Chapter 2
His mind still buzzed with excitement, that last mission watching her fend stop a cataclysm was thrilling. He knew she was a skilled lancer, but he wished he could be out there with her as lancer. He wanted excitement, adventure but most of all he wanted to help her. Leaping out of his amplifier chair he scratched his chin, she'll be back any moment now. Owen touch his chair and a wicked idea hit him. Without hesitation he contacted a fort cypher, "Hello yes I need my amplifier chair check. I notice something wrong in my last mission"
"Is this urgent?" the fort cypher uninterest was clear in her voice.
"Ah no not urgent. I mean if you want something to go wrong and…"
"Yes, noted I will be by momentarily"
Clapping with excitement he chuckled, oh this is going to be fun. A warm tingle ran down his spine, "She's back" Linking with Kalila he said cheerily "Welcome home, you should ah… Swing by my amplifier in the enclave"
"Something wrong" Kalila replied.
"No, no, no not wrong" Owen tried to hold back his amused chuckle, "More like ah, fun. Drop on by whenever"
"Ah sure thing, I'll be there in a few"
Cutting the link Owen leaned against the wall and waiting for the fort cypher, After a tough job she deserves a good laugh.
"Cypher Owen?" a stern looking woman enter the chamber.
"yep yep that's me" he waved
"You had an issue with your amplifier?"
Here we go "Oh yes, very serious"
Moving to his chair to woman sat and began to do a routine check. Owen moved to the side and kneeled, faking his distressed look. The woman began to shake her head as Kalila entered the room.
Show time "Yeah you see what I mean?" Owen called "you picked up on that right? A little warble? It's warbling right?"
"All readings fall within expectable tolerances"
"You've gotta look pass the numbers for once in your life" his eyes darted to Kalila, a tiny smile touched her lips, better ham it in "Something is off! The connections a bit fuzzy"
"How do you quantify fuzzy?"
"You don't quantify fuzzy" he faked the outrage in his voice, "You don't measure it, you don't count it, it's nothing like that. It's… It's a feeling"
Kalila caught his eye and she crossed her arms, "Is everything alright here Owen?"
Perfect she's playing along, "yeah well on your last mission, I noticed that the cypher chair was giving off some very strange feedback" Owen stood and gave the cypher woman a smug smile.
"All readings fall within expectable tolerances" standing with a huff the woman went to leave.
Hook "Well its your call but if you ignore it" line "and something go wrong"
"I will find an arcanist and preform a full protocol inspection on this unit"
Sinker With a huge grin Owen gave the woman two thumbs up. Grumbling the woman stormed out of the chamber and Owen released a small laugh before saluting her.
"There's nothing wrong with the chair, is there?" Kalila shook her head.
Owen turned to her, "No" he chuckled.
"Why are you always stirring up trouble?" she asked
Because it makes you laugh "What are you talking about?" he asked indigently "I've just done her a massive favour. You've got no idea how boring it is being a fort cypher. She does not get to work with a freelancer. She does not get to see the world through the eyes of javelin pilot". Kalila went to speak but he cut her off "no, no, no you know what she gets to do?"
Kalila shrugged and motioned his him to tell her.
"She gets to relay official messages back and forth to cyphers at the capitals, day after day after day"
"Some people like boring, not everyone cut out to be a freelancer" Kalila rebutted.
He had heard that line from her many time, "So you have said but" he paused for effect, "you have to admit that last mission would have gone better with a partner"
Kalila nudged his shoulder playfully, "I have a partner, you"
Her touch made his heart jump
She gave him a warm smile, "every javelin pilot needs a good cypher"
"That's not what I meant" I want more "Look if I had a suit of my own, I could be out there in the field with you!" I could be useful.
"Settle down your boosters' hot shot, more training and you'll get your chance I promise"
Owen heart sank a little, something could happen to you tomorrow or the next day and I can't do a thing to help in that stupid chair! The thought of losing her scared him and he looked away. Owen had experienced freelanacer deaths on past jobs, it was unpleasant, and he didn't every want to feel that kind of harrowing pain again. "Fine" he sighed, "not like we can afford a spare suit anyway". He glanced at the end of the room, "the job board is empty"
Kalila hopeful smile returned, "we'll figure something out, we always do"
"Yeah" he took a deep breath and met her eye "do you ever regret missing out on the glory days? Back when freelancers were treated like heroes. Contracts would just fall into their lap" Owen mind drifted to the past, when he was on the streets and starving. "everywhere they went they were given respect." He would watch the freelancers and their cyphers enjoy the high life. I was given this gift, he used to think, I'll be one of them. Returning to the present he saw the concern in Kalila eyes right enough doom and gloom "and free sandwiches" he forced a smile.
"Free sandwiches?" her brow raised.
"Yeah, I haven't had my lunch yet, I'm starving. We're on a tight budget here"
She crossed her arms, "The budget has room for sandwiches"
"You're probably right, you know what?" he move back to his chair "why don't you head over to the forge, get your javelin tuned up so we're ready to roll for when a contract does fall into our laps". He turned away from her and sighed patience, right? Patience.
"Hey Owen?"
"Huh? You're still here"
"Where else would I be?"
"The forge like I…"
"The forge can wait" Kalila lifted the contract paper, "I think it's time to get paid, and maybe…" she playfully punched his shoulder, "get those sandwiches"
"Yeah?"
Kalila chuckled, "come on" she grabbed his hand, "I think there still one pastry shop left"
"Pastry? Isn't that a bit expensive?"
"What I can't treat my friend? You treated me with breakfast"
"Speaking of which…"
"we need to pay that merchant?"
"Yeah" he rubbed the back of his head.
-()-()-
Sneaking past the sentinels they made their way to a secluded spot on the wall.
"Here you go good sir" Kalila passed Owen his ham and cheese puff pastry as she sat.
"Why thank milady" taking it happily he joined her on the wall.
Kalila took a bite of her donut and moaned, "oh that's good"
"It's well deserved"
"You know I couldn't have done it without you"
"Nah, I'm sure you would've been fine with any cypher"
Kalila lowered her donut, "What are you talking about, you're my partner"
Owen took a bite of his puff pastry and gazed out at the never-ending jungle. He knew he was good cypher, but he was bored and doubt niggled in his mind. He never wanted to be a cypher, the choice was made for him. Since he was a child, he followed the path that was forced on him and where did that leave him? Homeless and starving in Pontieix. It wasn't until that day ten years ago that a new fire was lit in his belly.
"Owen?"
"Huh" he returned to the present, "Yeah"
"Why do you want to be a lancer?"
He blinked in surprised, "Same reason you did, excitement, danger" he raised his arms and wave theatrically "adventure"
"That's not why I became one"
"Oh come on" he jested, "Why else would you do it". Kalila looked pained and in that brief moment Owen noticed deep sadness in her eyes. Kalila looked away from him and remained silent. He wanted to poke and prod, to know more about her. If she only open, her mind to me I could…. No, no, no I couldn't do that to her. In all the time he had known her, Owen never learnt much about her past. Whenever it was brought up, she would shut down and her clear sadness unsettled him. I should probably say something. "Cheer up mate, you look like someone died" the words slipped from his lips before he could stop himself, smooth genius
Sighing Kalila shook her head, "You're an idiot"
"Guilty" he chuckled nervously.
"So you ever going to tell me the real reason you want to be a lancer?"
Nope "Because I'm booooored"
"Lier"
"Ah you got me" he joked, "Nah there no deep reason, just want some real adventure"
"You know it's not a game? Being a lancer is harder than its looks"
"So you have said" putting on a cheeky grin he said, "Have you ever listened to the Crimson Lancer? I want some of that action". Laughing with Kalila, Owen was pleased to see her previous sadness melt away.
"You know what I love about you Owen"
Love? Owen could feel colour rise to his cheeks, "What? My charm and good looks?"
"Your humour"
"Humour, ah come on mate, you can be honest its my looks isn't it" he teased
Kalila brush a strand of fallen hair behind her ear "Being honest, without you I think I'd be an unwelcome regular at the pub"
Owen felt a little taken aback, it never crossed his mind that she relied on him in any way other than being her cypher. "Oh now don't get all mushy, that's what friends are for right?"
"Right" slowly standing she stretched her arms and gazed out at the sunset, "we better get going, the night shift will be starting soon"
Owen jumped up, "I can take" he punched the air, "no sentinel going to tell us what to do"
"You say that now, but you wont be singing the same tune when they kick us out of the Fort"
Owen mocked distress, "Oh no we'll never find somewhere better than this fort"
"Hey, I've come to like this place"
"I suppose it has a rustic charm"
"I'm sure it will be quiet pretty if they ever get that fountain working"
"Ha that will never happen"
"I'm sure it will"
"Okay then, if that day comes, I'll buy you a round at the bar" extending his hand he raised his brow, "deal"
Taking it, she smiled, "Deal"