Turns out Roiul doesn't like the idea of hiring a complete unknown to take down some raiders. Still, I promised Ghakub, so off I go.
He suggests I start in the council offices. What are the raiders doing in there? Have we just been hired to take down the government? I hope not, I'm not a great believer in anarchy.
Met a policeman in the Garden who wanted me to take down a force of hostile mecha. I'm a singer, not a fighter! I politely declined, and he told me that there was a rumour of a confused pilot wandering around in the council offices. Maybe I should talk to this pilot...
Got to the council offices. Toraxu does look confused.
Oooh. Toraxu is lost. Apparently she was supposed to join some other pilots for something, but she can't read a map. If this map leads me to the convoy raiders, I might be able to catch them out of their mechs - if I hurry...
Hmmm. Didn't go too badly, all things considered. By the time we got there, they were already in their mechs, but their leader hadn't turned up; managed to take them both down without too much trouble. Well - Ghakub and I are both still alive, at least. I am, however, exhausted. I need a good rest.
The leader is apparently someone call Imdokb.
Well, Roiul paid well, at least. He wants to know what I'll do next. Next, I need a better mech, more money, and I want to get onto the stage (but Phivos tells me to come back tomorrow). I guess I'll just have to earn some more cash.
He hears I can do that in Theles Spinner. I'm going to do that right here in Athera, thanks.
Got bored waiting for Phivos, so I built another robot. Used hazard vests for the body this time, because they're cheaper than the encounter suit. Put in more computing power - not quite as tough as Tough (but almost), but a more well-rounded individual, plus it's amazingly quiet (knows stealth). Called it Sneaky, gave it my other light laser pistol.
There's a rusted space wreck outside, and Ghakub's happy to stick with me for the moment. Time to go exploring, I think. Stopped on the way to get my mecha restocked and refuelled. My goodness that's expensive! Still showing a profit on my little excursion, though, but I've just spent half of it on the restock.
Ship turns out to be full of walking fungi and animated slime, all perfectly happy in hard vacuum. Anyone else think that biotech has gone too far? Fortunately, Tough and Sneaky take care of anything that gets past me and Ghakub. Not just backup singers, they have our backs as well.
Plus Sneaky seems to have better eyes than any of us. Pity we had to come back so soon, but unlike the backup 'bots, Ghakub and I need occasional meals and I'd forgotten to pack lunch. Only got a few spare parts from some broken computers, but there's a lot of ship still to explore - have to remember to bring food next time.
Chased down a few rumours in the sandwich shop, to no avail; talked to Phivos, he's got a gig for me at the hospital to build up my image. I'm off to the hospital immediately.
Concert went fairly well; the hospital can pay for their facilities, plus I got a lead on a rumour that Asnsehia Fet, the Bliss Station barkeeper, needs my singing talents.
I notice a bigger crowd than was at the hospital, and they seem to like my music... still, have to wait for tomorrow to get another gig from Phivos. Wandered into the MUGL media centre; found someone selling flight suits, changed one of them and a few spare data bracelets into another arachnobot. He knows medicine, so I'll call him Doctor. (It's incredible, really, because I know nothing about medicine.) Gave him some sutures and told him to use them if/when necessary. Also a combat knife, in case he meets any of those icky slimes.
And Lubomc Iwm is offering a chance to ambush some poor cargo ship. Well, I'd rather not get involved in that; it might hurt my singing career. Back to exploring the ship, I think, but this time take rations with.
Wow! Found an untouched mech in good working order down there - a war special chameleon!
I'll hang on to it for the moment, I think. Phivos has a paying gig for me - playing for Suhito, in Bliss Station. I didn't bother to tell him I'd played in Bliss Station already (though not by the DJ's invitation).
Picked up a few rumours at the station. Iaegt's mecha is in the shop. Maybe I can hire out my war special? I'm told on good authority (Suhito's) that I'll go far in my career; Phivos seemed happy with my performance too. I'll get onto the Aethera Garden stage fairly soon at this rate.
Tracked Iaegt down to the local mecha centre. She's not willing to hire out my spare mech, but it turns out that the problem was really easy to fix; loose wire in the control system. Piece of duct tape and it's done. Didn't feel right to ask her to pay for something so simple, especially when the fellows at the mecha centre were after her with a bill for the dents they'd popped.
Went on a rumour hunt; Asnsehia Fet's looking for a singer again. He was happy with me last time, so it wasn't hard to get him to hire me on again this time; made a nice profit, too. What with that and Suhito, the ol' finances are looking quite healthy. Still nothing more from Phivos but 'come back tomorrow'. More rumour hunting, methinks... maybe I can pass the time by fixing someone else's mecha. I certainly don't want to go out mecha fighting again, at least not before I get onto the stage, the first time was bad enough (which is a pity; if I wanted to fight mecha I'd have no lack of jobs).
Hmmm. Amkumg wants me to bring some robber in alive. Well, that doesn't sound like a mecha job; me and Ghakub and my three robots should handle this just fine.
That went well. Ahcid told me where to find him, and he surrendered without a fight; two robots holding laser pistols on him and one waving a knife around might have had something to do with that, though. Got paid, which was good. Passed some time chasing rumours, fixing mechs (the people at the mecha centre recognised me from last time, apparently they're a bit backed up and appreciated the help, though not enough to actually pay me; still, it's good publicity, I've managed to persuade them all to come see my show if and when I ever put it on).
Got bored, bought some armoured casuals, built a robot out of them and a couple of data bracelets. Called it eyes because it's got good eyes, gave it a beam knife just in case.
Got a couple of laser pistols for Eyes and Doctor. Amkumg wants me to track down another thief; Onals surrundered just as quickly as the last one. Of course, I've now got four robots with laser pistols; quite an argument in my favour.
And, finally, managed to play at on the athera stage! Got myself a new spacesuit with part of the really massive proceeds; made a new 'bot out of my old one. Called him "old suit".
Now I'm rich, I'm a superstar, and I have a musical instrument that doubles as an emergency weapon. It's time to see what Roiul was talking about in Theles Spinner.
Oooh. "The place where lives are bought and sold". Doesn't sound like a good place for a rock star. Still...
