Chapter Twenty-Eight – Stepping Up and Out

Chapter Twenty-Eight – Stepping Up and Out

“Air filtration technology has changed significantly in the past decades. Most of this change was pushed by the increasing need for unpolluted, pure air that won’t ruin your lungs and fill your brain with lead and mercury. It’s why HVAC specialists are some of the best paid people in the infrastructure industry.”

–Extract from What to be When You Grow Up! a job-guide pamphlet, 2056

***

The civvies in the enclosure looked ready to go, or as ready to go as a dozen under-fed, slightly traumatized civilians could be under the circumstances. Shaun had one of the guns hanging by his hip, and I noticed the other was in the arms of a young woman who looked tense enough I figured she’d jump and shoot at the first thing she saw.

I didn’t ask about the two Sewer Dragons that had been left in one of the enclosures. I suspected they’d been used to bleed off some unhealthy emotions.

I stepped back from the enclosure, flicked off my invisibility, then walked back in, making sure to rattle the gates a bit. Didn’t need to freak anyone out. “Hey,” I said as I walked in. I had a lot of eyes on me. Somehow, knowing they saw me as some sort of saviour made the tension of so many people looking at me worse.

“Cat,” Shaun said. “I think we’re ready to move.”

I scanned the group. A few looked rough. Some of them, I imagined, were going through withdrawal or hadn’t taken the meds they needed, but they were all on their feet.

Was it better to heal them up now, or move out and take care of them outside?

“We’re going to move now. We’ll be using the buddy system. Find someone, and stay next to them. If anyone’s injured, we’ll pair them with somebody in better shape,” I said. I couldn’t sound uncertain. If convincing these people to move was anything like herding my kittens, then hesitation would mean trouble for me.

“We can do that,” Shaun said. He moved back, tapping shoulders and telling people to partner up. It was nice having someone who could help while I just did my best to look cool.

“How are things coming along?” Gomorrah asked.

“Fine on my end,” I said. “We’ll be out in a minute or two. A lot of normal folk, and some of them haven’t enjoyed the Sewer Dragon’s five-star treatment.”

“Understood,” Gomorrah said.

Once everyone was partnered up, I nodded and then gestured to the exit. “There’s another samurai out there. The girl with the big flamethrower. She’s on our side. Anyone else you see isn’t.”

I spun around and led them out. I kept myself visible too. They’d need someone to see, someone to reassure them they were safe.

It was often like that with the kittens too. If one of them got hurt, it helped to see someone nearby who could keep them safe.

We moved into the corridor and I noticed the folk behind me slowing down. Were they afraid of leaving the enclosure room?

Gomorrah stood nearby, a leg shaking with obvious impatience. “I checked out the room you cleared. It’s safe.”

“Cool,” I said. “Want to take the front, or the rear?”

Rac giggled, and I held back a laugh of my own when I realized what I’d said.

“You take the vanguard,” Gomorrah replied, unamused.

“Okay, people, follow me,” I called over my shoulder. I tugged my Icarus out from under my jacket and popped the spent magazine. “Myalis,” I muttered.

New Purchase: Non-Lethal Explosive Ammunition
Points Reduced from… 10,880 to… 10,870!

The ammo wasn’t too expensive, but I could only afford a thousand or so new magazines. That was a good amount, but I didn’t know when I’d get another bounty of points. The blueprint for the ammo was definitely going on my “to buy” list if I was going to use more of it. That way I’d get plenty more for essentially nothing.

Maybe I could hire Rac to work the printer? It used trash, as far as I knew.

The room I’d partially exploded was in shambles. Dust still clung to the air, and the ground was covered in smaller stones and chunks of cement.

There was also a huge-ass hole in the far wall. The other side was higher, so we’d need to step up to climb to it, but it wasn’t so bad as to need a ladder or anything.

I entered the hole and stared around the room. It was some sort of storage space, with boxes rotting in the corners and a distinct lack of light. My helmet’s visor compensated, but I imagined it wouldn’t be pleasant for the folk behind me. Then I noticed the light switch near the door.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Alright, come on up,” I said as I leaned down and helped Shaun. He turned and helped the next person, and they did the same. The weakest of them were hoisted, and some of those more hale bounced through without difficulty.

“How far is the surface, ma’am?” Shaun asked.