6 I'm just a mechanic [2/3]

Locke and the others ran toward the elevator and managed to get everyone in before shutting the doors close.

Ting*

"Are you guys alright?" Locke asked as he slowly retracted his hand from the close button of the elevator door.

"We can live," March said as she sighed from exhaustion. "Seriously, those guys from the Antimatter Legion just don't know how to give up!"

"Thankfully, someone helped us," Dan Heng crossed his arms said before looking at Locke.

Receiving his gaze, Locke made a faint smile and crossed his arms. "I oughta help some new friends in danger, no?"

"That may be true, but still, please accept our gratitude," Dan Heng said impartially, however, there were traces of sincerity in his words.

"By the way," Stelle spoke up on the side and joined the conversation. "Where did you get those?" She pointed at Locke's new weapon. "Moreover, why did you leave your drone outside?"

Hearing her question, Locke raised his right arm and showed them his new weapon that he named the 'cybernetic gauntlet'. He then answered in the most vague way possible. "I picked it up."

"Picked it up?" March and Stelle both said. They found it hard to believe that anyone could just find a gauntlet lying on the ground.

Seeing their untrusting gaze, Locke could only sigh with a small smile. He then used the line he had grown fond of: "It's best not to think too much of it."

"As for the drone earlier..." He then quickly changed the subject of the conversation. "To be honest, I don't know whose drone it belongs to. I just happen to come across it on the way to you guys."

It was then that March spoke up. "Ah, that drone was probably Himeko's. Right, Dan Heng?"

"It was indeed hers," Dan Heng slowly nodded his head as he agreed with March.

"Himeko?" Locke heard the name and couldn't help but fall into a deep ponder. After a few moments, he asked them, "Is she perhaps also part of the Astral Express?"

"Yup!" March excitedly said as she was about to brag about the express. It was a habit of hers. "Himeko is the express' navigator! She's also one of the first people that became the express' first passengers."

"...oh?" Locke's interest in the Astral Express then grew more as he wondered what kind of things they do. "So—"

Ting!*

Before Locke could ask something, the elevator doors made a sound, signaling that they have reached the Master Control Zone of the Herta Space Station.

"We have arrived," Arlan spoke up before the elevator doors opened. He then was the first to step off their elevator.

"Alright, let's go meet Himeko! She should be here!" March said before grabbing Stelle's hand and dragging her with her.

"Ha..." Dang Heng sighed as he followed behind them with his usual impartial and collected attitude.

Locke looked at Dan Heng and couldn't help but understand his predicament. 'He must have a hard time dealing with March...'

Don't get him wrong. He had only known them for less than a day, however, he had already observed and analyzed them and concluded that their synergy with each other balances out.

March was the overly hyperactive member of their group, Dan Heng was the responsible older brother figure, and Stelle was the neutrally chaotic mediator.

'What a weird bunch, seriously...' Locke thought to himself with a small amused smile before following right beside Dan Heng.

Their group walked from the elevator toward the center of the Master Control Zone, where someone else was waiting for them.

"Why does it always have to get this exciting?" A woman with a fair complexion, bright red hair, and golden eyes said. She was wearing a white dress and looked rather elegant and stunning at the same time. She put something down and looked at March and Dan Heng. "Anyways, at least you're back."

She looked at the Astral Express duo with a gentle smile. "March, Dan Heng... You went through a lot."

Locke looked at her and couldn't help but notice the giant suitcase right next to her. It was quite massive and it was quite unbelievable to believe that anyone brings that thing everywhere. 'She has a BIG... suitcase.'

He then continued to listen in from the back of the group.

"Whew— Himeko! What took you so long? That last wave of Antimatter Legion swarmed us like a pack of locusts!" March said as she expressed her frustration.

Himeko lightly hummed and replied with an amused smile. "I wouldn't have made a difference— my orbital cannon can deal with a whole bunch of enemies at once, but I can't just pull something like that in the station. Herta would NOT like that."

'Huh?' Hearing her words, Locke's interest was piqued. How could he not? What she just said sounded like something from a Sci-Fi movie. He then lifted his hand and spoke, "You have an orbital cannon? As in— the kind that orbits the atmosphere and sends down a death beam?"

"Oh? You're interested in that?" Himeko turned her head to Locke and replied with the same gentle smile. She then looked at both Stelle and Locke. "Now that I think of it, March, can you tell me who these two are?"

"Oh right! I almost forgot!" March said. She then cleared her throat and introduced the two of them to her. "These two are Stelle and Locke! We encountered them on the way here. They helped us a lot!"

"Nice to meet you," Stelle gave her greetings with her usual impartial demeanor. However, her eyes would sometimes wander from Himeko to another place.

"Hi— I'm Locke," Locke lifted his right cybernetic arm and waved at her with a faint greeting smile. To be honest, he was quite excited.

In Serpulo, he achieved to make many things that could be considered advanced technologies— such as miniature nuclear reactors that he would install in turrets. However, he never once got to build something like an orbital laser!

"Nice to meet the two of you," Hineko said with a gentle smile and nodded at both Stelle and Locke. "Though, to be honest, greeting new acquaintances in this situation isn't quite preferable."

Himeko then glanced at Locke's hand and noticed his cybernetic arm. She then became interested in him. "Oh? Is that a mechanical gauntlet—?"

She then approach him and touched the gauntlet and inspected it with great interest. Locke was surprised. "It doesn't seem to be from the IPC... Is it self-made? Oh—? Is this a miniature plasma beam? These titanium fibers... this should be for strength amplification... Those are some sharp claws at the top of the palm base, do be careful with those."

Locke didn't shake her off, instead, he actually wanted to hear some feedback from her. "You actually managed to figure those out... is it lacking in anything?"

Himeko shook her head with an intrigued smile. "Not at all. More than anything, it's actually quite decent compared to the IPC's gauntlets."

'The IPC?' Locke searched his memories and remembered that they were a large faction that deals with trading. They serve the Aeon of Preservation, Qlipoth. It's full name was the 'Interastral Peace Corporation'.

Adjusting his glasses, Locke quickly changed the subject. "Anyways, I should go now— my friend here is still injured." He then pointed at Arlan.

"Oh, Arlan!" Himeko finally noticed Arlan and spoke with a worried time. "Are you alright? Asta's been worried about you."

"It's fine," Arlan shook his head. He then looked at Locke with gratitude. "Thanks to him, I was able to make it here."

"Now please, excuse me. I have to go make a report to Lead Researcher Asta." Arlan tried to slip out of the conversation when some interrupted him.

"Are you sure?" Locke interjected as he adjusted his glasses while crossing his arms. Arlan was Locke's first acquaintance after escaping Serpulo, as such, he was naturally worried for him. Moreover, this was a chance to explore the Space Station. "I'll go with you,"

"N-No, it's really fi—" Arlan tried to reject Locke's offer when he was suddenly cut off by Locke's hand waving at him.

"It's alright, come on. I'll go with you." Locke insisted as he waited for Arlan. However, he first bid goodbye to the Astral Express crew. "Forgive me, but I'll have to leave for a moment."

"It's alright," Dan Heng said with his usual monotonous tone. "Thank you for helping us."

Locke nodded with a smile and walked beside Arlan. "Let's go."

"...Alright." Seeing that Locke was quite persistent, Arlan only sighed and followed behind him.

The two of them soon went to where the Lead Researcher— Asta— was. She was not far away, more precisely, she was at the center of the Master Control Zone trying to control the situation.

"There she is," Arlan said as he pointed at the busy Asta. He then faced Locke and thanked him once more. "Thank you for everything,"

"It's alright," Locke smiled gently and amiably. "If there's anything else, you can ask me."

Arlan nodded with understanding before going to Asta. Seeing him leave, Locke sighed before also leaving to explore the space station.

He looked at the roof of the Space Station and still couldn't help but be amazed. "What a beautiful place..."

The stars of the endless void also projected themselves and showed a beautiful bead-like painting to those that looked at them— while also retaining their indifference and impartialness.

While walking, Locke would occasionally stop and look around in interest. He noticed that were quite a variety of people in the station. 'Did I just see someone with really lush hair?'

Shaking his head with an amused smile, Locke continued to walk more. He then walked to an elevated part of the zone and managed to see the whole zone from up there.

"This place is huge," Although he already knows that, he still blurted it out.

After taking in the sights, Locke was just about to leave when he noticed something that caught his attention.

Not far away from him, a beautiful doll-like lady stood firmly and unmoving. She was just like a statue. Like him, she also seems to be looking at the whole station, however, she did not make a sound.

No!

'Are those... joint spaces?' The first thing that Locke caught noticed of was the woman's unusual appearance. 'She... she has joint spaces as if she's...'

Locke searched his mind for the right word when he finally found it. 'A puppet?'

Locke became curious of her, but didn't want to disturb the woman so he would just subtly look at her. They were both on the elevated part of the zone and in front of them were railings.

Locke subtly leaned forward and rested his body on the railings and subtly looked at the woman's face. Just like her body... her face was also doll-like!

Curious, Locke mustered up the courage and decided to strike up a conversation. He lifted his hand and spoke to her, "Hi, umm..."

He was really curious about her. Clearly, she did not have a human body— and that is what makes him more interested. 'She's like... yeah... a puppet!"

Locke waited for a moment, however, he received no answer. 'Huh?'

He then lifted his hand and swayed it in front of her face to test something. After doing so, he discovered something. 'She isn't responding?'

'It seems like... she's unresponsive...' Being aware of this, various conclusions were formulated in his mind. With those in his mind, he decided to test something.

He was gonna try to analyze her!

Locke slowly extended his hand, and gradually, he was about to touch her shoulder!

However, at this moment, his cybernetic gauntlet suddenly glowed and a line of text appeared that was sent from Aiden. [Don't!]

Locke touched the woman's shoulder and nothing happened. He then looked and read the message on his arm. 'Huh?'

However, before he could react, he looked up from his gauntlet and onto the woman from before. This time, she was looking directly at him with what seemed to be an annoyed expression!

"Let go of your hand," She demanded with an infuriated tone.

[That's... Madam Herta...] Aiden sent a message. [The owner of this Station...]

* * *

A/N: Kurukuru~ Kururin ~

I have this as my ringtone. I can hear her voice with just these words alone. Help.