The courier seals the maintenance alcove behind them. City alarms dull to a distant vibration, leaving conduit hum, rainwater, and Euran’s whining prosthetic servos in the narrow shelter.
Mara Quell
Cylinder is intact. The copied trail is still reading clean, but Voss’s people will eventually find the publication mirrors.
Mara crouches beside the evidence cylinder, checking its seals and shielding it beneath her coat. The courier watches the tunnel mouth, weapon lowered but ready.
the courier
No movement on the municipal grid. We have a few quiet minutes, maybe more if the rain keeps confusing the sensors.
Euran remains beside Selene as the others work. His grey eye tracks her terminal, where route predictions, camera gaps, and failing systems align with impossible precision.
Euran Cross
How do you always know what is going to break before it does? The lift, the cameras, that whole escape route. You looked like you had already seen it happen.
His prosthetic fingers flex with a soft servo whine. Euran studies Selene instead of the terminal now, waiting in the rain-muted alcove for her answer.
✓ Quest Accepted
Give Euran an honest-seeming explanation for Selene’s impossible safeguards
“*I take him away from the group for a moment then take his whining hand and start fixing it.* Because I have a photograph memory.. it’s come in quiet handy.. *I say softly while fixing his hand.*”
SUCCESS (Fair Reasoning, rolled +1)
Selene guides Euran a few steps away from Mara and the courier, into a recess where conduit shadows soften the alcove’s weak blue light.
She takes his whining prosthetic hand gently, rotates the mismatched fingers, and opens the access seam beneath the worn plating without disturbing the others.
Selene Nyx
Because I have a photographic memory. It’s come in quite handy.
Her fingers move through the repair from remembered layouts and months-old firmware notes. A loose servo contact seats cleanly, the diagnostic tremor fading beneath her touch.
Euran Cross
You say that like it explains everything. Most people need a manual before they can even find the release catch.
The prosthetic flexes once, then closes smoothly around Selene’s fingers. Its irritating whine settles into a quiet, even hum as the hand answers him again.
Euran Cross
That feels better. A lot better. I do not know how you keep doing this, Selene, but I am glad you do.
Quest Complete
Give Euran an honest-seeming explanation for Selene’s impossible safeguards
“Euran do you.. regret me kissing you?”
NO (VeryUnlikely, rolled 80)
Selene Nyx
Do you regret me kissing you?
Euran’s repaired hand remains around Selene’s fingers. The alcove hums softly while rain ticks against buried conduit, and his crooked smile fails to appear.
Euran Cross
No. I do not regret it.
He looks directly at her, grey eye steady beneath the scarred brow. His thumb gives one uncertain pass over the back of her hand, then stills.
Euran Cross
I have thought about it since the depot. More than once. I just did not know whether asking would make everything harder.
Beyond the recess, Mara checks the cylinder again and the courier listens toward the tunnel mouth. Neither interrupts. Euran keeps his attention on Selene.
Euran Cross
So no, Selene. I do not regret you kissing me. Not even a little.
“It was.. so impulsive of me.. and I don’t know what came over me. I don’t even know if you feel anything for me.”
SUCCESS (Good Persuasion, rolled -1)
Selene Nyx
It was impulsive of me. I don’t know what came over me, and I don’t even know if you feel anything for me.
The words leave Selene in the blue-lit recess. Her terminal gives a sharp warning chirp as its battery drops into reserve, the sound carrying faintly toward Mara and the courier.
Euran Cross
I feel something. I have for a while. I just kept telling myself you were being kind because that is what you do.
Euran’s prosthetic hand tightens around Selene’s fingers, its repaired servos holding steady. He glances toward the others, then back to her, visibly choosing not to retreat.
Euran Cross
The kiss was impulsive, maybe. But it did not feel meaningless to me. I have wanted to ask what I am to you.
Mara Quell
Your terminal just announced reserve power. If that warning repeats, the municipal grid may notice the draw.
Mara’s warning stays practical, but her eyes briefly find their joined hands. The tunnel remains quiet, leaving Euran’s question between them while rain trembles through the conduit walls.
“*I curse at the interruption and reminder that there are more pressing matters. I have a hard time tarring away from Euran’s eyes. Wanting to tell him more but knowing there needs to be a better time.* let’s get out of here.. first. *I refocus and get us of here.*”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled -3)
“*I curse at the interruption and reminder that there are more pressing matters. I have a hard time tarring away from Euran’s eyes. Wanting to tell him more but knowing there needs to be a better time.* let’s get out of here.. first. *I refocus and get us of here.*”
SUCCESS (Legendary Agility, rolled +1)
Selene Nyx
Damn the interruption. There are more pressing matters. Let’s get out of here first.
Selene breaks her gaze from Euran’s grey eyes and turns to the tunnel. She pockets the reserve-warning terminal, takes the lead, and moves with sudden purpose.
Mara Quell
Agreed. I will keep the cylinder shielded. Point us toward the cleanest route.
Selene scans the municipal grid and selects a maintenance branch outside the depot’s active surveillance. She overrides two dormant gates, and their locks release without a sound.
Euran Cross
There you are. I was wondering when the fixer would come back.
Euran falls in beside her, prosthetic hand humming evenly. The courier takes the rear while Mara follows beneath her mapped camera gaps, and the group clears the tunnel into a rain-dark service lane.
the courier
No pursuit on the grid. We are out of the depot’s reach.
Quest Complete
Move Euran to safety from the disclosure hunt
Skill Upgrade: Persuasion Good→Great