Deceive and Decide

"Alright," Latonya said to Millia once she was set to go. "Where are we headed?"

"I don't know yet, but before we go, we need to figure out how you're going to join us without being noticed," Millia said. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Are you one of those ghosts that can turn invisible?"

"Um, I'm not sure." Latonya looked down at her own semitransparent form. She was silent for a moment as though she was focusing. "Can you still see me?"

"Yeah, we're going to have to work on that, but for the time being, we need another option." Millia thought about what little she knew about spirits. Perhaps Latonya could possess an object and Millia could take it with her? Or maybe she was one of those ghosts that could fly and she could just follow their ship. Hm, no. Even if either of those work, they would likely take some convincing, and I don't feel like making this proposition any less appealing to Latonya.

"Hey, I have an idea," the phantom declared. "You know how when I possessed you, you were more or less a passenger in your own body? Well, what if I jumped in again, but this time I'll be the passenger?"

"That's not a bad idea. You want to give it a try?" Millia invited.

"Ready when you are." Latonya waited for Millia to invite her in.

The apprentice adventurer fingered the necklace in her pocket. She did not mention it to Latonya, but she was curious as to whether it would still have any effect. She had it on her person, but she was not wearing it. It seemed like a grey area in the domain of the ward's powers. She gave a nod, and Latonya stepped into her, much like she had the day prior.

Millia had been bracing herself for another feeling of her nervous system resetting, but it never came. She was not sure what Latonya did differently this time, but instead of a jarring experience that left her feeling like a guest in her own body, the sensation was more like... Well, it was like some liquid, or substance, or presence slipped into her heart before spreading to the further reaches of her form. Millia could not help but picture Latonya putting her on like a costume. An unsettling mental image, to be sure. That was the worst of it, though. The cow girl never felt as though there was any challenge for control of herself. Almost everything felt as it should be; the exception being the sense of presence in her own head.

Knock, knock. Anybody home?

You did it then, Latonya? You possessed me without... well... possessing me?

I think so, the ghost answered from within Millia's mind. At least, I'm trying to make you dance like a fool and it's not working.

The novice adventurer remembered her test from before. "My name is Millia." Unlike the last time she tried it, her mouth and vocal chords responded to her will, confirming that she was still at the helm.

See? I'd call this a success, Latonya declared.

Yeah, a good test, Millia thought as she ran her thumb over the diamond. Confident that she could bring along her companion undetected, she returned to her team.

"How was your walk?" Najma asked as a greeting when the rookie entered the room.

"Oh, um, good," Millia answered, needing to be reminded of her own pretense.

"Do you think you're fit to leave then?" Eloxochitl checked, curious about her health.

Millia answered affirmatively and the group was off. More than ready to get away from Sobrihiri, they gathered what few things they had brought and returned to the Oscine. On their way to their ship, they witnessed the cleanup crews putting the final touches on their work. The Xiong Commandos could also be seen preparing for departure. At the sight, Millia felt a pang of bittersweet that was not her own.

Are you alright? Millia asked her head-mate.

Latonya's psychic voice had a sad tone to it. Yeah, it's just that I've been with them for a long time, so to say goodbye kind of hurts. In a way, it's like dying again.

Millia felt doused with guilt. Hey, no, come on. This isn't permanent. You'll get to see them again.

I suppose, Latonya agreed, trying to let Millia's words console her.

Carapace awaited Team Tachyon on the boarding ramp to the ship. He stood with exemplary posture, his hands behind his back. "Welcome back, all. It delights me to see you return in one piece." One by one, they passed him to ascend the ramp, offering only minimal pleasantries. The robot took it on the chin then looked to Millia, who came last. "What happened to you? I thought you were an F-Rank."

The cow girl was yet again reminded of the sorry state her armour was in. "Yes, well I learned that the wildlife on this moon don't hold much respect for adventurer protocol."

"Indeed," the steward nodded. "If you give me the time, I can mend that set. Though, by the look of it, I'd say that's shoddy stuff to begin with. You might be better off simply upgrading."

"Thank you, Carapace. I'll let you know what I decide." Millia finished climbing the ramp and the android followed, closing it behind them. She made for the common space, intending to head for her room from there. "How did you fare while we were away? Was this a long time alone compared to other missions?"

"Oh, no, not at all," he assured her. "It is not rare that I am left to supervise the Oscine for a week by myself. You only left me with enough time to clean the corridors and dining room. I had planned on looking over the propulsion systems before Eloxochitl notified me that we would be leaving soon."

The duo arrived in the common area to find the other three. Eloxochitl and Najma seemed to be having some semi-heated exchange while Helki paid some attention in her signature lounge position. The way the first two went back and forth made it difficult for Millia to guess what they were discussing. She went to Helki for help.

"What are they arguing about?"

"Where to spend our downtime." Helki itched her abdomen. "Apparently it makes a big difference which leisure centre we break at." She shook her hands in mock stress.

"What does it even have that is so appealing to you anyway?" Eloxochitl was questioning Najma.

"I want to visit the waterfront," she answered.

"Really? You're going to pass up the microgravity games because you want water?" the leader said incredulously.

"Yes," Najma confirmed. "It's been a while since we visited, and a natural coast sounds relaxing to me. The point of this break is to relax, isn't it?"

"Do they always fight over recesses?" Millia whispered to the Lycanthrope.

"Not always, but far too often."

"Why don't you break their tie?" the cow girl proposed. "Where do you want to go?"

Helki shrugged. "I really don't care enough to pick a side." Her features shifted then, though Millia could not get a good read with the way the large woman's hair hung over her eyes. "But that's a good idea. Hey, ladies."

Eloxochitl and Najma paused their debate to see what their teammate wanted.

"Why don't we let the new girl pick?" Helki nudged Millia forward. "Think of it as a reward for her performance, and our way of saying 'nice job not getting eaten on your first day'."

The other women had a hard time finding that disagreeable. Millia, on the other hand, felt like she was being put on the spot. "I don't even know what my choices are," she said in a weak attempt to slough off the responsibility.

"I would recommend that you choose Lunkurn Terminal," Eloxochitl said, doing her best to sound like she would take no for an answer. "It has microgravity chambers that facilitate all sorts of sports and games, and even rest, if that's what you're into." She looked to the cyborg when she emphasized that word.

"And I would recommend that you choose the Unbe District in New Kollouic." Folding her arms, Najma took her turn delivering her pitch. "If you can get over the absence of floaty rooms, it has many of the same attractions as Lunkurn, but it also has a lovely shoreline that is beautiful and fun."

"Or you could pick some other destination entirely!" Helki put on a voice like someone else was mentioning the third option.

All eyes were on Millia, waiting for her to make a choice like she was deciding the fate of everyone on the ship.

I don't know which to pick! If I choose one of their proposals, the other will get upset with me. If I choose neither, then I'll disappoint everyone.

Okay, first of all, stop acting like they're going to hate your guts if you answer wrong, Latonya thought. People aren't that petty. Secondly, you should definitely pick Lunkurn.

I should? Have you been there and- Wait a minute, you're just saying that because you want to get on Eloxochitl's good side. Stop trying to seduce my team leader!

Clearly, Millia could not depend on her spiritual aid in this matter. Or maybe she could. She could just go with Latonya's choice and be done with this.