B2 victory, I suppose. Hm.
***
Ambush
The suit I’ve built is really little more than a scaled down combat-frame made to fit a human body. Instead of relying mainly on CNT fibres for limb locomotion, it enhances human movement to a degree that even a normal, unaugmented human like me would be able to keep up with the overwhelmingly fast and strong cyborgs employed by the Federation. The power generated by the black hole engine is considerable, giving me an output surpassing that of most second and third-generation CFs in a handy, man-sized package. Of course, handling that amount of power in such a small frame would tear most people apart from the G-forces. Thankfully, the black hole technology should also allow me to create miniature inertial dampeners to minimize the strain on my body.
Should is the operative word here.
The suit is, sadly, functional yet incomplete. Besides the inertial dampeners, I am still missing vital systems like distortion shielding and graviton beams – it had been a rather productive month in terms of theoretical progress, with new breakthroughs floating into my mind as if I already knew of them, but I had no time to fully implement everything I wanted in the suit. Furthermore, the CNT parts I could obtain were designed for movement, not woven for defense, and even with the ablative alloy plating I had slapped over the suit, it wasn’t as protective as I would have liked.
Facing her, that could mean the difference between life and death.
“This is a good night to be out walking,” smiles the woman, as she turns her head towards where I had been lying in wait. The haze that shrouded the night sky had parted with her arrival, revealing the gleaming twin moons. “Don’t you think so, Hoshikawa Senya?”
There is no point in hiding, Hoshikawa. The voice that had revealed itself briefly during my scuffle with Twintails speaks to me. It is right; there is no more point in hiding. I reveal myself, feeling slightly self-conscious of the armour I had clad myself in. “Master, are you sure about this?” says Yua worriedly. I shush her and respond to the woman. “It is a better night for fishing. The bright moonlight lures plenty of catch to the surface.”
“What did you hope to catch here? Three little herrings?” Her smile is full of teeth. It is a predator’s smile.
“I will make do with a shark.”
“You know who I am, then?”
“I know what you are, at least.” I say, mentally checking my weapons systems. I knew what she was the moment she appeared on the bluffs, her long dark hair catching the silvery light. The woman is as beautiful as any I have ever seen, though there is something artificial about her looks. Her dress is clearly that of the Star League – refined and elegant, with silken sleeves that stretched over the wrist. The braids on her shoulder identify her as a high-ranking member of the Star League military – I am quite sure it is the equivalent of a colonel in the Federation forces. That she is here, when I had expected to find Spikey, Log and Sharkskin, means that she is linked with them in some way. As she clearly outranks them, they are probably her subordinates. Lastly, her presence is of a type I have only seen once before… with Shulgi.
She is an immortal.
“Oh? What am I, then?”
“A Federation spymaster under Star League command, it seems. You make no show of hiding your allegiance.”
The woman laughs. She looks to be about my age, but her eyes tell a different story – I am certain she has lived many of my lifetimes.
“Well, I suppose you are correct, in a way. I must say, I didn’t expect you to track down the supply cache they had hidden here, all the way out of the city,” she remarks. “You even knew when they were going to return here for more supplies.”
“The materials they need for their bombing plan aren’t available in the city. If they seemed confident that they could carry it out, they must have supplies elsewhere. This was one of the more suitable locations to stash their cache. Where are they, by the way? They don’t seem to be around here.” I ask.
“Don’t worry, they are no longer here. They have served their purpose.”
“Please don’t tell me you set all of this up to talk to me.”
“What if I did?” Her eyes twinkle mischievously, but I only sigh.
“You could have tried asking. Do all of you immortals love your petty little games so much? What would you have done if I didn’t choose to do this?”
“You would have had to deal with an explosion on your hands. That too would be amusing to watch. Thankfully, you are not the bloodthirsty sort to cut down blackmailers where they stand. That wouldn’t be any fun. Toying with primitive mortals like you is just so entertaining, don’t you think?” Her laugh conveys all of the disdain she feels for me. “I do find it amusing that you twist and squirm in your short-sightedness, just to end up doing exactly what I want anyway. “
“And what is it, exactly, that you want?” My patience is wearing thin, and this woman’s arrogance is not helping matters. I have been seeing Kyrie standing at the edge of the bluffs since I came here, and the visage is not going away no matter how many times I blink. I’m finding it hard to keep my temper under control.
“I just wanted to see if you were a threat to us. This world’s protector seemed to have taken a bit of an interest in you prior to his downfall. We were quite surprised when you re-emerged… we wanted to see what you were planning. Well, looking at you, in that silly get-up, I can only conclude that you are no threat to us,” she giggles. “We’ll let you have your fun with the city elections.”
“The Federation appears to think otherwise,” I say in a measured manner.
“What President Julia thinks does not concern the Council overly much. This is just one world, and we have to guard a million stars.”
“Apparently the Mushuszu Empire does not think that way.”
At that, she raises an eyebrow. “Hm? Why do you say that?”
I remember the information I had received about the eternal war between the League and the Empire. “Aren’t they throwing thousands of ships at your forces just to break through to Earth? They seem to consider this planet important.”
“That’s just a foolish fancy of their Emperor. He has some sort of sentimental history with this place, and wants to devour it whole to complete himself. We are the only thing standing between Earth and the Empire. Do not make the mistake of thinking they can be your ally,” warns the woman sternly, all of her playful arrogance gone in a flash.
“Of course not,” I demur. “You would know best.”
“Of course I do. Hm, you have not yet asked for my name, Hoshikawa. Are you not interested in knowing it?”
I stare at her. Of course, she is an immortal. When I fought Shulgi, I could see no lines in him. He was an eternal existence… or so he claimed.
Yet now, I see the lines floating over her. They are faint, but there nonetheless. The lines exist now because I understand the fundamental method behind the making of these immortals – they are the same nanomachines that flow through my body, the ones that Shulgi gave to me.
A very astute observation, Hoshikawa.
“Your name…” I murmur.
“Yes, my name. Shall I tell it to you?” she grins. She still thinks of all this as a game, where her actions will never have consequences that affect her…
***
A. I play nice with the immortal. It is not every day I get to meet one. Playing on her love of games, if I can manage to get her on my side she will be a powerful if capricious ally. As long as I can provide her with entertainment, I have a powerful patron which will support my take-over of the Federation. After that, well… there will be counter-measures I can take against her should she attempt betrayal.
B. I ignore the immortal and walk away. I have no interest in participating in her silly games, nor do I wish to gain her favour. She has revealed her existence out of over-confidence. Hopefully she will not interfere further in the near future, but for now I should focus on making sure the rest of my plan runs to fruition, as well as prepare further plots now that I know that the Star League immortals have noticed me.
C. I came here prepared for a fight, and it would be a shame if I returned home without engaging in one - after all, I did design the suit to fight superhumans. If I manage to trace her lines, I will inflict a wound that her regeneration cannot fix. She does not know what I am capable of – I can take her by surprise right here and now. After all, there’s a glass jar in my study just begging for a living head to inhabit it…
D. I attempt the same thing I almost did to Shulgi five years ago – I reach out to that long forgotten thing, through the crack between dimensions, and wipe this immortal from existence. That is the safest and easiest way to get rid of her. I would be less one enemy when I finally decide to take on the Star League. I don't really care for whatever consequences that may come - it will only pave my path to power.
