Chapter Sixty-Seven - The Quiche of Commitment

Chapter Sixty-Seven - The Quiche of Commitment

"Quantum Quiche: A Synth-Cuisine Delight

Ingredients:

1 Quantum Crust (1 pack)

(Patented multi-grain blend, infused with omega-3 nanobots for optimal crunch)

2 Cups Bio-Enhanced Egg Substitute

(From SynthFarmTM: High-protein, low-cholesterol formula for the health-conscious consumer)

1 Cup Neon Cheese Shreds

(Vegan, dairy-free, and bursting with flavor synthesized from the finest algae)

1 Cup Mutant Greens (spinach, kale, or a mix)

(Genetically modified for maximum nutrient density; no antithesis byproducts)

1/2 Cup Cyber Seasoning Blend

(A proprietary mix of salt, pepper, and spice; guaranteed to elevate your taste experience)

1/2 Cup Holo-Vegan Cream

(Plant-based and shelf-stable; perfect for a creamy texture without the guilt)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Quantum Crust:

Preheat your pre-programmed oven to 375°F (190°C). Unwrap your Quantum Crust and lay it in a 9-inch pie dish. Prick the bottom with a fork (for optimal heat circulation) and pre-bake for 10 minutes.

2. Craft the Filling:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the Bio-Enhanced Egg Substitute and Holo-Vegan Cream. Whisk vigorously until the mixture achieves a perfect vortex of creaminess.

3. Add the Neon Cheese and Mutant Greens:

Fold in the Neon Cheese Shreds and your choice of Mutant Greens. Sprinkle in the Cyber Seasoning Blend to taste. This is where flavour meets the future!

4. Assemble the Quiche:

Pour the filling into the pre-baked Quantum Crust. Use a silicon spatula to ensure an even spread—precision is key.

5. Bake to Perfection:

Place the quiche in your trusty oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the centre is set and the top has that golden glow of a neon skyline.

6. Cool and Serve:

Allow your Quantum Quiche to cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve it warm, or chill it in your fridge for a refreshing cyber-snack."

"Yeah. Gomorrah showed me this map from the Family. They''re spreading everyone out. There''s like, almost two hundred samurai that mobilized."

"That''s a lot of samurai," Lucy said. "Like, legitimately a lot of them. I don''t think two hundred samurai show up to most small incursions."

"Eh," I said with a shrug. "I think more show up than you''d think. It''s just that a lot of them aren''t... celebrity samurai? More discreet sorts, you know?"

"I suppose," Lucy said. "You''re more of an expert there than I am."

I shrugged half-heartedly. "Myalis, is two hundred samurai a lot?"

It is a rather large number. The most vanguard that ever participated in an incursion on Earth--with the exception of large assaults like the Mars project that''s currently ongoing and global incursions, is four hundred and thirty-two during the Second Battle of Zurich in 2051.

That was a chunk, holy shit. I didn''t envy whichever poor idiot had to handle the logistics of that.

"Four-hundred is a lot," Lucy said. "Guess you''ll have to try harder next time."

I stuck my tongue out at her, and she laughed and tried to poke it. "There will be no next time. If Gomorrah, or god-forbid Emoscythe, ever try to put me in front of a camera again, I''m going to do nothing but swear the entire time."

"I don''t think that would actually tank your rankings in a meaningful way," Lucy said. "You''re not exactly striking hard in the pre-teen demographic."

"My rankings? Oh! That popularity poll thing?"

Lucy nodded. "You''re in the top three thousand now, by the way!"

Huh, that was... something. Way ahead of where I''d been just a week or two ago. Then again, the mayor thing, and that big broadcast... yeah, that was a lot of my face going around. I shouldn''t have been surprised that I had gained some amount of infamy, but it still felt weird to even think about.

"So, how''s it feel to be dating a celebrity?" I asked.

"Ohh, can we go to one of those red-carpet things? I want to hang off your arm while wearing something very skimpy," Lucy said.

I laughed. "Sure. Maybe after tomorrow, though? I''ve got this feeling that my samurai buddies wouldn''t be impressed if I go to some movie premier instead of helping."

"I see and understand your argument, and in my magnanimity, I accept," Lucy said as she tilted her head back and tried to sound snobbish.

I relaxed. This was nice. The kittens were mostly ignoring us and making a racket, the TV was on across the room with the volume too high, my breath stank of eggs, and my leg was asleep because of the weird way I was sitting, but it was still nice.

"Did I ever tell you that your legs are squishy?" I asked.

Lucy snorted. "My legs are not squishy."

I shook my head. "Squishy."

"No!"

"Only good for being used as a pillow," I said.

Lucy looked down at me, then reached over and tapped my nose with a finger. "Idiot," she declared. She didn''t shift or kick me off, though, so it was my victory. I closed my eyes as she started to play with my hair again, long fingers rubbing at my scalp. If I could purr, I might have, cat allegations be damned.

Tomorrow was going to be a whole ordeal. We''d have to gun down ten thousand aliens and hope that we took out enough of them to keep the chaos in the area to a bare minimum. There were people and orgs in the region that wanted to make a big name for themselves, and I was going to have to be there to keep tempers calm.

But tomorrow was tomorrow. Right now, I had a warm Lucy to cuddle and a full stomach, and that felt like enough for the moment.

Then Lucy leaned down and started to whisper some ideas into my ear, and I found that my post-food nap mood was set aside. There were other, more fun things I could be up to.

***