Well, That Could Have Gone Better 021

[screwyoubob]

[Locked to Crew Only // Unhackable]

Okay, uhm, the immune system? Run into some snags. We don't have enough neural matter, even if we, uhm, slaughter the, uhm-- you know. Them. On the lower decks? I mean, even if we use them all, it's still not going to be enough, so there's really no point in doing that

Comments

[psychoticracer]

Mechanic. You still have that language device? I have a.... volunteer for you.

[screwyoubob]

Of course! Really? Oh, neat! Okay! Sure! Where?

[psychoticracer]

Hmmm. Deck 15, by the aft-side elevator.

[screwyoubob]

Sure, sure!

[And a few minutes later the elevator opens to reveal B with a strange cloth draped over his arm.]

Hello?

[nantokanare]

[Deck 15 is a strange choice, but it's where Erol wanted to meet and Akagi isn't going to argue. He shows up comparatively quickly, scanning for Erol and-- oh, you're kidding. The weirdo mechanic.]

Heh. Yeah right.

[He mutters to himself in Japanese before turning around and heading back up the way he came.]

[psychoticracer]

Ah-ah! Where do you think YOU'RE going??

[Erol snags Akagi, catches him in a head-lock and tugs him back onto deck proper.]

Right, here's your - volunteer.

[He releases the thirteen-year-old and gives him a shove forwards. Don't be a poor sport, Akagi~]

[screwyoubob]

[The mechanic blinks, looking at Akagi and then at Erol. This is... odd. B takes his comm out of his pocket and types a message in it, then passes it to Akagi.]

"Is this voluntary?"

[nantokanare]

[Akagirolls his eyes. This is the second time someone's called B for him. It really isn't worth fighting. Shrugging, he answers back in English.]

Yes.

[psychoticracer]

[Erol smirks and steps back, arms crossed arrogantly. He was sick of having to type out explanations to Akagi whenever vocabulary got beyond two-syllable words. It was slowing training down...

And if there was anything Erol hated it was getting slowed down.]

[screwyoubob]

Okay!

[B's smile becomes brilliant again and he tucks his comm back into his jumpsuit's pocket. He pushes blonde hair out of his eyes and holds up the strange cloth he'd draped over his arm: it's not made of cotton or fibre but a super-fine mesh of metal links. It glimmers softly and has a texture of cool, rough silk. It ripples, completely opaque.]

Want to do it here?

[nantokanare]

[What is that? What's he going to do with a blanket? Akagi narrows his eyes suspiciously.

And then there's more English to parse through. He glances at Erol. Want + do + here... okay. Akagi's pretty sure he understands the question being asked.]

Here is okay.

[psychoticracer]

[Erol catches the glance, nods. Akagi knew BARELY enough Common to get by... just not enough to hold a useful conversation.]

Here's fine.

[Didn't hurt that Akagi's hesitation made Erol feel like he was needed to give permission. Like he owned the boy.

It was an illusion he was all too happy to indulge in.]

[screwyoubob]

[B is completely oblivious to all the weird, kinky undertones passing around here, so he just beckons for Akagi to sit down on the floor and lean against the wall. B smiles at him.]

Be still, yes? Sit. Wait. Is okay. Promise. No pain, no hurt. Okay, start.

[B uses the simplest words he can and then gently drapes the metal cloth over Akagi's head. The teenager will smell ozone and a pressure in his head as it works. B sits back on his heels, head cocked and watching attentively.]

[nantokanare]

[Akagi might have protested being spoken to like a handicapped toddler, but, well, it did make it easy to understand. He sits obediently, waiting for the machine to work it's magic. It smells funny and feels funny and probably looks funny, but it was a small price to pay to learn an entire language in a single sitting.]

[psychoticracer]

[This boat's tech was bizarre. Just like the crew, the passengers, and - well, there weren't really many exceptions to the rule. Still, if it meant Akagi could understand him now when they were training (most importantly, at no expense to himself), Erol didn't mind in the slightest.]

[screwyoubob]

Akagi, I want to check your motor functions, so lift up your hand and show me three fingers, okay?

[His tone is casual. At this point Akagi should be able to understand a lot of what he's saying, but the machine requires people to remain calm and still while he checks to see just how far the process has come along.]