People say money can't solve all problems.
...Poor people. That's what poor people say. "
——Gold, Platinum and Diamond, interview with Samulife Magazine, June 2034
***
"Hey, Baldy," I said.
The man turned around, the frown disappearing the moment he recognized me. "Yes?" he asked. Behind him was a group of students, all preparatory students. At least most people have put away their phones and stopped playing with their eyes.
"Do you know how to shoot?" I pulled Daniel to a stop and asked.
He nodded. “I go to the range once a month,” he said.
I blinked. I originally thought he would reject me, or reject me. "Oh, uh, in that case." I poked Daniel in the back and he handed the bald man a box. "have fun."
He glanced at the box, then opened it and took out the pistol. "Do you know how much these are worth?" he asked.
"Uh. Five points?" I answered. We've stalled long enough and our time for small talk is almost over.
"This is a fox tooth, right?" He continued after I nodded. "One of them cost nearly two hundred thousand points."
I looked down at the gun. Killing one Model 3 allows me to buy two. ha. With two hundred thousand points I can... use the money to buy a bunch of toys. That's... I snorted, trying to refocus. Knowing how many cans of soda I can buy with one of these guns isn't as useful as knowing that someone has my back. ha
"Cool, cool. Just, attack the aliens and not the other guys, huh?"
He grunted and stuffed the gun into his waistband. It didn't fit his sweater vest and slacks look. "I'm not a fool," he said.
I nodded and pushed Daniel forward. The small group in the church formed neat rows according to age, with Mary at the front. "Hey, Sister," I said.
She turned and gave me a quick, shallow bow. "Yes?"
"Do you know how to hold a gun?" I asked.
"I do," she said. “We train to better serve the Saints who need our help.”
Creepy, I decided. Another mark on her record. "Well, here's a gift. Pin any asshole who tries to hurt a kid, okay?"
Daniel smiled and handed her the last box. "Hey, maybe later you and I can uh, talk about religious epiphanies and conversions." He raised his eyebrows.
The poor girl looked disgusted and grateful as she picked up the box containing the gun and opened it. "Thank you," she said finally, pretending Daniel didn't exist. I don't blame her.
"Okay, Casanova," I said, pushing Daniel to the back of the room, where Lucy and the kittens were waiting. "Stop flirting or I won't give you your own toy."
"How do you know my online name?" he asked. I stared down at him until his face twisted into a shit-eating grin.
"Cat!" Lucy said as I approached. "We're all ready to go." She pointed to the kittens, who looked like everything was fine. Several pairs of eyes were red, and some looked a little shocked, but they were complete and connected as one. I'm pretty sure the orphanage's insurance doesn't cover psychiatric help, but I'm obviously loading up pretty quickly, so that's an issue at other times as well.
"Let's go then. We're going down two, uh, maybe three levels. There's parking." I made sure the kittens who were still looking at me met my eyes. "If you get lost, just find a corner to hide and listen to my voice, okay? I'll come to pick you up, promise me."
"Is it true?" Nose asked. "Are you a samurai?"
"Who knows," I said. "Now you listen to Lucy or you have to deal with me, got it?" I got a few nods and that was enough for me. When I looked back at Lucy, someone tugged on my sleeve.
Junior glared at me, but without her usual enthusiasm. "I want my knife back," she said.
"Ah," I said. I patted my pocket and found it empty. I don't remember where I left it. "Yeah, shit. I might have misplaced it."
"Really, Cat?" she said. "Then give me a new one."
I'm afraid making a knife requires Basic Melee Weapon Level I, plus some points.
"I'll get you a knife later, promise."
She grinned, her expression ferocious. "Yeah, I believe you. You better be a fucking cool guy too. Ha."
I ruffled her hair. "Idiot," I muttered. "Lucy, you and the kittens sit in the middle, okay?"
"Correct!" said Lucy. She pushed the crutch onto Daniel's leg and slung it over the back of his chair. "We'll be behind you."
"Thank you," I said.
I hurried back to the door of the room and packed it up as quickly as possible. In front are the normal-looking schoolchildren, behind are the kittens, then the preppies, with Mary and her children behind. You can cover a lot of people with just four guns.
"Okay, let's go," I said. It took me five steps to realize that I needed Mary's guidance. After a red-faced shuffle, the church group was in the front, the kittens in the back, and the rest of the group behind.
We started down the corridor, away from the route back to the museum. I pulled my trench machine out of my back and started walking, gun pointed at the ground in front of me. I felt so stupid, leading a bunch of too-quiet kids like a B-grade action hero.
We reached a stairwell without any problems. Flashing fire exit signs above marked the way.
There was a slight rumble coming from the building, and even from where we were, deep inside the building, I could hear faint explosions coming from outside. alien? army? Will some PMC come to save the day?
The stairwell is clean but only leads to the next level. "Damn," I said.
“Each floor requires a different set of stairs,” Mary explains. "The building has a strange shape."
"What if this place really is on fire? How can they expect people to panic and evacuate?"
Mary shrugged. "I don't know." She licked her lips. "I don't want to be a problem, Santa-cat. But the kids. They need a break at some point. Do you think we can afford it?"
"Like going to the bathroom and eating?" I asked. I had to weigh the danger to the children against keeping them comfortable while getting everyone out in a timely manner.
Speed is important, but if we encounter an ambush we are doomed.
Ultimately, the opportunity for forward reconnaissance won out. "Yeah, okay," I said. "Once we find a safe place to stop."
