Chapter 24 – Talos

Ajay flashed her badge to the security detail as she walked into HQ. Her phone buzzed as she entered the building. She opened the message from HQ:

Report to the air hanger bay 2. You will received your assignment when you land.

She held herself back from rolling her eyes. They couldn't have just told her when she walked in. Everything had to be documented in some little message and now she had to fly somewhere. "I hope this isn't long. I didn't bring anything to do." She shoved her phone back into her pocket and reported to her assigned ship. It was just a basic transport ship, the same kind they used for the arena. She entered the ship and sat down, tossing her backpack in the seat next to her. The ramp of the ship closed and took off.

"Didn't expect to see you here." She heard Elliot's voice across from her. She shrugged to him, "I didn expect ta be here." He looked at her shirt as she dug through her bag. She pulled out her hoodie and put it on. "Do ya know where we're goin?" Elliot leaned back in his seat and got comfortable, "Talos." She pulled her hood over her head just out of comfort. "Talos?" She wasn't sure what a 'Talos' was. He nodded, "It's a planet." She sighed at his simple response. She really didn't feel like digging information out of him and he didn't seem to be offering it to her so she just sat there quietly.

"So..." After about 10 minutes Elliot broke the silence. "What's with you and that crazy speed guy?" Ajay didn't move, she didn't want to give him any kind of indication of her relationship with Octavio. "Who? Octane?" Elliot leaned forward in his seat. "Octavio Silva." He said it almost mockingly, throwing his hands up near his face. She continued to sit still, "We grew up togetha on Psamathe." That was first time he had ever heard her talk about her home planet or anything about her past, "Is... Is... Is he like your friend or something?" She stuck her hands into the big front pocket of her hoodie, "Or something."

Elliot sat back in his seat kind of annoyed. "What is that supposed to mean Ajay?" She readjusted in her seat; she was getting uncomfortable with the conversation. "What does it matter Elliot?" He crossed his arms and then relaxed as he thought about it. "Why am I getting so worked up? We aren't anything right now." He set his hands in his lap, "I was just wondering." Ajay could hear the softness in his voice and it made her feel bad. She looked at him, "Sorry. It's just not my story ta tell. It's his story." Elliot nodded, "Okay." His voice was bright and cheery.

They were silent again. Elliot wanted to talk but he didn't know what to say. They both listened to the hum of the ship and they were soon landing. They both stood and gathered their belongings. Ajay was the first to exit the ship. It was a little chilly and the breeze was even cooler. She could see wide open land everywhere; it was a nice change from the city. She could see a little colony in a snow covered grassy area. Behind the colony there was a mountain side and train tracks. To the other side of the colony there was an ice covered area that looked like it led into a pit. It actually looked quite stunning.

Ajay was greeted by a blonde hair girl "No, woman." She was wearing a blue and orange jacket. She also had on white pants and white boots. Ajay noticed a scar on the left side of her face. She held her blue glove covered hand out to Ajay, "Natalie Paquette." She said with a French accent. Ajay shook her hand firmly, "Ajay Che." Natalie smile, "I know. We have been expecting you." Ajay looked a little confused, "We?" Before she could answer Elliot made his grand entrance. Natalie ran over to him and jumped in his arms, hugging him. Ajay stared at the whole interaction "Okay..." She then turned away. "Hey Nat..." He said happily. Natalie and Elliot embraced each other for a moment before Natalie led everyone to colony area.

Ajay just followed along as Natalie and Elliot chatted. She really couldn't hear what they were saying or maybe she choose not to. Natalie showed them to their rooms, where they left their belongings. Then Natalie escorted them to a small hanger that was relatively close by their living quarters. "Ajay, this is where you and I will be working!" Ajay nodded and noticed that Natalie said everything so excitedly. It made Ajay happy to hear such excitement. "Workin, huh?" Natalie jumped a little, "Yes!" Ajay smiled at here, "Natalie, whatcha ya do here?" Natalie smiled and jumped this time, "I am an electrical engineer and I'm current-ly at the top of my game! That is, I am the lead electrical engineer here." Natalie and Ajay giggled together. Ajay looked around, "There aren't many people here is there?" Natalie tapped her finger to her chin, "Well. It is just us. This is kind of a private matter."

Elliot smiled as he watched them. Ajay looked around and when she saw it she knew what the job was,"Is that what we're workin on?" She pointed over at her teammate MRVN. Natalie clapped, "Yes. Allons-y." Natalie grabbed Ajay's hand and they ran over the MRVN; well Natalie ran and pulled Ajay with her. Elliot followed them. Ajay looked at MRVN and sighed, "What can I do?" She then looked over to Natalie. "You have worked with Titan parts oui?" She paused, "Oc. Tav. Io. Sil. Va?" Natalie had to break up Octavio's name to say it. Ajay nodded, "Plus your work with the Frontier Corps will give me some insight." Ajay thought about it for a moment, "Sure. Then why is Elliot here?"

"Hey!" Elliot interrupted. Natalie giggled between her closed hands. "Natalie, here, keeps my suit in check for the arena. Plus who is going to protect you ladies if anything happens?" Natalie smiled and continued to giggle as Elliot gave her a pat on the back, "Merci Elliot!" Ajay wasn't sure what their status was and she really didn't care. "So this is where he came for his job." She kept her focus on MRVN and waited for Natalie to get done with whatever was going on behind her. "If you ladies need me I will have my cell. I, too, have work to do." Natalie waved goodbye to Elliot and returned to Ajay, "Let's get to work!"

"I need you to take MRVN apart so I can take a look at his electrical work and make adjustments." Natalie handed Ajay some tools. Ajay began working on MRVN. "So, how do you know Elliot?" Ajay was curious. Natalie giggled at the question, "We are both from Solace." Ajay nodded. She was satisfied with the answer but Natalie offered a lot of information. "He comes here for work often. We train together. I am going to be a Legend someday! Wattson! Papa will be proud!" Ajay finally got a panel off of MRVN, leaving most of his electrical exposed. "Thank you Ajay." Natalie went to work. Ajay stepped back and watched her. She was surprised that this woman could create her own current with just her fingertips. "A Legend huh?"

"Yes Ajay!" She smiled as she worked. "I can't say what else I am working on but I can tell you that you are currently standing in it." Ajay looked around and started working another area of MRVN. "Talos?" Natalie looked up at Ajay and winked. "Is all of Talos this cold?" Ajay got another panel off. Natalie shook her head, "Non." She paused. "Can I tell you a story Ajay? I love stories!" Ajay smiled at Natalie's enthusiasm, "Sure Natalie." Ajay began on another panel on poor MRVN. "What happened to this poor robot?" Hopefully it wouldn't take too long to get this robot up and running again.

"Once upon a time Talos was uninhabitable because of volcanic activity which slowly subsided." Natalie stopped working and made volcano noises. Ajay laughed. "And then the IMC." "Interstellar Manufacturing Corporation" "Were able to make small settlements." Natalie then made ship landing and hammering noises. "They discovered a rare compound just beneath this planet's surface. A mineral of some sort. The IMC built heat-reducing towers that super cooled the lava's flow which allowed them to extract the minerals." Natalie made fan noises and then digging sounds. "And then. Out of nowhere. One of the towers exploded!" She made expulsion sounds, "Which caused a flash freeze!" Ajay interrupted, "That stunnin ice pit?" Natalie smiled, "Oui!" Ajay waited, "And then what?" Natalie shrugged, "And now. That is all I know." Ajay smiled, "That was a good story. Thank ya."

They worked and laughed until it was dark. "Just a few more pieces tomorrow and we should be done. Then I can show you some of Talos." Natalie smiled and stepped back from MRVN. "Or we can go tonight?" She whispered like she was embarrassed to ask. "Let's go." Ajay replied. Natalie smiled and took Ajay's hand. "We will have to be careful. There are monsters out there." Natalie tapped her chin with her free hand, "I have an idea! Let's go get a weapon!" Ajay walked with Natalie, "What kind of monsters?" Natalie led Ajay to weapons cage, "Prrrrowlers! Uh. Prowlers." She giggled. Ajay had heard of them. Natalie led Ajay only weapon cage within the small colony, that was located in the hanger they were working in. She opened the door, "Ajay we are not in the arena, yet. Talos is partially programmed to be like the arena but some areas are not in working order. If we go out and get hurt we might really get hurt! Or die..."

Ajay put her hand on Natalie's left shoulder, "Is this ya first time out Natalie?" Ajay dropped her hand and watched as Natalie pulled out a gun that she had never seen before. "Non. I do this a lot. What weapon do want?" Ajay looked around, "Whatcha ya have there?" Natalie handed Ajay the gun, "It's a prowler. A prowler for a prowler! Get it?" She giggled, "It is a heavy ammo SMG. It has a very powerful 3 round burst fire. But if you prefer." Natalie clicked the gun, "You can put it on auto. It even has a digital threat. Just take a look." Ajay held the gun up, finger off the trigger and looked through the digital threat at Natalie who lit up red. "Wow." Ajay lowered the, clicking it back over to burst fire. Natalie tossed Ajay a backpack with ammo. "Armor doesn't work yet. Just guns, normal backpacks and ammo. And some Legends abilities, but not all. Are you ready?" Ajay put the backpack on as Natalie grabbed her own prowler and supplies, "Let's do it."