0.6 Trouble

I've finished scanning the logs, San pinged Keith just as he started moving. I'm sending you Shiro's file from the facility's archives.

Thanks. Any other life signs?

I haven't been able to locate any, San replied, and Keith had the strangest feeling that the AI was upset about this.

You did your best, the construct reassured. You heard what Shiro said.

Moke a connection - [Strong Hit: 3 + 2 + 0 = 5 vs 1 | 2]
[Mark Progress: Forge and solidify a friendship with the ship AI (San) by becoming its crew: 6 boxes]

The AI practically sighed if such a thing was possible and cozied up to Keith in the Feed. For a moment, the construct felt like someone wrapped his mind in a warm blanket. The sensation faded somewhat but lingered all the same.

You're right, San said quietly. Get back to me safely. Please, Keith.

I'm working on it, the construct answered and turned to Shiro.

Now that the human was moving about, he looked pale in the fluorescent lighting and his cheeks were practically hollow. He was also missing his left arm and the prosthetic that replaced it was worn out, barely holding together. Keith did the math, and the cold equations slapped him in the face. Shiro would need food, water, clothing, and other supplies and quickly. The Sanctuary's supply room would last them a few days, perhaps a ten-day but no longer. He set those thoughts aside. He'd worry about supplies once they were safely off this station and back in space.

"How'd you end up here?" Keith asked, just to keep the human talking.

"Ran afoul of the Consortium," the other replied with a shrug and followed Keith up the stairs into the well-lit administrative wing of the authority building. "Ended up here."

"And the arm?"

"None of your fucking business," the human hissed.

Keith raised his hands in a sign of surrender. "Just asking questions. Not tallying sins."

[Mark Progress: Become friends with Shiro (or more): 2 boxes]

"Sorry." Shiro's shoulders slumped and he made an effort to explain. "It's just... I'm used to expecting the worst. It's been the most predictable part of my life so far."

"That's fair," Keith conceded.

[Begin a Session: Seemingly unrelated situations are shown to be connected]
(I had to pause a session and came back later and couldn't totally figure out what was happening.)

"So, yeah. Lost the arm here in a mining accident about a year ago. An adept patched it up." The human flexed his prosthetic hand. "Don't know what the fuck it's made of, but I suspect it's why I didn't disappear when everyone else did."

As they exited the building, an alarm echoed somewhere above them, and Shiro swore. "Incoming."

"Incoming what?" Keith asked as his right arm flipped open to reveal a small energy cannon.

Shiro had to remind himself to breathe. "Voidspider. They live in these asteroids and don't let the name fool you. They're giant. Each one's bigger than a human, though they're territorial fucks and don't work together. Usually."

"You any good with a dagger?" the construct asked, eyes trained on the shadowed area of the dome, where he could see the creature's slowly moving heat signature. The energy weapon would do practically nothing against it, but they had the upper hand for now. Most likely the monster wasn't here for them.

"No, but the arm's good for something," Shiro replied.

Keith nodded quietly and nodded toward the ceiling. "It's up there. Twelve o'clock. Think we can sneak past it?"

"Unlikely. It's got crappy hearing, but it will see us if we move out in the open."

"Then the only way is through."