Senjen avoided showing his relief too openly. Unlike the QV, he had that luxury. They had not been told previously what the goal of Major’s team was, but Senjen had been quietly worried about what it might be. He had hoped it would not be something too objectionable, and that fortunately seemed to be the case. A rescue mission in exchange for their help: that was something he could get behind. Hopefully this Lady Trevelyan was not infected, but even if she was, finding a cure was the whole point of their job on the planet. Their interests were pretty neatly aligned here, so hopefully that would help things go smoother.

“Well, if you already have an inkling of where she might be, then I suppose that decides where we’re going to land. I don’t think it terribly matters where on the planet we go, as long as Seraphim can study the disease.” Senjen said, though even as he was speaking, he was already thinking about other possibilities. “Though...I imagine the locals are hard at work studying the disease too. It might speed things up to see what kind of progress they’ve made., if that’s possible. Where is it that you would expect to find Lady Trevelyan?”

HOPE looked uneasy, like she couldn’t decide whether to say anything more. “We only want to help. Senjen is very good at finding people. Or things, really.” Light reassured her. She bobbed her head.

“Her last signal came from a compound outside one of their capital cities on the planet’s surface. Major thinks it’s a Myrmidon naval college, built to train new crews for their ships, but I’m less sure. I think it sounds like a den for spies and all manner of miscreants. She shouldn’t have been there at all!”

Light looked at Senjen. He didn’t like the sound of that at all. “There there, we’ll find her and bring her back.” He said to HOPE, trying to be comforting. She just looked downcast.

“Hmm, Myrmidon again.” Senjen said, his expression turning to something akin to a frown. “I guess there’s no getting away from the fact that Myrmidon is going to have a large presence on this planet. Still, I really hope to avoid any sort of confrontation with them. Not just because I’m still making payments on this thing, but because that’s not a wise enemy to make. If it ever becomes unavoidable, we should definitely do what we can to avoid being identified.”

Senjen took a moment to bring up the map of the planet for reference to try and find the place HOPE mentioned. He had what was publicly available, at least. “Let’s see...at least it’s outside the city. I’d rather not land anywhere populated. We need to make sure we have somewhere safe on the planet to work from. I don’t suppose you have any sort of subtle way to signal Lady Trevelyan, do you? Or will we need to begin the search ourselves to find her whereabouts?”

HOPE shared Senjen’s look of concern. “Let’s hope we do not have to fight anyone at all. This is first and foremost a mission of mercy…The two Chekeri with you – they’re scientists?”

“Yes. One of them is our friend. The other is a medical AI from FGC. Both need protecting.” Light said. HOPE nodded, stroked the outside of his suit. “We’ll keep them safe, I promise. As long as Major finds his master, everything will be fine.”

She looked to Senjen. “We’ve been signalling her via the Veppecantel relay, but there’s been no sign of her. They might have disabled it by now. Maybe once we get closer, we’ll be able to see something? Otherwise, we’ll have to land and look for clues.”

“I think our goals do align well.” Senjen asserted. Both of them would still have to go out of their way to some extent to help one another, but not terribly so. At least, as far as he knew for now. “I’m glad for it, too. If all goes well, we’ll be able to help you, and the planet at the same time.”

Senjen was aware that he was making it sound simpler than it was probably going to be, but hopefully he was not completely off the mark. If Lady Trevelyan did not make herself known after their attempts at communication, then he did not expect finding those clues was going to be easy. It probably was not just the planet as a whole that was quarantined; people on the surface would certainly try to isolate the infected as well. This naval college might not be too accessible. “Just keep us updated if she ends up responding once we get close. I have a feeling that your objective is going to take more investigation once we’re on the ground.”

Senjen took a curious glance at Light, wondering if he had said everything he intended to say. Light had seemed all too eager to call Senjen over as soon as he saw him, and he had a feeling it was because Light had been nervous. Maybe now there had been enough time for him to gather his thoughts?

Light returned Senjen’s look and gulped. He knew what his friend thought, but this helpful segue only served to ratchet up the tension.
“Well, that’s settled then…” He said after an awkward pause.

HOPE picked up on something and looked at Light expectantly.

“I, uh, I was wondering. I never asked about your family. Do you know them?”

The female looked wistful for a moment. “It’s a world called Brissekh. I was part of a cult who cultivate a plant that spreads across the whole surface. They exiled me, and the Humans took me prisoner. They…”

She tailed off, so Light stepped in.

“Life has a way of bringing us chances for closure that we never expect. Maybe by ridding Veppecantel of its infection, you can tear the weeds from behind your eyes.”

It seemed wildly optimistic of a statement, having just met this person, Light thought. He immediately regretted signing it, but HOPE seemed to see the right side of it.

“Thank you. Maybe.”

Senjen usually liked the openness of QV, though this time, he was having a surprisingly hard time understanding them. There might have been a metaphor or something he did not pick up on, but the conversation ended a bit awkwardly between them. Regardless, Senjen was glad to get some more context about the job ahead of them.

Senjen gave Light’s gelsuit a pat, vaguely near his back. “I’m sure when we all put our heads together, we’ll be able to handle whatever’s ahead. You need some rest, though. I can keep an eye on our course for a while.”

---

The ship was over halfway to its destination, and by this point, everyone had pretty much accepted the routines they had fallen into. Most everyone, at least. Senjen was a person who liked to mix things up, and so it was when he decided to take a chance on talking to someone he had only spoken a few words to thusfar. Tanto tended to stay in the engine room, along with Rex, and they were both there when he came floating into the doorway. “Hey, uh, how is everything going in here?” He asked, somewhat awkwardly.

The room was dimly lit by fluorescent strips along the path between the monolithic engine shard and the equipment affixed to the surrounding walls. It was calm save the rhythmic throb of power being generated for the thrusters.

Rex was curled up close to the door. They stretched out both legs when Senjen poked his head in, then got up and shook their body vigorously all over. “These two are having an adequate experience, thanks for asking. We hope we haven’t been getting In the way here…is there something we can help you with?”

Tanto stood in the middle of the room with her back to Senjen. Her claws were raised, grasping the engine pod. Her forehead rested gently on the riven surface. She didn’t move an inch while either of them spoke.

Okay, how to go about this? Senjen thought to himself. In retrospect, he probably should have thought a bit more on what to say before he actually came into the engine room. Tanto’s presence was still just as intimidating as he remembered, and given that Rex was the one speaking, he gravitated towards responding to him.

“Oh, no, quite the opposite. I think I’ve hardly seen you around the ship. I’ve taken some time to try to get to know some of the others in the team. You know, trying to learn what to expect from each other for the mission ahead. I suppose I’m just curious what your specialties are...if you don’t mind talking about it?” Senjen asked.

Rex sat neatly upright and cocked its head to the left as it watched Senjen speak. “Great question! My full name is REX-0259, a rugged, versatile ranger unit designed and built by Elenquatadir. I have a top running speed of 100 kilometres per hour, and am armed with an integral, magnetically accelerated anti-materiel rifle to hit targets up to fifty kilometres.”

Rex stood back up on all fours and looked at the Chekeri bot behind it. “My friend Tanto is also my opposite. She likes to work…up close and personal. She can shapeshift, like me, but doesn’t like when I talk about her capabilities.”

Tanto released what could only be described as a guttural squawk of disapproval. Her talons scraped off the engine cowling and she turned to face them both. “Only the twin fires of my blades will cleanse the souls of our enemies in their final moment. Plumes of smoke guide them to the divine beyond.” Her voice was awful, like nails on a chalkboard, and then it was gone.

Okaaay, that was not what Senjen had been expecting. Rex was friendly and sociable, but that was no surprised based on their introduction. Tanto had been a mystery, and now, as he was thinking, maybe a little insane. Or maybe it was just an act meant to intimidate? He wondered if any of the other team members were close to her, or if Rex was the only one who was close to her in any respect? Either way, she was the one Senjen still needed to learn about.

Rex was easier to talk to, so it was him who Senjen responded to first. “Okay, I see. So you are someone who would be suited to being a scout and a sniper. Good at operating independently, I take it? And you, uh…” Senjen shifted his attention towards Tanto. He had tried not to show too much of a reaction, but it still took just a moment more for him to collect his thoughts. “...well I suppose I understood from the moment we were introduced what you do. Chekeri martial arts are as efficient as they are elegant. It takes a lot of strength and speed to be able to perform the techniques, but they are excellent for striking while keeping yourself protected. Do you use any of their disciplines?”

Rex didn’t seem phased by Tanto’s outburst. In fact, if anything it sounded chirpier, as if trying to compensate.

“Correct! I am equipped for extended solo operations. That being said, this one is very glad to be requested for this job. Its just so much more interesting working as part of a team. I’m sure you agree, master Senjen.”

Tanto let forth a terrible screeching laugh. “The feeble-minded call it an art so they can justify any interpretation! I serve the Sallow Gods, and they thirst for retribution in its rawest form. You wish to test my resolve, don’t you? This journey wearies your mind. Come then, if it will hasten your leaving, let me show you.”

The batons slide from holes in each palm, thinner and longer than before. They didn’t alight with flame, but still looked deadly in the right hands. “I would highly recommend not pursuing this course of action.” Rex added quickly.

Senjen guessed that Rex was just being polite with his warning...hopefully. Tanto talked about some sort of gods he had never heard of, and her attitude did not change just because they were talking more. In fact, it felt like she was trying to be more intimidating. Or maybe that was just how she was naturally? Either way, she was proposing a fight, and despite both Rex’s warning and his own better judgment, he could not help but to feel curious. He would have to be...cautious with this.

“Well, I do tend to enjoy my sparring sessions. There’s always a lot to learn from talented fighters. We would just have to be careful to avoid any actual damage to each other; that wouldn’t be too good for our chances on the job. What do you say?” Senjen asked.

Tanto merely grinned, baring rows of sharpened tomia inside her beak. “What’s the matter? Afraid your gleaming new frame isn’t up to the challenge? My blades have a taste for metal forged in the lava lakes of Seppid IV; I promise your soulless alloys are of no interest. Now feel the fury of the Sunken Ones!” With that, she advanced towards Senjen at a frightening pace and lashed out with both batons.

“Oh dear.” Rex said levelly, skittering neatly out of the way.

“Ah, well, I wouldn’t go that far. I was just saying- hey!” Whatever thoughts were going through Senjen’s mind, Tanto’s sudden strike wiped them away in an instant. A far cry from his usual sparring matches, the attack was like a sucker punch, but even still, Senjen acted almost without thinking. It happened to be that Senjen had practiced against this sort of strike before, and those well-trained reflexes won out over panic. A sidestep while catching the wrist of Tanto’s leading arm, not to try to stop it, but to redirect the momentum. He pushed her swing not only away from hitting him, but also to block off any follow-through from her other baton.

In that position, many might have tried to counterattack in the opening Senjen had forced, but something told him not to. With how quick she moved and how precise she was, she just had to be ready for it. Instead, he took the opportunity to dash out of her reach and get them back to a neutral position. The stance he had adopted, without even thinking about it, was one common to Chekeri martial arts.