Q&A Sessions for Orders and Conscience

Scene: The Fallen Crew

The hiss-crack of White opening his soda can was awfully loud to Northwind's ears. Granted, he was literally five feet away from White, but it could still be loud.

"You really haven't had a soda before?" White asked K'dela.

K'dela shook her head. "No. You know that soda isn't usually allowed on your own ships and facilities for professional reasons and I don't think soda exists back home."

White glanced around before offering the can to K'dela. "Here, try some."

With a skeptical look, K'dela accepted the can and tentatively took a sip. She shuddered slightly and passed the can back. "It tingles. It's sweet and cold and it tingles."

"A great discovery called carbonation," White said with a smile. Northwind tuned out on the rest of his conversation and turned their attention to his phone. On it was a conversation from Yellow's dead crew.

Tan: C'mon Northwind! We're right here!
Pink: Tan, do you really think Northwind would let us come back to life?
Maroon: I agree with Pink. Grey?
Grey: Huh? Oh, yeah. We're probably just going to be lines of code that the other people can't perceive.
Coral: Why are you guys so pessimistic? Tan's got a point here.
Tan: Thank you, Coral!

Northwind sighed and then thought for a moment. A friend had asked them about Yellow's crew. He started to type furiously on their keyboard, then tapped his knuckles against the table.

"Alright everyone, we're going to have some new people for a little," Northwind said once they had everyone's attention. "Yellow, you'll know these people already."

Yellow looked confused. "What...?"

Northwind pressed the enter key on their keyboard and eight more crewmates popped into existence around the room. Yellow yelped and jumped. "Northwind, what have you done?!"

"Wha-?" K'dela started, before locking eyes with another crewmate in black. The crewmate stomped towards her and punched K'dela in the jaw. K'dela winced and rubbed the spot. "I deserved that."

"Yes you did."

"Hit me again."

Black hit K'dela again and K'dela spat out a wad of blood. "There we go. Do you want to do it again?"

Black scoffed and rolled her eyes. "What would it change? You already killed me. The first one was for killing me, the second was for killing my captain."

"Thank you for your loyalty, Black," Yellow drawled.

Black nodded at Yellow, turned around, and found a seat next to Cyan and Blue. Near them, Brown was facing an awkward Umbitr.

"If you want to punch me as well, I'd understand," Umbitr offered.

Brown shook his head. "What's done is done. At least you made it quick."

Across the room, Red was glaring at Vac'shar. "If you think I'm going to let you punch me, think again," Vac'shar warned.

"We were on leave!" Red growled. "You couldn't let me relax for one day before you killed me!"

"Not my fault."

"It was entirely your fault!"

"Children, children!" Northwind shouted. The room fell silent and Red and Vac'shar looked at him. "We're in a civilized space here. Would you two please act like adults? I'm younger than you!"

"You're younger than everyone here," Tan remarked. "You're a teenager."

"They're the creator, what do you expect?" Maroon asked.