"They give you toys. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. "Jackal, you have a hand cannon that can destroy tanks. That's not a toy! you are right. You do something, you get a reward, you get a bigger toy. It's a loop, and your AI buddy isn't even hiding it.
But damn it works. We do get to play with the best toys. "
——Interview with Mary “Jackal” Hunter. April 2051
***
My world is still spinning a bit. This makes walking quietly difficult. Even after all the noise I made before, this was still worth the effort to try. Some miracle kept the other aliens, namely the Type-3 models, from coming over to eat the cats for lunch, but I wasn't about to chance it.
I am a samurai. I laughed at the idea. We talked about what it would be like to be one of the elite, flying around and killing thousands of aliens.
And she...
"I need to find someone else," I whispered. How long have I been bleeding there? At some point I lost track of time. My HUD clock gave me time, but I hadn't noticed before. "Fuck, I need to move," I said.
You lost a lot of blood. I recommend caution before engaging in another battle.
"Be careful fucking, kittens, they...I need to help them."
Admirable sentiment! In your current situation, you can successfully distract the alien for approximately twelve to thirty seconds.
I stumbled to a halt. that's right. I don't have any fighting ability. But, but still. I started stumbling forward again. "Then finish me off," I growled.
There are tools you can purchase through a Class I medical utility to alleviate this situation. Two solutions seem to stand out. Level I Nano Regeneration Kit. At fifteen, the utility will allow you to start restoring some damaged internals. Hemo-Resto
e is an oral five-point liquid utility. It can naturally replenish a quart of blood in about two hours.
"That's how it works, huh?" I asked. I've heard some things about how samurai gained awesome powers, incredible weapons and tools. Everyone has. Still, I trusted the information I plundered online just as much as I trusted my ability to run a marathon.
You can purchase any item offered in this profession. Prices are constantly adjusted.
"Yeah, cool," I said. I stopped in front of a concrete pillar and leaned against it for a moment to catch my breath. I wasn't hurt, in fact, my body should have felt light. In fact, every movement requires force, just like moving underwater. "I need something that will let me, uh, fight."
"I recommend that you use a full arsenal of weapons and tools to protect yourself. Unfortunately, in your current situation, most of the better solutions are beyond your reach.
"The story of my life," I said.
There is a solution. You have sixty-five points left. Using Fifty you can unlock the level 1 tech tree, which will allow you to purchase level 1 weapons. I recommend kinetic pistols or simple melee. This leaves you with fifteen points. Spending ten gives you a very basic weapon. Your last points can be spent on battle excitement.
I licked my dry lips and pushed away from the post I'd been using as a crutch. "What is combat thrill? No, don't answer that question. I'm not an idiot. I mean...what kind?
Depending on your current situation...Mi
dK
a
kUlt
a. A highly addictive, addictive, mildly toxic drug that earns 5 points.
I stopped my slow shuffling steps. "Attractive."
You can also buy Clea later for 5 points
se. A nerve cleanser infused with nanoparticles that can undo damage from previous drugs.
"say to me. "What...shit is that?"
It will make you feel invincible, heighten your senses, improve your perception of time, greatly enhance your reflexes, and increase your tolerance for pain and fatigue. Humans using this drug can fight non-stop for up to thirty-two hours, or until their heart system fails.
"This thing sounds dangerous."
You lose contact with enemies around you. The likelihood that they will reach the person you want to protect increases every moment.
I moved my jaw. Damn right thing. How long has it been since I saw anyone else? 2 minutes? no longer. ten? They may have all been dead for a long time. Maybe they were lucky and there were only four monsters and lots of kids.
These are bullshit odds.
I heard a faint scream in the distance, barely echoing off the open museum floor. It's a scream.
A chill ran down my spine. "Damn," I cursed. "Do it, give me...give me anything."
as you wish. Do you have any preferences in terms of weaponry?
Do I want to get up close and personal with aliens or shoot them from a distance? Stupid question. "Gun, give me a gun."
I had never fired a gun, but we had toys, and I played a simulated game once or twice. Point at the bad guy and pull the trigger. simple.
Then I recommend the Kinetic Pistol Level I.
"Of course!" I said hurriedly. The growing need to do something, to move, tortured me.
Tier I Kinetic Pistol Unlocked!
Score reduced to... 15
here you go. Now...as for the weapons.
"Anything goes!" I said.
as you wish. I would choose what is best for your situation from the current catalog. There are only eight hundred weapons available at your current price point. This is the hummingbird tag ID.
I felt something push against my hand. As I held it palm up, a gun fell out of thin air. Not a proper gun. This looks more like a toy. The cylinder is a large square with three dozen needles protruding from the end. The handle barely curves back and the trigger feels more like a square button. The box looks like it's made of brushed aluminum.
New Purchase: Hummingbird Tag ID
Points reduced to... 5
"What do I-" I started, only for my vision to temporarily go crazy as my glasses refreshed. Soon I had a big circle floating to the side. It didn't take much experimentation to see that it would follow wherever I pointed the gun.
Aim at the target, wait for the reticle to turn red, and pull the trigger. So simple, even little kids can use it. Hummingbird's targeting will do most of the work.
"say to me. "That...medicine?"
arrive. Please read below.
New purchase: Mi
dK
a
kUlt
a
Points reduced to... 0
A box appeared at my feet. No bigger than a matchbox, square and made of some cheap plastic. I doubled over, nearly losing my balance because of my dizziness, but managed to open it.
There was a bright red pill sitting on the gauze pad.
"Damn," I muttered.
I put down the hummingbird gun, picked up the pill, and stared at it for a moment.
There was another scream in the distance.
I threw the pill back.
The world suddenly became clear.
