The Red Line

X

Meanwhile

The Jibok crew

Mox was a simple planet. With more terrain than civilization. Only a few cities stood out from the rolling plains of grey dirt, and farming land. The capital: KILD; was a robustly smaller establishment. With a connection of low clay abodes, lining the streets. And a saucer tower in the centre. Rising taller than anything in sight. The very place Skyler and his crew were disembarking.

They would drop Ms. Three off with Biren, the third chairman of Corpthror, than head for their next destination: Cygre.

"I keep forgetting how boring this place is". Kéle drawled. He was in the midst of shutting down the ship's main power frame, while Skyler finished his report on Ms. Three, and the Lexus T9b ship.

"Aha". He hummed.

"No wonder Amber left".

"He didn't leave". Now Skyler was glaring at his copilot. "The elders exiled him. It wasn't his choice".

"Ri-ght". Kéle rolled his shoulders. "I forget how stupid their laws are".

The doors to the cockpit whined open and Granger walked in, Ms. Three trailing in his shadow. Her face was covered in a dark soote, and her hair was tangled in a bad bun. But despite her poor appearance, the girl was smiling.

"This girl is smart". Granger bosted, tapping Ms. Three on the head.

"Is that right?"

"She knows her stuff".

"Grow a foot and we might just hire you in the future". Skyler teased, "Granger's getting kinda old. We're gonna need a replacement".

"I am not". Granger scowled.

"Is that gray in your beard?" Kéle asked, while inspecting the older man. "Yep. I think it is".

"Fuck off".

"What's taking so long?" Jorhay called over the coms. "Shut the ship down and get your asses to the shaft."

"Who died and made him pilot?" Kéle grumbled.

Granger smirked. "Let him dream. Maybe someday he'll replace this guy". He made a grab for Skyler's head, but the captain ducked.

"Oh naha. I'm next in line".

"Who wants to follow you?" Ms. Three spoke up.

Kéle narrowed his eyes at her. "Fu-ck. Your mean".

"Jorhay's right. We're loosing daylight just sitting around here". Skyler slipped his facescreen into the pocket of his chair, than stood up. "The reports are through so we should be good".

"We can't bring her to Biren looking like that". Kéle pointed out.

Ms. Three sneered at him. "What's wrong with how I look?"

"Your covered in engine piss." He put his hands on his hips. "Thats what's wrong".

"Take a quick warm one. Than we'll go". Skyler instructed.

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"Why is it so hot here?" Kéle whined (for the umpteenth time) as the crew made their way through the streets filled with peddlers. For such a small city, it was packed. Not just with Moxin's. There were a variety of different species running about.

"Because they have two suns". Heritage pointed out.

"Ri-ght".

"There's alot of open fires". Ms. Three added. She was staring hypnotically at the food stalls, displaying various nutriments for sell. "I've never seen so much food before".