Return of Amity Ch. 10

Amity felt a hand on her elbow and looked up.  "Jx?  How long was I out?"

"A couple hours," he replied.  "We made good time though.  The ship's in a docking sequence to land at Orbital Station.  From there we'll shuttle to Okohdako."

She smiled.  "Good, about time."  Sitting up, she flinched and touched her shoulder, then glanced at the closed hatchway.  "How'd it go for Vincent?"

"Looked like he got what he needed."  Jx shrugged.  "Haven't heard any complaints yet."

"Find a place for Thrush?"

He pointed to a metal container.  "We'll unload him when we arrive."

Amity nodded and set her feet on the floor.  Jx stepped forward to help her but she held up a hand.  "I'm fine.  I can still walk with a clawed shoulder."

Jx laughed.  "Yeah, I suppose so."  He glanced at the cockpit.  "Think I'll go check on our progress."

"Good idea," Amity replied, reaching for her belt and jacket.  Donning her gear, she stretched her neck and set a hand on her arm, gritting her teeth.  She held it in place, then released it, slowly standing and turning toward the engine room.




"Hey there," Amity peered around the corner, finding Vincent pawing through a box of scrap metal.

He waved without looking up.  "Yo."

Amity stepped forward and crossed her arms.  "Find everything?"

He shrugged.  "Enough.  Ship was a dump, but had working servos."  He picked up a piston and checked it, then set it back down.  "How's the arm?"

She brushed her fingers over the bandage.  "Painful, but I'm alright."

"Accident with the sword?"

"Thrush clawed it."  She smirked.  "Do you honestly think I'd be that clumsy?"

He shrugged.  "Not really."

"Well, we should be docking soon."  She glanced to the door.  "Think I'll head to the cockpit."

Vincent raised a hand and fetched a part from the box, turning to an open engine compartment and returning to work.




Gazing out the front windshield, Amity watched as the slowly rotating bolt-shaped space station grew in her view.  "Orbital Station?"

Jx nodded.  "Yep."

Amity smirked.  "Clever name."

Jx shrugged.  "Just a stopover, really.  The Ammehkuc don't want larger ships landing on the surface.  The shuttles here are much cleaner than the average ship too."  He pointed to an open docking bay.  "We'll be landing there.  The facilities I mentioned aren't far.  Gives you a chance to clean up a bit."

Amity ran a hand through her hair.  "Yeah, I could use that."

"Meanwhile I'll find a crew to help unload Thrush and scrub up the mess."

"Good," Amity pinched her nose.  "I can almost smell him from here."

"Yeah," Jx laughed.  "Pretty gross."

Looking out the window, Amity watched the soft blue lights glowing in the station.  "It's lovely."

"Just a taste of what's on the surface."  Jx grinned.




Walking down the white metal corridors of the station, Jx and Amity stopped and gazed out the wide viewport overlooking Okohdako.  "Aside from the Ammehkuc, is there any other civilization down there?" Amity asked.

Jx shook his head.  "Plenty of wildlife, but nothing built up."

"Too bad," Amity frowned.  "Seems like a nice place to live."

Jx nodded.  "The Ammehkuc believe it's nice because it hasn't been industrialized."

Amity crossed her arms.  "So they refuse everyone?  Not every sentient is a litterbug."

Jx shrugged.  "Not my choice, just the way they run things."  He gestured to a door on the wall behind them.  "Our room's over there."

"Our?"  Amity smirked as they approached, watching it automatically slide open.

Jx blushed.  "You can have it to yourself while I take care of stuff around here."  He leaned in and pointed to a dresser.  "Should be towels in there.  Bathroom door's on the left."

"Thanks," Amity smiled, entering.  She turned and waved a hand.  "Seeya."

Jx nodded and tapped a button, shutting the door.

Setting down Machina, Amity let out a sigh and fell on the neatly made bed, pressing her face against the pillow and squeezing her eyes shut.  Brushing her nose against it, she inhaled deeply, then opened her eyes and ran a hand through her hair.  Rolling over, she sat up on the edge of the bed, then slipped off her vest jacket and belt and kicked off her boots.  Pulling open the dresser drawer, she withdrew a large towel, removing her bodysuit and wrapping the towel around herself.

Pushing open the bathroom door, she rubbed the shower curtain between her fingers and smiled at the cleanliness, then turned the knob and felt the water with her hand.  Shaking her fingers dry, she pulled the curtain and turned to the medicine cabinet, finding a roll of bandage inside.  Wincing, she untied the bloodstained bandage from her arm and tossed it in the trash, then set the fresh bandages on the sink and turned to the shower.




Sitting on the edge of the bed, towel wrapped around her torso, Amity brushed her damp hair and shook it.  Picking up the bandage roll, she pulled out a strip and tore it, then wrapped it tightly around her wound.  The door opened and Jx stepped in, stopping in place when he saw her.

"You could knock," Amity smirked.

"Yeah…" Jx looked away and scratched the back of his head.  "Sorry, thought you might've been done by now."

"Took my time," Amity laughed.  "And it's fine, I'm covered.  Come in."

Jx glanced at her shyly and set down the bundle he'd been carrying, spreading it out on the other end of the bed.  "Picked out a few outfits; not sure what you like.  Just something until your other clothes can be cleaned."

"Hmm…" Amity looked them over, running a hand across them to feel the various textures.  She lifted one:  a black bodysuit similar to her own, but with sleeves and orange patterns set into it, and laid it over her arm.  "This one's nice."

"Great," Jx nodded, looking over the other outfits again.  "Wasn't sure if any of them would be to your liking."

"I'll try it on right now."  Amity stood, turning to the bathroom.

Jx nodded and smiled.

Returning a few moments later, Amity clipped on her belt and held her arms at her sides.  "Well?"

"Looks nice," Jx grinned.

"Maybe with the vest?" She pulled on the jacket and posed again.

Jx rubbed his beak, then shook his head.  "Nah, doesn't work with the sleeves."

"Agreed."  She took off the jacket and set it down, then placed her hands on her hips.  "So, get all your tasks done?"

"Well, with the ship," Jx replied.  "Still have to arrange for that transport shuttle."

Amity nodded and glanced at the door.  "Any sights to see around here?"

"Well, there's the arboretum."  Jx pointed right.  "Down the hall, really big room.  And an observatory just past that."

Amity tapped the door control and stepped out, turning to him.  "You coming?"

He shook his head.  "Maybe later, after I take care of that shuttle."

"Alright," Amity glanced down the corridor.  "I'll go take a look around."  She turned to leave, then glanced back as Jx's communicator chirped.

Jx raised it to his ear and listened, his face growing grim.  He set it down and looked up.  "Distress call from Regis.  They're under attack."