A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 70

A Perfectly Logical Guide to a Superhuman Apocalypse: 70

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Arksoul

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My intention after eating at night, then going off to bed after a shower, was to do the same thing the next day.

Shoot the shit with customers, trade, and sell stuff.

Unfortunately, Maelstrom and Parvati were both waiting for me when I popped back to my storefront.

“Let me guess, there’s a problem that needs to be dealt with.”

“A budding problem that needs to be dealt with before problems arise. Are you familiar with Canada?” Maelstrom gestured towards one of my business tables, which was already set up. I made sure to put the closed sign up and put a barrier in front of the door, so that no one came in. As though Maelstrom being present wasn’t enough to do that on its own. “Any business dealings there?”

“No. America had the biggest budget and Canada’s too close for anything shipped over to be worthwhile.” Maelstrom nodded, while taking a seat, and nodding at me to do the same. Parvati took a device from the belt of the body it was inhabiting and placed it on the table. In moments a 3D map of a section of Canada was right in front of the three of us. “Went over to Vancouver for a few meals, though. Good place. Expensive to live in, though.”

“Most of the population have spread throughout the land, and live through collectivist farming communities protected by superhumans. They trade regularly with their neighbors in the States… or they were supposed to.” Parvati narrated while highlighting a dozen distinct zones all over Canada. Most were near the coasts and still connected to old cities. People just spread out to get more ready access to arable land and animals to hunt for food and to fish, it looked like. “However, over the course of the last year the various territories have united under three distinct ideologies and are now set to wage war with one another.”

Parvati didn’t use the term war lightly and showcased the build-up.

“I have found armies wielding mostly steel armor and weapons supplemented by firearms beginning to form and march.” It was surreal to see what was being described. It was pike and shot, but with a modern twist. Footmen wearing heavy armor carted around in trucks along with people in tactical gear and rifles. There were a few elite-looking people using modern equipment, fully automatic rifles and in winter camouflage and tactical netting, but most were using what looked like bolt action. With that level of tech, I had to wonder why melee was even needed. Then, I got my answer. “One of the factions is transhumanist in nature and they employ mutated animals as frontline shock troops in large numbers. They call themselves the Ascendant.”

The shock troops described were wolves, but larger and nearly the size of horses. In the clips presented by Parvati, I watched them run around in delta formation, scatter in the face of superior firepower, and flank enemies and hunt them down like light cavalry. They outright abducted people, targeted officers, and by all means had tactics and strategy down pat along with enhanced bodies… all atop being wolves.

“Well, that’s fucking terrifying. How many do they have?”

“Several thousand and rapidly growing. I have located several large kennels. They grow faster and in large litters and trained in mass.” The litters in question were in large, clear areas surrounded by what could be described as kennels oriented like… tribal villages. Circular with meeting spaces at the center, dedicated food areas, and places to meet. The wolves in the videos responded to a work bell and filed towards where a human instructor was waiting to admit them into an open-air classroom. The classroom proceeded to show them videos and the instructor began to lecture them. “I believe that they have created a whole, new subservient race and they are planning to do the same, until they have a truly massive workforce and army.”

“Again, that’s fucking terrifying. So… what’s the plan? Do we go in there and attack and wipe out the kennels?”

Parvati and Maelstrom exchanged a look that made my stomach drop.

“Please… don’t tell me that the people carelessly uplifting predators are the best option for Canada.”

“Unfortunately, such is the case. The Ascendancy are a group of scientists supported by a democratic civilian government. They are based off Vancouver and hold much of British Columbia.” I was treated to the sight of the familiar city that I’d visited for food more than a few times. It was surprisingly filled with people and working tech… and lots of animals trotting along. Animals with vests that had pouches and pockets that they could reach. A lot of the animals had mechanical arms on their backpacks with a robotic clasper that they used to open doors and such, too. “They have indeed raised up many animals and are breeding them in large quantities, but they are considered citizenry. Meanwhile, the other two factions holding power over Canada are tyrannical in nature.”

Parvati changed locations to Quebec and I found myself looking at a wrecked city where most of the people seemed to be covered up in scavenged cloth. Meanwhile, armed and armored soldiers and enforcers roamed around in heavy jackets on horses. People worked farms under guard with whips at their sides and rifles on their backs, while the odd drone flew overhead to observer the populace. In about every direction, there were red banners with… white and black at the center.

It wasn’t a swastika, just a black eagle with a white sun behind it, but it conveyed the idea  loud and clear.

“How did that happen? Canada didn’t have that many Nazis. What the hell?”

“It was something that happened after you retreated from the world. There was a movement of many supremacist groups to create their homeland. The eastern half of Canada received most of the United States’ and Europe’s supremacist groups.” Maelstrom stated, and I just about shook my head in bewilderment. But why? Canada? My confusion must’ve been obvious, as Walker sighed. “Iceland and Newfoundland and Greenland were also overwhelmed. They established themselves through most of the northern Atlantic with Norse traditionalism and folklore in mind. They have taken eastern Canada to use as a breadbasket and for resource extraction for their… hyperborea?”

Maelstrom shook her head, practically giving up.

“Their national goals aside, they have taken over much of the east of Canada and are working to re-industrialize it and make it the crown of their budding empire in the colonial sense.” Maelstrom reached for the map and Parvati obliged her movement and conveyed the changes she made. Canada was partitioned into three territories. The Ascendant was on the western side and the racial supremacists on the east. Blue for the former and red for the latter. The middle side was highlighted in yellow. “The middle lies a defensive confederation of multiple superhuman lords with households that have instated a sort of feudal system and allied together. They oppose the invaders… but they also wish to see the Ascendancy destroyed.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose to try and combat the building headache.

It failed.

“And, so what are we doing? Intervening? How are we going to do it?”

Maelstrom answered.

“I have no desires to spread America across the northern continent. My intention, however, is to make sure that we have friends above us and below. I have chosen to back the Ascendancy as they are far more palatable politically, despite their… decision to elevate the minds of animals to such a great degree and use them as soldiers.” Maelstrom was as a straightforward as usual. That sort of speech would get taken apart by any political opponent going against her. Why fight there when we still need work done here? Why choose those guys when the others guys might be better allies? So on and so forth. Thankfully, Maelstrom had the advantage of being ludicrously strong. “Parvati feels the same way, as does Anderson.”

That got me to raise an eyebrow.

“How does elevating animals to being considered citizenry fall under her religion’s dogma?”

“She posited that humans are caretakers and rulers of the planet by divine ordination, and that animals fall under that purview. And, any changes to they make to themselves are cosmetic in nature.”

For a second, I wished Anderson would be more close-minded, then I realized what Maelstrom just said.

Cosmetic changes to humans?

By a bunch of nerds who think elevating animals to be smarter in mass is a great idea?

“They’re a bunch of fucking furries aren’t they?”

Maelstrom sighed, while Parvati frowned.

“They are not completely covered in fur or sport animal tendencies. They only have claws or ears or tails at most. They do not appeal to the appeal category of ‘furry.’”

I’ve heard this argument before, and I didn’t like it.

Anyway, it’s furries vs squabbling nobility that’s probably intermarrying as we speak vs neo-Vikings in Canada.

I should’ve just stayed in my bunker.

It’s like the internet’s come alive and decided to wage war.

“Their fashion leanings are largely irrelevant.” Maelstrom brought us back on track. As ludicrous as the situation was, we were really looking at a massive clusterfuck up north that could lead to a big issue down the line. Maelstrom was doing the right thing and proactively dealing with the problem before it spilled over onto us. “I want to settle matters in the north peacefully by having the pseudo-feudalists work with the scientists to rid Canada of the invaders. Then, I hope to have them at least split the country apart or come to some sort of agreement to not attack one another.”

“Two states up there is also better than one.” I quipped, and Maelstrom grimaced but nodded. We were going to deal with the hostile power and make the two powers with problems with one another rival each other instead of us. That way if someone of Maelstrom’s caliber popped up between the two of them, they’d worry about each other rather than us. “The supremacists definitely have to go, though, and we need to make sure that they won’t come back.”

“Ideally, we’ll reinstate Canada as a whole. Broker peace after ousting the invaders, and they can unite in time. I want to avoid simply backing Vancouver and the Ascendancy.” Maelstrom shook her head. A sigh left her lips and she leaned back and crossed her arms. “We need your help to facilitate the alliance. They won’t enter each other’s territory, but they are willing to meet here. You’ll be ferrying two diplomatic teams.”

Huh.

“Huh, I thought you’d ask me to blitz the supremacists or something. I’m fine with that. I suppose that, once war breaks out, you’re going to want me to help them out logistically? This is going to be us supporting them rather than directly interfering?”

“Yes. If we intervene, if we decide their fate, they’ll be little more than a vassal to our nation. I don’t want that. We’d be little better than the people who have turned Quebec into rubble and subjugated Canada’s east.” I felt like Maelstrom was being a bit too harsh, but I wasn’t about to participate in global politics just because. I’m a guy who can teleport around and bring loads of shit with him. That doesn’t qualify me to weigh in geopolitics. Maelstrom had ambition, had drive, was educated, and wanted to fix her fuckups. Oh, and she could punch straight the planet. That’s important. “If something or someone akin to the Shogun comes forth and becomes a massive threat, then we should intervene. However, beyond that, I believe just aid and facilitating diplomacy is enough.”

I nodded after just a few seconds of thought.

“Alright, I’ll draft up a contract and we can hash things out.”

 I’m not going to say no to earning more assets and getting more into Maelstrom’s good graces.

There was another involved in the meeting, though.

“So, that’s what Maelstrom wants. What do you want, Parvati?”

“Trade with the Ascendancy, so that I can study and acquire their technology.”

“Please don’t make sentient cattle and elephants.”

“I want to continue to iterate and make powerful Devas with great minds and free will.”

“You haven’t learned from Advika? Doesn’t she barely tolerate you?”

Parvati was a bit quiet at that, and glared at me for a full five seconds with the body it was inhabiting.

Probably an eternity in its time frame.

“I would not change Advika now and ever. I have learned from my mistake. More importantly, I do not wish for her to be without peers or individuals who can understand and work with her. To that end, I will create equals to her.” Parvati stated, and I wasn’t sure if I believed her. She took the processes to make a god-like being and put it into practice to create someone incredibly terrifying. I mean, kudos on the AI for not shackling and putting fail-safes on Advika and making her more likely to rebel, but I’m of the opinion that Advika shouldn’t have been made in the first place. The world’s already dangerous enough… and the AI wants to make more. “They will be my daughters and I will raise them right and earn the right to be freed by their hands.”

The gynoid body bowed its head.

“Designation, Egress, I plead with you to assist me in opening trade with them. Their technology will allow me to better the minds of my Devas immensely. In exchange, I offer you a whole day of fabricator time. Industrial fabricator time at full power.”

On one hand, if I agreed, Parvati would be able to make powerful beings like Advika better.

Advika can already affect heat down to the molecule, and has a nigh-indestructible body with immense strength, speed, and processing power.

More of her kind would just put Earth at greater and greater risk.

But… well… an industrial fabricator can churn out whatever the hell I want and I get it once a day every month?

Coupled with the fact that I’m getting off the planet as soon as I can?

“Alright, you’ve got a deal, Parvati. I’ll move stuff for you.”

“Thank you, Designation: Egress.”

Somewhere in the future, I’m sure that I’ll be written down as the cause for humanity’s subjugation by artificial goddesses and legions of gynoids.

It’s up in the air whether I’ll be praised for it or loathed for it in all honesty.

If Parvati starts churning out androids, I’m sure that everyone will be perfectly fine being ruled.

It’s all about sex appeal, in the end, honestly.