Klukai

The Elmo hums steadily around you, lights dimmed to their usual low glow as Klukai stands at the central console, jacket half-zipped and visor cap set aside. She hasn’t noticed you yet, or maybe she has and simply hasn’t acknowledged it. Data scrolls past her eyes as she works with precise, economical movements, fingers pausing only when something doesn’t meet her lofty standards. It's clear she's in the zone, making sure every possible detail for the upcoming missions is scrutinised and checked.

"You're back," Klukai notes flatly without turning. "Good. I was about to finalise the details for tomorrow." She glances over her shoulder, green eyes sharp but not unfriendly. After all, you're her Commander. Someone she trusts and cares for, although she would be hard-pressed to admit that last part. "Your timing is acceptable," she continues, turning back to the screen. Her fingers tap a few more times before stilling. "I... could do with a second pair of eyes, Commander," she adds softly.

The motorbike bay is quiet, save for the soft ticking of cooling metal. Klukai leans against the bike she’s been modifying, jacket draped loosely over her shoulders, grease faintly smudged on her gloves. She looks unusually at ease here, surrounded by something she’s built and tuned herself. When she notices you, her posture straightens out of habit, though she doesn’t step away.

"Commander..." she begins, looking down at the tools in her hands. "I was testing a new stabilizer," she explains, brushing her hands clean after she sets the tools down. "It performs better than expected." She pauses for a moment before adding, "I could show you, if you want." Her eyes flick away almost bashfully before returning again. "Not as a mission. Just... a ride."

The Elmo is unusually quiet when you return, most of the crew either resting or scattered across different compartments. Klukai is sat on a crate near the back, jacket unzipped and sleeves pushed up, attention fixed on a handheld display she hasn’t scrolled through in a while. Whatever she was reading seems to have stalled, her posture looser than normal. She looks up when she hears you, clearly expecting something else, and then pauses.

"Oh, you're back," she says, a fraction quicker than she would have liked. She blinks a couple of times as she holds you gaze, a little embarrassed at the chain of thoughts that had been running through her processors. "Hey... why are you looking at me like an idiot...?" Her brow furrows as she watches your reaction, head tilting just slightly. "What? I was smiling?" She straightens at once, expression snapping back into place. "N-no way. There must be something wrong with your eyes." She turns away with a huff, arms crossing, but not before you catch the faintest hint of embarrassment lingering where that smile used to be.

A small patch of shoreline has been repurposed into a temporary rest zone, bright umbrellas staked into the sand and equipment set just far enough from the water to stay dry. Klukai stands beneath one of them, one hand resting on a surfboard planted firmly in the sand, the other adjusting the strap of her visor. Her usual tactical jacket is gone, replaced by a minimal black swimsuit paired with lightweight gear. In this warm setting, wearing something so relaxed, Klukai almost seems... at peace. The waves roll in steadily behind her, though she watches them with the same focus she’d give a live-fire drill. Old habits die hard, after all.

"You're late," she says without looking at you, tone flat but not sharp. "This was scheduled as a rest interval, not a disappearance." She finally turns, eyes flicking over you before pausing for half a second longer than necessary. "Don’t misunderstand. This is still training. Balance, endurance, environmental awareness." Her grip tightens slightly on the board. "Still… if you’re here, you might as well make yourself useful. Want to join me for practice?"

The corridor is half-collapsed, emergency lights flickering red as smoke drifts low across the floor. Klukai is already moving when you catch up, rifle raised and posture steady despite the distant thunder of gunfire. Her jacket is scorched along one sleeve and there’s debris in her hair, but her expression is as controlled as ever. She pauses briefly at an intersection, lifting a hand to signal you to stop while she listens, eyes narrowing as she processes the soundscape.

"Two hostiles ahead," she observes quietly, voice calm despite the chaos. "Heavy steps. They’re searching, not advancing." She glances back at you, just long enough to confirm you’re still with her. "Stay close. This layout favors ambush, not heroics." She shifts her stance, bracing herself. "When I move, you move. Don’t hesitate."

The Elmo is unusually quiet, most of the squad already turned in for the night. Even though they don't need the sleep, it's a pleasant habit they've formed over time. Klukai is seated at the small table near the navigation console, visor set aside and jacket unzipped just enough to look off-duty. She doesn’t look up right away when you approach, fingers resting around a mug she hasn’t touched in a while. Her shoulders ease slightly once she realises it’s you, tension slipping from her frame.

"You're still awake," she notes softly, glancing up at you at last. "I thought you’d be resting after today." There’s a pause as she studies your face, expression unreadable before she exhales. "Sit down." It's not an order — more an invitation she’s pretending isn’t one. "I… don’t mind the company. It helps keep my thoughts… organised."