Finlay spent longer then he thought making and customizing his Hoverboard. So long in fact that not only had Hada finished her pair of high-tech roller skates, but Lu had gotten the attention of other humans and the place was getting flooded with customers. Some engineers were watching over Finlay's shoulder as he designed his new ride making some casual small talk about it.

Engie-1: "These craft stations are pretty intuitive... most of the kinks are being filed out as soon as they're made..."

Engie-2: "Right? Maybe it takes from a preset collection from other projects and reworks them for the current one?"

Engie-3: "It's comprehensive... or maybe it's the store owner... where ever they are..."

Engie-1 "Ah a wizard mechanic behind the curtain helping with the details?"

Finlay: "As much as I want to know how this all works, which I don't, Ya guys mind... backing it up a step or two? You're kinda hovering on me..."

Engie-2: "Sorry..."

Finlay gave them an acknowledging nod before going back to his board... it was pretty much done, just a paint job away from gliding around on thin air. He may have gone a bit, just a bit, overboard with the specifics. The entirety of the board had an Anti-gravity inlay with adjustable resistors, giving him anywhere from an inch off the ground to a full foot. He should have just called the job done there... but work hard now to be lazy later. At the front underside of the board was an air intake that fed multiple outputs along the sides and back, but why stop there?

Retractable wings for extended air time... he hoped. Failing that the outtakes along the wings would at least give him a speed boost as well as a pretty devastating ankle slammer. Magnetic strips in the gripping to help keep his feet on the board. Lastly, more so for shits and giggles... miniature headlights and neon tail lights. Painting... was a bit of a bitch, he was no artist but with enough fiddle faddlin'. He managed to get a decent look to it. An emerald green that shifted to an almost moonless night black. With some small but choice yellow pinstriping. At it's final length it came to about halfway up his ribcage.

Operating system: "Would you like to Name your project and post it on the public forum?"

Finlay: "... Fuck it, uhhh... Little Bird."

Operating system: "Name accepted Little Bird v1 posted on public forum, Beginning manufacture. Pricing set at 475 UC. Your remaining total is 4,525 UC. Have a Nice Ride!" (Treat it as whole US dollar amounts)

Finlay winced as the price was displayed, that was a bit more than he was expecting. But probably worth it in the long run... probably. He had to be careful with that starting fund, It was all of his savings. Anyone who wasn't making their own new toys were now watching Finlay's be made by the overly complicated 3D printer. It also gave Finlay a chance to peek at other people's-

"Is that a god damn Escalade?"

Sure enough some whack-a-doodles pooled their money together and were making a group vehicle... wonder who gets the full ownership if they split up later. From the looks of their uniforms, they were 2 Engineers, a Political Rep and a Soldier... they were an interesting group from the looks of it. A tap on his shoulder by another human told him his board was ready and someone else was already making their own ride. Finlay took his board outside and to his surprise Hada and Lu were waiting for him.

Hada: "About time! I was about to give up and find this park by myself!"

Finlay: "Park?"

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Lu: "There are a few Rec areas on the ship! I figured we could all go and really stress test our new toys!"

Finlay: "...This ship is fucking ridiculously big. Alright, Lead the way Lu." Dropping the board and smirking as instead of smacking against the floor, it stopped and floated. A careful step followed by a hopeful jump onto the board and he was slowly circling everyone as he tried to stay still. Eventually he managed to stop shifting his weight to move.

Spec: "Neural Link active! I'm getting a bit excited myself... I've been running calculations since it was finished."

Finlay: "Bah, numbers... So, Hada, What the hell are those anyway?"

Hada: "You Like? I decided on something more functional than flashy." Standing on one leg to show the real details of the Skates. Instead of the traditional wheels, there were free floating spheres. Some kind of magnetic tomfuckery if Finlay had to guess.

Finlay: "I mean... it's cool for sure, but is that all you needed?"

Hada: "Trust me, This is going to take me to a whole new level..."

Lu: "... Don't look at me man, she hasn't told me either."

Hada: "My Pronouns are actually they/them, but I don't mind being called she/her."

Lu: "... but... you're one person?"

Finlay: "That is an entire barrel of worms that you can google later Lou."

Lu: "Why would I open a barrel of worms?"

Hada: "Oh my god... just... take us to the park Himbo."

Lu: "The hell is a Himbo? is that good?"

Finlay: "Don't worry about it Himbo, google it later, Park time."

====================================================================================

Kathy was thoroughly relaxed now, that massage had popped joints that she didn't know could be popped. The hot stone hands kneaded her muscles like dough and the only reason she wasn't still asleep at the table was because Nunny had ordered ahead for the ice cream. Kathy's favorite was Pistachio but sadly that wasn't available yet... so now she was holding some violently turquoise abomination. It was somewhere between Taffy and Dragon fruit, Binuit flavored apparently.

Kathy: "Ya know what Nunny? you're right... I need to relax more."

Nunny: "I can't take all the credit for that, you've had how many doctors tell you the same thing?"

Kathy: "6... But you know I haven't had the time."

Nunny: "Because you never made the time, Always onto the next project, You'll sleep when you're dead, Just one more recipe..."

Kathy: "What are you, A parrot?"

Nunny: "Only if you're offering crackers."

Both of them giving stifled chuckles at the clear joke. They settled back into silence as Kathy enjoyed her treat, and a little bit of people watching. One person stood out the most, a fellow human... they must have been having a horrid day. Sandy blonde hair plastered to their forehead with sweat, His face screamed frustration, like some great injustice had been done to him. They seemed to be looking for something. Kathy braced as the tired man entered the Ice cream parlor and practically grimaced at the cashier.

Berthold: "... It's been a very long day, do you have anything... Earth-ish? like Vanilla or chocolate?"

Cashier: "Uhhhhhh... N-no sorry, We probably have similar flavors but as for actual Earth Flavorings. The recipe restrictions won't be lifted until official departure to Deep Orbit... How about a Base Ur'Quanth Cream milkshake?"

Berthold: "Yeah yeah, Sure I'll take it... Whatever the Hell an Ur'Quanth is." Not knowing that the cashier herself was an Ur'Quanth. The woman simply turned around and started on the milkshake while Berthold waited, his leather duffel bag slapping the floor. It sounded exceptionally heavy... He really should have just checked it with his other luggage. Soon enough he and his tired eyes landed on Kathy, milkshake in hand. Most of the other seats were already taken, so if he wanted to sit, it had to be where ever he could fit.

Berthold: "May I sit here Miss?"

Kathy: "You may. So, how was your trip stranger?"

Berthold: "God awful, hours in a bubble, 2 hours in a damn line, had to get patted down and interviewed because my Knives we're in their own bag instead of a suitcase to be checked. Then they give me this fucking metal block to put them in until my room is assigned... I'm so tired."

Kathy: "You've never even used public transit, have you?"

Berthold: "...No, but I don't see what-"

Kathy: "If everyone could just carry items capable of killing people everywhere in the open, how many murders do you think would happen in a day."

Berthold: "... I may have had a few power fantasies on the way here... I get your point. ...These Ur'Quanth things make delicious milk..." Sipping on the shake happily as the cold cream soothed his rage.

Kathy: "Oh? You may want to tell the cashier that, if I read the recipe right it's all her family's milk."

Berthold: "Her family owns the farm? That's great for her."

Kathy: "No... It's her family's milk."

Doing her best not to smirk as Berthold looks at his shake... then back to the Cow woman that gave it to him... then back to the shake, giving it one more sip before calling for Yuri.

Berthold: "Yuri.... What's an Ur'Quanth?"