Chapter One - Staring

Chapter One - Staring

Chapter One - Staring

Let sleeping tigers lie.

--Cooler Versions of Shitty Old Proverbs, fifth edition, 2057

***

Hey, bot, pass me the clickity thing, I said with a gesture towards the repair drone.

The drone was hovering there, silent and unmoving, though I knew it had some sort of propeller thing going on because there was a constant wash of warm air coming out from its bottom. Id purchased it when I picked up my newest hobby.

Technically, this thing could get my mech up and running in a fraction of the time it took me to do it.

Also, it wouldnt mess up the repairs and break even more stuff while doing it. It had the schematics for the mech in its little robot head, and could fix nearly anything wrong with it, especially with access to my matter fabricator to make parts.

But that would rob me of all my fun.

The drone passed me a tool--was it called a ratchet?--and I leaned into the mech and slotted it over a small bolt.

I hadnt jumped into this new hobby entirely unprepared. Id bought a cheap bit of software from Myalis that gave me step-by-step instructions on how to fix this particular mech. It was telling me what to undo and where, and which part needed replacing.

It was kind of like a big three-dimensional puzzle, but one put together by a mad scientist whod just taken a fat snort of cocaine before they got creative.

Every part of the mech was small and intricate and linked to others so that replacing one piece required that I take apart a dozen more.

I was positive that it was built this way to make sure it was as strong as possible or something. It also made it insanely fucking annoying to fix.

You know, when most people pick up a new hobby, they generally start themselves off easily, then work up to harder challenges.

Cowards, I dismissed, mostly because I knew it would bother Myalis.

Maybe you should work on something more your speed? Like a Jenga tower? That would have mechanical properties that even you can understand.

I laughed. Low blow, I said. I chewed on my lip while flicking the ratchet around, and then the bolt Id been working on came free and the part I wanted to replace fell... right in between the armoured plates of the mech.

It clinked and clanked on its way down, and I just stared into the dark crack where it had gone. Fuck, I said.

Im adding to the total projected time until the warmech is repaired once more.

A little counter that had been gently dropping as I worked flickered, and the 36 days climbed up to 39. You really dont have any faith in me, do you? I asked.

I do have faith in you, Catherine. Im mostly teasing you to keep your mood up. Youre unusually motivated by antagonism, even of the more friendly variety. But I do think that, if you set your mind to it, youll master this in due time.

I felt myself flushing a bit, then shook my head. Nevermind that. Hey, repair drone, fetch that part, would you?

Well, well, I said.

Not only had she bought the gun, shed gotten ammo for it, multiple times across a few days.

There were a few other things. Some guns, a few prosthetics, but nothing insane.

I let out a long winded sigh. I need to look into this, dont I? I asked.

Lucy shifted closer to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Its fine, she said. Besides, I can take care of a few of your projects... if you promise not to add too many more to my plate.

Projects? I asked.

You were helping someone become mayor, you promised to set up a free-or-nearly-free prosthetics clinic, you still need to do something about the Sewer Dragons... I think Im forgetting a few loose ends, Lucy said.

Oh, I said. Didnt you want to avoid touching me? Im greasy.

She shrugged. We have very nice showers.

I considered things for a moment, then let out a groan and melted into Lucy. Fine. Ill be moderately responsible, I said.

Lucy laughed. How about you do things at a reasonable pace? One problem a day?

I think some of these things are more than a one-day issue, I said.

You know, Myalis can serve as a glorified agenda, Lucy said. Myalis, make sure she has at least half a day off. Cats technically on vacation. And how is she going to find time for her new hobby if shes running around all day long?

Duly noted.

I frowned. Lucy, stop telling Myalis what to do. Shes my extraordinarily overpowered bullshit AI. Youre only supposed to use her to annoy me and for kinky stuff.

Id really rather not.

Lucy gave me a peck on the cheek, the cleaner one. If I feel like it, she said, which could have meant anything.

Right... wheres Rac now? I asked.

Myalis helpfully let me spy on our friend by giving me her real-time location. She was a few blocks over, taking a public tram across the city.

I should go check on her, I said. Person-to-person, you know?

After you take a shower, Lucy said. Then she smiled. Ill clean your back if you do mine?

Well, I could hardly refuse that.

***