Dark Realms Short #2: Power Shortage
Nov. 7th, 2016 06:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sidhe_faerieDark Realms Short #2: Power Shortage
Word Count: 1840
Wincet came down the corridor where the men had their rooms. He knocked on Jace’s and then Nellis’ doors.
Both of them opened the door and looked out then at each other. It wasn’t like Wincet to come to their rooms in the middle of the day.
“Wincet, is there something wrong?” Jace asked.
“I fear there is.” Wincet scowled. “Borne’s power cell is beginning to degrade and he will need to have it replaced. I need to send you both with him to Kavel to get one.”
“Kavel?” Jace frowned. “Shouldn’t we just steal one from a supply cupboard on Greeda?
Nellis laughed. “You and I have been spending far too much time together, my friend. Besides, there may not be anything left on Greeda to steal. Borne played us the order the Metalis Alliance gave to abandon the base. They probably took everything they could when they left.”
Jace looked annoyed. “We need to know what it looks like before we go.”
“Borne is going with you. He knows exactly what he needs.” Wincet looked at them both. “I will meet you at the Traveler’s Bridge in twenty minutes.”
“Wait! What if his power cell dies while we are on Kavel?” Jace asked. “There is no way Nellis and I can get him back here like that.”
“I just recharged the power cell but the charge won’t hold for long. That is why you must hurry.” Wincet turned and headed back down the corridor.
“I hope we find one. I’ve gotten rather fond of Borne.” Jace said as he watched Wincet turn the corner.
“We all have. Be had better hurry.” Nellis ducked back into his room and picked up his jacket and his weapons.
Jace went back in his room to grab his things too. He was coming out of his room just as Nellis was walking around the corner. “Hey! Nellis! Wait up!”
Jace and Nellis got to the Traveler’s Bridge before Wincet and Borne.
“I thought we were in a rush.” Jace pulled up his color against the wind.
“Maybe the charge didn’t hold and Wincet is trying it again.” Nellis said.
Wincet and Borne finally appeared at the end of the bridge and walked up to join the two men.
“Borne, you feeling alright?” Jace asked.
“Yes. I am functioning perfectly at the moment.” Borne said without a hint of worry. “But we must get the power cell or I will not be functioning at all. It is vital that I receive a new power cell.”
Wincet opened the portal to Kavel and Borne, Jace, and Nellis stepped through. They walked the short distance to the open market and looked around to find a tech vendor.
“Hey! There’s a tech merchant at the end of the row.” Jace pointed to the cart. “You and I can go, Borne. Nellis can stay here and keep an eye out for trouble.”
“Sure.” Nellis said. He stood near a tree and waited for them to come back. He didn’t have to wait long and when they did return it was empty handed.
“What’s wrong? Why didn’t you get the power cell?” Nellis asked Jace.
“The vender said that Borne can’t get a new power cell without a purchase slip signed by a commanding officer.” Jace frowned. “We tried to explain to the man that if he doesn’t get one soon, he’s going to shut off. He wasn’t very sympathetic.”
“How are we going to get him one of those?” Nellis thought for a moment. “We won’t be able to go to a base and get him one …. But we can just forge one.”
Jace looked at Nellis. “I’m not a forger. Are you?”
“No but I know one or two.” Nellis grinned. “Remember my drinking buddies on Caspire? One of them is a first class forger and he owes me money.”
“We can figure it out when we get back.” Jace said. “Let’s go back to the rendezvous point.”
They went back and waited a few minutes before a portal opened to take them home.
“Well?” Wincet asked when they stepped through the portal.
“We didn’t get the power cell. Borne needs a purchase slip.” Nellis told him.
Wincet frowned. “I was hoping you wouldn’t have any trouble. Don’t worry Borne. We can try to keep recharging the one you have until we can come up with a batter plan.”
“Nellis said he has a friend that can forge Borne a purchase slip.” Jace spoke up.
“He owes me money too.” Nellis grinned. “He’s going to need to see one though to go by.”
“I have one for a circuit card. It was in my pack when I came here,” Borne said. “It’s already been used. He will just have to delete the stamp. I will also have to give him the part number.”
“That will work.” Nellis said.
Wincet frowned. “That may be the only way we can get it but I don’t like it at all. It’s risky.”
“Jenis owes nearly twenty talons. He won’t say anything to anybody after I forgive a debt like that,” Nellis grinned. “I’ll go with you back to your room to get it and all the info then I need to get to Caspire.”
Wincet nodded. “Borne, stay off your feet until Nellis comes back to save your power. Once we have the purchase order, you can go back to Kavel to get the power cell.”
Borne nodded. “I will do what you ask. I do not want to go dark.”
Jace knew what going dark meant. He had heard Borne talk about it before. “It meant death for an android.”
“Borne, what do you say I keep you company until Nellis gets back?” Jace asked.
“I would like that, Jace.” Borne looked relieved or as relieved as an android can look.
Nellis was on his way to Caspire within the hour. He had everything he needed to forge a new purchase slip for Borne’s power cell.
Jace sat with Borne in his room and they looked out the window at the snow falling. “You know Borne, I never knew all of this was out here. I thought that my planet was the only one with life on it. But then again life comes in many different forms doesn’t it. Look at you. You’re an android and you’re alive.”
“I am a machine not a living being.” Borne corrected him.
“You are as much alive as I am and I know you are worried about going dark.” Jace sighed. “All life worries about dying, Borne and you aren’t alone in your fear. I wonder if I’m going to die out here one day. We do dangerous things you know.”
Borne nodded. “Jace, if I go dark, there is something I wish you to do.
“What is it Borne?” Jace asked.
“Don’t let anyone take me apart and use me for scrap metal.”
“I won’t.” Jace took a breath. “On my world, we bury our dead in boxes called coffins. We put a stone with their name on it where we bury them so we can talk to them or just leave the flowers. Would you like me to do that for you, Borne?”
“Yes I would. Thank you, Jace.” Borne looked out the window again.
The next morning Borne and Jace went with Wincet to bring Nellis back from Caspire.
“Did you get it?” Jace asked.
“Of course, I got it.” Nellis grinned. “Jenis was more than pleased to help and I only had to forgive half of his debt to get it done.”
Jace laughed. “You’re very good at that, aren’t you?”
“I had to be.” Nellis shrugged. “Are you ready to go, Borne?”
“Yes. I am ready.” Borne looked at Jace.
Wincet made a portal to Kavel and the trio stepped through. They went straight to the vendor to get the power cell.
“Hello there friend. I see that you are back. Do you have the proper paperwork this time?”
“Yes I do.” Boren handed the vendor the forged purchase slip.
The man glanced at it and put it on the table before he rummaged around until her found the power cell. “That will be twenty two tagnets.”
Jace looked in his pocket and pulled out twenty tagnets. “Nellis, I’m two short.”
Nellis searched his pockets and found one more. “I only have one. Can you give it to us for twenty one?”
“I have to make a profit. You understand?” The vendor shook his head and shrugged. “It’s twenty two or no part for your friend here. By the way, why are you not with a patrol, friend? I have never seen a solitary soldier before.”
“He is on loan to us.” Jace said. “Nellis, maybe you should show him what an ursaur looks like up close.”
“Sure thing.” Nellis grinned.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’ll take twenty one and next time, get your parts somewhere else.” The vendor slid the box across the table.
Jace and Nellis put the money down on the table. Borne looked in the box to make sure it was the one he needed.
“This one had been discharged.” Borne looked at the vendor. “Do you not have one that is fully charged?”
“No. That’s the only one I have. Do you want it or not?”
Nellis picked up eleven tagnets from the table. “We are taking it for ten. Let’s go gentlemen.”
They started to walk away from the vendor and got about ten yards from the rendezvous point when they spotted the four Metalis Alliance soldiers standing near the edge of the market.
“What do we do now?” Jace asked Nellis.
“I have no idea. He obviously told them we were coming.” Nellis thought for a moment. “Just keep walking and don’t look back. Pray that Wincet gets the portal to us before they get to us.”
They reached the rendezvous point just as the portal opened. They stepped through before the soldiers had a chance to see them.
When they stood on the Traveler’s Bridge borne looked panicked. “My serial number was on the purchase slip. They are going to know that I am still functioning.”
“You mean this purchase slip?” Nellis held up the paper. “I lifted it when he was fussing around in the back. No one will know it’s you.”
“Quick thinking Nellis!” Wincet sounded impressed.
“There’s still one problem the power cell has been discharged.” Jace said. “Will it still work?”
Wincet took it out of the box and looked at it. “Oh yes! It will work and we should get inside and charge it right up. What do you say, Borne?”
“Thank you all for helping me.” Borne said.
Jace patted him on the back. “We are family now, Borne and families help each other out.”
Wincet waved them inside.
The power cell was in much better condition than the one Borne had. They were changed while Borne was on reserve power so that he wouldn’t go dark not even for a minute.
Word Count: 1840
Wincet came down the corridor where the men had their rooms. He knocked on Jace’s and then Nellis’ doors.
Both of them opened the door and looked out then at each other. It wasn’t like Wincet to come to their rooms in the middle of the day.
“Wincet, is there something wrong?” Jace asked.
“I fear there is.” Wincet scowled. “Borne’s power cell is beginning to degrade and he will need to have it replaced. I need to send you both with him to Kavel to get one.”
“Kavel?” Jace frowned. “Shouldn’t we just steal one from a supply cupboard on Greeda?
Nellis laughed. “You and I have been spending far too much time together, my friend. Besides, there may not be anything left on Greeda to steal. Borne played us the order the Metalis Alliance gave to abandon the base. They probably took everything they could when they left.”
Jace looked annoyed. “We need to know what it looks like before we go.”
“Borne is going with you. He knows exactly what he needs.” Wincet looked at them both. “I will meet you at the Traveler’s Bridge in twenty minutes.”
“Wait! What if his power cell dies while we are on Kavel?” Jace asked. “There is no way Nellis and I can get him back here like that.”
“I just recharged the power cell but the charge won’t hold for long. That is why you must hurry.” Wincet turned and headed back down the corridor.
“I hope we find one. I’ve gotten rather fond of Borne.” Jace said as he watched Wincet turn the corner.
“We all have. Be had better hurry.” Nellis ducked back into his room and picked up his jacket and his weapons.
Jace went back in his room to grab his things too. He was coming out of his room just as Nellis was walking around the corner. “Hey! Nellis! Wait up!”
Jace and Nellis got to the Traveler’s Bridge before Wincet and Borne.
“I thought we were in a rush.” Jace pulled up his color against the wind.
“Maybe the charge didn’t hold and Wincet is trying it again.” Nellis said.
Wincet and Borne finally appeared at the end of the bridge and walked up to join the two men.
“Borne, you feeling alright?” Jace asked.
“Yes. I am functioning perfectly at the moment.” Borne said without a hint of worry. “But we must get the power cell or I will not be functioning at all. It is vital that I receive a new power cell.”
Wincet opened the portal to Kavel and Borne, Jace, and Nellis stepped through. They walked the short distance to the open market and looked around to find a tech vendor.
“Hey! There’s a tech merchant at the end of the row.” Jace pointed to the cart. “You and I can go, Borne. Nellis can stay here and keep an eye out for trouble.”
“Sure.” Nellis said. He stood near a tree and waited for them to come back. He didn’t have to wait long and when they did return it was empty handed.
“What’s wrong? Why didn’t you get the power cell?” Nellis asked Jace.
“The vender said that Borne can’t get a new power cell without a purchase slip signed by a commanding officer.” Jace frowned. “We tried to explain to the man that if he doesn’t get one soon, he’s going to shut off. He wasn’t very sympathetic.”
“How are we going to get him one of those?” Nellis thought for a moment. “We won’t be able to go to a base and get him one …. But we can just forge one.”
Jace looked at Nellis. “I’m not a forger. Are you?”
“No but I know one or two.” Nellis grinned. “Remember my drinking buddies on Caspire? One of them is a first class forger and he owes me money.”
“We can figure it out when we get back.” Jace said. “Let’s go back to the rendezvous point.”
They went back and waited a few minutes before a portal opened to take them home.
“Well?” Wincet asked when they stepped through the portal.
“We didn’t get the power cell. Borne needs a purchase slip.” Nellis told him.
Wincet frowned. “I was hoping you wouldn’t have any trouble. Don’t worry Borne. We can try to keep recharging the one you have until we can come up with a batter plan.”
“Nellis said he has a friend that can forge Borne a purchase slip.” Jace spoke up.
“He owes me money too.” Nellis grinned. “He’s going to need to see one though to go by.”
“I have one for a circuit card. It was in my pack when I came here,” Borne said. “It’s already been used. He will just have to delete the stamp. I will also have to give him the part number.”
“That will work.” Nellis said.
Wincet frowned. “That may be the only way we can get it but I don’t like it at all. It’s risky.”
“Jenis owes nearly twenty talons. He won’t say anything to anybody after I forgive a debt like that,” Nellis grinned. “I’ll go with you back to your room to get it and all the info then I need to get to Caspire.”
Wincet nodded. “Borne, stay off your feet until Nellis comes back to save your power. Once we have the purchase order, you can go back to Kavel to get the power cell.”
Borne nodded. “I will do what you ask. I do not want to go dark.”
Jace knew what going dark meant. He had heard Borne talk about it before. “It meant death for an android.”
“Borne, what do you say I keep you company until Nellis gets back?” Jace asked.
“I would like that, Jace.” Borne looked relieved or as relieved as an android can look.
Nellis was on his way to Caspire within the hour. He had everything he needed to forge a new purchase slip for Borne’s power cell.
Jace sat with Borne in his room and they looked out the window at the snow falling. “You know Borne, I never knew all of this was out here. I thought that my planet was the only one with life on it. But then again life comes in many different forms doesn’t it. Look at you. You’re an android and you’re alive.”
“I am a machine not a living being.” Borne corrected him.
“You are as much alive as I am and I know you are worried about going dark.” Jace sighed. “All life worries about dying, Borne and you aren’t alone in your fear. I wonder if I’m going to die out here one day. We do dangerous things you know.”
Borne nodded. “Jace, if I go dark, there is something I wish you to do.
“What is it Borne?” Jace asked.
“Don’t let anyone take me apart and use me for scrap metal.”
“I won’t.” Jace took a breath. “On my world, we bury our dead in boxes called coffins. We put a stone with their name on it where we bury them so we can talk to them or just leave the flowers. Would you like me to do that for you, Borne?”
“Yes I would. Thank you, Jace.” Borne looked out the window again.
The next morning Borne and Jace went with Wincet to bring Nellis back from Caspire.
“Did you get it?” Jace asked.
“Of course, I got it.” Nellis grinned. “Jenis was more than pleased to help and I only had to forgive half of his debt to get it done.”
Jace laughed. “You’re very good at that, aren’t you?”
“I had to be.” Nellis shrugged. “Are you ready to go, Borne?”
“Yes. I am ready.” Borne looked at Jace.
Wincet made a portal to Kavel and the trio stepped through. They went straight to the vendor to get the power cell.
“Hello there friend. I see that you are back. Do you have the proper paperwork this time?”
“Yes I do.” Boren handed the vendor the forged purchase slip.
The man glanced at it and put it on the table before he rummaged around until her found the power cell. “That will be twenty two tagnets.”
Jace looked in his pocket and pulled out twenty tagnets. “Nellis, I’m two short.”
Nellis searched his pockets and found one more. “I only have one. Can you give it to us for twenty one?”
“I have to make a profit. You understand?” The vendor shook his head and shrugged. “It’s twenty two or no part for your friend here. By the way, why are you not with a patrol, friend? I have never seen a solitary soldier before.”
“He is on loan to us.” Jace said. “Nellis, maybe you should show him what an ursaur looks like up close.”
“Sure thing.” Nellis grinned.
“Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’ll take twenty one and next time, get your parts somewhere else.” The vendor slid the box across the table.
Jace and Nellis put the money down on the table. Borne looked in the box to make sure it was the one he needed.
“This one had been discharged.” Borne looked at the vendor. “Do you not have one that is fully charged?”
“No. That’s the only one I have. Do you want it or not?”
Nellis picked up eleven tagnets from the table. “We are taking it for ten. Let’s go gentlemen.”
They started to walk away from the vendor and got about ten yards from the rendezvous point when they spotted the four Metalis Alliance soldiers standing near the edge of the market.
“What do we do now?” Jace asked Nellis.
“I have no idea. He obviously told them we were coming.” Nellis thought for a moment. “Just keep walking and don’t look back. Pray that Wincet gets the portal to us before they get to us.”
They reached the rendezvous point just as the portal opened. They stepped through before the soldiers had a chance to see them.
When they stood on the Traveler’s Bridge borne looked panicked. “My serial number was on the purchase slip. They are going to know that I am still functioning.”
“You mean this purchase slip?” Nellis held up the paper. “I lifted it when he was fussing around in the back. No one will know it’s you.”
“Quick thinking Nellis!” Wincet sounded impressed.
“There’s still one problem the power cell has been discharged.” Jace said. “Will it still work?”
Wincet took it out of the box and looked at it. “Oh yes! It will work and we should get inside and charge it right up. What do you say, Borne?”
“Thank you all for helping me.” Borne said.
Jace patted him on the back. “We are family now, Borne and families help each other out.”
Wincet waved them inside.
The power cell was in much better condition than the one Borne had. They were changed while Borne was on reserve power so that he wouldn’t go dark not even for a minute.