Chapter Fifty-Two - Fab

Chapter Fifty-Two - Fab

Chapter Fifty-Two - Fab

Fandoms are an interesting social phenomena. People who enjoy a piece of media or a celebrity congregate together to discuss the things they like. At the onset, this is completely normal human behaviour.

What makes the phenomena more interesting is how modern societys trend towards mass communication allows this communication to spawn new artwork, new memes, and new sub-groups. It turns into an echo chamber, where ideas are reinforced and repeated and reiterated upon.

It isnt terribly uncommon for early fandoms to focus on something entirely new, for example a freshly emerged Samurai. They will find, research, and dissect any bit of information they can about the new object for their obsession.

This can come as a shock to some Samurai. For example, Hairumas, a Samurai interviewed in 2034 said, I didnt expect it. All of a sudden these guys and girls with afros just kept asking me to sign stuff. It was wild!

--Excerpt from a Scientific Yesterday paper, 2036

***

Okay, I said as we reached the vault. It was in about the same condition as I remembered, minus the dead bodies. The floor had little pock-marks as if something had eaten away at it, mostly round where I remembered the corpses being. That felt like it had been months ago. Well start by paying the corps their due, I guess.

Huh? Lucy asked.

Yeah, Myalis gave me the list of shit the building sellers want. Its all blueprints except for a bunch of nano-regen things, I said. Think theres a box around here we could dump them in?

The Dumbass following up piped up at that. The containers most items come in are stackable. Shall I inform the broker that the thirty-five Nano-Regenerative Suites are ready for pick-up?

Yeah, sure, I said. We can leave them at the door I guess, with one of the Dumbasses.

What else did they buy? And whats those nano-whatsit do?

They inject these little bots in you that un-messes you up. I think thats what I gave you for your MS, right? Crap, I cant remember. Anyway, I guess some rich dudes just want to live longer or whatever.

Nano Regenerative Suites can alleviate a lot of the ills caused by aging. Issues with joints, with eyesight, minor stress issues in musculature and in the cardio-vascular system. Even an outwardly healthy human has hundreds of very minor issues that can be repaired, Myalis said.

As for the other stuff they bought... I looked over the list again. Just blueprints. A lot of clothing stuff from my decoy catalogue, some cyberwarfare stuff. Uh, mostly looks like protection stuff.

I limited the offensive options, Myalis said. Giving offensive electronic warfare packages to just anyone seemed like a bad idea.

No shit, I muttered.

Lucy shrugged, Alright then. So were buying that big machine that makes stuff?

Yup, I said. Blueprints and nano stuff first though. Can you not swarm my augs with messages though? That little chiming noise is a bit annoying.

Very well.

New Purchases: Blueprints x 8 - Various. Nano-Regenerative Suit x 35

Points Reduced to... 3420!

I winced at seeing my points total dropping so low.

The blueprints have been sent. You also retain a copy for yourself, of course.

Ohh, so we can make stuff! Lucy said. Can I see the list?

Did you customize the loading screen? I asked.

I may have, Myalis admitted. I also added a loading screen. Its quite unnecessary.

I rolled my eyes and refocused on the screen. There was a list of options for Lucy to pick from. All of the blueprints Id just bought to buy the museum, and one labelled generic materials.

Lucy picked the Prosthetic Ears option and scrolled through that for a bit. There were some two dozen options, and the ability to customize those further. From adding colour to tweaking how the prosthetic worked. Do you think Id look cool with cat ears? she asked. Yours are really cute.

Theyre embarrassing, I said. I couldnt help but flick them back.

They wiggle a bunch when youre about to get off, Lucy said without even glancing back.

My more human ears felt warm. They what?

Its cute!

Dammit Lucy, I groaned. You should have told me.

She shook her head, then pointed to the screen. Pink? The ears on display were an ear-searingly bright pink, like someone had gone nuts with a radioactive high-lighter.

Thats a bit much, I said.

Yeah, I should go for something that matches my hair, she said before tapping a colour-wheel option.

I shook my head. Are you really getting cat-ears?

Do you not want me to? Lucy asked.

I huffed. Me telling Lucy not to do something had never prevented Lucy from doing something she already wanted to do. I couldnt see how that would change now. Its up to you, I guess. Dont see why youd want that, your ears work fine.

So do yours, Lucy said. I just wanna be on-theme.

On theme?

Well, yeah, theres you, Stray Cat, with the tail and the ears and the cat-themed jacket. And then there are the kittens, then theres me. Im the only part of the equation thats not cat-themed.

I stepped up and hugged Lucy from behind. Youre such a moron, I said.

I am not, she protested. Not that she tried to move out of the hug.

I was enjoying the moment when Myalis twitched. Catherine, you have a visitor.

One of the contractors? I asked. Already?

No. Its Deus Ex.

Oh, fuck, I said.

The little laser girl? Lucy asked as she pulled out of the hug. Did you have business with her?

No, but shes the sort to dump some trouble on me. Come on, lets go see what the pipsqueak wants.

***