After we'd burnt through the rest of that magazine and half of a new one, I called a halt. I had plenty of tier 2 metal for the FERA, but I didn't want to feed all of it to a hungry GN-75, as fun as it was to play with it.
I filled up the FERA with small pieces of tier 2 metal and closed the hatch.
"That is amazing. The weapon will manufacture its own ammunition?" Theo asked.
"Slowly, but yes. The problem is the lack of tier 2 metals here on Earth."
"What does that even mean? Tier 2? Is it like megasteel or something?" Marty asked.
"It's just the way the Union classifies things. Everything is made with nanotech, so the metal isn't just metal. It's got internal structures, and those structures are changeable. Tier 2 metal might be harder, or have more tensile strength. Tier 3 is the same, but better." I explained.
I myself had only learned about this recently. Union children would know that tier 3 was better than 2, and that would be enough. An advanced skill implant had imparted more information when it showed me exactly what the tiers were, and how they differed. For Union metals, the difference between tier 2 and 3 was in how much energy and time was spent in its manufacture.
"Weird. Seems a bit video-gamey," Marty replied. I could only agree.
Chapter Thirteen: Our New Ride
BACK IN THEO'S LIVING room, things were a lot more relaxed. The bit of tension that had been there, the formality between Theo and me, had melted away. The sun had long since set and it was getting close to our departure time.
"I'd always hoped, I mean really hoped, but to see proof that there's other life out there. Man, it's wild," Theo said.
"Yeah, at least I hope the Union is still out there. If the AIs are waking up from their insanity, we might all be in trouble," I said.
"We've got the shield though, so we're alright, aren't we? I mean as long as it's still around," Marty asked.
"It's a deterrent," I replied. "Ferals don't like being in it, and portals can't open inside. It won't work against the AIs if they're sane again, though."
"So what do we do, then?" Marty asked.
"I'll tell you what we'll do," Theo said. "We'll fight. We'll get every man on Earth a gun like that Needler of yours, Jake. We'll build ships and take the fight to them, Union or no."
"Yeah, you're right. We're going to have to do that. We're going to need time, though. We don't even know if the shield is failing, or not. My grandpa thought it was, but that was years ago and it seems like it's still here. We've got to get to that outpost and check his data."
"About that," Theo said. "The truck is ready to go, and by now all the paperwork should be finalized. I've registered a new Antigua shell corporation, which owns the truck. The truck is registered to that corporation, which also pays the insurance. You're on the insurance as a contractor. Everything is paid up for a year, and if the cops run the plates it'll hold up and your name won't pop up on their screen. If they pull you over, obviously that's a different story. Don't get pulled over is my advice."
"How are we getting across the border? I'm not sure if the sheriff has put out a BOLO on us or not, but if he has, we're not getting through," Marty said.
"That's the easy part, actually. I've programmed the route into the GPS unit in the truck. The crossing you'll use is unstaffed after 10 pm. Just drive through."
"Really? That doesn't seem right," I said.
"There's still some trust in the world, at least on our northern border. Let me get you your cash; you guys should get on the road."
Theo stood up and left the room, disappearing into the back of the house. He returned a moment later with a plastic folder full of papers and a stack of cash. He handed both to me.
It was weird, handling so much cash. I'd never held so much money before. The plastic folder contained all the various registration documents for the truck outside.
I handed one of the stacks of cash, ten thousand dollars, to Marty. He took it, looking surprised. "What's this for?"
"It doesn't make sense to have all of our cash in one place. Besides, maybe you'll need some."
"Alright, I won't say no," Marty replied.
Another stack went in one of my parka's zippered pockets and the rest went into the bag with the guns. Theo watched but didn't have anything to say.
"Why do you have so much cash anyway, Theo?" I asked.
"I'm not that fond of fiat currencies like the dollar, but better that than keeping it in a bank. I'm happy to get rid of the paper and take the gold, though."
"How do you make your living?" I asked.
I was expecting an answer like he was a computer hacker, or had made a fortune in Bitcoin. He surprised me again.
"You see those cars out there, right? That's my current inventory. I restore cars and flip them online. I make good money doing it. Any parts I can't use get sold as well."
"You're a mechanic? I didn't expect that at all," I said.
"I bought a junkyard and live in it, Jake. Now, let's get you guys on the road."
I picked up my bags and we all walked out to the yard. The truck he'd picked out for us was a good choice, a short bed crew cab F-150 with newish-looking snow tires. It had been under a cover
