Cath

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

It was only about half an hour before an Ruknar and Seraphim arrived. Light was still in the cargo hold, sorting out the cargo hold after his various passengers had left a load of luggage strewn about. They themselves had disappeared, apart from HOPE and Omega who stayed to chat with him and not offer help.

An unmarked van turned up at the ramp. The rain, not letting up, hammered the metal roof. Ruknar climbed out of the passenger’s side and went to the back doors. She was clad in a clean white environment suit with a clear visor. It had the word ‘Rental’ stamped on the composite parts, except for the bulky utility bandoleer packed with medical supplies slung across her front. This was emblazoned with the universal mark for medics. The whole thing was designed for minimising the possibility of contamination over the protection against any other type of damage.

She opened the back doors and an unexpectedly ornate-looking Chekeri droid clicked out onto the docking area. They were a light yellow and red colour, with exquisite individual feather detailing. With them came a floating orb about the size of their heads. It had a glowing lamp for an eye and numerous holes and small appendages on its body. This must be the ‘decontamination’ solution that the Quadrarch of Vitality had mentioned.

“Hey Ruk…you ok?” Light asked, sheepishly. They hadn’t had the chance to talk after their meeting.

“Lets just park that question for now, hmm?” She replied testily.

“This is Seraphim.”

“Greetings. I’ll need a full tour of your ship to ensure proper safety procedures are implemented.” She said in a beautiful, musical voice.

“Oh, ok. My colleague can give you the full tour. He’s around here somewhere…” Light said, feigning a look around the cargo bay while also messaging Senjen that they’d arrived.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“Excellent. We shall go claim our rightful place in this delightful craft. These two bid you a good evening.” Rex made a subtle head gesture to Tantō and they padded silently out of the cargo bay.

“Should one of us, you know, go with them?” Light asked Senjen. He didn’t know how he felt about two random, not to mention strange, synths wander around his home.

“If you’re worried about them stealing anything, don’t. Neither of them has ‘possessions’ save what’s inside or attached to their bodies. The bags Rex carries are mine.” Major admitted.

“Here are the final two members of the team. Allow me to introduce you to Omega and Halo Of Pearlescent Eddies.”

Light had been so distracted by Rex and Tanto that he didn’t even notice that two more figures had ascended the ramp. One of them was QV in an unnaturally clear gelsuit, who he presumed was the one called Halo of Pearlescent Eddies. Light noted with macabre curiosity that they were heavily augmented, perhaps 50% organic remaining. Most of her appendages had been replaced, along with her eyes. The most unusual upgrade though was large power plant, surgically attached to her back by an array of cables.

She was lounging atop a very unusual droid indeed. It was a very rough, approximation of a Tindrel, probably equalling the rest of the team put together in terms of mass. It had a shield plate for a face and four large, blocky body segments, propelled on four rectangular legs each. It was laden with ordnance all over, including a hovering crate containing three suspicious-looking spheres.

A spike of adrenaline lanced through Light’s system. A female, on this ship? He felt so embarrassed – the place was a complete mess.
“H-hello. I’m Into the Abyss In Search Of Light. This is Senjen.” He said.

“The name of a wanderer, and a zealot. Who is your family?” Halo Of Pearlescent Eddies asked bluntly. Light blushed.

“I didn’t know them well. They disowned me.”

“We are all disowned here. Except for Major, he keeps us grounded.”

“BAKKRRHHH” came a strange, crunchy wail from the depths of Omega’s frame. His body began to buck and jerk, until Halo Of Pearlescent Eddies quickly stroked behind his faceplate and they calmed again.

“Don’t be afraid. He is just nervous.”

“Omega got hit by a prison train about eighty years ago. Was never the same since. He’s still a big softie inside though, let me tell you.” Major explained.

“Softie? You should’ve seen the train!” Bodach boomed, letting out a hearty laugh. Him and Diarmuid returned to the group, sans bags.

“Who else are we waiting for?”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Bodach and Diarmuid made loud approving noises when Senjen’s tail moved. They talked over one another as they went to deposit their luggage in a tidy pile against the far wall.

“Don’t be phased by their banter. When it comes down to brass tacks, they are…easier to work with.” Major decided, watching them go. He then looked back at Senjen. He took a moment to process the question, then pointed to his fleshy face.

“This? It’s a mask. I’m synthetic now, but my employers prefer to look at a Human visage every day instead of the metal underneath. That doesn’t mean I don’t need to worry about this virus, but we can discuss that later. First, let me introduce you to Rex-” He pointed to a lithe black quadruped droid with a fearsome face that was saddled with four large bags. “-Reconnaissance and sharpshooter.”

“This one humbly thanks these two for facilitating this journey.” Rex fixed them both with two deep yellow eyes. It had a deep, guttural voice, like an animal.

“And Tantō-” A sanguine coloured Chekeri droid stepped forward, both hands folded behind her back. Her frame was scarred by deep scratches from top to bottom, including on her face. There were what looked like bloody hand prints on her. She didn’t have any luggage, except for a pistol on each hip and two sticks stuck to her chest. “-you do not want to bump into her in a dark alley.”

“Erm, do we want to ask why?” Light said. He could tell that both machines had some element of shape shifting capability, Their frames were segmented into dozens of interlocking plates, like scales.

Before Light’s brain could even process the movement, both sticks were in Tantō’s hands and flicked out into long batons. Red energy crackled and burned along them and the Chekeri twirled them deftly round before extinguishing them. They compacted back down and she stuck them to her chest again.

“Right.” Light said.

“Where would these two like this one to store our equipment?” Rex purred.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“Thank you. Don’t worry – we are used to rough and ready conditions. Let me introduce you to my team.” Major half turned and gestured for the figures scaling the ramp to approach. Light glimpsed a tough metal breastplate under the brown robe as he did so. He couldn’t yet tell if this ‘Major’ was an organic cyborg, or a synth with a Human face.

The first two of the team to clank into the light of the cargo bay were definitely droids. Bipeds, of a longer and thinner shape than Major. Light guessed they may not have been combat-models originally, but had been modified and armoured beyond recognition. One’s base chassis was a deep navy colour and the other was forest green, though the paint on both was worn by many scratches and dents. They carried a large duffel bag stuffed with equipment in each hand, and another slung on their back. They each dropped their bags and came in for a hearty handshake.

“Hoo's it gaun, lads? You can call me Bodach.” Said the navy blue one. His voice was exceptionally rough and gravelly, with a heavy regional twang. “This wee gobshite wi’ me is Diarmuid.”

“Hey, Howya fellas? Lovely weather today ain't it?” Diarmuid chimed in, dripping with rain from outside. By contrast, his tone was musical and inviting. That of a younger man.

“Both of them are from Earth originally, hence the outlandish accents. Fought in more wars than the trebuchet.” Major explained with a wry smile.

“Bodach is about as old as the trebuchet as well.” Diarmuid stage-whispered.

“You cheeky bastard!” Bodach growled, before addressing Senjen. “That’s a mighty shiny frame you’ve got there, lad! Are you one of those lizard folk, or do you just have a thing for tails, eh?”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“I was hoping for more info too; maybe the others will know more. The security team or the science drone that the Quadrarch mentioned…I diiid do a little digging in the haulier channels I have access to. Myrmidon do indeed operate a geosync terminal in orbit around Veppecantel, which all the autonomous transports dock at. To keep costs down, they distribute some of the resources directly to 3rd parties in a public-access trading area. That could be a way in, if we choose to go down the…you know…theft route. How do you feel about nabbing a ship ID, now you have your inhibitor?”

There was a loud knock on the cargo bay door that echoed around the ship despite the weather outside. Tindrel ships were famously reverberant, owing to their unique communication style. Light gasped, checked the external cameras and gasped again. There was a tall biped wearing a hooded brown cloak right in front of the fish-eye camera on the exterior door control panel. Though it was dark and wet out, he caught the contours of a Human face in the shadow of the hood. For some reason they made Light shiver. Behind them and slightly away from the ramp, he could see maybe half a dozen other figures.

“We’ve got company!” Light warbled, exiting the cockpit in a hurry. He sloshed through the dimly lit tunnels of his ship to the bright box of the cargo bay. There he grabbed the Bangstick from where it leant against the wall and hit the two-way communicator on the control panel. Immediately the tinny sound of wind and rain came through. “What do you want?” He asked. After a moment the gruff reply came through. “Our mutual acquaintance told me you could use some help squashing a bug.”

Light studied them again through the cameras. “Alright. Stand back, keeping your hands where I can see them.” The figure spread both gunmetal hands down by their waist and Light pressed the big red button which lowered the ramp. Fat drops of water drummed the metal ramp the moment it appeared before the sky. Light held his weapon at the ready until the lead figure’s head appeared and then pointed it squarely at them. They did not flinch. He could make out the mass of figures and luggage waiting behind.

“How many good causes are there?” Light asked levelly. The figure pushed their hood back, revealing a balding grey head of hair beneath a lined face. A hint of a smile played at their thin lips, and they raised four fingers. Light dropped the Bangstick and waved them up. The group trudged up towards the warmth of the cargo bay, and the biped in the brown robe strode over with a hand extended.

“You must be the pilot, and the Myrmidon. You can call me Major.” He said.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

She nodded at Senjen’s repeated offer. “I’ll message you if I run into trouble but I think I know just the thing.”

Her features softened as she listened closely to him. “Thank you. I believe you – you couldn’t have known this would happen, except by taking the cynical view that all things in Korit are bad in the end. I’m glad you didn’t. Your optimism is…infectious. We can make a success of this bad situation, and return as heroes.”

Ruk stood up and shook out her feathers. They returned to their usual sleek form. She patted his head tenderly. “I’m going to go and rest, then go shopping. I’ll meet you at your ship when its time to leave.”

---

Two days passed in a flurry of checks and preparations. Light ordered in enough supplies to last them a few months. The surpluses he stored in the cargo hold. A storm rolled in from the mountains on the second day, bringing with it rolling thunder, howling winds and driving rain. As the afternoon turned to evening, he began to feel nervous.

“Where is everyone? You gave the address, right?” He asked Senjen from the cockpit.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“I’ve been on enough assignments to know that Corporate Korit expects workers to purchase their own gear sometimes. It is one of the side effects of not paying taxes.” Ruknar chuckled morosely.

“I’ll go find a suit tomorrow then, and save money by not buying a weapon. I’ll leave the shooting to you.”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Despite her anxiety, Ruk’s feathers fluffed up contentedly at the compliment. “Thank you. I appreciate that. I’ll try my best to reciprocate, though you and Light have a lot more protection that me!” Red and green fireworks rippled over the valley this restaurant looked out over. Soft music tinkled speakers fixed to awnings that hung over the bar area.

She gave a wry smile at Senjen's offer. "You may regret offering now - I need a protective suit. Vitality wouldn’t give me one; said all FGC suits are identifiable, and this was supposed to be a black op. Do I need a weapon too? I’ve never used one before, but then I’ve never been anywhere this dangerous. Maybe its best left to the security team… What else do you need?”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

“Two days. We’ve been given two days to prepare for the most consequential trip either of us may ever may.” Ruk corrected Senjen. “And one of those days is going to be spent with Jess fiddling around with your insides.” The sounds of merriment were ramping up as the evening progressed. Some glass smashed to raucous laughter. Large bugs buzzed around the long strings of festoon lights.

“Besides, even if we have time its not like we’ll be able to just find Vitality. You saw tonight – she is secretive and careful outside of her inner circle at the FGC. I never hear anything certain about her, only rumours.”

She sighed again and ran her fingers, such as they were, through her ruffled feathers. Then she looked Senjen dead in the eyes. “Listen to me, its sweet that you think I might be some special ace in the hole, but really I’m nobody special. I help people feel better. I understand people; my Sthrirad is healthy. Apart from that I’m out of my depth. You just know this Seraphim is going to be a sociopath, all the new AI specialists are. Maybe I’m a good counterweight to her, or maybe i'm not. Who knows!”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Ruk shrugged morosely. “I hope you’re right. It would be kinda incredible if it does come off that way though, right? There are a lot of ‘ifs’ still.” She took another sniff of her bowl and lounged out slightly on her chair. It wobbled gently on uneven ground.#

“I can’t think of any reason my skillset particularly commends me. There are many people more experienced than me in the field of medicine. My virology credentials are shaky at best. I’ve not even managed an AI specialist yet…I did work in a couple of conflict zones after I graduated, but nothing particularly heroic. I was treating laser burns and trauma miles from any kind of action.”

She ran a talon along the cracked cobblestones beneath her chair, scooped up a millipede which she studied closely for a moment before returning.

“It doesn’t make any sense, but I don’t think Vitality will back down now. The die is cast; you’ll only piss her off trying to renegotiate now. She doesn’t strike me as the kind of Chekeri you want to see angry.”