Page 21 of The Only Way Out Is Up

I start screwing a couple of spars into a ball joint. Thanks for saving my ass up there.

[Addendum: again.]

Right. The joint squeaks; there’s a rough spot. I sigh and make a mental note to get more grease. Again.

He clambers onto the bench and stares solemnly at his own inert body. [Query: you have sufficient resources to complete this?]

Not yet. But we’ll see how much Ekkeban will give me for the sword.

[Observation: if it is insufficient, we will need to return to Yesod.]

Yeah. I shift uncomfortably.

[Reminder: last time, you said we cannot “tap that keg” too often, or the Arbiters will take notice.]

I know. A little theft here and there fades into the background, but a string of robberies will draw official attention.

[Reminder: and that was before we were nearly captured.]

I know, Star. But we’ll be fine. The natural assumption would be that a thief is sneaking in from Malkuth, which will have them looking in all the wrong places. They don’t have any reason to suspect someone’s climbing up from below.

[Foreboding: unless Ky tells them.]

I stop abruptly. The thought had honestly never occurred to me; something in her open manner had made me feel sure she’d keep my secret. But of course she’s a Yesod citizen, and she doesn’t owe shit to a random Heaper who’d robbed her. She didn’t even make any promises.

I think of all the questions she asked, and my cheeks grow warm. Some mix of anger and—let’s be honest—horniness had driven me to respond, and viewed in the cold light of day that felt kind of really fucking stupid.

Not much we could have done about that either way.

[Observation: except kill her.]

We can’t just go around killing people.

[Confirmation: because it would attract Arbiter attention?]

That too. But… you just don’t. For some reason I think of Fara, wiping blood off my face after some scuffle or other. Not unless they’re trying to kill you first.

[Dubious: waiting for them to try to kill you seems poor tactics.]

It’s a… human thing, all right? I change the subject. Are you disappointed I didn’t accept her offer?

[Denial: your decision was the correct one.]

Would you want to be “bigger and fightier”? I glance at the embryonic Mark 4, then give his little head a tap. You seem happy enough in this body.

[Agreement: this body has its advantages. Size is not the only virtue.]

“That’s what I keep telling them,” I mutter under my breath.

[Query: repeat?]

Never mind. Stupid joke. I finish tightening the joint and lean back in my chair. What do you want, when it comes down to it?

There’s a long pause. Star turns his primary optics toward me, legs clicking softly.

[Recall: without the energy you provide to my foundation sigil, I would not be conscious. Without the bodies you build, I could neither perceive the world nor take action. Assisting you as best I am able is my optimal course of action.]

Aw. I rap his little head again. You like me.