Chapter Nine - Twitchy

Chapter Nine - Twitchy

Chapter Nine - Twitchy

In this three-part summary, we will explain the historical precedent for the fall of global powers after the first Incursion.

There were three, arguably four, major economic and military powerhouse nations on Earth. The United States of America, Russia, China, and by some reckonings, Germany.

By 2030, the three most powerful of these nations no longer existed in a form people prior to 2020 would recognize.

The fall of the United States was rather abrupt for some, though others had predicted it for some time. The nation, after years of turmoil, broke apart and might have fallen into civil war if not for the intervention of some key players.

The reversal of Roe v. Wade, the increased power of increasingly-religious authorities in some regions, the crash of the federal economy, increased tensions between growing minorities and the police, and the rise of a third corporate party, all hastened the demise of a once powerful nation into a mess of nation-states with their own laws and regulations and animosities.

--A History After the Drop, Online Lecture by Professor Sterne

***

The amount of traffic on the immediate edge of the incursion zone was surprising. I expected people to keep away, but might have been giving them too much credit.

Not that it truly mattered. We shot right past an aerial barricade manned by a few police chasers and deeper into the city without so much as twitching. I saw a cops head snap around, but no one followed us, so I figured we were safe.

It was eerie flying through a city with no cars moving around at a snails pace, the lights in most towers completely off, and the smog layer above broken in a few places to reveal the sky above. I found myself taking things in through the rainbow-wet sheen of the windscreen.

We werent moving towards the centre of the incursion zone, but rather skirting along the edge.

Right over here.

The little taxi started to slow down while rising up. Floors flashed by, and huge unlit billboards for healthcare insurance and the newest shoes moved by until we levelled off and turned into an open parking garage.

The place was only lit by a few dozen red emergency lights, enough to make out a lack of parked cars and a whole lot of empty space.

Myalis parked in the middle of the lot, coming down with a faint lurch before the hovercars engines whined to a stop.Rêạd new chapters at novelhall.com

This is it? I asked.

The door next to me opened with a hiss.

Yes. This is the place. Our subject was last seen two floors down.

I stepped out, pulled Whisper along behind me, then looked about for anything interesting. I could hear all sorts of things. Metal ticking, the patter of the rain outside, the humming of some ventilation systems and old neon lights. Nothing that sounded alien, or alive.

Who the fuck are you? I asked.

Youre trespassing on corporate territory! someone else called out. Come out with your hands in the air and all weapons dropped. All goods on your person are forfeit. Prepare yourself for fines and imprisonment!

From what I can tell, the NMSR is a group of post-incursion scavengers. They are here legally.

Wonderful, I said. Theyve been emptying peoples houses?

That is what they do.

Alright, I said. Im coming out. If I see any of you with a gun pointing my way, youre dead. Ive got some new weapons I havent tested out yet. You dont want to play guinea pig.

Myalis got the hint, because my shoulder-mounted guns unfolded and came to a rest beside my head. The railgun to one side, plasma caster on the other.

Threatening us wont do anything. Come on out right now!

I could hear them moving around, placing the cart between us and bringing guns to bear. Myalis, can you send them a nice warning?

With pleasure.

There was a long moment of silence, only faster heartbeats filling it. Oh, fuck, one of them whispered.

I turned around and waved out the side with my mechanical arm. Hey guys, how about you lower those and we wont have ourselves a mess? I asked. Im sure your insurance premiums would be much lower if you dont add a suicide by Samurai on it.

It could be fake, One of them whispered.

It isnt, I said.

I could tell most of them had lowered their guns thanks to my weird ass echo-vision so I carefully moved out of cover, arms lowering so both hands wrapped around the handle of my Trench Maker.

Six pairs of eyes locked onto me. They didnt seem all that enthused about the guns around my shoulders. So, which one of you just tried to shoot me? I asked.

Five of them glanced at the weediest guy in the lot who was shaking his head like a kitten caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Yeah, next time maybe, you know, dont just shoot random people? I asked.

Are, are you a Samurai? One of them asked.

Yeah. Im here investigating something, and now, I said with a growing smile. I have all of you to help me!

***