Chapter Forty-Two - Quiet


    Chapter Forty-Two - Quiet


    Passwords are only so trustworthy. With the rise of AI computing and systems like SHA-256 becoming so easy to decrypt that anyone with the right second generation augs could do it, passwords fell by the wayside.


    In their place, came biometrics. Why use a password when you can use yourself?


    The why became obvious as constantly leaked medical data started to render even biometrics useless for information protection.


    Now, anything less than a four-factor authentication system is considered ripe for the plundering.


    --Infosec: On Biometrics and Safety Factors, 2031


    ***


    Ready? I asked.


    I was five minutes ago, I dont see why I wouldnt be now, Manic said.


    I just nodded. I was getting used to her flippancy, which was probably because I would have said the same thing in her combat boots. We had made our way to another exit, this one into a side-alley. I couldnt hear any aliens on the other side of the door, so if anything was there, it was being quiet. There were plenty of the fuckers tromping into the apartment building though, most through the front.


    We could very easily hear claws on linoleum clattering about above us. Ill open, you go in, then Ill come in behind and cover your back, I said. Go left.


    Uh-huh, Manic said.


    I took that as a yes and tore the door open.


    Manic jumped out, sonic gun coming up and whining already as it charged. Then I snuck out behind Manic and pointed my own gun to the right while looking for targets of my own.


    The alley ended a little ways in, with a few large trash containers and not much else. A model three was wrestling out a large tarp from one of the dumpsters, though it paused to stare at us with the cloth still in its jaws.


    I fired a small burst its way, then adjusted my aim to take account of the kickback. I needed to switch back to something a little more stealthy, bullet-wise, but that could wait for when I was empty.


    Manic jogged to the edge of the alley, then fired. The loud whump was accompanied by a scattering of dust being kicked off the walls and floor. I turned and started looking for aliens to blow up around the noisy samurai.


    Her gun had a wide cone of fire, but it wasnt so wide as to clear out the entire street. There were still plenty of monsters around, and now that shed made her signature level of noise, they were all very much aware that we were there.


    Or at least, they knew about Manic.


    A few antithesis roared and squealed, but the majority of them were entirely quiet as they turned their attention onto us and rushed over. Just chaff, Manic said.


    What killed it was me running up to the alien from behind, ordering a sticky bomb on the way over, and slapping it down next to its neck before I continued to run.


    I set off the bomb behind me while I kept moving, and the warmth of the explosion just shoved me forward and gave me a little boost even as bits of alien rained down around me.


    My next targets were the model fifteens, the big, long artillery models stomping about in the back line. They were the big threat. One of those spiky balls they spat could ruin Manics afternoon, and it looked like both of them were about ready to start spitting.


    Grenade, I said.


    What kind?


    Boomy! I shouted.


    Something landed in my hand and I threw it forwards as hard as I could. Fortunately my aim when throwing things, even with my cybernetic arm instead of my normal one, was pretty good, at least compared to my aim with any sort of gun.


    The bomb sailed through the air, then clacked against the ground between the two aliens. Then it exploded.


    I flinched, even though I was perfectly safe. Whatever fragmentation had been kicked up clattered against my armour. When I looked back up and through the smoke left behind, it was to find both model fifteens shredded in the middle, though they were still writhing a little.


    I put an end to that as I emptied my magazine into their sides, splitting my remaining rounds between the two.


    Turning, I surveyed the area. A few aliens were running out from behind cover, or from within nearby buildings, but they were a trickle, not a flood, and Manic seemed to be doing alright. Her bass cannon whumped every couple of seconds, sending bodies flopping through the air and tossing back blood and guts in large waves.


    We started mopping up after that. I took them out from behind, with a few acid-rain bombs on the edges of the road creating more chokepoints and more resonators flung around to kill off any injured alien laying in one of the corpse heaps we were leaving behind.


    When I finally reached Manic, once the intersection quieted down, she was leaning against the wall of a building, her mask hanging around her neck and her hair plastered to her sweaty forehead. She had a cigarette out, and with a mumbled command, a lighter fell into her open palm.


    She lit it, tossed the lighter away, then took a long pull.


    Thats not good for ya, I said.


    What is? she exhaled. Besides. Makes your voice huskier.


    Fair enough, I suppose, I said. We still have to blow that building right over there up. And then maybe look around for more spots where theyve settled underground.


    How much blowing up are you intending to do?


    Enough to keep the aliens off our backs between now and when reinforcements arrive, at least, I said.


    She took another pull, then tossed the cigarette aside where it sizzled out in the blood of one of the aliens shed pulped. Alright, fine. Ill relax once its all done.


    ***