Mother is aware of all things that happen along her borders. This is no exception.
The first thing that gets her attention are the footsteps. Seismic vibrations are what awoke her to begin with; even now, four years after McGrath, sheâs still sensitive to them. Two groups of humans retreat and advance, respectively, across her flesh. One group is wearing raggedy shoes and boots of fur; the other is wearing boots of Brahmin leather, all with the same mass-printed soles. Soldiers. Theyâre heavyâ although not too heavyâ and pulled down by the weight of their gear.
Thatâs when the gunfire starts. Little staccato thumps, channeled through the shooters, down through their feet and into her skin. Even with so little information, Mother can make some educated guesses. The soldiers are firing carefully, in single shots and calculated bursts of fire. The other group is not so careful. Their shots are wild, unmeasured. None of them have automatic weapons.
She feels a glass shatter against her flesh, and then tastes her own milk upon her flesh. Cultists. Of course. She bristles at the thought of themâ meddlers, interlopers, who took what was a limited supply of something not meant for them. Sheâs not concerned about them; itâs the soldiers that worry her. Judging from the soles of their boots, they are not megacorp enforcers, and they are far too uniform to be Dead Hand. If there is another armed force operating on her border, she wants to evaluate it.
A tendril worms its way beneath the hard, packed earth. Tipped with claws of bone, it cuts through the dirt like an orkut in the water. It singles out one of the booted men, crouched on the periphery of his group. With the firefight making things hectic, Mother knows that he wonât notice the stirring beneath his feet. Until itâs too late.
When the time is right, Mother flexes her claws; they jut up from beneath the snow, closing over the man, a twisted cage that will support his journey to her. With that, she retracts, pulling the stranger down into her depths. Miles and miles of flesh, blood and gristle pass by him in an instant as she drags himâ willingly or notâ to her grand chamber. She wants to look at this trooper with her own eyes.