Child of Hades

4. S*** (Lié)

It was nice to see KM-13 again. Someone or something had torn off his arm but he had replaced it completely with bionic technology, looking deadlier than ever.

"There's my favorite serial killer", he said playfully. "Whatever brought you here.", he stretched out his bionic arm, displaying a variety of weapons.

I gave him a coy kiss to the cheek, pressing his normal arm to check his temperature. Cyborg biology is a curious thing. His temperature changed according to how he felt. Right now he was cool.

"Looking good", I pointed my hand towards his arm.

"Just the best for you.", he picked out a purple gun with enhanced laser technology. It fell into my hand. I could tell it was pricey, and it felt a bit too big for my taste. I took some shots at the decoys, they exploded immediately. 

"We should really go hunting together", KM-13's eyes looked as hungry as ever.

Red lights started to flash in his cockpit and the siren went off.

"Looks like your wish is about to come true", my hand was reaching for my handgun but KM-13 stopped me. "Please." he re-opened the menu on his arm and I quickly picked a small gun. We both shifted to the cockpit.  A dark, black spaceship was approaching us. It was a military ship, a bit bigger than what I would have preferred to hunt. Perhaps a bit risky but definitely a nice plunder. I looked at KM-13, his expressions were stern. He was dead-certain about this. No escape, this time we were going to fight. 

His ship started a fake-damage sequence automatically, my heart was beating faster in anticipation. KM-13 registered my elevated heartbeat and laughed. His energy was contagious. Together we would fight and not die today.  

He signaled me to stay as he teleported onto the Lukrain ship. Activating KM-13's defense robots would have made it easier to defend his ship. But where's the challenge in that?

I shot about 5 enemies before MK-13 returned with a shitload of equipment and a very hurried expression. "No taking over that ship", he said, beginning the escape-sequence of his ship without delay. The gate between the two ships closed. The way he looked at me was more than promising.

"Oh no you didn't", I giggled.

"Yes, I did, honey. Fireworks just for you."

It was a massive explosion. His ship was just out of reach. I felt the heat even hundreds of meters away. Like a tingling sensation on my skin.

"This is a fine gun.", I said. "How much?"

KM-13 shook his head. "I'm not exactly starving, honey. Just take it."

"Really nice equipment.", I continued. "You didn't think I was just gonna let you have all of it?"

Grudgingly, he stretched out his arm to give me some money and batteries for my ship. "Pleasure doing business with you", I said with a wholehearted smile.

"What do you need all that money for?"

"I really don't need it", I said and took a bow. I enjoyed his reaction for a brief second and then teleported back into the Hubris.

I was going to visit Habakka earlier than expected. Happy day, I supposed.

Rather than waiting for long, I decided to fly to Tharo to meet Habakka once again. Maybe I was bored and all I could do to pass time now was work. But also it would be good to be there before she went to sleep. I had already landed when MK-13 called me. "The bodies are gone. Are you ok?"

My head stopped working for a second as I tried to wrap my head around the implications. Was it a trap? 

 "I am ok, nothing out of the ordinary so far. How about you?", I inquired.

"They're on my tail. I dropped the goods I plundered some time ago, but these fuckers don't seem to lay off. Must be some really over-ambitious officer."

"Thanks for the warning. I will be sure to leave the goods immediately."

Now what to do about Habakka?