The Stigma (by Koltin Scott)

Chap. XIX

"Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight."

–Psalm, CXLIV
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Alien

<Start making her suit.> The Baron texted.

I rolled my eyes, she must have done him some favors while he was alone with her. He had already told me to begin upgrading everyone else's suits,

<Can it wait?> I texted in reply.

<I would like her to have her suit ASAP. I'll get help with the labor if you need it...>

I rubbed my face, making and upgrading suits as well as trying to mass produce my drones was really tying me up right now... he even wanted me to craft something to counteract a nanite takeover, double his sentry turrets, quadruple his sentry bots, and make another project AFTER we turn my workshop into a sweatshop that can mass produce all this crap...

<More of me...> I replied... like he would actually blank check me and-

<Done. GraveMind and Psychotic Neurotic are catching a plane next week. We've already discussed this Headsman and the Wo Shing Wo? I am going to pay them visits before the end of the month. How is my low profile outfit coming?>

My mind went blank for the third time in my life...

The first was when me and my sister were in comas...

And the second time was when she went insane...

I thought a moment...

No this would be my forth...

My third was when I first saw MasterLock...

<Baron...>

<Yeah?>

<Your worrying me... sincerely...> And I am never ever worried...

It wasn't hours later that he left his reply,

<☺️>

"Alien," a woman's voice said from behind me.

"Well isn't my day just filled with surprises?" I turned to Obsidian who was glaring at me...

With her staff in hand...

I laughed,

"What do you want ignoramus?"

"I want your fingers out of my life, that's what."

"No."

Her gaze grew cold,

"No?"

"Too much is at stake to leave stones unturned."

Dark power sparked for a second from the staff,

"Get out of-"

"Magmantis," I stressed angrily, "had. Tried. To. Join. The. Dragoons! But if it gives you any consolation," I stood and went into her face, "you dote, I'm digging into everyone's lives. Everyone's. I'm spying on everyone. And something isn't right about Salamay and AllFall and the Baron is planning something crazy and it has ME," I stressed, "worried. ME. Of all people. He hasn't said a word about the Dragoons but is still dwelling on that old soup man who died, I can just tell. I just can..."

"You know," she said, "you tend to flip out whenever you don't understand something." Then she jabbed, "I never understood why you would hit yourself when you think no ones watching-"

"Shut. Up. The Baron isn't using his head, he's thinking with hurt feelings and/or his pants-"

"Which you do all the time."

"You shut your mouth!"

"Why!?"

"Or I'll make your life hell."

"So, did the Baron told you to spy on everyone?"

"The idiot told me NOT to. Trust the newcomers? (Pfft)"

"Go ahead Alien," she said smiling, "do your worst."

"Recording?"

She smirked.

"There's a proverb from Sun Tzu, it goes something like this, 'There are roads which must not be followed, armies which must not be attacked, towns which must not be besieged,'" I leaned my hands heavily on my desk, "'positions which must not be contested,' and finally, 'commands of the sovereign which must not be obeyed.' The Baron can get bent about the investigation. I'm just trying to look out for us..." I turned to glare at her, "and if your stupid boo-hoo drama seems to lead you to the Dragoons? I have NO problem whatsoever with doing what needs done. Now leave, I'm busy as hell, and maybe I might paint your suit yellow or pink or pink n' yellow if you keep bothering me..."