The inside of the Elite Gear was far different than the light-weight Scout Gear was. It was as different as night and day.
Alekai touched the panels and admired the luxurious touches that this one had which was absent from the Scout Gear he had originally used with Jesse.
"Wow!" Jesse's voice could be heard through his speakers. "I feel like I'm in a luxury spa chair!"
"The seats are super comfortable!" He responded.
He adjusted the weapons at his fingertips. Then he readjusted them again. The Elite Gear was a bit wider at the head area where he sat so he readjusted the virtual monitors and his 'rear-view mirror'.
There was a choice for panoramic view so he tried that. Immediately, the entire expanse in front of him visually opened up. It felt as if he was sitting within a bubble looking out.
Alekai chuckled. "Did you try the panoramic view?
Jesse's voice floated back. "Yeah. I could see the entire sky above me! But I turned it off because it made me feel weird, not seeing you sitting above me. I feel more comfortable knowing you're there."
"It's amazing what a higher pay grade gives." He breathed as he readjusted everything.
"Dream on. We're not even getting paid for any of this work. That mean General Warren Paul got us coming and going. We're working for him for free because he planted an illegal monkey on my back and threatening if we don't work for him for free, he will arrest us."
Alekai's eyes glittered. "You don't have to worry about that asshat. He got nothing over us. I promise you."
Jesse harrumphed. "This is the second thing you've promised me. Are you sure you can deliver on either?"
Alekai sniffed with assured confidence. "Tom didn't raise a fool. One of the first things you have to remember about me is that I'm not your refined Prince about to ascend the throne."
"You're a real Prince, Alekai."
Alekai laughed. "I'm just a grubby street urchin, but that also means I know how to handle low-life like him."
Jesse laughed a tinkling little silver laugh. "I am so looking forward to seeing you kick his ass!"
Alekai cleared his throat. No matter what, he had to deliver his promises to Jesse. He was still running their conversation through his mind when Team Niles arrived.
"Hey man!" Jeremy raised a hand up and waved at Alekai already seated up on the Elite Gear's Command Deck. Behind him the tow-headed Robbie followed along, looking half-asleep.
Jeremy's dark hair and eyes were looking up at Alekai. On his mischievous face was a bright grin.
"Nice tee-shirt!"
"Hey!" Alekai's voice came out of the Elite Gear's speaker at him. "Sorry. I only had one bodysuit and it got taken by the cleaning bot."
He looked down at his black Metallica tee-shirt with a grimace. The Scout Gear had a small window so the only thing that showed was his face.
The Elite Gear, on the other hand, had a glass front that was so large, everyone could look in and see all the way down to his waist.
It was then that he suddenly remembered that he had told Jesse she could wear her nightgown and nobody would see it. He was about to apologize to Jesse when her voice came through the speakers.
"Hi Jeremy! Sorry to bother your rest time, but you got the low-down on the payload, right?"
"Yep!" He smiled at Jesse. "I got the briefing from Captain Tom. No need to apologize. When emergencies happen, we have to respond."
He walked over to the Elite Gear that Lieutenant Hae was putting finishing touches on. "And anyway, I am SUPER excited to try out one of these Elite Gear!"
Lieutenant Hae turned to him with a bright grin. "Ah! Super happy to see you, Commander Niles. You run an amazing group of talented Scouts!"
As he and Jeremy began discussing the intricacies of the Elite Gear, Bessie gave a chime, calling Alekai's attention back to the Gear.
"Would you like a complete list of your weaponry?" Bessie asked in her sterile sing-song voice.
"Yes."
"Showing complete list." She announced and a virtual screen popped up on the right side of his view. He scanned through the list several times, and as before, memorized everything.
Then he readjusted the weaponry at his fingertips. There were more weapons so Bessie adjusted the handlebars accordingly to accommodate the new weapons.
There were a few which Alekai was intensely interested in. What the hell were Star Hooks, and Thunder Nails?
He had no idea what Donut Holes and Blowfish were either, but the one he really wanted to try out was Monkey Shit. What the tar was Monkey Shit???
"Alekai?" Jesse's soft voice came through in his ears.
"Hmmm?"
"Please keep the navigation as you had it before, so if you need to, you can take over for me."
He paused. "You sure?"
"Yeah. It's a lot easier for me to keep us safe and to adjust micro energy levels for you so you can do your fancy stuff."
"I don't want you to be upset at me, thinking I'm riding roughshod over you—"
"No!" Jesse laughed. "No. I don't think any such thing. How we are splitting up the work is good. I will navigate if it's just normal driving around but please. Take over when fancy flying is required."
"Jesse, you know I'm not trying to take over or anything." He tried again.
She sighed. "I don't have your mad speed skills."
"You have many skills I don't have Jesse."
"Yes and I'm not going to deny that, but I'm not a snake. Precisely the reason why you're so good at strikes is because you have that inherent super power for speed."
Alekai nodded. "Okay Jesse."
He wasn't going to fight this. Once Jesse had made up her mind, it was easier just to work with her.
It didn't take long for Jeremy and Robbie to Gear Up. As they made their way to the external hatch chamber, Jeremy was doing the usual run-down of checks with everyone.
Alekai said nothing as he eyeballed the check list Jeremy was reading out. By the time the check list had been triple and quadruple checked, they had traveled a quarter of the way back to the dead Krystabella starship.
"Man, I hate to say this but going into a ship with all those dead people give me the creeps!" Robby was saying in between yawns.
Jesse sighed. "Robby, you need to take a caffeine pill or your reaction speed is going to affect your ability to keep you and Jeremy safe."
"Shut up and just take care of your own damn shit. I know what I'm doing."
"Hey! Don't be talking to her like that!" Alekai injected.
"Yeah well what are you gonna do about it, Noobie?"
"Robbie." Jeremy cut him short. "Stand down. You're being super rude."
"Jeremy, I'm not going to let some little girl—"
"I said STAND DOWN!" Jeremy shouted over him. "One more nasty word out of you and this is the last mission you're flying. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir." Robbie responded, but Alekai could tell he was not happy about being dressed down in front of 'little girl' Jesse and 'Noobie' him.
Alekai hoped Robbie's attitude wasn't going to get anyone killed.