CHAPTER 2.0 – “Not A Curious Mute”

CHAPTER 2.0 – “Not A Curious Mute”

Location: Planet Orchid – Incompatibles Sector 1.3 - Space Station – K7-Q-Okzid-28

Date: NTC 1446.07.18

The promenade of space station was a maze of neon-lit chaos.

Dozens of Truth Language dialects rang out across the station.

The smell of oil, dust, mutes and mutants...

Broken bodies, altered minds, and everything the Sublime State refused to clean up.

Mechanical limbs hissed overhead, moving crates and cables.

Merry leaned against the railing, scanning the ever-shifting crowd below.

Next to her, Chatter’s eyes blinked in a steady rhythm.

“We need a pilot program,” it said, voice low and even.

“Navigator module too. Otherwise the Koruch’s just a brick with rockets.”

Merry made a face, annoyed.

“Didn’t we already have one of those?”

“Yes. You kicked them out yesterday,” Chatter replied flatly.

“Yeah, well. They were jerks,” Merry muttered.

She pushed off the railing. “So what now? We build one from scraps?”

Chatter considered.

“Possible. But it’d be faster to find a functioning mute or data automaton.

There are mute markets here. Everywhere, really.

This is an Incompatibles Sector.”

Merry snorted.

“I’m not putting some half-dead zombie on my ship unless they want to be there.”

She paused, then added with a glance,

“No offense.”

Chatter shrugged.

“None taken. I’m not a pacified mute.”

Merry gave a half-smile. “You sure? You’re kind of cranky sometimes.”

“I pretend to be irritated for realism.”

“You’re nailing it,” Merry said, patting his shoulder.

Chatter ignored that.

“But finding someone to willingly join us here? Nearly impossible.”

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Merry folded her arms.

“Why?”

Chatter didn’t answer right away.

Instead, it turned to observe the crowd, quiet and watchful.

“Because we don’t exactly blend in.”

Merry raised an eyebrow.

Chatter elaborated,

“First, if someone realizes I’m not a dumb pacified mute,

if they see I think, I choose or I speak,

then we’ll have half the sector hunting me down.

Inayet agents. Traders. Enforcers. Collectors. You name it.”

“Pfft. Overreacting,” Merry waved him off.

Chatter looked directly at her.

“You’re the only person who’s ever noticed I wasn’t what I seemed.”

“Because I pay attention.” She said.

“Because you’re reckless.” Chatter replied.

Merry grinned. “Same thing.”

Chatter sighed.

“And second… you are even worse.”

Merry gasped mockingly.

“I’m offended.”

“You should be,” Chatter said, deadpan.

“You can't lie. You can't act. You can’t even whisper.

And if they figure out you're above MT-5 classification,

they’ll come for you too. Just like Korsica did.

Do you remember what Yorgo said before he left?”

Merry looked away, smile fading just a little.

She remembered the cold look in Yorgo’s eyes. The weight of what he said...

Chatter didn’t press.

But the silence was enough.

Then Merry shrugged.

“I’m not afraid of them.”

“I know,” Chatter said. “That’s the problem.”

Merry let out a bright, loud laugh.

“If someone tries something, I’ll knock their teeth out.

Or sensors. Or whatever they’ve got. Don’t worry about me.”

“I have to worry about you,” Chatter said. “Someone has to.”

“Then you’re stuck with me,” Merry said, flashing her teeth.

Chatter crossed its arms with an equivalent motion.

“You’re impossible.”

“You’re overly cautious.” Said Merry while imitating its gesture.

“I’m still alive.” Chatter replied.

“And I’m still fun.” She replied back.

A pause. Merry leaned in a little, teasing.

“Besides… I know you want to explore this place.

You’re curious.”

“I don’t get curious.”

“You do now.”

Chatter hesitated. Then, a quiet tilt of its head.

Merry took that as a win.

“I’m heading out,” she said, already taking the first few steps. “You coming or not?”

Chatter didn’t answer right away.

She was already at the ramp.

Halfway down before she heard the voice behind her:

“Wait for me. You can’t even leave the station without me.”

She stopped, turned, smiled.

“Then hurry up. There’s a whole sector to get lost in.”

Chatter joined her with a resigned groan.

Pulled out a remote from its pocket and clicked it.

The Koruch’s ramp folded up and sealed tight with a hiss.

Chatter glanced its sideways.

“Don’t get too excited.”

Merry’s eyes lit up.

“Why not?”

“It's not what you’re hoping for.”

Then Chatter started walking toward the crowd.

Merry blinked.

“Hey! Don’t just leave me!”

She ran after it, voice rising over the chaos:

“Wait up! I need my favorite fugitive mute with me!”

The noise swallowed her voice.

And together, they disappeared into the crowd.