"Mechanized Union Incorporated, colloquially known as 'The Firm' to members, started from a group of disgruntled mostly ex-amazon employees who initialized during the Madison incursion of 2057. Led by the estranged daughter of the Takimura dynasty, Quinn 'Mecha Suit Maiden' Takimura, MUI has recently begun offering pro-Bono representation to clients in the Appalachian and north east areas. A move that venerable law firm Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy and Rodriguez has called 'Anti competitive' and 'Grounds for immediate disbarment'. "

  — Appalachia Today, in a segment definitely not sponsored by Kennedy, Kennedy, Kennedy and Rodriguez

  They say the reward for good work is more work.

  As much as Quinn wished they could just leave, they had ended up with not one, but twenty one people dependent upon their rescuers for support back to society. Elliot, quick thinking as always, had booked it ahead of the group to the hangars and commandeered a cargo truck. While the antsy guards present had initially protested, Elliot had made it very clear that either he was leaving with one, or nobody was leaving with any.

  Ten or so minutes later, two convoys of vehicles set off from the facility. The Samurai led group set down a mile or so out however, before shuffling the ex-amazons out.

  "Not to be ungrateful or anything, but why did we stop?". The speaker was a porcelain complexioned man named Seth, who had taken on a bit of a leadership role for the recently liberated.

  Quinn stepped out of the cab of the semi, cricking her neck and wishing she was in the Iron Swan with its actually comfy seats. "Two reasons. First to check you guys over ASAP and figure out if they left any surprises, and second to watch the fireworks."

  The second point got a slight eyebrow raise from the man, but he didn't comment further.

  "So, Irys, you mentioned I could get something to check them over?"

  "Yes, you have a hand scanner in your medical cybernetics catalog, 10 points."

  "Could I purchase that, please? Also, if you could initiate the fireworks, that would be appreciated."

  "Of course."

  New Purchase: Field Anatomy Scanner

  Cost: 10. Points reduced to... 51

  Extracting a square device with a length wise handle on the back, Quinn followed instructions and went down the group, moving it over them roughly head to toe. She got distracted a few people in when the first strike landed behind her, blasting one of the intact buildings of the facility into rubble in a sheer display of nothing but force. What could only be described as a scorched earth barrage followed, and by the time the dust settled it was hard to pick out much other than dust and craters.

  After that welcome distraction, Quinn finished her sweep, confirming that there didn't seem to be any implanted bombs or similar in any of the ex-prisoners.

  That didn't mean they were clean, however. Every single one had cybernetic augments that they didn't come in with, Jing Qi included. Seth confirmed this was expected, but mentioned it was likely worthwhile to save that discussion till a later time.

  Their business in the wasteland of Ohio complete, the group loaded back into their transports and set back out Madison.

  Seth had requested to ride with the leader, and Quinn had internally groaned when Aisha and Elliot had immediately pointed to her. They'd been flying back northwest for around fifteen minutes when he broke the slightly awkward silence that had been building.

  "So, Samurai Mecha Suit Maiden, I wanted to chat with you because I need to ask a favor."

  She involuntarily grimaced slightly, but spoke up before he could get the wrong idea.

  "Sure, what did you need?"

  He sighed. "I hate to ask, because you've done a fuck of a lot for us already. But in short, if we just leave after we get to where we're going we're gonna be kind of fucked."

  He paused. "Most of us have been there a while, and have no money, no connections, and nowhere to stay. Its not really your problem, but I'm hoping you'd be willing to do something to give us all a chance to get on our feet."

  Shit, he wasn't wrong.

  Quinn glanced at him, taking in his expression. Seth just seemed… tired, though there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

  "I can't make any promises, but we'll try."

  He nodded. "Can't ask more than that."

  She immediately called up Aisha and Elliot, it didn't take long for them to connect.

  "So, I figured out what Seth wanted. He asked if we could help the people we rescued with getting back on their feet, apparently most of them have basically nothing."

  She heard Aisha hum in thought, but Elliot spoke up first. "Yeah, we probably shouldn't just cut them loose. I assume you're calling to brainstorm?"

  She nodded, then remembered this was voice only. "Yeah, I was hoping you'd have thoughts, some group we could ask to house and feed these people who aren't going to be too sketchy to work with."

  Aisha interjected. "What about the university? Its kinda morbid, but there are unfortunately a bunch of suddenly free rooms still."

  Quinn frowned. "Aren't we already imposing on them since they're hosting us? I don't want to piss them off by pushing too far."

  "Then we don't just ask, we offer a deal."

  Hmm, that was a thought.

  She was interrupted in her pondering when Aisha let out an 'ah' of epiphany.

  "I have an idea."

  Larissa Hunter, Dean of Students at the University of Wisconsin, was really, really tired.

  She hadn't been on campus when the antithesis seed pod had crashed into Bascom Hill, but given her office overlooked it she was glad she wasn't. She'd been dealing with the aftermath since, and likely would for weeks. She'd even had to delegate some of the work of calling families of the deceased when it got to be too much emotionally.

  Now, she was stuck in this meeting of the deans, listening to the head of the department of finance complain about how much dozens of dead children would impact their fucking finances.

  She was incredibly grateful when the president's secretary bursting into the room precluded her from shutting the man up herself, likely in a way conducive to her getting fired.

  "Dr. Jackson? There's someone on the line for you, somewhat urgently."

  Dr. Reginald Jackson was the controversial but canny president of the university, but he was rather set in his ways.

  "Thank you, Stephen. Tell them they can make an appointment for a call at a later date."

  "But Sir..."

  "Stephen, we're busy."

  Stephen fidgeted in place. The poor boy was still new, and hadn't figured out when to just give it up with Jackson.

  "Sir, its…"

  "Enough."

  "A Samurai…"

  The room went deathly still.

  "Which one?"

  "Uh, Vixinertia?"

  Larissa decided this was a good time to interject.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  "She's a student here, Reggie, did most of the work clearing the university. She's probably calling about her samurai partners, I put them up in a few of our… newly empty rooms in the same dorm."

  His brow creased. "Why didn't I hear about this already?"

  "I was the topic of our four o'clock."

  He nodded, mollified. "You can put her through here, Stephen."

  "Have no fear, I can do so myself." An unknown voice, rich and deep, spoke through the speaker in the table.

  A moment later it was replaced by a chipper woman's cadence. "Hi, is this Dr. Jackson?"

  "Speaking." he replied curtly. "What can we do for you, Miss Vixinertia."

  If she noticed his standoffish tone, she didn't outwardly react.

  "So, we were hoping to make a deal. We have… twenty one people we need housed, fed and if possible clothed and medically taken care of."

  His expression sharpened.

  "For how long?"

  "Until they can get themselves on their feet, so don't know how long."

  His eyes narrowed, but before he could respond the Samurai continued.

  "We weren't gonna ask you to do it for free though! We were going to offer to buy some new scientific equipment for the university. Maybe a new electron microscope for example? I know we need a new one."

  There was a strangled gasp from the dean of physics in the corner, and when Jackson clicked the mute button and raised an eyebrow at him, the man sputtered out a response.

  "Our current one has been really close to giving up the ghost for a few years now, and we've really struggled to fit it into the budget. I think this is a great deal."

  The head of finance jumped in. "How much is an electron microscope worth, anyway?"

  The dean of physics collected himself, slightly. "A refurbished one would run us about 5 billion credits?"

  That had the money-manager rounding on Jackson. "Do it, even one would save out budget for the year and then some."

  Jackson looked to Larissa, who nodded weakly. "I can take point."

  He unmuted the call. "Very well Miss Vixinertia, you have a deal. I'll trust you can co-ordinate with Dr. Hunter as before?"

  "Of course! I'll give her a call right away."

  Larissa sighed. Fuck she was tired, but at least this felt worth the bother.

  Seth was incredibly grateful when Quinn informed him they'd secured housing for the ex-amazon refugees, promising that they'd find a way to repay them. A sentiment Quinn was quick to brush off, she wasn't really looking to collect debts.

  While flying home, she took the opportunity to call up Abigail Black, from the Indy family branch. Abigail was, much to Quinn's surprise, a man, though he just chuckled when she brought it up, claiming he was so used to the mix up by now he quite enjoyed it. They had a quick discussion, where she agreed to sign over limited merchandising rights for her Samurai likeness.

  Within half an hour, Quinn was sitting with several more digits in her credit account than she had owned since leaving her parents control. Thankful that she could now at least not worry near as much about money, she spent the rest of the trip back trying to finally relax.

  When they finally arrived back in Madison, the sky was darkening as the warm orange of dusk slowly faded. Quinn made an attempt to immediately retire, but was sternly encouraged to eat a meal first.

  And so Quinn, Elliot, Aisha, Maia and Jing Qi found themselves in an Italian restaurant at 9 in the evening. Elliot had insisted that Italian was the best food 'After an Op', something about comfort food and plenty of vegetarian options.

  It was nice to be home and among friends, as Quinn caught up Jing Qi on everything that had happened, from her initialization, to the infiltration and rescue from her end. Her response to hearing about Quinn's new relationship with Aisha and Elliot was a mock exasperated "Finally!", and making overly fantastical threats if they were to break her heart.

  "So, if you're serious about doing this sort of thing, we should probably do a debrief at some point." Elliot started, having finished absolutely wolfing down a huge pasta dish. "Nothing to worry about, but its always worth taking the time to reflect. It might save a life at some point. But not tonight"

  Quinn tilted her head, still working on her pizza.

  "I did want to check though… how are you feeling?"

  She shrugged and finished her bite. "Tired, mostly. Glad Jing Qi is okay."

  The girl in question gave her a soft eyed look.

  Elliot scrunched one side of his mouth slightly.

  "I more mean, mentally. You've… not killed anyone before, right? Only Antithesis?"

  She nodded in response.

  "Yeah, I've never killed a human, but I honestly feel okay. Is that normal?"

  "Can be. Sometimes it sets in later. Sometimes it never sets in at all. I just wanted to make sure you knew that I'm happy to talk if you want to."

  She nodded again. "Thanks, I'll see how I go, I guess."

  Aisha stopped in place, seeming to think deeply for a second before speaking up, an unusual streak of hesitancy in her voice.

  "Is that offer open to anyone else?"

  Elliot glanced at her. "Of course, why wouldn't it be?"

  She pushed a ravioli around with a fork. "I… never-mind, I'll probably take you up on that offer."

  Quinn took a moment to observe Aisha, noting she was definitely off. She slipped a hand under the table and found the fox girl's own, who didn't react openly but gave her a gentle squeeze.

  "I like your ears." Jing Qi quietly commented from next to Quinn as the two waited for Cannoli to arrive.

  Quinn looked over, taking the time to really take in her friend for the first time in a few days. Jing Qi was of moderate height, her peach skin flush with red from the alcohol she'd been drinking after getting back. She had short black hair in a wolf cut, not fond of longer as it took more maintenance and she 'never had time for that.'

  "Thanks, I do too." Quinn responded, getting a giggle and another hand squeeze from Aisha that sent her heart aflutter. Gods did she feel like a teen again.

  "I figure its obvious, but I'm really, really thankful you came to rescue me. I'm kind of half surprised you did to be honest, I've been kind of cold recently."

  Quinn frowned. "I wasn't going to not rescue you just because you've been having a hard time lately. I've seen those indenture contracts, they're fucking brutal."

  She paused, deciding to bite the bullet.

  "You are under no obligation to answer, but what did they do to you in there, exactly."

  Jing Qi tensed a little, but relaxed after a moment.

  "No, even if you and Maia weren't my closest friends, you're probably the best person to help out with whatever I choose to do."

  She paused, taking a breath.

  "They told me it was some kind of combat augmentation, meant to be cutting edge and impossible to detect or something. The others would probably know more, they'd been there longer."

  Maia gasped in rage from the other side of Jing Qi. "How the fuck do they have the balls to do that to someone without consent."

  Jing Qi just shrugged. "The internship contracts have been getting slowly worse. They apparently had a term in some of the more recent ones that allow them to conduct 'Non detrimental medical procedures' on us. I'd kind of assumed that was just a way to ensure we got vaccines for shit, but apparently its a lot broader than that."

  Quinn furrowed her brow in a scowl. "That's… gods I fucking hate these people. We're going to get you out of that contract, one way or another."

  "I mean, I would love to, though its not a priority with you around. But how?"

  Quinn cracked a grin. "I happen to have AI sugar-mommied my way into being probably one of the better lawyers in the country. That's how."

  "Darling, I adore you, but if you call me that again there will need to be consequences."

  Despite her words, Irys' tone was blatantly jovial, and Quinn just chuckled in response.

  "But shit, I'm sorry to hear that. We can near certainly find a way to remove it if that's what you wanna do."

  Jing Qi waggled a straight hand from side to side. "Not sure. It definitely isn't detrimental right now, and its actually somewhat impressive. I'm quite a bit stronger and faster than I used to be. Honestly, if they'd asked, I might well have accepted before I knew you became a Samurai."

  Quinn bobbed her head. "That's fine, you have time to decide. I'm kind of surprised you weren't well… more surprised I got turned into a Samurai, by the way."

  Jing Qi's face grew a slight smile. "Oh, I was. But they told me a few days ago, I've had time to come to terms with this utterly shocking revelation already."

  "Aw, you're no fun."

  They wrapped up dinner a few minutes later, and after ensuring Jing Qi could get into her room Quinn was quickly face down into a pillow. She'd survived the antithesis, got the boy (and girl!), and rescued her friend from an unjust fate.

  Tomorrow, she'd begin her plans of starting a PMC slash law firm slash manufacturing corporations slash political organization, fighting off more rabid alien invaders, and exploring the relationships with her new paramours.

  But for tonight, she just wanted some fucking sleep.

  https://discord.gg/CuGBzHvM If you folks want to come talk about MU and other SCS EU works.