by Skyler Grant
"Gross," Ophelia said.
"In the event of anyone ever seeing Anna naked, that is exactly the response I’d forecast," I said. Then I got to work. I was more confident in a power being able to assist, but if Anna wouldn't allow it I was left with my secondary option. Cutting out the infection.
I gave commands to the autodoc, which went to work with blades and saw.
Anna screamed, Ophelia too. I needed Ophelia in the room though, without her I didn't think Anna was likely to survive this procedure. The infection had spread so fast and thoroughly that I wasn't so much removing small bits of flesh as hollowing Anna out like someone scooping the guts out of a pumpkin and hoping that the insides would grow back.
It took hours. The pile of blackened and diseased organ I teleported down to a quarantine cell for research. Ophelia vomited a half-dozen times. That, I simply teleported to the Biomatter storage. It wasn't really worthy of further inspection.
Anna's vitals were nearly impossible to detect for awhile. You can't register a heartbeat or breathing without any heart or lungs. Still, in time those did start to regrow. It wasn't without consequence. I saw she had lost two points of Endurance from this ordeal. That was something I could fix, but without me and even with Ophelia's power, this would have left her permanently frail and weakened.
"Well, that sucked," Anna said, when she finally regained consciousness. "I'll live."
"You're weakened and implausibly even more hideous. Still, yes—you should live," I said.
"I hate this fucking ship and you people are beyond messed up," Ophelia said.
"She whines a lot," Anna said.
"I'm covered in you," Ophelia said.
It was true, the surgery had gotten rather messy. Blood and pieces of Anna really had gone everywhere.
"And she had to see you naked. She tore out her eyes—truly, they just grew back," I said.
"That didn't happen," Ophelia said, looking around. "If you're quite done performing major surgery in front of me, can I go get a bath?"
"Stay together for now. Just because Anna is able to be obnoxious doesn't mean she's back to full health," I said.
"I could use a bath myself," Anna said. "Ship status?"
"Six Wolves remain out of the fifteen that we still had active. Mechos has been abducted. We've gotten hit by some major scans while you were under, but no one has tried anything."
"Find Mechos. Ask the Mechanites, if you have to. He must have some kind of transponder and they'll know where he’s gone. I want answers out of Cutout and to know if this was his plan or if he is just an agent," Anna said.
"You think Lady Sylax put him up to this?"
"No. If it was her they'd have succeeded. They seemed to know our ship layout and where to hit us though, and that makes me think a Scholar is involved," Anna said, as she grabbed Ophelia's hand and the pair teleported to the showers.
I had some research to begin and a Command core to absorb. It might be just the thing to get us some answers.
29
I would start with the Command core. The singer hadn't survived getting highly caustic acid pumped down her throat, which wasn't really a surprise. The whole point of shooting acid down someone’s throat was generally to shut them up permanently.
You have acquired a Command Core
The core has bonded with and enhanced your "Insulting" trait. Foes that you insult are now far more likely to believe your words and be either debilitated or driven to feats of rage as a result.
I was growing irritated at Command cores. Between the Commander and the Singer, I'd now encountered two people able to compel behavior to some degree—including mine—and hadn't been able to take either alive for research. My own powers gained from the cores were less than impressive. Things would be so much easier if I could simply make the humans do what they were told.
Research Project
"Cutout"
You have begun research on the subject known as "Cutout". The subject has been bonded to a Dimensional core and exhibits powers related to the distortion of space and matter. Research will unlock a lesser version of Cutout's ability.
Research will take two weeks
Research Project
"Blades"
Cutout's guards genetically appear to be either identical siblings or some sort of clone. They exhibit some teleportation abilities and research may unlock some variant of their power.
Research will take one week
Another Dimensional core. I'd originally gotten a variant of those abilities from Sylph. Cutout's appeared to be similar in some ways, but with more offensive options than Sylph's presented.
I started the projects and pulled up the menu to use my next core point.
You have an unspent core point
Your options are
Research 6
Research 6 will allow you to build a translation facility. Often upgrades and improvements are specific to certain core types or paradigmatic principles. With this you can undertake conversion of that knowledge into a form usable by your own systems.
Military 2
Military 2 will allow you to control a greater number of defense drones. There is power in numbers. In addition defensive systems all acquire a minor upgrade.
Engineering 2
Engineering 2 will allow the production of the Fabricator. A Fabricator is a versatile production machine that can apply schematics to construct everything from ship upgrades to trade goods.
Command 1
Command 1 will allow status warnings. Currently you receive no notification when an individual component is in distress. With this upgrade you will receive alerts with the issue, severity, and suggested fixes.
Espionage 1
Espionage 1 will allow you to control a reconnaissance drone. This unit is capable of stealth and will allow visual and audio surveillance.
The last time I'd had a point to spend I had thrown it at Engineering correcting a long-term weakness. So far I had no regrets on that, the ship was in the best shape ever, and that was in no small part due to those upgrades.
As always, Research was always going to tempt. I still wanted to gain access to whatever was in those libraries and especially now, if Cutout had been working for a Scholar, that information might prove invaluable. Command and Espionage would be shoring up two other weaknesses, of the two Command seemed the more important.
I selected Research. While the others were weaknesses, none were pressing and there was a great deal to be said for building on your strength. This was first and foremost going to be a vessel of SCIENCE and that required the proper tools and equipment.
Research Project
"Magical Texts"
In storage exists a moderately sized library of arcane and magical lore collected by Lady Sylax. With a translation facility now open to you research can begin on translating these texts into a usable format. This is a long-term project, completion will take 7.8 years. Future upgrades may hasten results and periodic updates or research points may be gained as the process continues.
That wasn't quite useless. I could think in the long-term, but I was all too well aware that I was not immortal. Danger kept finding me and I needed more tools to defend myself. I'd start the project, but I was already regretting not making another choice. That upgrade point might have yielded more immediate benefits spent elsewhere.
There were numerous ship upgrades that I could make, but now didn't seem the time to worry about them. I tabled those to go over later when the situation was more peaceful and shifted my focus to the cameras in Cutout's testing chamber.
I'd be taking a chance with him. Those with offensive powers often reacted to a bit of a push by fully bringing them out. But I had questions.
"When we first met I thought that you didn't seem the sort to be in charge. You've more the look of a filthy sidekick to provide contrast between someone of wealth and taste," I told him.
"You'd know, wouldn't you? What makes a ship like you decide to sidle u
p to a gutter scamp like that over-pomped and under-mannered Queen? What are you going to do now that I've killed the bitch?" Cutout said.
"You think I've an eye for trash and so you've got a shot?"
Cutout shrugged. "Why not? What did that hyped-up little shit ever do for you? Me? I'm a man with connections. With a ship like you I could own this town inside a week."
I was reminded of one of Anna's rare good traits. Anna did not lack for proper ambition.
"You're a little man with little dreams. Anna survived your little assassination attempt just as I did your effort to control me," I said.
"You lie. I sank my blade into her good and deep."
"Words I never thought a man would be proud to say regarding Anna. You weren't man enough to get it done," I said.
"Nobody comes back from my blade. Let me out and I'll have work for you. If you don't, when Jade gets here maybe I'll drive a blade into you," Cutout said.
It wasn't much of a name, but it would do. I cut the comm link and initiated the testing procedures. Combat drones would be harrying him unexpectedly from all sides for awhile. To get a moment’s rest he'd have to teleport around the cell. Normally I built in some time to sleep, but in his case I thought I'd skip that for the next few days. Exhaustion would break him down further.
30
"Who are we killing?" Anna asked. Instead of the throne room she'd called the meeting in one of the conference rooms on the Command deck. Present was Ratticus, the Mechanites, Ophelia, Candice, and one of the surviving Wolf lieutenants. I still had a significant portion of the crew locked up in testing cells and I wasn't going to let them out until the routines completed.
"Mechos does have a transponder," said one of the Mechanites, a young woman who was mostly biological but for both her arms which had been replaced by mechanical appendages. Steel fingers tapped at keys and a hologram appeared showing a tower near the center of the city.
I knew it, this was from where we got landing clearances.
"If she isn't malfunctioning, and just detecting the source of the strongest local transmissions? That’s the hub for their air control," I said through Candice.
"I'm good with killing air controllers. Still, I doubt a bunch of comm workers just decided to kidnap one of us and try to steal our ship. Do they work for Cutout?" Anna asked.
"The only name I got him to drop so far is Jade. I'd ask if she was someone who wanted you dead from your Scholar days, but really, wouldn't it be more surprising if she wasn’t," I said.
Anna narrowed her eyes and shook her head. "The name means nothing to me. Ratticus?"
Ratticus looked nervous and shifted in his chair, "Requisitions went through Jade. A cruel woman."
"We were attacked by a supply clerk and air controllers? We do draw the eye of only the most dangerous and competent of adversaries," I said.
"Competent enough that they came closer than I'd like," Anna said. "Emma, do you have a location on this council of theirs?"
"I do. They convene aboard one of the larger airships. I hope you aren't planning on being social? We don't need more enemies," I said.
"That is exactly what I plan. If we take out air control, this whole place might start shooting unless they have a heads-up. We don't need to be in the middle of a war zone. Ophelia, I want you to lead the infiltration team. Get Mechos out of there and find any information you can," I said.
"You realize, despite putting me in charge of espionage, I'm not actually a super-spy right?" Ophelia asked.
Anna stared at her. "I'm going to say this once and it applies to every one serving under me. I don't care where you came from or what you were in the past, under me you have the potential to be something better. When you're given an opportunity, seize it."
"Inspiring speech. However, I think even your grating tones won't quite carry to Tara's testing cell. We're in the middle of vivisection number nine. If you'd care for her to hear it, she can when we're done," I said.
Anna turned her attention to Candice whom I had spoken through. Her gaze was icy and furious. That stare persisted for several long seconds until she finally said, "When you're done putting her back together, let her out of the cell. Tell her to suit up and join the team with Ophelia."
"So now I get to do the mission with someone who will probably betray me. Great. Winning plan," Ophelia said.
Anna gave her another glare.
Ophelia cleared her throat and said uncertainty, "Which I'll execute flawlessly, because that is just the kind of total badass I am?"
"Unconvincing," Ratticus said.
I agreed with the Rat. Ophelia had been a more impressive specimen with the orb in control of her mind.
"We'll go with you to get him back," said the Mechanite woman.
"Emma. Keep watch and if either of us gets into trouble, do something," Anna said.
It was brilliant, concise orders like that which made her such an effective Queen.
Ophelia was going to take the Graven on her mission. It was more likely that she would need the firepower. Anna could teleport to the council ship. I didn't trust any plan we were involved in to not go terribly awry, so I had Ratticus position teams throughout the ship in case we needed to start shooting.
I also let everyone held in testing chambers know about the plan.
They were doing well. Hot Stuff was starting to get a handle on her new ability and it were unlike anything I'd encountered to date. In an attempt to activate whatever the metal core had done to her, I'd been shooting at her with drones. Suddenly, metal formed around her and Hot Stuff found herself on a fiery motorcycle.
Further testing proved that she could manifest it at will. Maximum speed was something like two hundred kilometers per hour and she was even able to fire some built-in machine guns.
A shame it wasn't a plane, that might have been more useful in the current situation.
Still, Hot Stuff was willing to kill and murder if things went bad, she always was.
Doctor Batavius was another matter.
"If Jade is involved, we need to leave now. No pursuing matters of vengeance, no getting back Anna's pathetic hopes of a mechanical lover," Doctor Batavius said.
"It sounds as if you know and fear her. A rival for Lady Sylax's favorite pet?" I asked.
"The problem is not her loyalty or her competence, but her lack of both. Jade schemes and plots, and Lady Sylax always finds out," Batavius said. "She allows it, because she enjoys the hunt. Enjoys the punishments and humiliations that come after."
That was a concern. We still weren't entirely certain that Lady Sylax was actually alive, but if she were I wasn’t eager for a round two.
"Loyalty and competence are sadly rare commodities, Doctor. If I was convinced you had either I might let you out of there to assist," I said, and killed the comm.
I'd be extra-prepared for trouble, and to make a quick exit.
31
The teams had been gone on their respective missions about two hours. Candice and Diana stayed behind, it was best to keep my military drones close at hand in case either team needed support or a teleport was required. It left me feeling strangely disconnected from the action.
When the Graven lifted from the tower it was something of a relief, although the hail I got raised questions.
"Emma, support fire requested at the following coordinates," came a voice over the comm. It wasn't Ophelia's, I believed it was Tara.
The coordinates were in the middle of a merchant section in the city. I wasn't detecting anything worthy of a shelling there.
"I think perhaps you've overestimated our relationship just because I've stopped vivisecting you," I said.
"Quite pleased to have my intestines on the inside. Mechos is aboard, but he isn't doing well and neither are the Mechanites. Ophelia is still in the tower and will need an extraction soon. I'm not certain what you are meant to be shooting at, but really think you should," Tara said.
Well, I'd heard worst arguments for opening fire on a
city. It was at least worth investigating. I teleported one of my science drones and initiated a scan. There were makeshift stalls that were exactly what they purported to be, but the city was built completely on top of old airship hulks tethered together. From the hulls beneath I detected strong power readings and active machinery.
That was enough for me. I pulled free of the dock and flew the Powerhungry into the air so that I could get a charged shot off from the main cannon.
The explosion was well out of proportion to the shot. A pillar of flame climbed from the site of impact and the entire city shook with the force of the blow.
"Well, that will have gotten their attention," Tara said.
That was a bit of an understatement. A lot of ships were floating above the city, guns ready and their crews not having enough rest—which meant twitchy trigger fingers. They started shooting. Some of that firepower was directed towards us.
I raised shields and moved to cover the Graven.
There was a second explosion from below, if anything even more powerful than the first. It completely obliterated the control tower—with Ophelia still inside.
I teleported my second science drone. It didn't take long to find her remains, they were about all that was identifiably human and doing the utmost to put themselves back together again even as fires raged. I locked sensors on what was left and teleported the bits to the Medbay.
Another teleport was just occurring. Anna blinked into existence. For some reason she was naked and covered in what appeared to be engine oil.
"Long story. There is about to be a tiny explosion," Anna said.
A third boom rocked the city, larger than either of the two that had come before, as the council ship detonated in the air, blasting the city beneath it to splinters.