[02] TEXT; unlocked

[servomotor]

GOOD MORNING ZION

[It's about 8:00 in the evening; the vast majority of shops closed and dinners eaten.]

I HAVE A HOVERSHIP AND NO ONE TO CREW IT

WORK FOR ME. RESEARCH AND CIVILIAN/MILITARY CONTRACTS. IT'S BETTER THAN WORKING FOR THE ZDG FULL-TIME BY AN IMMEASURABLY HUGE PERCENTAGE. I KNOW, I COULD SET THE BAR HIGHER, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT

ETA 1 WEEK TO COMPLETE REPAIR/RETROFIT. NO AUTOMATED RETRACTING STRIPPER POLES THIS TIME (MORE OF A PROMISE THAN A REGRET)

Comments

[servomotor]

NO ONE CARES ABOUT TIMEKEEPING HERE, A WATCH DEFINITELY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ENOUGH. HELL EVEN IF I POPPED OUT OF MY PLASTIC WOMB WITH A DIAMOND-BEZELED ROLEX SUBMARINER I'M PRETTY SURE THEY WOULD'V TORN IT APART FOR MINING EQUIPMENT PARTS.

ANYWAY TIME IS MEANINGLESS

AND I SKIPPED
MEALS
OR WHATEVER

[alsohawkeye]

Time is not meaningless when you have a job that involves shifts and hours and departure times.

But anyway still the bigger question: how the hell did you get a hovership?

[servomotor]

I'M PRETTY SURE IF YOU WANTED SOMEONE TO TUCK YOU IN AND TURN OUT THE LIGHTS AT THE END OF YOUR RESPONSIBLE GRANDMA DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE COMMED SOMEBODY ELSE.

I SOLD SOME ASSETS

THEY WERE TURNING OUT TO BE MORE OF A LIABILITY ANYWAY.



ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT FOLLOWING IN YOUR HERO'S FOOTSTEPS, GRANDMA?

[alsohawkeye]

I have no idea what at least 80% of this means.

[axeyou]

I don't think he wants to tell you where he got a hovership.

[alsohawkeye]

Thanks for translating the 20% I did understand, that's so helpful.

[axeyou]

That's what I'm known for. Being helpful.

[alsohawkeye]

Yeah, that's definitely the reputation I've heard.

[ no ]

[axeyou]

I sure hope you don't believe everything you hear.

You seriously have to wonder why he doesn't want to say.

[alsohawkeye]

I do wonder, that's why I keep asking.

Also wondering what he's planning to do with it exactly.

[axeyou]

RESEARCH AND CIVILIAN/MILITARY CONTRACTS


Keep up, Katie, come on.

[alsohawkeye]

You aren't going to translate that one for me?

[axeyou]

Wait, you really can't read vague bullshit? Wow.

[servomotor]

GOLD STAR FOR YOU

[axeyou]

Gee, thanks. Can I trade it in for an answer instead?

Keep in mind that I'm not really asking.

[servomotor]

IF YOU'LL AGREE TO USE THIS KNOWLEDGE TO UN/GENTLY SEDUCE 'KATIE' OFF THE PATH AND INTO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SURE

HER TALENTS ARE WASTED

[axeyou]

I said I wasn't really asking. And I bet she's got some useful talents. At least I'd have fun finding out.


Who got you the ship?

[servomotor]

I GOT ME THE SHIP. MARKET PRICE



YOU SOUND PRETTY CURIOUS FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN'T ASKING

[axeyou]

'Not asking' doesn't mean I'm not asking questions. It means you tell me answers. Or else. Because I've got a lot of useful talents.

Do they auction off ships?

[servomotor]

HMMMMMMMMMMMM

YOU KNOW WE HAD THAT WHOLE OTHER CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAY ANGER GIVES PEOPLE BONERS

CLOSED AUCTION. THEY WERE PRETTY THOROUGH CHECKING IN ABOUT WHO GOT AN INVITE. CAN'T ACCIDENTALLY EQUIP THE PIRATE STATE. AND, AS YOU CAN SEE, PICKED SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO WORK WITH A FEW HOOKS IN HIM

WHAT MAKES YOU ASK

[axeyou]

I remember. But I've never had a problem with that.


I'm asking because maybe I want to buy a ship too. Wondering what you have to give up to get on that list.

What's your hooks?

[servomotor]

I AM INTO YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.

I GAVE UP 2 ADJACENT STANDARD-SIZE LIVING UNITS WITHIN THE ZION CITY STRUCTURE.
IF I'D HAD 3 I PROBABLY COULD HAVE BOUGHT SOMETHING BIGGER AND LESS GROUND UP BY GIANT ROBOT CENTIPEDE. BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT THE MARKET IS GONNA BE NEXT MONTH



MY HOOKS ARE SOME OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED AND NOWHERE-ELABORATED 'RESEARCH' WORK
THERE'S PROBABLY A STRATEGY TO GET ME BUILDING BOMBS SOME POINT ALONG THE WAY, BUT I HAVE MY OWN QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING

[axeyou]

Wow, you had two units in the city. You were some kind of rich asshole. Now you're just another asshole with a ship.


I bet the ZDG don't answer your questions. Ever. They're funny like that.


How big are your bombs gonna be?

[alsohawkeye]

You know I can see this, right?

[servomotor]

YES I'M PRETTY GOOD AT COMPUTERS