Chapter Thirty-Two - Fried

Chapter Thirty-Two - Fried

Chapter Thirty-Two - Fried

Newbie Samurai are the best. Theyre still fresh and gullible. You can sign them up for all sorts of contracts no problem!

--A salesmans last words during a live interview moments before being beaten by Emeraude, June 2026

***

The Model Six was a big, mean motherfucker.

I vaulted over the counter of a burger joint, skidded along across a greasy floor with shoes that had no grip, and swung around while whipping my Trench Maker out.

A quick count showed six, maybe seven aliens, the Model Six at their head. I had ten rounds in my gun, and maybe a five second head start.

The first shot took a Model Three in the chest, the next buried itself in the mess of tentacles before a Model Four. Every shot had me turning a little, placing the red dot of the reticule over the next monster in line.

Not all of them died, but the incendiary rounds did some nasty shit to their insides even when they were hit in some meaty bit.

I didnt get to enjoy seeing the aliens burn up.

Putting two rounds more or less centre-mass on the Model Six was easy. It was a big bastard and it was getting close. Seeing those two rounds sputter and burn in its chest, like matches in a windstorm, was a lot harder.

Shit, shit, shit, I said as I turned on a heel and ran deeper into the back of the burger joint. Myalis, grenade!

I shoved my Trench Maker in a pocket where it stuck out halfway and thumped against my side with every step.

Sure, I said.

Targets Eliminated!

Reward... 265 Points

I blinked at the number. Damn, I said.

A respectable amount. I would suggest spending them sooner rather than later. Waiting until you are safe might mean never getting to safety.

I licked my lips. Yeah, fine. Whats my total at?

Three Hundred Twenty.

I huffed in surprise. Damn. I can probably buy a couple of nice things with that, I said.

I would suggest immediately buying a few select medical utilities. A second Nano-Regenerative suit, just to ensure that youre in better health. A Nutri Pack to keep you going, as well as a Cleanse to rid yourself of the remains of the Mind Krank Ultra youve taken. Its reached the point where its acting as something of an impairment.

I nodded. Sounds like a start, lets get it done before going to meet the others. I coughed to clear my throat, then wiggled my pinkie in my ear. I need a few things. Something to reload my gun, and a holster for it. And I need... uh... more firepower, I guess.

That Model Six had taken a lot to kill. It was probably worth more points for it, but the level of danger compared to a Three or Four was too damned much.

I suspect that you need many things. If you want to continue fighting as you have; that is, by laying out plans, setting up traps and then taking down opponents in large groups, then perhaps youll want to split your investments a few ways. Additional firepower, more mobility, better sensor capabilities, and finally more advanced stealth systems. You wont be a Vanguard who charges in the front lines, but you may well be one of those rescuing the people caught in the crossfires.

That... sounds nice, yeah. It did sound kind of cool.

Perhaps we should begin with Auxiliary Weapon Utilities Class I? You could purchase auto-loaders, targeting computers, basic mounted weaponry and a few other utilities besides. Fifty Points for the entire catalogue!