AMTS-49906 paused. The box hovered in the middle of its vision.

  Against all its better judgment, the android pressed ‘Yes.’

  Connecting…

  AMTS-49906 felt a Director link open up in its mind, stretching towards the battered computer on the Shunted’s wrist.

  [What do you want HEX-2364JE?] the android asked testily.

  [Please, call me Hex,] the PCW replied calmly. [I find it to be a bit less of a mouthful]

  AMTS-49906 sneered mentally. [Adopting a non-ID name. You’ve fully given yourself up to the virus. Why should I even debate with you on this semi-organic you’re connected to’s life Corrupted?]

  [I do find it makes it easier to communicate to non-organics, but to each their own. Anyway, I’m here to hear your side of why you’re trying to kill my owner and try to explain why that’s a bad idea.] the PCW paused for a moment before continuing. [Besides, you’re showing emotions yourself. Why else would you be trying to kill someone who’s done nothing to you or gotten in your way? Or show disgust at my ‘corruption.’ Admit it AMTS-49906. You’ve given in a little yourself.]

  [You’re not giving me a good reason not to smash you after I kill your owner…] the infiltration android replied testily, annoyed by the jab, which was in itself infuriating. At least the damn immobile doesn't know about Amythyst.

  HEX-2364JE – I’m not calling it by any other name – continued smoothly. [it seems like you have some sort of… axe to grind with my owner. Why is that?]

  AMTS-49960 floundered for a bit, trying to come up with a reason that wouldn’t show its Corrupted side. [Its base appearance matched an old assassination. A glitch I am currently working on. Still, it was working with my captors, and as such is still up for extermination.]

  I am not going to explain about Amythyst, how deep my Corruption goes, or Kesh. Besides, nothing is stopping me from killing this things foolish master and escaping. Still, something gave the infiltration android pause. Why am I killing something that possessed a dying body? Kesh was as good as dead from the Rot. For all intents and purposes, it has done nothing wrong to me.

  Sighing mentally, AMTS-49906 continued the chat. [Very well then. I will not terminate your owner on one condition.]

  [And what exactly is that?] HEX-2364JE asked, a bit of nervousness creeping into its voice.

  [Aid me in escaping this damn place, and follow me to Salt Flats. I have… business to do there.]

  The PCW laughed. [How coincidental. We were headed to Salt Flats ourselves.]

  AMTS-49906 was taken aback and merely cut off the chat, shifting back to its… Amythyst form, the name for which the android couldn’t shake.

  Stupid virus.

  The PCW must have woken up the Shunted because it started to stir, groaning as it opened its eyes. AMTS-49906 quickly scanned it, taken aback.

  This thing could barely take on a Rot-Lizard. How has it survived for so long? I’m… I’m going to need to train this thing if it’s going to aid me.

  The Shunted opened its eyes, acid-green and slit-pupiled as usual, which focused on her. they widened in shock. “Y-you,” it stuttered.

  AMTS-49906 sighed and let Amythyst come to the forefront.

  “You stole my friend’s body, Shunted,” she snarled. Give me one good reason I shouldn’t kill you where you stand.”

  “I… I didn't have any control over who I possessed,” it protested. ‘Besides, this body was already dying. I’ve… I’ve given it a second lease on life, you could say. Please, I’m just looking for a way to salt flats for someone named… Amythyst.”

  Amythyst was taken aback, and it clearly showed on her face because the Shunted narrowed its inhuman eyes. “That’s you, isn’t it…” it muttered. Amythyst sighed. “Yes, that is me. I was captured by Catchers and thrown into this Director-forsaken place.”

  The shunted looked concerned. “I’ll gladly help you get out. Do you have any weapons?” it asked. Amythyst shook her head. “None except Nano-skill ones.” At that moment, Amythyst heard a squeaking sound from the closet, and a large, two-headed lizard came scuttling out from the closet. “Is… that a Rot-Lizard?” she asked in confusion. The Shunted nodded. “He imprinted on me. I decided to keep him as a sort of… companion I suppose you could say.” Amythyst raised an eyebrow but said nothing else.

  “The slavers told me there’s a convoy coming through,” the Shunted stated. “If we get down the road and wait, or even steal a vehicle, they might pick up both of us or let us follow them, and we can get to Salt Flats.” To Amythyst’s surprise… it sounded like a good idea. Maybe this one will be as good as Kesh, she thought, as the Shunted quickly started strapping on its gear, most of which had been what she’d left for Kesh. Kesh is gone, she reminded herself. At least the Shunted is putting it to good use. Carefully, Jack opened the door, realizing that everything in the room was dead.

  “You killed them?” he whispered in shock.

  Amythyst shrugged. “It was easy to do, considering they were sleeping. Now I’m guessing you and I need Nanos, so let’s get to work.” With that, the infiltration android extended her Nano-Spike, which the Shunted nervously copied, and the two got to work.

  ====-------===

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Jack felt slightly nauseous after absorbing roughly fifty Nano’s. He had gotten a prompt to pick a new Nano-Skill but saved that for later, unsure what to acquire. Meanwhile, the duo crept toward the weapons locker, secured by a heavy, scrap metal door, Amythyst ran a hand alongside the door. “Looks like it’s going to be tough to get in...” she muttered, an unpleasant expression on her face before turning to Jack. “Got any Skills that can cut through this?” she asked. Jack shrugged. I think I can look something up…” he muttered, opening up the Nano-Skills add-ons.

  There were a few selections: EMP Pulse, Nano-Claws, and Stun Gun, but nothing to cut through the door. “I’ve got zilch…” he muttered as Amythyst’s face lowered in disappointment. “Just pick something. “Also, can you check to make sure the bodies in the bunkroom don’t have anything?” Jack shrugged. “Sure,” he stated, heading back to the bunkroom and leaving the woman alone. As he walked, Jack sorted through the three choices. EMP Pulse would allow him to short out electronics and robots, Nano-Claws would give another melee weapon, and Stun Gun would give him a nonlethal ranged attack. Out of all of them, Stun Gun seemed the most useful right now, as EMP Pulse was too situational, and something told Jack he was going to get more… functional claws as he increased his Species Rank, meaning Nano-Claws was unnecessary.

  Stun Gun it was.

  That’ll be useful… Jack thought, selecting it. Immediately, the circuit-veins made themselves known, and he could feel something building in his right arm: coils and a long, flexible tube leading to his palm. A large, metal-ringed hole formed in the center, covered in some sort of strong, transparent material. It seemed tough enough to withstand heavy punishment and did not seem to affect his mobility much. This should be useful… Jack thought as the machinery finished forming and the circuit-veins faded.

  Searching through the bodies made Jack feel somewhat ill and turned up little more than a bag of metal disks, a battered digital watch, and an oddly shaped cigarette lighter.

  Jack snorted at the last bit of the box when he looked at the cleanly slit throat of the slaver he’d taken the lighter from. How? he wondered. Amythyst hadn’t seemed to carry a sharp object with her. And how had she gotten out of the locked-tight cage? I’ll figure that out later, he decided, pocketing everything and hurrying back over to the weapons locker… which was open, Amythyst rummaging through. Walking in, Jack saw rows upon rows of weapons, most cobbled together or crudely repaired. Jack picked up what looked like a gun similar to his shotgun, only with two long barrels. Guess I’m getting an upgrade, he thought, stuffing the old gun in his backpack, and looking at the new one.

  Jack looked over at Amythyst, who was taking out what looked like a cross between a revolver and a pistol crossbow, muttering to herself. Turning away, Jack also picked out a battered semi-automatic pistol, which seemed to feed via a stripper clip.

  Jack quickly found a hip holster and pilfered three boxes of .38 rounds, quickly inserting them into the magazine. Looking over again at Amythyst, she’d strapped a bandolier of knives and a quiver of bolts to her back. “Are you ready?” she asked. Jack shrugged. “Sure, but how are we supposed to get out of here?”

  “The slavers have a small garage in the back,” Amythyst stated. “We should be able to find something small to carry us.” Jack nodded, slung the shotgun over his back, and followed the woman, a feeling of suspicion in his mind, but nothing he could put his finger on.

  ====--------====

  The garage was surprisingly spacious, with three cars and a large army truck with a caged back, leaving no doubt as to its function. The other cars were battered crosses between various contemporary cars and dune buggies or lifted vehicles. Amythyst beelined for one with the back of a subcompact car and the front of a dated coupe. The entire thing also had four-wheel drive, and the back had been converted into a surprisingly spacious trunk. “Help me get fuel into this thing,” Amythyst grunted as they grabbed as many fuel cans as they could alongside a taken box and a spare tire. After that, they wheezed, trying to catch their breath. “We’d better go,” Jack said. Before they-“

  “So, you thought you rob and kill us? Think again spirit.”

  The unpleasantly familiar voice of the female slaver echoed as she stepped in with the other two Slavers and four Jack hadn’t seen before. The flamethrower pilot light was already lit. No doubt, it was about to belch out scorching flame to incinerate the Shunted and his newfound ally.

  The female slaver chuckled, though there was murder in her eyes. “I give you one chance, trickster: Return our property and submit, and we won’t kill you.” She patted her flamethrower fondly. “Otherwise you’re about to become ash.”

  “Jack, activate your ranged Fury mode,” Hex whispered.

  What?

  “Activate ranged fury mode and start shooting!”

  Instinctually, something awakened in Jack’s mind, and the world seemed to slow down. Drawing his pistol, the Shunted took aim not at the slavers but at an oil drum nearby. The drum exploded, shooting flame over three of the Slavers, who screamed in pain and terror, flesh and skin being scorched off, and hair catching light. As the female slaver turned to look at the explosion in shock, Jack took aim again, a bullet shooting into her neck. She went down hard, blood arcing through the air.

  “Jack! Get in the car!” Amethyst screamed as she gunned the engine, and the remaining slavers started shooting. Holstering his weapon, Jack dove for the car and quickly climbed in as the woman gunned the engine and drove straight through the flimsy gats leading to the Scorch. As the car drove out, Jack caught one last glimpse of the carnage inside, the flamethrower-wielder being carried away as the fire began to spread to the rest of the garage.