Chapter 26: Anny

The final pod sat silently on the rooftop. Spencer observed the white egg-like structure with his left arm was draped over Sarah’s stable shoulders. The blond haired Engie insisted on supporting nearly all of Spencer’s weight. He would have protested more if he hadn’t thrown up all over the ladder trying to get up here.

Naomi was busy laying out all four of their sleeping bags on the gravelly rooftop. The self appointed bed tester, Beatrice, took exaggerated time to repeatedly lay down on the bed and give written feedback on Naomi’s work. A quick glance up at the clear evening sky overhead reassured Spencer that they probably wouldn’t get rained on.

“You could always wait until morning.” Sarah offered quietly.

Her hands tightened their grip on his body protectively.

“I could fetch a hellhound for you to shoot. You could use more healing.”

“I thought about it, but I’d rather not lure a bunch of monsters here if we can help it. It’s a miracle the shots earlier didn’t bring a pack in on us.” Spencer coughed and winced at the forceful ejection of air from his tender chest.

“You don’t have to push yourself to greet someone new tonight. It won’t make a difference to her. We’re essentially sleeping before we exit the pod.”

Spencer smiled back at Sarah. “I know. I’m just excited is all. We get a new team member and I probably will get a new quest or something. All I have to do is touch the pod. I’ll do all the introductory stuff while laying down. Promise.”

Sarah nodded. Though her face remained passive Spencer could tell that she was far from convinced. Still, he hobbled the last few feet and pressed his hand gently onto the smooth surface of the pod. Mist poured out as the egg-like structure opened and a figure stepped out. 

After a bubbly riot police officer, stoic sword princess, mute magic shield protector, and energy blaster wielding business woman, Spencer assumed he was past being surprised at this point. He was mistaken.

The young woman who stepped out was… surprisingly ordinary. Apart from the pink hair pulled back into a long ponytail and distinct red eyes, she looked like a girl you might see attending her first year of university. Beatrice was still the shortest member of the party, but this new girl was an easy second place. She was beautiful. Narrow angled face, cute button nose, lips drawn in a thin line as she surveyed the rooftop. Her red eyes flashed with a calculating gaze. Not the concealed plotting Naomi had shown, rather this new girl seemed to be sizing up the other engies rather than Spencer himself.

She was thin, but filled out all the right places to mark her maturity. She wore a frilly white button up that looked to be a school uniform that hugged her bust tightly, a long pink bow tie that matched her hair, a black short skirt lined with pink highlights, thigh high stockings that led down into dark dress shoes. She had a simple black school bag slung over her shoulder, and a strange high tech device that wrapped her right wrist. The new girl finally met Spencer’s gaze and let out a small ‘hmph’.

“I see you finally found someone worthwhile. Anny reporting for action, commander.”

A chime sounded in Spencer’s ears followed by several more. He minimized all but the first one.

‘ Engie Name: Anny

Rank: A

Class: Shield Protector

Role: Ranged Support

Range: 0-100ft

Damage Type: Energy

Passive Abilities: Team Ability Cooldown Reduction, One Shot Prevention

Active Abilities: Energy Shield Projection, Spare the Dying’

Before Spencer could respond there was a groan from the side.

“Not her.”

Naomi, unexpectedly, was already frowning. The pink haired girl smiled broadly, though her red eyes remained fierce.

“Is that the failed underground arms dealer I see?” Anny purred.

Naomi visibly bit her tongue and met Spencer’s questioning gaze.

“Commander, permission to stuff the shorty back into her pod.”

Spencer shook his head while Anny scoffed at the same time.

“Try it.” Anny’s wrist device flickered and a transparent shimmering shell appeared around her. “Your daddy’s favorite blasters will melt before you make it through my shield.”

Spencer turned, ready to call Naomi off, but was surprised to find the silver haired hothead had not yet activated her weapon system.

“Anny’s family created the Spindle corporation.” Naomi explained to the group.

Sarah and Beatrice both nodded with mild interest. Sensing his confusion, Naomi explained further.

“Spindle is the largest arms manufacturer left in our world. Anny is the CEO’s youngest daughter.” Naomi turned her cold gaze back to the shielded schoolgirl. “I heard she became an engie because daddy didn’t care enough to notice her otherwise.”

A vein in Anny’s forehead bulged as the shield zipped back into her wrist device.

“Well at least my parents didn’t sell me as part of a plea bargain.” She snapped back.

Naomi’s nostrils flared and Spencer could see her already taxed self control threatening to break.

“Hey!” Sarah snapped loudly before Spencer could get a word in. “The commander is tired and needs to lay down.”

Her hands remained steady and firm on his waist while she glared at the bickering pair. Anny’s gaze flickered back to Spencer and he could see genuine worry enter her eyes when she realized just how much blood was on his clothing. Before anyone could argue further Sarah carried Spencer over to the bed and set Spencer gently down on top of them.

Despite the lack of padding, the pile of sleeping bags felt like heaven to Spencer. He beckoned Anny over.

“This isn’t quite how I wanted things to go, but we had a run in with a rather large bug downstairs.” Spencer coughed painfully and let his head rest back on the built in pillow. “My name is Spencer. I’m your commander if you’ll have me. There’s a lot of things we’ll need to discuss.”

Anny knelt next to Spencer with a frown.

“Right now?” She bit her lower lip nervously. “Shouldn’t you be resting, commander?”

“Yes, he should.” Sarah glared down at Spencer.

“There are things I need to explain to you first.” He glanced apologetically at Sarah, before returning his attention to the newest member of his team. “About why you’re here and…”

Spencer trailed off as a faint blue glow illuminated the skyline to the west. Sarah let her hand drop to the pommel of her sword while Naomi’s blasters hummed to life on her shoulders. Beatrice stepped forward, clearly intending on positioning herself between Spencer and the distant glow, but Anny held out an arm. With a scoff and dismissive shake of her wrist Anny created a shimmering bubble around Spencer’s body.

“Your little shield won’t be necessary.” Anny sniffed.

Spencer would normally address the friction between his team members, but the sight cresting the mountains to the west had driven all other thoughts from his mind.

“Is that a-” Naomi tilted her head curiously and Spencer finished her thought.

“Ghost pirate ship?”

A large spectral galleon rose over the San Gabriel  mountain range and flew down the side in a north by northwest heading. The old sea-crusted wood was slightly transparent and the main source of the glow that had announced the ship’s presence before it crested the ridge. Large billowing sails caught an unknown wind and propelled the ship constantly forward as it hovered fifty feet or so above the ground at all times. What made the spectral sight even more bizarre was the flock of imp-like creatures swarming around the mast and sides of the ship. Flashes of light erupted at random from the deck and it took Spencer only a few moments to realize it was a mixture of modern firearms and black powder rifles shooting up at the imps above them. Figures darted across the deck of the distant ship. Some of them glowed the same blue as the ship while others remained dark in the rapidly fading evening light.

The rudder at the back of the ship turned and the flying vessel veered directly north, skirting the edge of the mountain range. An abomination lumbered out of the housing development directly between the rooftop Spencer and his team were on and the distant ship passing them by. Fire erupted from the side of the ship as the galleon fired its broadside cannons at the creature. Body parts ripped apart as the heavy cannonballs tore straight through the abomination. It dropped to the ground and the ship remained on course while its passengers continued to fend off the flock of imps darting down from above.

‘Should we do something, commander?’ Beatrice wrote out on her whiteboard and tilted it down for Spencer to read.

Spencer tried to sit up to continue watching the distant spectacle, but Sarah’s hand firmly came down and pushed him back into the bedding.

“I don’t think there’s anything we can do.” Spencer admitted. “The ship is moving too fast. I have to assume that’s another champion making a break for the edge of the pillar’s zone of influence, but…”

All he could do was shrug. The ship continued on its way and eventually the flock of imps broke off pursuit. The sight and sound of combat slowly faded into the evening air. Anny flicked her wrist again and the bubble around Spencer faded. The pink haired girl turned and her red eyes had grown large and full of questions.

Spencer chuckled dryly and shrugged. “Welcome to my world.”

******

One lengthy explanation later and Anny was caught up to speed. Spencer could tell it was getting late by Sarah’s subtle facial expressions. The longer the discussion went on the narrower the sword wielder’s eyes became. Whenever he could see her patience hit a certain threshold, Spencer would reach his hand up and gently take Sarah’s so he could give her a reassuring squeeze. Anny watched these interactions with a curious tilt of her head.

The mild curiosity was about all Spencer could read from the pink haired supporter. Where Sarah and Beatrice had been open and vocal of their support for him and Naomi had been vehemently against it initially, Anny’s reactions were… subdued.

“... and I asked Naomi to officially be a member of my team. She agreed.” Spencer saw Naomi glance his way from where she kept watch at the edge of the rooftop.

Her normally stormy gray eyes softened and the hint of a smile lifted the edges of her lips.

“Which brought us up here.” Spencer finished. “To your pod.”

Anny nodded. Her gaze flickered down over Spencer’s prone body.

“So… I just have to sleep with you to get stronger?” She asked flatly.

Spencer blinked. “What?”

“You had sex with her, right?” Anny jerked a thumb at Sarah.

“I didn’t… say that explicitly.” Spencer felt his face grow hot.

Sarah glared down at him dangerously.

“I’m not saying it didn’t happen or that I wouldn’t do it again.” He rushed to explain. “I just didn’t want to talk about it as openly since it's just between Sarah and I…”

Sarah’s scowl brightened considerably and scooted herself closer to Spencer’s side until her seated thighs brushed up against his arm.

“Did you get stronger or not?” Anny asked the sword user bluntly.

Sarah didn’t shy away from the question like Spencer had. “I did. Though do not presume that our relationship is simply physical relief.”

Sarah placed a possessive hand over Spencer’s heart.

“The commander and I’s fate are intertwined. I will see his dreams fulfilled and he will continue to be my purpose for existing.” Sarah’s ears turned pink even as she made the declaration.

You’re fine telling her we slept together but get embarrassed when you tell her we’re supporting one another? Isn’t that a bit backwards? Spencer mused silently.

Anny narrowed her eyes. “You think I can’t help fulfill his dreams too?”

She lifted her hands and began unbuttoning her white shirt. “Come on. Let's get this over with.”

“Woah, woah, hold on.” Spencer sat up and frantically stopped her hands.

Both Beatrice and Naomi walked over to see what all of the sudden commotion was.

“It’s not like that.” Spencer glanced at Sarah to get a little help clarifying what exactly his powers were doing for them.

Sarah nodded. “Yes. You’ve got the wrong idea. There’s an order to this”

Spencer sighed, relieved for a moment until Sarah continued.

“I’m first, and then it’s Beatrice’ turn, me again, Naomi, me again, and then it will be your turn.” Sarah stated like it was the most natural thing in the word to say.

Spencer’s mouth fell open. Naomi stepped forward angrily.

“Why do you get to be with him between everyone else?”

“Naomi?!” Spencer fell back onto the bed with a groan. “Why is that your issue?”

Beatrice leaned over Spencer’s face with a fierce blush on her face and a shy note written on her whiteboard.

‘Naomi can go first if you prefer.’ 

“That’s not-” Spencer protested weakly.

“Why not have the commander power up one person to the max? Maybe someone who could always ensure his safety.” Anny suggested with a dainty flip of her pink hair.

Naomi snorted.

“Right, and your little wrist blaster is going to kill the monsters out there?” She gestured at the pitch black city behind her. “The commander needs more than just a fancy bubble.”

Anny’s fierce eyes glowered at Naomi.

“Hey!” Spencer forced himself back up into a seated position. 

His vision swam violently, but he pushed through and stood up to emphasize his words. “Let’s get one thing straight here. The way we get stronger is through a genuine connection with one another. They’re bonding moments, not notches in my bedpost. This isn’t something we can just approach casually. Sarah opening up, Beatrice accepting herself as not just a burden, Naomi learning to trust.”

He pointed to each engie in turn.

“These are real moments. Okay? Sarah wouldn’t have grown any stronger if we didn’t build the trust between us first.”

Technically Spencer didn’t know that for sure. There was a chance that if Anny and he slept together she’d get a bonding moment bonus from the experience, but that kind of casual approach felt slimy.

“Darling…” Unexpectedly Naomi stepped up to Spencer and leaned into his ear. “I know you’re trying to do the right thing here, but…”

She wrung her hands nervously in front of her waist as she gathered up the courage to finish her thought.

“It’s not just about us or our squabblings.” Spencer felt her warm lips brush against his cheek in the softest kiss he’d ever received. “You need to be safer. You need us to be stronger…”

Spencer lifted his hands and gently embraced her. Given the topic of conversation Spencer’s senses were extra aware of the tall girl’s exceptionally large breasts pressed into him. He shut his eyes and focused on the important thing in this moment of time.

“I just… with your past and all…” He whispered back to her gently. “I didn’t want to rush you into anything you weren't ready for. It’s only been a day since we first met and a few hours since we were shouting at each other. I figured we could wait a bit longer for anything more than that.”

“You weren’t the one shouting.” Naomi shuddered and pressed herself into his embrace harder. “I won’t pretend like it will be easy… but I want to try… because I need you to be safe.”

Sarah cleared her throat. “Commander, I feel the same.  If I didn’t I would be hoarding your time and attention shamelessly.”

Naomi pulled back and wiped her eyes dry. “Says the girl who decided she needed twice as many nights with the commander as anyone else.”

Sarah didn’t flinch, rather she simply picked Spencer up in a bridal carry. His arms flailed slightly at the unexpectant movement, but quickly realized just how badly he’d been swaying on his feet a moment ago.

“Sleep.” The authoritative sword wielder ordered as she laid him carefully back onto the pile of sleeping bags.

“Come on.” Naomi nudged the silent Beatrice and nodded back to the edges of the rooftop. “Back to our watch.”

Beatrice waved gently to Spencer with a bright smile before following the taller woman back to their post. Anny watched Beatrice go with a calculating expression on her face.

There’s something between those two, but it all feels like it's coming from Anny’s side. Spencer wrestled with the possibilities internally.

“Commander.” Sarah turned his face forcibly to hers. “Stop watching and analyzing. Rest.”

“Right.” He dutifully shut his eyes and shifted to a more comfortable position.

When Sarah eventually pulled Anny a respectful distance away from Spencer he cracked open one eye and flicked open his menu system.

‘Congratulations on completing the tutorial section.

New pulls can be purchased. (current roster limit: 5)

Shop options increased.

Roster member dismissal option: unlocked.

Player skill’s menu (if applicable): unlocked.

Quest system: fully unlocked.

New items available for purchase in store.’

A series of chimes sounded in his ears as new quests immediately popped up.

‘Main Quest Issued!

Conquer the End Times

• Bring an end to the apocalypse.

• Reward: ???

Conquer the End Times Sub Quest Issued!

Find the Tower Key

• Discover an item that will grant you access to one of the world’s towers.

• Reward: Unique Skill, Private Rendezvous, for your power.’

‘Miscellaneous Quest Issued!

Something Lost, Something Gained

• Defeat 1 Abomination

• Reward: Unique Skill, Daily Revival, unlocked for your system.’

The word ‘Revival’ hit him harder than the centipede’s teeth. Spencer stood up so fast that his head nearly exploded from the rush of pressure.

“Shit…” Spencer’s vision narrowed to a distant point and he was out before his body even hit the ground.