Chapter Text
Mechanical whirring, lights buzzing, and gentle breathing.
That was all Shuriken could hear inside the ship, slowly moving through the stars.
Vinestaff was sleeping curled up in the corner of the ship, near the terminal, their bright pink horns contrasting with the dusty orange of the company-issued suit. They must’ve been tired from the day of collecting scrap from those hellish moons.
Shuriken sighs, thinking back a little. 2 weeks since their family cafe, Thieves’ Rest, started going under. 1 and a half weeks since Slingshot went to go and find their missing friend, Coil. 1 week since Shuriken found that flyer, and together with Vine Staff signed up for this job. And look where they are now.
At least the ship was.. mildly comfortable, and they had plenty of rations. Though, Shuriken is unsure if the risk is worth the reward. This isn’t like the Phights where they just.. get back up. This is real.
The text on the terminal was casting a haunting green glow across the small room, highlighting the peeling green paint still on Shuriken’s horns. Thankfully, both they and Vinestaff had been able to make quota just going to the ‘safer’ moons, but.. They were cutting it way too close this time. They knew they’d have to take more risks soon. Also, they should wake Vinestaff up now, before they pick the next moon.
Shuriken gently shakes Vinestaff awake, who looks around groggily, as if forgetting for a second where they are. They get up and stretch, causing multiple pops that probably aren’t a good sign, but whatever.
“Shuri..?- Right. Uh, are we.. picking the next moon already..?” Vinestaff asks, still a bit tired and confused.
“Yeah, yes, we are. It’s.. I had let you sleep in a bit. But- anyway- I was doing a lot of thinking when you were asleep and, well.. We’re barely making quota anymore, with the ‘safer’ moons..”
“..so you’re saying we have to take more risks, and go to one of the more.. difficult moons?”
“..yeah.”
Vinestaff sighs, though they don’t argue. They know that Shuriken is right, and it had been something that Vinestaff knew would sneak up on them eventually.
“Okay.” They say, resigning themself to the inevitable.
Shuriken types a bit on the terminal, before speaking up again. “Vine? Have we tried..” -Shuriken squints at the terminal a bit- “..’Titan’?”
“..no, I don’t think so..? Why, are you thinking about picking it? I hear the difficulty rating is a bit high. Shouldn’t we start slower?”
“Well, we did decide we would take more risks..”
“..Fine. I’m.. you know I’m not going to argue with you, Shuriken. Not in a place like this.”
Shuriken silently turns back to the terminal and presses ‘Titan’. They get a time estimate back after inputting the info, revealing that..
..oh shit, they’re landing like- almost now.
“Vineeestafff? We’re landing in like, a few minutes apparently.. How ready are you feeling..?” Shuriken asks, apprehensively.
“What the fuck, Shuri.”
end 1-12 9:07 pm
“HEY, I didn’t know Titan was that close-” Shuriken gets interrupted by the sound of metal gently thudding against rock and ice. Seems they’ve landed. “.. But hey- no time like the present, I guess!”
Vinestaff sighs one last time before double-checking their equipment, better safe than sorry. “Still got your flashlight, Shuri?”
“All clear!”
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