Misery Makes Strange Bedfellows

You shrug. "Doesn't really seem like a bad deal." You look across the table at the trio of suits sitting on the other side. "Hard to see what they're really getting out of all this. Mu's a long way from producing anything like she used to, given the state she's in and all. Really makes you think about what they've got hidden in all this." You thump the giant stack of papers with your hand. "Then again, what have we really got to lose, boss? The station's barely hanging on as it is, and my boys and I can't be everywhere we need to be to keep her running anymore."

"I can assure you, Mr. Zambac, that this negotiation is entirely above board." The middle suit took a neckerchief from his coat pocket and dabbed at his forehead before continuing. "Restore Tech has nothing but Humanity's best interests at heart. After all, there can't very well be any profit if we're all dead in space out here."

You raise an eyebrow at this. As if that had done anything to help your concerns. Avery is looking at you with an expectant gaze. The worried old man was clearly out of his depth. Looks like it's up to you. With a sigh, you nod your head, and Avery picks up a pen to scrawl his signature on the frankly archaic paperwork.

"Wonderful!" Suit 2 claps his hands in appreciation. "You wont regret this gentlemen. I'm looking forward to a long and profitable partnership." The slightly shorter suit to his right pulls a small remote out of his jacket and hits the solitary big green button on it. From the room behind all of you in the docking bay comes a loud rumble as dozens of automatons spring to life, starting to haul goods and supplies into Mu's interior.

You struggle to suppress a grimace and run one hand through your hair. Just what were you getting yourself into?

Perhaps the most surprising fact about Restore Tech's pledge to revitalize the station was the lack of human involvement. The long haul freighter Prosperity was manned almost entirely by a huge variety of robots and automatons. From large, heavy duty material transports to small rovers designed to easily fit into the myriad of conduits and maintenance tubes that served as Mu's nervous system, there seemed to be a droid for every job. You supposed that was understandable, given the population problem Humanity faced in the aftermath of the Blight. Still, it was a little eerie being faced with more machines than people. The ones you normally dealt with didn't talk back!

"Query: Requisitioned payload of emitter matrices and particle injectors for industrial replicator repair. Request delivery destination."

A tall bipedal droid carrying a hefty load of parts stood next to you. Unfortunately, no one had decided to give them the location of each of Mu's systems they were to deliver the repair materials to.

"Deck 17 forward. You can take the main lift to corridor 45."

"Affirmative."

The robot set off without another word, heavy steps echoing through the cargo bay as it departed.

"You get used to it." A feminine voice piped up beside you unexpectedly. With a start, you turned to look at the source of the voice. You had been looking up to address the tall machine, and a short female has snuck over beside you and escaped your notice. A young woman in a sparkling clean Restore Tech jumpsuit that put yours to shame looked out as the robot entered the lift. She sported a short bundle of shoulder length brown hair and a face dotted with few freckles. You estimate she's around 5'5". But the most immediately noticeable and impressive characteristic is her massive chest. Two large orbs pressed out against the top of her jumpsuit, almost the size of the girl's head.

"The X-18 isn't the smartest bucket of bolts, but they're reliable and get the job done." Turning to you, she noticed your shock and giggled. "Sorry about that. Didn't mean to startle you. I'm Aurora." The bubbly girl offered her hand in greeting.

Recovering, you shook it and smiled. "Michael Zambac, Mu's chief engineer. I was beginning to think those three Suits were the only people on your ship."

Aurora laughed. "It can certainly seem that way sometimes. The Prosperity does maintain a minimal human crew compliment though. Someone has to keep all these machines running."

"I take it that's your job?"

"Yep! Prosperity chief maintenance officer Aurora Nalas at your service! I keep everything on her running. Looks like we'll be working together for the foreseeable future."

"I can think of worse things."

Aurora grinned. "Wow! You start fast. Buy a girl a drink first."

"I'd offer, as long as the damn food replicator hasn't broken down again."

"Ooof! Seems like we've certainly got our work cut out for us." She shook her head. "Well Mike, it was nice meeting you. But I've got make sure all of this ends up where it needs to go. I'll catch up with you later." And with that she was off, striding towards the long line of supplies making their way out of Prosperity's belly and shouting orders at two automatons that were trying to pick up the same crate.

Nice girl.