Spots: Taking Care of Business

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

24. Skip-leveling.	26. Picking the Wrong Fights.

25. Taking Care of Business

Captain—

~~I am very sorry to hear about the destruction of Naval Depot A~~ The destruction of Naval Depot A leaves Depot B as the ~~single point of failure~~ sole supplier of the Navy's heavy weapons in this sector. As such, I am requesting the re-assignment of ~~the Marine company from Depot A~~ Depot A's Marine company here. The tactical situation is ~~desperate~~ growing more complex: according to local sources, the crabs are able to absorb the memories of their dead, and they appear to be using this ability to grow their data on our deployments.

Attached find footage of a skirmish in which the crabs demonstrate ~~more intelligence~~ new tactics. ~~We believe they're learning.~~ They are growing more effective.

Again, I urgently request reinforcement.

###

Following day. Scythe is coming off duty as Spots and Claws are going on.

Claws. "Hey, can I talk to you?"

Scythe. "Sure."

Outside, leaning against the wall.

Claws. "I sorta got Spots more work."

Scythe, folding arms. "This should be good."

"The bug came in last night to have a talk with us, told us some stuff I thought Bonny Peaches should know... so I hauled Spots up to her office. She decided to appoint Spots as our liaison to the alien."

Scythe, studying him. "What was this stuff?"

"The crabs. They eat each other to absorb one another's memories. All of them. And their victims are alive when they do it."

Scythe's hands tighten on his arms. Then he turns away. "****! Are they doing that to us?"

"They can't get anything out of us... but... yeah, the bug thinks so."

"****!"

"Yeah."

"****! They told us not to leave anyone behind, but not because they'd get ****ing eaten alive."

"I don't think they knew, boss."

"I'm surprised Peaches didn't throw a ****ing fit!"

"Yeah, well, I didn't emphasize that part. She's gotta worry about the big picture, eh? The rest of us... we take care of the important stuff. Don't we."

Scythe turns to look at him, eyes hard. "**** yes."

Claws nods. "Thought you'd wanna know. And by the way, you're welcome."

"What for?"

"For not wakin' you up last night to parade us all the way to officer country."

"**** you, Claws."

###

Office. Peaches is sitting in front of her computer still. Hitting Play, backing up and hitting Play. Over and over again.

"****. He's looking at me."

24. Skip-leveling.	26. Picking the Wrong Fights.