Mate for Life

Date/Timing: Q1 2021
Setting: K-Sci, Hong Kong Shatterdome; Hong Kong, China
.
Hermann listens to quiet footsteps—booted—approach. Someone who knows how to use their body—a veteran trooper or a—
Blond curls, a smile, and a bomber jacket—
"Ranger Vos! What brings you to Hong Kong?" he greets.
Ranger Vos smiles warmly, offers the screen of his mobile.
-Shaolin rogue -
"Ah. Yes. You are temporarily taking Ranger Lin's place?"
Vos nods—yawns.
Hermann lowers his eyes, studies his hands.
Vos waves.
Hermann starts. "My apologies, Ranger. What may I do for you?"
- Need still place 2 hide -
- Stay here 4 a bit? -
"Of course. There is a sofa amid the flotsam on the far side of the lab if you wish to lie down."
Vos smiles, relieved.
- Thx -
"You're welcome. Pleasant dreams, Ranger."
Vos bobs his head, picks his way into Newton's space and over to the sofa. He carefully folds his jacket, settles it on the cushions, and curls up tightly on his side, fitting his height to the too-short space.
Hermann sighs, returning to his blackboards and the blasted code upgrade for the T-90s, losing himself in the numbers and symbols.
""Hermann?"" grates Newton. ""Why's there a stranger sleeping on my couch?""
"Please leave the Ranger alone. He needs undisturbed rest."
""A Ran—why're you hiding one of those jerks?""
"Because, Newton, he asked politely."
""All he had to do was ask nicely?""
"Yes. You should try it sometime. You might be surprised by the results."
""Pfft. Whatever. Why didn't you stick him in your quarters? Nothing /ever happens in there.""
"I did not want him to walk any farther than necessary."
""Sheesh. You're being /nice to him.""
"Ranger Vos deserves kindness and respect."
Newton scoffs loudly.
Hermann scratches out another line of code.
""Wait. Why aren't you telling me to be quiet? Shouldn't you be afraid I'll wake him up?""
"Your screeching will not disturb him."
""To hear you tell it, my 'screeching' could wake the dead.""
"You won't wake him."
""What is he, deaf?""
"Yes."
A beat.
""You're serious. There's a deaf Ranger sleeping on my couch.""
Hermann huffs. "Didn't I just say that?"
""Ho-how does that even /work? Isn't that like sticking /you in a Jaeger?""
"I didn't realize you thought so highly of me ...."
""What? You'd be /worse than useless in a fight. How's /he supposed to manage?""
Hermann's jaw tightens; he growls, "The Ranger is partly responsible for your latest blemish."
""Hammerjaw? The deaf guy on my couch killed Hammerjaw?"" A beat. ""Wow.""
"Quite."
""Hold on. Very funny, Hermann. /Edenwhatsitsname's pilots are girls.""
"/Women, Newton, one of whom was injured. /Eden Assassin could not be relieved from duty so Ranger Vos stepped in temporarily."
""I thought pilots mated for life.""
"That's so, except in the case of Ranger Vos. He's universally Drift Compatible."
""He can mate with anyone?""
Hermann rolls his eyes. "He's Compatible with anyone. You apparently haven't read Doctor Lightcap's papers on him."
Another line of code takes shape while Hermann listens to the gears of Newton's mind turning.
""Can you send me copies of those papers?""
"They're on Drift Science's server. Download them yourself."
Newton sniffs, stomps in the general direction of his computer terminal.
Hermann sighs, returns his full attention to his coding.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Hermann
Category:Hermann's POV
Category:Skeleton Key
Category:Hermann (ficlet)
Category:Pietr
Category:Pietr (ficlet)
Category:Newt
Category:Newt (ficlet)
Category:Caitlin (mention)
Category:Feng (mention)
Category:Janna (mention)