A respite on shaky ground.
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HelioBM
Strange Stranger
- Joined
- May 12, 2021
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At least Tannis was satisfied.
As for me...
- So now you have to get the third part of the artifact? - The girl inquired. I sighed and nodded.
Unlike one poor - at least for now - engineer, Lily Rose was obscenely rich. And that's me talking about her personal money now, not her family's money. She herself owned at least one successful company, plus family shares, plus stocks... in short, a true class enemy.
Lucky for her, she was still my employer.
She'd been quite active in the last couple days, exploiting me. To build a house in Yellowrock, not a standard Pandorian shack, but a decent building with a lot of turrets. Talking to important people, from Tannis, who I'd given a research grant to, to Kincaid, with whom I'd made a deal. She even reached out to Lilith on her own (the latter I warned in advance, but they did the rest on their own).
The strangest part, however, was that the young businesswoman, despite all her quirks and personal interest, was still just that, a businesswoman. The house built with the help of a large digital construction machine in the spaceship (built around the spaceship, in fact) was also a local branch of Lily Rose's personal firm.
...It's absurd, but Pandorian bandits were enthusiastically buying up designer plush toys. And I'd understand if they were robots like the one the girl was carrying on her shoulder, but no...
That's how the poor get poorer and the rich get reacher. I mean richer.
Anyway, I didn't fail to take the opportunity to borrow LR's digital-building machine, because it's expensive to pay Moxie to rent a room, and it's uncomfortable to live in a standard shack built out of improvised materials. I'm already forced to live on Pandora, I'd like to be in normal conditions at least once in a while... Even if with my current body I can sleep on ice with a snowdrift under my helmet.
Designer of me, of course... paramilitary, but on the network you can find ready-made, and even free, samples. So thanks to my employer I became the proud owner of a small but cozy house. Which will still need to be equipped, but the basic necessities were already available: electricity from the buggy reactor, as a sewerage - digitization module, water supply - similarly. Gas could be made if desired, but electricity was enough.
It was surprisingly comfortable. And you do not have to pay for land - at least something good in Pandora. A cozy house for one person, plus an outdoor box for the robot....
Now, however, this house has been invaded by a woman.
- Yup. Tannis pointed out a few possibilities where the third fragment could be, I'll study it gradually, - I told the girl on my bed. I'll have to make a chair, or at least a chair... - But it's not in a hurry, I still have things to do. And the prisoners are not fed. Business first, after all.
- You have to take care of the pets - agreed the girl. - But I'll make up for the business downtime.
I knew she would say that... but for some reason it doesn't make me very happy.
- The Eridian relics have waited centuries, they can wait a little longer, - I pointed out. - And you should get familiar with Pandorian specifics first. Practice. On the skags.
The girl looked at me with some suspicion.
- I get the strange impression you're trying to get rid of me.
I made big eyes.
- Come on! This is Pandora, here if you want to get away, you just shoot. Like I said, if you're gonna be here for a while, you need to get the hang of it. Especially if you want to do business here, it'll come in handy.
Despite the obvious doubt in her gaze, she nodded, then changed the subject.
- I noticed a booth in the yard. Another pet?
I sighed.
- Believe me, you're better off not knowing. Some secrets are better left unsolved...
- I live to uncover secrets! - she proclaimed, then grabbed my arm with ungirlish strength and dragged me outside.
- ...I warned you - I announced, and kicked the booth.
- Woof? - said the robot. The door opened, and he rolled out. - Am I pronouncing that right, boss?
His eyepiece turned toward LR.
- And this is your... - Claptrap started to say, but I stopped him firmly and emphatically.
- No.
- Oh, so it's not your employer, it's your girlfriend, boss? You got a thing for young girls? - he asked, and I couldn't help but facepalm. Well, I got caught up in that one, I admit...
- Well, I'm not that kind of girlfriend - the girl said, eyeing the robot curiously.
- Classic "I'm not!" - remarked the robot sagely. In my head at this time struggled opposite aspirations. On the one hand, I could try to sell Claptrap to this rich girl while she was curious. On the other hand - she hadn't done anything bad to me yet...
The realization that the fucking robot has some plot relevance won out.
- It's Claptrap - I said with a sigh. - The model name, the name, and the gist. For some reason I have to put up with him.
- I think the boss wants to set the record straight - Claptrap shared his version with the girl. - I've never stayed with anyone for more than a couple months.
...Hmm. And this application could be submitted to the Club of the Badasses.
- By the way, aren't you interested in a gorgeous, good-looking, heroically valiant robot? You could put a flowerpot on me, too.
The girl looked at me questioningly.
- No, he's not always like that - with a sigh I answered the unspoken question. - Usually it's worse.
She nodded, looked at the robot and the booth again - this time with disappointment - and turned back to me.
- I assumed it was something to do with your mystical witchcraft powers - she admitted.
- I don't have any - I replied dryly. - Just because I've had a close encounter with Death doesn't mean anything.
- The boss is a real wizard - the robot said proudly.
- Claptrap!.. - I growled. I stopped immediately, realizing how that would sound, but it was too late.
- Uh, I mean, in his business - the robot corrected hastily. Just when it was backfiring because it sounded like a lame excuse. - Yeah, that's what I mean. Coffee makers. Yes.
- I knew that - the girl nodded satisfactorily, and I did another facepalm and rubbed my temples.
...Okay. It could have been worse.
...The important thing is not to say it out loud.
- Sell the secret of your magic - suggested the girl. - I could pay you well.
- I would if I had it - I sighed wistfully. I suppose she could be charged a lot of money...
- I see - Lily Rose nodded, and I looked at her suspiciously. What's the catch? - It's a test. I have to observe and learn.
…Facepalm.
The immediate and most unpleasant consequence of this little... incident, was the appearance of micro-cameras in my house. Most of it's in the restroom for some reason. No, it's certainly a "meditation chamber", but a bit of the wrong one...
After third sweep - and conversations with LR about "observe and learn" obvious do not include this - the bugs were finally gone, but I strongly suspected that I just couldn't find them: it was harder each time.
And the girl's house now also clearly had some kind of equipment aimed at my abode.
Well, what can I say? It's my life. I'm used to the rest, I'll get used to this.
...But AlBa's is still bastard.
As for me...
- So now you have to get the third part of the artifact? - The girl inquired. I sighed and nodded.
Unlike one poor - at least for now - engineer, Lily Rose was obscenely rich. And that's me talking about her personal money now, not her family's money. She herself owned at least one successful company, plus family shares, plus stocks... in short, a true class enemy.
Lucky for her, she was still my employer.
She'd been quite active in the last couple days, exploiting me. To build a house in Yellowrock, not a standard Pandorian shack, but a decent building with a lot of turrets. Talking to important people, from Tannis, who I'd given a research grant to, to Kincaid, with whom I'd made a deal. She even reached out to Lilith on her own (the latter I warned in advance, but they did the rest on their own).
The strangest part, however, was that the young businesswoman, despite all her quirks and personal interest, was still just that, a businesswoman. The house built with the help of a large digital construction machine in the spaceship (built around the spaceship, in fact) was also a local branch of Lily Rose's personal firm.
...It's absurd, but Pandorian bandits were enthusiastically buying up designer plush toys. And I'd understand if they were robots like the one the girl was carrying on her shoulder, but no...
That's how the poor get poorer and the rich get reacher. I mean richer.
Anyway, I didn't fail to take the opportunity to borrow LR's digital-building machine, because it's expensive to pay Moxie to rent a room, and it's uncomfortable to live in a standard shack built out of improvised materials. I'm already forced to live on Pandora, I'd like to be in normal conditions at least once in a while... Even if with my current body I can sleep on ice with a snowdrift under my helmet.
Designer of me, of course... paramilitary, but on the network you can find ready-made, and even free, samples. So thanks to my employer I became the proud owner of a small but cozy house. Which will still need to be equipped, but the basic necessities were already available: electricity from the buggy reactor, as a sewerage - digitization module, water supply - similarly. Gas could be made if desired, but electricity was enough.
It was surprisingly comfortable. And you do not have to pay for land - at least something good in Pandora. A cozy house for one person, plus an outdoor box for the robot....
Now, however, this house has been invaded by a woman.
- Yup. Tannis pointed out a few possibilities where the third fragment could be, I'll study it gradually, - I told the girl on my bed. I'll have to make a chair, or at least a chair... - But it's not in a hurry, I still have things to do. And the prisoners are not fed. Business first, after all.
- You have to take care of the pets - agreed the girl. - But I'll make up for the business downtime.
I knew she would say that... but for some reason it doesn't make me very happy.
- The Eridian relics have waited centuries, they can wait a little longer, - I pointed out. - And you should get familiar with Pandorian specifics first. Practice. On the skags.
The girl looked at me with some suspicion.
- I get the strange impression you're trying to get rid of me.
I made big eyes.
- Come on! This is Pandora, here if you want to get away, you just shoot. Like I said, if you're gonna be here for a while, you need to get the hang of it. Especially if you want to do business here, it'll come in handy.
Despite the obvious doubt in her gaze, she nodded, then changed the subject.
- I noticed a booth in the yard. Another pet?
I sighed.
- Believe me, you're better off not knowing. Some secrets are better left unsolved...
- I live to uncover secrets! - she proclaimed, then grabbed my arm with ungirlish strength and dragged me outside.
- ...I warned you - I announced, and kicked the booth.
- Woof? - said the robot. The door opened, and he rolled out. - Am I pronouncing that right, boss?
His eyepiece turned toward LR.
- And this is your... - Claptrap started to say, but I stopped him firmly and emphatically.
- No.
- Oh, so it's not your employer, it's your girlfriend, boss? You got a thing for young girls? - he asked, and I couldn't help but facepalm. Well, I got caught up in that one, I admit...
- Well, I'm not that kind of girlfriend - the girl said, eyeing the robot curiously.
- Classic "I'm not!" - remarked the robot sagely. In my head at this time struggled opposite aspirations. On the one hand, I could try to sell Claptrap to this rich girl while she was curious. On the other hand - she hadn't done anything bad to me yet...
The realization that the fucking robot has some plot relevance won out.
- It's Claptrap - I said with a sigh. - The model name, the name, and the gist. For some reason I have to put up with him.
- I think the boss wants to set the record straight - Claptrap shared his version with the girl. - I've never stayed with anyone for more than a couple months.
...Hmm. And this application could be submitted to the Club of the Badasses.
- By the way, aren't you interested in a gorgeous, good-looking, heroically valiant robot? You could put a flowerpot on me, too.
The girl looked at me questioningly.
- No, he's not always like that - with a sigh I answered the unspoken question. - Usually it's worse.
She nodded, looked at the robot and the booth again - this time with disappointment - and turned back to me.
- I assumed it was something to do with your mystical witchcraft powers - she admitted.
- I don't have any - I replied dryly. - Just because I've had a close encounter with Death doesn't mean anything.
- The boss is a real wizard - the robot said proudly.
- Claptrap!.. - I growled. I stopped immediately, realizing how that would sound, but it was too late.
- Uh, I mean, in his business - the robot corrected hastily. Just when it was backfiring because it sounded like a lame excuse. - Yeah, that's what I mean. Coffee makers. Yes.
- I knew that - the girl nodded satisfactorily, and I did another facepalm and rubbed my temples.
...Okay. It could have been worse.
...The important thing is not to say it out loud.
- Sell the secret of your magic - suggested the girl. - I could pay you well.
- I would if I had it - I sighed wistfully. I suppose she could be charged a lot of money...
- I see - Lily Rose nodded, and I looked at her suspiciously. What's the catch? - It's a test. I have to observe and learn.
…Facepalm.
The immediate and most unpleasant consequence of this little... incident, was the appearance of micro-cameras in my house. Most of it's in the restroom for some reason. No, it's certainly a "meditation chamber", but a bit of the wrong one...
After third sweep - and conversations with LR about "observe and learn" obvious do not include this - the bugs were finally gone, but I strongly suspected that I just couldn't find them: it was harder each time.
And the girl's house now also clearly had some kind of equipment aimed at my abode.
Well, what can I say? It's my life. I'm used to the rest, I'll get used to this.
...But AlBa's is still bastard.
