Chapter 12

  "And In other news. The city and the four great companies have made all our lives safter by making sure that there are more space in the shelters and holographic ads will now provide you with an automatic map to the closest one" – Cut from a new Tucson news broadcast.

  -2054

  I stopped at the edge of the sky-bridge giving a respectable distance to the dead Model 9. Not that I doubted Fenris, 'if that thing is can look like things.. Then it might be able to fake so well to trick the AI's' I thought to myself. As I looked down the bridge seeing nothing. "So you say I should keep low and run?" I asked.

  Oh yes! It should be dark enough to hide your movement. Even if it looks fairly lit up to you. That's the lights from up above and the reflections of the lights from the undercity below giving more then enough light for your eyes.

  I blink a few times. "Well then.." I look over the empty bridge nothing other then shattered glass and some sighs of antithesis having use it to get a cross. "Here goes nothing then" I said before leaning forwards and sprinting my steps mostly silent as I keep low. Of course the steps would only be silent when not stepping on the shards of glass. Half way across the bridge I spotted movement on the street below causing me to slow down and to get a better look. At the corner of one alley way I could see something about the size of a person look around a corner before disappearing in to the alley. Shaking my head quickly ears moving a bit with the quick motion. "Fen am I seeing things or was that a person?"

  I believe that it was a person yes. But I can't confirm it from what you just saw. We might be able to help them. But you really should keep moving. As you can still get spotted if a model 1 does fly by and getting swarmed up here would be.. Bad.

  With that I sped up a bit to get across towards the end I slow down and raise my rifle and quickly moves past the opening in to the other building only to see a large open room, a short wall surrounding what once must have been a food-court, metal benches all that remains along the edge of the wall. Wooden collapsible stalls did line one side so clearly someone had been using the place for something. Slowly walking around the wall I spot some signs of a struggle as there were dried up blood stains along the edge of a bench. Just as I was turning towards the stairs in the corner that would take me to the floor below did my ears twitch a bit as they picked up the sound of claws moving on the stone floor from a hallway to my left.

  Turning and moving slowly towards the corner only to lean my head out around the corner I could see a lone wounded model 3 walking along the hallway with a clear limp frowning I speak softly.“Fen.. Those usually move in groups.. Why is this one moving on its own? Feels like every time I have run into them, there have always been other groups around..”

  It is possible that was the last survivor of the last group. But I do think that this one is badly wounded and heading back to its hive to be turned in to fuel for new antithesis. It happens quite often. You could try to follow it but if it spots you it will attack.

  Nodding I lower myself a bit and kept my eyes upon it. My ears moving a bit to listen behind me causing me shake my head just a bit. “Never getting use to that feeling” I mutter as the model 3 rounds a corner. I then slowly creep down the hallway between what must one have been storefronts a long time ago. Now it was mostly boarded up windows and openings in to dark rooms. I walk up to the corner and try to listen for any additional sounds. As I hear none I go around only to see at the a smaller room and at the end four more model 3's looking right at me as their limping friend moves towards them. “OH fuck my luck!” I curse raising my rifle as the model 3's charges at me causing the wounded one to turn around and do its best to join in.

  Taking a few steps back as I raise the wisp-mother to my shoulder and squeeze off a few shots managing to hit the wounded one as it turns around causing its head to explode in a flash of cyan light. Getting around the corner just as the other model 3's passed the now very dead one. I turn and sprint down the hallway my ears swinging around as I hear the claws of the four model 3's round the corner as I get to the end of it swing myself around and lower myself in the same motion, my tail moving out behind me to keep me from falling over and to a bit of my own surprise it works as my elbows hit the floor allowing me to aim down the hallway. The model 3's about half way down it as I start shooting. Quick shots to fill the hallway with glowing white-cyan orbs. Quickly one of the Models falls bits spraying out over the wall. Two of the remaining ones stumble and fall one missing its right front leg the other missing its left back leg. The last one got a bit closer then two thirds down the hallway before I hit it in the face.

  Taking a few deep breaths. “Fen.. We just did some upgrades but..” I said as I get up looking at the two remaining model 3's that are hobbling down the hallway unable to really sprint. Taking my time to aim at each and firing two shots for each of them. Making sure that they are dead. “I need some more I think” I finish my sentence. Then glanced to my tail as it moved happily behind me. “And I think I might come to love this thing if it keeps acting like that” I said reaching out giving the tail a small hug.

  Upgrades! Yes you need new augs and for that you sadly need a new catalog. But once you have it then there are the Shade huntress eyes Mk IV from your Moonstalkers technologies catalog that would suit your current needs and plans quite well. They were made for their forward observers and drone operators. It also comes with a mode that allows you to detect model 9's. Or rather some of the pheromones that they give off and the concentration amount. Other then that! New heart. Or rather hearts, skin, muscles and bone are all something that will help you survive. There is also a few things for your tail. Weapon mount or a sonar like radar in the tip of the tail could work wonder. Then an antenna line along it to extend the range of your control if you get the drones we spoke off. And!

  Enemies eliminated

  5 x model 3 = 50 points

  new total: 75 points

  As Fen spoke I checked the ammo counter seeing it at 54 shots remaining. I then scan the hallway once more before turning around having released my tail and I could swear it moved a bit more happily behind me, but I'm sure that's just me imagining things. “That sounds like a lot though.. And Hearts as in plural?” I asked as I walked carefully towards the stairs. Stopping by the railing, poked my head out over the edge ears twitching a bit as I couldn't hear anything “Why is this building so empty? Shouldn't they be swarming it to get across like they did the bridge earlier. They clearly know about it being there.” I asked as I started down the stairs two steps at a time. When I get down to the second floor I find myself right in front of a large broken window looking over what must have been one of the main streets of the old city.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Yes, it is a set of double hearts or cybernetic pumps that will act like a heart. It will make it easier to move around for a longer time. But mostly you will be able to take a hit to one and not dying from it. As for the building being empty. That is a bit harder to say. It could be anything from the antithesis no longer considering what is on the other side a direct threat. Or more likely they have other targets to go after on this side that is now closer.

  Shaking my head I look out the window. The cracked asphalt road down below had clearly seen better days. Cracks potholes and general disrepair and that is before the broken benches a few streetlights that had been torn down and random things spread out over the streets. I could see a few of those worm things moving in the distance along with a few packs of model 3's up at the other end of the street. Along with two model 5's. “Fen how likely is it that I will be able to make it to that safe house without getting badly hurt along the way?” I ask watching the antithesis disappear down an other road.

  Quite low as things stand. This far we haven't run in to anything too bad. This Incursion is behaving a bit strangely that could just be the way the layout of the undercity that's to blame. Road ways that once connected to each other are now cut off by walls or infrastructure for the city above.

  I shake my head. “Different could be good but.. Quite sure they behaved like we were told in school back at the casino. They swarm the area and just keep on coming.” I said before turning to head over to the stairs, “Lets check the first floor too.” I said before quickly running down the stairs once down there find the lobby of the former shopping center empty. It looked like there had been a large number of trash bags in the corners at some point from the stains left on the floor. I look around. In front of me are the doors broken down and laying to the side of the doorway. Behind me is a long wide hallway filled with the remains of tents and makeshift shelters, At the end a large door like what you'd find in a bank vault could be seen. Besides it a simple console was lit up. “That can't be a shelter can it?” I asked as I turned and walked down the hallway.

  Once reaching the console I couldn't help but to laugh at the text 'This is the new shelter doors they will keep us all safe. And with this terminal people will be able to request it to open the future is bright' Shaking my head I turn and start walking towards the doorway. “Right you said something about a cloak.. I might need it” I said as I stopped behind the stairs to at least be a bit harder to spot.

  Oh! Right The pale lady's wedding half cloak MK I, Its from your Class I Phantom Garments catalog. Not quite a stealth cloak, it will with the help of your Class I hard-light Utilities bend some light around you. This will render you almost invisible. It Is 50 points.

  Tilting my head a bit to the right left ear flicking a bit. “What do you mean by almost invisible? How does that work?” I asked before sitting down my stomach deciding that now was the best time to make itself known. “I might need to get something to eat as well. And as I know you will insist. A juice box too. But yes get that cloak”

  Oh most certainly! One sandwich simple synth ham and cheese coming right up along with a juice box. And your cloak.

  New purchases

  1 x Juice box -1 point

  1 x simple sandwich -1 point

  1 x The pale lady's wedding half cloak MK I -50 points.

  New total: 23 points

  Then a small paper bag appeared in my lap I could feel my tail moving happily behind me and I didn't care as pulled down my mask before opening the bag to pull out a sandwich that was wrapped up in simple paper. As I undid the paper a box appeared besides me I looked at it and the design upon it. Then took a bite of the sandwich and my ears wiggled happily at the way too perfect taste the sandwich it self was as it said, a simple one a piece of bread then a few slices of ham topped with some mustard followed by some slices of cheese and then some more ham and an other piece of bread. Reaching in to the bag I pulled up the juice box just to take the straw and pushing it in.

  As I sat there listening to the sounds of the building and eating my first really good meal since ending up in the undercity I frowned and spoke up between bites. “This might have been a bad idea. I won't be able to go back to eating the cardboard that we usually get down here” I said just before I ate the last of it and drained the box. Tossing the wrapper back in to the bag along with the box and moving them to the side. I looked to the large box beside me before slowly opening it revealing a white piece of cloth folded neatly. Slowly pulling it out revealing a cloak that when worn would end just below the back of the knees. I was about to comment on that when I noticed that it wasn't wide enough to reach more then from one shoulder to about half way behind the neck and the bottom of it looked like it had been torn with some holes and strips hanging free. The bottom was glowing a soft cyan that slowly faded in to white.

  As for how almost invisible. It will move light around you like a proper stealth cloak, but it will only move enough to make you well see-through. So you would still be visible just a bit less. When moving in shadows and darker areas it will be next to impossible to spot you.

  I snort a bit at that as I move it over to my right shoulder and it attached itself to my combat vest then it did the same at the base of my neck. Sighing a bit as I took my rifle and stood up. “So I will only give half the people I run in to small heart-attack's and get shot again for scaring someone.” I said before walking around the corner and heading for the streets. Once outside I took a look around before heading to the right running along the old side walk passing alley ways that looked even more trashed then usual bags torn open content tossed about dumpsters flipped on to their sides.

  That could happen perhaps you should invest in better armor. I have a lot of that too.

  I pulled my mask back on and spoke. “Hey now! You just got me armor. It might be missing some pieces. But I just got it.” I grumble at Fen. Slowing down as I come closer to an intersection as something causes my ears to twitch a bit. Sound of movement up a head. Raising my rifle to my shoulder and stepping in to the shadow of an old apartment entry way to go down on one knee.

  Just a few second later a group of antithesis moved down the street not rushing just moving at a slower pace two model 4's and a model 5. I slowly took aim at the Model five and opened fire. Hitting its side leaving a large wound with the first shot the second one hitting its neck killing it. That caused the two model 4's to twist towards me I quickly aimed at the closest one as it started moving not directly at me but in my direction at a faster speed tentacles ready to strike. I fired five times against the two. Missing one shot and hitting badly with two the last shot killing one of the two. The other lashing out and hitting my chest pushing me back a second tentacle just barley missed one of my new ears. Panicking just a tiny bit I pulled the trigger a few times hitting the last model 4 four times and hearing the sound of breaking wood and stone on the other side of the street behind it. “Ouch..” Slowly I'd move to stand up rubbing my chest with one hand before looking to the ammo read out of the rifle 10 shots left. “Well.. The cloak.. kinda works I guess”

  Of course it does! I wouldn't give you something that didn't work.

  Enemies eliminated

  2 x Model 4 = 30 points

  1 x Model 5 = 20 points

  New total: 73 points

  Shaking my head I started running to the corner and quickly whipped my rifle around it the street was empty. Frowning I slowly looked around before starting to following it heading north. “So this hideout that he spoke of. Think that its far?” I asked Fen

  It should just be a few more streets over.

  Quickly crossing the street to get in to some shadows I then moved in to an alley way following it up to a corner as I heard voices from a doorway not to far down. “I told you today was a horrible day to go to the Den for trading Will!” The voice was muffled to my ears by distance and a door.