Cath

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“I suppose you’re right. I guess part of me just wants to make up for lost time…” He looked at Senjen’s new body appreciatively. It still had hardly a scratch on it.

“Did you check that job board that came with the suit yet? Be a shame not to capitalise on the Myrmidon brand when you’re paying so much for it.”

Light soaked more beer, scratched his undercarriage with a tentacle. “Hmm, well that’d add a whole lotta complexity to the spaghetti wiring situation we have currently. But maybe a simple gun of some kind might be alright? Way I see it, we got two options. Either we go back to the Tindrel who sold me the ship in the first place. It’ll be cheaper, but they always want you to do something for them. Orrrr, we go to the Humans who fitted the cargo bay. They always charge more, but I like their gear. Very reliable. What do you think?”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“That was very…not bad.” Light concluded, pouring beer from the vending machine onto a porous exterior patch of his suit. The ubiquitous tumbling weed ball returned, rattling against the unused folding chair opposite them. Other ships were returning for the evening now too.

“We do seem to be having a long overdue spell of good fortune. How long it lasts though, who can say? For most of my life, I have scrimped and saved, barely able to get by. And now I have more credits from one job than i’ve made in some whole years…And I want to spend it. Well, or invest it in something. How perspectives change!”

“The question is, on what? Shipgrades? A new suit? Advertising our services? Korit is not short on ways of taking your money…”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“It all sounds risky, yes. But it seems surviving the hospital has changed my perspective on risk vs reward.” Light mused. “I want to really live the time I have left. I can’t do it without you now though, Senjen. If you want to try our hand at something completely different too, I’d be open to it.”

Light still did not know what to spend his ill-gotten gains on. Speaking of the hospital reminded him of the thriving augmentation and medical mod market on Korit. A QV could dramatically extend their lifespan with the judicious investment of funds and steady replacement of squidgy body parts.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Light considered this for a moment. “Family is important, so I’m told…Does this mean there are no more similar jobs after this? I thought we had gotten into a rhythm.” It seemed to him that Jess had alluded to a relationship she was trying to establish with the organisation that wanted the devices.

With no objection to returning home, he locked in the jump sequence and pulled the ship into FTL space, leaving the barren rock behind. Satisfied autopilot was engaged, he left the cockpit and went to lay down in the crew area.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Light reluctantly dragged himself out of the engine room. His suit rippled with pleasure on seeing his new bank balance. The colours said he was deeply intrigued by Jess’ ask but willing to temporarily forego the unpleasantness on account of her generosity.

“Alright. Back home now?” He began plotting a course to take them back.

“Any new thoughts on what you might spend your share on?” He asked Senjen.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Light dropped his head when Jess reprimanded him. An abstract approximation of a frowning human face flashed across the front of his suit for a moment – noticeable if one were paying close attention. It was a free suit mod he’d added on a whim a couple of months ago and promptly forgotten about.

“Come on, Senjen. We’re not wanted here.” He slapped a manipular against his metal frame and led him back up the ramp. Light then went to sulk in the engine room. He rested a tentacle on the ancient Tindrel engine block as it hummed stolidly, glowing yellow in the dark through rents along its bulbous mass.

He loved his ship, but it was mostly a sentimental feeling. It was wildly impractical and not easy to maintain. The thing he admired the most was this beating heart; such raw power. Light wondered if he could transplant the engine into another ship if he managed to save up enough money.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Light crept out from behind Senjen’s bulky frame when it became clear the two very similar looking Humans weren’t about to try and kill each other. His watery lens hopped from one visage to the other a dozen times as he tried to comprehend their situation. QV were all supposed to look unique by design - their outward appearance was a large part of their personality. So the concept of two people looking essentially identical was daunting.

So daunting in fact, that he totally forgot he wasn’t supposed to run his mouth. “With how hot these gadgets are, you might want a few more guns.” He pointed over their heads at the assembled guards. “We could always lend a hand, you know, for a fee. Senjen was just saying he wants to test out his new suit.”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Light was shocked when it became clear this wasn’t the Jess they knew. Jagged concentric lines emanated along his suit from his headpiece to his tail, and he shot behind Senjen’s bulky frame. After a second he poked his head out over the Utaysi’s shoulder, mouth opening and closing rapidly. From behind, you could see Senjen was now wearing the gelsuit like a large amorphous rucksack.

“What is happening? I don’t understand.” When Senjen shrugged Light did his best to emulate it. He did not want to intervene - he had promised to be quiet - but they were dreadfully exposed now. He needed to know if they were heading for a shootout.

“Hey! Jessica! What is happening!?” He shouted.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Light’s suit flagged Jess’ in his periphery and he began speaking without looking. “Ok Jess, these are ready to go. Are we all done here-” He turned quickly and fell silent when a closer inspection revealed an uncanny likeness looking back at him. Light floated closer, until his unfocused eyes were as close as he thought was possible without sucking the woman into his suit. He resisted the temptation to try and examine the inside of this person’s mouth for clues.

“Erm…Jess? How did you change so fast?” He looked around behind her for some kind of explanation.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“Ah, Its ok friend.” Light said, picking up on Senjen’s disappointment via his armour lightpads. He patted his robot head. “You’ll get your chance soon, I promise. How about you put it to use helping me with ship tasks, hmm?”

Light spent the day in transit busying himself with minor repairs. While Jess was more capable, he didn’t ask her out of her respect for her status on this job as the employer, or at least the broker. When they were approaching their destination, he finished off by feeding the organic doormat and small collection of pot plants Senjen had collected over the last couple of years. They were protected from the periodic vacuum & lack of oxygen by old blobs of Light’s suit that he’d donated.

When it was time to exit light speed, Light returned to the cockpit. Someone had tidied up all of the clutter which had been floating free since their escape.

“Understood, preparing to be utterly silent and non-communicative. Easy peasy. Okey-dokie.” Light affirmed as the hangar doors slid silently open. He maneuvered them inside and made to park in a workmanlike, non-threatening manner. “Ok Senjen, you’re up.” He sent to his partner in the cargo bay, releasing the ramp from the cockpit while he conducted post-flight checks.