Book 2 - Epilogue - Cleaning Up Loose Ends.

Is this the end of the book? Probably. I may go back and add a few chapters near the end, if I think of anything else to add, but I think that's a good (and slightly evil) place to leave things.

As many of you have guessed, daddy dearest's disappearance had something to do with Montero-Wisteria, the big bad of my friend Alia's story Fata Morgana. The exact circumstances of his death will be told in detail there, but the fallout of the situation will be handled in TH Book three.

Now... When will TH Book 3 be released? I don't know. As I mentioned before I'd like to spend more time with my own worlds, and the truth is, I really need to start looking for a part time job to help support me very soon. So, in the short term I'll still be posting two chapters a day... I just don't know what story they'll be from. They might be from stories I'm trying out, or ones I'm trying flesh out, while I try and figure out what'll replace TH in it's slot. Once I find a story I actually like, and feel a grove with, I'll let you know.

Feel free to let me know your thoughts on everything I post in the next few weeks, I'd love to know what tickles your fancy.

A single quick slice was all I needed to eliminate the small group of Model Threes that came racing up the tunnel. It was an action that I was capable of even before becoming a samurai, but it had never been so easy before. Effortless. 

After recovering from the full body burnout both my mind and my muscles reached a new peak. When I immersed myself in battle everything just slowed down. The Model Threes moved like they were moving through molasses, I even found that stepping through a Model Fours flailing arms was simple.

“How are things going down there?” I heard Skyler call from the entrance to the hive burrow.

“Fine, they may be sending a constant stream of antithesis at me, but it’s all small stuff,” I yelled back over my shoulder. “I could do this all day!”

“That’s great, but you don’t have to. I’ve finished setting up, so get back up here.”

I dispatched the nearest Antithesis with a couple quick slashes to give myself some room before turning on my heel and booking it back up the tunnel. The Model Threes scrambled, their claws digging into the soft floor of the tunnel as they tried to follow. 

They’d never catch me. I was far too fast now. 

Exploding out of the tunnel I skidded to a stop in front of Skyler, grinning from ear to ear.

“Feeling good?” She asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin.

“Feeling great! The hive is primed to be purged whenever you’re ready.”

“Then let’s not waste any time,” she twirled in place before sauntering over to her drones, which were positioned in a semicircle around the tunnel entrance. “Morty, if you would?”

The closest drone, which had already been pitched forward and waiting, unloaded a full salvo of shells down the tunnel. 

When the first Model Threes reached the surface a few seconds later, the damage had already been done. Their flesh was already starting to dissolve, liquified by the enzyme gas Skyler and I were starting to get recognized for.

I didn’t give the drooping Antithesis a chance, stepping in close and dispatching the entire pack with ruthless efficiency before carefully wiping down, and sheathing Rending Wave.

“Destroying hives is much easier when you don’t have to go down and dispatch every single alien yourself,” Skyler giggled.

“Maybe, but I like going down there. It’s good exercise,” I pouted.

“Which is why we agreed that you were allowed to clear out the entrance, and hold back the reinforcements, until I was ready to gas the place. Working smarter, not harder!”

“I know, I know. It’s just… we spent the last week fighting for our lives against nearly endless waves of antithesis, and now we’re just wandering around cleaning up the dregs. The way things were going, I thought we’d be fighting the Antithesis for another couple of weeks.”

“It’s amazing how much of a difference that just a handful or experienced samurai can make. Mjolnir nearly wiped the entire eastern wave out with a single blow, and I’ve been told that Warspite and Thermal killed ten times as many Antithesis than we did before they got to the harbor,” Skyler explained excitedly. “Those were just the dregs! Can you imagine what the front line must have been like?”

“Complete Chaos. I don’t regret helping out with the harbor defense, but I doubt I’d be able to handle underwater combat full time. Way too much to pay attention to, too much stress.”

“Awww… I thought we did pretty good,” Skyler mock pouted.

“We did great! I still prefer to experience my aquatic adventures in small doses,” I grumbled.

“Well don’t worry, we have more than enough to keep us occupied up here on dry land for the time being,” Skyler chuckled as she sauntered up behind me and threw her arms around my shoulders. “We have… what? A half dozen more hives left to check over the next few days?”

“Something like that,” I said. “This entire process would be a complete drag without you and your drones to map out the tunnels after we flood the area. I know the government wants to ensure that the hives won’t regrow once they’re cleared, but can you imagine trying to check these areas manually? Each clear would take us days!”

“I certainly can. I talked to Gwen this morning and she told me it takes her and Woofer an entire day to sweep a full day to sweep a small hive system, and that’s with both her Penguins and his dogs. It’s a slow process when you don’t have the right equipment for the job,” Skyler explained.

“Work smarter, not harder, right?” I asked with a grin.

“It’s like our new motto!” Skyler chirped, before giving me a peck on the cheek and resting her head against mine.

Before I could turn around and give her a proper kiss, I received a call on my personal line. I really wanted to just let it go to voice mail, or let Artymis handle it, but when I saw the caller id I paused.

“Problem?” Skyler asked.

“I hope not, but… someone from the Starchaser is calling me,” I replied, a little confused.

“Well, answer it. We have a couple minutes before the gas begins to dissipate, you’ve got some time,” Skyler exclaimed. “I’ll give you a little bit of space, let me know when you’re done.”

As she stood straight, removing her arms from my neck and heading towards the hive I sighed. Whoever was calling had terrible timing.

[Honorable Wind speaking,] I snapped.

[H-Hey, Wind. H-Hello! I’m not calling at a b-bad time am I?]

[Ghostlight? No, sorry, I’m just in a little bit of a bad mood because of something. It’s not your fault. How can I help you today?]

[H-Have you ever heard of M-Montero-Wisteria?] the girl stuttered.

[Sure, my father actually forced me to attend ‘marriage talks’ with the owners grandson a couple years ago. That family was a real piece of work.] I growled. [Why?]

[O-Oh… R-Right…] the girl went quiet for a moment. [W-well, the r-real reason the girls and I came to V-Vancouver was to investigate their o-operations here. W-we found some really sketchy stuff in their E-east coast facilities and wanted to follow up here.]

[So, did you find anything?] I asked.

[Ummmm… Y-yes… a whole lot more than we expected,] Ghostlight said, before going quiet for several seconds.

[I hate to be impolite,] I said after the pause went on a little too long to be comfortable, [but why call me? Isn’t this something you should be contacting the government, or Family about?]

[Oh w-we contacted them too, b-but w-we found something here I t-thought you might want to l-look at.]

[Something that I might want to look at? What?]

As Ghostlight explained I started to feel light headed. I kind of tuned out most of the rest of the conversation, replying like my brain was on autopilot. It was only much later that I considered calling the girl back and appologizing for my behaviour at the end.

When I finally hung up Skyler wandered back. Her smile died, and was replaced by a look of concern once she got close. “Reina, is everything alright? You’re super pale right now. Who was that on the phone?”

“Ghostlight. Apparently once we got the Antithesis under control she and the other members of the Starchaser went to investigate a Montero-Wisteria offshore complex which they thought was suspicious,” I explained.

“Right… What does that have to do with you?” Skyler prompted.

“Apparently they not only found a sketchy, and very illegal lab, but there was also a prison full of people.”

“I don’t like where this is going,” Skyler mumbled.

“So… I know who took my dad now,” I said awkwardly. “Montero-Wisteria took him out to their rig.”

I paused. My brain was still trying to process the news. “And then they apparently tortured him to death.”

“Shit,” Skyler whispered softly. “I’m sorry, I know you didn’t particularly like your father, but you didn’t want him dead. Are you okay?”

As she pulled me into her gentle embrace I felt the tears start to fall. “I don’t know.”