Chapter 5 - Introductions

  After Ireland's south-west coast was firebombed in 2028 by the mainland of the UK, it remained uninhabitable by baseline humans up until 2032 due to the large amounts of persistent fires amongst the peat bogs constituting 23% of the landmass. This released an estimated 1.8 billion metric tonnes of carbon in various gaseous forms. The firebombing ignited and caused these effects until 2032. A large part of the population that initially remained on the East side of the country died due to the carcinogenic effects of the encroaching smoke haze and the knock-on effects of flooding and water pollution due to released particulate matter and mercury, before an evacuation was mandated. This report does not take into account the additional effects of prolonged antithesis presence. - Report on the effects of the destruction in Ireland 2038.

  (Teach)

  As he was now in a crouch, looking us over, I was starting to worry that it hadn’t actually worked and he was now going to attack us even though one of Morrigan’s aspects had told us it had.

  Then, in front of our eyes, we saw some of the fur on the samurai’s body begin to recede, and then the clicking sound began as part of the skin on his face pulled taught, and there was something rearranging underneath, then his muzzle began to sink back towards the face.

  His face took on the appearance and proportions of a more normal human face, but still with a pair of wolf ears on top of his head, in addition to a large amount of wiry fur still hanging off areas of his face in a similar manner to a very unkempt beard. Although looking human, his facial proportions were all wrong and ticked off my sense of the uncanny valley.

  His muscle mass seemed to decrease as well and he srunk by a good few inches in height and width by the end of it he looked more like one of the old strong men than a monster that was until he decided to stand up to his full height even after shrinking a bit he still towered over all of us and wasn’t much shorter than the ceiling he was well over 7 feet tall.

  He lifted his hand and began to look it over. They were still much wider than a normal human's and with much longer fingers. I saw him flex a finger, and his nail began to extend slightly further out of the finger than retracted, then he smiled slightly, showing off very elongated canines.

  “Damn, that’s intimidating and also hot.” I heard Sticky mutter behind me.

  I turned my head to look at her. I knew some kids these days had strange ideas, but she always seemed sensible and normally didn’t get involved with any of the guys around in the barracks thankfully, though shit happened having women in the unit out of action due to getting pregnant from the old-fashioned way of destressing left us short by 10 able bodies this year, and reshuffling units always caused issues which you do not want facing down hordes of antithesis.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  She caught me looking and shrugged her shoulders. Looking back around to the samurai who still hadn’t spoken yet, I saw him pause from examining himself, and his ears were both rotated towards us, even if his eyes were still focused elsewhere.

  —--

  I had frozen after hearing what the young woman in the group had said. I am not one to shame, but I don’t believe either of my forms would usually be considered appealing to baseline humans.

  Finally deciding the silence had gone on for way too long, I cleared my throat and decided to start the conversation.

  “Hello, thank you for your assistance in regaining my freedom. May I know your names?” I tried to be as pleasant as possible.

  One of the older men stepped forward and began to introduce himself. He was quite lean-looking enough to be noticeable under the rig he was wearing he had some grey patches in his brown beard.

  “I am Lieutenant Michael Murphy, with me are Sergeant Briar Ward,”

  He indicated the older man, who had gone completely grey in the short goatee he sported and was surprisingly much bulkier than the Lieutenant.

  “I’m sure there are nicknames you call each other?” I asked.

  I was very bad at remembering names; I’d probably have better luck with knowing the nicknames they called each other.

  “They call me Teach, good to meet you sir.” He responded, and I nodded in reply.

  “Private Timothy ‘Minstrel’,” He continued, indicating the youngest among them.

  The kid was smaller than the rest and had some black scruff on his face that was an attempt at a beard. And was jittering slightly in place.

  “Lance Corporal Jeffry ‘Barney’,” He indicated a slightly pudgy-looking man to his right.

  “Private Harry ‘Hands’,” He indicated a man who was vibrating in place almost more than the kid of the group.

  “It’s an honour to be in the presence of a saint!” He blurted out.

  Don’t tell me he’s a part of that cult that decided to worship us and our alien overlords. I’d have to keep an eye on him.

  “Private Brain ‘BJ’ Jones,” He indicated the last man. He seemed to have been the end of a joke at birth due to his name.

  “And finally, Lance Corporal Kathleen ‘Sticky’.” He finished indicating the young woman with cropped hair and a scar on her face, who had muttered earlier. She had a faint dusting of red on her cheeks while being introduced.

  “Thank you kindly for the introductions, Lieutenant. I suppose it’s my turn. My name is Alexander Whelan. I was previously a Captain in the army, but after becoming a Vanguard I was called ‘The Hound’, but I know after Seraphina put that blasted implant in someone changed that to ‘Blood Haze’.”

  The older three of the group flinched after my introduction; it would seem my reputation and her meddling had preceded me, unfortunately. I elected not to call them on it and move on with the necessities of getting out of here.