Chapter Thirty-Five - Void Terminus


    Chapter Thirty-Five - Void Terminus


    We do what we can. Most of us are hard workers, and youd be hard pressed to find a samurai that wouldnt do some horrible things to keep people safe. Its not just about killing aliens; its about trying to make the world we live in a better place.


    Some days it feels like were swimming against the current to achieve anything, but on some days things work out.


    This isnt the nicest world we live in, but damn it, its ours too.


    --Good Morning New America Interview with Rising Tide, 2034


    ***


    The boat bobbed in the water, and I had to sway with it not to fall ass-first into the shit stream. Once I had my balance I shifted to get a better footing and turned towards the Sewer Dragon piloting the boat.


    We werent moving, which was probably because the guy was too busy staring at me, wide-eyed. Turn us around and park back at the docks, I said.


    He glanced past me and down to the lower half of Doc Hacks body that was currently leaking all over the deck. He spun the wheel around and we started to head back.


    I stared at the blade that Myalis had chosen for me. It had a metal rod at the back, straight, with a sharp cap on the end, and all along that rod, not touching it but almost, was a paper-thin slice of nothing that seemed to be sucking in the air around it with a constant hiss.


    Deactivating.


    The black slice disappeared with a snap.


    What was that? I asked. I swear I saw stars in there.


    The Void Terminus Hiss is a melee weapon whose main function is to create a temporary rift. Objects entering that rift are transported to a location in empty space. The edges of the rift are, in laymans terms, very sharp.


    I stared at the sword which was currently just a metal stick. I didnt miss the fact that it had one of those Japanese-looking hilts, with the round guard thing. Though the guard on this one looked like a cats paw, and there was a small plastic cat dangling from a loop at the very bottom, like one of those toys people used to hook onto old-school phones. So... it murders people by teleporting a slice of them elsewhere.


    Essentially, yes. It is obscenely dangerous, but the requirements for that rift to exist make that particular kind of technology unwieldy and unviable in most combat situations. It so happens that as a melee weapon it is quite lethal.


    Fucking awesome, I said. If I swear while this thing is dangling by my side, will I cut my own leg off?


    I will do my best to prevent you from cutting your own limbs off. Though I am merely a millennia-old hyper intelligent machine with unfathomable powers. Theres only so much I can do to counter human idiocy.


    Youre sassy today, I said.


    Youve essentially won, as far as I can tell. All that remains is the tedious work of cleaning up and assessing the situation, which I suspect will be somewhat complex. Giving you a moment to relax will help you manage the stress, and for some reason you find insulting banter amusing.


    There are catalogues designed around that, yes. Though the total point cost to repair the sewer system as it is would exceed the points you and Gomorrah have. To bring the system up to par would cost a prohibitive number of points. Im afraid the Vanguards point system isnt designed for use on that scale.


    Yeah, I can imagine, I said. Crap, were not equipped for this.


    You cant take everything on your shoulders, Gomorrah said.


    I barked a laugh. Trust me, Im good at only caring for me and mine. But this might fuck up the whole city, and me and mine live here.


    We can tell the government. It is their job to take care of this, Franny said.


    As if, Rac said.


    Raccoons right. Theyll panic, then cover their asses, I said.


    Not everyone is that incompetent, Gomorrah said. Especially when samurai show up at their office and deliver the news personally. After we save the people down here.


    Right, after, I said. So how do we go about it?


    Can you check on the people in the lab? Ill question that guard Doc Hack had. The Sewer Dragons have to have some way to communicate. I think we can convince them to bring anyone that wants to be... returned to normal to the lab.


    And can we do that? I asked.


    Its easier than fixing the entire sewers, Gomorrah said. But... Im not sure? Maybe? We can at least get them looked at by actual doctors.


    Right, right, I said. I really wanted to rub my face, but there was armour in the way. Well, nothing for it. Lets get this over with.


    Gomorrah nodded and shifted her shoulders. Were nearly done, I think. Dont worry, it wont be so bad.


    I hope not, I said.


    The patch of corridor that Doc Hack had oh-so-helpfully blown up was now covered in white foam, courtesy of Gomorrah, I guessed. She stepped up before me and crossed a bulbous bridge of the stuff that spanned the gap left in the floor.


    Ah, shit, were going to need to tell someone about this too, arent we? I asked.


    At least this part we can blame on Doc Hack... in fact, I think we should blame everything on him. It will make things easier, Gomorrah said.


    How saintly, Franny shot.


    Yes, yes, I think thats exactly what it is.


    ***