Continuing from FFM 2025 27: Mech Intrigue. 65 words over the limit this time.
It quickly turned out that because of his work in the intelligence department and the random inspections that were a part of his probation, Steirdrar could not safely be on recording duty. Thus, it was left to the mechs QWERTY had recruited to aers cause. Cou-1 and Cou-2 were particularly excited to help him with that. The once again grinning strategist android — Tsuki — was already working on arranging recorders to be in his vicinity often when he was away from the intelligence department.
Sifting through the data the mechs gathered was easier to arrange; Steirdrar was already visiting the Afterglow fairly often, after all. Agent Ket noticed him working with QWERTY immediately but when her inquiry got responded only with him helping with one of QWERTY’s projects, she backed off with a smile and a “glad to see you two’re getting along.”
Steirdrar could tell that she was curious about what they were working on but she never tried to get him to tell her about it when they were by themselves, not even by trying to trick him into disclosing something. That was a relief.
She also immediately took a liking to Cou-1 and Cou-2 when she met them (and learned that they were Steirdrar’s comrades during his time as Forager). Steirdrar did not hear the end of how cool the two courier ‘bots thought she was later.
His colleagues at the intelligence department snickered about how he had an affinity for mechs when they saw the two couriers talk with him. He did not mind it; after his realization that he could not stay in the IR, mechs like Cou-1 and Cou-2 had been the only companions he had felt comfortable being around since they rarely asked questions that hit too close to home. His liking of mechs just had not showed that much in the AIRF, what with Cou-1 and Cou-2 being on duty in areas he rarely frequented — an assignment meant at least partially to isolate him, Steirdrar suspected — and all the suspicion making it hard to go out of his way to interact with any mechs outside of official business.
Most of the mechs in QWERTY’s project did not interact with him unless they had an official reason to, but Steirdrar knew they were around as he caught glimpses of them every now and then. There was something reassuring about that, despite the high risks of their (admittedly somewhat petty) operation.
He determined the first recipient of a recording on the day he and Agent Ket were finally able to have their rematch. QWERTY took it upon aerself to deliver it and witness the response while Steirdrar faced off against aers partner.
Agent Ket grinned as they exchanged blows, once again equally matched. “You know, it really is good to see you and QWERTY getting along, whatever it is that you’re working on together.”
Steirdrar had to take a few moments to formulate his response while keeping up with the rapid blows. “I’m glad ae approves of me.”
“So am I. QWERTY’s got high standards for organics to spend time with outside of duties, so ae inviting you to aers project says a lot.” Agent Ket had to pause as Steirdrar launched a flurry of attacks. “Really cool of you to take part, too.”
“You flatter me,” Steirdrar quipped.
Agent Ket chuckled. “It’s not flattery if it’s true.”
From there, the Eskel-Zai moved the conversation to the differences in the combat styles they had learned. Frankly, it was surprising how easily conversation flowed from her side, Agent Ket somehow talkative even as she was fighting at full speed. Then again, since fighting skills were such a major part of the Eskel-Zai culture, it would make sense if the warrior culture also fostered talkative spars; being able to communicate in combat was important when working in a group, after all, and what better time to learn to multitask fighting and communicating than during intense training?
Steirdrar managed to note that QWERTY had returned at some point, aers expression neutral as ae waited for them to finish their spar. Agent Ket made no motion to pause when she spotted the android and QWERTY did nothing to get their attention, so he continued until Agent Ket eventually called it another draw.
“I can see what you meant when you said he’s ‘wicked fast’,” QWERTY remarked as ae approached them after the end of the spar.
Agent Ket chuckled. “Good to see you caught the tail end of the spar.”
QWERTY nodded and turned to Steirdrar, aers faceplate shifting into a smug smile. “From the looks of the test run, the project is going to be a resounding success.”
Steirdrar blinked, surprised that QWERTY was already bringing it up. “That’s good.”
Agent Ket looked between them. “I hope you’re going to-“
She was interrupted by yelling. The trio turned to look towards the commotion, noticing a couple’s spat. Even with how loud the instigator was, it was hard to make out entire sentences, but Steirdrar got the gist that they were furious that their partner had said “things like THAT about a womb-bearer“. Their partner could only try to appease the instigator, not that they were being successful at anything except making things worse.
“I THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN SOME TWO-BIT ASS WHO’D DROP ME FOR SOMEONE OF A SEX THEY’VE CLAIMED NOT TO EVEN BE ATTRACTED TO!” the instigator howled at the top of their lungs.
QWERTY chuckled.
“Oh dear,” Steirdrar had to say out loud, fairly certain about which part of the recording QWERTY had delivered had set Captain Altt off.
Agent Ket glanced at them both. “Huh.”
Steirdrar had a feeling that Agent Ket just figured out what QWERTY’s project was about. When he turned his head a bit to see her expression, he saw that she was laughing silently, her shoulders shaking.
Agent Ket made eye contact and smirked at him.
Steirdrar could only hope that this would not blow up on his face.
A bit of terminology worldbuilding: Since different species have different gender and sex identities (and number of sexes, e.g. Pryzis, who have three sexes while humans have two), umbrella terms have been coined to help communicate, among other things, biological compatibilities and similarities and one’s preferences in intimate partners. Womb-bearer, which was used here, is used of sexes who have a womb and thus are the ones to bear the children. It’s the broadest umbrella term of this type that humans of the female sex fall under, as it does not take into account any other traits such as whether or not they lactate and/or produce eggs.
WindySilver 
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