Chapter Nineteen - Future

    Chapter Nineteen - Future

    Food!

    Everyone needs it, everyone wants it. You run out, youre boned!

    Thats why you should buy the best!

    And the best--and the rest--is all sold with the Estlen logo right on the box.

    If youre not buying Estlen, youre a dead motherfucker!

    --Cancelled Estlen food promotion

    ***

    Lucy, I said.

    Cat! Lucy said right back. She clattered towards me, crutches clicking away until she slammed into me. You didnt die!

    I snorted and returned the hug before pulling back with a bit of a blush. We were sort of the centre of attention, all the brats, Marie and baldy looking our way.

    We can put the apocalypse on pause if you two wanna go at it, Junior said from where she stood near--but not with--the kittens.

    Shut up you, I said before scanning the group. Nothing bad happened while I was off? I asked. They were still in the area with the vending machine and washrooms. There were two ways to access the area and each had a decently tough-looking door blocking it off. If some aliens showed up they could run the other way, or hold them off. It wasnt exactly a chokepoint, but, well, we werent exactly military.

    The amount of junk food wrappers haphazardly tossed next to an overfilled trash can attested to that much.

    Marie shook her head. No maam. Everyone behaved appropriately. How did your scouting go?

    I grinned back, especially when Lucy leaned into my side. Ah, well enough. Theres a large group of people in the parking garage. Some security people, some normal folk. Most of the group that left the shelter earlier are already there. I smiled harder. Even Bitchbot.

    Marie raised an eyebrow, her expression turning confused, but the kittens groaned and muttered at the news.T/his chapter is updated by

    Our mansion, I corrected. And sure, as long as you take care of them and Junior bunks in your room.

    Lucy gasped. Youre just trying to get me to spend time in someone elses room, she said. You devious pervert.

    I didnt say it, I said.

    A cough from behind had me turning to stare up at a placid-faced Marie. Pardon me, saint, but time is moving on.

    Ah, right, I said. Cmon Lucy, youre stalling all of us.

    I am not! Lucy protested.

    We moved across another floor, encountering exactly nothing alien or awful, or keen on eating us, then went down the last stairwell to the parking garage.

    The last door was clear, with the car theyd set to push into it off to the side and a few security types waiting nearby, chatting over coffee as if this was a normal Saturday and not the day the sky decided to open up and vomit aliens all over us.

    Couldnt blame them, really. In fact, the smell had me wanting a cup of my own.

    Captain Cat, Simmons said as he jogged over.

    I pretended not to hear Lucys snort and nodded to the security officer. Yeah, Im back, I said.

    Good. We have trouble. And I think youre the only one that can help.

    I sighed. Right, cool. Is it urgent? His look said something between yes and no shit. Right, give me just a minute.

    Turning to Lucy, I placed my hand on her shoulder, then I nodded to Marie for her to come closer. Right. Get all the kids set up in one of the buses. Make sure we have a way out of here in a hurry, then sit tight. Ill figure out whats going on, and then, ah, I guess Ill figure out a way to leave this place.

    Lucy gave me a thumbs-up and Marie nodded.

    And then I was after Simmons to figure out which fire needed quenching.

    ***