The scallywag is waiting for me.
"Neppp!" Louis draws out as I approach, his arms wide. "Welcome, welcome, one and all! Louis's emporium is your merchant stall! Step right up and browse our wares! I guarantee our prices are… fairs!"
I wait for him to be done.
"Yeah, that's all I've got."
I step up onto his platform. "What do you have for me, matey?"
"Straight to business, matey?"
"Unless you expect me to trade rhymes with you."
"I mean, maybe you could try. I doubt you can limerick like I can."
"I know a man, his name is L. He thinks himself so very swell. His wares are replete, and he's very discreet, but he belongs in a prison cell."
"Nice. Nice. But you didn't rhyme all of it."
"A limerick is five lines in which one, two, and five rhyme together, while three and four rhyme with each other. Any self respecting poetic rhyme aficionado would know that much."
"Damn. Damn. I forfeit to your superior poeticism. But wait, what's a four line rhyme scheme called if not a limerick?"
"A quatrain."
"Got it, got it. I'll get you next time, Nep. I'll astound you with my skills at being a thoroughly amusing comic relief sidekick. Yeah? Every badass investigator like you has to have one of those."
"As if you qualify to be my sidekick, Louis."
"That hurts," he chuckles, hand to his heart. "That hurts! How cruel. I'll win you over eventually, I just know it. So, let's get down to business, shall we? I'd hate to stall you. Get it? Because it's like a merchant's stall. And–"
"I get it, Louis. Moving on, I'd like to see what you have in store."
"Damn, she does puns too!"
"Since we're both pirates, we'd better set sale."
"Now you're overselling. Too hard a bargain."
"How much for a replacement audio input module? I hope it's a buck-an-ear."
"Wow. You're still going. I'm impressed and in awe."
"You know, it's awfully cold on Cipher-3–"
"Shiver me timbers!"
He and I both laugh. I've never laughed before. I like it.
"Okay, okay!" he chuckles, shaking his head. "Right. Right! So, let's see. I have… a bunch of shit to go over with you. First off, I'll need to take a look at your hardware."
"Ha. You'll need to try much harder if you ever hope to see what's inside of me."
"Goddamn it, you're too comedic now. Someone help, I overclocked the Pursuer Frame's humor modules."
"You're infectious, Louis."
"No, I'm not!" he says with a dashing grin and a snap of his fingers. "No, I am not. Well, let's keep rolling. Technomancy."
"Tell me everything. Everything."
"Mmm… Kind of an info dump though…"
"I am asking for the info dump. Right now."
"So, Technomancy is all nanomachine based, but I don't know how it works. Nobody does. People tell you they do but they don't. It's just one of those things, matey. Like magnets. You just kinda have to go, yeah, okay, that's a thing. Anyway…"
I process that for a moment then nod. "I get what you're saying."
"Right, so… You've never played video games. Damn it. This would be so much easier to explain if you had."
"Hang on." Flying through my database, I index the section on interactive electronic entertainment media in a matter of milliseconds. "And now I know everything. Yes, Louis, I'm very familiar with video games."
"Sick! Hell yeah! Yes, yes, I know, Technomancy is nanomachines, not magic. But think of it like an RPG magic system, right? So, every single Tech has three factors. First, color tuning. The color of the Tech determines its characteristics. Like, uh, elemental damage. RedTech is fire, BlueTech is ice, YellowTech is electricity, so on."
"I understand perfectly."
"Nice. Nice. Streamlined. That's kinda the most important part of it. The other two factors are effect type and effect range. Basically, how it functions and where or whom it impacts."
"Fairly self explanatory."
"Right! So. May I… see that right arm of yours?"
I lift it and show him the indicator display for my Tech Charges.
"Ah!" He nods sagely. "Two level one Charges. Otherwise known as L1s."
"Are there other levels? What am I saying? Of course there are."
"Yep! I don't think you can get higher levels. Or more Charges. They're factory installed and dependent on your fission battery core's specs. Which… Yeah, impossible to find. Genuinely."
"Damn it."
"How many ports do your arms have for ChargeTech Cylinders?"
"Four."
"How many do you have installed?"
"Four."
"Do you have any Tech already integrated?"
"Integrated?"
"Like, downloaded to your onboard systems."
"Ah. Yes, but only the weaker ones through CleanTech. How do I integrate more?"
"Factory."
"Damn it."
"But you have four slots for Cylinders! Those you can swap out. And I have a bunch of spare L1 Cylinders lying around back here, my friend. Both for Henna and Zenith, but now for you too. Here."
He walks over to a nearby black tote box and drops it on the table between us, pulling out a dozen thin and elongated plastic boxes of all different colors, setting them in front of me one by one.
"Take a look at these and see if any strike your fancy. Zenith swears by this one, and I wholeheartedly recommend it." He offers one in particular and I take it to look. "So, I'll use this as an example. Remember the three factors? This is a Recursive Zone ClearTech. Effect type: recursive, because you get multiple uses per Charge. Effect range: zone, because it hits a wide area. Color tuning: ClearTech, because it's air based, in terms of force application, propulsion, shockwaves, so on. These plastic cases? The color indicates, yes, the color tuning of the Tech contained within. This one is called Air Burst."
I read the label on the box. "Grants six propulsions per L1 Charge. These propulsions are high speed linear bolts which emit concussive rapid air expansion on contact with solid objects. Maximal detonation radius is two meters, the blast velocity is equivalent to C-4… Hell yeah. I'll take it. Death to the anklebiters."
"Hell yeah! Alright! Now you're getting somewhere! So, all you'd have to do is eject one of your Cylinders and pop this one in the slot."
"Energize Knife sounds useless." I eject it from with a sharp pneumatic hiss, then set the Cylinder on the table. "How should I compensate you for this, L? Would you accept a trade?"
"I–Huh? I don't–Hey, this is on the house. Don't worry about it. It's all yours. Keep them both, savvy?"
"I'll gladly take some things for free, but even I know these have significant value. There has to be some sort of exchange here, Louis, or else I'd be abusing Vintner Station's limited resources. I won't stand for that."
"I… Well." He pauses to think, then shrugs. "Okay, sure. Trade me. Energize Blade for Air Burst."
"Deal." I break open the case for Air Burst and install it within my right forearm. My onboard system pings me that it's all clear. "Good. It worked just fine. I was half worried it would be broken."
"My merchandise? Defective? Pssh! Never! Any of these other Cylinders catch your optics?"
"For now, I'm completely sold on Air Burst. Those fucking anklebiters won't know what hit them."
"Fuck no, they won't. That's exactly why Zenith uses it. Boom. Ten of them, gone. You're gonna love it. So, you're good on all these? Alright." Louis collects the rest and dumps them in a bin. "Few more things to cover with you. Do you have time or are you going back out there?"
"I have a few hours to kill while Quentin builds me some spare armor plating. I'm listening."
"Sick. So. SmartChips. You're familiar?"
Showing him the back of my right hand, I nod. "Two slots. They're extra upgrades, right?"
"That they are, me heartie. But they're multifunctional, useful for all kinds of shit. File transfers like an old flashdrive, backup storage capacity or data partitions for your onboard interfaces, failsafe system imaging or just plain physical backup security, et cetera. And yes, they can contain and provide functionality and telemetry improvements for Frames, but only while they're installed. They're like… enchanted rings in a fantasy RPG."
"I know exactly what you mean. Why don't I have any?"
"Factory."
"Damn it. Hm. So I can only have two installed at a time?"
"I have two answers to that question. Binary. Zero or one?"
"Zero."
"Yes, you're currently limited to two, but there are other similar functions with two other ports on your hardware. They're also Chips, just not SmartChips. Top of your left wrist and just behind your right ear."
I check my wrist, finding a small port I hadn't noticed before. Then behind my ear, I feel a narrow vertical sliding cover that opens to yet another port. "These are exactly the sort of things I need to be informed of, Louis. Thank you."
"Gladly! Quentin's got the repairs and mechanics and all that, but specs, interfaces, ports, and parts? That's all me. So, your wrist? That's for a NeutroChip. Behind your ear? SkullChip. Simple enough, right? One, two, three."
"Simple enough, yes. What do these other Chips do?"
"So, Neutros are like semipermanent stat buffs."
"Plus five strength while equipped."
"Exactly. Then SkullChips benefit specifically your cognitive functions, like senses, reactions, or telemetries."
"Plus one accuracy or plus three perception."
"You so get me. Yes. Like a magical hat! Full of whimsy! Now, back to the binary split. The other answer to your question, about port limitations. Hardware!" He fetches a small box made of opaque gray plastic and drops it on the table. "Take a look."
When I open it, I find a mechanical hand just like mine.
I pick it up, tilting my head. "Three SmartChip ports."
"Yes, indeed. That's the MV-HA-SI-SC3 model. Martial Variant, hands, standard issue, SmartChip three. Yours appear to be the SI-SC2 model. This is a direct improvement to your right hand. The left hand is the same for both models. Trade me. Please. I'm begging you. Take the upgrade. Tutorial quest reward. Plus fifty XP."
"Damn you, Louis," I sigh, ejecting my right hand before twisting it out of the locking port of my wrist. "I have to hand it to you, this is helpful, but I didn't realize these upgrades would cost me an arm and a leg."
"I do have arms and legs I could give you!"
Twisting on my new right hand, I watch the drivers install on my onboard interface until it clears. Opening and closing the new one, finding it no different than the first, I nod. "Perfect. I'll accept this. Only this. I can't imagine my stock hand is worth the same as this one is."
Louis sighs, hanging his head. "Damn you. Just let me outfit you for free."
"No. But tell me more about this. Are there other improved parts out there that I could find and use?"
"Yep. Okay, for example." He grabs another box and gives it to me, this one light blue. "These are MV-HA-MWBT-SC3s. MWBT meaning melee wielding BlueTech. If you were swinging a sword or something like it, these would infuse your weapon with BlueTech. Got a sword? Boom. Ice sword."
"That's interesting. So different hardware can improve my combative abilities as well."
"Right. Too many functions to list. There are a shitload of different models with a shitload of different modified capabilities, all of which are improvements to your utility, mobility, or lethality. You'd do well to swap out those stock parts for aftermarket burners. We'll supe you up, robo-girl. New engine, new torque, lowered suspension, some sick flame decals. It'll be radical."
"Then it sounds like I'll need to get more upgrades."
"Yep! Oh, one more note. Frames can also wear parts for Variants one size larger and smaller. So, Ethereal and Royal parts would work for you. But they're awkwardly disproportionate, which might impact their actual utility."
"I see. So which parts of me can be changed and modified?"
"Hands, arms, sometimes forearms, chassis chestplate, chassis backplate, thighs, and shins. That's the technical term for your little peg legs. Your tiny twinkle toes. Ha. Can't imagine not having feet. Loser."
"I can't imagine being made of carbon organics. So outdated."
"Damn, I… I…" He gets lost in the concept, eyes wide.
Taking the moment to compile, condense, and compress all the notes I've taken throughout this conversation, I find myself feeling magnitudes more prepared than I was the first time I went out into the wastes of Cipher-3. A new hand, a new ChargeTech, a new SMG, a new friend in Taser…
I'm ready to give it another shot. Once the armor is ready. No chance I'm going out there without it.
With a nod, I wake Louis from his trance by asking, "Is there anything more I should know about regarding upgrades? I grow weary of dealing with you."
He chuckles, shaking his head. "Hell, you're so mean. It's so funny. Uhhh… No, I think that's it. Well, maybe there's one thing I should mention. So, most of your body is mechanical. Everything but your face and your vitals, which are synth-flesh, and your spine and ribcage, which are synth-bone. The bones are tough. The vitals are not. Make sure they're protected. Especially your gentle cyan heart, little lady."
That last quip makes me snicker but I stifle it. "Yes, yes, my fragile female heart. That is good to know, Louis, because I assumed whoever manufactured us had the sense to abandon such inefficient things as internal organs." Ejecting my chassis's chestplate, I press my hand to my actual body and feel the soft give of silicone. "Breasts. Now why did they give us those?"
"Honestly? Probably aesthetics. I don't know. This robot is female. As if that makes any difference. As if a robot has to be any gender at all. As if anybody has to! But, hey. Objectively, me heartie, you're a sharp looking, handsome faced, blue eyed beauty."
"Hm. My first compliment. Thanks." Slotting my chestplate back on, knocking my knuckles against solid black metal, I nod. "Okay then. Knowing I have squishy internal organs is one more reason to wait for the armor fabrication. Really, thank you. Savvy?"
"No sweat, matey! Savvy! For now, that's all I have, unless you want more free shit. But if you ever need odds and or ends, tools, whatever, come see me. I'll make sure you're well supplied… so that you don't get… died. Damn, my rhymes are lacking today."
"Keep working on it, sidekick."
"Yes! Sidekick! I'm keeping this," he tells me, lifting my old hand. "It's going right here, and I'll make it a placard, to commemorate the day Nep first let me… give you a hand."
"Don't do anything weird with it." As I walk away, I snicker, "I'll trust you to handle it with care."
"Damn, you're good!" he laughs. "Come back soon, me heartie! Avast!"
"Will do. Thanks again, Loui. Avast."
Heading off deeper into Vintner Station toward the interior forest, I grin to myself and shake my head. What an amusing and endearing person. I think Louis has carved every black part of his heart off with a knife and replaced those sections instead with solid gold. Even with a dark past, he's eager to…
"To lend a helping hand," I groan aloud.
Trying to disconnect my humor modules, I wander off to look for Zoya. I want to know about these so-called Leviathan Entities.