I also had a research project to start.
Research Menu
"Runner"
Runner is bonded to a speed core. This grants her the ability to move and think at speeds vastly greater than those of a normal human. Her core has been expanded so that she can phase through matter as well as deconstruct it violently at a touch. Research could yield a variety of speed-related bonuses.
That was intriguing. Runner hadn't just naturally been that powerful. This was the first clear example I'd seen of someone else’s core truly being upgraded. It seemed like I would only get one of those abilities from researching. I wondered what would happen, if I killed her? Would I then get all of those extra abilities, or would they generate out there in the world somewhere?
I began the research. The time was quick compared to most, it would only be a week.
I took the opportunity to review what I'd accomplished.
E.M.M.A
Underground Facility
Power Core: 250
Power Usage: 85
Habitability: 20
Biomass: 678
Building Materiaclass="underline" 85
Research: 4
Military: 1
Manufacturing: 0
Additional Facilities
Biocomputer - Level 4
Bioreactor - Level 4
Genetics Lab - Level 4
Growth Vats - Level 4
Infirmary - Level 3
Cabins - Level 3
Processor - Level 4
My supply of biomatter was coming along nicely at least. With increasing amounts of my systems being biologically focused that was my primary building material.
Anna was still up. Even though my organic computer was a bit slower than my old processor, I could still out-think a human. My considerations had only taken seconds.
I hit Mechos with some stimulants. The man groaned and tried to sit up. The broken bones weren't very conducive to that.
I ordered the autodoc to apply splints to him.
"Anna has some specifications for you. We're going to need shielding built and installed as quickly as possible," I said.
"Is Samantha all right?" Mechos asked.
It took me a moment to realize who he meant. Of course, his Mechanite companion also in the Infirmary. They had names, I probably should learn them one of these days.
"Simply a little electrocuted. Four days to repair, you are in far worse shape," I said.
"Sorry I didn't get Runner the first time," Anna said.
"You did your best. You knew how dangerous she was. It was brave of you to try," Mechos said, staring into her eyes.
"Coitus later. Shielding now," I said.
"You've a real talent for ruining the moment," Anna said.
"You've a real talent for repulsing men. Get to work."
40
Runner hadn't stopped moving in her testing labyrinth. At first, I thought she was just attempting to phase through the floor again, but now I was getting worried that she had something else in mind.
My cameras were starting to be distorted, the views angling oddly. If I had to guess, I'd say that she was trying to wrap space in some fashion.
I was confident in the containment holding, but I feared she might be attempting to reach out to her gang. I'd already seen firsthand how she could phase through matter, perhaps she had some way of signaling her location?
I modified the open sections of the cell floor into new traps. Layers of rapidly swirling razor-sharp fan blades. Setting foot in there now would lead to being sliced into ribbons one layer at a time.
The Speedfreaks did arrive, but nowhere near my new traps.
When intrusion alarms went off it was in different areas of the base simultaneously. One in Hydroponics, another on the Security level, yet another on the Archives level.
I had a quick solution for one of those. I'd had the Archive floor powered down after all the damage from the electrical surges. I turned everything back on to overload levels.
It didn't matter how quick someone was when the very halls were filled with electricity. Lightning was faster—or so you'd think. Still, the woman that materialized managed to dodge several arcing bolts. My fastest cameras could barely catch her movements. A bolt did finally catch her in the arm and the result was a smoldering corpse tumbling down the hall.
If it could work on that level, I could make it work in Hydroponics. I'd never uninstalled the water cannons I'd used against Hot Stuff and the Flames. I made it rain, then overloading the power again I made an electrical storm.
The water made a great conductor and an astonished-looking man collapsed into a damp and twitching heap in a puddle.
Two down in quick order. The third wasn't going to be as easy.
I had traps on the Security level. I had lots of traps on the Security level. Spike traps, saw traps, poison gas, incinerators, freezers, chompers and bolters and biters. The woman avoided them all with a skill that made me feel absolutely inept. Everything triggered too late. I tried to anticipate her moves with the traps and she would only go even faster.
"Okay. I know you're watching me. How about we talk?" said the woman.
With my efforts at killing her going so poorly, I wasn't averse to the idea.
"Tired out from killing your friends. What do you want?" I asked.
"My friends were assholes. Runner is a monster. You going to kill her?"
A potential ally, or was she lulling me into a false sense of security?
"Maybe," I said. I wasn't going to give away any information I didn't have to. "You looking to save her or betray her?"
"I'm Octavia, and I'm the second fastest woman you'll ever meet. You kill her, that goes away and I'm nothing," Octavia said.
When a Powered lost their core, their lieutenants lost their ability? It wasn't something I'd been able to confirm. The only Powered I'd actually killed had been the Commander, and he didn't have lieutenants, just thralls.
"What if it didn't kill her?" I asked.
"What if you give me her core and we become best friends, even lovers. I'm flexible," Octavia said.
"I'm an organic supercomputer and find you repulsive."
"All good. I'd finish first anyways and aren't all that generous."
Why did humans always have to be so disgusting, especially when they might be rather useful, despite their habits?
"How about I keep her locked away in a cell she can never escape from? You work for me and keep your speed, and live to disgust people with your flirting another day?" I asked.
Octavia considered this. "Second fiddle to a badass computer. Most important human alive. I dig it."
"Not quite. There's Anna, who is going to be Queen of the World. Then there's Mechos, although he is technically a prisoner. It's all rather complex," I said.
Octavia tapped her foot so fast gusts of wind sent dust scattering along the floor. "Anna hot?"
Why was that a question? What did that possibly have to do with anything?
I opened a comm and a two-way display. "Anna. I have a Speedfreak here who possibly wants to join up and seems disturbingly interested in seducing you sight unseen."
"Way more interested now that it is sight seen. I'm Octavia," Octavia said.
Mechos scowled behind Anna's shoulder as she brushed a few strands of hair back from her forehead.
"I'm Anna. You're cool with me being Queen of the World?" Anna asked.