conversations
listlengths 3
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[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If he can't defeat them by hacking into their network or stealing their robots, Casmir prefers to befriend his enemies. Also, I believe he now considers Moonrazor an acquaintance if not an ally.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari noticed that Sato hadn't implied that she felt that way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If she showed up at our doorstep,\" Sato added, \"I am certain Casmir would offer her a blanket and pillow and our sofa, if not inviting her to use his room while he took the sofa. He would also offer her the use of his reading material, including his comic-book collection.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Since they are acquaintances, if not allies, I've been a little concerned that he would tell my mother I'm here.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sato opened her mouth but didn't answer right away. \"If you asked him not to, I believe he would respect your wish, but he is also a poor liar, so if Moonrazor messages him and outright asks if you're here, that could be problematic.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Then I will hope she believes I'm off Odin by now.\" Mari drew more of the chocolate beans out of the bowl and consumed them. Earlier, she had been tired, weighed down by knowing she'd come so close to reacquiring her terraformer only to have the thieves escape right in front of her, but now, she felt much perkier."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Why have you left your people?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari had placed another chocolate in her mouth, but she paused before chewing it. This was the first personal question Sato had asked, and it was the last one Mari wanted to answer. Voicing how she felt seemed almost as much a betrayal to her people—to her mother—as sharing technological secrets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I do not require that you answer,\" Sato said, \"but I am trying to determine if you are yourself a threat or if your actions will bring trouble to Casmir and our people. As far as I know, he is the only one in the government—perhaps on the planet—who considers Moonrazor something of an ally, and he is occasionally naive in wanting to believe the best about others. As a more cynical person, I can't help but wonder if your actions, your request for asylum, would cause Moonrazor to use force to retrieve you—or prompt her to wish to retaliate.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I do not believe she would blame your people for my choice,\" Mari said quietly. \"I left because our plans were thwarted when the AI ship took the gate, and it will be much longer before we are able to settle in a new system that humanity hasn't yet touched. My work as an agronomist and terraforming expert will not be needed by my people for a long time now.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You could not train in a new field?\" Sato's flat voice made it difficult to determine if she was suspicious or not."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "In truth, she spoke a lot like many of the astroshamans, with little inflection—little emotion—and Mari wondered if her mother had ever offered her a place among their people. She knew her mother had invited Dabrowski to join them, even offered to help him obtain a position of leadership among them. The reclusive astroshamans occasionally accepted outsiders with cybernetic parts, especially those with desirable skills to further the goals of their community, but it was rare for them to recruit outsiders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I could,\" Mari said, \"but I also wished to experience... human experiences.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sato's only reaction was a slight raising of her eyebrows."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"For as long as I can remember, I have lived in our community, usually on spaceships or in reclusive habitats with little interaction with human civilizations. There are some astroshamans who go back and forth, working and trading with people in normal human habitats, but my mother has always kept us—my siblings and me—close, not wanting us to be tainted by outside influence. Our inception was not originally her idea, but once she acquired us, she decided we would be raised to be the best scientists and engineers possible—and loyal to our people and the goals of our society.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your inception was not her idea?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"For a time, she had a lover—our father—who was an intelligent and creative engineer, and who apparently admired her intelligence. He lived on Jotunheim Station in System Hydra and enjoyed his work there building medical equipment. He had always wished to have children, and suggested they get married, but he did not want to join the astroshaman community. Over time, my mother had been more and more drawn into it, and she'd recently taken a leadership position. She was unwilling to leave, even for him, and eventually, her duties called her away, so they ended their relationship. Unbeknownst to her, he took a sample of her genetic material and had us made—me and two sisters and three brothers. We were less than a year old when pirates attacked Jotunheim Station. My father was killed. We were found in the aftermath, and his will dictated that we be taken to our mother. I do not know what her response was, but she took us in and raised us and trained us to be assets to our community and to help further its goals to leave humanity and the Twelve Systems behind and settle elsewhere among the stars.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari clasped her hands on the table to refrain from eating more of the stimulating chocolates. \"She has never been cruel to us or even unkind, but she is not... loving in the human sense of the word, and she has been stifling by not allowing us to leave, even for brief adventures, to experience other types of civilizations. I suspect she worries that if we ever left, we would not want to come back. It is understandable when people who were raised in human societies decide they want something else and join the astroshamans, but it is not fair to force us to choose that way of life before we've had an opportunity to try others. And especially now that our mission is on pause...\" Mari shook her head. \"There was no reason for her to insist we stay, other than concern that we would be seen as enemies in the Kingdom.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You keep saying human society, as if you are not human. Many humans have replaced some of their biological parts with cybernetic ones, either to give them an advantage or to solve medical maladies. And more of us are chipped than not these days.\" Sato waved at her temple."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I understand this, but a core tenet of our people is that we wish to become less and less human over time and to give up emotion and irrational feelings in order to become more like machines. Approximately half of our people have forsaken their biological forms to upload their knowledge and memories into android bodies. Some have placed themselves directly into computer systems.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, my mother is a loaded droid.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"She is?\" Mari blinked, surprised since that wasn't common outside of the astroshaman society."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Her death was imminent, and she chose that path.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Many of our people do it even if their deaths are not imminent.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes. I understand the differences and that there is a religious component.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari remembered Sato saying they were a cult. It wasn't entirely inaccurate, but humans put a negative connotation on that word. Mari wouldn't know if she wanted to return to her people until she'd experienced what it was like elsewhere, but she would hate to not have the option to return. She did not feel ill will toward her mother or siblings; she simply wanted the freedom to choose her fate."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The front door opened, and Mari tensed and turned, still expecting the police to come again for her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Minister Dabrowski walked in, trailed by a clunky robot that looked like something Mari's brother would have made from spare parts as a toddler. The much sleeker and more elegant crusher followed after it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hello, Kim. Mari.\" Dabrowski lifted a hand. \"Is there any food left?\" He looked toward the bowl of chocolates on the table. \"Food without hidden bitter beans in the middle?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Mari Moonrazor likes my chocolate-covered coffee beans,\" Kim said."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Probably because she's had a long day, and they're like eating caffeine pellets.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"And because they are delicious.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari nodded."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dabrowski shuddered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That is not the bounty hunter who was seeking me out.\" Mari assumed Dabrowski knew that, but in case he'd somehow been confused, she pointed at the robot."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am a peace-loving K-45 who is willing to assist my owner in attaining his goals,\" the robot said, \"but I would not hunt humans, astroshamans, or anyone else of my own accord. I consider such activities likely to lead to violence and to infringe on the rights and freedoms of others.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"But you're willing to help Kenji with such activities?\" Dabrowski asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He gave me life, building me from junkyard parts, and I am grateful to him, but I lecture him frequently about partaking in criminal activities.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Does he like that?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The K-45 lifted a bronze-and-tin arm toward the ceiling. \"My lectures are insightful and appealing.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A bolt fell off his arm and clunked onto the carpet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The crusher bent to pick it up. \"Casmir Dabrowski, this inferior robot is falling to pieces in your domicile.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I see that. Thank you.\" Dabrowski took the bolt from him. \"We'll give you a tune-up tonight, Kay. You've got a mission tomorrow, assuming you're going with Kenji in the morning, and you'll want to be at your best.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I always wish to be at my best.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Kenji?\" Sato asked."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That is the name of my bounty hunter.\" Realizing she may have suggested that she employed him, rather than that she was hunted by him, Mari clarified. \"The bounty hunter who seeks to turn me in to my family.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Instead, they're going to go on a mission together.\" Dabrowski left the robots in the living room and wandered into the kitchen, sniffing liberally at the lingering scent of the tomato-based pasta Sato had served for dinner."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"A bounty hunter and the astroshaman he is hunting are going on a mission together?\" Sato asked. \"Casmir, that plan sounds fraught with conflict, and not only with the enemies they will oppose.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"They have a common goal. It'll be great.\" Dabrowski filled a bowl for himself and joined them at the table."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"How is Kenji's goal common to mine?\" Mari felt the same dubiousness as Sato."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You seek your terraforming device and asylum among our people, and he seeks not to spend the rest of his life in a penal mining asteroid.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Sato's brows rose. \"The young man who commed earlier saying he liked your T-shirt collection is a heinous criminal in danger of receiving that sentence?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm not sure if a judge would condemn him to that fate, but he's the son of a terrorist who would absolutely receive that sentence, and Kenji apparently worked with his father to commit numerous crimes before running away from him. That's the story he told us. I believe it. Since he's not chipped and has done his best to have no record these past eight years—not an easy thing to achieve in our technological society—Chief Van Dijk and General Heim are skeptical that he's been innocent of further infractions. But I've talked them and the police into giving Kenji a chance to win a pardon. It's not fair to blame a kid for who his father is. That's like blaming an innocent and upstanding robotics professor for who his brother is.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not quite,\" Sato murmured."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Nonetheless, we've had confirmation that the thieves' ship—make that thieves and murderers' ship—found a way onto the launch loop and is now in space. Mari, I trust you're adept at surfing the various public, and probably not-so-public, networks out there and can watch for signs of someone listing your device for sale.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Royal Intelligence is keeping an eye out too. I've arranged for a ship to take Kenji into space so he can make a deal with the thieves to buy your device before they leave the system. Mari, it's optional, of course, but I guessed you'd want to go along to make sure we get the right device back and not some replica.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"The bounty hunter and I will go alone into space?\" Mari took more of the chocolates, feeling the need for further bracing from caffeine. Or perhaps it was time to experiment with stronger stimulants."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not alone, no. Our friend Captain Laser Lopez will take you. I've already arranged payment for her time and her ship's time. And of course, Qin's time. I believe Tigress—one of Qin's sisters—may be going along too. The clan is starting up a bounty-hunting business, and most of them are busy this week, but Qin and Tigress are an army in their own right. Sir Bjarke is also sending a couple of knights to join Kingdom Fleet ships that we're readying. They'll keep a distance, but once you set up a meeting, they'll be able to get there within a few hours if you need help.\" Dabrowski smiled. \"It should be an exciting adventure. If I didn't have so many duties here, and my stomach didn't so much prefer the full gravity of Odin to space, I would be tempted to join you. But you don't need a diplomat; you need the young son of a terrorist willing to partake in some subterfuge to deal with the thieves.\" He nodded firmly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Diplomatic measures can't work on thieves?\" Sato asked."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Even if I were authorized to offer the kind of money the thieves will surely ask for their stolen goods, it's unlikely they would trust that the Minister of External Affairs and queen's advisor would partake in a fair deal with them. Whoever they are. We haven't yet figured that out. We only have a description of the ship.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari frowned. They'd had that before he'd gone off to talk to the bounty hunter. It didn't seem like his meeting had resulted in a further acquisition of knowledge. Worse, she would now have to work with a man who had tried to capture her twice—and that she'd stunned once and tranquilized once. Would he truly care about helping her retrieve her belongings or had he only agreed to go along with Dabrowski's plan so he would have another opportunity to capture her?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari thought of Sato's words that Dabrowski tended to be naive and eager to believe the best in people. It sounded like that might extend to the criminal son of a terrorist. Mari worried that Dabrowski might have been duped. And that if Kenji had a third chance to capture her, he would succeed.\n"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Early morning found Kenji getting a ride in a police van across town toward a private walled landing area near Drachen Castle and Royal Intelligence Headquarters. He wiped his hands on his trousers, eyeing the imposing structures and the well-armed human and mechanical guards in the watchtowers."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If this freighter he was supposed to get a ride in got invitations to land across the street from the seat of the entire Kingdom government, Kenji had a hard time believing that all the thieves, smugglers, and pirates in the system weren't aware of it. That name change and new ident chip Dabrowski had mentioned had better have been recent."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Never been here before,\" one of Kenji's police escorts whispered to his colleague, peering out the window as guards halted their vehicle at the gate to check it. There was an espresso cart on the sidewalk, a robot barista serving coffee to uniformed castle and Intelligence staff."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Our prisoner moved up in the world quickly, didn't he?\" the other policeman in back with Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The two men eyed him with open rancor. The day before, the police had regarded him with indifference—he'd been just another petty criminal—but that had changed with the revelation of his last name."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For some reason, Kenji was reminded of the hostile look the policeman had given Mari when she'd asked to taste his latte. He'd called her an astroshaman freak. Had she had an opportunity to try such a drink yet? Kenji eyed the espresso cart. Maybe he ought to bring her one as a peace offering. He knew from recent experience what a relief it was to have someone treat him like a human being when nobody else did."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After the meeting the night before, Kenji had been returned to his cell, most of the policemen he'd encountered glowering at him along the way. But the bemused lieutenant had brought him a pillow, a blanket, a bottle of grape fizzop, and a pizza with a smiling robot drawn on the box. She hadn't said so, but Kenji had known the gifts were from Dabrowski. Strange how much better that had made being stuck in a jail cell for the night."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your father really Kuchikukan Chisaka, kid?\" one policeman said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Unfortunately.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Bet that was a real loving relationship.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He teach you how to be a good killer?\" the other asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He tried. I found it oddly unfulfilling.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Under the pretext of peering out the window, Kenji scooted closer to the door. There was only one person left in line at the espresso cart, but how could he get the police to let him out for a minute? Offer to buy them drinks?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Uh huh. Sure. Bet you killed a lot of people.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Innocent people.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"They should be shipping you off to a penal asteroid right now.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"And arranging for an accident to happen along the way.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji missed having Kay to talk to, Kay who had never condemned him, despite his dubious past and his sometimes questionable choices. Had Dabrowski been able to find him? Had he had time to look?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The police lieutenant had returned his glasses to him that morning, so Kenji had been able to check the news, but he hadn't received a reply to the message he'd sent Kay. The idea of leaving him behind on Odin, especially if Kenji found an opportunity to escape the Kingdom during this mission, was depressing. Kenji wanted to take his robot friend with him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The door opened, a Kingdom Guard officer with a tablet peering in to check on them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji saw his opportunity. \"I need to get a coffee for someone.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He darted out of the van, dodged a reflexive grasp from the officer, and jumped into line at the espresso cart, hoping his captors would realize he wasn't trying to run off and would refrain from stunning him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"A large horchata latte, please,\" he hurried to tell the robot as the policemen surged out of the van after him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The Kingdom officer dropped a hand on his shoulder. \"What are you doing?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even though two stunners pointed at him, the robot barista repeated the order and set to making the drink."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Just what I said.\" Kenji braced himself as the officer tried to pull him back to the van. \"I need to get a drink for someone.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You're a prisoner. You don't have coffee privileges.\" One of the policemen prodded him in the ribs with a stunner. He must not have been given the message that Kenji was about to go on a secret mission for the crown. \"Get back in the van.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It's not for me. It's for a friend of Minister Dabrowski's. He would want me to get the drink for her.\" Kenji pointed to the robot now steaming the milk and toward the walled compound. \"I'm positive.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Oh, I'm sure.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Come on, prisoner.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The robot extended the completed beverage. \"One horchata latte. That will be five crowns, please.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji tried to dip his hand into his pocket for physical currency, but the officer, maybe worried he was going for a weapon, stopped him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"If you're not going to let me pay, you'll have to fork over some cash for me.\" He smiled, though he was certain the only thing any of them would fork over was a kick in the ass."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Get back in the van,\" the officer growled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The beverage is for Casmir Dabrowski?\" the robot asked, still holding the cup aloft."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"For someone working for him,\" Kenji said, surprised by the question."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Casmir Dabrowski is a friend of robots. I will provide this beverage free of charge.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Uh, thank you.\" Kenji managed to grab the cup before the policemen manhandled him back into the van."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One lifted a fist to knock the drink away, but Kenji whipped his arm down, avoiding the blow. He sprang inside and settled back into his seat while cradling the drink protectively. Maybe his enhanced reflexes came in handy now and then, after all."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The men shared exasperated eye rolls and got back in without attempting to punish him—or the latte—again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Weirdest terrorist I've seen,\" one grumbled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Another damn freak.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Freak? Maybe Kenji had more in common with Mari than he would have guessed possible."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The van rolled through the gate and into the walled landing compound. It passed a couple of shuttles, the hulls painted purple with gold crowns on the side, and headed toward a large dome-shaped freighter with a railgun on the top. Judging by the recently painted hull, it was well cared for, but that model was older than dirt. It had to have been flying for more than a century."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A cargo-hold hatch was open, a ramp lowered to the pavement, and a gray-haired woman in a galaxy suit stood at the top with one of the knights who'd been in the conference room the night before. The older one. Sir Bjarke Asger. They were holding hands and talking and sharing smirks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The thought that one or both knights might be coming along alarmed Kenji. Hadn't Dabrowski said they would be going with the Fleet and staying well away until after a meeting point was agreed upon? How was Kenji supposed to pass himself off as a terrorist if he had Kingdom knights looming behind him?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The van stopped, and the door opened."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Out, freak.\" One of the policemen jerked his head toward the exit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji climbed out with the latte, expecting someone with a weapon to accompany him and keep an eye on him, but the police van took off. In addition to the knight, there were members of the Kingdom Guard around the private landing pad, so maybe they felt Kenji was properly secured."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The captain looked down at him, a frown replacing her earlier smile. She squinted dubiously at him, making Kenji wonder if the knight had told her all about his past. Wonderful. He could get snide comments for the whole trip."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before Kenji took more than two steps toward the ramp, a purple shuttle flew over the walls and landed nearby. A hatch opened and a ramp unfolded. The first passenger to walk out had a familiar robot body, and Kenji cracked a smile for the first time in weeks."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Kay!\" he blurted, rushing up to grip the robot's arm."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That arm was free of dents, melt marks, and other blemishes. So was the rest of him. Even the damage he'd received recently had been hammered out. Kay was still a jumble of mismatched junkyard parts, but he gleamed and looked like he'd been intentionally crafted that way out of whimsy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You look good,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Naturally.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski walked out next, wearing a suit and button-down shirt, both garments out of place on him. Maybe the shuttle was taking him to some meeting of diplomats or visiting officials next."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji opened his mouth to thank him for fixing up Kay—somehow, he knew Dabrowski was responsible and that he hadn't foisted it off on a repair shop—but Mari walked out next, and he forgot his words."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The last time he'd seen her had been after she'd stabbed him in the butt and then stood over him with that tranquilizer ring. Now, he tensed warily. He wanted to make peace, but she might not want that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Abruptly, Kenji worried that Dabrowski might not have told her that he was part of this package. What if she kicked him or cursed him or took out that ominous tranquilizer ring again?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The look Mari gave him was as wary as the one he was giving her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Hi,\" he blurted, for some reason ridiculously nervous. \"I got you this.\" He thrust the latte toward her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski raised his eyebrows but didn't say anything."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari frowned and looked at the drink. Suspiciously?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He feared so. Strange that he could so easily read someone who looked so different from normal humans. She still wore her cloak and hood, as if she feared being recognized even here, but he could see her pale skin, ocular implants, and a plate full of chips and circuits and who knew what else attached to the side of her head under her blonde hair."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She'd regained her pack since he'd seen her in the police van, though it appeared less filled than before, and someone had given her a stunner and a DEW-Tek pistol. That surprised Kenji. How could an astroshaman woman be trusted like that? Kenji understood why the police hadn't given him a weapon, but Mari had enough deadly astroshaman tech without arming her further. He couldn't help but glance at her hands and note that she still had her rings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What is it?\" Mari asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"A horchata latte,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh, horchatas are good. They're the new thing here in Zamek City, courtesy of a couple of chefs we lured in from System Diomedes.\" Dabrowski wrinkled his nose. \"I'm not sure how or why you mix one with coffee though.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari's brows rose, some of the suspicion fading, or maybe being replaced by curiosity. She accepted the cup and sniffed at the opening in the lid."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Cinnamon.\" The faintest hint of a smile crept across her face. \"I have not tried cinnamon before,\" she told Dabrowski."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'd warn you that the coffee might ruin it, but you liked Kim's chocolate-covered espresso beans, so I can't predict your tastes. At least it will be sweet.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I have discovered that I like sweets.\" Her smile turned shy, and she hefted a pink bag of colored candies. It was startlingly bright and perky in contrast to her weapons and the black-and-silver mesh clothing she wore under her cloak."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Only recently?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The smile twisted into a wryer expression. \"My mother forbade sweets.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No wonder you ran away,\" Dabrowski said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ran away? Kenji rubbed his face. Was that the story? She hadn't stolen top-secret information, and she wasn't a spy, but she'd run away from an oppressive mother? If that was true, he felt like a heel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Having finished her smell test, Mari lifted the latte for the first sip. Kenji held his breath, wanting her to like it. If she hated it, she might be less likely to believe he wanted to make amends."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She swished it around in her mouth, assessing it thoughtfully, before swallowing. He hoped she wasn't wondering if he'd poisoned it. After a few seconds, she swallowed and nodded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It is sweet, as you said, yes. And I believe I like cinnamon.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji exhaled, relieved."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good,\" Dabrowski said. \"Let me introduce you two to everyone. You've already met each other, I understand.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Twice,\" Mari said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Briefly.\" Kenji resisted the urge to rub his butt. It wasn't as if it still stung, not physically."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's Captain Lopez over there,\" Dabrowski continued. \"Bonita Lopez, though she prefers Laser. She's an expert markswoman, so don't irk her. Kenji, you met Sir Bjarke Asger yesterday, but he's just saying goodbye to Laser on his way to work. Sir William Asger and another young knight will be out with the Fleet and in the area, but as I said in the meeting, they won't get close, so they won't blow your cover. Laser also has a couple of sturdy combat specialists who should be waiting inside. You may get along with them, Mari. They're friendly. Ask them to paint your fingernails if you're into that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Nail-painting combat specialists?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski grinned. \"Yes. I thought about sending even more troops, but if things go awry, and you're boarded, a platoon of soldiers would be hard to explain.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, my father rarely employed soldiers.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari's eyebrows rose. Maybe nobody had told her about his dubious heritage yet. Ugh, when she found out, that might make her even less likely to trust him. Maybe he should have brought two lattes. She was sipping heartily from the one in her hand."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"A pilot and two combatants should be sufficient,\" Mari said. \"We will persevere, and you will see that I can be a valuable ally and that it's worth granting me asylum.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I believe you,\" Dabrowski said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Do the rest of your people?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He hesitated. \"It may take some time to win them over. Sorry. It's not fair, but we're still filling in craters from the various bombings of our planet this past year.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I understand,\" Mari said quietly, though the words seemed tinged with disappointment. \"I came prepared to prove myself worthy of a position and your people's trust.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski winced at the words prove myself, and he lifted a hand. \"It's not about proving anything. People just have to get used to you. And enough time has to pass so they believe you're genuinely here for a job and to experience our culture. And the government needs to see that you can contribute in a meaningful way worthy of a paycheck. That's all.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is that not... proving myself?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Well, technically, maybe, but you don't have to do anything impossible. Nobody's going to threaten your friends and family if you fail.\" Dabrowski's mouth twisted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"My family can take care of itself.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm sure it can.\" He pointed her toward the freighter. \"Laser will give you a cabin. You'll want to take off soon and try to make the deal with the thieves before they're halfway out of the system.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes. Thank you.\" Mari stepped toward the freighter, but she paused to consider Kenji again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He worried she would ask for clarification about his father."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Candy-coated chocolate?\" She lifted the bag of candy, startling him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Pardon?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You have given a gift to me. My understanding of human social conventions suggests that it would be polite for me to reciprocate.\" She lowered her voice and whispered to Dabrowski, \"I do not truly wish to share them, because they are very good, but Scholar Sato shared her chocolates with me, even though I later gathered that she did not wish to.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This honesty surprised Kenji, and he didn't know what to say to it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Sharing is good.\" Dabrowski waved at the candy bag and also the latte cup. \"It can help turn enemies into friends.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Can it cause bounty hunters to be less interested in capturing you?\" she asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji winced. \"Look, I'm sorry about that. I should have researched you more before accepting that assignment.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes.\" She held out the bag toward him. \"Candy?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji looked at Dabrowski, not certain he should accept, since she'd admitted she didn't truly want to share. But if he didn't, would she think he didn't trust her? That he thought they were poisoned or some such?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dabrowski nodded encouragement to him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thank you.\" Kenji only took one of the chocolates and promptly chewed it and smiled at her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You are welcome. I am pleased by the latte. Thank you for giving it to me. I had not realized cinnamon should be on the Human List.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Pardon?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari hesitated, then shook her head. Whatever the Human List was, maybe it was too private to share with enemies."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Why did it make him feel bleak that she considered him that? He had only himself to blame."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I need a word with Laser before you guys leave.\" Dabrowski walked toward the freighter, leaving Kenji wondering if he was supposed to follow... or continue to stand awkwardly next to Mari, not knowing what to say next."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Thank you for fixing my robot, Minister Dabrowski,\" Kenji called, realizing he hadn't said that earlier."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Casmir,\" Dabrowski called back with a wave."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He hopped onto the ramp and gestured animatedly at Sir Bjarke and Captain Laser. Four robotic vacuums vroomed out of the cargo hold and started sucking up dirt around his feet. At least that was what Kenji assumed they were doing. It almost looked like a choreographed dance."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I already thanked him for the repairs,\" Kay said. \"He has very good hands.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That must be why the AIs are fans.\" Kenji told himself not to be envious; he had good hands too. He just didn't have access to an entire robotics lab worth of parts."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That is likely so.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari looked back and forth between them, as if she wanted to say something else, but she shook her head and walked toward the freighter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I can't tell if my peace offering worked,\" Kenji admitted. \"She did thank me. And she didn't throw it away. That seems promising.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Judging by what I know of human body language, you appeared stiff and uneasy with her.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's because she's...\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"An astroshaman?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No.\" It was because Kenji had been a dick to her. How was a guy supposed to recover from that?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You should not allow prejudices about mechanically enhanced individuals to change how you interact with someone.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm not. That's not it. Besides—\" hoping to change the subject, Kenji clapped Kay on his metal shoulder, \"—I like mechanically enhanced individuals.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If you refer to me, I am not mechanically enhanced. I am merely mechanical.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Are you sure?\" Kenji pointed to a bump on the front of Kay's shoulder. \"Is that a new sensor?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh, yes. I have a whole new array, front and back. Professor Dabrowski spent two hours working on repairing and improving me last night.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He didn't reprogram you to spy on me and send back data, did he?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Certainly not. However, I believe that captain glowering at you with surly suspicion in her eyes may send data back on you.\" Kay pointed toward the open cargo hatch. Sir Bjarke was leaving, carefully stepping around and over the still-dancing vacuums, leaving Captain Laser at the top, her arms folded over her chest. She was glowering as she alternately eyed Kenji and the approaching Mari. Somehow, Kenji suspected she'd been fully filled in on both of them and wasn't that happy to have them coming on board. Maybe she had only agreed to this trip as a favor to Dabrowski. He was smiling and gesturing animatedly to her, unfazed by the glowers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Would you know it if he had reprogrammed you?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Possibly not. Professor Dabrowski is rumored to have a deft touch.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Reassuring.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser gestured for Kenji to come aboard. As he led Kay to the cargo ramp, he thought about how he was getting on a ship for a voyage and didn't have any luggage. He hoped the captain had a galaxy suit he could borrow—and an unused tooth sanitizer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Dabrowski gave parting instructions, the robotic vacuums whirring back inside, Kenji and Kay climbed the ramp to join Mari at the top. Kenji opened his mouth to introduce himself to Laser, but an armored person sailed through the cargo hold and crashed into a wall. The six-foot-plus warrior leaped up and raced back toward another equally tall person in combat armor, who sank low, meeting the charge without giving ground."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They crashed together, going down in a lightning-speed wrestling match that left Mari and Kenji gaping. The combatants traded more blows until one hurled the other off and into another wall."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Bonita,\" a male voice came from a speaker. \"Your young warriors are leaving dents in my bulkheads. Again.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Please, Viggo. Laser. We have guests.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"If Casmir is not coming along on this mission to repair my vacuums and the dents in my bulkheads, I must insist you put an end to this unseemly roughhousing.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They're training, Viggo. Qin and Tigress are the muscle. You know this. And I'm capable of hammering out your dents.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your touch isn't as refined as Casmir's.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, yes, nobody's is. His queen must be a lucky girl.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "At the base of the ramp, Dabrowski rubbed his face. Embarrassed?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"If you don't need anything else, Laser,\" he called up, \"I have three meetings this morning. Please apologize to Viggo that I'm not able to come along on this adventure.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Meetings?\" Laser faced him. \"What a dreadfully boring life you lead now. There can't be anything in a meeting for you to repair.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's not true. I fixed a coffee maker last time, an act that made me a hero to nine out of ten coffee addicts in the room. The tenth had brought her own caffeinated beverage and was indifferent.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Dreadfully boring.\" Laser shook her head. \"It's amazing you haven't run away to space already.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Where I could enjoy the delights of zero-g and space sickness once again?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Are you sure you don't want to adjust the nozzles on Viggo's vacuums while you're here?\" Laser waved toward the robots. There were even more inside the cargo hold, maneuvering along and even on the walls to avoid the battle. \"He's missed you terribly.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It is an honor to be missed by such a fine being. Come by for lunch when you get back. I'll bring pizza and pot stickers aboard and make any adjustments Viggo needs.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Who's Viggo?\" Kenji whispered, wondering if Mari was as lost as he."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The ship's AI, I believe,\" she said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good luck on the mission, everyone. Thank you for taking it on.\" Dabrowski included Kenji and Mari in his bow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Actually,\" Laser said, turning back to them as Dabrowski left, \"Viggo was the owner of this ship more than a hundred years ago, and when he died, he uploaded his memories and consciousness into its computer banks.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Many of our people do that,\" Mari said, even as Kenji thought about how strange it was that the ship's AI had been an actual person."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That right?\" Laser eyed Mari. \"You're my first astroshaman passenger.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Will that be a problem?\" Mari asked quietly. Warily."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your fare is paid for. As long as you don't make trouble or try to rewire my ship with your astroshaman computerness, we shouldn't have any problems.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I hadn't planned on it,\" Mari murmured. \"I'm just trying to get my stolen belongings back.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You.\" Laser pointed at Kenji. \"You're the one who better not get us into any messes.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Given the task he'd been assigned, Kenji wasn't sure how messes wouldn't be involved, but he decided it would be unwise to point that out. \"I'm only here to set up a meeting with a thief.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Uh huh. Make sure you don't set up any meetings with terrorists. I'm not looking to have my ship commandeered.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji kept himself from suggesting that the hundred-year-old freighter might not be much of a prize to terrorists. Or anyone else."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The two armored figures stopped fighting and removed their helmets and strode toward them. Kenji recognized them—and their pointed ears—and almost laughed. Now he remembered Dabrowski mentioning Qin and Tigress, whom he'd last seen at the shuttle rental shop."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"This is Qin, and that's Tigress,\" Laser said. \"Sisters. You probably noticed the resemblance.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We've met.\" Qin nodded to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We had a brief flirtation.\" Tigress smiled, showing off her fangs, and gave him that long once-over again. \"Perhaps we can make a more extended and intimate acquaintance on this trip.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Uh.\" Kenji didn't know how to respond to that. Would a simple no, thanks offend her? It seemed unwise to offend tall, fanged, muscular women in combat armor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser watched him closely for his reaction. Something told him she would shoot him if he called either of the women freaks—the typical Kingdom term for anyone who'd been genetically engineered—or was anything but polite, but it wasn't their pointed ears that concerned him. More that this Tigress looked like she wanted to shove him up against the nearest wall and have her way with him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin elbowed her sister. \"You're supposed to talk to a man and see if he's interested first before propositioning him.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Please, if I waited for men to realize they were interested, I'd be forever bereft of company. You have to take action and cultivate interest.\" She slid a hand over her chest, which might have been more intriguing if she hadn't been in combat armor. It was hard to even tell a person's sex in the hard-shelled gear."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It'll be good to work with you,\" Kenji told them neutrally, hoping the words neither annoyed anyone nor suggested he would be available for sex. He didn't think he was as stodgy and stuck in the past as a lot of Kingdom men, but he wasn't ready for fangs and fur in bed."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari nodded polite agreement. If she was surprised by the women's feline attributes, she didn't show it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"They're our fighters,\" Laser said. \"Be nice to them. If you manage to arrange a meeting with these thieves, they'll go in with you to take them down and get the stolen goods back.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes, I've seen them fight.\" Kenji looked toward the fresh dents in the bulkhead. \"I'm sure they'll be effective.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm Mari,\" she told the big women and held out her bag, not mentioning this time that she was sharing to be polite and didn't truly want to lose any of her precious candies. \"Chocolate?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin removed one of her gauntlets, revealing strong elegant hands with retractable claws that sported a different shade of nail polish from the day before. She dipped her fingers into the bag and withdrew a few candies. \"Thank you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"And what's your name?\" Tigress asked Kenji. \"We didn't get a formal introduction before. Last I saw, you and your robot were hiding behind a fake tree.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm Kenji, and Kay here was hiding behind the counter.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Right. Now I remember.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He's the son of an infamous terrorist,\" Laser said. \"You might not want to stand close to him in public places.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I was mostly thinking of lying next to him—or on top of him—in bed.\" Tigress winked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"On top?\" Kenji mouthed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari looked over at them, her expression curious or maybe puzzled. For some reason, his cheeks warmed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm a take-charge girl.\" Tigress put a hand on Kenji's shoulder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She still wore her gauntlets, which was good, since that kept him from feeling her claws."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Your sister is horny, Qin,\" Laser said."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I know. And fearless. She had no qualms about propositioning Tenebris Rache's mercenaries when we were on his ship.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress grinned, her fangs on full display. \"I do like a nicely firm soldier.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Who doesn't?\" Laser waved for everyone to come inside, so she could raise the ramp and close the hatch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am not overly enticed by such things,\" Kay said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah, me either.\" Kenji scooted to the side, wanting to extract himself from Tigress's grip without offending a person he might have to rely on in a fight later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"This way.\" Laser headed across the cargo hold toward a short corridor and a ladder on the far side. \"I'll grab you two galaxy suits and show you the kitchen, lounge, and your cabins.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It occurred to Kenji, as she took them on a brief tour, that unless one counted Kay and the ship's intelligence, he was the only man on the freighter. The women were capable in a fight, but Kenji wondered if this little crew would be enough if the thieves had a lot of troops at their disposal. Nobody had even given him a weapon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He couldn't help but think the Kingdom, or at least the people who'd arranged this mission, might still consider him a prisoner. An expendable prisoner?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Somehow, he doubted Minister Dabrowski would see anyone that way, but he was only one person. The knights and the Intelligence officers were likely the ones overseeing the mission. And Kenji seriously doubted they cared one way or another if he lived or died.\n"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari sat in a pod in the freighter's lounge and looked out a porthole as the craft flew along the coast north of Zamek City toward the planet's sole launch loop. Astroshaman ships had the fuel and thruster power to break orbit by themselves, even on planets with strong gravity such as Odin, but she'd learned that most human vessels in the Twelve Systems relied on launch assistance for a boost into space."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The hatch clanged open, and she swiveled her pod from the porthole to face the newcomer, the high-walled seat already cupping her like an egg, though they were not accelerating as rapidly as they would for takeoff."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji walked in, but he paused when he saw her and glanced back, as if he might leave. Because she was in the room?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari didn't know what to think of him. After his two attempts to capture her, she should have considered him an enemy, but he'd apologized and given her a tasty beverage. Unfortunately, she deemed it highly probable he was trying to get her to lower her guard, so he could capture her and complete his original bounty-hunting mission."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The more time Mari spent away from her people, and the more interesting human experiences she had, the less she wanted to return. She rubbed the back of her ring with the spring-loaded needle, its tiny reservoir again filled with a tranquilizer. She would work with Kenji to retrieve her terraformer, but she would not let herself trust him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His clunky K-45 robot trundled in after him, almost bumping him. Kenji plucked at the form-fitting black galaxy suit that he'd borrowed from the captain—Mari had been given one too—then nodded to himself and continued into the lounge."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hi.\" He lifted a hand as he headed for the kitchen built into the wall at one end of the lounge. \"I came to see if there's anything to drink.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The refrigerator contains water, fizzop, two juice-based beverages, and coffee bulbs. I took an inventory earlier.\" Mari had been looking for alcohol, wondering if she might check it off her Human List one evening while she was aboard, but if the freighter contained the substance, it was not stored in the refrigerator."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh? That's, uhm, efficient.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The way he said it made her think he meant odd. Well, what could he expect? She wasn't yet familiar with human habits pertaining to food and beverage inventorying."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Perhaps Mari the astroshaman could resolve our issue.\" The K-45 robot pointed at her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I don't think she wants us to bother her.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"As someone who lives among robots and computers, perhaps she would consider it a simple and unobtrusive matter.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Or perhaps she would consider you a pest.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"This is a matter of mission security, and I am a robot, not a pest. Mari the astroshaman—\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Kay.\" Kenji made a cutting motion with his hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even with her limited familiarity with normal humans, Mari could tell what that gesture meant. Still, the robot had roused her curiosity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You can just call me Mari. What's your issue?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Nothing.\" Kenji pulled a coffee bulb out of the refrigerator and shook his head at the robot."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You may call me Kay,\" the robot continued, ignoring Kenji. \"I have recently had repairs done by the renowned roboticist Casmir Dabrowski. Kenji is concerned that he may have installed monitoring software within me that will, unbeknownst to me, send back reports about his activities on this mission.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Isn't the captain Minister Dabrowski's friend, and wouldn't she just send back reports?\" Mari asked."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Exactly what I suggested,\" Kay said as Kenji tilted his eyes toward the ceiling. \"But since astroshamans are known to be excellent with computers, and presumably robots, perhaps you could examine me and check for monitoring devices.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji lifted an apologetic hand toward Mari. \"Sorry, please ignore him. You don't have to examine him.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Would it not set your mind at ease to know I haven't been bugged?\" Kay asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"She's not a gastroenterologist. She doesn't want to scrutinize your insides.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That is an inaccurate analogy, as I do not have an intestinal system.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I know. It was a joke. Never mind.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I can take a look if you wish,\" Mari offered them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Maybe if she made an overture of friendship, Kenji would be less likely to attempt to capture her again. Besides, it would give her something to do besides look out the porthole and worry about how they might fail to retrieve her terraformer and how she would be inadequate at proving herself to the Kingdom government. If that happened, they would not grant her asylum."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You don't have to,\" Kenji said, but Kay was already ambling over to her pod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I can get you a toolbox if you wish, Mari,\" Kay said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji rolled his eyes upward again, then sighed and sat in a deck-locked seat at the table. Once they reached the launch loop, he would have to find a pod, or he would end up plastered against a wall, but they should have some time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I have a few tools.\" Mari patted one of her pockets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Does a wrench come out of one of those rings?\" Kenji muttered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That would be impressive, but no.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Sorry.\" He glanced at her face. \"I'm a little bitter because you bested me twice.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I have no wish to best you at all.\" Mari opened the robot's housing. \"I was only defending myself. I do not wish to return to my family.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I know. I get that now. Are your parents, uhm, mean?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My mother is restrictive. My father is no longer alive.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's tough. My mother died when I was younger too. I really miss her sometimes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That is unfortunate. I was very young when my father was killed by pirates. I do not remember him.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I wish I didn't remember my father,\" Kenji said wistfully."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari did not know how to respond to that. Since learning his full name, she had looked him up and was aware of his past and of the crimes he had committed with his terrorist father. She did not wish to judge him for what he had done as a boy, especially since he no longer seemed associated with his father, but that past did make her more inclined to believe that she shouldn't trust him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Sorry,\" Kenji said. \"It's not like you asked. Uhm, what do you mean restrictive?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari hesitated. If she opened up about herself, and he found her story sympathetic, was it possible he would no longer wish to collect her bounty? Was that wishful thinking?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still, she found herself answering. \"My mother does not want any of her children to leave the community. We're close-knit and rely upon each other not only to achieve our goals but for protection as well. Astroshamans have beliefs that aren't popular among humans in the rest of the Twelve Systems, and we are often targeted by those who allow themselves to be guided by their prejudices. I am not certain if my mother is more concerned that I will be in danger out here, or that I might develop other beliefs if I experience more of the universe, but she has always forbidden us to leave.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"She forbids it?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"How old are you?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Twenty-four.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Huh. We're the same age. An age at which humans are supposed to be grownups and allowed to do what they want.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I thought so.\" Mari ran her fingers over Kay's circuit boards and servomechanisms, cycling through her ocular implants' various ways to see so she could check for anomalies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji fell silent, merely watching for several minutes. Before, he'd been avoiding looking at her. Now he wore a pensive expression as she worked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I needed the money,\" he said abruptly, startling her after the silence."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"What?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's why I took the bounty-hunting gig. It's been a rough few years, and I needed the money, but I should have asked for more details before accepting the assignment.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She resisted the urge to emphatically say yes. Instead, she said only, \"Ah,\" and tried to make it nonjudgmental."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I feel like I should apologize for tackling you. Twice.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It is what my mother told me to expect if I left our enclave and went out among regular humans.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Being tackled by men? You are kind of cute, other than the weird eyes, and, er—\" He waved to the side of her head."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari had been about to correct his assumption, but the comment derailed her. She was cute but weird? She didn't know how to respond."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Never mind. That was a dumb thing to say.\" Kenji frowned down at the table. Maybe he realized it had been rude to call her weird. Or did he regret admitting he thought she was cute?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Better to ignore it all. \"My mother told me to expect regular humans to believe me to be a spy and to judge me unfairly, and that they might shoot or incarcerate me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I wasn't judging you, just trying to capture you. And your people put the bounty out, not any regular humans.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They likely won't be the only ones. The police came to arrest me simply because someone reported an astroshaman on the university campus.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Well.\" Kenji prodded the table. \"It's not a good time to be an astroshaman on Odin. Last year, you might have gotten stared at instead of arrested.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Enormously more pleasant.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"As someone who spent the night in a jail cell, I can say that I'd prefer stares to arrests.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If it matters to you, I was not among those who attacked your military ships and bombed your planet. I can't deny that my mother was heavily involved in that, but even she was a reluctant participant and coerced by two other high shamans.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Oh.\" He didn't look like he had intended to ask. Maybe he didn't care. Maybe it was only about the money for him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Was it odd that Casmir Dabrowski hadn't asked her about the battle? Hadn't asked if she was innocent or if she had any Kingdom blood on her hands?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji plucked at his galaxy suit again. Mari couldn't tell if it was because he was nervous, because it didn't fit, or because he'd never worn one before. Even if the latter was true, they were generally comfortable without much need for adjustment. Even though the Kingdom version wasn't as advanced as what Mari was accustomed to, she trusted it did its job of insulating against g-forces during acceleration and deceleration and had the trademark sturdy fabric that would protect its wearer from temperature extremes, should a spacewalk be necessary. The suits could also deflect everything from pieces of space junk to weapons fire. They weren't as indestructible as combat armor, but they were much easier to wear on long trips, with a pouch below the back of the neck containing a flexible helmet that could fold out if self-contained operation was needed. There were attachments on the back for an oxygen tank."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thanks for checking out Kay,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You are welcome.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari glanced at him, appreciating the little social niceties, even if she was resolved to remain wary of him. She let herself study his face for the first time, for some reason thinking of Tigress's flirtation with him. Presumably, she considered him desirable. He was handsome, with dark intent eyes, tousled black hair, and a jaw defined by a couple days' worth of beard growth, but she did not know if he could stir libidinous thoughts within her. Perhaps if he had not attacked her the first time they'd met. And the second."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I don't really think he's bugged,\" Kenji said. \"It was just a... Well, he could be. I doubt Minister Dabrowski and all those knights and department heads really trust me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not being trusted is disconcerting,\" she said blandly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He snorted. \"I guess you'd know.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Anyway, Minister Dabrowski probably didn't do anything, but he had the opportunity. Last night, he fixed Kay up, improved his wiring, gave him some higher-quality parts, and smoothed the dents out of everything else.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He also lubed my joints,\" Kay said, \"cleaned some odious gunk out of my foot and ankle creases, and gave me an all-over alignment. My panel gaps are no longer uneven. I am not ungrateful to Kenji for bringing me to life, but I do feel much better now.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm glad,\" Kenji said dryly. \"Anyway, I'm not planning on doing anything shifty, but I'd like to know if my every move is being transmitted back. Especially since I'm sharing a cabin with Kay.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The captain said that robots don't get their own cabins,\" Kay said. \"I either have to share with Kenji or find room in the closet where the vacuum robots are stored when they're charging.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I don't see any physical monitoring devices.\" Mari closed most of the robot's panels."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's a relief,\" Kay said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I should check your operating system to see if any new software has been installed.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Ah, of course.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A faint ding sounded in her mind, and she paused in her inspection. It was an alert from the program she'd created to monitor the black-market sites in the system. She scanned through the results, then smiled fiercely at Kenji."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He seemed taken aback. \"Are you okay?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My terraformer has been listed on a private site favored by black-market buyers of goods—the Dark Comet Nexus—as has other astroshaman technology that I recognize as having been scrounged from the Celestial Dart. Surprisingly, the descriptions of what the devices are and what they do are reasonably accurate. The thieves must have already had familiarity with our technology. May I have permission to contact you via your chip—\" Mari waved at his glasses, \"—to send you the details?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji hesitated, and she wondered if he would find it unpalatable if an astroshaman had permission to contact him chip-to-chip. She recalled that she had contacted him in the police van without asking first. Normally, she would not do that, but that had been a mitigating circumstance. This time, she wanted his permission."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It's a private site?\" he asked. \"How were you able to get in? And how will I?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"One moment.\" Mari broke into the back end of the site and created an account with the necessary permissions for making purchases. She explained what she was doing as she worked. \"I hope this isn't presumptuous, but I'm making this in your name—your real name, as I understand our ruse may hinge on the thieves believing you are your father's son. Even though it's a reasonably large database, and it's possible the thief wouldn't be suspicious about a new buyer with a name he or she doesn't recognize, it sounds like the Kingdom government believes it will be more plausible to the thieves if they can openly connect you to a terrorist.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Openly connect,\" Kenji mouthed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes. Ah, I've found an existing account that your father made years ago on the Nexus. That means he's already known there. It's not under his name, but under a code name linked to him, but if I could find the connection easily, then it's likely many people who operate in this area know it's his account.\" She kept working as she spoke. \"I'm taking the liberty of establishing a purchasing history for you and linking your account to his with some light social connections. It's possible that if he's monitoring things closely, he'll notice your account popping into existence and making links to his, but he hasn't made a purchase on the Nexus for two years, so he's likely busy elsewhere. Your father may not be in this system at all. That would be ideal for this ruse.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You're doing all that now? In like, thirty seconds?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It's been closer to three minutes.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He stared at her, and she once again sensed he believed her odd."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I have numerous chips integrated with my brain,\" she explained, though it might not change his opinion of her. \"I can perform many mental processes at once.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Even while you're examining Kay's innards?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes.\" Mari shrugged. \"I've completed the setup. If you're ready, I'll send the auction site and account information to you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She pinged Kenji's chip, sending the contact request. Her mother, who'd been a talented computer engineer, programmer, and occasional hacker before she'd become an astroshaman, had taught Mari and her siblings much about getting into secured places, but she wouldn't force her way into Kenji's inbox."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Okay.\" He still looked a little stunned—and had that been horror that flashed in his eyes when she said his father might notice the link?—but he accepted the contact request."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It worried her that this mission hinged on him. He had so little at stake. Did he care if the terraformer went into enemy hands? Dabrowski had said he could earn a pardon for his crimes if he performed adequately, but did he even want that? He might plan to collect her bounty and disappear back into the ether."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As she sent the information along, Captain Laser spoke over the speaker. \"Come to navigation for take-off, Backer. We need to have a chat about our course once we get out of Odin's atmosphere. Casmir said there would be a rendezvous point but not where.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Guess I better figure that out.\" Kenji touched his glasses, then nodded to Mari and rose. \"Are you coming, Kay, or are you still being examined?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My software has yet to be scanned,\" Kay said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, sorry. I got distracted.\" Mari blushed, realizing she'd said she could do numerous tasks at once—which was true—but had allowed herself to forget this one while talking to Kenji."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Understandable, yet distressing, that I am not engaging enough to command full attention.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I think my robot is flirting with you,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari blinked. \"Is that a joke?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah.\" Kenji waved and walked out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Humans have quirky senses of humor,\" Kay said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes,\" Mari agreed and installed a program to scan his software."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Since you and my maker will be working together to perpetrate this ruse, I feel compelled to tell you something about him.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Kenji has no wish to be a bounty hunter. Nor a thief nor criminal of any kind. In the years I have known him, he has worked hard to accumulate funds legitimately. His goal has been to make enough to pay for passage out of the Kingdom and start a new life elsewhere."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He had been very close to achieving his goal when the invasion fleet came. His apartment building in town made it through the first bombing unscathed, but then your people came and dropped more bombs. The city's defenses were down—an astroshaman hacker knocked them offline through the network—and a bomb took out our home, the entire apartment building. Many people died."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We were fortunate to react quickly and spring out before the building completely collapsed, but Kenji had no time to grab his belongings or any of his money. You see, he doesn't have a banking chip, because of his need to stay off the grid, so he's had to work for people willing to pay in physical currency or other physical valuables. He lost everything. He was also injured by the bombing, and I helped him to a lady we know who treats people who aren't in the system and can't use the hospital and other public services. She was treating a lot of people that night."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"By the time he could return to the remains of the apartment building, human scavengers had been all over the place. We spent a couple of days digging in the rubble and looking for his belongings, but everything was inaccessible or gone. And there is no insurance for those who don't officially exist in the system. That, I believe, is what has forced him to take less desirable work.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It sounds like he has a reason to harbor ill will toward me.\" Mari didn't know why Kay had told her all that, but she didn't know if it changed anything about her determination not to let herself trust him. If anything, he had more reasons than she'd realized to dislike and work against her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I do not know if he does, but perhaps you understand now why he didn't research you before accepting the bounty. He had no reason to believe astroshamans might be good people.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I gather most of his kind feel that way,\" Mari said bleakly, then read the results of her scanning program. \"There aren't any anomalies that I can detect in your hardware or software, other than that your wiring upgrades are higher quality than one expects in a K-45. Minister Dabrowski must have choice materials lying around his house.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"One would assume a robotics professor would have access to the best. I am pleased to now have high-quality parts.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Let me run the software scan again to double-check. The first time I heard Minister Dabrowski's name was because he was infiltrating our moon base, and my mother was cursing him for getting onto our network.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is that difficult to do?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"For someone who's not an astroshaman, very difficult. You're clean.\" Mari uninstalled her scanning program."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Good. I was disinclined to believe that Minister Dabrowski would have installed spy equipment inside of me, but Kenji is distrustful of people. Even though I have only worked with him for two years, I've seen that he's rarely been helped by anyone and is suspicious of others in general.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Are you supposed to talk about him to strangers?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"There's nothing in my programming that forbids that. Do you think he wouldn't approve?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I don't know, but you're a very open robot.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am open.\" Kay lifted a finger and closed a panel on his torso. \"I have few secrets.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I see that. I believe if Minister Dabrowski wanted to use you for spying, all he'd have to do is ask you for information.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That is possible. I do hope that my sharing has convinced you not to hold Kenji's actions against him. He has had a hard life.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I wasn't going to hold anything against him anyway. I expected to face challenges when I left my people. It's why I've been carrying stunners and tranquilizers around.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am pleased that you did not kill him for his presumptuousness.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I assumed it would be harder to gain asylum if I killed Kingdom subjects.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Possibly so.\"\n"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Despite calling him up to navigation, Captain Laser didn't say much to Kenji until she'd slid her freighter onto the launch loop and they were accelerating along tracks that left the coast and angled upward and outward over the Arashi Sea. She'd directed him into the copilot's pod, and it cupped his body, making their rapid acceleration less noticeable. The robot vacuums that had been sucking up dust when he'd entered disappeared into their charging cubby."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You been into space before, kid?\" Laser asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"A few times when I was younger.\" Kenji didn't explain the handful of missions his father had taken him on to bomb or otherwise sabotage Kingdom bases and government transport ships. Instead, he poked around the auction site with the account Mari had sent him, somewhat bemused that she'd not only created it but also given it a history of purchases. According to the Nexus, Kenji was the owner of a first-generation star hopper, several rare paintings, and a trio of nukes. It seemed terrorists were supposed to have eclectic tastes. \"The farthest out I've been is Forseti Station.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I know it well, and I'm not getting paid enough to take you that far. You better arrange a meeting point that's on one of the moons or at least within a few days' travel. I'm supposed to be back on Odin to pick up a cargo next week. It was just luck that I had this opening. I've been accusing Viggo of rearranging my calendar to make sure I had this opening. He'll jump through hoops to do favors for Casmir.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Really, Bonita,\" the ship's computer said. \"It's not my fault you can't remember what's in your own calendar.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My own calendar that I foolishly store in your memory banks instead of on my chip.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It's important that I know the route and expectations for our freighter in case you are incapacitated during one of our runs. Naturally, I am capable of landing or docking and even picking up a new cargo on my own.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Or delaying a cargo pickup to help a friend.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Friendships are more important than freight.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Uh huh.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Do you work often for the crown?\" Kenji wasn't familiar with her accent but could tell she wasn't from the Kingdom, and if the computer voice could be judged as a fair reflection of its previous owner, Viggo hadn't originated here either."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Way more often than is wise,\" Laser grumbled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Working for the Kingdom now is much less fraught than it was six months ago,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"True. I hardly know what to do now that I'm not getting screwed left and right. And it's been handy trotting out that I know the queen when anyone questions me. I hardly ever get searched anymore.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You know the queen?\" Viggo asked. \"I thought it was more that you know Casmir who knows the queen.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"She came by the ship once, remember? To pick up Casmir on their way to that hoity-toity luxury transport that's painted purple inside and outside. What a ridiculous thing to fly on. Do you think the toilets are purple?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"As an ambulatory person capable of stepping into other ships, you would have to confirm that.\" Viggo sniffed, sounding exactly like a human being. \"Not that I know why you'd want to.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Anyway, kid. I called you up to see if you have a course for me.\" Laser peered around the high side of her pod to look over at Kenji. \"Don't take this the wrong way, but I have concerns about you calling the shots for this trip.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Because of who my father is?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Because you're twenty.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm twenty-four.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's so much better. Worldly and wise.\" She squinted at him. \"Do you get space sick?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not unless the piloting is particularly slipshod.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That will not be the case, unless someone starts shooting at us. Even then, the piloting will be exquisite. Just vigorous.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Vigorous piloting sounded more alarming than slipshod piloting."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "So far, Kenji's stomach was fine. Outside, the pale blue sky had shifted to a dark blue. Soon, they would be off the track and shooting into space. And then where?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He adjusted his glasses and shifted from examining his own account on the Nexus to looking for the listing. He needed to find the terraforming device and offer to buy it before a meeting point could be determined."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Maybe just head to whatever moon base or habitat is close? I need a few minutes to find... Ah, I think this is the right spot.\" Kenji skimmed through the listings of astroshaman devices. They were all by one person, or perhaps one group, that went by Lupus."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What site are you on? The Dark Comet Nexus?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Have you got an account?\" Laser asked. \"A way to bid? It's invite-only. They try to keep out the law-abiding citizens.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Mari made me what will appear to others to be an established account with a convincing history.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Nobody's supposed to be able to do that, but I suppose astroshamans have hacking in their blood. Or their circuitry.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I think so,\" Kenji murmured, then frowned. There were a lot of astroshaman gizmos listed, far more than Mari's terraforming device, and more than he would have guessed those drones could have scrounged from the wreck."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He lamented that he hadn't gotten an opportunity to take a few items from there himself, especially now that he saw how much one could get for them. Or at least what the thieves were asking for them. It was possible nobody would pay that much, but damn. \"For the terraformer, our guy has it listed for two hundred and fifty thousand crowns.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser let out a low whistle. \"You could buy a whole spaceship for that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I spent years of my life trying to scrounge up five thousand for a ticket to another system.\" Kenji shook his head. \"According to the site rules and the listing, items like this are exchanged in person—that's what we were hoping—and most of the money is paid at the time of the transfer, but I need to be able to put down... let's see here... ten percent to secure the item.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah, that's how it works. Normal legal sales on big-ticket items involve going through a third party that holds the money, but the Nexus doesn't work like that. When you show up for the handoff, it's expected that both parties will bring guards to make sure everything goes smoothly. If you don't have suitable protection, you can expect to get the snot beaten out of you and your money or object taken by the other side.\" Laser looked over at him. \"We've got Qin and Tigress for that, but do you have ten percent for the down payment?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I don't have anything.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"How are you going to pose as a buyer then?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Ask Minister Dabrowski to put some money into our new made-up account.\" Kenji had assumed proof of funds would be required before the trade could be made and had expected someone in the government to give him money to use, but he hadn't guessed he would need so much money to set this up. What if Dabrowski thought he would take it and run? That general from Military Intelligence would absolutely think that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You're going to ask Casmir for money?\" Laser asked. \"You know he pays in patents, right?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"What?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"The kid isn't rich.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I assume he'll have access to military or government funds... Whatever they use for covert missions and setting up thieves to be captured.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser grunted skeptically."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Besides, he's a noble now,\" Kenji said. \"He should have some money. Didn't he pay you to take Mari and me up for this mission?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He schmoozed someone in Military Intelligence to send us some money, but it wasn't twenty-five thousand crowns. From what he's said, being a noble means he got some land, not piles of money. They don't even pay him to be a Minister Whatsit. It's his honor to serve supposedly. I think he's still living on his university pay.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What's on the land?\" Kenji well knew that most noble families ran all manner of industries on their expansive properties, everything from manufacturing plants to wineries to timber mills. He'd grown up among orchards, his mother's family using the fruit for jams, juice, candies, alcohol, and more."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Trees, I think. It's some remote swath out in your Kingdom Forest. I'm guessing all the good land was given out a long time ago.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Lumber has value.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Good point. Offer a few thousand trees to the thieves. I'm sure they'll accept that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Probably... not. Will you comm the professor for me? I need to arrange something.\" It occurred to Kenji that he hadn't asked for permission to contact Dabrowski chip to chip. Maybe he should have. \"Uhm, do you know how to reach him?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Of course I know how to reach him. At the university, at home, and I've even got a direct line to your Drachen Castle.\" Laser shot him a dirty look and tapped the comm panel. \"Don't you think I have a way to rat you out if you go astray on this mission?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yes, Kay had suggested just that, and it didn't surprise Kenji. Laser was a near stranger, so it shouldn't have stung, but all the glares, glowers, and dark comments he'd received since people found out who his father was—who he was—were starting to weigh him down."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Some need to be tough, or at least not let Laser know her comment mattered to him, made him flippant. \"You have the comm code to the castle? Impressive.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Viggo and I are valued.\" She waved a hand as if it were no big deal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's good,\" Kenji said and looked away, ignoring the longing pang he felt as he tried to remember the last time anyone had valued him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It had been his mother, his mother who had been gone a long time. Funny how spending one's life in hiding made it hard to develop relationships. He'd spent the last few years working toward some nebulous future where things would be better, but it hadn't left time for much else, for becoming someone others valued."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He pushed a hand through his hair, annoyed with his maudlin mood. Maybe he should have taken more of Mari's candies. Didn't women swear by chocolate for repairing one's emotional state?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji hoped Laser and her ship truly were valued. It had crossed his mind that he and Mari had been given the clunky old freighter for this ruse, not because it would be more believable but because nobody had been willing to invest that much in them. The knights in their Kingdom Fleet warships might be cruising around the system right now, well-trained Intelligence officers also poking around on the Nexus and determining where the thieves were. Maybe Kenji was even the distraction to occupy the thieves' attention while the experts homed in on them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The comm display activated, and a dark-haired woman with elegant features and thoughtful brown eyes appeared. Sunlight streamed through walls of windows in the background, with vining plants rising on trellises behind her. For a bewildered moment, Kenji thought Laser had mistakenly commed some gardening center, but it dawned on him that he was looking at Queen Oku. Did the castle have a greenhouse? It must."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "His cheeks heated as he remembered his misadventure in trying to help thieves rob her greenhouses in the park."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good afternoon, Captain Lopez. Casmir is indisposed but will be here shortly.\" Oku smiled—or was that a smirk?—and looked off to the side at something not visible on the display."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Good. Tell him to bring some trees. His secret agent left the planet without any money to make a deal.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The flush to Kenji's cheeks increased."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Trees?\" Oku asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Never mind, Your Majesty.\" Kenji tried to bow from his pod, but the ship was still accelerating away from the planet, and the seat's sides gripped him protectively, so all he managed was a head bob."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Barking sounded in the background, and Oku glanced away again. Still smirking, she looked back. Since she was in a good mood, maybe she was the one to ask for that ten percent."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I commed to hopefully arrange some funds for our mission,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That is Casmir's project, so I'll let you talk to him about that. Here he is.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She stepped aside as Dabrowski slid into view, grease on his cheek and short blades of grass dusting his shoulders. There were even a few green strands in his hair. More barking sounded in the background, as if a dog was having a fantastic time chasing a squirrel."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji decided he didn't know the professor well enough to make jokes or ask what he'd been doing to acquire such hair decorations. Laser felt differently."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Looking good, El Mago,\" she crooned. \"No wonder world leaders can't keep their hands off you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dabrowski blinked. \"Uhm, I believe there's only one world leader moderately interested in putting hands on me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You sure? Didn't that astroshaman leader kiss you?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski sighed, his eyes rolling heavenward. \"Why does everyone keep bringing that up?\" he mumbled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"And I know that sultan at Stardust Palace enjoys your company. I heard a rumor that he was putting you in his will.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You're in fine form today, Laser,\" Dabrowski said. \"After four hours of meetings, I felt the urge to put my hands to work, so I made some adjustments to the castle's lawn-mowing robots. They now mow more optimally and are programmed to play with Queen Oku's dog.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"And spit their clippings at their maker?\" Laser asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hm?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The queen had stepped out of view, but she reached over and brushed the grass out of Dabrowski's hair and off his shoulders."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh, yes. I happened to be nearby when Chasca—that's her dog—took a shortcut to head off the robot she was chasing and ran through the compost pile.\" He lifted his arms expansively, demonstrating an explosion of grass flying everywhere, then nodded to the queen. \"Thank you for striving to make me presentable.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You're welcome. I believe you're about to ask General Heim to allocate funds for your special project, so it may help to look like a respectable diplomat instead of one of the gardeners.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Ah. Yes. He is a crown pincher when it comes to funds allocation, especially for projects that aren't his idea.\" Dabrowski faced the camera again. \"Does that mean you've already made progress, Kenji?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, my lord. Mari found the listing for her terraforming device and numerous other astroshaman trinkets—expensive trinkets—for sale on the Dark Comet Nexus.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good. Send the information, please. It'll help if I show it to him.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji transmitted the data to Laser's comm, so it would show on the display for Dabrowski, then braced himself to say, \"It looks like I need ten percent of two hundred and fifty thousand crowns.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Actually, it looks like you need ten percent of two hundred and fifty thousand Union dollars,\" Dabrowski said dryly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Oh, hell.\" Kenji hadn't checked the exchange rate lately, but he knew Union dollars were worth substantially more than crowns."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Is the terraforming device worth that much?\" the queen asked skeptically."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Worried that his mission—his chance to get that pardon and avoid the asteroid penal mines—might be scrapped, Kenji looked for something to say that would convince them of its importance."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It's worth a lot to keep it from going to someone who could use it as a weapon.\" Dabrowski sighed and tapped a control on their comm unit. \"I'm seeing if we can get General Heim on the line. He enjoys being kept in the loop.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He enjoys yelling at you about how diplomats aren't supposed to meddle in military affairs,\" the queen said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He enjoys it? That's not the impression I've gotten from the throbbing vein at his temple that comes out when we discuss that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Funny how many people show off that vein when they talk to you, El Mago,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Isn't it? It's why I was a natural fit for a diplomatic position.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The queen snorted."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You sure there just weren't any other openings available?\" Laser asked. \"And that they had to stick you somewhere?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Somewhere we could keep an eye on him,\" the queen agreed and found another piece of grass to brush out of Dabrowski's hair. Since her eyes twinkled when she said that, Kenji assumed it wasn't heartfelt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The display split in half, and a second face appeared, General Heim in a drab office with beige walls, a liquid whiteboard on the wall behind him. He was scowling."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Two hundred and fifty thousand Union dollars?\" were the first words out of his mouth."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Kenji only needs twenty-five to set up the meeting and lure in the thief,\" Dabrowski said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Only twenty-five. An amount I'd be delighted to give to the son of a terrorist.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We've already discussed why he's the perfect person to carry out our ruse.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Or the perfect person to take the money and flee to another system,\" Heim growled, every bit as suspicious as Kenji had feared he would be."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Even if we believed that was true, which we don't—\" Dabrowski smiled and nodded at Kenji, \"—Captain Laser and her fearsome crew would put a stop to it.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, the seventy-year-old freighter captain and her cat women,\" Heim said."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm a bounty hunter, and I'm sitting right here.\" Laser didn't lower her voice much when she added, \"Asshole.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Heim's jaw clenched."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Her charming irreverence makes her perfect for dealing with thieves,\" Dabrowski hurried to inform the general."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"And abysmal at dealing with the military,\" Heim growled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hence why the thieves won't suspect she's aligned with you. I'll arrange the transfer of the funds, Kenji.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Heim started to sputter a protest, but Dabrowski continued on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If at all possible, Kenji and his team will recover all of the stolen astroshaman devices. So we get our money's worth, eh? And I'll ask Mari to see if she can find a way to mark the thieves' ship so the Fleet can give chase after they leave the meeting area, even if they have a slydar hull.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"An astroshaman,\" Heim said. \"Someone else I'm eager to put faith in.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Together, they will achieve great things,\" Dabrowski assured him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Heim did not appear convinced. Even Kenji was skeptical that he and Mari could achieve great things."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We'll try,\" he felt compelled to say when the men looked at him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Dabrowski waved. \"Keep us updated.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes, my lord.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski closed his side of the comm down before the general, leaving Heim's glowering face filling the display."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji waved his fingers toward Laser, hoping she would hang up on him."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Heim had time to say, \"If you screw us over, boy, my people will find you.\" He hung up first."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Asshole,\" Laser repeated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji agreed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I never would have returned to this benighted system if Casmir and Oku hadn't ended up in charge,\" Laser said. \"I bet they're counting the days until the gnarled fossils reigning over their military and senate keel over and die.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji didn't point out that the gray-haired Laser might be older than General Heim."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Was it not your osito who was the reason for your return, Bonita?\" Viggo asked. \"Such a shame that his duties precluded him from coming along on this little mission and keeping your toes warm.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah, yeah, he's a perk too. But if any black-market thief got a whiff of a knight, this deal would be off.\" Laser looked at Kenji. \"You better buy that doohickey as soon as you get the money, kid. And pick a rendezvous spot that isn't all the way out by the wormhole gate. The sooner we can meet with these thieves, the less time they'll have to poke around and figure out you're lying to them and setting them up. They don't like that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I imagine not.\" Kenji wondered what the odds were of everything working out—and what they were of everything exploding in his face like the queen's compost pile.\n"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "After Kay left the lounge and Mari was done adding finishing touches to the account Kenji would use to make an offer on her terraformer, she rose from her pod to investigate the lounge. They had broken Odin's orbit, and she was alone in the room without a task to occupy her mind."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Curious about the captain and the crew, she poked into the cabinets. What did they do for mental stimulation while on prolonged travels? Did they read and research? Study astronomy from among the stars? Or—more likely from what she'd seen of them—train at combat maneuvers?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She wondered if any of them would have a birthday while they were on this mission. Birthday party was on her Human List. Her people did not celebrate such things, nor holidays of any kind, there being no logical reason for people to get together and consume cake and hurl confetti into the air, at least according to her mother and the other senior astroshamans. When Mari had asked for a party for her tenth birthday, after reading about such events in a book, her mother had dismissed the idea as wasteful frivolity and suggested she start a new science project if she felt the urge to do something recreational. As she recalled, she'd given sugar to yeast to create enough carbon dioxide to fill a balloon. It had been... somewhat festive."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Two large cubbies held treadmills that could be pulled out for exercise sessions. Mari was contemplating using one when the hatch opened, startling her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She spun, feeling guilty at being caught snooping around. The captain had said, \"Make yourself at home,\" but that might not have included peering into cabinets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin and Tigress walked in, appearing nearly identical in their matching galaxy suits—and almost-matching faces. Tigress's features were a little softer, her cheeks a touch plumper, and she looked like she favored indulgences in life. They were both, however, in excellent physical shape, the galaxy suits fitted enough to show off muscular arms, backs, and legs."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Hello, Mari,\" Qin said. \"We came to pump you for information.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I... am not familiar with that term.\" Mari closed the cabinet door. \"Do you mean to interrogate me?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, but without torture or any other implied nastiness. We could even bribe you. We know you like chocolate.\" Qin smiled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Who doesn't?\" Tigress asked. \"Though I prefer licking melted chocolate off a lover's warm flesh.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That doesn't sound sanitary,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Men don't usually mind. They like being licked.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin crinkled her nose. \"I should have brought Pounce along on this mission.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You should have brought more men.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari didn't know what to think of the conversation. Having sex was on her Human List, but she didn't recall licking being discussed that often in the books she'd read."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Maybe I'll lick your knight when we get back,\" Tigress said, eyeing Qin sidelong. It seemed more like teasing than a serious suggestion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since Mari had read novels and seen vids starring knights, she could understand the appeal. At one point, her list had said have sex with a knight. After later deeming that unrealistic and overly specific, she'd shortened it to simply have sex."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If you put your tongue on Asger,\" Qin said, \"I'll hurl you into the wall. Again.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You're so singular, Squirt. Why don't you share your men? I'd happily share mine.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You don't have a man currently.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I might. Our new passenger has a nice ass. I'd have plastered him against a wall already, but with Kingdom men, you never know if they'll flip out over modded women.\" Tigress lifted a finger, a claw extended, and pointed it down her body."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I think even progressive men might be alarmed by you plastering them against a wall,\" Qin said."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Only those with a poor sense of adventure.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Most,\" Qin mouthed to Mari."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Do you find it difficult,\" Mari asked slowly, \"to find mates who accept your differences from the human norm?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was something she'd long wondered, having read about the various prejudices and stereotypes common among humanity, and Kenji's comment that she would be cute if not for her implants sprang to mind. In some of the systems, cybernetic implants and genetic modifications were common, but she'd always gotten the feeling anything too different from the norm could lead to people being ostracized. They ended up in communities of like-minded—like-modded—individuals."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You just have to know how to work your assets.\" Tigress wriggled her hips, then slapped her butt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin rolled her eyes. \"Yes. We find it difficult. Especially if you want a nice man who cares about you and doesn't just want to have sex with you to see what it's like to sleep with a freak.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tigress lowered her arms, her expression growing a touch wistful. \"There's some truth to that. I've had no trouble finding those types, and there's fun to be had with them, but I am a little envious of Squirt and her knight.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"His name is William Asger, and he's not my knight.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I know.\" Tigress smiled at her, then nodded at Mari. \"Do you have trouble? You're pretty and shapely and all, but you know.\" She waved at the implant on the side of her head. \"Not everyone wants to sleep with a computer.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari combed her fingers through her hair, as she often did, to make the implant less noticeable."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin elbowed her sister. \"Don't call her that. It's like someone calling us freaks.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is it? Computer doesn't seem as derogatory.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari shrugged, having expected such comments, and Tigress hadn't intended to be mean. She did wonder if she would have to cross kisses and sex off her Human List. They might be more difficult to obtain than chocolate and alcohol."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm not sure yet if it's difficult to find someone,\" Mari said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You've got all of the rest of your people, right?\" Tigress asked. \"Astroshamans? I assume if someone is modded themselves, they're not as uppity about implants.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They aren't, and it's traditional to choose implants that are blatantly computer-like rather than subtle and less noticeable, but our people aren't encouraged to seek out biological pleasures of the flesh.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress looked blankly at her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Most of us don't have sex,\" Mari clarified. \"My mother, I've heard from other elders, was somewhat libidinous before she came fully into the fold and became a high shaman, but she doesn't think her children should be that way. We're supposed to be perfect representations of astroshaman culture with the goal of one day leaving behind our human bodies and taking android bodies or simply uploading our consciousnesses into computer systems.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin's mouth formed an, \"Oh,\" but she didn't say anything else. Was she repulsed?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That would make sex difficult,\" Tigress said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes. It's why I left.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"To have sex?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari blushed. \"Not only that, but I wish to experience... what it is to be human. Mostly human.\" She waved at her implants. \"What did you want to pump me about?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh,\" Qin said. \"We wondered if you know anything about our mission. The captain has only said we're flying out to rendezvous with some thieves to get back something they stole. She said we'd probably have to be Kenji's protection.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari looked at their muscular arms. \"You seem ideal for that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We are ideal.\" Tigress lifted her chin and smiled, flashing her fangs. \"But we like to know what we're getting into.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari saw no reason to keep them in the dark and explained the terraforming device and the plan, as far as she knew it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"So he's up in navigation with the captain pretending to buy some gizmo you made?\" Tigress asked. \"Can't you just make another one?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I could, but it would be easier for me to replicate the work if I had the prototype back.\" She didn't go into where her people were staying and how they no longer had easy access to some of the expensive and rare materials that had gone into the device."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I need my powerful fighters up in navigation to look fierce,\" Captain Laser said over the comm. \"We're about to make contact with the target.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's us.\" Qin headed for the hatch, Tigress right behind her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari doubted she qualified as a powerful fighter, especially compared to those two, but curiosity prompted her to follow them. Maybe they were about to find out who'd stolen her device."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Digital currency wasn't as impressive as money piled up on a table or stashed away in a secret vault, but Kenji still admired the digits in the bank account that Military Intelligence had given him access to. A neat twenty-five thousand Union dollars were waiting to be transferred to the Nexus."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A part of him was dumbfounded that the Kingdom was trusting him to do it. If it had been up to that General Heim, Kenji knew he wouldn't have seen a single dollar. For whatever reason, Dabrowski had faith in him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even though he appreciated that faith, after so many years of being broke, he couldn't deny he was tempted to make another account, transfer the money into it, and figure out how to sneak away from Laser and her ship. Twenty-five thousand was five times as much as he'd been trying to save up, more than enough to get passage to another system and start over. In addition, he still had some of the money the astroshamans had given him as a down payment on Mari."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He felt guilty about that and worried they would hunt him down if he didn't bring Mari back to them, but that was something he no longer planned to do. It would be a good idea to figure out how to return their money to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But this twenty-five thousand from the military..."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji sighed. No, he couldn't make off with it either. The thought of disappointing the only person willing to trust him kept him from contemplating the theft further. It was silly, given that Kenji had never actually been his student—never even talked to him until this week—but he hated the idea of Dabrowski being yelled at by Heim. And of the important people who'd been in that meeting having a reason to tell Dabrowski I told you so."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji muttered the commands to his glasses chip to transfer the money to the Nexus account so he could pay the deposit on the terraforming device. The display on his lenses showed the money whisking away. A soft ping of confirmation vibrated through the frame of his glasses as the Nexus accepted his offer. He leaned back in his pod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It's done?\" Laser asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The hatch opened, and Tigress and Qin walked in, Qin moving to stand behind Laser's pod and Tigress standing behind Kenji's. Navigation wasn't that large, and the presence of the big women made it claustrophobic. Mari stopped in the hatchway, standing back a few feet, a hesitant expression on her face."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser hadn't called for her. Maybe she didn't know if she was welcome. Kenji waved for her to come in if she wanted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Is the mastermind putting things into place?\" Tigress rested a hand on Kenji's head and eyed him over the back of his pod, a smile curving her lips."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is that me?\" Normally, Kenji didn't mind interest from the opposite sex—he cheerfully invited it—but he found himself groping for a way to politely let her know that she wasn't his type. He supposed sex with a warrior woman with cat genes could be an intriguing and educational experience, but he didn't know if his ego could take sleeping with someone who had more muscle mass than he had. Furry muscle mass."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You got it, cutie.\" Tigress patted his head, then rested her hand on the back of his pod."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He felt like a pet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I just put in the offer. Your intimidating presence in the background may be premature.\" Kenji waved at Qin and Tigress. \"The seller may wait before comming to see if there are more and better offers. Or he may spend a few hours researching me.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No sooner had the words come out than another faint ping vibrated his glasses. His offer had been accepted."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Or not,\" he said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is it concerning that it happened so quickly?\" Laser asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I... don't know.\" This was Kenji's first time scheming against thieves."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I manipulated the search data on the Nexus to make the listing for my terraformer less visible to bots and human viewers than it might otherwise be,\" Mari admitted. \"I assumed the Kingdom coffers would prefer it if we not get into a bidding war.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I know about the Nexus,\" Laser said. \"It's supposed to be hacker proof. There are all kinds of security protocols so that unscrupulous types can't fiddle with things.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji peered past Tigress to Mari."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She shrugged, looking more embarrassed than pleased with herself. \"I'm used to sophisticated networks. It's what my people have. It wasn't that difficult to figure out how to get in or how to tinker without leaving signs.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji remembered Dabrowski's comment about the abilities of astroshamans and how he hadn't been surprised that Mari had gotten the best of him—twice. He was beginning to realize how foolish he'd been to accept that bounty-hunting gig and felt lucky that Mari wasn't the vengeful sort. What if he'd gone after an astroshaman who thought nothing of slaying enemies that pestered her? Like the ones who'd led the raid to the Arctic Islands? A lot more Kingdom warships had been wrecked up there than astroshaman vessels."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We've got someone comming us,\" Laser said. \"An unfamiliar contact.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nervous, Kenji nodded for her to put the message on the display. \"Wait, we better hide you, Mari.\" He glanced back. \"They're going to be suspicious about us wanting to buy astroshaman tech when we have our very own astroshaman.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I understand.\" She started to back away."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He lifted a hand. \"Is there room for you to duck down? It would be good to get your opinions on these people.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin stepped aside so Mari could squeeze into navigation. She hesitated, looked around, then crouched between the two pods so her head was below the console."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji patted her on the shoulder. Sometime between her sharing encyclopedia entries on cinnamon and her offering to examine Kay for bugs, she'd stopped seeming so... weird. Maybe it was silly, since he'd been adding to her torment until recently, but he had the urge to include her and make her feel welcome."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Getting cozy in here.\" Laser reached for the comm panel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Try to pinpoint where they're comming from, will you?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am already working on it,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"As am I,\" Mari said quietly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The display came to life, showing someone sitting in a pod in a dimly lit cabin with computer instrumentation blinking in the background. A hood and heavy shadows obscured the person, offering only the hint of lumpy features, with a jaw jutting too far forward. Kenji resisted glancing at Qin and Tigress for comparison. Their jaws were fine. This person looked to have features more canine than human. It could be a mask, but they were likely dealing with another genetically modified individual."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You're the son of the Kuchikukan?\" The rough voice was hard to understand, the jaw mangling the formation of words, but he spoke slowly enough that Kenji could decipher them. \"I wasn't expecting someone so young.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"My father started training me at eight. I'm a crack shooter, a fighter, and can thread a needle with any aircraft.\" He half-expected Laser, who hadn't seen him do any of those things, to make a snarky comment, but she was leaning out of the video pickup, staying silent and making it clear this was his mission."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Nerves fluttered in Kenji's belly. Even though Dabrowski hadn't said Laser would be in command, he hadn't quite realized he was in charge of the whole thing. Such strange trust to be given to an unproven operative who'd been in jail two days ago."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari looked up at him and gave him an encouraging nod. Nobody else did, so he appreciated it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm Lupus Zhor.\" The man pushed his hood back, revealing more canine features, including prodigious fangs and alert pointed and furred ears. \"I can do all those things and tear your throat out with my teeth.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser rolled her eyes. It had to be killing her not to make snarky comments."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Do you always threaten the people you sell your goods to?\" Kenji asked."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I just like them to know what they can expect if they betray me.\" Zhor looked at Tigress and Qin, who stood with their arms crossed, their muscles on display. \"You'll bring some kitties to play with me when we meet? An unexpected treat in Kingdom space.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"They'll be with me when we make the trade,\" Kenji said. \"I trust you'll leave them be if I bring the agreed-upon amount.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"As long as you don't cross me. If you do cross me, there'll be ramifications.\" Zhor smiled—inasmuch as someone with a canine snout could smile—and waved to someone off the camera."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No, six someones. Six hulking men, their torsos devoid of clothing but covered in fur, walked into view carrying pistols and cutlasses. They lined up behind Zhor's pod, making it easy to see how similar they all were. The same faces, fangs, and ears."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I've got more puppies than you've got kitties,\" Zhor said, still smiling. Unlike Qin and Tigress, all of his teeth were pointed, not only the human canines."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Since we're just making a trade, and presumably not battling each other, I fail to see how that matters,\" Kenji said. \"Should things go smoothly, I'll be in the market to purchase more astroshaman tech in the future.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good. I trust you'll want to see a demonstration before the exchange to make sure it works.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Uh, that was a good idea, though he was surprised Zhor would volunteer. What if the device had broken and no longer worked? Would he be willing to let a buyer back out of a trade?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I would like that, yes, but what are you going to do?\" Kenji arched his brows. \"Terraform a planet for me?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Beside him, Mari lifted a hand and rested it on the console, careful not to move it into range of the vid pickup. She was gazing at the paneling ahead of her, a vacant expression on her face. Laser frowned, maybe thinking she was interfacing with her ship's computer—was she?—but didn't do or say anything with Zhor looking on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Perhaps a smaller environment,\" Zhor said. \"I propose the asteroid base atop Sif's space elevator. There's a station with hollowed-out tunnels inside that we can use. I see that you and your rusty freighter are not overly far from my current position.\" Zhor's eyes narrowed. In suspicion?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Rusty?\" came a protest from Viggo. \"This vessel is freshly painted and completely free of corrosion.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser glared at a speaker on the wall and raised a finger to her lips."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"As I'm sure you're aware,\" Zhor continued, ignoring the protest, \"long-term terraforming efforts have been ongoing on the planet's surface for some centuries. Once you see how rapidly the astroshaman technology can work, you'll be eager to give me your money—and more.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You've already tested it? Was your cabin in need of new soil and nutrients?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I know it will work. This isn't the first astroshaman technology I've acquired.\" There was that fanged smile again. Very similar to a wolf anticipating a meal."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though Mari couldn't see the smile from her spot, the words made her scowl. And why wouldn't they? He'd admitted to stealing—frequently—from her people."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good,\" Kenji made himself say. \"It wouldn't be worth anything to us if it didn't work.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We'll meet at the space elevator in two days at 1300 Odin Zamek time. If more ships than that one arrive, or if you step out of your airlock with an army, I'll assume you mean to betray me, and the deal will be off.\" Several of his canine bodyguards, or whatever they were, growled. \"And you will be dead.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm just looking for the device, not a fight.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Excellent. We wouldn't want anything to happen to your kitties.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "This time, Tigress growled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zhor cut the comm."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Does anyone else want to tear his puppies limb from limb?\" Tigress asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin lifted her chin. \"I am not afraid to battle them.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm a little concerned about it,\" Kenji muttered. \"Especially since he picked the place, he's volunteering to demonstrate the tech, and he's got more people than we do.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You should have picked a different place,\" Laser critiqued. \"It sounds like he's setting a trap for you.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I got that impression, too, but I don't know why he would. If he's a thief, he should want my money. Why would he betray me?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Because you immediately looked shifty to him, and he didn't think he could trust you?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I don't look shifty. He may have recognized your non-rusty freighter, despite its name change.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I doubt it,\" Laser said. \"He doesn't look like he's from this system. I don't know if you noticed this, but your Kingdom isn't very friendly to modded humans.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I've noticed,\" Qin murmured."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji thought of the way Qin and Tigress had been attacked at that rental shop, simply for showing an interest in opening up a business in the neighborhood."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari gazed sadly back at them before rising to her feet and removing her hand from the console. \"I have acquired some information about Zhor and, by tracing his transmission through the comm network, about the location of his ship. He attempted to route his signal through relay stations to hide his position, but I was able to track it back to him. He's about six hours ahead of us and flying toward Sif.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You want me to change course to meet him there?\" Laser asked. \"Or are we going to be smart and back away from this mission?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"No,\" Mari said with soft determination."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What information did you gather?\" Kenji didn't point out that Mari wasn't in charge, because he didn't want to quit either, not when he'd already sent off General Heim's twenty-five thousand Union dollars. If the Kingdom didn't get something out of that, Kenji would definitely end up on a penal asteroid, working for the rest of his life to pay the money back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Zhor is a well-known thief originally from System Cerberus,\" Mari said. \"He is an opportunist and works—steals—from people all over the Twelve Systems. He doesn't come to the Kingdom frequently, but he often steals from the astroshamans.\" Mari scowled. \"Not only from wrecks but from my people who choose to live among humans and go back and forth between their communities and astroshaman bases. He's robbed their apartments and taken small items. It is likely the wreck of the Celestial Dart offered him an opportunity to gain more significant and recent tech. Though he did some other heists earlier in his career, acquiring astroshaman devices has been his specialty for the last five years. It's surprising my people haven't chosen to deal with him, but most of his thefts, at least from our point of view, have been petty. If the terraformer were not my personal project, one I intend to share with the Kingdom, nobody would have bothered going after him.\" Mari looked at Laser. \"He's wanted by several planetary and station governments, and there are bounties out for him in numerous systems. If you could capture him, the Kingdom could recoup its twenty-five thousand and more.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Or we—\" Laser rested a hand on her chest, then pointed at Qin and Tigress, \"—could keep it for ourselves, and the Kingdom could find another way to recoup its money. We ought to get a bonus for flying into a trap.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is it a trap?\" Kenji asked. \"Or are you still speculating?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Judging by the position that his communication came from,\" Mari said, \"he was already en route to Sif. It's possible he planned to test the device there himself even before you put in an offer on it.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is a tunnel in an asteroid a legitimate place to test a terraforming gizmo?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It could be. We originally tested it in enclosed domes, both because there's a limit to how much one device can terraform, and so our molecular modifications wouldn't escape and alter more than we wished. There's a chain-reaction effect that radiates outward from its deployment spot.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's why Dabrowski and the others are worried about it being used as a weapon,\" Kenji said. \"If it was unleashed in the wild... or in a city...\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes. It works by changing the molecular structure of what exists and shifting it into a more desirable matrix.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Even if what exists is a city full of people?\" Laser asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari hesitated. \"Yes.\" She glanced at Kenji and Laser. \"That was never our intent, of course. We were—we still are—planning to terraform planets in the new system our people will one day travel to, using it to alter a world that is devoid of life.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You just accidentally made something that could also be used as a super weapon?\" Laser arched her eyebrows."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We would never do such a thing. We cannot be held responsible for thieves stealing our equipment.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No? You sure?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari grimaced, her face more concerned—even haunted—than indignant or defiant."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji bristled, tempted to defend her from the unfair sarcasm, even if he also found the possible ramifications unsettling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am certain,\" Mari said, though it sounded like she was trying to convince herself. \"Pardon me. I was asked to find a way to remotely mark his ship so that the Kingdom Fleet can find it. I will work on that now.\" Mari nodded curtly and walked out of navigation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Think we offended her?\" Qin asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Given what she's made,\" Laser said, \"I don't care.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We once carried a terrible bioweapon around the system.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser scowled at her. \"Not knowingly.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin opened her mouth, but Laser cut her off with a chop of her hand."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Set a course, Viggo,\" Laser said. \"And keep an eye out for other ships or anything suspicious. I've still got a niggling hunch this Zhor knows we're setting him up—and that he wants to set us up.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji eyed the stars on the display ahead. He hoped that wasn't the case, but he worried she was right."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari sat cross-legged with her back to the wall in the cargo hold, the constant acceleration of the freighter keeping her in place as effectively as gravity. It wasn't quite the same as being on a large vessel that spun and created artificial gravity, but it was enough so that they didn't have to spend the whole trip locked in their pods or walking around with the magnetic soles of their galaxy-suit boots activated."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Voices drifted to her from the ladder well. Since Qin and Tigress had been in the lounge, Mari had come down here to work, to study the layout of the Sif space elevator station and to see if she could dig up more information on Zhor and his genetically modified army before their meeting. It sounded like her private spot was about to become less private. That was all right. She could have worked in her cabin if she'd truly wanted to be alone."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As strange as it was, given that she'd voluntarily left, she'd found herself missing her siblings and those among the astroshamans that she considered friends. In addition to her other research, she'd been checking the news back on Odin to see if her mother or any of her people had been mentioned."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"If I go onto the station with a bunch of firearms,\" came Kenji's voice, \"they'll be suspicious that I don't intend to deal fairly.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If you go onto the station without any firearms,\" Laser's voice followed, \"they'll think you're an idiot.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Maybe that'll be good. Maybe they'll underestimate me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Or maybe they like to shoot idiots on sight. Cleaning up the gene pool.\" Laser walked out of the short hallway and into the hold with Kenji coming after her. \"Besides, I want to see if you can actually shoot, and if you'll have the girls' back, or if you're going to be a liability in there.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I can shoot.\" Kenji noticed Mari and paused. \"Hi.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hi,\" she said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Come on.\" Laser had also noticed Mari, but she kept walking across the hold and toward a small armory next to engineering. \"No time for flirting.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji stumbled. \"How was that flirting?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You seem shy. I figured that's how you did it.\" Laser disappeared into the armory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari decided it had been a joke, and she didn't need to point out that Kenji found her cute but weird, a feeling that would likely preclude flirting."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We'll give you a pistol,\" Laser called out. \"No thief is going to raise an eyebrow at a contact meeting him with a pistol. If you know what to do with a grenade, I can give you a couple of those too, as long as you promise not to blow your own balls off.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji halted. \"It's a good thing I'm not trying to flirt, because you assuming I'm inept and talking about my balls being blown off would not impress a woman.\" He looked over at Mari, his eyebrows up, as if to ask for confirmation."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I am uncertain how much genitalia factor into relationship decisions for normal humans, but since my people produce offspring through the mingling and manipulation of DNA in a laboratory setting, with artificial wombs employed for gestation, damage to sexual organs would not affect reproduction and might not prompt a dismissal of a person as a potential mate.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Look at that. There's someone for everyone.\" Laser walked back out with three armored hover targets and a pistol. \"I put this on the lowest setting. I don't want you shooting holes in my walls.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thank you, Bonita,\" Viggo's voice came from a speaker. \"I am still waiting for someone to repair the dents left by Qin and Tigress's vigorous battle practice.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yeah, yeah, Casmir can do it when we get back. He'll owe me for flying into a trap with a couple of rubes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji scowled and accepted the pistol. \"The kind words you offer your passengers must ensure people line up to fly with you again.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Laser stepped back, activating one of the spherical targets, Mari wondered if she should leave the area. Despite Laser's razzing, Mari doubted Kenji was inept with a weapon. He'd had no trouble stunning those police officers—and her, for that matter. She was, however, interested to see how this practice session would go. And if the pistol was on the lowest setting, she shouldn't feel more than a buzz of discomfort on the off chance that a stray bolt did hit her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser tossed the sphere into the air, its hover jets keeping it aloft, and it started zipping around in a random pattern near the high ceiling of the hold. \"All right, kid. I've programmed it so it won't fire back at first. Just try to hit the thing.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji gave her an exasperated look, glanced at the sphere, and fired. The DEW-Tek bolt streaked up and nailed the target. It paused and dinged softly, acknowledging an acceptable hit, before darting away."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not bad.\" Laser tossed the other two targets in the air. \"They'll start moving faster and getting harder to hit with every shot you land.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm familiar with them.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"After ten successful hits, they'll start shooting back.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Got it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The first few shots didn't challenge Kenji, but as the spheres started zipping around faster and firing back, he took cover behind crates fastened to the deck and gave his full attention to the task. They beeped in warning a half second before firing, so if he was fast enough, he could hit them first and disrupt their shot. Kenji managed to do that often, though with three in the air, the devices working together to spread themselves apart and make it hard to focus on them all at once, he was challenged. Overall, he proved skilled, darting in and out from behind cover to keep from taking hits."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Since the targets, either through chance or Laser's programming, didn't fly near Mari, she stayed in her spot. As she watched the show, she kept up her research. Laser yelled insults about how slow and clumsy Kenji was, which wasn't even remotely true, but she nodded and looked pleased by his display, so Mari decided it was her way of encouraging him to greater heights."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "On a whim, Mari looked up Assistant Professor Donadieu back on Odin. The last she'd heard, Minister Dabrowski hadn't figured out why he'd been using drones to steal from students on the university campus. It was unlikely it had anything to do with Zhor, beyond the fact that Zhor might have been the one who murdered him to steal the stolen technology himself, but it was also possible there was more of a tie-in than that, and that further information would be valuable in facing off against Zhor."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She did find a few articles that mentioned Donadieu, including one by an investigative journalist who'd dug up an off-planet bank account of his with more funds in it than a simple professor should have had. They'd also found a listing he'd put up on one of the black-market sites for a mysterious device of astroshaman origins. The time stamp meant he'd done it almost immediately after the drones had robbed Mari."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If Zhor had been in the area, perhaps investigating the military warehouses near Zamek City that contained astroshaman technology taken from the wreck, he could have gotten an alert for the posting. And, instead of paying what Donadieu asked, perhaps he'd decided to kill the man and take the device for free. Or maybe Donadieu had been home and had put up a fight, and that was why he'd been killed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Either way, Mari didn't see that it would affect Kenji's upcoming confrontation with Zhor. Other than to suggest that Zhor didn't play fair. But she gathered that Kenji already suspected that. It concerned her that Zhor had more fighters to take to the meeting than Kenji, but Mari believed she could help out with that, not by fighting but with her skills at navigating secured systems."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She brought up the blueprints for the space elevator station again, as well as everything she could find on its computer systems."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Clangs and clunks came from the ladder well, and a minute later, Kay walked out of the corridor. \"What a dreadful system for navigating a spaceship. Ladders. They are not robot friendly.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The little vacuums seem to navigate them adequately,\" Mari said, though she had no trouble seeing why the bipedal robot had difficulties. A K-45 did not have the flexibility of a human or an android."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They have suction systems that allow them to climb walls and stick to the ceiling. My maker did not see a need to outfit me with such.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"There weren't any... suction cups... in the junkyard... where I got... your parts,\" Kenji called between dodges and rolls and pants for breath. The three targets were moving so quickly now that an android would have been hard-pressed to keep up with them. \"Laser, turn those... off. My robot... needs me.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I do not need you,\" Kay said. \"I merely came to ask if you have a role for me in the upcoming meeting.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Hm, where'd I leave the remote?\" Laser ambled toward the armory."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Laser!\" Kenji dove behind the crates, hitting the deck with a thump."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari could no longer see him from her spot, but two of the spheres sped behind the crates after him. Assuming he was exhausted after the lengthy workout and would appreciate a break, she located the targets on the ship's wireless network and deactivated them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thank you,\" Kenji said. It came out as more of a groan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Huh?\" Laser stepped out of the armory, waving the remote, but noticed the targets had settled to the deck. \"How'd you turn them off?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I thought... you did.\" Kenji crawled out from behind the crates on hands and knees, looked warily at the targets, and pushed himself to his feet. His chest rose and fell with each deep breath, and sweat dampened his black hair."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Nope. Let me guess.\" Laser frowned at Mari from across the hold."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I believed that Kenji wished a break.\" Mari hadn't realized Laser might be upset."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My network is secured.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"With a simple encryption. I can set you up something more difficult for outsiders to hack into.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Or you can keep your nosy astroshaman self off it.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Bonita,\" Viggo said in mild censure, \"you do not object when Casmir hacks into your network.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's because I know him.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I believe a double standard is in effect,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah,\" Laser said. \"A double standard of knowing.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I appreciate your intervention, Mari.\" Kenji had caught his breath enough to say it without gasping, and he managed a wave for her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She smiled back at him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's because you were on the deck in the fetal position being pummeled by DEW-Tek bolts,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's precisely the reason, yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Uh huh. Go rest and talk to your robot.\" Laser pointed at Mari. \"Your turn, kid. Do you know what to do with a pistol, or have you spent your whole life plugged into computers? And strangers' networks?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari blinked. \"I cannot accompany Kenji, Tigress, and Qin to the meeting. Since I am obviously astroshaman, Zhor would immediately suspect treachery.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He suspects that anyway, I'm sure, but I just want to know if you're an asset or a liability in a fight. Ships get boarded, you know.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That is a valid point.\" Mari rose to her feet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It would not take long to demonstrate that she was capable with a firearm, thanks to targeting software that integrated with her ocular implants and could also, with her permission, control her body's movements. Since astroshamans were not infrequently targeted by humans with malevolent intent, they also practiced self-defense with and without weapons. Not as much as Qin and Tigress, certainly, but enough to remain sufficiently fit and agile, so they were not injured when they allowed their chips to guide them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Good luck.\" Kenji handed her the pistol as he passed her on the way over to talk to Kay. \"I'd suggest that you take that remote from her, but I guess you don't need it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I do not. Thank you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Are you going to cheat by reprogramming them?\" Laser asked. \"Because if they all lie down in a row on the deck at your feet, I'm going to start shooting you myself.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No, it is advisable for me to practice and allow you to see that I should not be a liability.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"All right. Good.\" Laser clicked her remote, and the three spheres rose into the air again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As the targets whirred to life, zipping in and out of view around the crates and streaking across near the ceiling, Mari let her software take over and guide her movements. The shooting was rhythmic and somewhat meditative, so she also returned to researching the space elevator station."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Only when the targets started firing back did the need to dodge, jump, and run make it difficult to multitask. Also, it was quite tiring. She soon found that the optimal way to handle the training was to shoot the targets before they fired at her, so she concentrated on doing that. That allowed her to simply stand in the hold with a wall at her back and move her upper body and arms."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She was aware of Kenji talking to Kay about how robots who struggled with ladders probably shouldn't come along to meetings that could turn into battles, while inviting suggestions on how he might gain the upper hand when facing off against Zhor. After a while, they fell silent. Watching Mari, she realized. All three of them were. That made her feel self-conscious, and she was glad that her chips and software were incapable of poor performance due to nervousness caused by fear of spectator judgment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even though she was able to perfect her system and didn't need to run and duck, she still found herself starting to breathe heavily and sweat after twenty minutes. She was debating turning off the targets via the network, but Laser clicked the remote first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Well, shit,\" she said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari lowered her pistol, confused by the response. She believed she had performed adequately."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Maybe we'll just send you over there by yourself,\" Laser added."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Oh. She had performed adequately. That was a relief."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That was amazing,\" Kenji said, staring at her, what seemed like genuine reverence in his voice."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For some reason, Mari blushed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You're like an android.\" Laser's tone was less reverent, and Mari suspected it held the implication that she was a freak. A computer."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She grimaced and wiped her brow."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"A sweaty android,\" Laser added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Internal fans, heat sinks, and liquid immersion cooling keep androids from overheating, so they have no need to sweat. I am human.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I guess.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Don't pay attention to her.\" Kenji came over and patted Mari on the shoulder. \"I don't know if you've noticed, but she's surly and grumpy as hell.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I did notice,\" Mari said quietly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Well, at least you two are observant,\" Laser said. \"Maybe that will keep snipers from taking you out. Viggo, see if Qin and Tigress want to come down and join me. I'm going to get some shooting practice in too, assuming Mari didn't overheat the hover targets with all that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"They should have fans and heat sinks too,\" Mari offered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good to know.\" Laser headed into the armory to get more targets."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It is difficult to find acceptance among normal humans,\" Mari said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You shoot a few of her enemies, and I bet she'll warm up to you.\" Kenji smiled at her, then seemed to realize he still had a hand on her shoulder. He drew it back and stepped away. \"I know I'd walk into battle with you at my back.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He was still smiling, so she wasn't positive that he wasn't joking. Even if he meant it, she reminded herself that she shouldn't lower her guard and let herself appreciate any praise coming from him. It was still possible that he was being nice as part of a ruse and that he would, if she let him, capture her to drag back to her family."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She wished that weren't a possibility. So few normal humans were accepting of her people—of her—that it would be nice to count him as one."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"And I'm starting to feel less bad about not having been able to capture you,\" he added. \"The Kingdom would be pretty dumb not to give you asylum if that's what you want. Nobody would dare break into the laboratory where you're working.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser returned to the cargo hold with more weapons and more targets. Clangs on the ladder rungs announced Qin and Tigress coming down. Kenji took another step away from Mari and clasped his hands behind his back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She didn't know how to interpret that. Did it mean he hadn't intended to get close or touch her? That it had been a mistake?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm not any more capable than an android,\" Mari said quietly. \"And I was easily captured by Minister Dabrowski's crusher.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I think everyone is easily captured by those crushers. That's not a failing.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm glad you think so.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Even if he didn't want to be close, he was being pleasant. It was nice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"What's going on?\" Qin asked, walking in with Tigress."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Flirting.\" Laser waved at Mari and Kenji."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The women looked at them, and for some reason, Mari's cheeks flushed again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Are you sure?\" Tigress asked. \"They're stiff, awkward, five feet apart, and not even looking at each other.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's how they do it,\" Laser said. \"They're shy.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari shook her head, and Kenji rolled his eyes."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser smirked and waved for Qin and Tigress to join her for target practice."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji roamed the bottom level of the freighter, eyeing crates and poking into tool chests, seeking inspiration for his upcoming meeting with Zhor. He'd seen six fighters in the captain's navigation cabin; that probably meant the man would bring twelve or eighteen. If Kenji didn't come up with a way to gain an advantage, he wouldn't walk off that station alive."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But as he'd told Laser, he couldn't come out of the airlock riding a tank—even if he found one lurking in a corner of her cargo hold—or Zhor would know Kenji meant to deceive him straight away. Zhor wouldn't bring the terraforming device if he suspected betrayal, and if it remained locked away on his ship, Kenji would never be able to get it. It was a foregone conclusion that Laser's old freighter couldn't win in a firefight against a sleek new ship with a slydar hull and who knew how many weapons."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Are you certain there is nothing I can do to be of assistance?\" Kay was trailing him around, avoiding being smashed in the cargo hold. The target practice had turned into hand-to-hand combat between Tigress and Qin again."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I don't think so, buddy, but thanks. You can stay on the ship and assist Mari with whatever hacking she has planned.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After seeing her shoot, Kenji was half tempted to suggest Mari come to the meeting with them. If she wore the helmet on her galaxy suit, their enemies might not be able to tell she was an astroshaman. But she could probably do more from the safety of the ship. Even if her chips let her do a bunch of things at once, Kenji had to assume that being shot at would make it hard to focus on infiltrating enemy networks."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I am programmed for tutoring, not hacking,\" Kay said. \"You should know this since you selected my operating system.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You've never felt the urge to teach students how to slip seamlessly into secured databases?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My specialties are Old Earth history, mathematics, and string instruments.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"String instruments?\" Kenji paused in front of a display in the wall of the compact engineering room. \"Like musical instruments?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Indeed. I do not have lungs or lips, so wind instruments are difficult, but I am adept with lutes, harps, and zithers.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Zithers? I had no idea. All this time, I could have made money by having you perform on Zamek's street corners.\" Kenji tapped the display. \"Viggo? Are you able to hear me? If the captain recorded my message with Zhor, I'd like to watch the replay, please.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Certainly,\" Viggo said. \"And have no fear. Bonita is recording everything you do.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'll assume it's because I'm handsome and sexy, and she doesn't want to forget a moment of my passage, not because she's suspicious about my intentions.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That is your prerogative, though I don't believe those are the adjectives she's used to describe you.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Does she actually like anyone? Besides Qin and Tigress? And her knight boyfriend?\" Kenji hadn't missed that Laser was giving Mari as hard a time as she was him, and her only crime was being an astroshaman."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Admittedly, that was enough for most people in the Kingdom. As it had been for him. He still regretted that he'd assumed the worst of her. His comment that he would gladly go into battle with her at his back had surprised him when it came out, but he decided it hadn't been inaccurate. Not only could she shoot like a targeting computer, but she'd been dead calm and completely unflustered as the hover targets fired back. If her mechanical bits kept her from panicking in scary situations, he was envious."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"A select few people,\" Viggo said. \"She has been betrayed many times in her life and does not easily give trust to strangers.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I get that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The recording played, and Kenji gripped his chin as he watched and listened for something he could exploit, either with Zhor, his people, or the ship in the background. Thumps came from the nearby cargo hold as Qin and Tigress threw each other around."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser had done some target practice of her own—he'd been almost as impressed by her speed and accuracy as Mari's—before handing the area over to her girls, as she called them. Kenji was glad he had a couple of strong allies to go in with, but he feared Zhor's fighters with their canine attributes would be at least as fast and strong as Qin and Tigress. Kenji needed something else, something Zhor wouldn't see coming."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "On this third time through the video, he noticed one of the guard's pointed canine ears rotating, presumably at some noise elsewhere in their ship. Kenji paused the playback, held a finger up to Kay, and stepped into the cargo hold again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari, who'd resumed sitting on the deck by the wall, looked over at him. Laser was cleaning combat armor that presumably belonged to her—Qin and Tigress were wearing theirs. Kenji couldn't imagine that a seventy-year-old woman would go into battle with them, but she had mentioned wanting to be ready if her freighter was boarded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Qin? Tigress?\" Kenji asked when they broke apart. \"I have a quick question.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress draped an elbow on Qin's shoulder and looked at him like she would say something libidinous—probably a demonstration of how she handled flirting—but Qin slapped a hand over her mouth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What is it, Kenji?\" she asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is your hearing enhanced? Like much more sensitive than a normal human's?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They both nodded."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hearing, eyesight, and scent,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Would a loud noise hurt your ears?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes. Crowds, loud music, and sirens are all things that I don't care for. Why do you ask?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Maybe it's goofy, but I noticed the dog ears of Zhor's people and thought... if I took some kind of whistle to blow, and it was loud enough, maybe it would make them falter a little if we have to fight them.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It would make us falter too,\" Tigress pointed out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin grimaced."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Maybe we could give you cotton balls ahead of time,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Very high tech and sophisticated. I do have ear plugs.\" Laser tilted her thumb toward engineering. \"The thrusters whine like a cranky baby when Viggo is in need of a tune-up.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Really, Bonita,\" Viggo said with impressive indignity."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You know it's true. Look, kid. I don't think a dog whistle is going to stop your enemies in their tracks.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Wait.\" Qin held up a hand. \"I don't know about a whistle, especially since we should go onto the station with full armor and our helmets up, but we are sensitive to extremely loud noises. It can be genuinely painful, and I would find it difficult to fight in such circumstances. Perhaps some kind of sound generator?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"With a few tools and some basic materials, I could help make something like that.\" Mari rose to her feet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Could it be small enough that it wouldn't draw attention?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Easily. Captain, may I check your parts cabinet?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Take whatever you need,\" Laser said. \"Just promise me that if it works, you'll record footage of Zhor's puppies rolling around on the floor and grabbing their ears.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I gladly will,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We better find those ear plugs,\" Tigress muttered to Qin."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thanks for the help,\" Kenji said as Mari joined him in engineering. \"Let me know if I can get you anything.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Just my terraformer.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's the plan.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I know. Thanks.\"\n"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari gazed out the porthole in the freighter's lounge as she tried to find sign of Zhor's ship on the route she'd earlier determined it was on. Thanks to what was likely a slydar hull, no scanners in the system could see it. When Zhor had been speaking to Kenji, she'd been able to locate his vessel through its comm signal, and she'd attempted to subtly mark it with a virtual tracker, but it had failed to stick. That was strange, since she'd done such things before, and she'd thought she had successfully done so again. It was possible Zhor, or his ship's computer, had found it and erased it. She had the uneasy suspicion that Zhor not only sold astroshaman technology but might have incorporated some of it into his ship."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A part of her was tempted to contact her people and ask if they cared one way or another if Zhor was captured. If they did, and if she assisted with the arrest, perhaps her mother would be more inclined to let her stay out here. Maybe Mari could help her people in ways that went beyond laboratory research and engineering, and they would appreciate her for it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was wishful thinking. Her mother and the other astroshaman leaders cared far more about their plans to leave for another system than petty thieves."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Focus on one problem at a time,\" she murmured, though that was always hard, since she had the computing capacity to dwell on numerous problems simultaneously. A blessing and a curse. \"First, we get the terraformer back.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She'd spent a couple of hours helping Kenji make a compact sound generator and hoped that would assist with their mission. Qin and Tigress had let them test it on them once and only once. They'd promised it was effective and had threatened dismemberment if Kenji pressed the button again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It had hurt Mari's ears, as well, so she did not doubt that it would irritate their enemies. Whether it would be enough to keep them from firing, she didn't know. At the least, it could prove an opportune distraction. They'd designed it to hang on Kenji's belt and look like little more than a key fob."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She marveled a bit that Kenji genuinely seemed prepared to go out and confront Zhor and his people over Mari's device. Even though she knew that a pardon hung in the balance for him, she wouldn't have been surprised if he'd chosen not to risk his life over this. After all, the terraformer didn't mean anything to him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It was possible that he intended to disappear on the station and leave Mari to deal with this with only Laser's crew for assistance, but if that were his plan, would he have bothered coming up with the sound generator?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "For his sake, as well as hers, Mari hoped they made this work. She worried not only about the possibility of death but also what would happen if she and Kenji survived but failed, if they lost the terraformer and also the money the Kingdom had invested into this mission. She wouldn't receive asylum, and he might end up back in jail."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She thought of her Human List and how many items were left on it. Maybe she should have spent less time seeking the terraformer and put more effort into checking off items. By the time she returned to Odin, her mother might have learned where she was and be in the capital, waiting to drag her back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The hatch opened, and Kenji stepped in."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hi,\" he said, waving at her."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Hi.\" She remembered Laser's comments about flirting and smiled, even though it was silly."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He couldn't know what she was thinking about, but he smiled back. \"What are you up to? Hacking networks?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She thought about bringing up her concerns, but she didn't want to worry him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Trying unsuccessfully to locate Zhor's ship,\" she said, \"and going over the items on my Human List.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You mentioned that before. What's a Human List?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"A list of items that I have wished for several years to experience. As I mentioned, I have led a secluded life, and many of the things that normal humans take for granted, I have not experienced. I have only read about them in books.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Like cinnamon and chocolate?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes. Sweets were something I was eager to try. They did not disappoint.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Astroshamans aren't allowed to have sweets?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"My mother has not wanted me or my siblings to be influenced by the temptations of the biological body, as she calls them.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"So no potato chips, bacon, or ice cream, either?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"In our ships and bases, we usually grow strains of algae and fungi that contain all the nutrients necessary for the human body and brain to thrive and interact optimally with our cybernetic upgrades. They are flavored and formed into various bars, patties, and loaves for variety.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No wonder you left your people.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari wasn't sure if it was a joke, but she smiled in case it was. \"They are not entirely unappealing, but I did wish to try other foods. I also wished to have a less rigid and structured life, at least for a time. I suspect that my mother will retrieve me eventually, even if you speak the truth and no longer plan to capture me, and then I'll have to go back.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Something flashed in his dark eyes—guilt? Maybe she shouldn't have mentioned his previous attempts to capture her. They had been getting along well on the voyage thus far."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Well, you should try things now then. What's on your list that you haven't gotten to try yet? Maybe we can raid Laser's cupboards.\" He glanced toward the kitchen side of the lounge."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I have not yet consumed alcohol. I also have not leaped from tall heights with artificial wings so that I can experience adrenaline and exhilaration and the sense of soaring like a bird.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"There probably won't be any hang-gliding on this mission.\" Kenji headed for the cabinets, probably to look for alcohol rather than artificial wings."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I have also not experienced kissing or sex.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He tripped, though the deck was flat and should not have prompted such an action."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You haven't had sex?\" He gaped at her for a moment before recovering."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is that more typical an activity than hang-gliding?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I suppose it depends on the person. I just assumed—well, I guess you talked about test tubes and artificial wombs, so maybe it's not that shocking that your people don't have sex.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We have no biological need to engage in coitus for procreation, but I find the notion of recreational sex fascinating.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah. That's what it is. Fascinating.\" Were Kenji's cheeks a touch pinker than usual? With his darker skin tone, it was difficult to tell."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It is believed that all mammals descended from Old Earth stock have the physiological capacity for orgasm, but not all engage in mating activities outside of the breeding season.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "His cheeks were definitely pink. Perhaps she had brought up a taboo subject. According to her reading, some human cultures were more comfortable speaking about sex than others. The Kingdom, as she recalled, was a bit stuffy and repressed."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji took a long moment to investigate the contents of the kitchen cabinets before clearing his throat and speaking again. \"Here we are. I think I'm only up to helping you with one item on your list, but hopefully, it'll live up to expectations.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Even before he pulled out two bottles of liquid, one amber and one a richer brown, Mari assumed he did not mean sex. Though it did make her ponder again whether she was physically appealing enough to attract a human mate. Or would her visible implants cause a response of repulsion from all unaltered men? She'd read about establishments where one could purchase sexual encounters but found the idea of such intimacy with a stranger unnerving. It would be better to engage in sex with someone who considered her cute. Perhaps not, however, cute but weird."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Looks like Laser's options are tequila and Stellar Comfort.\" Kenji opened the bottle of darker liquid, sniffed it, and wrinkled his nose. \"This is a traditional spacers' drink. As the label says, it tastes like stardust, moon regolith, and bad decisions.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That doesn't sound that appealing.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I agree. We'll try the tequila. But we better mix it with something if you don't want to get very drunk very quickly. I can imagine Laser taking shots, but she's not your typical lady.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I am also not a typical lady. Should I consume shots?\" Mari ran a quick search to make sure shots were what she thought they were and also to check the ingredients of tequila. Fermented cactus hearts? That seemed an odd base ingredient. Why would humans find fungi and algae strange when they drank liquids made from cactus?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Probably not. We're meeting Zhor tomorrow. I assume you're still planning to stay on the ship for that, but you may not want to be smashed in case there's trouble.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's correct. I do not wish to be a liability to Laser or anyone else.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Me either.\" Kenji pulled out a couple of tumblers, found lime fizzop in the refrigerator, and proceeded to mix alcohol with the carbonated beverage. \"Under no circumstances would I want to be hung over when meeting someone who thinks nothing of calling Qin and Tigress kitties.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I will remain on the freighter and attempt to hack into his ship's network, mark it so the Kingdom Fleet can find it, and ideally sabotage Zhor's systems so that he and his forces are distracted during a crucial time.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I like that idea. Do you think you can do it?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Certainly.\" Even though Mari was struggling to find the thief ship now, she trusted she would be able to gain access once they were docked at the same asteroid. \"I have also downloaded everything about the station. It is all automated, with robots unloading any cargo that arrives and sending it down to the planet where other robots set it up. It is likely I can get on the station's network and take over some of the automation and further cause distractions for Zhor's people.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari shifted from her pod to one of the chairs around the lounge's dining table. \"This may matter little for your meeting, but I've learned that Zhor, and likely his bodyguards, were made in a lab in Sayona Station in System Cerberus for the Miners' Union Prince Hawkstar some thirty-five years ago. Zhor served the prince for a time, then stole a ship, and escaped to live life as a free person.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"So the prince raised him to be a good little minion and kick his enemies' asses, but then he ran away?\" Kenji's mouth twisted as he brought over the drinks. \"That sounds familiar.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Do you refer to your origins? Or mine?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's my story, except insert my father for the prince. And my genes are just a normal mix of his and my mother's, but he did engage in some gene editing during a time when that was illegal in the Kingdom.\" He handed her one of the tumblers and sat across from her at the table. \"It's always great to know you were birthed—or created—to further your parents' ambitions.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes.\" As she eyed the drink, it occurred to her that he could have put a tranquilizer in it, with the plan of taking her gear and locking her up until they got back to Odin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But she'd consumed that latte he'd given her and suffered no ill effects. And Kenji should want her help for this mission. As unlikely as it might be, he seemed committed to it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She studied him, not noticing fidgeting, sweating, tension in his face, or any other signs of being nervous. He'd been more flustered by the orgasm discussion. Now he sat comfortably, as if they were simply friends having a drink together."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Her heart ached as she realized how badly she wanted that. Friends, drinking, normal human experiences."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your parents also made you to be a good little minion and kick enemy asses?\" Kenji sipped from his tumbler, not pointing at hers or doing anything to suggest he cared one way or another if she took a drink."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She decided she could trust him, at least until their mission was over. Maybe... she could even trust him after that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I believe the father I do not remember may have wished for children for the usual reasons, but he was killed, and my mother, who took in my siblings and me, did indeed raise us to be good little minions. Ass-kicking was not required, though we learned rudimentary self-defense skills, but we were required to study engineering and science in order to create that which our people will need when we one day settle a new system.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"So the unintentionally deadly terraforming device was your mother's idea?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"She chose my field of study when I was young.\" Mari couldn't lie and say she'd been forced to make that specific device—it had simply been the logical way to create what her people desired—but would she have become an agricultural engineer if she'd been free to choose her own path? She didn't know. When she'd been little, she'd enjoyed music and the arts and had dreamed of being able to create beautiful things for a living. But the astroshamans, while not opposed to aesthetically pleasing cultural creations, had little use for frivolity and would not encourage careers in such fields."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Huh.\" Kenji grunted. \"So, we're all kind of the same. You, me, and this Zhor guy.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari sniffed her beverage, the sweet lime soda a far more dominant scent than the fermented cactus liquid, and sipped from it. \"Will that make you hesitate to shoot Zhor if it's required?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"No.\" Kenji drank again from his tumbler."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It took a moment for her taste buds to register the harsher bite of what had to be the alcohol."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I do regret that I tried to shoot you,\" Kenji said after a few moments. He gave her a sad lopsided smile."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Because you do not believe I deserve to be dragged back against my will to my people? Or because you are imbibing an alcoholic beverage, and it is altering your usual neurochemical state?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I haven't had enough to have altered anything yet,\" he said. \"But I figured out a while ago that you don't deserve to be dragged anywhere.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"How long a while ago?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"When you were asking the policeman for a drink of his latte.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You still attempted to apprehend me after that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I know. I'm not that smart of a guy.\" There was the sad half-smile again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Perhaps you should consider an implant with extra computing power.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He stared at her, then threw back his head and laughed."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It startled her, as she hadn't meant the comment as a joke, but she decided the laugh was nice. It was the first time he'd done it around her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. \"I'll keep that suggestion in mind.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "After a few more sips, Mari asked, \"How much of this beverage do we need to consume before we experience mild euphoria, relaxation, decreased social inhibition, and joy?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Probably not much for you, especially if you never drink. As for the rest, I usually get mellow and melancholy.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Increased verbosity is another side effect.\" Mari took a longer drink, the cool fizzy bubbles from the soda tickling the roof of her mouth."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"So I've heard.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You are already speaking to me more than you have in the past.\" She took another sip."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's not because of the alcohol. That's because I've been—like I said—regretting blaming you for things that it doesn't sound like you had anything to do with—or any choice in even if you did.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If you're speaking of the invasion, those who spearheaded and eventually took control of that mission did not survive. The rest of us are not without blame, but it is unlikely that any astroshamans who are hiding out on Odin will bother your people. I know that I may never be able to walk openly in your cities without being arrested and shunned, but...\" Mari lifted a shoulder. Was she feeling melancholy? If the alcohol had that effect on her, it would be disappointing. She had looked forward to joy and euphoria."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You're probably right,\" Kenji said. \"Sorry about that. Another system might feel less irritated with astroshamans right now.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Perhaps, but traveling from System Lion would mean leaving my family behind. While I have wanted to leave them and experiment, I am not certain I wish to irrevocably cut ties with them and move to another system. I have never lived on my own, and even though I am reasonably intelligent and capable of researching how to do most things via the network, I am intimidated by the idea of existing in solitude. That is what I envision happening, since my people have traditionally been ostracized. It is why those of like minds originally banded together and formed the astroshamans.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Enforced solitude is unappealing.\" Kenji finished his drink. \"That's why I built Kay.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Half of Mari's drink remained, and she was debating if she could feel effects of inebriation. Perhaps she was slightly more mellow? Could that be construed as euphoria? \"Robots can be good company.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I forgot to mention it earlier, but when I examined your unit, I was impressed.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"My... unit?\" Kenji glanced down at his lap."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"The K-45 robot.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Oh, of course.\" His cheeks grew pink again. What had he thought she meant? Perhaps he was feeling inebriated."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not at Minister Dabrowski's upgrades, though those were impeccable, but at the fact that you created your Kay from what appeared to be scrap parts. I assume you do not have a foundation in mechanical engineering?\" She raised her eyebrows."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"No. My father wasn't interested in giving me that kind of education. Knowing how to fight and fly were what he considered important, but I worked as a mechanic and taught myself things.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It was good work.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thanks.\" He shrugged and looked down at the table, as if the praise made him uncomfortable."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That was not her intent."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm not sure I can remember anyone complimenting me,\" he said, dryness in his tone. And... bitterness? \"Not since my mother died.\" He lowered his voice. \"I miss her sometimes.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I regret that I lost my father before I got to know him,\" she said. \"I think I would have liked him.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"More than your mother?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I shouldn't admit that, but from what I've read about him... yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your mother sounds like a dick.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"A dick?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah, it's like a unit.\" He winked and took his empty tumbler to the sink and sanitized it. \"I think you're a good person, Mari. I'm glad I didn't succeed in either of my attempts to capture you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He sounded sincere. Maybe she truly could trust him, even beyond the mission. If so, that was heartening, because she wouldn't need to worry about betrayal. They would just need to survive the mission itself. She hoped that was possible. If Kenji died because he'd been helping recover her terraformer, she would deeply regret that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm sorry you had to come on my retrieval mission.\" Mari lowered her gaze to the table as he returned. \"It's my fault. I mentioned to Minister Dabrowski that you might be able to describe the thief's ship since you got a better look at it in the Arctic. I had no idea that would end with the government compelling you to travel to another planet and risk your life arranging a meeting with a thief and a murderer.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Given that I was already in jail at the time, and that's the only reason I was offered a chance to get out, I think I have to thank you rather than blame you.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I do not wish you to die because of me.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Let's both do our best to live then.\" Instead of sitting in his chair, Kenji knelt on the deck beside hers and gazed at her. \"How's the alcohol? Do you feel relaxed and euphoric yet?\" His brows rose, and he smiled faintly. \"Joyful?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A strange urge to touch his face came over her, but she resisted it, doubting he would appreciate physical contact from her. From cute but weird."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I feel a little warm and flushed. From what I've read, this may be due to the buildup of acetaldehyde as my body attempts to metabolize the alcohol. It's possible I have an aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 deficiency.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Probably.\" His smile grew less faint, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. \"See if this helps.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He leaned in and placed his mouth on her mouth. A kiss."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It startled her, and it took her a moment to remember that a response was required, at least if she wished to show sexual interest in him. Did she? She'd stopped thinking of him as an enemy, but was he a suitable romantic partner? That might not be what he wanted. Perhaps he was only helping her with her list."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As her mind whirred, debating the wisdom of responding to his kiss in a positive way, her body made the decision for her, and she found her lips mirroring what his did, exploring the sensation of touching him and being touched by him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He drew back, making her wonder if that had been the correct response. He looked a little surprised, then recovered, and smiled again before patting her on the shoulder and standing up."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Goodnight, Mari.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As he turned toward the hatch, she asked, \"Kenji?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes?\" He sounded wary."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She had done the wrong thing. She assumed his swift withdrawal indicated he was not interested in pursuing further physical intimacy. \"Why did you kiss me?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It was on your list, wasn't it?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Ah. That had been all it was."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes,\" she said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"There you go. You help me build a dog-ear-attacking sound generator, and I help you with your list.\" His smile was fleeting, and he hurried out of the lounge without looking back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was unfortunate. She had enjoyed the kiss, though her body was now even more flushed. Maybe the alcoholic experiment had not been wise. She clearly had an aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 deficiency.\n"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The space elevator was a fancy name for a thick cable that rose up from Sif's anchor station on its rocky red surface to a base carved into a huge asteroid that acted as a counterweight at the top. Sif didn't have as much gravity as Odin, but it still required a great deal of fuel burn for ships taking off from its surface, so most that came to deliver equipment and raw materials for the terraforming project used the elevator to save energy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji had never been to Sif or the asteroid base and watched curiously from the hatchway into navigation as Laser guided the freighter closer. They would have to fly through a huge cave-like entrance to reach the station inside, including its docks, manufacturing facility, and the tunnels where Zhor supposedly would show off what the terraforming device could do. Kenji hoped they could make the exchange before that happened."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He slid into the empty copilot's pod beside Laser, hoping she wouldn't mind. From what he'd seen, Qin and Tigress were more likely to be sparring or exercising in the cargo hold than hanging out up here, and Mari never presumed to enter without an invitation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji hadn't seen her since the night before and couldn't decide if he was disappointed or relieved. Somehow, he'd gone from regretting treating her unfairly to feeling kinship to her to finding her Human List amusing to kissing her. That had not been his plan when he'd walked into the lounge. It hadn't even been his plan when he'd gotten up to wash out his tumbler."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But she'd looked miserable sitting there, apologizing to him for getting him stuck on this mission, and he'd wanted to let her know it wasn't her fault and to make her feel better. Why he'd thought he should do that with a kiss, he didn't know. Other than that her list had put it in his mind. He wasn't even attracted to her. At least, he hadn't thought he was, not with the weird chips and implants, but there was nothing unappealing about the rest of her body, and one could probably get used to the cybernetic stuff."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not that he wanted to get used to it. He was looking to escape the Kingdom, not pick up a girlfriend. Especially not a girlfriend from a whacky cult that looked down their cybernetic noses at normal humans."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Of course, she didn't do that. She seemed more curious than judgmental about normal humans. There had even been wistfulness and longing on her face when she'd spoken of her list. And vulnerability. He hadn't expected that from the woman who'd knocked him on his ass not once but twice. He also hadn't expected her to kiss him back like a normal woman. Why, he didn't know—it wasn't like she was an android—but what he'd intended as something of a pity kiss had turned out to be far more... intriguing than he would have imagined."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But it had been a mistake. He hoped his impulsive move hadn't led her to expect more. He already had Tigress leering at him; he didn't need anyone else undressing him with her eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm not reading any ships inside,\" Laser said from her pod, oblivious to his thoughts. The tip of the navigation arm touched her temple as she piloted the freighter closer to the asteroid."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The yawning entrance appeared even larger now, wide enough for a fleet of ships to fly through together. It was dark inside, a contrast to the stark sunlight brightening the top of the asteroid and glinting off banks of solar panels. Sif orbited not much farther out than Odin, so days out here were almost as bright as back home."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not even any automated ones belonging to the station?\" Kenji shifted from musings about kisses to mulling over the coming confrontation."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He didn't have another two hundred and twenty-five thousand Union dollars, but Laser had dug him up a case that looked like it could hold thousands in physical currency. The plan was to make Zhor believe it did, at least long enough to get close. At which point, Kenji, Qin, and Tigress would have to fight. Against at least seven men with enhancements. Maybe more. It would be foolish to assume Zhor had shown his entire hand during that comm call."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Kenji's team hadn't shown all of its cards either. They had Mari. He didn't doubt that she could remotely take over some of the station's automation to distract the thieves, and maybe even their ship."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"There are ships at the anchor point on the planet's surface,\" Laser said, \"but not up here. Looks like nobody is expecting a cargo today.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Zhor's ship may already be inside. Hidden.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's what I'm thinking. Wish I could get one of those fancy new slydar detectors, but they're only for Kingdom Fleet ships.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Had I known you desired such a device, Bonita,\" Viggo said, \"I would have asked Casmir to install one.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"His people just started manufacturing them, and they're all going to their military ships. Trust me, I asked.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You should have had me ask. I am, after all, closer to Casmir than you are.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Is that so?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Certainly. I've shown him appreciation since he first came aboard, whereas you were short with him.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He likes my shortness. It's endearing.\" Laser looked over at Kenji. \"Right, kid?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm charmed.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I thought so. So, what's the plan? All I'm supposed to do is give you a ride and lend you the use of my combat forces.\" Laser waved vaguely toward the cargo hold to indicate Qin and Tigress. \"But I'm partial to my combat forces, and I want to make sure they survive this. You walking in there with nothing but hope and a pretend case of money doesn't inspire my faith in your success.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Don't forget my sound generator.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Right, the dog whistle is sure to turn the tide.\" She eyed the fob clipped to his belt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It might,\" he said, though he admitted it looked more like something one would use to open a garage door."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Still, they'd tested it, and it put out an ear-splitting wallop. He also intended to wear ear plugs for the incursion."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The plan is to go out and face them while Mari diddles with their ship and whatever computers are on the station that can cause distractions.\" Kenji expected Laser to scoff at the idea of computer diddling as a plan, but she leaned back thoughtfully in her pod."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Tell her to take over the station's robots instead of just the computers,\" Laser said. \"That's what Casmir would do. Robots that can beat up enemies.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I don't know if there are robots.\" Kenji smiled, wishing Kay were up here with them, for he would have commentary on robots beating up enemies. But Kay was struggling to climb up and down the old freighter's ladders. The lounge and the crew cabins were on the middle level of the ship, so he'd opted to stay there today."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You better hope there are,\" Laser said. \"Robots are deadlier than computers. Even if they don't have weapons, they can stomp on your foot, and if they're heavy, that hurts. A lot.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari stepped into the hatchway, raising her eyebrows as she heard the last couple of sentences."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Captain Laser has suggestions for your infiltration of the station's network,\" Kenji told her, his gaze snagging on her lips, his mind flashing back to their kiss."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Hell. He turned away. His wayward mind had better knock that off."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I've gained access to the station network already.\" Mari's face was hard to read, and she didn't hold his gaze for long or comment on the kiss."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The freighter flew deeper into the unlit interior of the cave, and the flat gray wall of the station with six airlock docks came into view ahead. Their running lights played across them and the uneven rock of the rest of the hollowed-out interior. Here and there, more caves—or were those the tunnels Zhor had mentioned?—opened up to the sides."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I will look for robots,\" Mari added."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Heavy robots,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, Captain,\" Mari said politely."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser navigated toward one of the docks; they were all open. As Viggo had said, there didn't appear to be any other vessels there. They were getting close enough now that they should have been able to see even a slydar-hulled ship."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji found it odd that the thieves hadn't arrived first to set up the meeting spot to their liking, with Zhor placing his combat troops where they would have the advantage."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A proximity alarm went off on the navigation panel."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I was afraid of that.\" Laser peered at her scanner display."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We are now detecting another ship docked here,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No kidding.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As the freighter glided toward one of the docks, that other ship came into view on the display, seeming to materialize out of the shadows. It was the same black-winged ship that Kenji had seen in the Arctic Islands."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It is not training weapons on us,\" Viggo said, \"or otherwise making aggressive moves.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It's hard to be aggressive when you're attached to a station via an airlock tube,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I presume its copious weapons would work fine even in such circumstances.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"True.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What about people on the station?\" Kenji wanted to know how many of Zhor's bodyguards were waiting for them. \"If they're already set up and waiting for us, your scanners should be able to see them, right?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It is difficult to detect people in combat armor,\" Viggo said, \"since most of it is designed to give off no heat or energy signature.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Meaning there could be an army waiting for us.\" Kenji grimaced."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"An army in combat armor, yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Better hope our astroshaman is really good at diddling things.\" Laser eyed Mari."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari didn't respond or even seem to notice. She was gazing toward the ceiling, probably so busy with her network probing that she didn't hear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I have faith in her abilities,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He hadn't thought she'd been paying attention, but that earned him a quick smile. Good. Even if he'd made a mistake the night before, he didn't want her irked or disappointed in him. Although, as he considered her profile, he realized that he believed she would do her best to keep him alive and protect him even if she was irked with him. Lucky for him, she didn't seem to have a vengeful nature. He hoped she believed that he truly had no interest in trying to capture her for that bounty anymore and that he would also do his best to protect her on this mission."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As the freighter eased closer to the docking spot, the chip in Kenji's glasses alerted him to a local network, that of the station, but it was secured, so he couldn't access anything. If the thieves' ship had a network of its own, he couldn't detect it. He would trust that Mari and her more sophisticated hardware would find a way in."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The comm dinged."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I think that's for you, kid.\" Laser waved for Mari to get out of sight."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She crouched low, her head below the console again."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When Kenji answered, the hooded Zhor appeared on the display in the same dim navigation cabin as last time. His army might be waiting inside, but he wasn't. Maybe he was the kind of leader who sent his people in to do the fighting while he remained in his cushy captain's chair."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm ready for the demonstration and handoff when you are, Chisaka,\" Zhor said without preamble. \"Don't forget to bring the money.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I won't,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Meet us at Experiment Tunnel Number Three in twenty minutes.\" Zhor smiled, showing off his rows of sharp teeth, and closed the comm without waiting for a response."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Still smelling like a trap to me,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What does a trap smell like?\" Viggo asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"What do you care? You haven't got a nose anymore.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm mildly curious,\" Mari said, still crouching."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Guns, burning hair, and despair,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Unappealing,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You got that right. You do what you need to do inside to get the gizmo, kid.\" Laser pointed at Kenji. \"I'll be here with the engine on, but we're not a match for them, so if their ship starts firing at us, we're going to be in trouble.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Yes. He could see railguns, cannons, and were those sun destroyers? And that was only on the side of the ship that was visible to them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"More than trouble,\" Viggo said. \"Should we get in a firefight with them, they will obliterate us in seconds.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I will attempt to disable their weapons remotely,\" Mari said."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser eyed her. \"I'm not sure I've even seen Casmir do that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari shrugged."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji wished she'd proclaimed with confidence that it would be a simple matter. He had faith in her taking over the network of an automated space station with nobody home; hacking into the weapons system of an advanced enemy ship was another matter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin and Tigress clomped into navigation in their full combat armor, including magnetic boots that kept them firmly affixed to the deck. Now that the freighter had entered Sif's orbit, weightlessness acted upon everything in the cabin, and Laser's gray braid floated behind her head. Qin and Tigress had rifles strapped to their backs, carried space-rated grenades in bandoliers, and Qin also cradled a Brockinger anti-tank gun lovingly in her arms."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We're ready to protect you, Kenji,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Here's your pretend money case.\" Tigress handed him a black box with metal hinges and decorative metal trim. It had an electronic lock pad."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thank you.\" Kenji tapped the button to order his pod to release him, and Mari stepped back to make room for him, but she bumped into Tigress's armored chest. Kenji reached out a hand to steady her. \"Uhm, Captain Laser? Can I borrow one of the pistols in your armory?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She'd suggested he take weapons, but he didn't want to assume, and be accused of theft, especially since Viggo had bluntly said Laser was reporting back to Dabrowski or Military Intelligence or whomever on him. Kenji wished he could ask to borrow a full suit of combat armor too, but such gear was expensive, and it was unlikely Laser had extras. He already wore a galaxy suit he'd borrowed from her. At least the material was sturdy and would offer some protection in a firefight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes, of course. Help my girls if you can.\" Laser waved toward the hatch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I will, Captain.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari slid into Kenji's pod after he exited it. \"The station's network is simple, as I believed it would be. I am working on getting into the ship's systems now.\" She tilted her head. \"Interesting.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji had been trailing Qin and Tigress out, but he paused in the hatchway to listen."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They do not have a slydar hull,\" Mari said. \"They are using astroshaman cloaking technology, which relies upon a generator and energy manipulation. It is not a paint application.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji almost snorted at the idea of slydar simply being paint, as he'd seen the cost of outfitting ships with the special hull plating that fooled the eye as well as most scanner technology."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I take it that's why they were able to sneak off Odin, even past their slydar detector?\" Laser asked."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes, and they have other technology from my people incorporated into their ship. I've thus far found it difficult to get into their network. I wasn't even able to verify its existence until a moment ago.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji hesitated. \"Meaning no diddling?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not necessarily,\" Mari said, \"but it could be more difficult than I anticipated.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji blew out a slow breath, eyeing the other ship uneasily. Qin and Tigress had disappeared into the ladder well that led down to the cargo hold and the airlock hatch, and he had to follow, but this new revelation increased his unease. If Mari couldn't do anything to their ship and couldn't even the odds—or, ideally, tilt the odds in their favor—this could go very badly very quickly. Even if Zhor didn't mean to betray them, Kenji meant to betray him. As soon as the thief found out he didn't have the rest of the money for the device, this would turn into a firefight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'll find a way to take that ship out of the equation.\" Mari looked back at him and must have interpreted his daunted expression correctly. She gave him a reassuring smile—or was that a determined smile? \"Just because they have astroshaman technology doesn't mean they have an astroshaman.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yeah,\" Laser said. \"I hear they're hard to pick up at seedy space bars.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Unless you wander in with a bag of chocolates in hand,\" Kenji murmured."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The determined smile turned into more of a grin. \"I cannot speak for the rest of my people, but that would indeed work to pick me up.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She said the words as if she was unfamiliar with the term, and Kenji found himself grinning too."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I was wasting my time with a stunner,\" he said. \"I should have dangled some Cosmos Crunchers at you when we first met.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If those have chocolate, caramel, cinnamon, nougat, or nibs, it is possible you might have managed to kidnap me right then.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Then we never could have come on this adventure together.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"How horrible that would have been.\" Laser made a shooing motion. \"Get your ass over to that station before Zhor notices you're not showing up for his date and gets cranky.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I suppose Cosmos Crunchers wouldn't work on him,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Try a raw steak. And kid?\" Laser looked back at him."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Don't screw this up.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji's first thought was to give a snarky retort, but something in her eyes made him believe it was a sincere warning and that she maybe even cared. Because of the danger to her freighter? She'd probably only come along as a favor to a friend, not believing she'd be in any real trouble, but with the thief ship and all its weapons looming nearby, she had to be concerned. Possibly more concerned because this relied so much on him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I won't,\" he said seriously."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He nodded to Laser, nodded to Mari, and headed for the ladder."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you, Kenji, Mari messaged him as he descended. I appreciate you taking this risk to help me."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He almost replied that he was only here for his pardon, but he realized that wasn't true, not anymore.\n"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari sat in the copilot's pod, splitting her attention between locating resources on the station's network that she could take over and gaining access to the computer system on Zhor's ship. Not only was the ship's network well secured, but she had learned that a sentient intelligence controlled it, something similar to Viggo, but the astroshaman version. It blocked her every time she thought she'd found a way to burrow in. It was like playing chess with a master."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She clenched her jaw, irritated that this Zhor had been stealing from her people for a long time and was using her own technology against her. It might even go beyond theft. Some of the hardware and software now installed on his ship wouldn't have been easily acquired. He might have killed more than the Kingdom professor for it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I suppose some overly alert comm officer on that ship,\" Laser said, \"would notice if we sent a message to the Kingdom Fleet and asked for help.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"When we're this close to the enemy craft, that is particularly likely,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The Kingdom Fleet knows where we are,\" Mari said. \"I told Minister Dabrowski our destination earlier, as soon as Zhor stated the meeting place. He said he would relay it to the knights that are stationed on Kingdom ships in the area. Some of them are waiting to help us, but they didn't want to spring their trap prematurely and scare off the thieves, so they've been keeping their distance.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"In the area?\" Laser eyed her scanners. \"I don't see any of their big warships closer than... eight hours away.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Is that not in the area?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Not close enough to help when these guys could pummel us into space dust in seconds.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm attempting to make sure they can't do that,\" Mari said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Is it working?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We'll see.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'm not reassured. Viggo, are you reassured?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I trust our astroshaman ally can navigate enemy networks at least as effectively as Casmir,\" Viggo said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I guess Viggo is reassured,\" Laser said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'll try not to disappoint him.\" Mari took another stab at bypassing the other ship's security measures. The station's network was fully under her control now, but she needed to ensure Zhor couldn't fire upon their freighter."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser glanced at a display. \"Our team is about to exit our airlock and head onto the station. The hatch leading into the arrival area is locked, so they're going to have to force it. I assume Zhor doesn't have a key and is doing the same thing right now. We're still not detecting any sign of people on the station.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We can barely detect that there's a ship docked next to us, breathing its exhaust fumes all over my hull,\" Viggo pointed out. \"I do detest astroshaman technology.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari smiled bleakly. She detested it when it was in the hands of people other than her own."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A message came in on her chip from Odin. Minister Dabrowski."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greetings, Mari. Our stalwart knights asked me to check in on you, see if your team has acquired the terraforming device yet, and ask if you're ready for them to swoop in to pulverize Zhor's ship into stardust. I suspect not, since Captain Laser just sent me a message complaining about all the armament on said ship and pointing out that the Stellar Dragon, er, the Espada Ancha doesn't have shielding sufficient to defend against it. She attached close-up imagery of that armament, including some state-of-the-art astroshaman weapons that we weren't anticipating. I admit when I asked her to help out with this, I wasn't expecting a thief's ship to have more than a modest amount of firepower. Thieves aren't traditionally known for picking fights."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I was also not expecting it to have so much technology stolen from my people, Mari replied. So far, I'm having difficulty hacking into the ship's network and gaining access to its computer systems. I'd hoped to be able to nullify its weapons. I haven't given up hope of doing so yet, but it is proving challenging. As for the terraformer, we don't have it yet. The team is about to board the station and meet with Zhor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "There was a pause before Dabrowski's answer came in, reminding her that he was back on Odin. He was on Odin, and the Kingdom ships with the knights were eight hours away. When they'd been coming up with this plan, she'd imagined help being closer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari bit her lip, tempted to ask him to give the order to send the Kingdom ships in immediately, but Zhor had to be aware of them. He would have someone at a scanner station keeping an eye on the space around the station, and if several warships abruptly headed this way at top speed..."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Keep working on it, came Dabrowski's reply. If anyone can deal with astroshaman technology, it's you, right?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was tempted to reply that she was an agronomist, not a computer-hacking specialist, but that wasn't entirely true. She had the knowledge and experience to do this. And she would do it. That is correct. I will find a way to deal with the ship, but please be prepared to send in the knights."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Excellent. They're ready. Just give the word."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As they'd been conversing, Mari had been inventorying what the station had that she could use now that she controlled its computer system. She noticed internal security cameras. If she could grab the feeds and display them in here, she and Laser could keep an eye on their team's progress—and they might be able to see what their freighter's scanners couldn't. Armored enemies lying in wait inside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"May I take over your forward display?\" Mari asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Have at it,\" Laser said. \"The view of fifty weapons pointing at us isn't that inspiring. Maybe you could replace it with tropical fish in an aquarium.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari replaced it with a grid of camera displays. Few lights were on in the station, and she could barely make out the open arrival area that all six airlock docks emptied into. Beyond it, cavernous bay after cavernous bay extended deeper into the asteroid. Most of those bays were filled with manufacturing equipment except for aisles wide enough for automated vehicles to drive down on tracks. Giant robotic arms worked in sync, building and wiring frames for solar panels for use on the planet below."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Beyond the bays, a corridor led to smaller laboratories and supply rooms, but none of the cameras showed views of them. Zhor's men might be hiding back there. Aside from the robots, she didn't see a sign of anyone moving in the bays."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Wait.\" Mari pointed at huge metal double doors barely visible in the dim lighting. They were one of several sets of them along the walls in the bays. \"I bet those are the experiment tunnels.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Zhor said for our people to meet them at Tunnel Three,\" Laser said. \"Is there a camera that shows what's behind those doors?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari double-checked, but most of the cameras focused on the manufacturing bays and the arrival area. \"No.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"What about Zhor's dock? See if there's a camera pointing at it and if his hatch is open.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I am now detecting a small energy signature somewhere deep in the station,\" Viggo said as Mari cycled through the video feeds."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Not a bomb, I hope,\" Laser grumbled."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I do not believe so. One moment.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Here.\" Mari zoomed in with one of the cameras in the arrival area. \"That should be the airlock his ship is attached to.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The hatch is open.\" Laser sighed. \"I'm messaging Qin to warn them. His people are already inside.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I have isolated the energy signature and will put it on the forward display.\" Viggo bumped one of the camera feeds off to show them the readout from his scan."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari pressed her lips together as she recognized the energy signature. \"That's my terraformer.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser's eyebrows flew up. \"They've activated it? The part of it that can destroy every living thing all around it?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"No. That would be a much more significant signature. It's just on, not doing anything.\" Not yet, Mari amended silently."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The idea that her terraformer, a device designed to help create life where life could not otherwise exist, could be used as a weapon disturbed her greatly. It wasn't as if she hadn't known about the possibility when she'd been building it, but it hadn't concerned her when she'd believed nobody but her own people would have access to it. Her people would never use it as a weapon."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"But it could do something?\" Laser asked."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It could. But Zhor mentioned wanting to demonstrate it, right? It is possible he only intends to show that it could be used for its intended purpose. If his goal is to sell it and be paid for it, then that is all he should want to do.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"What happens when he finds out the kid doesn't have the money for it?\" Laser grumbled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They will likely have to fight to acquire it and escape, but that was always the plan.\" Mari nodded to the camera feeds. \"And I am prepared to assist them, thus to swing the odds in their favor.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She used the station's network to reach out to the terraformer. Earlier, when it had been off, she hadn't been able to do so or even locate it, but now she ought to be able to give it commands remotely. Assuming Zhor hadn't changed the passcode or figured out another way to lock her out."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I hope so,\" Laser said. \"I don't think the kid's dog whistle is going to cut it.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari wasn't so dismissive—she'd seen Tigress and Qin react to the sound generator by gasping and flinging their hands over their ears—and thought Kenji had come up with a good idea, but she agreed that he would need more help than that."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Fortunately, the robot arms building solar panels weren't the only robots inside. There were also numerous mobile security constructs. She surfed along the network, flicking power switches on."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser looked over at a smaller display that still showed the enemy ship—and all of its weaponry. \"You figure out how to assist with that yet?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari hesitated. \"I'm still working on gaining access to their ship's computer.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"As soon as our team starts a fight with theirs, that ship is going to start blasting us.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I'll get in,\" Mari said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I hope it's soon enough to matter.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It will be.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser looked darkly at her—or did that expression convey skepticism that she could do what she'd promised?—but didn't speak further."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari could gain access to the ship, and she would do it in time to help."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "It took plasma cutters to force open the locked hatch leading onto the station, an act of vandalism that made Kenji uneasy. Zhor, he had no doubt, wouldn't mind and was likely doing the same thing over in his airlock, but what if, after all this was done, Military Intelligence sent Kenji a bill for any damage his team did to the station during their mission?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We're in,\" Qin said, her voice muted to Kenji's ears."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "All three of them had put in ear plugs for this. They could still hear each other over their helmet comms, but hopefully, the noise from the sound generator wouldn't be as debilitating for them as for their enemies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin traded the plasma cutters for her big gun and pushed open the hatch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji let her and Tigress go first, then stepped out of the airlock tube that attached their freighter to the station. Since they wore combat armor and had more weapons, letting them lead made sense, even if it felt cowardly. He'd grabbed a DEW-Tek pistol and a stunner from the armory, but he had to carry the money case and look like a businessman prepared to make a trade, not a supersoldier about to lay waste to the enemy."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Few lights were on in the station as they crept out, their helmets up and oxygen tanks secured. Viggo had detected a breathable atmosphere over here, no doubt for the sake of the human visitors who regularly brought cargo, but it didn't hurt to be safe. There was no gravity to speak of, so they had to step carefully, relying on the magnetic soles of their boots to keep them from floating off and getting stuck without anything within reach to grab."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As they walked into the spacious arrival area, high ceilings disappearing into shadow above, Kenji eyed the airlock where Zhor's ship was docked. The hatch was open. Interestingly, it didn't appear that it had been forced open. Maybe Zhor had an astroshaman lock-picking device."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"This room is all clear,\" Tigress said quietly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We've got rats in the station though.\" Qin pointed her Brockinger at the open hatch."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I like rats.\" Tigress patted her rifle."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The women led the way into an attached bay filled with automated manufacturing equipment, robotic arms taller than Kenji assembling solar panels. He activated the night vision in his helmet so he could more effectively peer down the narrow aisles between the rows of equipment. There were a lot of places for people to hide. Tigress and Qin also looked left and right—and up—as they continued forward."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They reached a row of unmoving security robots on treads, each with two articulating arms with graspers and two arms that ended in cannons. They had boxy heads with the vague semblances of faces, power indicators glowing a soft red and reminding Kenji of eyes."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The station's security forces,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I've fought robots like that before.\" Tigress pointed her weapons at them. \"I'm surprised we haven't triggered them yet.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The robotic heads swiveled to track them as they passed. That made Kenji uneasy until a message came in from Mari."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I have control of the security robots. I will have them assist you if there is a fight. We are monitoring your progress and looking for the thieves with the station's cameras. If I spot them, I will try to warn you ahead of time."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Mari says she's controlling those robots and that they'll help us if there's a fight,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Just like Casmir,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"What?\" Tigress asked, not having been there for the robot-take-over discussion in navigation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"By the end of our travels, he'd gotten good at hacking into enemy networks. And he was always good at taking over people's robots and making them his own. It's probably why the astroshamans wanted him.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji blinked at the new information. \"Wanted him... dead? Or wanted him for themselves?\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"High Shaman Moonrazor attempted to recruit him.\" Qin kept scanning their surroundings intently as she spoke. \"He was in the middle of helping Tenebris Rache infiltrate her base at the time, so it might not have been the most sincere offer, but I heard she made it again later.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji had a hard time imagining the affable—and extremely human—professor signing up for the cult, even if he enjoyed building and interacting with robots."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm glad you're working with Mari,\" Qin said softly, glancing at Kenji. \"And have been talking to her on the trip.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not just talking, he thought, but he doubted Qin knew about the kiss."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I was wary of her at first,\" Qin added, \"because she's an astroshaman, and a lot of astroshamans have tried to kill me and my friends, but... I think she's more like us than them. And she seems lonely. I know how that feels. It's hard being different. I was fortunate to reunite with my sisters. Mari's siblings don't sound that great.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yeah.\" Kenji hadn't realized Qin had spoken to Mari that much during the trip. It made him wish he'd spent more time in the lounge with all of them. Especially since he agreed with Qin that Mari was different. And worth talking to. \"They hired me to capture her.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Oh.\" Qin looked over at him. \"She didn't mention that.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He wouldn't have blamed Mari if she had. It seemed like the kind of thing that might come up during a girl chat. You know that guy riding along with us? He's a dick who's been trying to collect my bounty for the last week..."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I hope you're not planning to capture her anymore,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"No.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tigress was eyeing another manufacturing area, then turned abruptly, pointing her rifle toward shadows up ahead. Kenji hadn't seen any movement but tensed, his finger tight on the trigger of his pistol."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The outline of the first of several sets of double doors had come into view. They looked like they were made from solid metal and were tall enough that massive vehicles could drive through them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Checking something.\" Tigress prowled farther ahead of them. \"For a second, I thought I caught something on my helmet's scanners.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Have you seen anything on the cameras yet? Kenji messaged Mari."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not yet, she answered promptly, but they don't show what's behind those doors. Also, you should know that Viggo detected the energy signature of my terraforming device. It appears to be ahead of you and to your left."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "That was the direction Tigress was heading."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks. Kenji's palms were damp inside his gloves, his nerves kicking into overdrive as the moment he would meet Zhor, or at least his people, grew closer. He was glad Mari was watching over them and would find a way to help."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As he and Qin advanced together, trailing a dozen yards behind Tigress, they passed the first set of closed doors. The words Experiment Tunnel Number One were printed in large letters above them. More sets of doors were visible ahead, all on the left side of the linked bays they were walking through. The larger right side of the bays was reserved for manufacturing equipment."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress paused at the second set of doors but only for a moment before continuing on."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I think I detected movement at the ones up there.\" She pointed her rifle toward what had to be Tunnel Number Three, though Kenji couldn't yet read the lettering. What he could see was that, unlike the other doors, these were open."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's supposed to be our meeting place,\" Kenji whispered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He and Qin quickened their pace as much as they could. Jogging in zero-g with nothing but magnetic soles to keep them on the floor was difficult."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress crept up to the open doors and leaned around the corner, pointing her rifle inside as she examined a lightless room or—if the labels were to be believed—a tunnel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Your kitty is leering at us,\" came a gruff voice from inside. Zhor."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He's in there with those six warriors,\" Tigress said quietly. \"They're armed, and they're looking at me like I'm lunch, but I can handle them. A few of them anyway. I'll leave some for Qin.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Generous,\" Kenji murmured."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I enjoy a rousing battle,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji wouldn't mind skipping the battle, but he doubted that was an option. He glanced back the way they'd come."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We might need those robots soon, he messaged Mari."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "This time, she didn't answer right away. Hopefully, she was only distracted for a moment and not by something as ominous as the enemy ship attacking their freighter."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Do be a good boy and bring the money for the exchange,\" Zhor called."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"He's holding a metal sphere,\" Tigress added. \"Is that what you're expecting? Or is it a bomb?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"It should be the terraforming device.\" Kenji leaned past Tigress to peer inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The spacious tunnel went back farther than he could see, with no lights inside helping with visibility, but it looked like these doors might be the only way out. That made sense if the area was for experiments. It would be designed to be sealed off so whatever was unleashed in there couldn't escape."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As promised, Zhor stood inside, about twenty feet back from the doors, with his six fighters. He held up the sphere."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji hadn't yet seen the terraforming device in person, but it matched the picture that had been on the Nexus site, as well as what Mari had described."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And Zhor had come with the exact number of guards who'd been with him when they made contact. Was it possible he didn't mean to betray Kenji?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It didn't matter, since the plan had always been for Kenji to betray him, but he would have preferred it if the thief were the one to go back on the deal first. Even though Zhor was wanted by numerous governments, and might be a murderer, Kenji had first encountered him doing exactly what Kenji had been trying to do—scavenging goods to make ends meet. That made it hard for him to condemn the man."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Let's see the box, boy,\" Zhor said. \"Throw it in here, and then I'll toss the device to you.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I don't trust this guy,\" Tigress murmured."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Nor do I,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The warriors were shifting and flexing in their armor, eyes gleaming with eagerness while Zhor stood quietly among them. They were all armed with guns, grenades, smoke bombs, and other projectiles Kenji couldn't name on their bandoliers. It was probably only in his imagination that he could hear them growling and slavering behind their faceplates."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Kenji lifted the case to show it to Zhor, he eyed the hinges on the doors, wondering if they could be operated manually. Maybe as soon as they did the trade, he could lock Zhor's people inside, and his team could retreat. How strange that Zhor had chosen this spot. Maybe it wasn't the dead end that it appeared."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I'm tossing it in now.\" Kenji drew his arm back to propel the case inside."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Excellent.\" Zhor's tone turned wry. \"Your father would be so pleased.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji had been about to let go, but he halted, his suspicions roused. \"You know him?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We've crossed paths.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "If Kenji hadn't truly been his father's son, he would have worried more, but even if Zhor had looked him up, all he should have found was the truth. Still, something about his tone made Kenji hesitate longer."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Send in the money, boy,\" Zhor said coolly and hefted the sphere like a ball he meant to throw."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Reminded that there wasn't anything in the case for him to lose, Kenji pushed it inside. It floated through the air until it reached the men and one of Zhor's warriors lifted a hand to stop it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji was surprised when Zhor threw the terraformer before checking the contents of the case. It was a poor throw, and it sailed too high for Kenji to reach."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin crouched, as if she might spring up to catch it, but that would have meant releasing her anti-tank gun. She and Tigress let the sphere sail over their heads in favor of keeping their weapons trained on the men."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Afraid it would be damaged if it struck a wall or manufacturing equipment, Kenji spun and raced after the sphere as well as he could in zero-g. With the lack of gravity, the sphere didn't arc downward, instead continuing to sail through the bay. It outpaced Kenji, and he realized he couldn't catch up. He would have to hope it could take a hit."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Then he noticed a yellow indicator blinking on its spinning surface. Alarm flashed through him. What did that mean?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Abruptly worried that letting it hit something could be very bad, he redoubled his efforts to catch it. As he passed a manufacturing robot bolted to the floor, he used it to push off from with both feet and dove after the sphere."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Certain Zhor had thrown it over his head on purpose, Kenji hoped the women could protect his back as he flew across the bay, manufacturing equipment speeding by under his belly. He gained on the sphere, but he didn't know if it would be quickly enough, since the far wall was coming up fast. He wished he had jet boots."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Kenji reached out toward the device, fingers stretching, someone opened fire behind him. Several someones."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Crimson and orange DEW-Tek bolts shot out of the tunnel."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji caught the sphere scant feet before it struck the wall. He pulled it close to his chest, cradling it and twisting so his back hit first. The galaxy suit protected him from injury, but the jarring thud didn't feel good. An instant later, something like a lance slammed into his shoulder. He yelped in pain, almost losing his grip on the sphere. One of the DEW-Tek bolts had found him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Get behind the equipment,\" Qin ordered."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She and Tigress were holding their position and firing back at Zhor's people, using the doors for cover as much as they could. They growled with determination, not giving ground."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"No kidding.\" Kenji winced and glanced at his shoulder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Again, the suit had protected him, but smoke wafted from the material, and he would have a grapefruit-sized bruise later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Still gripping the sphere, he groped for a way to pull himself behind cover. He'd bounced off the wall and couldn't reach it. He patted at his belt for the sound generator but feared he was too far away for it to be as effective as he needed it to be."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "While he hung becalmed, more energy bolts ricocheted through the bay, pinging off walls and equipment. To his side, a solar panel blew up, shards flying in dozens of directions. Kenji grunted as several struck him, though they were like the patter of rain against his suit compared to the DEW-Tek bolt."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While twisting and trying to protect himself, he spotted one of the robotic arms working below him, happily affixing silicon wafers to its panel and oblivious to the threats. Kenji hooked it with his boot and pulled himself down to the floor."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The yellow indicator light on the sphere was still flashing. Maybe it was his imagination, but it seemed to be flashing faster now."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari, what does this flashing light mean? Kenji messaged, though he still hadn't received a reply to the last message. Any chance you can turn this off remotely?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The firefight stopped, and that worried Kenji almost as much as when it had started. Unable to see Qin and Tigress through all the equipment, he hurried back through the maze of robotic arms and solar panels."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That was unexpected,\" Tigress said, her voice puzzled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji finally made it back to them and found them looking at the doors—the closed doors."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin glanced back at him. \"They shut themselves inside.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"They never even opened the case,\" Tigress said. \"It was just hanging there while they opened fire on us.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You mean Zhor doesn't know that we didn't bring him any more money?\" Kenji crept closer, confused."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Uh, is that supposed to be blinking like that?\" Qin still had her rifle pointed at the doors, but she was staring at the device."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji still had it in his arms, and it vibrated faintly against his chest."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It's blinking faster and faster,\" Tigress said, alarm replacing her puzzlement."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Like a bomb.\" Qin looked like she wanted to shoot it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Zhor's voice sounded from a wall speaker. \"Kenji Chisaka, perhaps you should have checked with your father before pretending to make a purchase on his behalf. Oh, and next time you intend to pull one over on an experienced businessman, don't come to the meeting in a ship known to be allied with the Kingdom government.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Horror thundered into Kenji as he realized exactly how he'd been set up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Shit!\" Kenji gawked at the blinking indicator—it was flashing faster. All he could think was that it was counting down to destruction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Or life, as the thing was meant to give. Life through destruction."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari, he messaged again. I really need you! How do I turn this thing off?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Ah, but you won't get a next time, I'm afraid,\" Zhor continued on, supreme boredom lacing his voice. \"If I read the specs correctly, that is now going to terraform the entire station—with you and your kitties in it.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"The hell it is.\" Kenji set it down and shouted, \"Let's get out of here,\" to his allies."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He raced toward the arrival area as fast as he could, waving for the women to follow him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The terraforming device? came Mari's reply. My apologies for the delay. I was deflecting an attack on my personal chips by the enemy ship's sentient computer. And now that sentience is on the station network with me. I will work through this. One moment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We don't have a moment!"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Before Kenji, Tigress, and Qin made it halfway back to the docks, a huge firewall door slammed down between one bay and the next. It landed right in front of them, blocking the route back to the arrival area."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "They were trapped in the same part of the station as the sphere."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Qin, your big gun!\" Kenji pointed, having no idea if even an anti-tank weapon would work on the giant firewall door, and worried they didn't have enough time anyway."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Once that device started spitting out whatever technology scrambled molecules, would they be instantly killed? Or would it take hours for everything to unravel? If they hadn't already run through two bays and lost sight of it, he would have ordered her to shoot it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Stand back.\" Qin pointed her weapon at the firewall door."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress grabbed Kenji, pulling him behind the nearest manufacturing equipment. Qin fired, and an explosion ripped through the bay, blinding light flashing. Kenji lifted an arm to shield his eyes as the tinkle of broken glass—broken solar panels—came from all around them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Someone attempted to arm my terraforming device, Mari's reply scrolled across Kenji's glasses—he almost missed it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Yeah, we noticed. Zhor did it, and then he threw it at us, and locked his people inside a tunnel. Has it gone off yet? How much time do we have?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"This is a heavy-duty door,\" Qin called. \"It's going to take another round. Stay there.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I have deactivated it, Mari said. Please bring it to me, and—"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "And what? It won't turn us into dirt? It's safe to pick up?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It is safe. As I said, Zhor has stolen astroshaman technology, but you have an astroshaman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Words he never in his life would have thought he would find comforting. But he did."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thank you, he replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You are welcome, but be careful. For the moment, the enemy ship's sentience is on the station network with me. It also has access to the cameras. Zhor will soon know—"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Another boom sounded, Qin firing again. The wrenching of metal echoed through the bay."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji peered back the way they'd come. The doors to Tunnel Three were still closed, Zhor and his men hiding inside. But they would figure out soon that the sphere had been deactivated. Kenji had to get it now or risk losing it again."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That should do it.\" Qin had successfully blown a hole in the door large enough for them to pull themselves through. \"I do enjoy brute force now and then.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Hang on.\" Kenji ran from his hiding spot and toward the sphere. \"I'll be right back.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Something rocked the station, and he almost misstepped and ended up floating helplessly in the air again. Qin hadn't fired again. Who had?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari, did something new happen? I'm getting your device."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Distant clangs came from the direction of the docks. Something else was definitely going on."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The device was where he'd left it and no longer flashing. Kenji bit his lip, swooped in, and picked it up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Two more ships have arrived, Mari replied. They were also camouflaged, so we didn't see them until they were on top of us. They are identical to Zhor's ship, and they have us trapped."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji swore and turned to run back toward the others, but the doors of Experiment Tunnel Three flew open. Zhor and all of his troops charged out, firing straight at him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "DEW-Tek bolts slammed into his torso, the galaxy suit not enough to keep pain from pummeling him. Kenji twisted, diving for the manufacturing equipment and reaching for the sound generator even as he tried to keep his attackers from blowing up Mari's device. Why the hell he worried about that right now, he didn't know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Need some help!\" Kenji cried as solar panels and robotic arms blew into hundreds of pieces under the assault."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He scrambled behind equipment, his body throbbing with agony from at least four places where he'd been hit. With shaking fingers, he found the button on the fob. He pressed it and pointed the end in the direction of his foes. The high-pitched squeal blasted his eardrums even through the plugs, and it was all he could do not to drop it."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Alarmed shouts of rage and pain echoed from the walls, and Zhor's men stopped firing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji shifted the sound generator to his other hand and tucked Mari's device under his arm so he could draw his pistol. As he leaned out from behind the equipment to fire, a furious armored figure charged straight at him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "The other men were grabbing their helmets and writhing in the air, half having lost their footholds on the floor, but Zhor launched himself at Kenji. Behind his faceplate, his canine features were contorted with pain, but that didn't keep murder from blazing in his eyes."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji fired, holding down a sustained blast as he targeted the seam between his enemy's helmet and torso plate. His aim was true, but his blast only burrowed into the spot for a second before Zhor reached him and tackled him, gauntleted hands scrabbling for the sound generator."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "While Zhor was focused on that, Kenji grabbed the man's rifle. He tore it out of Zhor's grip, hurling it toward the ceiling. Unfortunately, Zhor latched onto the sound generator. He yanked it out of Kenji's hand and crushed it in his grip. Zhor roared as it broke, the squeal ending with a plaintive bleat."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Though agony assaulted his entire body, Kenji twisted and kicked out, slamming his boot into Zhor's armored hip. Pain and fear lent him strength, and the blow hurled his foe a dozen feet. Zhor crashed into a solar panel, knocking it from its mount."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Panting, Kenji fired, again holding down the trigger for a sustained blast. It was his only shot at getting through the armor and hurting the big man."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Zhor struggled to right himself and find a way to push off toward him again, Kenji kept firing. This time, he aimed for the seam between arm and shoulder, tracking it even as Zhor whirled about, looking for his rifle. Zhor spotted it, but it floated far above them. Kenji's pistol fire bit through his seam, and Zhor yelled in pain, jerking around to hide the vulnerable spot from view. Kenji aimed at another seam."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Crashes and thumps came from the doors by the tunnel. Fearing the rest of Zhor's men would spring on him now that the noise had stopped, Kenji risked glancing in that direction."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But Tigress and Qin had come back to help him. Not only were they engaging the six fighters, but the station's security robots had come with them. They fired at and grabbed the men, trying to force them back into the tunnel."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji was about to send a thank you to Mari, but Zhor got his feet behind him and shoved off one of the robotic arms. Once again, he arrowed toward Kenji with murder in his eyes."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji fired, aiming at his faceplate, but there wasn't time for his blast to melt through. Zhor reached out, resorting to using his hands, but he didn't look like he would have any problem tearing Kenji's head from his neck."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji ducked low and shoved off another piece of equipment to dive out of the way. Zhor lunged for him, but Kenji jerked away, and the gauntleted fingers missed him by inches. Bracing his back against the floor, Kenji kicked upward. He caught Zhor in the crotch—too bad it was as armored as everything else."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As Zhor flew upward, Kenji realized he'd made a mistake. The man's trajectory would take him close enough to his rifle to grab it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "But before he got close, something slammed into Zhor's chest."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Duck, Kenji!\" Qin yelled."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The round from her anti-tank weapon blew with a boom and a flash of light. The shockwave struck Kenji, knocking him back against the floor. He already hurt all over, so it hardly made a difference. Through the smoke, Kenji saw Zhor fly backward across the bay. Relief surged through him. He didn't know if that would kill Zhor, but at least it would take him time to get back into the fight."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress clanked over to grab Kenji. \"Come on. The rest of his team is locked inside again, but Laser said there are more ships, and that's going to mean more men."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Right.\" Kenji hadn't forgotten."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Realizing he'd lost hold of Mari's device during the skirmish, he whirled and searched for it. If after all this, some inadvertent blow had destroyed it..."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "No, there it was. He pushed himself into the air and grabbed it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Tigress caught him by the ankle and pulled him back down. \"Your suit looks like hell,\" she said. \"Are you all right?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Throbbing pain pulsed through his body as Kenji shook his head. \"No, but I can run.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He might collapse and die later, but he was determined to get the device back to Mari first."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good.\" Tigress pulled him back into the aisle, where Qin gave him a thumbs-up."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Let's get out of here,\" she said."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As their little team maneuvered toward the hole in the firewall door as fast as they could, the station's security robots following on magnetic treads, another clank sounded. Kenji groaned, fearing some new obstacle, but as Qin had been about to crawl through the hole she'd made in the door, it rose back into the ceiling."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I am battling the enemy ship's sentience for control of the station's network, Mari messaged, but I have managed to command the firewall doors to release you. Unfortunately, we're in a bind. Captain Laser says to hurry back, so we can leave, but I fear these other ships might object to our freighter departing."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji, his injuries making it hard to keep up with the others, waved Qin and Tigress to sprint back to the arrival area ahead of him. Just as the airlocks came into sight, the two hatches to either side of the freighter's dock flew open. Men—more of the canine troops—in combat armor rushed out, blocking the escape for Kenji and his team."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Back, back,\" Kenji ordered."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He shot twice at Zhor's men, hoping to catch them before they were prepared to fight, but they returned fire promptly. Once again, Kenji dove for cover behind manufacturing equipment. They were outnumbered, so there was little more that he could do. Besides, he doubted his galaxy suit could take any more hits. A warning was flashing on his helmet's heads-up display, letting him know that it had lost integrity. No kidding."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin and Tigress swore as they opened fire, but they were also forced to run for cover as crimson blasts pinged off their armor. Even the hardened warrior women knew when they were outmatched."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji opened his mouth to suggest they run back to one of the tunnels so they could fight where they could limit how many enemies came at them at once, but more clangs and a wrenching noise echoed from the other direction."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The doors to Experiment Tunnel Three opened again, and four of Zhor's men walked out. Their armor was dented and blackened, and one had a crack in his faceplate, but that didn't keep them from striding back into the station."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji and his team were surrounded.\n"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"La madre que te parió!\" Laser swore, lunging to her feet."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari didn't know what that meant, but she agreed with the sentiment."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji's team was in trouble, the freighter was now surrounded by three enemy vessels, and it was only a matter of time before they all opened fire. Mari was keeping Zhor's ship busy by fencing with the intelligent computer, but she still hadn't been able to get past it, and she worried the two newcomers would also have astroshaman technology."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She was in the middle of investigating their network defenses when Laser slapped her on the shoulder."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We have to help them.\" Laser pointed at the camera feeds on the forward display, several showing the men streaming through the arrival area, firing on Kenji's little team. \"Those are my girls over there.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Not waiting for an answer, Laser lunged out of navigation and raced to the ladder. Mari hesitated, thinking she could do more from there, but she ought to be able to watch Laser's back at the same time as she battled virtual enemies."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As she followed Laser, Mari sent a quick message to Minister Dabrowski to let him know Kenji had acquired her terraformer. If only the Kingdom ships weren't so far away. She and the others would have to get out of this mess by themselves."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As she descended toward the hold, Mari also rechecked the station's network. She had been on the verge of finally slipping into the enemy ship's computer when all the backup had arrived, distracting her. She scowled, aware of the intelligence over there spotting her and driving her away from its virtual borders again. For now, she had to focus on the station, on making sure she maintained control of the security robots and directing them to help their people."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "When she reached the cargo hold, Laser was already halfway into her combat armor, growling and cursing as she donned the cumbersome gear. She tossed a rifle over to Mari."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Busy maneuvering the robots, and investigating the new ships, Mari almost missed catching it. \"I've got ten of the station's robots circling our people and deflecting fire. Give me a second, and I'll get them shooting at their enemies.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Good. We need a female El Mago right now.\" Laser headed for the airlock hatch, affixing her helmet as she went."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari didn't know what that meant either, but she nodded as she groped for more that she could do. Ah, the firewall doors. If she could lower another one, she might be able to cut the remains of Zhor's original team off from Kenji, Tigress, and Qin. Then they would only have to shoot their way past the newcomers to escape."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since Kenji had the terraformer, all they had to do was get out of the station and figure out a way to escape the asteroid without being obliterated."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Come on!\" Laser ran through the airlock tube, fast and spry for someone Mari had assumed would be beyond her fighting years. She carried two rifles and a netted bag that held grenades."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "With her new rifle in hand, Mari hurried after her. But the firewall door—she needed to drop that. She checked the cameras to make sure there was still time."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Watching the videos on her tiny lenses wasn't ideal, and she had to cycle through the feeds to find Zhor's men. They'd almost caught up with Kenji, Tigress, Qin, and the cluster of robots, all of whom were busy defending themselves, firing at enemies to both sides. There was one firewall door left between her allies and Zhor's team."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari flicked a software switch, and the door slammed down, almost squashing one of the dog men. Zhor's people would find a way through eventually, but Kenji's team ought to be able to make progress toward the airlock now that they had a reprieve from behind. And they did. Tigress and Qin led a charge toward the enemies in the arrival area."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji followed more slowly, his gait uneven. Had he been wounded?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari commanded the robots to roll along at the team's sides, firing to help clear the way."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Hah,\" she whispered as she trailed Laser into the airlock chamber on the station. She felt triumphant at their team's progress."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser glanced back at her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We're evening the odds,\" Mari promised, wanting the captain to know she was being useful."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You keep doing that.\" Laser had reached the open hatch into the station but paused there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Shouts echoed throughout the arrival area, and DEW-Tek bolts streaked about, bouncing off the walls. Shrapnel floating all over the place promised some of them had found more vulnerable targets. A robot head tumbled slowly through the air not ten feet from the hatch."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "More than a dozen armored men were either in the arrival area or firing from the protection of their airlocks. Tigress, Qin, and Kenji came into view, the security robots helping deflect fire as they advanced, but the team was still more than fifty yards away. Too many people were firing at them, and the women's armor was charred and smoking. The heads and arms of several security robots had been blown off."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Fortunately, the firewall door that Mari had lowered was still intact, keeping Zhor's original team from firing at their backs. But booms and clangs echoed from it, promising they were trying to get through."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin fired her anti-tank gun, the round slamming into the armored torso of a man leading a charge toward them. It exploded, smoke clouding the area as he flew backward, crashing into two of his allies. That weapon had the necessary heft to do damage to armor, but how many rounds did Qin have left?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"These are not good odds, kid,\" Laser muttered."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She didn't run out into the bay, instead dropping to one knee with her rifle pressed into the crook of her shoulder as she took aim from the partial cover of the hatchway. Mari activated her targeting software and leaned out beside Laser. She fired at enemies in the arrival area as she focused the rest of her computing power on finishing her investigation of the two new ships. She hadn't yet detected sentient computers on them. Maybe, unlike Zhor's ship, they didn't have astroshaman technology. That would make them easier to hack."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As she worked on sneaking into their systems, Mari kept firing at enemies and guiding the robots that were helping Kenji's team. She was glad she had enough chips and power for the multitasking, because her allies needed all the assistance they could get."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser kept firing as well, trying to drive people out of the way and clear a route for their team to reach them. By using sustained blasts, she burrowed into seams in their enemies' armor. One man yelped, spun, and fired at them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser calmly ducked back into the airlock as crimson bolts bounced off the hatch beside her. Mari was less experienced with firefights and sprang back into the airlock tube with a startled squawk, tripping over her own boots. One of the enemy bolts ricocheted back, missing her faceplate by inches."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We've got their attention now.\" Laser leaned out and fired again, then grabbed one of her grenades to throw."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari had lost her focus on the robots, but she hurried to regain control. Their team was only twenty-five yards away now. She sent the robots ahead of them, their big cannon arms booming."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "One of the robots bumped into one of Zhor's men, knocking his magnetic soles from the floor and sending him tumbling into the air. He could still shoot, but he struggled to control his body or find anything to hang on to."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Thanks for the help, a message came in from Kenji."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You're welcome, Mari distractedly sent back as she directed more robots to knock enemies from their feet. Though she was busy concentrating, she felt a burst of gratitude that Kenji had noticed and appreciated her help."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She managed to take control of the weapons systems on the two new vessels and clenched her fist. That had been much easier than with the other ship."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "But she couldn't yet order them to open fire on their leader. Laser's freighter was in the way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari needed to take command of their navigation computers and maneuver them all to one side of the docking area. \"One step at a time,\" she breathed to herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "The floor quaked as an explosive went off. It wasn't one of Laser's."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "We're going to try to make a rush and reach you, Kenji messaged, but— Look out! Some men are coming your way."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser swore, threw another grenade, then backed into the airlock tube with Mari. \"We might have to retreat into the cargo hold and make a stand there.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Several armored men stormed into view in front of the hatchway, one snatching a floating colleague out of the air and pulling him back down to the floor. They pointed rifles straight into the tube at Laser and Mari, barely noticing that Laser was firing at them, hitting their seams and faceplates with pinpoint accuracy."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari ordered several of the robots toward this new group of attackers, hoping to ram them so they couldn't rush into the airlock tube. But the men were too fast. Shots hit Mari and Laser, forcing them farther back."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A bolt struck like a hammer blow to Mari's galaxy suit. It wasn't as painful—or deadly—as it would have been had she only been wearing clothing, but it made her cry out and brought tears to her eyes. She scrambled back, wanting to get out of there."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "One man lunged into their airlock tube, swinging his rifle at Laser, who wasn't retreating as quickly. She ducked and tried to ram into him. Her armor gave her extra strength, but he was young, enhanced, and fast. He had the advantage. When he grabbed Laser, and they grappled, her knee buckled. She swore with pain as he forced her down and tried to tear her rifle out of her hands."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Though Mari wanted to keep retreating, she rushed back in, drawing even with the fight. She braced herself on the side of the tube for support and side-kicked Laser's enemy in the hip."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "It startled him and knocked him back, his boots coming off the bottom of the tube. Laser yanked her weapon back from him and fired at his faceplate, holding down the trigger. As he struggled to right himself in zero gravity, she kept firing. The sustained blast melted through his faceplate and burned into his skull."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He screamed and tried to whirl away, but it was too late for him. Laser shoved him out of the way and rushed forward to face the next challenge, but Kenji, Qin, and Tigress had reached their airlock and were clearing it of enemies."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "As Mari was about to let out an elated cheer, Viggo spoke."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Bonita,\" his voice came over their helmet speakers, \"we have a problem.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Another one?\" Laser growled, waving their allies into the tube."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yes, a large one. More ships have arrived.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We've got more company!\" came Laser's warning over Kenji's helmet comm, and he couldn't stifle a groan."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He had the terraforming device, Qin and Tigress were still with him, and with the help of all those robots, they'd made it to the airlock. He'd started to believe they could actually get away, but now..."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"More ships, Viggo says,\" Laser added. \"That bastard must have brought an entire armada. Hurry inside. If there's any way we can get out of here, we'll take it.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji had thought Qin's blast had put Zhor out of commission, if not killed him outright, but maybe he had survived. Maybe he was still back there giving orders to his legions of men."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"You go in first, Kenji,\" Qin said, standing shoulder to shoulder with Tigress and firing into the arrival area, keeping the remaining troops from getting close. They nudged him back into the airlock."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He hesitated, reluctant to leave them to fight while he ran."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We'll be right behind you,\" Tigress said, glancing back."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Okay.\" Kenji spun and rushed through the airlock tube, his hip, shoulder, and back pulsing with pain with every step."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari and Laser had already disappeared into the cargo hold. He hoped Laser could do something from navigation. He was sure Mari could. She seemed able to help from anywhere. He'd seen her firing at their enemies with the steady mechanical mien of an android even as she controlled a dozen security robots, directing them to fire as well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When Kenji reached the cargo hold, he found Mari waiting inside, though she wore a distracted I'm-diddling-with-the-enemy's-networks expression, and he knew she wasn't simply standing there. Laser had already climbed up to navigation."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I've got something for you.\" Kenji pressed the terraforming device into her hands, making sure she had it before letting go, then turned to check on the others."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Thank you.\" Though clearly still distracted, Mari smiled at him."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Something struck the freighter, making the deck quake and her smile drop."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kenji swore. He'd been afraid of that. The other ships had to be firing on them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Tigress and Qin charged into the hold. They slammed the exterior and interior airlock hatches shut, and Qin pressed a button to retract the tube."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Qin shook her head. \"There's a rip in the tube. The captain won't be happy about that.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If the entire ship gets blown up,\" Tigress said, \"I doubt the rip is going to bother her overmuch.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Possibly true.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Whoever has convinced Zhor's two ally ships to fire at his ship,\" came Laser's voice over a speaker, \"I appreciate that.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari smiled tightly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Before Kenji could ask about the newest arrivals, something else struck the freighter. A jolt almost knocked his boots off the deck. Mari might be helping with the battle, but they weren't out of trouble yet."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Qin and Tigress sprinted past him, hurrying toward the ladder."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Are we going to have to fight more, Captain?\" Qin called up. \"Do you think they'll board us?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji didn't hear the answer, but he wanted to know what was going on, so he hurried after them. When he was halfway up the ladder, Mari laughed, startling him."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He peered down at her."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"The new ships belong to the Kingdom Fleet,\" Mari said, her voice light with relief. \"They're not firing on Laser's freighter but on Zhor's three ships.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "A clunk sounded as something else struck the hull."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Are you sure?\" Kenji asked."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"We're being hit with debris from Zhor's ships. I managed to maneuver them all to one side of the docking area, but we're still very close to them.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "She'd managed to maneuver them? He would ask about that later."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"A big enough piece could damage us as much as weapons fire.\" Kenji, wanting to see the scanner display in navigation for himself, continued up the ladder. \"How many Fleet ships are there?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Three warships.\" Mari climbed after him. \"I believe... Yes, they have slydar hulls. That is a new development and why we didn't realize we had allies so close. When my people battled the Kingdom warships a few months ago, they did not have that technology themselves.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Times change.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Indeed.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji and Mari squeezed into navigation behind Tigress. Laser and Qin had already taken the pods, Laser's fingers flying over the controls so they could leave—or at least get out of the way and take less damage as the Kingdom ships fired on the other three vessels."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"One of those is the Osprey,\" Qin said as the freighter eased away from the dock—and from the battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I saw,\" Laser said. \"Never thought I'd be so glad to see that pompous Captain Ishii. His big butt is making it crowded in here, but I'm going to forgive him, as long as he doesn't misfire and pulverize us.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Railgun and cannon blasts lit up the dark cave outside of the station, slamming into the hulls of the enemy ships. Interestingly, Zhor's two ally ships weren't firing back. Mari's doing? Zhor's ship, with all the advanced weaponry, was launching attacks, but the warships had excellent armor and shields. It didn't take long for the signs of battle to dwindle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I am monitoring the comms,\" Viggo said as the freighter headed for the asteroid's exit. \"The warships have disabled Zhor's vessels and are demanding they surrender and prepare to be boarded. The Kingdom intends to take back all of the stolen goods they find and arrest the thieves.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Good.\" Mari held her terraformer to her chest, as if she'd recovered a lost baby."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji, who'd been positive the thing would kill him ten minutes earlier, had no desire to touch it ever again. He did touch her, resting a hand on her shoulder. \"We would have been scragged without your help. Thanks, again.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She smiled warmly at him and inclined her head."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"We helped a little bit too.\" Tigress tapped a finger on her armored chest, dents and scorch marks covering it."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes, you did.\" Kenji nodded at her and Qin. \"Thank you too.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"No problem.\" Tigress thumped him on the shoulder."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Between her strength and her armor's enhancements, it almost sent him smashing against the wall. Thankfully, his galaxy suit offered some protection, but Kenji couldn't keep from gritting his teeth in pain from his earlier wounds. He hoped the freighter's sickbay had some powerful drugs."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"If you don't mind,\" Tigress added, \"I'll take a testimonial from you for our new business.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"From me?\" Who would want a testimonial from him?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Yes. We helped you stay alive in there, right? Once we've satisfied a few clients, we'll have less trouble picking up new work. And we'll be reputable enough to be able to lease a location for our office anywhere in Zamek City.\" Tigress sniffed. \"No need to deal with uptight business owners who don't want superior genetically engineered neighbors.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Are you hoping to get more work like this?\" Kenji looked toward the battered ships on the display and raised his brows; he couldn't imagine anyone voluntarily signing up for gigs like this. It had almost killed all three of them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Sure,\" Tigress said. \"It's what we do.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Challenging work is rewarding,\" Qin said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Rewarding, right."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I am glad I'm not a bounty hunter, Mari messaged Kenji directly."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I'm glad that I've retired from the business, he replied."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "A wise decision."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I thought so. After all, I failed to capture even one astroshaman woman."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Because you didn't bring the Cosmos Crunchers you spoke of."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "That is obvious in hindsight."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "As more things are. Mari rested a hand on his shoulder. Do you need help getting to sickbay?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Probably."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Do you want me to bring the tequila?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He managed a lopsided smile for her. Probably."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari sat in a pod in the freighter's small sickbay cabin, watching Kenji as he slept on the combination bed and exam table."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He'd taken several hits from DEW-Tek bolts during the battle, and despite Laser's promise that she had skills and expertise as a medic, Mari had been concerned ever since she'd learned how wounded he'd been. Qin and Tigress had also been injured through their armor, but they'd said they had genetic enhancements to ensure rapid healing and hadn't stayed in sickbay longer than it took to grab some painkillers."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Since then, they had been in and out to check on Kenji, but there were some lengthy comm messages going on between Laser and the knights on the warships, so they had mostly been up in navigation. His last visitor had been Kay, who'd stayed for an hour, until Viggo had suggested a robot with a mechanic's skills would be useful in assisting with repairs to the damage the freighter had received in the battle."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari was glad they hadn't taken a lot more damage. If the knights and other Kingdom leaders determined that she and Kenji had performed adequately and had done all that had been asked of them, she would consider the mission victorious. She hoped they wouldn't be held accountable for the destruction inside the station."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I don't think they'll blame us for that,\" she murmured."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Kenji, his eyes still closed, did not respond."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Laser had injected him with strong painkillers, as well as several sets of nanites programmed to mend his injuries, and he'd been sleeping—or was he unconscious?—for several hours. Mari had brought the bottle of tequila as well as her dwindling bag of candy-coated chocolates to sickbay in case Kenji would like to enjoy either of them. A few days earlier, she hadn't had much interest in sharing the delicious chocolates with anyone, but she would gladly offer them to him now."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "They had worked together—and trusted each other. Unfortunately, she had no idea if she would ever see him again once they returned to Odin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Greetings, Mari, a message from Minister Dabrowski came in. I understand from Captain Ishii, Sir Asger, and Captain Laser that you successfully retrieved your terraformer, that Kenji worked with you all instead of against you, and that a great deal of astroshaman technology is currently being recovered from Zhor's ship."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari zeroed in on only one of those statements. You doubted that Kenji would help us?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I personally believed that he would help, but as my colleagues have pointed out numerous times, in addition to his upbringing being less than stellar, we basically coerced him into going on our mission. Even I was holding my breath to see what he would do after we sent the money to him. There's a reason I asked Laser to be the one to fly you out there."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Besides keeping an eye on him?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Because I knew she, Viggo, Qin, and Tigress would be able to thwart Kenji if he tried to take over the ship and sneak off to some nearby station to disappear."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He's an honorable ally. Mari leaned over and rested a hand on Kenji's arm. He would not have done that."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I'm pleased to hear that. Do you need anything else? We'll all have a thorough debriefing when you get back to Odin."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari thought about asking about her own status. She had little doubt that this had been a test for her as well as for Kenji. But maybe that was something that wouldn't be determined until the debriefing."
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I am curious why you didn't tell us that camouflaged Kingdom warships were so close. We all would have been bolstered if we'd known. And less scared. Mari was fairly certain that even Laser hadn't known."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "My apologies for withholding that information, but Captain Ishii insisted. By that point, we suspected Zhor had quite a bit of astroshaman technology, and Military Intelligence worried he might intercept and decrypt any communications going to the freighter."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "I don't think he did. But I do wonder... Because she'd been on the station's network at the time, Mari had heard Zhor's words over the speakers. I don't think he ever fell for the ruse. At the least, he knew Kenji wasn't working as his father's representative."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "No? One wonders why he came to the meeting then."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Zhor tried hard to kill Kenji."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "I'll ask Military Intelligence to do some digging, Dabrowski said. It's possible Kuchikukan Chisaka is holding a grudge against his son for running away—or for some other reason."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "You think he might want Kenji dead? That he might be willing to pay an acquaintance to kill him?"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "If so, we'll find out. And we'll let Kenji know."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Dabrowski said goodbye, and Mari leaned back in her pod. She didn't know what Kenji planned to do in the future, but if his father was gunning for him, he might have a hard time even if he moved to another system."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"How's our patient?\" Laser stepped gingerly into sickbay, favoring one leg. She'd also grabbed painkillers earlier. Maybe she should have programmed some nanites for herself."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"He hasn't woken yet.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Not even for candy and tequila? What a weird kid. You might have to wake him with a kiss.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari fumbled her bag of chocolates, and it fell on the deck. \"What?\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Like in Qin's fairy tales. The beautiful princess wakes the handsome prince from the sorceress's evil spell with a kiss. Though I've got to admit, you two aren't exactly prince and princess material.\" Laser eyed them both dubiously."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"My mother is a high shaman. And I believe Kenji's mother was a noble.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Sorry, I don't think that would get you into anybody's fairy tales.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It sounds like they suffer from a paucity of variety.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"That's not a lie.\" Laser stepped up to the side of the exam table to check on Kenji."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari, realizing Laser wasn't truly suggesting that she kiss him, picked up her bag of candy and scooped up several pieces that had fallen out. She debated whether the time spent on the deck would have contaminated them with germs."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Go ahead and eat those. Viggo's vacuums keep this place better sterilized than a clean room. Has he had them demonstrate the new incineration mode for you yet?\" After eyeing the medical scanner display, Laser swatted Kenji on the chest. \"Wake up, kid. I've got news.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Mari stood up and would have protested Laser's treatment, but it proved effective. Kenji emitted a faint groan and opened his eyes, blinking blearily at them."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I think he would have preferred being woken with a kiss,\" Mari muttered."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"You took too long.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"News?\" Kenji mumbled, focusing on them."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I thought you might like to know that Zhor is alive but that the knights captured him when they went in to mop up the station. He was pretty badly injured, but he was hiding out in some office in the back, hoping he wouldn't be noticed. They've got him in the brig of one of the warships now.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I hope he ends up in a penal asteroid mine,\" Kenji said."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"That's a possibility. Or maybe they'll make him clean up the mess his people made here.\" Laser waved in the direction of the station. \"Anyway, our work is done. We're heading back to Odin. I guess there's going to be a big meeting, and the government will figure out what to do with you two.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Should we be worried?\" Kenji asked Mari."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Mari thought of all the things still up in the air, such as whether her mother had found out yet where she was, and could only say, \"I don't know.\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I was hoping for something more comforting.\""
}
] |
[
{
"from": "system",
"value": "LIGHT_NOVEL_MODE: Develop the plot slowly, always stay in character. Describe all actions in full, elaborate, explicit, graphic, and vivid detail. Mention all relevant sensory perceptions. Keep the story immersive and engaging."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Laser touched her chest. \"I thought you did all right. Both of you. Now, give him some tequila.\" She swatted Kenji again before walking out."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"I think that was a compliment,\" Kenji said, \"though her bedside manner is somewhat lacking.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I noticed.\" Mari thought about mentioning the suggestion of a kiss but decided this wouldn't be the appropriate time, and she doubted Kenji wanted to do that again with her anyway. He'd only been helping her check an item off her list. \"Chocolate?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "She offered him the ones from the bag, not the deck."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Thank you.\" He accepted and nodded to the bottle. \"Have you been testing your, ah, what deficiency was it you thought you had?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"Yeah, that. Maybe we should share a drink together again and see how it goes. Scientists have to replicate their experiments before writing up papers on the outcome, don't they?\""
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "\"It's a good idea, yes.\""
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "\"I thought so.\"\n"
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "When Captain Laser's freighter came down once again onto the landing pad across from Drachen Castle, it was morning on Odin, and no fewer than twenty uniformed people waited outside."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "From the copilot's pod in navigation, Kenji eyed them on the display, trying to tell if they were all Kingdom Guard and Fleet uniforms, or if local policemen were among them. He didn't see Minister Dabrowski, or any of the leaders who'd been at the late-night meeting at the police station, and he worried that didn't bode well."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "He and Mari had done all Dabrowski asked, but they'd also been a part of completely trashing a Kingdom space station, and he had no idea if the military would be able to get that twenty-five thousand Union dollars back from Zhor. They'd captured him, but that didn't mean Zhor hadn't already whisked the funds off to who knew where in another system."
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "Grimacing, Kenji rose slowly from his pod. The nanites had done their job on the return trip, so he couldn't complain about his recovery, but he worried that the queen, or whoever would ultimately determine his fate, had decided he hadn't helped enough and that the mission hadn't been worth it. Or what if the Kingdom government had always intended to use him for this one mission, then dump him back in a jail cell?"
},
{
"from": "human",
"value": "He would like to think Dabrowski wouldn't do that, but it wasn't as if the robotics professor owed him anything. Kenji hadn't even been a legitimate student of his."
},
{
"from": "gpt",
"value": "Kay and Mari were waiting in the cargo hold, prepared to depart. She held her terraforming device and her backpack and had changed from Laser's borrowed galaxy suit back into her regular clothing."
}
] |
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