Clock Watchers (Amag)

Half passed five and the light was fading from California. Autumn leaves scattered across the shoreline and tumbled into the scummy break water of the Jump City docks. The cacophonous noise of a dockside crane could be heard whirring as it lifted another steel container into its brackets. The merchant ship it was taking from wasn't American, it was an Australian craft. Its crew trying to finish work so that they could clock off for their watch and sneak a drink.

On board the main deck a small hovering drone painted in dark colours arrived from over the side. It scanned the immediate vicinity, found no signs of activity, and then activated a holographic map in front of it. The display appeared to show schematics of the ship.

"kssh Lo-cal ah-zi-muth op-ti-mal for co-mence-ment of op-er-a-tions. Ob-ject-tives must first be i-den-ti-fied pre-sent. State que-ries. crrr"

On dry land Neverwere was stood indoors, hidden from view, controlling his drone remotely. It had been quite some time now since he'd identified what time period they were in. Quite some time since he'd stabilised and rebranded his associate's technological brace. This wasn't about that now. This was about starting anew.

"kssh Re-peat: State que-ries. crrr"

Thanks to his digitised mind certain things became easier for Neverwere. Compartmentalising tasks, for example. He was controlling his drone and its positioning even as he was focusing on Zahri and her responses. After heavy research he had established that social conventions required eye contact be made whilst speaking. He desired to achieve this to see if it bridged the gap that had opened up in his ability to naturally converse.

"kssh Ex-pres-ments of dis-a-point-ment ex-ten-ded. Did you not read my pre-pared dis-er-ta-tion on the ne-cess-i-ty and haz-ards of this mish-ion?" The drone was beginning to navigate its way through the decks, dodging potential eyes and heading towards the main driving cabin, "It was oh-nly one thou-sand two hun-dred and eigh-teen pay-ges length. Cal-cu-late for-ty ho-urs and twen-ty four minutes re-qui-red rea-ding time. This do-cu-ment was han-ded to you fif-ty ho-urs a-go."

Readiness was key. Neverwere was frankly appalled that his associate hadn't taken all useful steps to keep herself informed, even after he had adjusted his style to accommodate her proclivities, "Pic-tures were in-cor-por-a-ted. crrr"