Chapter Sixty-Six – Return to Form

Chapter Sixty-Six – Return to Form

“The government ignoring the mental health issues of the average citizen is fine. Except for real nutjobs, it’s hard to really tell if a person’s depressed or broken inside or whatever.

A samurai that loses it? That sees one too many people get gibbed by aliens? Well now, that’s entirely too fucking scary to think about.

–CandidCast podcast interview with political psychologist Hulo Wells, 2038

***

A pair of guards stopped me just outside of the room, and for some reason, when they gently led me into another part of the floor where there was a sofa to sit on and a few chairs for the guards to occupy, I didn’t protest or fight back.

“Miss Stray Cat?”

I leaned forwards and clasped my hands together. It stopped them from trembling a little.

Catherine. You’re entering a state of shock, mild though it may be. Give yourself some time to process the adrenaline in your system. While that is happening, let’s go over the events that just transpired.

“Not the time, Myalis,” I muttered.

It is precisely the time. Focus on the cause. A human brain might only have a few simple and animalistic responses to threats, but that doesn’t mean that it is entirely useless at deconstructing a threat once it is past.

“Fine,” I said.

“Miss Stray Cat?” the guard asked.

I raised my hand in a ‘one-moment’ gesture, and the guard backed off for the moment.

First, you entered the room because you received a package, one addressed directly to you, but which set off an alarm.

I nodded.

Second, you inspected the package. It asked for your identification. On giving it, the trap unravelled and an explosive device, likely a concussion-based device with a shell meant to create fragmentation. This caused you very mild harm in the form of a light concussive blow. It also killed the young woman assisting you at the time.

I closed my hands so hard my fingers hurt. “Yeah.”

Good. You seem to understand the situation. Your current state is caused by a few factors. First, the surprise of an unexpected attack. Second, the light injury you received. Third, the death of the young woman assisting you.

The first and third causes are the ones I will address now. This location, the hotel, is one that you thought was safe. You lowered your guard. An understandable reaction, though one that has backfired in this case. This can be alleviated in the future by heightening your caution. The death of the young woman is unfortunate, and to some degree you are to blame.

I swallowed.

But the majority of that blame lays not on you, but on the person who attempted to assassinate you. Aim your anger there first.

“Okay,” I said. It wasn’t very loud. I didn’t sound like myself.

I have observed your kittens and Lucy to ensure that they are well.

I jumped to my feet, and one of the guards stumbled back and almost fell off his chair at the sudden motion. “The kittens,” I said.

Are safe. I have encouraged Lucy to move them away from the doors and windows and have heightened the level of alert on all the security measures within the suite. They are currently as safe as I can make them.

“Oh,” I said. I felt my heart racing again, but it soon started to calm down, at least a little. “Okay, okay,” I repeated, mostly to myself.

I’ve tracked down the most likely suspect, as well as their motive. I don’t believe an attack on the Kittens or Lucy would be something they’d plan on doing. Still, I would strongly advise that you go observe your found-family for some time before taking any other actions.

“You want me to go see Lucy?” I asked.

Yes. A lot of your emotional stability relies on her. A large part of your self-identity revolves around the notion that you’re the one that provides for the orphans you care for. Lucy, in turn, has based her self-identity on providing for your emotional and sexual needs while caring for the orphans’ own need for a stable figure.

“Uh,” I said. The shock was wearing off, probably. Now I was just feeling rather naked in front of Myalis’ dissection of me. “What’s all that mean?”

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

It means that you should go hug Lucy because I don’t currently have the arms to do so.

I let out a dry chuckle, then I switched my helmet speakers on. “Alright, sorry about that, I’m going to head out.”

“We had questions, miss,” one of the guards said.

“I’ll have Myalis send you the recording,” I said.

Done.

“You’ll be able to figure it out from there, I think. Meanwhile, I’m going to go check on me and mine. And… and if you two can send me Eleanor’s… nevermind. I’ll look into it on my own. The fucker who did this; I’m going to find them.”