"Well"? Her blue eyes continue to lock on him waiting for a response.
"Is that even a question, here i thought he had passed this whole time". Gratitude, relief and determination mix together in an odd sensation sent throughout his body.
"Good, I'll keep you informed on any developments". Azure says her eyes eventually drift back to her holo-screens keeping an eye on a variety of patients.
"Try to make some yourself as well, i can't do all the work". She says doing a once over Blake.
"I would say you left your arm here, but you've already made yourself another one" She says seeing the pointlessness in her keeping it.
"Thanks for holding onto it, I like to keep previous iterations". Blake says as he goes to sling the old blood stained prosthetic over his shoulder.
"Good luck kid"
"You need to pass this if you want to go far on this planet". Azure says imbuing the importance of this final chance in Blake.
Making his way out of the ward his thoughts run rampant destroying any order in his mind. The lingering effects of his possession loom over him, alert for when the next time will be. Exiting the medical ward finally. Upon his exit the doors open and begin to spray him down with disinfectant thoroughly .
A frizz of orange presses against the waiting room walls. A nervous fidget vibrates across the wall. Her shoe tapping against the wall like the revving of an engine.
"Blake, thank goodness you're okay". Elation fills her voice.
"I wasn't expecting you to participate in the retakes after that, I must say you're a sadist for pain". She says trying to silence a forming giggle.
"Just Imagine my shock seeing your mangled body up there winning". Her tone deaf humour came into full bloom for Blake.
"You have a lovely way of putting it but yeah I'm just as shocked as you that I passed. I was very close to blacking out". Blake says laughing at this unexpected response. Trying to suppress the memories of the event.
"It's good to see you again Kiara, Raven told me i have you to thank for saving me". His voice begins to shake. Gratitude starts to influence his actions.
Bringing her into a warm embrace. "Thank you friend, I promise to return the favour in some way".
"It's what friends are for right? We look out for each other". An innocent smile beams through her frizzy orange hair.
Her attention gets caught in the differences from before."You've got some new gear, you're gonna need to catch me up on what's happened so far Blake". She says with a cheeky grin brimming with curiosity.
"Let's walk and talk, I need a cigarette after that exam". He says as the stress starts to agitate him.
Making they're way out of the medical floor of the exam tower. The two descend in the elevator. Exiting to the outside. A clear blue sky fills the two with a sense of calm.
*Click* The cigarette holder deftly opens.
*Zap* Smoke is drawn as the palm of his prosthetic cools down.
"That's better". Blake says as his stress escapes with the smoke.
The two begin to walk down the regencrete streets. The skyscrapers fail to stop the encompassment of the sky. The noise of hover traffic is drowned out in their conversation.
"So on my end, i ended up finding an old base my dad owned" Blake says the trust he has in this friendship taking the forefront of his decision.
"I was able to create some new gear there" Flashes of recent events play throughout his mind.
"Thankfully it worked out and helped me pass" Checking over his gear obsessively.
"SAND"
"IT'S EVERYWHERE INSIDE"! Blake says as his pet peeve aggressively assaults his ocd.
"Great, why am I not surprised. Of course sand would find its way in there. That's gonna be great to clean out" Smacking his prosthetic to his forehead. Intensively drawing on his cigarette now. He tries to distract his mind from the future cleaning process.
Giggling enters his ears. "You really are vigilant with your creations aren't you". Kiara says watching the scene play out.
"I have to be otherwise who else will maintain them". Blake says as flashes of previous iterations falling apart come to mind.
"I was going to say I could show you the place at some point after the retakes. Could even make you your own item if you like"
"I think it's only fair. You did save my life after all". Blake says brimming with creativity over what to make for her.
"REALLY"
"YOU'LL ACTUALLY MAKE ME SOMETHING". Giddy joy fills her voice.
"I've never had an item of my own".
"Normally inventors' creations are too expensive compared to progressing your own power".
"It's what friends are for right"? Blake says, returning the same warm smile.
"THANK YOU BLAKE"! Exuberant joy makes her fidget like a bursting soda bottle soon enough she's jumping up and down.
"So what have you been up to Kiara" Blakes says with curiosity.
"Oh, my dad decided to increase my training after saving you"
"He said I need to get better at handling my drawback or it will come to bite me later" Her sentences start to bleed together.
"If you want I can get him to show it to you at some point".
"It might help you close some of the gaps a power would".
"That's if you can keep up though".
"Cant have your boots either for it, would defeat the exercise". She says sticking her tongue out at him.
A blue slime starts to ooze its way out of a manhole. Muck and slime mix together as it jumps out of the hole. A figure is seen floating in the slime.
Bursting outward in front of the pair. A dull grey man covered head to toe in protruding spikes enters the view of the pair.
"Looks like we found a good harvest huh Spine" The slime itself starts to form a mouth in its puddle-like state.
"I can't wait to skewer them up Cricket." Madness cackles out of his voice.