"Do you require assistance with your defenses?" Batavius asked.
We did, obviously. But it wouldn't do to appear too weak. Besides, with Mechos and the Mechanites, we had the ability to construct some better equipment ourselves.
"You have plenty to do to get your own house in order, doctor," I said.
5
The battle had taken a toll on our forces in both health and ammunition. While Hot Stuff and my drones didn't require bullets to be dangerous, everyone else did. We'd had a good supply back at the old base, but most of that didn't make it to the airship with us.
"They took some hits, but they'll be back," Anna said.
"There are around a dozen personnel on the Research deck. Unlike yourself, the Lady Sylax appears to have inspired loyalty enough to attract an army," I said.
"Compelled it, more likely," Anna said.
I remembered how Sylax had forced Anna to grovel before her. It might explain why the other decks were so resistant to new leadership. They hadn't willingly been in service to the old core. It boded well for us, if we could sway them to our cause.
They would be even more of a challenge, if we couldn’t.
I began construction on recreating the basic facilities that I’d had at the old base. What had once been some kind of conference room on this level was large enough to hold a growth vat, and the smaller rooms were perfect to convert into individual cabins. An office was changed into a new infirmary.
I could construct everything out of Biomatter, although it would probably be a good deal stranger than people were used to. They would have to get accustomed to it.
Using the last of the material resources I built a large glass tank containing a number of whirling blades. It would mince material into a fine texture and allow a slow, steady flow of a portion of the contents to a vat outside.
Everyone was healed, and it was better not to ask permission. I teleported Ophelia inside and activated the grinder. The woman barely even had time to scream before being reduced to slurry, a stream of Biomatter dripping into the vat below.
I monitored the contents inside and it wasn’t actually losing any volume. Perfect. It made a mockery of several physical laws, but they were ridiculous ones anyways. The fact is Ophelia was fine, if a little temporarily dead, regenerating at the same rate she was feeding into the vat. This way she could provide construction materials for some large scale improvements.
"Gross," Anna said.
"You could probably get a higher yield out of two tanks," Mechos said.
"Does this mean an unlimited supply of cookies?" Hot Stuff asked.
I suppose she had taken a bullet for the team. I materialized a small portion into a plate of them.
"Is she going to be okay in there?" Anna asked.
I wasn’t listening. I was getting some great readings out of this.
Research Project
"Ophelia"
This subject has been altered by exposure to a speed core. While you have already collected a core point from the study of this specific core, this application is one you have not observed. Study may reveal a new power.
Estimated time to completion: One week
I'D HAVE to keep Ophelia in the grinder for a week, but there was no downside to that. I needed the construction materials and I didn't think she should be able to feel pain given the current state of her nervous system. Furthermore, if I needed to heal any of the team I could simply spray them in her slurry. If anything, she was somewhat improved in this state. If only I could get Anna to be so useful by grinding her up.
My science drones outside were finding a land of horrors. The jungle really was a place where dangerous creatures were preyed upon by things even more deadly. Even the vegetation was murderous. I had scans of one plant that sprayed its prey with acid to dissolve the flesh before dragging it in to consume them. Another defended itself by spraying hallucinogenic spores.
With a few modifications to that gene structure and I could grow acid-spraying turrets near the staircases and set up cysts on the floor filled with hallucinogenic spores that I could detonate remotely.
I set those to build and prioritized them as the first recipients of the new Biomatter.
"Not that Ophelia isn't delicious," Anna said, having grabbed one of the cookies. "But we need a plan. They attacked us, as the queen I can’t allow that to go unanswered."
I knew she couldn't see my actions, but what did she think I was up to?
"Even your stench won't overcome an army. They've a fortified position," I said.
"I don't care."
"Mechos, I hate to ask if it of you, but you may need to sleep with Anna to distract her and keep her from killing herself," I said.
"I'm up for it," Hot Stuff said.
"There you go. Promiscuity that truly knows no limits. In that case, Mechos, I'm sending you over some specifications. I need you to build some acid guns," I said.
"It isn't happening," Anna said, with a sidelong glance at Hot Stuff.
"I'm good. You can ask Mechos," Hot Stuff said.
"They have workshops downstairs?" Mechos asked, walking quickly away. It was admirable survival instinct.
The two watched him go and burst out laughing when he was out of sight.
"That was pretty good," Anna said.
"He's cute, but so weird. I really am sorry if you had a thing for him," Hot Stuff said.
Anna shrugged. "If I wasn't a priority, he wasn't worth my time. Enjoy him.” She turned to me. “I'm serious Emma, I want payback."
If she was this out for blood, Anna wouldn't be satisfied until she had some. I had to think of something that would satisfy her. Fortunately the outside world provided some possibilities.
"There are hives in the jungle of a highly aggressive sort of bee. Their stings result in tremors, vomiting, and other signs of physical distress. It would be as if you kissed someone," I said.
Anna gave a thin smile. "Acceptable, I suppose. How can we get them inside the ship?"
"There are hull breaches on the Wolves’ deck as well. I can teleport one outside a breach with one of my drones and drop it in," I said.
"They'll seal the breaches," Anna said thoughtfully.
"It was something we were going to need to do anyways to make the ship airworthy," I said.
"What about the Rats?" Anna asked.
They were a deck underneath the Wolves, who were directly below us.
"A few will probably get stung," I said.
"Send them a warning. If they have any weak or injured that might not be able to endure a sting, they are welcome to remain here until the bees have been dispersed. Do not turn this into another joke at the expense of my dating life," Anna said.
"A joke? I'd have called your dating life more of a tragedy," I said. I sent the message to the Rats terminal. Like the Bats, it took almost no time at all for it to be acknowledged.
I wondered if they had been expecting an invitation of their own to join up. Perhaps they weren’t interested in being a dominant force, much as the Bats hadn’t been.
I found a suitable hive with one of my science drones. I closed on it and engaged the teleport causing it to appear outside of the breach. I charged through the gap in the hull to smash it against the far wall, trapping the hive between them. The force of the impact split the hive wide open and reddish-colored bees swarmed out.
I expected my drone to survive, but under a flurry of metal-piercing stings it went down in a spray of sparks. The bees were more formidable than I'd imagined.
"Message sent and some very angry bees have been delivered," I said.
"You might have given them more warning," Anna said.
"I’m surprised. Much like intellect, style, and charm, patience isn't your strong suit," I said.
Anna smiled briefly at that. "Can you build me a throne?"