ACTION TIME

[aphelionix]

The two days had come and gone since Locke stayed over at Weiler's. He was tipsy when Weiler had called that night and made their two day check-in rule - not that he forgot, but he couldn't stop the nagging feeling that something was off when he went to bed that night.

On the morning of the third day, he remembered.

The rule was to get out. He tried calling Weiler once, in case he had forgotten his own rule, but Locke was sure by now that it wasn't like him. It was all the sign he needed when the call went straight to voice mail. He headed right out the door of his room, only gathering his pistol and communicator. Through the bustling of the soldiers' morning routines, he managed to keep himself fairly blended in. No one seemed to be looking on him any differently. Locke was on the last stretch of the emergency escape route of Gladsheim's base - for Circle members, that was - when someone called his name.

His real name.

Comments

[aphelionix]

Ace turned to Weiler, clearly happy to share the information.

"Oh yeah, this guy get around doin all kinds of trouble. Last I sawr him, he-"

"Ace," Locke cut in, "Urgent."

[tactician]

"Not that urgent," Weiler argued back.

[aphelionix]

"Pretty urgent," Locke said, shooting a look at Weiler.

[tactician]

Only after a moment, Weiler heaved a great sigh and settled back on his heels. "I suppose it'll have to wait until another time, then," he mourned to Ace, looking so honestly sorry. "Before our mutual acquaintance has a tantrum over his ship."

[aphelionix]

Ace let out a hearty laugh. "Always was a stickler, this guy. All right, lemme go ahead n' see those cards, Locke." Locke passed off the access cards, and Ace went to the back to retrieve something. The soldier heaved a deep breath.

"You're having fun, aren't you?"

[tactician]

"Only a little," Weiler snickered.

[aphelionix]

Locke shook his head to himself.

"And 'acquaintance'?" he addressed.

[tactician]

"Would you have preferred something else?" Weiler asked in an almost off-hand manner, surveying the employees of the shop as they worked. "You didn't tell me in advance how much information I was at liberty to share, so I shared none."

[aphelionix]

Locke raised a brow at him.

"I'm not your boss. You share what you're comfortable sharing."

[tactician]

Weiler raised a brow. "I did."

[aphelionix]

He stared a moment longer before shrugging. "I can work with 'acquaintances'."

[tactician]

Weiler smiled, apparently pleased with that answer. "Good," he said, patting Locke on the elbow. "Never give out information for free."

[aphelionix]

"Your mantra, hm?"

Ace came back out, a tablet in hand. The card Locke had given him was sticking out of the top, its edges glowing green.

"This bad boy'll boil down to some rather fine parts," Ace said, pleased. The blue print of the military ship was displayed on the screen, some of its parts highlighted in red. The card held all the information about its status. "Got a coupla' burnt out guns, but tha's nothin'. So tell me what ya need, and I'll set it up."

Ace took the card out, pressed a couple buttons on the tablet, and passed it over. A list of ship model names shuffled onto the screen. Locke held it so that both him and Weiler could see it. He started with the top - a Delandroid Scather model 2300L. It was flashy, sleek, but wasn't made for combat and looked to only fit one person comfortably. It had a sarcastic AI installed into it that made it famous.

Locke went to the next one.

[tactician]

"What was wrong with that one?" Weiler asked, but only curiously. He wasn't about to fight with an actual pilot about what machine he was going to pilot, but it was just that the AI sounded like an awful lot of fun.

[aphelionix]

"Have you ever fought with an AI over directions before?"

[tactician]

Weiler just smiled. "It might have been the most intelligent conversation I've had in years, if I had."

[aphelionix]

He rolled his eyes, looking at a different ship now. Comfortable for two for travel, modified for combat, but a little slower than he was looking for.

"Delandroid is a little AI happy these days, since they're the best out there," he said, "their robots are as cocky as their company."

"We gots one workin' for us," Ace said proudly. "Some rich bugger sold him off thinking he was broked. Turned out the thing just didn't like the guy's hair. The mech took a shinin' to me shiny head, though."

[tactician]

"It is charming," Weiler quipped, smiling as he straightened - some habits were impossible to kill. He managed to hide a wince if there was one, keeping his hands folded behind his back as he stepped half a step back.

"May I take a look around?" he asked Ace, before turning to look at Locke. "You know I'm not any good at this stuff, so you might as well choose."

[aphelionix]

"Getting close anyway," Locke said, focused on his search. Ace smiled at Weiler. He seemed to be taking his own shine to the man. (He wasn't a killjoy like Locke.)

"Naw, help yerself," Ace answered happily. "I could show yer around if ya like."

watch me force you into a long post all by yourself (this is what it feels like to play evan and vi)

[tactician]

Weiler shook his head, already making his way to the edges of the work area. He wasn't foolish enough to stride right into the middle of a hanging bulk of metal surrounded by soldering tools and whatnot. "I'll manage. Locke might need further advice after all - just call me when you're finished."

FFFFFFffffff

[aphelionix]

Locke did look up to watch him walk away. It did allow him and Ace some space to talk.

"I appreciate this, Ace," Locke said, leaning up against the window of his office, favoring his left leg. Ace crossed his arms, canting his head to the side.

"Nothin' to appreciate, buddy," he said. "You did me a favor, now I'm doin one fer you. Though really, yer givin' me a damn good haul." Locke smiled, looking at the specs of a ship that caught his eye. It startled him when Ace spoke next. "Haw! Where'd ya learn that?!"

"What?"

"That thing yer did with yer mouth. Almost missed it with yer 'stache." He slapped a heavy palm onto Locke's shoulder and he winced.

"Very funny," he mumbled. "Hey, Ace, if anyone tracks Weiler and I here and come asking..."

Ace dropped his hand, a serious look drooping his features. He dug his hands into his pockets.

"Yeh, I know what to do, pal." Locke frowned, shaking his head.

"No," he said, garnering a confused look from Ace. "Don't put yourself in that position. It's a dangerous one. But I do want you to tell them I came here alone. If it comes to that." He didn't look any less confused, but he nodded.

"You got it, Locke."

Locke nodded and handed back the tablet. His choice was displayed - an AI-less Delandroid Grawthing 6700. Ace winced, holding big hand to his undoubtedly big heart. "Oh, yer askin' a lot, mate." But he smiled. "All yers. Go grab yer friend and I'll pull 'er around."

"Thanks." Locke smiled back before going to catch up with Weiler.

DID YOU ENJOY IT

[tactician]

Weiler, who was inspecting what looked like the blueprints of another ship, projected onto a cluttered wall littered with oil grease, pinned notes and marker doodles, didn't look up as Locke approached, though he had certainly heard him. The blueprint projection hardly had any space to even display, always overlapped at odd corners by old receipts in Ace's bold and eccentric handwriting, much like the man himself. There was a wealth of information to be gathered here, but not much of it was relevant. Perhaps if he passed his eyes over it, he'd recall a tidbit or something useful if he ever did find a need for it, though.

"I thought you might have wanted some more time to talk to your friend in private," Weiler admitted. "Did you already choose?"

IT WAS FUN TO STRETCH OUT MY CREATIVE LEGS A BIT

[aphelionix]

Locked looked up at the wall. Looked like a big project he was working on.

"Nothing you had to be absent for, really," he said. "And he's bringing it around to the front. Shall we?"

IT WAS VERY WELL DONE (i still love ace)

[tactician]

For someone who was...well, in the same field, Locke was surprisingly unguarded about certain aspects of his life, to a degree where Weiler might have worried about him if it weren't for the fact that, as fugitives, the two of them really had little choice but to rely on each other. It was a facet Weiler could appreciate in application, but not one he could entirely wrap his head around. Hadn't being betrayed by the Seventh phased his idea of 'trustworthy' at all?

"I thought I'd give you the privacy just in case," he supplied, turning and sauntering toward the door. "That was quick, though. I suppose you are a man who knows what he wants."

T-THANK YOU /////

[aphelionix]

A corner of his mouth quirked, but it wasn't quite in amusement. Things he didn't want Weiler to hear could have come up. They simply didn't. Ace wasn't someone he considered a 'friend', anyway. When it came down to it, they talked business; not that Locke couldn't tell that Ace always desired a little more friendliness out of their interactions. He was a friendly guy, and more than fit his definition of 'trustworthy', but... When someone knows your past, you're wary.

"I know a good ship when I see one," Locke said. "Sorry to say, but I opted out of the AI interface."