Chapter Seventy - A Respite

Chapter Seventy - A Respite

Chapter Seventy - A Respite

Samurai dont stay human.

Dont misunderstand, theyre still very much people. Its just that you cannot expect an older, more experienced Samurai to be a normal human being.

From prosthetic replacements for missing limbs to incredibly advanced body augmentations, over time, a Samurai will leave their mortal human shell behind and turn into something entirely different.

Is it any wonder that some have a hard time sympathizing with the average person off the street?

--Allan Pascal, online lecture on the psychology of body augmentations, 2031

***

Myalis had a lot of options to go over. Her tone didnt quite change from its usual calm cadence but I had the impression that she was quite excited by the prospect of turning me into some sort of walking cyborg machine. I dont know, I said to her last suggestion that I just get rid of everything inside my torso and replace it with a single machine. Im kind of fond of some of my internal organs. Theyve been with me my entire life.

Its merely more cost effective in the long run to replace everything in one fell swoop rather than piecemeal.

What if... I dont know, someone shoots me with a magnet?

The system is hardly that failable. Also, someone could shoot you with a far cheaper standard bullet now and have the same impact on your lifespan at a much reduced cost.

Point, I said as I reached the end of the bridge. I looked around another sort of open-concept concourse. You think we can take the elevators up?

The elevators are still reporting as functional. On the subject of internal augmentations, it might all be a moot point. The more complex additions would require an operations suite to be installed, or else a series of drones to accomplish the operations and some time to recover afterwards. It would be unwise to do so in a battlefield.

Then why are you pushing it so much? I asked as I started following the signs towards an elevator bank.

Im getting you used to the idea now, so that its easier to convince you later.

I snorted. Youre such a pain in the ass, I said.

Of course not. Im merely thinking ahead. From your profile, I think its safe to assume that one of your goals in the near future will be to heal and fix as many of the injuries and defects that your kittens have, correct?

Stepping into the elevator, I paused for a moment as the doors shut on their own and I started moving up. Yeah. Yeah thats one thing Ill definitely be doing soon. The points Id accumulated would be enough, I hoped. Some of the kittens only had little problems that I was sure a few meds could fix. Some had more complicated issues. Missing limbs would require some good prosthetics and the like. But I could afford them if I was a little more frugal with my points.

In that case theres a good chance that youll be investing points into medical catalogues already. Im just ensuring that you make the best out of them.

I crossed my arms and waited as we climbed up a few dozen floors. Myalis was... probably being as honest as she could be. The AI really did have a tendency to try and help, even if sometimes I questioned her intelligence a bit.

What did you mean?

I jumped about a foot in the air and looked around like the last deer caught in the headlights of a semi. My attention locked onto a pristine and unruffled Gomorrah who stepped out from a passage ahead. Youre alive, I said.

I dont think there was any doubt about me surviving, she said. You, on the other hand, look like you took a dip through the first few circles of hell. Are you injured?

No more than usual, I said.

She shook her head. Thats not reassuring.

I grinned back at her, looked around, and on spotting a nice little restaurant with some seats out front, made my way over to a nice bench where I could take some weight off my feet. Im a bit tired, I admitted. But Ill be fine.

She looked me up and down. Take your time, she said.

I was about to respond when a familiar clicking came from around the corner. I looked over in time to see Dumbass the First and Dumbass Two skittering around the corner, both of them hanging onto one end of a familiar rifle. My Whisper! I said.

The Dumbasses came by my side and I picked the rifle from their back and looked it over. It had gained some scuffs and the bipod legs at the bottom were fucked, but it looked usable still. Nice work, Dumbasses.

The drones spun around in a little dance while I set the gun across my lap.

Youre a strange one, Gomorrah said. You need help replacing some of your gear? she asked.

I wouldnt say no, I said. I think Ill need all the help I can get.

Gomorrah pulled out a seat next to mine, then she looked over to a glass display with some sodas behind it. Temptation has a hold on me, she muttered before walking over to it. With an unexpectedly swift kick, she broke the glass front and pulled out a pair of sodas from the rack behind. She placed one onto the table next to me before sitting down with her own.

Thanks, I said. I didnt peg you as the vandalism sort.

Im thirsty, she said.

I bet you are, I replied with a wiggle of my eyebrows that would have made Lucy proud.

She scoffed and reached up under her hood. Her mask came off with a hiss, and the stern womans face was set aside to reveal a beautiful young woman. She had high cheekbones and the sort of symmetrical face bordered by messy blonde hair that could drive someone mad.

With a face like that, I dont know why you wear that mask, I said.

She glared at me, the look a lot stronger now that I could see her piercing blue eyes. Its because Id like to keep my face the way it is. With the amount of injuries you accrue you ought to think of armour yourself.

I hummed. That was an idea. But it would need to wait for me to calm down a bit.

***