has been worried about us, especially after dealing with that Helen woman, but we’re not inpetent. We have an army of bears and a literal buo protect us, we’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” I asked.

  “Look, we’ve lived in the uy for a long time. Even if someone fucked with us, I know how to deal with it. If the other samurai need your help, that should take priority. Deal with the antithesis, or whatever, I hold things down here,” she replied while standing up and direg me back out of the room. “Just keep in touch if you . The kids will worry about you.”

  “I will,” I replied with a small smile. “Stay safe.”

  Isabelle watched me with i as I came back down the hallway. “Going away?” she asked.

  “Unfortunately, but I’ll be back, I promise,” I replied. Issi stared at me for just a moment before turning back to the table, grabbing something off her board, knog most of the ures around, then rao me.

  “Take this!” she said, pressing a small figure into my hand. “Take Bob with you, he’s the best protector!”

  “Thank you Issi, but that’s not necessary. I protect myself, and I’ll be seeing the real Bob soon anyway,” I assured her, pg the figure ba her small hands. “You keep it.”

  The little girl looked at me, then at the figure, before finally nodding. “Fine… but I demand hugs for luck,” she demanded, reag up towards me. I smiled, then leaned down and embraced the tot for a moment. She sniffled quietly, but there were no tears when I pulled away, just a cute little resolute face.

  “I’ll see you soon,” I whispered, before releasing Isabelle and heading to the garage.

  [Get the assault suit into the armory, and equip a bination of psma throwers and variable focus sers.]

  The mining rig is slightly faster and more maneuverable, whiight need.

  [Maybe, but it ’t equip the psma throwers, which I may o melt through the walls, acc to the briefing. And if shit goes south, I want the armor.]

  Uandable. a.

  [Also, please make a list of the possible antithesis they might be birthing, and reend upgrades to deal with each. Better to be prepared.]

  For the rger models, your options will be limited, but I’ll do my best. The file is now avaible on ys.

  [I’ll review it while we travel] I replied, as I climbed into the driverseat. I set my auto pilot for the coordinates Mirage provided, and as the vehicle started moving, I leaned back to read. If I was going to ehat hell again, this time I wao be prepared.