5/30; TEXT

[squadgoals]

If anyone has found a model space ship, or something that looks like a model, in their mailbox in the past month, please let me know!

Thanks!

Comments

[notglitching]

[There's a slight lag. Then a picture transmits to Shepard's inbox. She'll find one (1) image of her Quarian Liveship model.]

[squadgoals]

Thank you!

[notglitching]

[...for a picture? Rinzler would headtilt, but it's not quite worth switching to video over.]

Purpose?

[squadgoals]

Checking how many showed up. I have a hunch they're all here, so at this point, I'm just trying to find out who ended up with what.]

[Although... Tali might like having a Quarian liveship over the Geth model she ended up with.]

Any way I could trade that off of you, Rinzler?

[notglitching]

[Trade gets a brief lag for staring. As users go, Shepard is almost tolerable, and if the delivery belongs to her, Rinzler would return it on request.

Still... Rinzler likes the miniature ship much better than most of the mistakes the Ingress has made. And if the user isn't outright asking for it back...]

Clarify.

[squadgoals]

I give you something you want, and you give me the model ship in return.

Assuming there's something you want, of course.

[She considers making a joke along the lines of "or I'll take it by force!", but seeing as Rinzler's final encounter with Cannae had started because the man had been rifling through the program's stuff, thinks better of it. A nice, civil, trade. And nobody has to die.]

[notglitching]

[User please.]

Definition: known.

[Contrary to the assumptions of everyone Rinzler meets, he is not, in fact, stupid. Or in beta. Incredibly awful at communicating, yes, but he'd been asking about what she was offering.]

User supplies: not required.

[Just dropping that disclaimer now.]

[squadgoals]

[She deadpans at the message. The hell was she supposed to glean from "clarify"? Damn it, Rinzler.

And no user supplies? She's not made of code. What could she offer? She's halfway through typing "go ahead and keep it", when a seed of an idea takes root.]

How about a rematch?

[notglitching]

[Invisible lineface stubbornly returned. As far as Rinzler was concerned, there wasn't much Shepard could offer him in trade. If she demanded it back regardless, he'd comply, but if he was allowed to keep the model, Rinzler wasn't going to complain. Certainly, any other outcome didn't seem likely.

...

He really hadn't accounted for that answer.]

Accepted.

[No lag. No delay. Small simulation or a fight? No question.]

[squadgoals]

Ground rules:
-Fight to the knockout, or the yield.
-No use of deadly force.

I'd prefer a "no weaponry" rule (guns, discs, omni-tool, etc.), but let me know if that's too much. Can you fight without?

[notglitching]

Yes.

[Rinzler is a weapon. Rule two is earning more skepticism than the third one, really.]

[squadgoals]

Okay, to summarize:
1. Fight to the knockout, or to the yield.
2. No use of deadly force (See rule one: knockout only, no deaths.)
3. No weaponry.

Match will take place in the training room. Anything you want to add or addend?

[notglitching]

[Apart from the (silent, offscreen, behind a mask) eyerolling, Rinzler's got nothing. He doesn't need that many reminders this is nonlethal. Probably.]

Ready.

[squadgoals]

Okay. Any time not good for you?

[notglitching]

[Now works best, as far as Rinzler's concerned. But fine. Plan things. See if he cares.

In lieu of a specific answer, the program transmits his current schedule of shifts with the transporters. He's set for at least one eight-hour block daily, with double-shifts upcoming when they make planetfall. But Rinzler seems to mostly have opted for the times when regular people sleep, so there's time free during daylight periods.]

[squadgoals]

[Not having to sleep like that... is that a twinge of envy?]

Copy that. I'll hit you up with a time in a bit.

[notglitching]

[Not having to sleep... not sleeping. There's a line somewhere between.]

Acknowledged.

[He'll be ready.]