Chapter Sixty-Seven – The Quiche of Commitment

“Quantum Quiche: A Synth-Cuisine Delight
Ingredients:
1 Quantum Crust (1 pack)
(Patented multi-grain blend, infused with omega-3 nanobots for optimal crunch)
2 Cups Bio-Enhanced Egg Substitute
(From SynthFarm™: High-protein, low-cholesterol formula for the health-conscious consumer)
1 Cup Neon Cheese Shreds
(Vegan, dairy-free, and bursting with flavor synthesized from the finest algae)
1 Cup Mutant Greens (spinach, kale, or a mix)
(Genetically modified for maximum nutrient density; no antithesis byproducts)
1/2 Cup Cyber Seasoning Blend
(A proprietary mix of salt, pepper, and spice; guaranteed to elevate your taste experience)
1/2 Cup Holo-Vegan Cream
(Plant-based and shelf-stable; perfect for a creamy texture without the guilt)

Instructions:
1. Prepare the Quantum Crust:
Preheat your pre-programmed oven to 375°F (190°C). Unwrap your Quantum Crust and lay it in a 9-inch pie dish. Prick the bottom with a fork (for optimal heat circulation) and pre-bake for 10 minutes.
2. Craft the Filling:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the Bio-Enhanced Egg Substitute and Holo-Vegan Cream. Whisk vigorously until the mixture achieves a perfect vortex of creaminess.
3. Add the Neon Cheese and Mutant Greens:
Fold in the Neon Cheese Shreds and your choice of Mutant Greens. Sprinkle in the Cyber Seasoning Blend to taste. This is where flavour meets the future!
4. Assemble the Quiche:
Pour the filling into the pre-baked Quantum Crust. Use a silicon spatula to ensure an even spread—precision is key.
5. Bake to Perfection:
Place the quiche in your trusty oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the centre is set and the top has that golden glow of a neon skyline.
6. Cool and Serve:
Allow your Quantum Quiche to cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve it warm, or chill it in your fridge for a refreshing cyber-snack.”

–Quantum Quiche recipe, 2055

***

The anticipation was killing me. All the prep, the big spending, the whole ordeal with showing my face to the world… and yet there was still plenty of time to sit on our thumbs and wait. The antithesis were at our doorstep, but they hadn’t knocked yet.

We fired the Big Gun a few more times, alternating between taking some final pot-shots at the remains of Phobos and firing back towards Earth with Bee-bombs and guided explosives to tag some of the bigger chunks of the incoming swarm. The soldiers, especially the growing crowd of new faces, cheered every time the gun fired.

I didn’t expect that to last until morning.

In any case, I went around, made sure everyone was alive, then said my goodnights and headed out. If the aliens were going to do me the curtesy of showing up tomorrow, then I could at least spend the night at home.

When I arrived, I found Lucy waiting for me just inside. She greeted me with a hungry kiss, then whispered some of the sexiest words I’d ever heard… “There’s a warm quiche in the oven.”

“I don’t know what that is, but I’m starving, so please tell me it’s a kind of food.”

Lucy laughed and dragged me into the living room. I took off my coat as she darted to the kitchen, then bullied the kittens a little. Bargain had spilled soda all over the sofa and turned it into a sticky mess, and I had to tell him off to get him to clean it up. It was a good couch, so nothing hard to clean, but I didn’t want to sit in sticky crap regardless.

The kittens seemed to be in a good mood. Junior even told me that I didn’t look that stupid on screen, though I had interrupted a livestream she’d been watching which was unforgivable.

Apparently, I was worse than mid-roll ads, which was quite possibly the worst insult I’d ever had pointed at me.

Lucy delivered the quiche. It was some sort of… egg pie? She said the veggies in it were actually real, organic veggies she’d had delivered that morning and had cut up herself, and the eggs were from chickens.

It tasted pretty good, especially spiced with hunger. Lucy sat on the arm of the couch and toyed with my hair while I complained at length about everything.

“That is a lot of points,” she said once I told her how much I’d spent on AA platforms. “But I don’t think it’s that bad. You’ll probably make them back, right? And it’s not like they’re not reusable.”

“I know,” I said. “Still feels shitty. The ammo’s expensive too.”

“Can’t we make some here? I’ll see if Rac wouldn’t mind checking on the fabricator while we make a few rounds. Can’t take more than a few minutes each.”

That was a good idea, actually. I was probably not using that machine to its full extent. Still, the rate at which we’d burn through ammo firing and the rate the fabricator could make more wasn’t anywhere close. Unless we had weeks to stockpile it really wasn’t worth the effort.

“Probably best to leave it as it is. We’ll have to see about setting up a bigger fabricator at some point. Maybe on one of the lower floors?”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“At this rate the entire tower will house half the samurai in New Montreal,” Lucy said.

“That means it’s safe, right?” I asked.

She smiled, then leaned way down to give my cheek a peck. “I guess so,” she said. “You did well, by the way, with the whole live stream.”

“Urgh,” I groaned as I let myself fall to the side. It allowed me to crash into Lucy who laughed as I let my head rest on her lap. “That was embarrassing. It’s all Emoscythe’s fault. She pulled that shit on me without any warning.”

“That’s okay. I think you did better with the… spontaneity than you would have done if you had time to think about it,” Lucy said.

“Is that a commentary on my ability to think?” I asked.

“Yes.”

I huffed. What was with it with people thinking that I couldn’t think well? I could think as good as the next thinker! “It was a mess. I was talking so fast. I’m not even sure what I said.”

“It did come off as a little stream-of-conscious,” Lucy said. “But that’s okay. It’s a really hard vibe to pull off on purpose, so it felt authentic, and that’s important. Besides, it worked, right? The call went out?”