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B2 Ch 31: Glossing over Tedium

The Jembit crew are a bunch of no-nonsense characters. I rarely see anyone socializing outside of break time, and sustenance breaks are short and mechanical affairs with little food diversity. I opted for ordering my own food most days using magic, or bring out a care package from Katie when she remembers to take a break. Otherwise, it’s work, shuttle, sleep, repeat.

Katie observed their processes and found that their aether integration was not all that impressive or in-depth with respect to what she saw with the ansibles and the V’tek ship. I told her it was likely that a warning comes up when dealing with us about tier 3 destructive capability for a new and untested race, so they sent a ship they could lose. She scoffs, but begrudgingly accepts the wisdom in that, but that it doesn’t help her advance. She bailed after three weeks to work on a data network and defense system. She borrows the shuttle for days at a time, so I see her only sporadically now.

The work has been exhausting. I’m out in my EVA suit, for as long as I can be for weeks climbing around in the small planetoid engraving and enchanting whatever the foreman points me toward. After four months of this I have done thousands of each type and have had to be on a constant mana-replacement diet. It comes out of my pay, but the money is not why I’m here.

I’ve learned dozens of runeshapes and dozens more component runes. Though primarily construction and electronics based, I can think of tons of experiments I would like to try with variations on a magnetic field runeshape, and some shapes that deal with the habitat creators that I can use to create oxygen instead of the Helium shapes they use in the spellforms that monitor pressure in case of leak or intrusion.

The enchanting work is less interesting, making the best materials better, like making gold more conducive, or platinum a better catalyst. I still get a sizable chunk of experience for performing so damned many enchantments.

If you had checked the full description of this massive satellite when you bought it, it counts as a Service to the Matrix and comes with additional benefits. Some for the folks that participated and some for the group that built it.

Were the benefits listed too? If so, it seems that people could grasp for power by building public works for nefarious reasons.

The Matrix does not provide specific examples, but that is the reason the benefits are listed as “variable, based on involvement”. Much the same reason people aren’t rewarded as much for scouring the galaxies for new sentients to force the Matrix on as you did for inducting your species as their Primus.

You seem awfully forthcoming about this information when you are usually so tight-minded. I take it your censure has eased up a little because of our progress on this and our T-3 access?

Moreso the project being near completion if I was forced to guess. You got tier 3 access nearly a year ago with your ‘oops’ and information was tightly controlled for a period after that.

It’s both heartwarming and creepy that a multi-galaxy spanning intelligence gets that involved with the day to day.

And you’re constructing a new section of its brain in your backyard. I’ll be sure to put in a good word when they awaken in this sector.

Ha ha Tessa. We already know they like me. I hope so anyway. I would stop to think if there’s emotions wrapped up in the Matrix’s code, but it’s enforcing a type of morality by not rewarding aggressive assimilation of resistant species. Some how, I feel encouraged by that type of herding: Here’s a cookie, but that is the direction I’d rather you take.

I could also argue that the Matrix rewards more for being a productive member of society, with the job or vocation tracks and how it rewards less for just killing beasts (unless they are mutated aether beasts).

Jembit’s duty Foreman knocks me out of my reverie with a soft thud to my helmet, telling me the shuttle to ship 47 is about to leave. They come and go every six hours for the work rotation, but apparently they keep track of how long I’ve been out here. I could use a six hour break. When the shuttle makes it back, I find that I’ve been asked to attend a meeting. Ugh.

“Artisan Astoria, how are you keeping up?” Chiddy greets me.

“Did you get nominated as the expendable mouth again?” I ask him.

“Yes, it is my job until my apprenticeship is over. However, the Captain would like to discuss a desired renumeration for being significantly ahead of schedule.” He worries his hands through his short beard, trying to keep eye contact and failing.

“I see. And how ahead of schedule are we?” I say in a steady, even tone.

“It’s projected to be about a month ahead?”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

That’s like two weeks from now. Damn, that is much faster than projected.

“That is a questionable error in assessment. Why was the project so much faster than expected?” my tone is much less favorable, and the poor Capybara winces.

“The Captain challenged the crew to keep your pace when you started getting ahead. Now the Foremen are seeking a prize for that challenge.”

“How much did the Captain promise his crew?” I ask.

“He is asking for another five thousand CE.”

“I didn’t ask you how much the Captain wanted, I asked what he promised the crew.” I grumble at the man, the Captain’s greed making me irritable.

“I’m not sure?”

“Okay, then if the Captain wishes to discuss further renumeration from the Empire, then he must meet with me or my Consul of Finance. If he declines, the contract stands as is.”

He nods furiously and scampers off.

>P] Kay, what would be a fair reward for finishing this project early?[<

>K] No provision for it in their contract. Sloppy. A month’s wages would be fair, but it would also be a different number for each role on the ship, and maybe some worked harder than others, it’s hard to tell. That’s why many corporations do quota bonuses or flat bonuses.[<

>P] Everything okay planet side? I haven’t really heard about your projects lately. [<

>K] Because I’m hiding one from you. I’ll be upset if you go looking for it. Otherwise, we talked about the data network. I can’t make the linking enchanted parts, and I want some charged corundum with those replenishing runes you make.[<

>P]Ok. We can load up the shuttle with parts and I can work on them in my down time. Maybe . . .[<

>K] Getting messaged by the Jembit. Call you back.[<

Oof. Sucks for them. I feel she was the least lucrative option for them in this case. The interaction with Chiddy has left a bad taste in my mouth. I’m going to go home, order dinner, and maybe bug Francesca to see if she wants to join us.

The shuttle ride is thankfully short as I can warp right above Summer Station and descend for a few minutes. I park on the rooftop and quick-change into a tank and sweat-shorts and start browsing my dinner options while listening to Tessa reads out my enchanting and engraving supplies, displaying them on the projector instead of my HUD. I order the closest approximation to a swordfish steak that the system has, a rice-like grain and ask Francesca if she wants to eat with us. Katie had told her earlier that we had plans tonight, so I should talk to her. Okies. I thank her for the news and order some veggies for pickup.

After making a point to hide my teleportation skill, it feels good to blip about the Station, like my brain having a yawn. Francesca is surprised to see me, but saw the order and was putting it together.

“Thanks Francesca, I figured that would be the easiest way to get these? Gives you a better history on the exchange and all that.”

She chuckles, “You really don’t do people that well do you? You could have just come over and chatted and I’ve have been happy to give them to you.”

I blush in embarrassment, “Yeah, I dunno. Like, we could be friends, but with the used to be rivals thing I’m feeling weird about it?”

She laughs again, “Acting weird too. Listen, before you were in a position to influence my future on multiple fronts and I had no idea who you were besides defiant and confident. Now, sure you could kick me out or tell me what to grow. In fact, you did demand I take up animal husbandry, but I know you’re going to treat it like an offer instead of a demand. Letting me decide whether to accept a ton of people or not was a big deal to me, so now I trust you not to bully me around.” She shrugs and then pops a candy-sized cube in her mouth.

I’m not accustomed to thinking from other people’s perspectives, but I can understand them to some degree. I understand uncertainty and the anxiety and anger that comes from not having control of your own life.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be offensive. I do really like the idea of you being a major part of our community, and I’m also sorry I left you alone on a planet by yourself.”

“Heh, I called Katie and a few of the boys while I was here. Most of them are damned cross with you, but mostly for ditching them on that Navy ship.” She smirks at that. Respect? Amusement? Prelude to payback?

Who knows, but I don’t want to interrogate her about private messages. “Not going to lie. That satisfied a revenge itch. Seems like Katie’s call is over, so I’ll see you later. Thanks for the veggies.”

She smiles and shakes her head as I walk out of her farm house and laboratory.

I really don’t get people all that well. Why did she smirk at the end? Why did the Captain try to ask for a ridiculous sum of credits? Why can’t Melissa’s parents just not be assholes?

“Don’t think to hard on it Pen, it’s okay that you don’t people good.”

“Perhaps, but butchering language on purpose is still questionable.” Katie’s voice says from a doorway in front of me.

“Yeah, probably not going to stop doing it either. How’d the meeting go?” I walk up and lift one of her arms up and slide under it for a hug.

She chuckles silently, my head jostling on her shoulder. “If I ever thought to question if you missed me. How long did it take for you to touch me would answer it.” She runs a hand through my hair and I squeeze her in appreciation. “The meeting went well enough, for us. We’re paying out between 10 and 15 thousand AE per worker for finishing a month or more early.”

“That’s less that what I would have offered him. What’s the catch?”

She looks down at me as though I were a talking frog. “No catch, I just threatened his wallet. He tried to barter back with transport fees back to the nearest transport node, a thousand CE fee for a ship that large he claimed, and I replied that if he insulted me again we’d pay the contract out as written with no prospects of building the orbital in Moiriax and the pleasure of dealing with me upset as he negotiates a mining permit.”

I sigh in contentment, “I’m glad you could deal with that. Thanks Kay. At this rate, I’m going to take you to all of my negotiations so that they start out on the back foot.”

“No need to be cruel, Penny, they’re just trying to make some credits.”

I smile and tiptoe up for a smooch. “I have dinner still warm in the oven if you want to eat.”

Her grin starts growing wider, “You should teleport us home, little pixie, while you still can.” Her voice is sultry and she licks the point of her sexy ass canines, causing me to shiver in my mind and quake in my abdomen. I guess the thirty aether I spent on dinner can wait. It was half wine anyway.