EliteCommander

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Senjen shrugged. “Eh, it’s alright. We’re still new-ish. I don’t think Orostro really exports many plants. Anyways, it’s art and execution, then? I’ve been wanting to try this; I’ve never seen that growth stuff in action before. Light here doesn’t want the ship to become a jungle. I personally think it’s better than a cave, but that’s just me. I do get a vote, but since it’s his ship, his counts for two.” He laughed.

Jess sat down slowly as the others spoke and crossed her arms. “Well, I can already see I’ll be the weak link here, if they’re judging all of us. I mean...well, actually, you said ‘companion structure’, right? Does that mean we’re going to be growing them around some kind of brace? Do we need to put that together ourselves? I don’t know about growing as much, but building something with my hands? That, I can do.”

“Maybe we do stand a better chance than I thought? I’m not sure how much experience others will have with aquatic plants like that. Though...I guess there are quite a few Tekeri that just know how to deal with any kind of flora you can imagine, and some you can’t. At least we can get some sun…” He lifted up his head, looking over Ruknar. “...does that feel nice to a naturally-nocturnal bird? Haven't actually thought about that before.”

Just beyond Ruknar, Senjen caught the eye of a Tindrel watching them. He tilted his head, gazing up at them. “Ah, are you Pclendafuun?”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Senjen had not even known there was a buy-in to the competition, not that he had bothered asking. Regardless, he did not hesitate to contribute his portion. Stakes would just make the competition all the more exciting. His mind started to wander on what they might end up growing and how he might try to contribute, though the official’s last question caught him momentarily off-guard. “Um…” He started, eyes darting back and forth between his friends, especially Light. “Sunlight Sowers”.

It was an off the cuff answer, but it would probably work well-enough. The official did not seem to have any more to ask, so once they left, the group had some time to themselves again. Senjen took the lead towards nothing in particular, walking around until he found a soft enough spot in the grass to sit himself down. Or rather lay down, “stretched” out on his back. His artificial muscles were not similar enough to organic ones for the concept of stretching to apply to him, but he enjoyed the feel of natural grass under the warmth of sunlight filtering in from above. “Alright, so...strategy and stuff.” He began, looking up at Ruknar. “How does this work, Ruk? What do we do; how do I help?”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

The Tekeri’s answer gave Senjen a basic idea of what they would be doing, though he probably still would not be able to accomplish much based on that alone. He had read up on the Tekeri’s growth accelerants, and from a user’s perspective he should know what to do with them. Even hearing the categories, he had no idea how exactly they would be judged, but as long as Ruk was with them, he was reasonably sure they would do fine. She could guide them in the right direction. He did not actually like their odds of winning, but it could be fun regardless.

Senjen had not expected the Tekeri’s suggestion, and he ended up giving a glance to the others, before returning his attention with a quick laugh. “Ah, well, that’s really more of a...coincidence, than anything. Far be it from me to deny someone participation just because they can’t find a team, though. Whatever they might be, I’ll gladly help them out.”

Jess rolled her eyes, but did not argue. For anyone who knew Senjen, that would pretty much be the expected response. He was outgoing, sometimes to a fault, but that was the reason they had gotten to know each other. Jess likely would have just been their local parts dealer and mechanic if Senjen was not so curious and talkative.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

On first impressions, Senjen had a feeling like stepping back in time when entering the bounds of the shrub. Or perhaps into a storybook. This little slice of nature took them out of the city completely, and brought them to somewhere he had never been before. For a few moments, he just had his eyes on the rustic shack that would not look out of place in a museum of ancient history, until one of the Tekeri approached them directly.

“I think we were looking to compete.” Senjen answered, briefly glancing to the others for confirmation. He had come to have an appreciation for nature, but he could not say he had actually done anything like this before. Ruk had sent him plenty of literature on gardening and such, and he had actually read it all, but living out of a ship in a paved-over lot, he had never actually had an opportunity to put it into practice beyond a few small “house” plants on the ship. “What are the rules like? Can we work together, or do we all work alone?” He asked.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Senjen gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Ah, don’t worry, it’s not real thorns. Besides, it’s not like thorns could even touch you through your suit. Or most of the rest of us.”

“Speak for yourself.” Jess grumbled.

“You’ve got those clothes, don’t they protect you?”

Jess glanced down and idly pinched the cloth of one of her sleeves between her fingers. “Eh, not really.”

Senjen tilted his head. “Seems like a wasted opportunity.” He started, though after a few moments, he simply shrugged. “Well, whatever, the thorns are fake anyway. It’s right there, so we can go take a look. If we don’t like what we see, we can always move on.”

It was not a long walk to reach the shrub Ruk had pointed out, and for a few moments, Senjen found himself distracted by it. It was a single shrub larger than some buildings, and if that was not impossible enough, it had not been here the last time he visited the park a month ago. He did not know what planet it was from, or even if it was naturally-occurring at all. The impression Tekeri gave off could sometimes be deceptive. In their culture, they often found it important to be close to nature. Forgoing modern technology and conveniences to live out in the wilderness for weeks, or even months at a time was considered a pastime for them, and there were some of them who made their entire lives out there willingly. These were a people who could build spaceships with wooden interiors, of all things, but they were still exceptionally advanced, especially in certain scientific disciplines. Biology, ecology, genetics, medicine, pretty much anything having to do with organic life were all fields where their expertise could seem impossible. The Utaysi could not even begin to compare to them. Senjen remembered reading, before he left home, how they were in talks with the Tekeri for their help in revitalizing the ecology of Orostro. The articles had seemed hopeful, though the technical details of the logistics and political concerns went over his head.

Pushing through to the interior of the shrub felt almost like leaving the city entirely. They had not brought furniture, or much of anything that seemed “artificial” for this event. The massive shrub was thick enough to block out any view of the city, but was open on top to allow in natural light and allow a view of the sky. Senjen could not even hear the sounds of the city, though he was not exactly sure what they were using to accomplish that. As expected, it seemed like the attendees were a majority Tekeri, though not exclusively.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Senjen sat up on the table, looking up at Ruknar. “I think, uh, we should do something a bit more ‘upbeat’ today. Of course, we’re not going to do much of anything sitting around here…

Standing back up to his feet, Senjen took a few idle steps towards the door as he thought, then turned back to face the others. I say we go to the contest, take a look, maybe get a feel for if it’s anything interesting. If not...we can walk around, go wherever the wind takes us. There will be something to catch our eyes, I’m sure.”

---

Senjen was not one to dwell too long on thought and planning, so it was probably no surprise when he wanted to head out and see where the day took them. And to be fair, saying there was “plenty” to do in downtown Setia would be quite the understatement. Korit as a whole was a planet of unrestricted commerce and leisure alike, and the city was no exception. The city was planned to make it quite easy for its many potential customers to find places to spend their money. While generally a rare statement to make about Korit, public transportation in its major cities was the envy of most modern cities in the known galaxy. Outside of areas like the slums, it was quite easy to navigate, and even the automated taxi service they used to get around was government-funded, and free to use. There were other, “official” reasons for the state to be so seemingly magnanimous, but there was little question to the fact it was an investment for greater revenue.

The first time Senjen had seen the city, outside of a hospital, had been awe-inspiring for him. He had spent all his life on his homeworld, and while crowds were nothing new for Utaysi, the sheer diversity on display in any direction one looked. Most worlds in the galaxy were dominated by the species which settled them, with tourists, and especially alien immigrants, being the exception. Korit was something special, and for all its many flaws, that was still the part of it which Senjen loved the most. Older cities like Setia still had more Tekeri influence than anything else, but one could still see buildings with entirely different species’ architectural styles right next to one another.

The group had landed on the uppermost layer, on a street near the center of the city close to Kwe-Lungo park. He had a guess that this might have been one one of both his and Rukner’s favorite places in the city. Unlike most of the lower layers, it received natural light, and it was the largest park in the city. It was tended to by the oldest horticultural society on the planet, and combined complementary flora from over a dozen planets. There was one winding path, somewhat out-of-the-way, that was set between two tall rows of trees that was intentionally filled with the most hostile looking flora they could find, like vines appeared to have sharp thorns longer than a Tekeri’s claw. Most came from different worlds, but they all had two things in common. First, the hazards were only superficial. That vine’s “thorns” were actually flower buds that appeared to be hard and dangerous when not in bloom. Second was that, around the start of the wet season, they would all bloom at once into a vibrant display beautiful enough to draw visitors down even such a long and winding path. Senjen was pretty sure it was an art piece.

Senjen still did not particularly want to attend the protest, but it was happening on the other side of the park from the contest. As they walked alongside the park, Senjen gave Rukner a pat on the back. “Where exactly is that contest? We can go there, or go for a bite to eat first if we have time...or just go for a picnic in the park.”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Senjen made a quite intentional point of rolling his eyes. “Oh, don’t give us that. It’s your day, Light, we should do what you want.”

Restless as he was, Senjen did not stay seated for long. He pushed himself up off the ground and started to circle around the table on all-fours. “Today is huge. Think about it: how much have you had to pay for these treatments? I mean, I know the FGC gives good discounts, and they’ve let us pay for it with labor, but now you’re going to start getting paid directly for all that work. Mark my words, we’re going to start climbing higher now.”

Jess chuckled. “That mean you’ll finally get those upgrades you won’t shut up about?”

Senjen had a sly expression as he avoided eye contact. “Oh, that is tempting. But I might have to look for a new supplier first. That last actuator you sold me is still sticking.” He said, emphasizing his point by rotating his arm, which jerked slightly in a few positions.

“Actuator’s fine.” Jess answered with rather absolute confidence. “That one governs the full range of joint motion, but it only sticks on external rotation. Intermittent, too...could be corrosion on the connector for the infraspinatus.”

“That again? I’m telling you my diagnostics comes back clean for any internal corrosion.”

“And I’m telling you your thoracic sensors have been shot for the past six months. Shouldn’t have waited a whole month to deal with that faulty seal.” Jess snapped back.

Senjen did not stop pacing around the table. “I didn’t have the money, but I kept it covered. It only acted up after I got the replacement, but it’s fine. I know you can’t guarantee every used part you sell…”

Jess slapped her hands down on the table. “That’s it, not going to get slandered here. Lay down, I’m opening you up.”

“Ah, come on, just because…” Senjen could hardly start to get his words out before Jess grabbed him to pull him over to the table. While she did have some enhancements under the skin, she still did not have the strength to move him unwillingly, but despite his outward objections, he was still cooperating. He laid back on the table between them all, and while she moved over to his right side, she grabbed a multitool out of her pack. Senjen’s chestplate was intended to be removable for maintenance, though it required him to disengage some internal locks for it to be easy. Once she got to work, though, she was through the latches in seconds before she tossed the plate aside.

Strictly speaking, a Utaysi was supposed to go to a low-power, minimal-activity state before submitting to internal maintenance, much like being sedated for surgery. Not only were there sensitive electronics that were safer to work around while unpowered, but the internal mechanics and powerful artificial muscles could take off a hand if one was careless. However, neither of the two particularly cared for safety concerns.

A Utaysi frame was a mix of electronics, traditional mechanical parts, and artificial muscle depending on what was most optimal for the task. Even with Jess leaned over the opening, the others could catch glimpses of the complex web of machinery, tubes, and wiring. It seemed incomprehensible to the uninitiated, but Jess seemed to be navigating it all by touch at the moment. She did not bother going for anything else because she knew just what she was going for.

After a minute or so, Senjen’s right arm went entirely limp. “The hell you doing in there? You losing your touch, Jess? I can’t move my arm.”

“Because I disconnected it, dumbass. Give me a minute…” Jess had her arm squeezed in between some of the artificial muscles that controlled the shoulder joint. In that position, an errant arm extension could end up crushing her bones to dust, and it seemed she was not insane enough to take that risk, at least. Though, her fingers were cautiously tracing the wiring to an entirely different system at the moment. “Ah...got you.” She muttered to herself.

Senjen laughed. “Oh I’m sure. It will be great when we go through this whole ‘open-heart surgery’ just to-” His voice cut out abruptly and completely, despite his mouth continuing to move. She had reached up and disconnected his vocal cords.

“Nowww I can work in peace.” Jess smirked, to which Senjen could only return a cross expression.

It took just a few minutes longer for Jess to do what she needed. She retrieved an attachment for her multitool and used it to do something to the internals of his shoulder. Normally, that sort of work would require removing the arm to work from the other side of the socket, as she could not actually see what she was doing. However, she was especially familiar with Senjen’s frame in particular, as she had worked on nearly every part of it over the years. She was operating purely on touch and memory at the moment.

As soon as she was done, Jess reactivated the arm, then went straight to replacing the chestplate. Senjen grabbed a hold of it with the opposite arm and growled. He was still capable of that, at least.

Jess stared him down in silence for a few seconds, keeping an impressively straight face. “Fine. I suppose we can suffer your voice today. She reached in up towards the throat and reconnected the vocal cords before closing him up.

“Finally, now when it sticks again, does that mean my next part is free, or do I get a replacement?” Senjen began, but quite predictably, it was rather immediate that he was proven wrong. He went through several external rotations of the joint, each one just as smooth as the last.

Jess walked around above Senjen’s head so she could look straight down at him. “Like I said, there was corrosion on the connectors to some of the muscles. The signal was intermittent.” With the handle of her multitool, she smacked the top of his head, sending a clang echoing through the room. “Now you can stop crying about it.”

Senjen laid his head back, staring straight up at the low ceiling for a few, silent moments. “The horticulture tournament sounds fun.”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Jess was still holding her nose, which was reflected in her voice when she answered. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. We knew you were getting your results today, and we all wanted to support you. Sen just made sure to let us know it was going to be the ‘happy celebration’ sort of support, and not, well...the alternative.”

“No more worrying, no more stress, no more hospital visits. You’ve got plenty of time ahead of you, and that’s worth celebrating.” Senjen added, reaching into Light’s suit to pat his side.

Jess cleared her throat, lifting up the cake to call attention to it. “Yeah, it’s wonderful, really, but can we hurry and get this thing out of my hands now? I’ll be honest, I can’t handle the smell a second longer. There’s fish in this thing.”

The group took a moment to file out of the cargo hold, further into the ship. Being a Tindrel ship, it had a low ceiling by the standards of many species. Jess could stand unobstructed, though Senjen often preferred to move on all-fours from one place to another. It did at least have plenty of floor space, so moving back to the habitation area, they could all gather comfortably around the circular table at the center. Neither Light nor Senjen had need of seating, but Jess visited enough that her favored crate was already in the room for her to pull up to the table and sit down. Senjen, on his part, simply curled up on the floor and leaned forward with his arms crossed onto the table.

“Okay, how are these things supposed to work? Are we supposed to burn candles?” Senjen asked.

Jess shook her head. “That’s for birthdays. It’s just a cake; go ahead and have at it.” She answered, pushing it across the table towards Light.

Senjen was noticeably excitable, moving quickly from one thought to the next. “Ah, well, if you say so. Anyway, me and Light were thinking on the way over on how we were going to celebrate. Light was thinking either a hunt, or going for Sthrirad. I say we all go out somewhere.”

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Something Senjen had learned in the years away from his homeworld was how much the tastes of biological species could be influenced by having biology. Utaysi were about the opposite of QV in terms of their prey drive, being that they did not have one. Their predecessors did, but that was an instinct that had not made the transition to their artificial progeny. Their creators had tried to adjust as few of their instincts as possible, but anything related to food, or acquiring it, was something they had no choice but to change. And of course, there was no drug that would affect both an organic and a machine. Yet, Senjen was still glad to join, especially with what Light had just overcome. There was just one thing that needed to be done first.

“Hmm...let me think about it on the way to the ship.” Senjen answered.

---

Being that living anywhere near downtown Setia was an expensive prospect, Light had been renting a long-term landing pad for his ship out near the fringes of the city. It made for an annoying commute to the hospital, but the automated taxi ride back did give Senjen time to think, and about more than just their immediate plans. Light being cured still felt hard to imagine with how long he had been dealing with his condition, but if it really was happening, then it could mean a new chapter for them. Certain possibilities had been going through Senjen’s mind for a while, and now it seemed like he might be able to act on them.

The space Light rented was, to put it gently, not in the finest neighborhood, nor did it offer many services. There was at least some security on the lot to ward off vagrants, but it was simply a flat, open space with rows of basic landing pads that could accommodate ships up to the size of light freighters. More expensive lots would offer protection from the elements, automated refueling, and maintenance services. This place gave no such benefits. The best it could offer was refueling, at a separate charge, with a tanker that had to be towed around from ship to ship.

What Light was greeted with as soon as the ramp to his ship lowered was a surprise, quite literally. A trio of voices, including Senjen beside him, shouted out the word as the interior came into view. Waiting inside were two familiar faces: a Human and a Tekeri. Both were friends, and as it seemed, Senjen had arranged for them to pay a visit in light of the good news. The Human woman’s name was Rebecca, though for reasons she never explained, she went by “Jess”. She was a parts dealer and mechanic they had become well-acquainted with since their arrival. She was short, especially compared to the much larger species surrounding her, with short, dark hair and a mild tan. Her casual clothes were unremarkable, though at least much cleaner than the rough, stained jumpsuits she usually wore.

Jess was holding a small cake in one arm, while pinching her nose with her other hand. She was in the interesting position of being in a genuinely good mood while simultaneously holding herself back from retching. The cake was a fusion of Human and QV cuisine that was meant to be pleasing to a QV palette, but most certainly not to her.

Price of Life (EliteCommander and Cath)

Senjen’s head tilted slightly as he looked up to Light. If he had better vision, Light might have been able to see his mechanical iris focus in on the arm he had mentioned. His words had been straight and to the point, but Senjen could see in his colors the weight that had been lifted off of him. The news was just what they had hoped it would be, but after so many years, it felt strange to finally see it happen. “That’s wonderful!” With a Utaysi, Senjen would have grabbed both of the other’s hands with interlaced fingers as something similar to a hug. However, with Light lacking fingers, he instead reached up and grabbed two tentacles between his middle fingers.

“Well we can’t just lounge around doing nothing with that sort of news. Come on, we’ve got to celebrate! I’m not taking ‘no’ for an answer; whatever you want to do, let’s go do it. We just need to stop by the ship real quick so I can get something, then...whatever you like. You can take the time on the way back to think up something good.” Senjen said, finally releasing his grip.