“In my knapsack is an oil I’m gonna need Light to coat the Grabglove in - it tricks plants into thinking they’re underwater. Stiffens their stems too, so they can take structures alongside terrestrial flora.” Ruk said evenly. She was concentrating now, in a doctorly trance just like on the wards. She gave Senjen a disapproving look when it was clear he had sabotage in his heart, but she didn’t stop him. She merely nodded and shooed him away with her trowel.

“Don’t be long.”

The Human who stood to face Senjen from the patch he approached had a thick metal bar through the bridge of his nose. Attached to it were blue tinted lenses that covered each eye. Black adaptive tattoos shifted across much of the pale skin left exposed by their short sleeved half-zip jacket and cargo pants. He pointed a gardening fork at Senjen and shot back in a language his translation package struggled to recognise.

“Tuang fulugwab, huttu wannai! Bek tu yowah petch afor I stick you, robot!”

“Eh, eh! Bek tu work!” A large woman with dark braided hair shouted at Senjen and the man indiscriminately from across the rival patch. The man ignored her, jabbing at the Utaysi accusatorily. 

-

Light encountered a solid wall of gardeners before he could actually reach the terminal. He wobbled around them in his suit, trying to squeeze through.

“I just need to get to the terminal… Hey!” He pushed back whenever he was jostled, but didn’t understand the dynamic enough to go further. That is until Pclendfuun politely tapped him on the back with one leg.

“Please a-a-llow me.” Light moved aside and the Tindrel simply parted the crowd with his face plate, moving slowly but implacable. Evolved for higher pressure and constant exertion, his species was far massier than the other species.

This manoeuvre attracted a large outcry from the waiting queue of competitors and the jostle increased dramatically, but Light and Pclenda reached the terminal. They tapped it to access the interface virtually. The Tindrel completed his order immediately and a small hatch opened up in the delivery compartment. He grabbed the large seed pods with his tongue then waited placidly for Light to make his much more hesitant purchases.

“These prices are a rip off! Lets try another terminal!”

“We do not have time. T-t-think of the prize monies.”

Light reluctantly placed his order and grabbed the collection of baggies from another open door.

“Ok, let's get out of here!” The noise inside the arena was increasing steadily.

Once they had left the scrum, Light remembered the plan. He saw Senjen making a distraction nearby; one of his fortes. Scanning the area, he didn’t detect any attention on him. He quickly opened one of the baggies and dispersed the seeds around his suit. Understanding his intention, it spat them discreetly at patches in all directions. They made a quiet *blop* as they left his suit. Light gave Senjen The Look as he passed by and they arrived back at the patch.