Chapter Fifty-Six - Leaving a Gift Behind

Chapter Fifty-Six - Leaving a Gift Behind

Chapter Fifty-Six - Leaving a Gift Behind

There was a time where the global market was, if not stable, then at least predictable. Prices rose and fell based on tangible things. Governments across the world had good reason to make sure that things stayed nice and even and that spikes, either huge growth or large drops, didnt occur too often.

And then aliens started invading random cities, governments broke up, massive mega corporations only dreamed up in our worst nightmares rose up, and there were suddenly gods among men walking about.

To say that the economy now is a wild, fluctuating thing would be a massive understatement.

--Arthur Newton, Economist, 2045

***

We were halfway up the first set of stairs when I heard the familiar keening of a Resonator going off from behind us.

I paused on the next step up and tried to listen as best I could. I wanted to hope it was just a rat, but my luck was never that good. When the grenade stopped suddenly, as if someone had pulled the power, I knew things were going to get interesting. Faster, I said.

No one saw fit to complain.

By the time we had reached the first floor, I heard two more resonators going off below us.

Maam, the soldier at the very back said. Theres only the ones on the stairs left.

I nodded and refocused on the path ahead. Myalis. I need something that will make the route behind us unpassable. Got anything like that?

I have a few things that could collapse the building, but I think youre looking for a more... temporary solution. Theres the Mark I Heavy Smoke grenade.

To blind them? I asked. That could work.

It acts more like an aerosolized acid that is heavy enough that it tends to stay more or less in one place in the air. And before you ask, no, this isnt the sort of acid that will melt anything following you. It will ruin their lungs if they have them, and will injure most Models quite substantially.

Good enough, I said. Give me a pair.

New Purchase: Heavy Gas grenade Mark I, two units

Points Reduced to... 453

I held my hands up just long enough to catch a pair of surprisingly heavy canisters. They looked like energy drink cans that mated with an egg timer.

I shoved both in my jackets pockets and ran up the last few steps. Monroe, can you keep everyone here safe? Im going to give the monsters below a parting gift.

What the shit? I muttered.

Monroe pushed past, his voice coming out of his helmet with muffled orders. The soldiers that were with us were quick to form up by the cars and set their guns to take aim at anything coming our way.

I turned to the civvies and pulled them closer to the middle. Down! Down on your knees. Quick. We dont need you getting smacked by a stray round, I said.

Once I made sure the door was shut behind me, I turned around fully and tried to take in more than just what was happening right around us.

There were aliens, a whole load of them poking out from around the nearest intersections and sometimes sprinting all out towards our position. Not too many at a time, but enough that the bodies were piling up.

The main thrust of the incursion is coming closer. These are the advanced scouts. Within the hour, this street will be like the one below the building where we first met.

That meant that soon wed be drowning in aliens. We need to get out of here, I said.

Monroe turned my way. We dont have room for everyone, he said. It was the lack of emotion in the statement that made it so damned chilling.

And he was right. There werent enough seats in the cars. Even if people were sitting in each other's laps and we tossed everything out.

I worked my jaw as I tried to think of something. I could maybe buy a car? I doubted it. A trailer? Then I saw all the trucks just... parked in the road, some of them still idling in place. A few were old enough that they still had cabins for drivers.

Myalis, you got that cyberwarfare shit running?

Of course. Do you have a no-doubt brilliant idea?

Check the trucks around here. Can you see what theyre loaded with? We need one thats easy to empty and that we can use as transport.

That... is actually not a dumb idea. Checking. And done. The red vehicle to your left is loaded with two tones of one-ply brand recycled toilet paper. It should be easy enough to unload.

I eyed the rather old-looking red truck, one of those models from way back in 2030 when trucks still had drivers. Thatll do, I said. It looked sturdy enough, but what mattered was that it could move. Monroe. Were doing a bit of grand theft truck. Ill need a couple of your guys to move it.

He looked at me, then at the truck I was pointing to. Were not trained to drive a truck like that, he said.

I am! Speedy said. One of you take over the turrets. Ill go with the kid.

She got a thumbs up and, not wasting one more minute, started towards the truck. I had to jog to catch up. This is a bit of a crazy plan, I said.

I couldnt see Speedys face, but I knew she was grinning. Thats probably why I like it. Plus Ive always wanted to drive one of these.

The odds we were going to make it out seemed simply spectacular.

***