Unipsi, lovely entity

chapter 17: gift

The next day, not so long after noon, Scilla was knocking on Natrix hull. Heavy metallic sound echoed through the ship. Soon Idra was at the entrance ready to go on their “date”. Both were wearing their power armour, Scilla to eventually be able to stop Idra and well Idra to protect herself. Idra was also carrying a rectangular object with some balls at the edges. When they reached the base of the skyscraper they saw a pair of of military armoured personnel carrier. Idra stopped and looked at them for a bit, before being brought back to reality.

“Idra?? are you ok in there?”

“...yeah. I just remembered something”

Does she hate APCs? They are not the most gorgeous vehicle around but they give us safety. What could be wrong with them.

One APC was for them and the other for the security squad. On their APC a little surprise, Morea was sitting on one side.

“hi there commander”

“hi Morea, let me guess. They wanted at least one soldier with us and you were the only one that was not shitting herself?”

“how could you know? Almost as if you were there in the barracks my friend” Morea’s voice was full of sarcasm but also respect for her friend and commander. She was somehow surviving Idra’s presence but she definitely couldn’t live with her even for a brief moment.

“why didn’t you greet me too?” said Idra.

“because I had no ready joke for you. So where are we going? I was just told that I have to be a guard for you two”

“yeah, about that I don’t know. Scilla made the plan”

Morea looked at Scilla that has just sat on the opposite side.

“we are going shopping. She wants to buy some pencils and a gift for Wiola’s birthday. I have to buy one as well so a trip to the shopping mall should work for both of us”

“wait a minute. I’m working all day because you wanted to go shopping?”

“yeah” said Idra.

“that is so fucking unbelievable”

Scilla replied properly.

“not my fault that they want someone even closer than the normal guards. And also did you really think that I could keep her stuck in my house all the time?”

“on one hand you are right. I’m an extra. On the other you kept her at bay for all the return trip. I suppose you could have kept her in even longer. She does and goes basically everywhere you go so.”

“exactly, so it’s better this way than her following me and sneaking around because I’m going out alone to buy a gift”

then Idra intrude in the conversation.

“can’t you buy something for you as well? This way you don’t waste time. I can buy stuff for you if you want”

“don’t make me laugh, how could you even pay for things?”

“I will try and see once we arrive at this so called shopping mall”

then the conversation shifted.

“so how did your family react commander?”

“it was… well as you would expect probably.”

“so Wiola didn’t spoke to you ever since you came home I guess”

“oh no, strangely enough she is mostly fine with Idra. Can’t say the same for pama and Kalina. You should have seen that dickhead face”

“well can’t fix a useless idiot like her”

Idra jumped in again.

“insulting mother is not a good thing even if they are useless or they are yours”

“what do you know about mothers? Do you even have one” said Morea in an unfriendly tone. She was more comfortable with the cold and evil Idra, not this “tamed” version of her. Too friendly to be real, this act must be a trap for something.

“well I’m human do you think we grow on trees? Have you ever fucking studied in you life or you were to busy sucking your pama’s cock?”

Morea was immediately triggered by her insults. In contrast to Scilla, her family was really caring and she loved them dearly. She couldn’t tolerate insults toward them. She stood up to at least try to hit her with a fist.

“Stop it! No fight girls!” yelled Scilla but it was too slow.

Idra’s suit microchannels opened and emitted tons of molecules in such confined space. Fear and pure terror immediately filled Morea’s mind. She dropped on the APC floor screaming in terror. The gas was making her hallucinating.

“IDRA! Stop immediately. I know she was the one that started but please. You will meet more hothead in you life. You can’t just beat them all for a pair of words. I know that you use that phrase just to make her assault you and retaliate. IDRA!”

then the gas dissipated. Morea was coming back from her horrors and Idra crouched down to get closer to her face. Then in a really menacing voice she said

“I’m no friend of yours. The contract bounds me. Scilla’s good heart saved you from an entire day of terror and screams. You better kiss her feet... now”

“Morea don’t. Idra she doesn’t have to do such things. Your…”

Idra’s voice was even angrier and deeper.

“she will! or she goes back on the floor”

“she won’t. She is my soldier not yours. This kind of decisions are mine and mine only”

Idra’s armour twitched, the plates moved a little and some gas was emitted as if it was letting go of some steam. Then Idra sat down on the corner of the APC, arms crossed. She was obviously pissed.

I hope she doesn’t hold a grudge. I don’t really want to know what her revenge could be. Looking at the bright side I guess I don’t have to fear that someone could think that we have a deeper link.

The rest of the trip was fine even if Scilla spent her time reassuring Morea. She was definitely shocked by whatever she saw and from that moment on she never crossed eyes with Idra. She didn’t even had enough courage to look at her. At the mall entrance the trio reunited with 8 soldiers from the other APC. Now with Idra and Scilla in the middle they started to move between people and their curious looks.

“lead the way Scilla. Where do I buy my coloured pencils?”

“let’s look to a stationery store. The true mall experience is just walking in and looking at stuff. You see something that you like on showcase and then you go in the shop. Easy right?”

“I suppose so. As far as I know we had those things too, but I never been in one.”

“you have never done a lot of common things”

“I suppose so”

The mall was massive, the biggest of all Icar 3°, after all they were at the planet capital. The structure was full of intersections and felt more like a walk only city. Shaped like a local flower the structure span over 3 level and had more than 1000 shops. It was so massive to even has both a metro and a train station to make it even more connected to the city. The scale of the building was enormous even for leans’ standards. In the “tiny” esterian scale it felt more like a place for giant that for normal creature.

Walking in Idra was constantly looking around without saying a word. She looked at things but didn’t really found them interesting. Until she spotted a dress.

“hey what is that?” Idra pointed with her finger to a cloth shop. A female mannequin was wearing a black floral dress with a long skirt. Is was a branded expensive dress with a lot of trimming that would move in the wind like the things that she calls insignias.

“you like feminine dresses?”

“I’m a woman, should I not?”

“just thought you would value efficiency and comfort over design and fashion.”

“I usually do consider comfort over design, that is why I wear dresses. Mine are a bit different but they are comfortable, cosy and stylish. Also most esterian like long and floating things so we have a lot of cloaks, insignias, capes, coats, long raincoats and so on.”

“oh, guess I learned….”

then Idra moved closer to the window and looked at the mannequin.

“but yours are different. They look similar... from afar… well I’m a bit disappointed”

“if you want a dress we can look for more, there are tons of clothing shops”

“nah, I’m fine. But do you think they sell lab coat?”

“I don’t think so”

“even more disappointed”

what is the connection between dresses and lab coat?

then they started walking again and Scilla felt the need to clarify why she doesn’t wear dresses.

“well not many of us wear dress. A pair of trousers and a shirt are more than enough. We move a lot and practicality is usually preferred. Plus I don’t really like to look that effeminate. You know I’m a mass of muscle that walks I like to show my strength off like most of us”

“yeah I can see why you don’t like those, still you are basically walking around naked”

“what? I have underwear underneath. What else should I wear?”

“well I usually wear more. For the lower half I start with pants, then tights, then a pair of trousers with a big aeration gap around the thigh. There is a string of cloth that keeps them together. The on top I place a long skirt that reach the shoes and finally the insignias, usually that goes all around the waist. For the upper part a bra, then a long sleeves shirt and a long sleeves top that doesn’t cover the belly for aeration as well. The top’s sleeves end with a ring for the middle finger that makes them even more stylish. Then we place the leaves poncho like insignias, the arms cloaks, the back cape and the long gloves to conceal the hands. O and I usually cover my head and face too. Now that I think about it I wear a lot of leaf like clothes”

“what the fuck. That’s is like 6 layer of things. Why? Just why the hell do you walk around with so much stuff? Don’t you overheat? Isn’t in impractical?”

“heat is not really a problem. Most of our planet are cold and we can use breathable fabrics so it’s not really a problem. Tiring well a bit. My cloth are usually in a range from 4 to 8 kilos. But you get used to them”

“get use to them? That is probably 1/10 of your normal mass, how much do you weight without armour?”

that was a delicate question for females of most species but not for the blunt leans and the cold pragmatic esterians.

“well I’m 48kg so with cloth I…”

“48!! do you even eat? I’m like 115 kg. You are half me when dresses like crazy. Remember me to never fall onto you or I will reduce you to a tin foil.”

“yeah, yeah big and heavy giant. Shut up you are the one that eat too much. You are a fucking walking closet. It would be strange if you didn’t weight a ton and with the suit I can still win”

“suit doesn’t count, I’m bigger than you!”

Then she hugged Idra and lift her up laughing. Definitely not the best things to keep a low profile but the best action in a really crowded place to show that esterian are not all evilness and cruelty.

Idra opened a proximity encrypted communication channel with Scilla to whisper her message.

“smarter than I thought. But now put me down before I eviscerate you”

“yeah yeah, I just wanted show my affection without causing problem. One day we will be able to do the same without suits on”

then she released Idra that continued walking forward.

“that day I will hit you in the head for being to affectionate in public” then the communication was interrupted. Scilla was a bit too happy to notice an alarming peculiarity. Idra just bypassed all her armour protection and established a radio communication between them in less than a second. That is no easy achievement considering that Idra wears a Zbja Kosma Armour B6, one of the best all purpose power suit made by the Hakavor corporation. No ZKA B6 has never been hacked into up until now.

Time passes until Idra attention got caught by a shop. It was a game shop for nerds. Big shop windows full of recent released scale models, new tabletop games and RPG core-books. It was what she was looking for. Wiola was a tabletop RPG fan so that was the best place so far to look for something she could like. She also had a second reason.

That’s the shop. In her room she had a lot of books with “Dongioni discordanti” written on it. I should get her something related. Then I should look for a spaceship scale model. Maybe one that is not in Scilla’s collection. She will love to teach me about it.

Upon their entering the only shop clerk was almost paralyse by fear. Most creature had only seen esterians as ambassadors in news’ videos or photos. Seeing a living one is rare and having to interact with them is even rarer, considering that it is said that they don’t speak with those they deem inferior. Idra’s AMS-111 and the 3 visible weapons didn’t make the things easier, quite the opposite.

They walked in and Scilla, started looking around for a present for Wiola. She had the same Idea as Idra, after all she was the one who introduced Wiola to tabletop games and alike. Games were cheap and most needs just a manual and something to write information on. They were the best solution to keep yourself entertained when you are poor and there is a war. Scilla was totally fine with Idra so she forgot how impactful could her presence be in close proximity. Idra was going straight to the clerk. She knew nothing about games so she needed informations and the “lean shaped terminal” was exactly what she was looking for. Poor shop clerk was having the worst day of her life. Idra was now in front of the cash register, the clerk’s legs were shaking behind it but you couldn’t see them.

“che figata, avete degli androidi(whoa cool you have androids)”

“what?”

“oh..eeh you have androids as clerks that’s cool”

“what android, that a living creature”

“what? Living? Really this thing is living?”

the poor shop clerk responded with a timid and scared greeting.

“Go...good….good af...good afternoon s...s…”

“definitely organic, bots aren’t afraid of me….”

“that what you say but I still have to see your interaction with an AI, don’t worry girl she doesn’t bite”

“of course I don’t, that’s disgusting. Do you know how filthy organic matter is?”

then Idra looked at the small label on the clerk suit to read her name.

“so clerk Yurena I’m looking for stuff and you will assist me.”

Yurena was trying her best to stay calm and gradually she relaxed due to Idra’s and Scilla’s back and forth teasing.

“I’m looking for a gift. It’s for her sister and I saw this books called ‘dongioni discordanti’ in her room so do you have something related?”

“we...well I..i.. there… there was… a …”

Scilla moved to the cash register to help Yurena.

“relax girl. Deep breaths and then try again. She is peaceful. The weapons are just mandatory by theirs laws. We are looking for a gift for my sister that loves RPGs. Money are not really a problem for us”

then Idra added

“the girl seems quiet young and between 25 and 35. Doesn’t seems to have preferences but I suppose the dongioni things it the one she likes the most.”

less scared but non really comfortable Yurena started showing the new releases of “dongioni discordanti”, from books to basic merchandise.

“A...About a month ago… there was a new release… it’s… it’s a new setting with additional rules… eemh they… they added…. new enemies….some may be...in...inspired by emh esterians…”

“I want it!” immediately interrupted Idra.

“so fast, did the knowledge of having enemies based on your kind attract you?”

“fuck yeah. Girl, are there limited edition or something about it?”

“Idra you don’t have to buy Wiola an expensive gift with my money, I introduced her to RPG because we were poor.”

“who said that I’m using your money? I should be able to pay for this.”

“so you have money with you. Good to know”

“of course I have money. Also if I couldn’t use them I can still pay in useless relics or ship fuel”

“I don’t think they will accept such currency”

“why not?”

“too much valuable for a shop of this kind”

Yurena, seeing that the two were lost in their conversation, tried to attract their attention clearing her throat. Still scared, but the longer they stayed the longer she had to sustain that fear.

“my bad girl, so you have limited editions?”

“yes miss, we have: the book limited edition which is basically better paper and cover, the edition with a pre-made campaign with some maps, and finally the edition with the campaign plus some miniatures to paint. If you want to spend I would buy the one with the campaign”

“give me the one with the miniatures and everything need to paint them, from colours to brushes.”

“I will be immediately back with all you the items.” then Yurena walked away in the back of the store to take out the requested items.

“Idra, that would be at least 400 UC are you sure?”

“why should I not? Plus you are the one that is going to pay for the paint stuff.”

“what? No, well, I get it. A combined present right?”

“yep. So she could have all without spending too much. We will tell Wiola that it was affordable with our money combined”

“it’s not a question of money spent itself, you should have understand by now that I have lots of money. Wiola and I grew up poor so we don’t really like expensive stuff even if we have money, do you get it now?”

“then we will tell her that they gave it to us for free because we were scaring the hell out of everybody and they wanted us to leave”

“that’s even worst. I will do the speaking when we give her the gift”

then Yurena was back with a massive package and some smaller one.

Scilla spoke first to help the poor girl

“Yurena would you mind doing separated receipts?”

“sure, it won’t be a problem so what do I scan first?”

then Scilla proceed to pay for her stuff but when it was Idra’s turn she had more to add.

“girl, add that scale model of the ‘Liin Fleet Carrier Supernova Veil Cygnus’ or LFC-SVC. Just to be clear the metal limited version with number 15 out of 115. And, as before, I need all the things to paint it.”

“what? why are you buying that?”

“I saw you where looking at it so I decided to buy it”

“I don’t need a gift and it’s fucking expensive”

“who told you it was for you?”

“is it for Wiola then?”

“what if it’s for me?”

“kinda hard to believe that you are going to spend 3299 UC on a scale model of a ship that you seems to know pretty well”

“then believe in what you want, but I’m buying it”

As Yurena proceed to scan all the items Idra dropped her strange object on the ground. A metallic sound was immediately followed by some word of unknown meaning to most of the presents

--Drone da trasporto personale operativo in attesa di ordini (personal transport drone operative and ready for orders)--

“Stammi vicino coso (stay close by thing)”

then the little object spin on itself and emitted a brief tone with an integrated buzzer. It was clearly a feedback system to notice organic being of the correct reception of orders.

“Miss… the total would be 3989… mmh…”

Idra ignored the clerk and placed her hand on the cash register. Immediately after the items were paid and the a receipt was printing out of the machine.

“told you I had all the money that I need”

Then she grabbed all her stuff and started to stack them on top of the rectangular drone. Now that it was on the ground the object extended from a rectangle of 15*30 cm to a 30*60 cm structure with tubes in between, that thing now looked a lot like a moving metal pallet. After placing the items she attached them with some elastic ropes and she was ready to go.

“time to move on right?”

“if you don’t want to buy anything else I suppose so”

“nah, I’m fine let’s…”

--crime detected--

“Idra? Are you…”

“what will you do if someone was committing a crime but you could stop them?”

“lead the way to this fucker, what is she doing”

then Scilla moved her hand signalling a problem to the soldier squad that immediately regrouped.

“just 3 store forward, left corned near the entrance. Someone is at the phone plotting an assault toward a voter’s daughter. If you go in she will probably run. I can stop her at the exit”

“then let’s get moving. Do you have an image of the suspect?”

“sure, coming on your armour feed”

They moved fast, Scilla entered the shop and immediately saw the figure. The same girl that was in Idra’s photo from what looks like a security camera. How she got it was not the problem now.

“HAKAVOR’S LAW ENFORCER! GET ON THE GROUND!” yelled as she grabbed her pistol.

The girl run immediately toward the second exit as predicted. Scilla following and then just as she passed the shop door, a black arm jumped out of the side punching her back into Scilla’s body.

Idra caught the falling phone while Scilla pushed the criminal on the ground and restrained her.

“Good job Idra”

“thanks Sheriff Lis, here is the phone. She was in contact with more idiots like her. I have tracked their position.”

“I will call the HQ, they will take care of them really well, if you know what I mean”

Curious people soon arrived and saw that amazing scene. A rare collaboration with amazing result. That even was definitely going on the news that night. It was the first time in all know public history that an esterian has helped someone out of it’s own volition and with no reward.

They left the criminal with 2 soldier waiting for the police to take her in custody while they moved on with their shopping. They looked around a lot of shops, to finally reach their destination. A stationery shop. They go in and as aspected same scared reaction. Idra started looking around amazed by the variety and quantity of supplies.

“so did you decided what you want to buy?”

“well I.. I see a lot of things… what is the difference between them? I see this chalk things that look funny but what are they for?”

“they are usually used to write on blackboards, like in schools when you are teaching kids”

“oh. And what’s a blackboard?”

“it is basically a big slate block, so it’s a black surface to write on”

“can I have one?”

“not on the ship, so let’s look for you pencils.”

after a bit of looking Scilla passed some items to Idra.

“here, let’s buy this for now. A set of 96 coloured pencils, then what is you favourite colour?”

“it’s in the green visible radiation spectrum why?”

“then take this too, 2 packs of 32 different shades of green. Do you see your favourite colour between them?”

“yes”

“good, lastly a pack of orange pencils, some paper to draw on and some basic supply”

“why the orange one?”

“cause it’s my favourite colour”

“oh…”

That was the end of their long journey across the shopping mall and they were now heading home. It was time for Wiola’s birthday and to prepare for the following day. The meeting with the liin was going to be an historical even.