"I have to admit, Erica8," the Prophet stated and examined the food closely before he took a mouthful, “of all the receptions we expected from people inside, a warm one with food and a show of fantastic artwork was not highly anticipated. Although it is, of course, appreciated."
"We're ecologists here, for the most part," she explained, brushed the hair from her face, and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "There are biologists and an assortment of other specialists, but there is one thing we share within these walls. We're all pacifists and believe that war and fighting should be a thing of the past if humanity is to reach the elevated position it once held. You know, of course, that our view is not shared by the residents of FEMA City, who would rather enforce their own ambitions on all they meet, by force if necessary. When they asked us to use our terraforming processes—including the weather blimps—for combat purposes, we refused.”
"I will assume that answer was not acceptable," Hammerhand interjected.
"Indeed, and they took it all by force despite our protests and placed us under what can only be described as a military occupation. We didn't have the weapons to resist and seeing them turn the efforts of decades of work over to barbarians like that Lady Hoot character… Well, it was sickening. Therefore, to see people from the neighboring towns fight back with the help of the famed Knights Mechanica was gratifying, even if we did see you destroy one of the blimps."
Hammerhand nodded. "I'm sorry, but it was necessary. The lightning—"
"Is why they wanted to use it as a weapon in the first place. Believe me, I understand. All we want to do is return to the work of rebuilding this world without pointless dick-measuring by means of mechs and guns."
The Prophet leaned forward. "I'm sorry, but how would one measure genitals while wearing a mech?"
She stared at him for a few seconds as if to decide whether he was joking or not. "Metaphorical dick-measuring."
"Ah."
Hammerhand stepped in to keep the conversation from deviating from the point. "We have every intention to allow your people to continue your work unimpeded, but we also aim to make sure that FEMA City will not be allowed to take control of this area again, so we must ask for your help."
Erica8 pursed her lips pensively. "Our stance on non-violence does remain, you understand?"
"Of course, and we would not ask you to step into combat at all. We merely need your help to contact the people in the gene bank west from here. Since attacking the city itself would be impossible, we wish to force them into a position where they have to negotiate for peace instead."
The woman once again flicked her short brown hair from where it had begun to creep over her eyes and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her freckled nose almost by reflex.
"We've had some contact with the Gene Bankers prior to the coup. From what we were able to understand, they held themselves as neutral while FEMA consolidated their power in the region. A few militants were granted asylum by them against the orders of the junta, though. Like us, they are their own society and would much rather be allowed to work in peace than have political ambitions get in the way of rebuilding this world. I guess you could say they are their own mandate, in a way, and they will follow it regardless of who might be in charge at one moment or another."
Hammerhand took a moment to enjoy the food again. It wasn't odd that it tasted different—most bunkers used different ingredients for their food, after all—but it wasn't common to find any that were more palatable than the others. "So, do you think they would help us to convince the city to sue for peace?"
"I doubt they would help anyone at this point, but that doesn't mean they would try to impede you. They had fewer technologies that could be weaponized, which would explain why there was no military occupation of their area, but they would want independence from the city as much as we do."
The Prophet grunted. "And here we always assumed you were all connected to the city. Satellite bunkers, as it were."
"I'm sure that is what those in charge at FEMA would want people to think. Regardless, you might want to discuss negotiating passage with them. That, at least, would be a place to start in the negotiations. Now, if you will excuse me, I have issues to tend to and scientists to calm. The show must go on, as they say."
Hammerhand wasn't sure who said that but could only nod as she stood from the table and made her way to where a small group in white coats waited for her.
"Do you trust these people?" the Prophet asked once she was out of earshot.
"Do you?"
The man paused to think for a moment. "I do not. How could I? Their pacifism will be applied equally to us, of course."
Hammerhand could only shrug in response. "In the same way that we needed to trust you, I feel you and I must trust them. There is no way the world will heal if we're not willing to put faith in those around us."
The Prophet did not look convinced. "If you insist, I can only agree, but my reservations remain."
Chapter Fifty-Five
Jessica13 took a deep breath. "I can't shake the feeling that this is a really bad idea."
"And yet you are proceeding with it," Mini pointed out.
"Well, yes, it's not like we have any other options. The only chance we have to return Auburn to some semblance of order is in the hands of Mayor Jones. The Knights have gone with Hammerhand and the Prophet, which leaves me with precious few people who would actually listen to
