Radical-9

CHAPTER 21: Divergence

February 24^th, 2022

11:35 Am

It's about time that they get out of my hair. To hell with them, I say. What do you say, Andy? Huh? Think it is time to blow this popsicle stand? I do too. The back room of the house is far extended from the rest of the house, it is garage-like in appearance, separated by a long and narrow hallway.

The ceiling hangs low, large cases of equipment clutter the room, the concrete floor is smooth underneath my feet. I see Beth and Sam in the corner moving one of the large metal boxes around. I swipe open my menu and go to my own unique abilities, none of Andy's pussy shit. Not yet, I have use for him yet. I select the option Whisper. Now we're assured the quiet we oh so deserve. Next is to equip the Keystone I'd taken from Athena. Stupid bitch.

The Heart of Ares suits me wonderfully, it is only a shame I'm in this fucking body. I walk over and throw on a smile.

“Hey there, how're things going here?” I ask, trying my best to do my biggest pussy impersonation.

“Oh, hello there, Andy, we're just packing some things I need for the armory,” Beth says.

“Hello!” Sam says.

I walk closer to them, regarding Sam with a smile. “Nice, well, it's really a shame that you won't be packing it all away?”

“What?” She asks, turning to me.

I bend to my knees and look at Sam in the eyes, “Hey now, buddy, we're going to have to leave from this woman now, okay? I've learned that she isn't to be trusted,” I say to him. He looks up to Beth.

“Really?”

“Andy, what are you doing?

“I'm doing the right thing, by getting him away from you,” I say, pushing Sam behind me.”

“But Andy, Miss Beth is nice,” he says.

I turn around to him, “Sam, I am very sorry I left you in the care of someone in this condition. Athena, Klein and my sister have already left. I've come to save you, this woman here works for Jack,” I say.

“Andy, why would you say something like that?” she asks.

I turn up to her, Sam grips my leg and I grip the keystone around my neck, the Heart of Ares and a force field surrounds the perimeter of the room we're in.

“Andy, the joke is over, you can stop now,” Beth says, taking a step back.

“You bad! You very bad! You lie!” Sam calls out.

I look back to Beth and grin, I wish I could see how I look to her. I wonder if I can make this puppy dog face look menacing.

“Well, it looks like we have a verdict,” I say.

I take out the sword at my side, at first glance it seems to be a gunblade of some sort. It's not my preference, but it'll do. I take it and level it at her chest, she steps back, no true weapon of her own, it seems.

“Kind of silly for the armorer not to have a sword of her own, no?” I ask.

“Well, excuse me for not considering your apparent insanity,” she says.

“Do I even have to consider your utter stupidity? No, I go along with it. Come on now, it's called improv. Did you not have it wherever you grew up?”

Beth turns her gaze to Sam, “Sam, please you have to believe me, I'm not your enemy,” she says, and recoils as a shot fires and she is slammed against the wall. Pixels spray the wall behind her before floating upwards. She screams out in pain, a hole gapes through her left shoulder.

“Next time you should consider what's really worth fighting for and keep your nose to your self,” I say. “Maybe in the next life,” I take another shot at her, the bullet catches in her abdomen and splits off, pinning her to the wall before she falls down. Her health bar drops to just below half. I walk closer to her and press the button on the side of the gun, shifting in the shaft and extending the curved blade underneath. “Now, how do you wish to die?” I ask, kneeling down to her.

She looks up to me, anger filling her eyes, despair waiting just behind the anger. Just what I love to see, a false sense of bravery. It just makes it all the more interesting to cut away the anger until all that is left is that despair, but sadly, I'm on a schedule here.

“Well, sorry, forgot I was on the clock. Going to have to disregard your preference. Have a nice trip!” I call out, slashing the blade across her neck, dropping her health to zero. She dissipates into pixels. The force field disappears with her, and I turn to find Sam hiding behind one of the large objects.

“Hey, come on now, she's gone. Everything's going to be okay, we're going to go find Athena and the rest,” I say.

He comes out and is breathing heavily, “Sorry, the fighting...is a little too much. So, we're going now?” he says.

“Yep,” I say, leading him out through the back door.

He follows behind me, and I take his hand in mine as we run through the streets. “Hey, Sam, I've got a song to sing so we can pass the time, you up for a good song?” I ask.

“I'm a good singer!”

“Okay, get ready,” I begin. “Eviscerate the players,” I begin in a lullaby tone.

“Evisewate the players,” he chimes back.

“Gory, bloodied corpses.”

“Gowy, bloodied corpses.”

“Good, very good” I say.

“Hey, what do those words mean, anyhow?” He asks. “I mean, I know bloodied is bad, but what about the others?”

“It's metaphor, Sam. Just accept it,” I say.

We pass through an alley, “Hey Sam, can you say something back to me?” I ask.

“Okay?”

“Call out Heil Hitler,” I say.

“Heiiil Hitler,” he says.

“This is greater than I could've expected! Ha!” I say, cracking up. I could get this kid to say just about anything. It's a weird sort of power. A power you could only dream of, Andy. Thinking on it now, would you even want a kid? Maybe with nice little Athena? How fucked up that kid would be, with how fucked up the both of you are. Sadly, if I weren't steering right now, I'd say that you two were perfect for each other, but considering you decked her I'm thinking she won't be too happy with you.

We reach the pedestal and I look down at the kid.

Maybe in another life I'd enjoy a kid. That life isn't now.