Blade. Scrapper. Part 6.. Damantha Makarova
to put it on. And it will be easier if you don’t take it off, as it does hurt every time you do…»
Laneth pressed her lips together and nodded, understanding everything.
«Yeah, it does hurt to put it on, Laneth.» Cipher tapped his armour pin. «So I don’t recommend taking it off too often.»
Dean glanced at him, then at Pher, who carried the same armour pin that was noticeable under his shirt:
«So they are not Veluthians?» he asked through Hunter.
«No, Dean, we’re Terrans.» Pher replied with a chuckle. «We got the armour to be effective crew members for our Captain.»
Taliesin met the Ilarian’s gaze and shook his head:
«Even I don’t have that armour yet, Dean. And I’ve been here longer than you and those two bodyguards there.» he gestured to John and Fisk, who sat silently.
«It does take time to manufacture it, so…» Laneth shrugged.
«Plus, each pin is bonded to the DNA of a certain person wearing it. So even if we had some dead Veluthian’s armour pin, it would be impossible to make it work for you.» Serena added.
Dean nodded once again, apprehending what he learned.
Hunter stood from his place and walked up to the screen, studying the schematics closely:
«I have an idea…» he said, glancing at the Captain.
«All ears.» Serena shrugged. «What do you have in mind?»
«Well, we have seven people capable of slipping in unseen…»
«Yes, so?»
«Kind of…» Hunter rubbed his chin in thought. «We could limit our reconnaissance groups to the two, but send only those that can be cloaked.»
«Those cloaking devices don’t work without the armour, right?» Taliesin asked, frowning.
«Well, they do, but…» Hunter shook his head. «Without the armour you won’t be able to see us. The devices connect to the armour and allow seeing those, who are using the devices through the visor.»
«Oh. Bummer…»
«The outpost is too big to be searched with only seven people.» John noted.
Serena couldn’t agree more.
«No, I didn’t mean we go in with just those who can use the cloaking devices.» Hunter retorted. «Hear me out… We could scout ahead and if there isn’t any danger, you could go in behind and search the buildings more thoroughly for any leads as to what happened there.»
«We will run a usual life signal scan first anyways, so if there will be anything or anyone alive in there – we’ll know.» Serena shrugged.
«Captain?» Kayla stood onto her seat, straightening. «Will I be on monitors again, helping keep an eye out on the ship?»
«Yes, Kayla. You’re part of this crew, and if you really want to help, you can monitor the scanning systems and alert us if anything goes wrong.» Serena nodded.
Dean tapped again:
«You let a child help you on your missions?»
«Don’t worry, Uncle Dean!» Kayla smiled to the Ilarian. «I’ve done this more than once. I’m capable and smart.»
«Don’t underestimate my crew, Dean.» Serena smiled as well, meeting the man’s gaze.
«Wouldn’t someone need to stay on board to protect the child?» Dean asked, surprised to hear all this.
«No need.» the ship’s AI replied. «I will protect the girl to the best of my abilities.»
«Lyssa will ascend into the skies after we disembark.» Serena nodded, agreeing with the AI. «And it will be cloaked, so no one will be able to see it or catch glimpse of the ship by any sort of scanners.»
«We’re the Ghost crew, Uncle Dean!» Kayla chuckled. «We’re ghosts!»
«I’m a little nervous letting a child be the look out, Captain.» Fisk glanced at Kayla and shrugged. «Sorry, little girl, I am! No child I ever knew was able to keep concentrated on one task for long enough.»
Kayla showed him her tongue.
«Fisk.» Serena’s voice sounded calm and the man looked at her. «Trust your crew. Kayla is not any child. She’s been part of our family not very long, but proved herself being trustworthy and capable. Cipher can second that, as his past crew members weren’t even remotely as responsible and helpful on any mission.»
Cipher cackled, seeing Fisk twist his brow:
«Damn right, Fisky boy!» he said. «Kayla here is better than the two fuckers we had to ditch on Garmfrig! And those two were grown man and woman!»
«Language, Cipher.» Laneth sighed, shaking her head.
«Catch!» Kayla threw Cipher a piece of candy and the man caught is with a smirk and a nod.
«Okay…» John clasped his palms together, looking at the outpost schematics. «So… after the first sweep we go in and search… two by two?»
Serena glanced at the outpost schematics and considered it:
«Yes, that could work… After initial sweep, we can break up to smaller groups and check each hall and compartment thoroughly in pairs.» she looked back at her crew. «Question is… what do we do if there will be locked doors we won’t be able to open without Laneth’s help? I mean, Hunter can do that too with his system, but what about others?»
«Rotation?» Hunter proposed.
«I’m not bothered to jump around if needed.» Laneth said with a smile.
«I’m more worried about how to pair up, so that the teams would be balanced…» Serena fell deep in thought. «We have five people strong in these conditions… And only seven of us have the armour…»
«I was thinking the same thing, Captain…» Wolfin tapped his fingers against the table.
«I can make a suggestion, Captain.» Cipher grunted. «Pher and I are already a good team without your Veluthian strength, however… if you allow Wolfin to come with us, he can pair up with Laneth to keep her safe.»
Fisk raised his hand:
«Captain? Serena?»
«What is it, Fisk?» Serena looked at the man.
«My brother and I… well, we’re used to being paired up ever since we served together in the military…»
«And you’re fine without being someone stronger to cover your back?»
«We’ve dealt with worse, Captain.» John shined a charming smile.
Dean tapped out:
«I’m afraid I have to be paired up with Hunter… He’s the only one who can translate what I say…»
The cyborg fell deep into thought, realising the man was right.
«Right…» Serena took a deep breath. «You can’t communicate with us via other means yet…»
Laneth suddenly took out her information tablet and began drawing up something.
«Did we bore you already?» Wolfin grunted.
«No… I just had a thought…» Laneth frowned. «I could make him a wrist-worn device which could translate his taps to vocal means, so that we could all communicate with him through our communication earpieces… if Hunter will help me input the patterns, of course…»
Dean seemed interested immediately:
«Can you make one while we’re flying to Kargalan?»
Hunter looked at Laneth, who froze and raised her eyes to him:
«I mean…