Preparations
"If you're buying right away, we only have off-the-shelf items. Is that okay?"
"Yes, that's fine. Just make it as beautiful as possible, please."
"...Hey, Roena."
"What's up, Leah?"
"Hoo, never mind."
The dress shop clerk quickly brought over the outfit. A casual black-based dress. It came with off-shoulder sleeves and long gloves as a set. Long frills adorned it, interspersed with sparkling blue gems.
"What do you think?"
"Want to try it on?"
"......"
"Leah?"
"Got it."
Right, it's just the mission. Stay calm.
She slipped into the dress. Not knowing how to wear it, the clerk helped her in the fitting room. It wasn't designed to be put on alone anyway. The embedded blue gems complemented her eye color, shining beautifully. It was a bit loose around the body, and the hem dragged slightly on the floor, but those were minor issues.
"Wow, Leah! You look stunning! It suits you perfectly. Like a goddess—"
"Please, Roena. I'm dying of embarrassment, so stop..."
Roena backed off a step, thinking Leah was shy.
"Ah, okay. I was just saying you look pretty."
"Yeah~. It really suits you."
"Well, this prosthetic body is damn gorgeous, isn't it?"
"Even so~. You said it looks similar to the old one?"
At a loss for words, she retreated to the fitting room and quickly changed out of it. It took a while again. She switched into the most casual hoodie and wide-fit jeans from the clothes they'd just bought.
"No need to try anything else. That one's good. It's not like I'm wearing it all the time."
Roena checked her watch with a regretful expression.
"Got it, Leah. Time's tight anyway."
"We can do quick alterations if you'd like before you go?"
"Yes, please."
Seriana sidled up and whispered in her ear.
"Once we're back, grab the dress and head to Luca. He'll add the communicator and protective gear."
"Luca? He does everything, huh."
"He's the core of the Errant Mercenary Group."
With that, they wrapped up the day's errands without incident and hurried back to the Errant.
By the time they returned, the two suns were already dipping low. She entered the ship gazing at the twilight sky. Except for a few immediately needed clothes and toiletries from their haul, everything else had been shipped, so her hands were free.
She grabbed the dress and went straight to Luca.
And I've got something else to talk about.
Luca was welding equipment in his workshop. All the windows were tinted low, lit only by LED lights. Unlike during repairs, various displays showed blueprints, specs, and code.
Probably gear for the job.
Chzzzt. He was so absorbed he didn't notice her enter until she was right beside him.
"Luca, they told me to hand this dress over to you."
"Leah? The dress is for the mission, right?"
Luca pushed aside the gear he was working on and spread out her 'mission' dress.
"Yeah."
He scanned it quickly and started muttering to himself.
"I'll add earring-type comms that fit, plus location tracking and vital signs monitoring. A choker style would suit it best. That, and... simply put, I'll coat it with a nano-carbon layer to boost durability."
"Handle the details yourself. I wouldn't know. But I've got one question."
She set aside the technical stuff for her personal curiosity.
"What is it?"
"I can't sleep."
"Sleep?"
She tapped her head with a finger.
"Even with a full-body prosthetic, this brain needs rest, but sleep won't come."
Luca tilted his head.
"...That shouldn't happen. Even with a prosthetic. How's your head otherwise?"
"Fine. No issues."
"How long since you last slept?"
"Including when I blacked out, over 40 hours."
Luca pondered alone, scribbling on his tablet.
Sleep pattern anomaly. Not critical yet, but prolonged could be serious... Prosthetic issue?
"Hmm... Could be adjustment since it's new. Try a sleep aid for now. Prosthetics vary in toxin breakdown, so you need custom meds, but they're hard to get. Seriana-nuna probably has some."
"No functional glitches?"
"Can't tell without cracking open your skull. We've only got X-ray and ultrasound scanners here. No EEG or anything."
"Right. Pass on the brain surgery."
"...Yeah, I'd rather not do that either."
Luca shrugged.
"Got it. I'll let you know if anything changes. One more request."
"What?"
"To fight, I need gear, right? Figured you'd know best."
"Better to buy separately, but what do you need?"
"A Powered Suit and sword made of—or at least containing—True Silver. Sword length about this—"
Luca cut her off.
"Hold up. Sword? Powered Suit? With True Silver?"
"I know. Rare stuff. But I need it to perform at full capacity."
She extended her hand to Luca. Pale and slender.
"Arm wrestle?"
"Huh? Out of nowhere?"
He grabbed her hand and positioned for it anyway.
"One, two, three."
She used pure strength, no technique. It was even for a moment, but the result came quick.
And it was simple.
"I lost."
Her defeat.
"See?"
"What?"
"My strength. This body's output is too low. Deliberately nerfed."
"...No need for raw power in a daily prosthetic."
"That's why I need an exosuit. A Powered Suit. Guns and skills have limits."
"...No idea what battles you're prepping for, but yeah, looks necessary. Weaker than me, huh."
"So, can I count on you?"
"Not right away. Not for this job. Expensive too."
"Not asking for it now. Just prioritize when possible."
Luca's eyes narrowed, glaring at her.
"Leah-nuna."
"Don't call me nuna."
"Still, you're my junior, so ordering you around?"
"You worry about everything."
"Nuna."
Thud! She slammed her fist on the shelf.
But Luca's eyes just sparkled with more mischief.
"Nuna, nuna, Leah-nuna."
"Luca, that's it. Come on. Let's spar."
"Didn't you want something from me? Sword or whatever... Right? Le. Ah. Nu. Na."
Hah, playing it like that? Fine.
Luca wasn't one to just take teasing. Even if he endured, he'd pay it back double later. That was his style.
Underestimated him. Need to be smarter.
Of course, backing off entirely wasn't an option. The game was on; she'd see it through. But she was at a disadvantage now, so she yielded.
"...Fine. You win, Luca. No more orders, okay?"
"Okay. I won't call you nu.na. either!"
"Good. Childish enough. We're done."
"Hah, who started it?"
She turned away amid Luca's exasperated sigh, pulling up her hoodie. Long gray hair cascaded over her shoulders.
"Take care. I'm out."
"Uh?"
"...Please, Luca. Heading out."
"Yeah, sure."
Cheeky...
She left Luca's workshop and headed to her room. Organizing clothes, toiletries, and odds and ends took until evening.
She changed into a comfy T-shirt and sweatpants from her purchases and went to the lobby. It was her welcome party tonight—and time to catch up on missed talks and job details.
Seriana and Roena were already prepping in the lobby, bustling about. Clearing instant food wrappers and trash. Hanging twinkling LED decorations everywhere. The wall display showed a cozy fireplace video with classical music.
Old-school tastes.
She pitched in. After tidying a bit, she headed to the kitchen for food and found Ian cooking. He wore a white apron with pink floral patterns.
"Cooking?"
"Yeah."
She glanced sidelong.
"What's with the apron? Your taste?"
"Ridiculous. Just grabbed something. Don't care."
His long hair was tied back, probably annoying while cooking. She got a good view of his glare.
"What, wanna wear it?"
"...No need. So, what's on the menu?"
"Bruschetta. Toasted bread topped with tomato, cheese, seasoned with garlic, olive oil, and pepper."
She stared hard at him.
"...What's that look?"
"Nothing. Just... funny. What can I help with?"
"You cook?"
Pure jab. But old memories surfaced, and half-lost in thought, she replied.
"Simple stuff. Been making my own since I was a kid."
Ian was sharp. Given his background, he'd be dead otherwise. He quickly read Leah's past and softened.
"...Pull the roast beef from the oven, slice it, and plate it. Sauce is in the top fridge shelf."
"Got it."
And... crash!
"Oops... Sorry. Heavier than I thought."
Roast beef spilled on the floor. Enough for 4-5 people. Took at least two hours to make. Leah could've handled it, but distracted by old thoughts, she forgot her shorter arms for a split second.
She cringed under Ian's withering stare from behind.
"...Wash veggies. I'll clean."
"The roast beef—"
"Have. Extras. Wash. Veggies."
"Ahem. Right."
Luckily, the party food turned out fine in the end.