A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 48 (Patreon)

A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 48

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Arksoul

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Pop in.

Drop Emp.

Break gadgets stopping me from saving them.

Pop out.

Wait.

Pop in and get the kids disarmed and off to Parvati.

Parvati had the firepower and the tech to keep people safe and secure in humane conditions without them being able to escape, so the AI was my best bet.

Still, though, I didn’t expect for the squadrons of child soldiers to have other ways of countering teleporters.

Not very good ways, but still.

“Yeah, good try.” One of the kids in the first squad engaged me after I dropped off the EMP. It was a swift and decisive attack involving a burst of flame from his hands. Flame, of course, was a form of energy that disrupted what I sent out. Therefore, theoretically, it should’ve been able to hurt me… but it was obvious that the flames held me in place, but it kept the other kids from joining in. People tend to avoid superheated flames. “Stop that.”

They couldn’t understand English, but the moment I burst through the flame, I sent the kid attacking me off to Parvati for the AI’s problem.

The other kids tried to attack as soon as I sent the flame-user away.

They had a solid plan. The bruisers who could hit hard and take damage came forward. One shattered the ground, blurring my line of sight, while the other two flanked. The barrage of stones and asphalt coming my way would’ve sent most superhumans flying, or crushed a normal human, but the mass just disappeared against me and were sent to the bottom of the ocean. The other two picked up huge chunks of the street and rubble and smashed it against me from two sides, intending to trap me or hold me in place or kill me.

I was betting on the killing portion, until my temporary cage, hollowed out by my power, was suddenly blasted apart by their long-range element.

Whatever their powers were composed of, whether they were shooting bullets and grenades at me with superior reflexes and aim or using energy beams shot from their eyes, there just wasn’t enough power to overcome my defenses. Sure, they were able to lock me down to one battlefield, but if they couldn’t overcome the fields I could generate off my skin, then the fight was already decided.

I smashed through them… metaphorically.

Running through their attacks, clad in my power from head to toe, I only needed to touch them to get them off to safety. Even though they were trying to kill me, I made sure to keep calm, hold on, and just give each one of the squad of ten a quick poke and send them off to Parvati.

It was obvious what they were doing, though.

This was a classic tripwire tactic.

“All the other squads are now converging on your position.”

“Yeah, I figured. How many can you intercept?”

“One, but the Izanagi has launched some form of mechanized battlesuit.” I glanced over at the quadrotor that arrived and it presented me with a screen with a shining example of a giant robot armed with big guns flying towards the city. “They are intercepting soldiers of the Shogun and tearing down the remaining Drone screen coming from above. I can intercept another squad with them taking over their duties, but some may head straight for you.”

“Do your best, I guess.” I sent the last one away and debated leaving, but it was better to have those kids concentrated in one spot. Was it a higher risk to me? Naturally, but it’ll get them out of the battlefield more quickly. “How’s Walker doing?”

“She is unleashing more power now that the battle is in the city outskirts.” That was an understatement. The moment those words were said there was a crack through the air followed by the sound of something massive crashing somewhere far away. The plume of dust that fell over the city all but told me that Maelstrom gave the Shogun a haymaker that sent him flying, despite his new, biomechanical form.  “Shin is attempting a fighting retreat. The blasts from the Izanagi heavily damaged one of his craft. They are trying to toy it away.”

Never thought I’d hear about someone trying to tow away a flying, armored, and armed factory, but when I did, I wasn’t surprised.

My life was weird enough that the thought didn’t even make me blink.

“Tow it away? Or, use it as some sort of projectile after taking what he needs from it?” I wouldn’t put it past shin to drop the massive craft onto the city once his defeat was clear. It was the sort of fucked-up move that I expected from people aspiring to make the world theirs. If they can’t have it, then no one can, and if it won them the battle, they’ll justify it without a second thought. “Parvati?

“My scans show that it is being taken away from the city, but I shall keep an eye on the matter.”

“Thanks. How long until interception?”

“Two minutes.”

“Thanks.”

I was feeling a bit peckish after sending away thousands of pounds of mass, sending kids halfway across the world, and tanking inhuman amounts of energy, so I took some trail mix from one of my pockets and gulped it down along with some energy gel. The trail mix was stale, and the energizing gel tasted awful, but I felt the weight from the cost of my actions dissipate quickly. A lot of people would say that the caloric requirements that I have are ridiculously low for what I can do… but I didn’t see Walker needed snacks and naps despite her abilities.

Some people get all the luck.

I mean, I’m pretty lucky myself, but there are lottery winners amongst lottery winners, y’know.

Anyway, I’ve had enough self-deprecation.

Time to send some kids to school, instead of the battlefield.

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Interlude: Rai

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From birth, I was taught precision, strength, and discipline.

So, even as the world came apart, as the Emperor became a living god to fight against the steel demons that came from above… I felt only resolve in my heart as I mustered my fellows to battle. Our lands, our homes, and our people were under attack. Those without Talents mustered in their enchanted armors and mustered forth against the tide, despite having frail, mortal bodies.

How could I not go forth and give my all for the emperor?

That thought echoed through my mind as the lights in our home turned red and the alert came.

Nano wept and cried, but still put on her armor.

Dai stayed stoic and shouldered his weapon, but I saw his hands shake.

Jin, normally always smiling and joking, was mute and doing his best to stay standing and tall, despite his fear.

My three squad members felt fear and terror, and they all looked to me.

I only had one thing to say.

“Have courage and faith that no matter what, our lord shall be victorious.” The Emperor was reborn into his true form. No longer a mere man with Talent. He was now blessed with a body composed from the flesh of those who were deemed worthy sacrifices to divinity. Even now, as we mustered, he fought against the demonic army of steel that fell from the skies and the unknown Talents that invaded our lands. Alone in two fronts, he remains standing and ready and I knew that he will win. “We will win.”

Our lives were meaningless.

The nation lived through the Emperor.

Through him, we ourselves would become divine, as he will surely overcome death in all its forms for not only himself but all peoples.

We simply needed to march forward and do as we were told.

For some reason, Nano cried more at my words, while both the boys grimaced and looked at one another… but all that mattered was that they came forward and fell into formation.

Good.

It would be a shame to use my blade against them.

A cry came out from the vice-captain of our front group and the captain. They were the strongest of us ten, but Lin was hardly stronger than me. In a month, I was sure that I would take her position, but now she held the cherished position on the eve of battle. It was unfair, a part of me cried, but I knew I could earn merit in battle as well… and prove myself her better.

We followed the call with our own assent and a moment later the doors to the outside world opened.

For the first time, I was to leave my home and enter the terrible world the Emperor was trying to tame.

I knew of its terrors and its monsters, but still I was unprepared.

The heat of flame filled the bunker in an instant. Those of us who did not wear their masks and rebreathers struggled to breathe instantly. They were fools. None of my squad did such a thing, so we followed after Lin as she strode outward.  In her ears were the voices of the Emperor’s officials, peoples whom he trusted with all his heart, and so could speak with his will to us.

I envied her position, but bit my tongue and kept myself from speaking.

“We are to find and kill a Talent with the ability to teleport. Kaze is already dead by his hand and so is Kazuhana.” I stilled at those words, while Nano let loose a sob. Our upperclassmen, one of the first of us born through the intellect of the Emperor, was gone. Though we felt nothing for her father, who the Emperor did not trust completely, she was one of the few who cared for us and snuck in the few luxuries from the outside that remained. Her kindness was gone from the world… at the hands of a monster that killed both her and her father. “He was not harmed by the conflict against both and is now teleporting an army of inhuman creatures into the land. He must be killed or all of the land will be unmade. We are to hunt and kill this Demon.”

Jin presented her hand outward and an image composed of light flowered from her hand. One of the enchanted weapons granted to those deemed worthy. I resolved myself to earning the right to have one, while looking upon the fearsome creature that we were to hunt.

It was a tall figure whose identity was concealed by both a coat covered in foliage and a blank mask. From sight alone, I could see that his armor was more than mere metal and technology. Tubes ran from his mask to his back, a form of rebreather better than ours, and his mask and helmet were sleek in design and showed no noticeable location from where he could see, breathe, nor hear.

Without a doubt, he was protected from most forms of chemical attack and environments, understandable with the ability to be anywhere.

Lin was ready to continue briefing us when the hulking figure covered in camouflage and a mask suddenly turned scarlet and instead I looked upon a map of the city… and of the whole first squad’s last known location reading ‘signal lost.’

Squadron 1 prided themselves in their diligence and strength. Their power was straightforward and brutal, and their teamwork without question. In every training match between squads, they were the victors. They managed to defeat Kazuhana more than half the time they fought against her… but now they were no longer amongst us.

“H-how!?” Jin broke and yelled, but before could punish him, he was pulled back by Nano and given a swift strike to his stomach by Dai. They both stood straight and bowed at me, while Jin clambered up and joined them in their apologies. “M-my apologies. I spoke out of turn.”

It was a good enough apology, so I looked back at Lin.

Her shoulders were shaking with fury as she nodded behind me towards Han.

Han spoke a simply in command of us.

“We move to fall upon the monster as one with the rest of the squads. Even Kaze could not defeat all us together, even with the loss of Squad 1.” As sharp as the finest blade, Ni spoke and the matter was decided. Many of the other Squads could say they were stronger than him, but none could say they were more clever. “I have received approval. We move now and bring low the target before it can take us apart piece by piece.”

Yes, Squad 1 was stronger than any other Squad, but against two they would lose. Against all four that remained they would be unable to even conduct battle. This was the only reasonable path forward. All of us, together, against a common foe to destroy them with all our strength and fury.

“We move now!”

Ni declared and so we followed. On foot, we took to a light run. Our boots assisted us as we made our way. Our legs felt barely any fatigue and our bodies were cooled by our armor. None of the combat stimulants were dispensed, but I felt my mind clear and any creeping tiredness fade as the caffeine we were told to drink with our meals kicked in just in time. A runner’s high soon took me and my fellows and our low, steady breathing hung around us, as we ran through the ruins and flames that became of the lands above.

Within minutes, we were joined with two other squads, and it only took a moment for me to realize something went wrong.

Ni addressed it in an instant.

“The others were intercepted. They feared our tactic. They pursued after the other two squads as well. Our victory must be assured, if they risked so much.” Ni lightened the moral of the others in an instant, but my heart had not wavered. He looked my way and he nodded at me. “All the vanguard to me. We will hold back the demon. Everyone else supports us.”

Those words were said, and we drew closer to one another, when suddenly my senses warned me of danger and I reacted.

I looked up, spotted several boxy objects above us, and struck at them.

I cut through two in an instant, a third was vaporized by the trail of electricity I sent forth, but the fourth was beyond my reach.

In an instant, it exploded, and I felt the comfort and support provided by my enchanted armaments and armor fade in an instant.

Fear welled up in my gut for the first time.

We ourselves were ambushed as we planned to do.