“I suppose you’re right. I’ll just have to relearn all your card game tells again…” Ruk joked, clapping the Utaysi appreciatively on the back.

“Now what fresh hell is in here.”

As soon as they passed the quiet barrier the sounds of general commotion assaulted their ears. There was laser and shard fire mixed with the scrape of metal on metal and shield deflections.

It was a kill house, sunken into the ground with a viewing gantry around the outside. A collection of small rooms snaked around the edge, opening onto a courtyard with a few pieces of cover dotted around it. Half a dozen Utaysi mil-droids were simulating an intense battle, three on the red team and three on the blue team.

“Sorry about the noise! They are really going at each other.” The Utaysi explained, gesturing for Senjen to attend a console.

“Each of them represent one of our six base private security/personal military models. You can customise any of them to the spec you desire. You can also take control of any of them at will.”

The console’s interface was highly engaging to a Utaysi, including elements of gamification. For example, the act of bulking out a droid’s loadout also added it to the ‘shopping cart’. On offer for the next ten minutes were the backpack shield supplement drone, the active camouflage module and the Infiltrator’s shardrifle.

[hr]

Light could tell Jess knew what she was talking about regarding this ‘personalisation’ thing from her voice and body language. It made him even more nervous about speaking to any of the staff, and he now felt bad that Jess’ participation in the contest was contingent on his presence.

“We need to win at least one stupid contest today, regain our dignity. Let's go.” With some effort, Light turned his back on the warrior-priestess and blobbed towards the workshop display area.

The member of staff calling for volunteers over the PA system was a lithe androgynous Human with a black bob, a tank top in Myrmidon white and arm tattoos. They waved Jess over as she entered the display area.

There were two Myrmidon hoverbikes resting on the floor. A Myrmidon workshop droid stood over one of them, examining it closely with its sensory array.

“We have our contender, ladies and gentlemen!” The cute salesperson called to the small crowd of onlookers which now included Light.

“The task is simple. Disassemble and reassemble this bike in working order quicker than my droid here to win. Think you’ve got what it takes?” They grinned cheekily at Jess, goading her.