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TH - Book 2 - Chapter 4 - The Killing Field
🕑 Added 2024-12-19 23:12:04 +0000 UTCOnce we’d finished cleaning up the bodies it was easy for Skyler and I to figure out which direction to go. It turns out that when you have that many antithesis make an insane charge through an area, they don’t leave much left in their wake.
The horde had completely flattened all the underbrush, and deadfall, leaving a very clear, and easy to follow path. At least, once we cleared all the artillery craters.
“You really did a number on this place,” I said as we snaked our way through the devastated area. Every few feet there was another gap in the foliage, and blast crater for us to avoid.
“I didn’t realize the damage was this bad when we were fighting, but I don’t regret it,” Skyler replied, stopping to look into one of the meter deep pits. “If I had stopped we could have been overrun.”
“That’s true, I’m not criticising you,” I told her. “Even though you blew some holes in the area, it’ll recover in time. If this wasn’t a hidden facility we could probably report the damage to the Cascadian government and have them send someone to replant the area.” I jumped a small creek which was more mud than water and held my hand out to help Skyler cross behind me. “Besides, a few holes in the ground pale into comparison to the damage the antithesis can do.”
Skyler looked at me in surprise. “You know about that? I thought you never took antithesis studies.”
“Just because I’ve never taken a formal course doesn’t mean I haven’t seen the recordings of an active hive expansion on the news,” I explained. “It looked horrific, like another world.”
As we were talking I noticed the trees were rapidly thinning. When we finally made it to the top of the next ridge, the forest gave way to an empty plain. “Kind of like that,” I whispered in awe.
It was obvious that the place hadn’t always been empty. There were hundreds of holes dug into the area, each a couple meters across, and a couple hundred meters away I could see dozens of Model Threes going at trees around the perimeter. The ravenous creatures chewed right through the trunks, one even got crushed by the falling tree, while several others dug up the roots.
At the opposite side of the area another horde of Threes was digging up and devouring all the grass, leaving the area completely barren of life.
“They’re quite industrious when they’re not trying to kill us, aren’t they?” Skyler muttered.
“How is it that you couldn’t identify the hive’s location when they’re doing this?” I asked my AI.
{Arty: This is only one of Three harvesting areas on this side of the mountain. The hive’s root network is already extensive, and if you’d gone to the wrong location there was no guarantee that there would have been a tunnel back to the hive.}
“How big IS this hive?” I hissed.
{Athy: That wave you faced was the result of just a few birthing cycles. Several hours at the most. I would suggest you make haste and find the central hive before the next group is born.}
“Right, which way is the entrance?” I asked.
Skyler grabbed my arm and pointed at a single Model Three running across the field. Unlike all the other Model Threes I’d seen before, this one was fat and slow. It clawed its way across the field, before finally disappearing behind a hill.
“I didn’t know that antithesis could get overweight,” I said blankly.
“It wasn’t overweight, it was bloated with biomass the group had collected. Probably bringing it back to the hive!” she explained.
“So, we’ll follow it,” I said, “but while we’re moving you should have your drones kill all the Model Threes out there. If there are multiple collection zones we can’t prevent the next spawning, but we might be able to slow it down.”
She nodded, “I’ll handle it, but since I need to concentrate while firing you’ll have to lead me across the field.”
I grabbed her hand, and gave it a little bit of squeeze. “Leave it to me!” As soon as her eyes unfocused I slowly began leading Skyler around the numerous pits in the field. I tried my best to ignore the drones firing, and the massive explosions around me.
What I couldn’t ignore was the wave of antithesis that poured out from the other side of the hill in front of us. It was like we’d kicked an anthill.
Although there were a ton of smaller models, what really concerned me was there were a half dozen larger models that I wasn’t familiar with. The new antithesis looked sort of like a grasshopper that was sitting upright. The little group of new antithesis milled about, flapping their wings in agitation, until one apparently spotted us, and the entire group turned as one.
“Honey, time to redirect that fire power of yours!” I hissed.
“Already on it,” Skyler replied quietly.
As Skyler’s drones opened up I watched as the new antithesis all opened their grotesque, cavernous mouths, reared back and hocked a wave of projectiles back at us. The strange projectiles seemed to be half hairball, half bolo, and flew towards us with unnerving accuracy.
I didn’t know what I was looking at, but every fiber in my being was screaming at me to get out of the way.
“Incoming! Down!” I yelled as I spun in place and threw Skyler into the nearest pit.
I saw the look of surprise as she disconnected from the drones, mid flight, “Reina what the fuck…” she managed before I jumped in after her. The projectiles landed before I did. I didn’t see them detonate, but I heard them. When they landed there was the sound of hundreds of taught strings snapping, followed by a whizzing noise.
Something connected with my shoulder and sent me spinning into the pit. I briefly wondered why my shield hadn’t activated, before I was hit by the crippling pain. “Arrrgggg… The fuck,” I screamed as I stared at my shoulder. There was something that looked like an oversized barbed hair, sticking right through it.”
“Holy shit! Reina!” Skyler yelled as she hovered over me. “What the fuck was that?”
“I dunno,” I mumbled, “but make sure they’re dead first!”
“But…” Skyler’s hands hovered around the barb, I could see she really wanted to treat it.
“I’ll survive for a few minutes,” I managed through grit teeth, “But I don’t think we’ll survive a direct hit from one of those things”
She pulled back slightly. “Fine,” she agreed begrudgingly, “but if that thing is toxic, and you die while I’m dealing with the antithesis, I’ll never forgive you!”
I laughed lightly as she refocused, and started shelling the incoming swarm. As soon as I saw her eyes unfocus I grimaced, it took everything I had to keep from grabbing the barb.
“Arty, why didn’t my shield activate?” I hissed quietly.
It did. Unfortunately it was far too weak to stop the shrapnel from a Model Fifteen’s projectile
“Is that what those ugly grasshoppers are?” I asked.
Indeed, they’re the antithesis’ equivalent to artillery. You’re lucky you only got hit once, those quills have been known to go through light vehicle armor.
“How do I get it out?” I asked.
You don’t. If you try to pull it out, not only will the larger barbs shred your flesh while you pull it out, but the smaller barbs will shear off and float around your bloodstream, shredding your blood vessels until they’re neutralized.
“You’re not filling me with confidence right now!” I shouted over the numerous explosions outside of our little foxhole.
You need to purchase concentrated antithesis dissolving enzymes, along with some healing nanites. I would also recommend an analgesic, because this is REALLY going to hurt.
“How bad? I can’t fight if my sword arm is asleep,” I told my AI.
You can’t fight with that barb in your shoulder either. You can try to get through this without an analgesic, but It’s going to feel like you’re pouring acid into the wound until all the antithesis matter is expelled.
“I’ll take the aesthetic then,” I said quietly.
Good girl. I’ll get everything arranged for you.
As the packages materialized at my side, I noticed the area had gone quiet. I glanced at Skyler, just as she regained focus, and she gave me a small smile. “Gottem,” she said quietly.
Even though I knew it wasn’t a great idea, I pushed myself off the ground and popped my head just above the top of the hole. The entire field was covered in a thin layer of smoke, and the area where the Fifteens, and their friends, had been standing, had been completely flattened.
“I hope we can find the entrance after that,” I said quietly.
“That’s NOT what you should be worrying about,” Skyler snapped as she grabbed me, and carefully laid me back down in the bottom of the hole. She hovered around the quill, trying to figure out what to do about it.
I gently raised my good hand and placed my hand against her face. “I’m fine, Artymis already figured out what I need to do to treat it. I’ll be fine.”
“Right, of course you will,” Skyler replied, managing a small smile. “Nothing to worry about.”
“I could use a hand to deal with this though,” I said quietly. “I’m down one.”
Skyler immediately punched me in the opposite shoulder, tears of relief in her eyes. “I was so worried, and you’re cracking jokes? You’re terrible!”
“I joke, so you know I’m fine,” I told her with a smile. I gave her a moment to laugh and wipe the tears out of her eyes before I continued. “But seriously, I think I’m going to need your help to get rid of this thing.”
“You’re terrible sometimes,” she muttered, “but I still love you.”
“I know, I love you too,” I replied with a smile.
