Chapter Seventy-Six - Fight Fire with Fire

Chapter Seventy-Six - Fight Fire with Fire

Chapter Seventy-Six - Fight Fire with Fire

One way to take care of uncontrolled fire is to use more fire.

At least, I think thats how it works.

I dont know. I kill things, Im not a smart person!

--US Army, Flamethrower tank operator, 2037

***

I took a deep breath, then another when that one didnt feel so good. There was air in the... air, but it was thin, like breathing around some of the vents near street-level factories.

Think its safe? I asked Gomorrah.

The tunnel was pretty much cleared, the charred remains of Antithesis slumped here and there, and the walls ever so slightly blackened by the wash of fire that had burst past. I could feel a stirring in the air, wind coming in from the opening into the mines and pushing in towards the hive.

Had the bombs going off created a sort of vacuum? I didnt know enough to say, really, but that sounded likely.

I dont think anything about this is safe, Gomorrah said. But I figure it was a lot less safe for the aliens.

I nodded, then shuffled a bit before tucking my launcher to my shoulder. Lets move in, then?

Gomorrah hefted up her flamethrower, the tip of the nozzle burping with a lick of flame. Take the lead?

Yeah, because being in front of the pyro nun is where everyone wants to be, I said. She gave me a look before I chuckled and jogged ahead a bit. My mecha cats moved up around us, forming up in a wedge with me at its point and Gomorrah in its centre.

We started walking down the mineshaft, at first with easy confidence, but when I started noticing the smoke pooling by the ceiling I slowed down a little.

Lets take it easy, yeah? I asked.

Certainly, Gomorrah said.

I flicked my augs around and found Cause Players contact. I sent him a quick text.

S.Cat: You ok?

It didnt take long for him to reply.

CP: Yes.

CP: Thanks for the explosion. It made for a cool scene!

If he was happy about that, then he was fine. At least, thats what I figured.

We came around a bend, and I slowed down as I noticed light ahead. A lot of light. Oranges and reds and yellows, splashing against the grey stone walls. Thats concerning, I said.

I took a deep breath, then coughed a bit. The air from the mask tasted fresh, like the air inside one of those enclosed gardens, only better. Much, I said. Say, I just killed a lot of aliens, but you helped, how does the split work? Is there one?

There is, Myalis said, not in my head, but out loud. Or at least, through my coms. I had the impression it was to share with Gomorrah as well. Points gained by Vanguard working together are split amongst all Vanguard based on the amount they accomplish.

I assume that the split is fair? Gomorrah asked.

Of course. Most splits are even, 55-55, but in some situations the split will favour one Vanguard over another, if they did more to contribute.

Im not good at math, I said. But Im about a hundred and ten percent sure that that doesnt add up, I said.

In order to avoid penalizing Vanguards who wish to work together, the amount of points gained when there are more than one Vanguard is increased. It means that even if a Vanguard working on their own would gain more points, the amount isnt as significant.

Huh, I said. Thats pretty neat.

Gomorrah gained some points from your bombing just now, on account of having helped you, and by providing cover fire when you returned. Not as many points as you made, but still a significant number.

Gomorrah nodded. Im satisfied with it. Should we keep moving? The fire looks like its calming down. Its burning itself out.

Right, I said. I took the lead again, enjoying the ability to breath easily despite the warmth in the air. Still had a bit of an itch in my throat though. Figured Id have to ask Myalis for super lozenges later.

As we moved down and deeper into the mines, I felt the temperature rising. There was a good reason for that.

Well, shit, I said.

We stood next to the edge of a fire. Not a big roaring thing, but still a steadily burning fire that stretched out across the floor and onto the walls, and onto the ceiling, the stone lit up in a way that stone usually didnt.

The fire went on for a while, deeper into the mine than I could see. The air was thick, warm enough that it almost felt physical.

The air is acidic. Your equipment should be able to resist most of it. It is settling down though. Given a few more minutes the area should be merely impossible hot.

Nice, Gomorrah said.

I looked at her, then back at the fire. Is this what you get off on?

Oh, shut up, you know my love for fire isnt sexual or anything. I just like fire. The way someone might like a good meal.

Uh-huh, I said. I wasnt going to poke at that... not right then. Definitely later, though. It was good teasing material. So how do we get past all that?

I can manage, Gomorrah said. At least we know that the Antithesis are going to have a hard time with it. Though Im sure they could adapt to it eventually.

Lets get to killing them before that happens, yeah?

She nodded, then raised her flamethrower and fired a wave of white flames ahead of us that clung to the ground and somehow pushed away the other fire before burning off with whitish smoke. Where the flames cleared, the floor was left smoking, but fireless.

Ladies first, she said.

I eyed the ground, then poked it with the tip of my boot. This all seems like its really, needlessly, dangerous.

So it should be right up your alley. Now come on. She stepped by me and fired her flamethrower at more of the ground. Lets finish this.