Chapter Sixty-Six - Return to Form


    Chapter Sixty-Six - Return to Form


    The government ignoring the mental health issues of the average citizen is fine. Except for real nutjobs, its hard to really tell if a persons depressed or broken inside or whatever.


    Basically, as long as its an invisible problem, its not a problem that you can really run a platform on.


    But the mental health of samurai?


    A samurai that loses it? That sees one too many people get gibbed by aliens? Well now, thats entirely too fucking scary to think about.


    --CandidCast podcast interview with political psychologist Hulo Wells, 2038


    ***


    A pair of guards stopped me just outside of the room, and for some reason, when they gently led me into another part of the floor where there was a sofa to sit on and a few chairs for the guards to occupy, I didnt protest or fight back.


    Miss Stray Cat?


    I leaned forwards and clasped my hands together. It stopped them from trembling a little.


    Catherine. Youre entering a state of shock, mild though it may be. Give yourself some time to process the adrenaline in your system. While that is happening, lets go over the events that just transpired.


    Not the time, Myalis, I muttered.


    It is precisely the time. Focus on the cause. A human brain might only have a few simple and animalistic responses to threats, but that doesnt mean that it is entirely useless at deconstructing a threat once it is past.


    Fine, I said.


    Miss Stray Cat? the guard asked.


    I raised my hand in a one-moment gesture, and the guard backed off for the moment.


    First, you entered the room because you received a package, one addressed directly to you, but which set off an alarm.


    I nodded.


    Second, you inspected the package. It asked for your identification. On giving it, the trap unravelled and an explosive device, likely a concussion-based device with a shell meant to create fragmentation. This caused you very mild harm in the form of a light concussive blow. It also killed the young woman assisting you at the time.


    I closed my hands so hard my fingers hurt. Yeah.


    Good. You seem to understand the situation. Your current state is caused by a few factors. First, the surprise of an unexpected attack. Second, the light injury you received. Third, the death of the young woman assisting you.


    The first and third causes are the ones I will address now. This location, the hotel, is one that you thought was safe. You lowered your guard. An understandable reaction, though one that has backfired in this case. This can be alleviated in the future by heightening your caution. The death of the young woman is unfortunate, and to some degree you are to blame.


    I swallowed.


    But the majority of that blame lays not on you, but on the person who attempted to assassinate you. Aim your anger there first.


    Okay, I said. It wasnt very loud. I didnt sound like myself.


    Youre a moron, Daniel, I said.


    He grinned, then looked over his shoulder. Lucy, its your mentally stunted wife.


    The door opened wider a moment later, and Daniel almost tripped without it to hold him up. Go watch over the kittens, Lucy said before she squeezed past him, then collided with my chest. Cat.


    Lucy, I said.


    I squeezed her close.


    Youre... squishing me, she complained.


    I hesitated, then broke the hug and took a step back. Getting out of the armour took several long seconds, but I was rewarded with another hug the moment I was out of it, this one much warmer and closer.


    Myalis filled me in, Lucy muttered into my neck.


    Yeah?


    Yeah, she repeated.


    I was just worried about you guys, I said.


    She poked me in the ribs. And we were worried about you. But were okay, and youre okay. Right? Youre not hurt?


    I shook my head. Im fine, I said. Armour took the blast no problem. It... kinda scared the crap out of me, but Im fine otherwise.


    Lucy nodded. Good, good. She leaned back enough to meet my eyes, and for a long moment she just stared at me, inspecting me closely. Do you want to talk about it? she asked.


    Not really, I admitted. I was still wired up, still a little nervous. Twitchy, maybe.


    Lucy grabbed me by the wrist, then tugged me along after her and towards the living room. Come on, we should sit, she said.


    I cant stay for long, I said.


    You can stay for long enough that I can reassure myself that youre okay, Lucy said. There was no give there. If I just off and left Id regret having four ears when Lucy whined all four of them off later.


    Fine, I said. I sat on the bigger couch, then sighed, sat up, and tossed some magazine out from where Id sat.


    Lucy promptly sat herself down on me. There, she said. No escape anymore.


    I could lift you off me, I said.


    And risk bruising my delicate skin with your brutish hands? Lucy asked, faux-demurely.


    I rolled my eyes, but the banter helped. I could feel some of the tension bleeding off of my back. Thanks Lucy.


    Lucy laughed and tipped sideways until I had no choice but to hug her. I love you too, she said.


    ***