Stray Cat Strut Chapter Twenty-Eight - The Opposite of Reassuring

Chapter Twenty-Eight - The Opposite of Reassuring

In the early 2000s there was a fear that the interconnectivity of the world could lead to trouble. Hacking was portrayed in the dia as a new and terrifying cri.

The reality was a little more pedestrian at first. A good programr with malicious intent could maybe steal so files, ss with so machines, or perhaps spy on soone, but other than the occasional virus there wasnt too much to it.

Then Augntations beca a new standard. Everyone had one, and the world beca far, far more digital. By the 2030s one in ten people in the world had an aug. By 2040 that was up to four in ten. When 2050 rolled around, nine in ten people had an augntation of so sort, most of them used to keep connected to local or international networks, social dia, and other feeds.

Hackers, those who knew what they were doing, could now turn a persons entire life into a living nightmare.

--Excerpt from The Rise of the Aug, 2052

***

My plan, insofar as I had one, was simple. Burst in, fire a few bolts into the room, then unload my railgun into the turret they were still setting up.

It was a nice plan because I got to shoot things.

I raised a booted foot, prepared to kick at the door, then I hesitated. It didnt look like a door with an actual lock on it.

After making sure that my shoulder-mounted guns were set properly, I held Whisper close with one hand, then turned the door handle. A shove had the door moving in and got so of the office workers inside to look up. Hey guys! I said.

My railgun thumped and the gun emplacent in the middle of the room burst apart as a tiny bit of tal moving absurdly fast poked a hole through the middle of it.

Whisper ca up and I aid more-or-less in the direction of the first idiots to bring their guns to bear. The first bolt I fired thumped into and through a cubical wall, the next ramd into a projector box and fritzed it out. Myalis, masks, I said.

Fortunately, Myalis seed to get what I ant. The gun on my opposite shoulder burped, twitched, then burped again. All across the room, masks were shredded apart as Myalis fired through them.

I was expecting the room to fill with gas or sothing, but there wasnt anything like that. The nearest office worker opened fire with an SMG and I ducked back out of the room and moved away from the doorway before I got sprayed.

Myalis, why isnt that room filled with gas? I asked.

It should be. If youre wondering why you cant see it... you are aware that not all gases are visible to the naked human eye, right?

Oh, I said. I was expecting... I dont know, orange-yellow gas or sothing.

So that anyone you face can see the gas and react to it?

Its always colourful in the movies, I said.

Im sure.

I snorted and moved over to the door opposite the one Id barged in from. Bringing the cara feed back revealed that two of the office workers on the other side had already slumped over, and the rest looked drunk. A clever one by the back had switched his mask out for a less holey one, but he was still stumbling about.

Opening the door slowly and quietly, I flicked on the invisibility on my jacket and held Whisper close. There was a neat puncture that was visually warped where Id been shot early. Annoying that. Id need to replace the jacket at so point.

A stop by the nearest office worker revealed that while he was slumped over and noodly, he was still breathing. Nice, I muttered.

Stray Cat? Gomorrah asked.

I shuffled past the gun emplacent, heading towards the back rooms. Yeah? I asked while looking into the offices I passed. Most of them were empty. Just desks with a few knick-knacks and workstations. No decorations beyond the occasional bland calendar. No pictures of family, no toys or models or anything.

Most corporations wished that they could have offices this bland, but sothing about being human made you more productive when you had a bit of colour around, and at least so things that helped pretend you werent so fleshy automata.

Ive cleared the garage, and all the rooms around it. Also, three of them surrendered. I have them sitting next to a firebomb.

Thats... okay, I said. Im only at the entrance of the main office space. Still need to check so of the rooms around here.

I see. Id keep clearing things, but the access to the middle floors is heavily reinforced. I dont know if I can break through with what I have. And from what I can see, they have so nasty armants on the other side.

Cant you just buy so bigger toys? I asked. The next bit of the top floor was separated by an intersection. To the left were the washrooms and a small lunch room and kitchen. The caras there were pretty extensive, especially in the washrooms. Creepy, I muttered as I turned left instead.

I could, Gomorrah said. But I dont like the idea of running into people prepared to face . Were not immortal, you know?

Hmm, yeah, I said. Any access to their ventilation system? Power? We could siege them.

Gomorrah humd. I think I had a similar idea, yes. Once you find the access from above, we could try to negotiate with them.

Stuck between two hard places, huh?

I dont think thats how the expression goes, but sothing like that.

The hall was lined with bigger offices. With actual desks and better workstations. One long conference room had a nice table floating on a pair of lifts in the middle. The front offices had looked like they were bought with a budget, and I was guessing this is where the actual budget went.

Alright, I said as I finally found the stairs leading down. At least, the door leading to the stairwell. A door currently barricaded with thick tal shutters. Found the stairs. No resistance or anything so far. Not even a second set of turrets.

Check the feeds from the second floor, Gomorrah said. They have corridors at the end of both staircases. With crew-operated guns at each. Im counting about a dozen n in so very nice gear too.

I rubbed at my chin. Any way we can ping their augs? Send them a nice friendly ssage?

Ill try, Gomorrah said. Give a mont.

I nodded and backed away from the door. Think we could have broken into their augs from the start? I asked Myalis.

Perhaps. Though most people who can afford it dont place augntations in their bodies without at least so security asures.

Fair enough, I said.

NOTICE

All individuals within the Hour n rcenary building are now officially notified that the following Samurai wish to question you:

Gomorrah

Stray Cat

Please surrender. Lower all weapons, remove all offensive equipnt from your person, and prepare for arrest and questioning.

Refusal to comply will be t with the wrath of god.

Damn G-girl, I said. Way to be polite and non-threatening there. Very diplomatic of you.

Vanguard are not chosen for their diplomatic abilities.

I let out a rather inappropriate giggle at that.

A ssage was just sent out. Unsecured transmission. Its addressed to you and Gomorrah.

Huh, I said. Can I hear it? I asked.

Its text. Displaying it now.

Dear Stray Cat and Gomorroah,

Go fuck yourselves.

Gomorrah sighed. How polite. So do we just burn them all or are we going to try sothing else?

I considered it for a mont before replying. Im going to set a bomb up here by the door. Myalis, are they watching us?

Negative.

Right. So, bomb by the door here. Then... I think I might co in through a window after all. If we can knock them out peacefully... ish, then we can ask them so questions later. While theyre tied to a chair or sothing. Got that Gomorrah?

I could feel her hesitating for a mont. It might work. I dont like the idea of you hanging off the side of this building while they know were assaulting them.

Ah, dont worry, I said. Ive never done anything like this.

Thats the opposite of reassuring.

Snorting, I knelt down next to the door and flicked off the coms between myself and Gomorrah. Ill need a grenade. Motion sensor activated. Maybe... more knock-out gas? Sothing thatll keep people rooted here. Oh, those sticky bombs would do.

Certainly.

Two purchases later, and down to eight-thousand three-fifty, I was setting up a surprise for anyone that ca upstairs.

Alright, I said as I got back up. Bringing up the building plans helped pinpoint where the windows on the floor below were located. The nearest one that matched above was in the conference room. Ti to swing on down and say hello to everyone downstairs.

***