Anti-antithesis

When corporations are allowed to privatize even the most basic, foundational systems that keep a city running, it becomes a when, not if, the system will fail. Either from unoptimized programming or embezzlement of critical funds and supplies, things will fail catastrophically.

-Excerpt from a press conference helmed by Samurai Doma on the topic of the Family's takeover of New Phoenix's Infrastructure, 2049

Yun Min

I have seen a lot over the years I have been alive. The cruelty of humanity and their kindness. The love of a family and the despair at seeing them ripped away from life. The flames of greed, passion, and that one corporation I set fire to.

I had thought I was going to die a slave, being executed after biting the penis off of whatever executive was set to buy me. Instead, I was saved by a crazy bitch in a purple hoodie and a blank mask who treated me like a damn helpless victim.

They weren't wrong to do so, as that is what I was, but still. It took me a while to trust them, but they have never given me a reason to not.

And over the years, I had grown to see them and theirs as extensions of my family.

So when I got the order that we were marching on a Multinational, I didn't hesitate, didn't question. I simply smiled, as this is what that crazy bitch would do.

Then I learned that it was a commission from an American Samurai, but I chose not to acknowledge that fact. Not because he's American, but because it would fit better if this was my boss’s idea.

And here I am, fighting my way through the Bestlé International Corporate HQ, using “non-lethal” methods as best we can because the boss is a scary lady, and my other, crazier boss is fighting a crab the size of a megabuilding. The reinforcements from the American did something not long ago to disable the crazy amount of suppressing fire it was giving off, blowing off massive chunks of its underside. The battlefield now had a healthy, heavy scent of cooked crab covering the smell of gunpowder and blood, and I had seen more than fifteen of my troops lick their lips and swallow hard. My own stomach betrayed me.

The tanker, Jim, had attached himself to my squad on my orders as we pushed to take over the final checkpoint before the central command building. He was a large man wearing a bulky, round set of blue power armor while wielding an energy cannon about as long as I was tall. He worked very well with me and mine, covering us as we advanced, while his tanks offered extremely accurate artillery fire.

Thrice, a shell exploded on an ambush that I had not detected, and thrice he used himself as mobile cover for me, blocking shots that might have penetrated my armor and allowing me to counter snipe successfully. There were no words between us, just action.

As the giant crab fell, crushing buildings beneath it to the background of Maniac's distinctive cackling, we infiltrated the central command center, a large square, concrete structure with multiple floors. I saw on the Tactical Map that Plume was keeping up to date that a majority of Beslté's forces have been subdued, and those that remain seem to be surrendering after the fall of the crab.

Annoyingly, the majority of the support staff in this building surrendered instantly, with the top brass trying to do some sort of last stand bullshit in their war room. I smirked as Jim handed me a massive grenade, after which he kicked in the door.

I tossed it in, then deployed my mobile shield as we watched those old men scramble to take cover, but it was no use. The grenade expanded into a ball of light, filling the building with the feeling of a dry heat. The light died down after three seconds, leaving a perfect sphere of space where the room once was.

I glanced at Jim and raised an eyebrow, stretching a hand out in expectation. He laughed heartily and gave me three more.

***********************************

After evacuating the building, all that remained of it was a burned hole. Jim sent me the blueprints for those grenades.

***********************************

Clair

Cleaning up after an operation was always the worst, and a task I would always pass off to one of Yun Min's capable subordinates. I made sure they had the correct chemical cleaners for blood and bodies, at least, but that was the extent of what I was willing to deal with.

Well, that and the release agents for the subduing agents I deployed. I took inspiration from super glue to make a breathable adhesive that looked like fantasy slimes, a somewhat opaque, light blue liquid. Dispersal of the liquid was in the form of my nickname Maniac calls me, and when they popped, they spread across the closest source of heat before solidifying. Making them breathable was the hardest part, but an effect I was extremely proud I had successfully developed.

Jason, Nana, and I were raiding the executive kitchen for food stuffs around midnight, prompted by the smell of cooked crab that was ever present in the compound now. Trymegistus confirmed that the smell would disappear after the next shower and didn't need a specific cleanser, but also confirmed that the flesh of the crab was highly toxic, much to the disappointment of basically everyone.

We had gotten the robo chefs to whip up a feast for our people using the fresh produce and non-stem-cell grown meat. The meat was harvested from actual cows, pigs, and chickens! Yun Min had cajoled Jim to help load some livestock into the hover craft he arrived in, with the intent of having another feast for all the employees at PsyCo and the Purple Truth at a later date.

I had just received a chicken salad with dried cranberries and this balsamic vinaigrette that smelled like strawberries when Maniac and their kids walked into the kitchen. The moment they saw me, they teleported over to me and gave me a hug.

I chuckled and hugged them back. “Good to see you in one piece, love.” I said, rubbing their back.

They nodded into my chest and I could feel them relax. It had been a few days since we had seen each other, so I let them indulge. I did sneak a glance at Nana, Shinon, and Shinobu fall into a group hug, with Nana enveloping them all in her wings.

Maniac soon pulled back from the hug, sniffing the air and gravitating towards my salad, which I grabbed and held close.

“Maniac, you know I love you dearly, but I have not eaten since breakfast. Get your own.” I said, glaring at them.

They just cackled at me before stealing one of my chicken strips and eating it in front of me. “And what are you going to do about it?” They teased.

I narrowed my eyes as I adjusted the mixer still on my back, activating the blend Luna and I came up with. I smiled sweetly as I activated the shoulder sprayer, both launching them backwards and coating them in a very strong adhesive substance, sticking her to the nearby wall.

I took a bite of my salad as I watched then struggle to escape. The salad was wonderful, with just the right amount of croutons and even sliced hard boiled eggs!

After a few bites and their kids going over to poke fun at their mom, they finally asked. “Hey, Bubbles, why can't I teleport out of this?”

I smirked in triumph. “Because the adhesive is made in such a way to fool your teleportation organ, thinking it is a part of you while also being spatially locked in place. Thank your mom for the spatial aspect, as it was not something I could have done on my own.”

They gasped in mock betrayal, causing me to laugh. I walked over to them and moved their mask out of the way. “If you beg, I might feed you.” I purred into her ears.

******************************************

Roger

I tuned out of the feed Vulkan was transmitting to me, confirming that everything was finally over. The giant crab was a neat trick, which did prompt me to wonder what other goodies Bestlé had in any other secret labs across the globe. Too bad we only had the one Mexico to look through later.

Morrigan had just finished rounding up the executives that lived on the satellite, while Babushka was doing a final sweep for civilians. We had slightly underestimated the amount of people living on the satellite, but we're able to scavenge for the extra food and medical supplies, much to the annoyance of the various rich people who watched us take care of their “property”.

I had already marked a few of these living corpses for my own private amusement, and some others as teaching materials for Morrigan and Outsider. You could never have enough teaching materials, after all.

I was shocked by the number of children on board, both those of the executives, and of those forced to be here. Morrigan was already retrofitting the living areas here to house the captives temporarily, as the community leaders, or floor managers of The Tower requested a few days to set up relief centers and to recruit counselors and doctors.

I stepped out of an elevator and into the control center, waving at my family. “Hey, guys! Any points of concern before we move this ugly ass satellite above our home?”

That got a chuckle from Buddy and Jill while Cody continued to scowl at the screen he was sitting behind.

Outsider motioned towards me, a slight frown on her face. “Unfortunately, yes. Besides the fact that the thrusters need to be refueled, which will be done in a few hours, we may need to recode the entirety of the station in order to do anything useful with it.”

That did not sound good, nor did it sound like a quick thing. “I know I heard you cursing the code earlier, Cody, but is it really that bad?”

He groaned and leaned back in his chair dramatically. “This may be the single worst piece of shit I have ever seen. It does what it is supposed to do and keeps this place running above Sweden, but anything else? If I wanted to adjust the orientation of this hunk of metal, even by two degrees, there are sixty three steps that have to be taken in rapid succession, both software and hardware activations, with no less than three physical valves that need to be manually handled in two different decks. And if the elevator, any elevator, is moving between the thirtieth and the forty sixth floors while this is happening, the whole process can cause a sudden explosive decompression in said elevator”

Oh, wow. That is actually horrible. “Hm. Synaptic, could you fix this?”

Easily, near instantly from you humans perspective. However, Cody and Outsider expressed a desire to attempt to fix it on their own first, and I am humoring them.

Jill rolled her eyes at that, but shifted the topic to something else. “Do we know what was up with those people you guys found in that bubble thing outside? I saw them for a bit, and I felt a chill run down my spine.”

Outsider sighed?! Catching us all off guard. “They are champions of a game these Heretics play.” Was all she offered up, and none of us asked for clarification. Not even Opal.

Instead, Opal stood up. “Roger, could you grab whoever owned that sphere and meet me at an airlock? I… I don't-”

I placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. I saw the fury on her face and understood. I nodded silently, to which she exhaled sharply and stalked out of the room.

“Cody.” I said, not turning to look at him, my tone neutral. “Figure out if you can fix it by time Opal is done venting.”

I heard him sigh as I walked out, but I knew he understood.

Thankfully, Leman's pack had dragged the executive we wanted to an airlock, meeting us there.

The executive, a man whose name I had chosen to forget, was begging Opal to let him go, offering her money, land, his child, anything and everything while being held down by a wolf.

Opal stared at him in her human form, fist clenching and unclenching as she listened to him beg. Then, she sighed, reaching out to grab him by his neck. She dragged him to the airlock and threw him in, closing the door before he could stand up. Then, without hesitation, she vented him, closing her eyes as she took deep, rhythmic breaths. I never took my eyes off the executive, watching him struggle and freeze, and then he stopped.

After a few minutes, Opal took a seat on the ground, her back to the air lock door. “Hey, Roger?” she asked in a whisper, then continued before I could say anything. “I never want to see another executive type again. I… I know I technically am one, with your company and all, and I know I will never become like… that. But do not ever expect me in a board room or a meeting with others outside our… family. Am I… does that make sense?”

I nodded and leaned against the door. “Yeah. That's fine, Opal.” Was all I said.

We sat there for a while, Opal doing her best to gather herself and failing slightly, and me, going through every sin these execs have documented extensively while aboard this station.

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