Chapter Fifty-Two - Contact

Chapter Fifty-Two - Contact

Chapter Fifty-Two - Contact

The very first--or the one who was the first reported, at least--samurai, was forty-two year old Alfred Prickleback.

He assisted in a local incursion when the governments of the world were still utterly confused as to what was occurring, and successfully repelled what we now know to be one of the weakest incursions on record.

He handed himself in to the authorities afterwards, claiming to have suffered a psychotic break because he kept hearing voices in his head.

--Vanguards, a history, 2034

***

Contact, Emoscythe drawled.

Usually, when someone spotted a massive group of aliens they put a bit of oomph into their words, maybe a bit of excitement. Emoscythe said contact with all of the enthusiasm that Id expect from a secretary saying next.

The street below was filled to the brim with aliens. Surprisingly though, they werent charging around like mad dogs in a kibble factory. I moved closer to the edge of the roof, stealth systems on so that Id be just a little harder to notice. Emoscythe was still a few steps back, but I guessed she had some way of seeing over the edge.

Thats a lot of them, I said. I squinted at the crowded street. Lots of model threes, some model ones resting here and there. The usual mix of fours and fives, because everyone needed tentacles and tanks in their lives.

What concerned me more was what I couldnt see. The aliens were crowding around the opening to a parking garage. This wasnt so much a street as it was a cul-de-sac with access to a couple of parking spaces for land-bound vehicles. One of the buildings across from us was a twenty-floor parking space, for hovercars and normal cars.

Why arent they moving? I asked.

Theyre protecting something, she said. Youll see this kind of behaviour sometimes, next to a hive.

You think they have a hive down there? I asked.

Right now? No, its a little too early for that. I think wed have noticed a hive if it was here before this wave started up. The buildings around here are pretty tall, few street-facing stores, so not many cameras, and the road is narrow. I think this might be a spot where the antithesis are setting up a fresh hive.

Oh, great, I said. So, bomb the entire street until theres nothing left but ashes, and then salt the earth behind us?

Thats an option, she said. I have the impression that there might be something else going on here. Theyre too docile for being so close to so much action. At the very least they should be scavenging for biomass.

I pulled back from the edge. Then what? I asked.

Ill go down and check, she said. We can continue talking after that.

Im not letting you go down there on your own, I said. Thatd be irresponsible.

She shrugged. Its fine either way. I mostly fight close to whatever Im killing. Can you do overwatch? Snipe them from afar?

I... cant, no, I admitted. My aims kind of trash.

I felt a little useless as Emoscythe chased down the last alien--an unlucky model four whose tentacles wiggled in a panic before she sliced each one apart with a quick, precise cut from her sword.

Were done here, Emoscythe said. She flicked her sword to the side and a spray of blood flew off it and coated the ground. Somehow, she was entirely spotless.

I guess so, I said. My ears twitched towards the opening to the underground parking lot. Theres more down there.

Emoscythe glanced at the entrance. Do you want to look into it? We have the time to spare, and it might make everyones lives easier later to have one fewer hive to deal with.

I could bring the building down on top of whatevers in there, I said.

Could be something valuable thats keeping the antithesis attention. Im sorry, I like more precise attacks. Indiscriminate bombing makes me somewhat uncomfortable and goes against my style.

Nah, its all good, I said. Not everythings for everyone.

She nodded. So, have you considered implementing your stylistic choice with your weaponry? It wouldnt be difficult to do for melee-type weaponry. Claws are a cats natural weapon, and I imagine that fangs could be arranged.

Uh, yeah, I had claws. Never really used them though, I said.

She nodded. Thats interesting. What about the sword?

I glanced at Void Terminus, hanging off my hip. What of it?

It has a cat charm, which is cute, but its not really on-theme, is it?

Why does that matter? I asked. Not like my bombs meow before going off.

She frowned. I suppose it doesnt matter in the short term. My goal is to ensure that every samurai leaves a legacy behind. Its much easier to do that when they have a clear image and style that they adhere to. It can be done for everyman-type samurai too, but then it becomes more about... public relations and great accomplishments. Not that you should avoid either one of those. You have the potential to do great things, I think.

Thanks, I deadpanned.

She sniffed. Longbows an example of a samurai with no clear gimmick. Hes done well for himself, I think.

He one of your projects? I asked.

Emoscythe rolled her eyes. I dont have projects. I have friends, and a subject Im passionate about. Thats all.

So youre not going to force me to get fur-covered armour and go nya whenever I speak?

No, she said. I advise and help where I can. I dont push things on people. Like I said, Im not a bitch.

I do like the idea of making you nya though.

***