Chapter Eighty-Four – Mini Machina

Chapter Eighty-Four – Mini Machina

“Operation Silent Spring was a Chinese special operation which tried to introduce natural earthly predators to captured Antithesis to see if it was possible to find a natural method to cull the Antithesis.

The introduction of the Cordyceps mushroom, and the loss of six thousand lives, put an end to the operation.”

–Operation Silent Spring, a recap, Youtube video, posted in 2036

***

“C’mon,” I said as I grabbed the waist of Lucy’s pants. I wasn’t gonna let her sleep in her fancy business clothes. Sure, it was hot, but not for sleepwear. I had Lucy’s favourite pyjamas on the bed next to her, big fluffy pants, this oversized sweatshirt made of this cottony, soft material, and warm, wooly socks. I especially liked the socks, because Lucy’s feet were cold and she liked pressing them into me.

“Mm,” Lucy mumbled. “I have a headache, maybe tomorrow.”

I snorted. “I don’t want sex,” I lied. “I just want to change you. Did you really wanna sleep in a bra?”

“Hmm,” Lucy agreed. She woke up, but looked bleary-eyed and tired still, her hair all matted to one side and a bit of drool hanging from the corner of her mouth. She helped me help her out of her clothes, then fell asleep again halfway through the process of taking off her top.

I sighed and helped her the rest of the way out, then slid her into her more comfortable clothes.

“Stupid,” Lucy said.

“Wow, thanks,” I replied.

“Not you,” she said. “Words. Urgh. When I’m empress of the world, what will you be? Can’t have two empresses, that doesn’t work.” She yawned. “Gonna need to, uh, invent a new title.”

“Uh-huh,” I agreed. I shifted her legs around and tugged the blanket up to her neck. Then I bent down and gave her forehead a kiss.

Lucy smiled at me, eyes still closed. “Love you.”

“You too,” I replied.

I was still smiling as I went around the bed and started to look for something to sleep in. Just an oversized t-shirt or something. Lucy kept the bedroom cold, because she liked it that way. It always ended up giving her an excuse to snuggle and steal all of my warmth. I’d have rather sleep naked.

I raised a shirt from the floor, gave it a sniff, then started to undress when I heard a knock at the door. I paused. One of the kittens needing something? They usually didn’t knock.

I padded over to the door. “Yeah?” I asked. Then I remembered that it was pretty well isolated, sound-wise, so I tugged it open.

It was Junior. “Hey,” she said. “A weird little samurai is here to see you.”

I blinked. “Huh, okay,” I said before I finished putting on my shirt. “Thanks.”

“Mhm,” Junior agreed. She looked past me, towards the sleeping form of Lucy, then nodded. “She had a big day?”

“Yeah. Step… something of her plan to take over the world,” I said.

Junior snorted, then spun and walked off. I followed her. Weird little samurai… that could be Shy. Maybe she came to see me after the whole spectacle today? Or Princess. I winced. I hoped it wasn’t Princess.

The brat led me to the living room, then gestured to the couch where someone familiar was sitting.

My heart did a flip, then sank. “Oh, not you,” I said.

“Wow.” Deus Ex said in stereo.

The pipsqueak was sitting on one of my couches next to… herself. Both Deus Exes… Deus Exi? Deus Exs? Both of her were dressed in the same form-fitting white skinsuit with armoured panelling. They had their helmets off, resting on their knees, and for the most part, she didn’t look armed, though I knew better than to assume that from a higher tier Samurai.

“What’re you doing here? And which one of you am I supposed to look at while talking?”

“Neither of me is the real me,” Deus-Ex-of-the-Right-Side-of-the-Couch said. “I’m at work right now, so these two clones are the most I could spare.”

“Freaky,” I said. “So… wait, how old are you, again? I want to ask inappropriate questions.”

She glared, also in stereo.

“Nevermind,” I said.

“Better. Anyway, I watched your presentation, to the gangs of New Montreal. I’m sure I won’t be the only one to see it.” Deus Ex leaned back into my sofa. “It was alright. I think the delivery could use some work, but the message was decent enough.”

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“Thanks,” I replied as I crossed my arms.