Stray Cat Strut Chapter Fifty-Six - Small and in Charge

Chapter Fifty-Six - Small and in Charge

There are all sorts of reactions to soone seeing a Samurai show up, and generally, these reactions will depend on circumstance.

Fear and terror are common among those doing things that are morally dubious. Seeing a samurai show up at an underground human auction is never going to please the organizers.

Awe and worship for those who encounter a samurai on the streets. Its a privileged encounter

with a celebrity for most.

And finally, relief, most often felt by those fearing for their lives when a samurai appears and decides that whatever is currently a threat needs to be removed.

--Except from a sociological study on the predictable responses to a samurais appearance, 2028

***

I took a deep breath and tried to look confident. Then I recalled that the folk I was dealing with were little better than corporate goons. Worse, they were corporate cops. That was like dealing with a toddler that had taken one or two concussions too many and whos only skill was to figure out exactly how much of a minority soone was or how poor they were before shooting them. I didnt need confidence to deal with these dipshits, I needed a bigger gun.

Walking over to the barricade theyd made with their cars, I stepped onto a bumper, then the hood before jumping over to the other side. There were eight of them, a couple more than Id counted at first. Mostly n, with navy blue uniforms and bulletproof vests and tacticool handguns and a shotgun or three.

Which one of yous the asshole in charge? I asked.

I am, One of them said. He had a little logo on his shoulder that the others didnt. The police stations symbol, then the logo of the local mining company, then so badge.

Wrong, I am the asshole in charge now, I said. How many cops do we have, minion?

Alright, so it was rude and stupid, but the look on the guys face was worth it, and I needed to cut past the bullshittery as soon as I could.

Um, the captain--I assud that was his rank--said. We have twenty-four officers in this town, maam. Seventeen of them are here. We have a squad-car down the road with two more on their way in, and four others are at the clinic.

I nodded. Myalis, I need a map of this place, please.