"I think the one thing that everyone wishes had a catalog- that we could just spend enough points to buy... Is a rewind button"

  - Anonymous interview at the funeral of famous Samurai "Lucky Sentinel". Undisclosed date.

  +++++

  == 2 hours before Ground Zero ==

  Hazard’s narrowed eyes glare down the sights of her pistol, through the wisps of smoke rising from the barrel, and on towards the target. The shivering, blood covered, woman -whose hand she nearly just blew off- stands just a ways off, quietly swaying like a blade of grass. Their hand trembles, but still clutches the shattered husk of the Makarov- its barrel, slide, and other bits completely destroyed with surprising precision.

  Neither of them speak for a moment. The only sound is the receding army of Model 7s.

  “Val?” she whispers. “Don’t do something like that… We’re getting out of here. I’m taking you topside and we’re both getting out of this alive.”

  The poor woman leans her head back to look at the roof of the tunnel, imagining what lies beyond. “You know… At first? We all tried to get out. We dug and clawed to get back to the surface, until we did. Then, Father went out first. He wanted to make sure that it was safe… But he was the only one to go and when he came back, it was like the war back home. Shell shocked I think is the term. He told us what it was like. The stories were terrible… And most of us were either too young or too old to know any different. So, you know what we did?” she chuckles that depressing way. “We decided to stay. Father would take care of us.”

  Hazard puts one boot in front of the other, lowering her pistol. “That’s a shitty back-story honey. But we have got to go.” Urgency stands firmer in her tone now.

  “Go where?” Val keeps her eyes on the ceiling. “This was my home. One of them…”

  “This is nobody’s home anymore. It’s an Antithesis hive. Let’s. Go.”

  “How many homes have you had? How many have you lost?” Val closes her eyes. Her tone is starting to get real quiet.

  “I’m a Marine. I’ve lived in just about any city or state that has a barracks.” Hazard is only a few steps away now. “After the anties hit, I moved a lot. I lost a lot. And most of those homes had names I won’t ever forget. It ain’t always about the place Val.”

  The blade of grass starts to wilt. “But I don’t remember them. Their names. Their faces… I can’t…”

  Hazard rushes the last stretch and catches the woman before they fall to the ground.

  “GYBBS!”

  She’s not dead Madam. But at this juncture, there is little difference between the two.

  “Then buy something to fix it!”

  But, your savings for-

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Did I stutter!?”

  New purchase: crash cart

  New purchase: integrated defib

  New Purchase: Exotic Materials License catalog

  New purchase: Stasis field generator

  Points reduced to... 1,565

  The words rush by too fast to catch. But the point total absolutely makes an impact. “Son of a bitch.”

  I’m sorry Madam. Keeping her condition from progressing is no easy task. Her heart is giving out-

  “Or she’s giving up. Dammit!” she curses loud and slams a fist into the floor. Just after, boxes pile next to her and she starts ripping into them with one hand while cradling Val close to her other shoulder.

  Should you succeed here. This should keep her going more than long enough to get to the hospital in Aurora. You have roughly 2 hours without having to repurchase supplies.

  Hazard opens the crash cart box first. A number of vials and compact devices set on heavy bands of elastic fabric sits in the unassuming plastic crate. She then lays Val on the concrete as safely and securely as she can. Without hesitating, muscle flare as she rips a whole into their heavy denim pants leg- “Fucking hell” she growls, but she doesn’t have time. Hazard unhooks the straps and wraps the crash cart around what’s supposed to be an adult’s thigh. Immediately the devices whirs a long time to cinch the straps tight then latch in the necessary injectors and sensors.

  The next box to open is the defib. Another stretch of fabric with a chunk of slick tech and a large display.

  Place the band under her armpits and directly on the skin.

  “Yeah shut up. I know what I’m doing” Hazard snakes her hands under Val’s tattered shirt. Thankfully the shirt is too big for their frame and makes it easier to not be disrespectful. Once in place, the straps zip in tight and the display glows through the fabric.

  Hold the button on both devices to sync the connection. Since she has no aug-gear, the devices have to make their own localized network.

  She nods along while following instructions. A few seconds tick by like minutes before a blue line pops up in AR connecting the two together.

  Now, keep holding it so that I can connect yours… Connecting… Secured. We have a full- Hold on. Hello? Why, yes. No-no, you’re correct- Ah, your welcome. Don’t worry- Yes, yes, I understand… Oh… oh that is worrisome.

  “Hello? Who the fuck are you talking to?”

  Our medic turned patient has been initialized. Her AI was unable to connect to anything due to the lack of technology down here. She’s currently piggy-backing off of the crash cart. Do you grant permission for her to connect to you and your gear so that we may collaborate?

  “She is? Why didn’t she spend points?!”

  Madam, do you give your permission.

  “Yes! Fuck!” Hazard snaps open the last box. The stasis generator is quite the oddity. A simple glass spindle that is concernedly light weight when she picks it up. Its surface seems to be lit brightly, but with no source from the surroundings. “Uhh- Okay. I do actually need you to explain this one.” Her hand relaxes, intending to put the thing back in its box for a moment but it stays still. Hazard double takes as the thing hovers in mid air, seemingly bothered. “Gybbs?”

  Right! Class III-

  “CLASS THREE?!”

  You did instruct me to order what is necessary.

  “And how is 3,000 points necessary?”

  In case of heart failure. The integrated defib can regulate her heart’s rhythm and even restart it. But if the current toxicity levels in her blood reaches a critical point- We cannot save her, we must halt the process entirely. The crash cart can only filter so much and it is currently working to do that. It is also supplying nutrients and intravenous hydration. But we cannot risk overloading her already endangered systems. Her kidneys and liver are failing- her body is cannibalizing what’s left. As much as I wish to believe in the strength of human tenacity… I do believe your previous assessment is correct.

  Hazard stares, pensively, at the weak breaths that barely push against the straps of the defib unit. “Then what do I do with this-“ she waves at the floating object. “Thing”

  Put it in the spare pouch of the crash cart. The stasis field is made of a special alloy, once it is acted on by an external force it will stay in perfect quantum harmony with the force. In simpler terms, it will stay glued in place once primed. I will handle triggering the full activation. You needn’t worry.

  “Tell Val’s AI that too.”

  Yes, they are quite apprised of our conversation and her gratitude cannot be understated.