Cannon fodder

Workshop

"Ah! TIone, early as ever and ever so sharp." It purrs, as TIone loudly approaches the garage, they can't ever seem to walk silently on the pavement. Lenses focus as the door was held open by ELsix, their skin barely scarred, pristine and plastered in bright red paint in select areas.

Her voice sputtered a response, "I can say the same about you, El, I can recognise you from a mile away." She slams a limb into his chest, slightly perturbed by her own voice, being so scuffed.

The metal door shuts as the two strutted inside, the floor gently clanking as they walk. Nevermind the constant clunking in the background of the workshop, steam breathing, the factories rumbling to life. ELsix seems to bounce over next to TIone, they had a lean and light body, yet caked on with bags, belts and too little weaponry.

"What's the plan, broken voice? Is there some kind of receptor issue?" They bombard her with questions, too much information to process at that moment.
TIone had to stop in her tracks, less they run the risk of crushing ELsix's lanky legs.
She interrupts, "Only some... diagnostic issues I suppose."

They skitter to a halt, a few feet away, head tilting.
"What do you mean, 'I suppose'? Ah no matter, I'll do my job," They jerk back up to a table, being the energetic tool they are, "Say, you seem a lot less like... you, any fluid issues? Need any mood stabilisers? Or is it just the kind of fucked up joint day?" They gesture with their head, long red ears flaring with the sound of gears turning as they rummage around.

"You are such a pain." She huffs, standing over the marked area, specifically for her build. Of course, she doesn't mean it and they know that. Standing straight as ELsix scans briefly over her body, taking mental notes and prodding at some random dents. TIone usually doesn't mind this much, even entertaining the medic sometimes. Today, however, it wasn't that kind of day.
"You look like shite, we got leaks, and crushed internals. Oh and worst of all, you got your paint all scratched up, looking like someone put a fork to you." They muse, pulling on pipes and taking new metal sheets in their arms. Forcefully, they pull off as much debris, and replace it. TIone had her gun removed and given a new one, it wasn't the one she liked particularly but it is what it was. They spun the barrel around, whirring to life and threatened to slam into the table and metal bars that were next to her. Warming up the engines was always a thrill.
ELsix hissed, pointing at TIone, "Don't you even think about unloading an entire magazine into the walls." Their hand tapping impatiently on the table, reaching for some screws.
"I had to tackle your kind once because they were so trigger happy."

As ELsix bolted in every new joint, TIone shifted, testing out how the new parts work. Of course, it is in top shape and brand new, perfectly fitted.
"Thanks for the help El." She grumbles, pulling themselves together and pulling out tubes which leaked with oils and coolants. Before TIone could even step off, ELsix held up a tablet that was connected to a movable appendage on his back. They shove it in front of her, displaying her new body and frame work, ever so familiar.
ELsix chirped, "Thoughts on my handiwork?"
It took a moment for her lens to focus on the screen, it was a blueprint visualisation of herself. Wide grey body, large heavy weaponry replacing one arm, large rhino legs, chassis, tail, and the mako headgear. This was... certainly new? A new head? Tail? And a much better paint job. Contrasting the fragile screen face and the unbalanced weapons which shouldn't be an issue anymore now with the brand new tail.
"It's nice." TIone hummed, that was probably the best compliment she could give.