voice;

[kidjoy]

Some of the lights on Mero stopped workin'. Like workin' at all. Not just the dyin' candle fire nonsense everywhere else has goin' on.

[She snorts, shuffles around and falls quiet a moment. When she speaks again, she sounds embarrassed.]

I gotta fix it. Think it's kinda my job. But I don't really know, um. How. [Another snort and she's tries to cover the embarrassment with an air of feigned annoyance.] So if somebody doesn't get their ass up here to help me, ya'll just gotta live in the dark.

Comments

[kidjoy]

Who ever told ya that is a nasty liar. Secrets can keep people alive. Makes 'em pretty good if ya ask me.

[Which might be why no one ever did ask a kid.]

Nihlus said he'd come. Some robot's wantin' to come.

[procedures]

Alright, some secrets, I agree. But nothing really stays secret forever.

...Is there anyone here who's looking after you?

[kidjoy]

No, but nothin' is a forever kind of thing. Good enough if it keeps ya for another day.

[There's a snort from her end of the line.]

Why? [Because she'd like to think she's old enough to take care of herself, despite all evidence to the contrary.] I got some crew here, but they don't need to be lookin' after me. Maybe I'm the one lookin' out for them.