“It’s quite alright, really! Into-The-Abyss-In-Search-Of-Light is just courting, and since I I know you won’t be able to handle that right now, I wouldn’t want to lead you on by accepting this offer of comfort.” HOPE directed the last bit directly at Light. Her skin betrayed no edge of malice to her words, but he flushed deep pink in embarrassment.

“I was not courting! And I would be able to ‘handle’ you, whatever that means.” Light protested. HOPE didn’t answer directly, but sloshed forward slightly so their gelsuits touched. Hers had a magnetic feel, like it was loaded with static. His attention was pulled again to the power plant surgically attached to her back.
“H-how did come to possess these augmentations, and what do they do?” He asked eventually. It was his interpretation of a forward question.

“My owners did this to me; I was a slave for a time before Omega freed me.” HOPE  replied simply, as though it was no big deal. Her skin was a complex picture of suppressed guilt, shame and relief.

“These augs can let me do lots of things, but the thing you’ll see the most of is my shield. This gelsuit is designed to expand up to twenty metres, then the pack on my back turns it into a kinetic barrier. Its not foolproof, but it means we can travel under fire and return fire in more safety.”

HOPE caught Senjen glancing back towards where Omega lay sprawled out. “He’s fine for now, He just doesn’t like space flight. He’s used to vast mountain ranges, so to feel nothing outside this small area is unnerving to him.”