by Skyler Grant
They both collapsed across Ophelia. Of course, this meant that her flesh was beginning to bubble and melt away, but at least Ophelia’s proximity had Hot Stuff's wound closing up faster and Anna would soon have working hands again.
The Wolves were moving to flank the table. I opened up with a few quick gouts from the flame cannons to drive them back. I couldn't keep up those streams of fire for long, but they didn't know that.
The device that Batavius and her Bat colleague had been building finally beeped, a pole telescoping up from the top and a shimmer of blue energy springing up to either side. It was some sort of portable turret. A barrel tracking one of the Wolves released a spray of energy darts, driving him against the wall with a crunch of bones.
"Grab the wounded and fall back," said one of the male Wolves. Their second-in-command? Third? It didn't matter, whoever he was, the others listened. It wasn't that easy, a Wolf in the heaviest armor shielding the others from the turret’s blasts as they grabbed the wounded and pulled back.
I hit them with another blast of fire before they were away.
"Well, you're completely horrible at this," said Batavius, when the Wolves had gone. She looked down at the injured and nudged Ophelia with her toe. "She's doing well. I tried to study her once. Do you mind if I continue? Her accelerated healing abilities are interesting."
I agreed. But while I had no objections to vivisecting Ophelia on principle, she had vowed to serve Anna and was wearing one of my wrist monitors that let me conduct remote research. It was therefore both unnecessary and harmful to morale.
"Do control your appetite for blood, doctor. A superior mind is already researching her ability," I said.
"Do we get to kill them? I really want to kill them," Hot Stuff said as she sat up, the wound in her stomach closing.
From the moment the fight ended Mechos had been hard at work fabricating her new clothing. He nudged the pile towards Hot Stuff with his eyes carefully averted.
"We just saw you go after them with all the fiery intensity of a damp match," I said. "Put some clothes on so your lover doesn't have to be horrified at the sight of your naked body. We'll figure out plans later."
Hot Stuff said to Mechos, "If you don't at least steal a peek I'm going to burn your dick off."
"I thought the basis of our relationship was reliant on that not being possible," Mechos said, turning to stare pointedly for roughly two seconds at her before looking away again.
"You fireproofed your junk?" Anna asked him. "For her?"
"Do you want her killing more innocents by sleeping around?" Mechos asked.
"Seriously. That is your excuse? Saving-the-world sex?" Anna asked.
"More like protecting the public. It's complicated," Mechos said.
"When, one day, your sexual appetites endanger whole populations perhaps you too will finally have a boyfriend," I said to Anna.
"Thanks for the assist," Hot Stuff said, pulling on a boot.
Anna gave a curt nod.
I moved one of my production drones over to the splattered corpse of the Wolf and his bag. Now that the Research deck had officially come under my control I was able to teleport resources to it.
Research Project
Wolf
This is the remains of one of the Wolves. Enhanced and upgraded by an upgrade core they were given numerous abilities and shaped into an idealized Werewolf form. Research may reveal some applications of this process.
Research Project
Expended Powered Ammunition
This is a collection of powered ammunition that has been detonated. While too badly damaged to reveal their original construction, a number of powers did interact here in ways they would not normally. Study may reveal new avenues of research.
"Get back to your lab, doctor. I've set you some new research priorities and I’m establishing some genetic facilities. Hopefully you aren't too ancient to remember what real science is like," I said.
"Do you require assistance with your defenses?" Batavius asked.
We did, obviously. But it wouldn't do to appear too weak. Besides, with Mechos and the Mechanites, we had the ability to construct some better equipment ourselves.
"You have plenty to do to get your own house in order, doctor," I said.
5
The battle had taken a toll on our forces in both health and ammunition. While Hot Stuff and my drones didn't require bullets to be dangerous, everyone else did. We'd had a good supply back at the old base, but most of that didn't make it to the airship with us.
"They took some hits, but they'll be back," Anna said.
"There are around a dozen personnel on the Research deck. Unlike yourself, the Lady Sylax appears to have inspired loyalty enough to attract an army," I said.
"Compelled it, more likely," Anna said.
I remembered how Sylax had forced Anna to grovel before her. It might explain why the other decks were so resistant to new leadership. They hadn't willingly been in service to the old core. It boded well for us, if we could sway them to our cause.
They would be even more of a challenge, if we couldn’t.
I began construction on recreating the basic facilities that I’d had at the old base. What had once been some kind of conference room on this level was large enough to hold a growth vat, and the smaller rooms were perfect to convert into individual cabins. An office was changed into a new infirmary.
I could construct everything out of Biomatter, although it would probably be a good deal stranger than people were used to. They would have to get accustomed to it.
Using the last of the material resources I built a large glass tank containing a number of whirling blades. It would mince material into a fine texture and allow a slow, steady flow of a portion of the contents to a vat outside.
Everyone was healed, and it was better not to ask permission. I teleported Ophelia inside and activated the grinder. The woman barely even had time to scream before being reduced to slurry, a stream of Biomatter dripping into the vat below.
I monitored the contents inside and it wasn’t actually losing any volume. Perfect. It made a mockery of several physical laws, but they were ridiculous ones anyways. The fact is Ophelia was fine, if a little temporarily dead, regenerating at the same rate she was feeding into the vat. This way she could provide construction materials for some large scale improvements.
"Gross," Anna said.
"You could probably get a higher yield out of two tanks," Mechos said.
"Does this mean an unlimited supply of cookies?" Hot Stuff asked.
I suppose she had taken a bullet for the team. I materialized a small portion into a plate of them.
"Is she going to be okay in there?" Anna asked.
I wasn’t listening. I was getting some great readings out of this.
Research Project
"Ophelia"
This subject has been altered by exposure to a speed core. While you have already collected a core point from the study of this specific core, this application is one you have not observed. Study may reveal a new power.
Estimated time to completion: One week
I'd have to keep Ophelia in the grinder for a week, but there was no downside to that. I needed the construction materials and I didn't think she should be able to feel pain given the current state of her nervous system. Furthermore, if I needed to heal any of the team I could simply spray them in her slurry. If anything, she was somewhat improved in this state. If only I could get Anna to be so useful by grinding her up.
My science drones outside were finding a land of horrors. The jungle really was a place where dangerous creatures were preyed upon by things even more deadly. Even the vegetation was murderous. I had scans of one plant that sprayed its prey with acid to dissolve the flesh before dragging it in to consume them. Another defended itself by spraying hallucinogenic spores.
With a few modifications to that gene structure and I could grow acid-spraying turrets near the staircases and set up cysts on the fl
oor filled with hallucinogenic spores that I could detonate remotely.
I set those to build and prioritized them as the first recipients of the new Biomatter.
"Not that Ophelia isn't delicious," Anna said, having grabbed one of the cookies. "But we need a plan. They attacked us, as the queen I can’t allow that to go unanswered."
I knew she couldn't see my actions, but what did she think I was up to?
"Even your stench won't overcome an army. They've a fortified position," I said.
"I don't care."
"Mechos, I hate to ask if it of you, but you may need to sleep with Anna to distract her and keep her from killing herself," I said.
"I'm up for it," Hot Stuff said.
"There you go. Promiscuity that truly knows no limits. In that case, Mechos, I'm sending you over some specifications. I need you to build some acid guns," I said.
"It isn't happening," Anna said, with a sidelong glance at Hot Stuff.
"I'm good. You can ask Mechos," Hot Stuff said.
"They have workshops downstairs?" Mechos asked, walking quickly away. It was admirable survival instinct.
The two watched him go and burst out laughing when he was out of sight.
"That was pretty good," Anna said.
"He's cute, but so weird. I really am sorry if you had a thing for him," Hot Stuff said.
Anna shrugged. "If I wasn't a priority, he wasn't worth my time. Enjoy him.” She turned to me. “I'm serious Emma, I want payback."
If she was this out for blood, Anna wouldn't be satisfied until she had some. I had to think of something that would satisfy her. Fortunately the outside world provided some possibilities.
"There are hives in the jungle of a highly aggressive sort of bee. Their stings result in tremors, vomiting, and other signs of physical distress. It would be as if you kissed someone," I said.
Anna gave a thin smile. "Acceptable, I suppose. How can we get them inside the ship?"
"There are hull breaches on the Wolves’ deck as well. I can teleport one outside a breach with one of my drones and drop it in," I said.
"They'll seal the breaches," Anna said thoughtfully.
"It was something we were going to need to do anyways to make the ship airworthy," I said.
"What about the Rats?" Anna asked.
They were a deck underneath the Wolves, who were directly below us.
"A few will probably get stung," I said.
"Send them a warning. If they have any weak or injured that might not be able to endure a sting, they are welcome to remain here until the bees have been dispersed. Do not turn this into another joke at the expense of my dating life," Anna said.
"A joke? I'd have called your dating life more of a tragedy," I said. I sent the message to the Rats terminal. Like the Bats, it took almost no time at all for it to be acknowledged.
I wondered if they had been expecting an invitation of their own to join up. Perhaps they weren’t interested in being a dominant force, much as the Bats hadn’t been.
I found a suitable hive with one of my science drones. I closed on it and engaged the teleport causing it to appear outside of the breach. I charged through the gap in the hull to smash it against the far wall, trapping the hive between them. The force of the impact split the hive wide open and reddish-colored bees swarmed out.
I expected my drone to survive, but under a flurry of metal-piercing stings it went down in a spray of sparks. The bees were more formidable than I'd imagined.
"Message sent and some very angry bees have been delivered," I said.
"You might have given them more warning," Anna said.
"I’m surprised. Much like intellect, style, and charm, patience isn't your strong suit," I said.
Anna smiled briefly at that. "Can you build me a throne?"
I hadn't thought of it. I hadn't really seen the need. Still, Anna was technically Queen per our little arrangement and if she wanted one, I could accommodate her.
"I can make you something. Given our building materials it will need to be organic. You can have a living one, if you'd like, although I know you've probably never been that close to another living being," I said.
"Bone?" Anna asked.
"The offer to make you a sex chair was not literal," I said.
Anna closed her eyes for a moment and carefully said, "As a building material."
Oh. That I could certainly do.
"Go get some sleep. I'll have something ready in a few hours," I said.
6
A week later we were in a far better position than we'd started. The repairs and conversions were finished and we actually had a presence in the airship now, and some real defenses. I was eventually able to let Ophelia out of the grinder. After a few hours of vomiting she seemed well enough.
Research Complete
"Ophelia"
From your study of the subject’s accelerated healing you are now able to imbue a similar if more limited effect in your own biological components or your agents for a cost in power points.
That was even better than I'd hoped for. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get any ability at all from studying Ophelia, since I'd already gained from her after observing the speed crystal when it had been bonded to Runner. That meant I could gain multiple powers from one crystal, if it were passed to someone else. That was useful knowledge, Power cores were a rare commodity.
Every time I had been able to respawn a drone, I dropped another hive on the Wolves—at least until they sealed the breaches. It took longer than expected, the bees really must have given them a difficult time.
Anna was delighted with her throne. I'd scanned enough humans at this point that I had a wide range of possible bone shapes and sizes to use. The final result was a well-polished white chair, skulls on the back and arms adding ornamentation. It was a challenge to make it properly functional as well, wiring in communications and control functions.
That week had been a new sort of peace that came to an abrupt end.
It was the middle of the night when a figure materialized in the throne room. The woman was dressed completely in dark colors. She tossed a pack at the base of my computing core before dissolving into some sort of mist.
I wasn't limited by human reaction times. I brought a drone next to the package, secured it, and teleported both outside of the ship. It was just in time, a massive explosion tearing the drone apart.
That explosion wasn't the only one. The ship was wracked by a number of blasts. On the Research deck the quarters were surrounded by a shimmering energy bubble. Another separate sphere of energy seemed to have captured a cloud of dark mist.
The inhabitants of the Espionage deck—it had to be. They'd decided to try to wipe out the leaders of all the other decks.
I checked on Anna. It was good that I did, she was limping down the hall, a vicious-looking cut on one leg. A pistol was in her hand, but I didn't think it would do her much good against an enemy that could become immaterial. I teleported her to the throne room.
Anna growled and settled back on her throne, blood staining the white bone.
"An assassin. Who are they?" Anna asked.
"If we assumed it’s people who would be happier with you dead, that’s everyone who ever met you. Fortunately they are targeting more than you, which actually narrows the list of suspects. I think they must be from the Espionage deck. They tried to destroy my core and hit the Research deck as well," I said.
"We've been fortifying too long and not being aggressive enough," Anna said.
Even Anna could be right sometimes.
"What are you wearing anyways? It's sad," I said.
"I like lingerie, it isn't sad," Anna said.
"It is like dressing up for a birthday party and nobody shows. Nobody will ever show," I said.
Anna winced and stretched her wounded leg. "Not the time to screw with me, Emma. My assassin turned into mist. Are they all doing that?"
"Your assassin didn't dissolve in horror from the sight
of you, it is their ability. However, the Bats seem to have some sort of containment field holding one," I said.
"I don't want to hold them. I want to kill them. Can we do it?" Anna asked.
Could we? Most of my existing defenses wouldn't be much good against an enemy like this. Acid sprayers and hallucinogenic spores would both fail. Standard firearms would be useless, as would melee weapons.
"Hot Stuff. They can become gaseous at room temperature and I expect her thermal extremes will disrupt their systems," I said.
"Send her," Anna said.
I wasn't going to send her in without what help I could provide. Hot Stuff was too valuable to lose.
Hot Stuff was already on the way to the throne room from her cabin. I opened up her upgrade menu while on the way.
Hot Stuff
Age: 37
Height: 121.3 cm
Weight: 61.4 kg
Physical Stats
Values out of 10
5=Average
Allure: 10
Endurance:3
Strength: 4
Agility: 4
Primary Fire Matrix
Hot Stuff had horrible stats. I suppose she didn't much need them given her destructive powers. I was going to make a quick change however. I upgraded her with the minor healing ability I'd just gained from Ophelia. While I was at it, I gave the upgrade to Anna as well.
Anna flinched on the throne, her leg twitching as the flow of blood from the injury slowed.
"Ophelia in range?" Anna asked.
"No, I upgraded you with a bit of her ability. Hot Stuff as well," I said.
"Good," Anna said. "Get everyone but Hot Stuff together. Your offensive drones too, if you can build new ones."
"I can build new humans too since installing genetic sequencers in the lab. One of these days I'll build one worth knowing," I said.