Xenotober 2022 13 Strife (Irina, Frye)

a/n: Two Interceptors shepherd some fractious researchers in Oblivia.

All the good things belong to Monolithsoft.

"And I'm telling you..."

Irina didn't want to know what the random Prospector's point was, just as she hadn't wanted to know the equally random Curator's complaint prior to that. She hit the remote on her skell so it blasted a routine warning alarm. Usually this was a signal for a team to return to base. In this case, she just wanted them to shut up for a second.

The two researches had been at each other's throats for the entirety of the mission. One couldn't apply a tool to a collectable without the other shoving in and trying to take over. The whole mission was going long and the results were going to be disappointing. Irina had a growing suspicion that the Interceptors were going to take the blame for it. These characters were just the kind to point the finger at their escort instead of admitting they couldn't focus due to inexplicable enmity.

They were staring at her with vicious eyes, upset that someone had interrupted their bickering. "I think I saw a second pile of whatsis on the other side of the skell," she said primly. "Maybe you could split your efforts and we could get ..."

"You don't know anything more about this mission than he does," said the Curator, tossing a dismissive gesture at the other scientist.

"Now wait a minute... AHHHGHHHH!" The argument was interrupted again, this time when a heavily-armed form crashed into the sand between the teammates.

Frye looked up at them, surprisingly comfortable even as he sprawled onto the ground. "Hi, folks." He jumped to his boots and started to dust himself off. "You rang, your Empress?" he asked Irina.

Irina ignored the silly nickname Frye had given her for some reason. "Sorry, Frye. I was trying to get these pinheads' attention. I didn't mean to blast you off of ... (she peered uncertainly at the cliff above them) ... your perch?"

"Falling is what makes climbing fun," Frye said easily. "But it wasn't you what knocked me free."

"This is madness," declared the Curator. "You two acting like children, him being completely out of his depth. I wash my hands of the whole thing." She started to loudly pack up her gear.

"Okay, for your information..." began the Prospector again. You had to respect his optimism.

Frye was unsheathing his longsword. "See, I kinda bugged a mama bird on my way up." Irina had her rifle out by this point. "And I definitely bugged her on the way down." The other BLADEs were staring blankly, but Irina made gestures for them to get ready. She knew Frye too well.

Later, at the bar, after Frye had bought her a second round, he admitted the truth. "Them two were getting on my nerves, and I couldn't punch them."

"No hitting women? Chivalrous but stupid."

"Not that. I'll punch whoever you want me to, Irina, but I try not to hit Prospectors. Makes my brother sad. Anyhow, wasn't fair to hit only one of them, so I lured the Auravis down. I figured nothing like an external problem to settle internal strife."

a/n: Oh it is fun to be doing something different. Frye gave Irina that nickname in Apriltober 2020/22

Next up: Mechanical.