Coming out of the smoke myself with the Echani rising back up, the few that were still standing had continued to pursue Aurra. The rest give chase before a metal cylinder is lazily dropped by me and they back away before a deafening explosion blossoms to life.

Getting into the jungle with them not far behind as the scenery changes to that of nothing but green foliage everywhere. Despite the absurd speed I am moving at I make little noise compared to my pursuers who make it rather obvious where they are at since they don’t need to sneak around. A bad idea on their part. The occasional blaster fire can be heard knowing it’s Aurra fighting off her pursuers going for the clearing. I had told her where to go and how far to get to it.

A savage smile grows on my face now letting go of my self-restraint as I move far faster leaving what at one time were my hunters behind as they don’t give up. Two of them rush into a small opening following the trail of noise I leave behind. 

As they look around trying to find me a branch snaps as they look in that direction before a blaster bolt sails past one's head who dodges at the last second as it impacts the tree behind her. Each of the women looks nearly identical with the only real difference being their hair styles. Most have their hair cut short whereas others have long cascading pearl white hair at the smalls of their backs.

Faster than she could recover in time her ally turned far too slowly to help two metal barrels poke out of the plants behind her. 

Boom!

She tried valiantly to dodge but there was no room as the buckshot hit her abdomen but didn't break past her armor to my annoyance. Sent flying back hitting a tree before sliding down the air forced out of her lungs as she groans like music to my ears before the other one rushes me. Blade raised to slice through the plant's halts as fire erupts surging out of the foliage as she pivots before leaping and running along the sides of trees away from the fire before leaping again.

She lands gracefully glancing around ears strained to find me. Swiftly turning around faster than most sentients could hope to keep up with her sword spears through the dark shadow of a hand reaching for the back of her head. A cocky smirk is on her face before I wipe it off ignoring the pain as my hand slides further down the now-restrained weapon to her shock. Grasping the guard and handle of the blade and part of her hand in a deadly grip.

Showing her inexperience or simply surprise she doesn’t let go trying to slice through my hand to free it. But it’s too late as my other hand grabs the back of her head as she lets go of her weapon, grabbing my hand and holding her head as she tries to pry back the individual fingers and break them but to no effect. 

Wide-eyed she tries to kick at the side of my head with her knee but before she gets the chance flipping my hand with the sword still embedded in it around the blade gleaming with the red blood coating it.

Realizing what I aim to do her legs press against my chest to force me back but with far more force than what is necessary shove her head to the blade coming out of my hand. The blade goes through the flesh under her jaw before swiftly piercing through the roof of her mouth and popping out the top of her head her eyes go dull and lifeless not even having enough time to register the pain, dropping her as she falls to the ground like a ragdoll with the blade sliding out of her head.

Deftly avoiding a knife thrown from the side seeing the other one who was shot into a tree standing as she rushes me. Running at each other she lashes out with a slash that would have cut right through my throat had I not stopped faster than she could anticipate at the right moment the cut missing as it stops just off to the side of my throat before she redirects it. 

As it comes back for me my hand snakes out grabbing her wrist and with a squeeze snap it like a twig as she grimaces dropping her sword and I let go. 

Other hand moving for a weapon sheathed on her back as my outstretched hand makes her look at me in worry before a blizzard of frigid air, snow, and ice closes the distance to her as she moves to avoid it not needing to see the flash freeze happening to everything in its path to know it is dangerous. From plants encased in ice falling to numerous little pieces to the air turning to a deadly cold temperature killing most life it touches. 

Flying faster than she could have anticipated it misses most of her besides the leg caught in it at the thigh that is covered in frost as she falls to the ground. Trying to rise off the ground the cracking of ice could be heard coming from her leg as the armor rips and red ice falls through it. Before she can do anything further a crimson bolt hits her in the head silencing her as steam rises from what was once her head. 

Holstering the blaster and removing the sword my hand quickly reforms new bones, muscle, and finally the skin knitting back together all in a matter of seconds. More noises can be heard as a grin is plastered on my face, canines pronounced as I fight off a chuckle. 

Several more come into the area with a few keeping a lookout as a few check on the fallen seeing they are dead. Their forms tense, not knowing where I am yet not afraid. Their hearts beat quickly but not in the way the others had in the past when the end drew near. This is going to be satisfying. I may not be able to kill all of them but I can get some if not most of them before getting to the ship. 

“The force user killed them. Aleesha and the others are on their way. It would seem our little sisters were not exaggerating to save face with Mother about this hunter. He is capable and resourceful.” One with short hair in a bob cut says to another with a long braided length of hair going down her back. 

“It was a stroke of fortune to have him appear here with the former Jedi turned bounty hunter. They didn’t kill her?”

“No. She fought back and was able to fend them off. She was more capable than they expected for a  former padawan.” The bob-cut one rises from the ground from the dead body of her sister.

“A shame. It’s not often we get to hunt a Jedi even if they are not a fully-fledged one or with the order any longer. But we must find this Corvo. He has stained our family's name and we must wipe this stain away. He has proven himself to have access to the fabled force the Jedi preach so much about so he will make a fine replacement for the other one. His death will help ascend our family lineage to that of the legends amongst our people.”

Her talk of bringing glory to their family seems to rouse the fighting spirit in her siblings as they stop looking at their dead siblings and newfound determination can be seen in their eyes.

“Glad to hear you ladies find me worthy. Unfortunately, I don’t see you as anything other than slightly capable thugs. Anyone can set up a trap or ambush. It takes a special someone to fight someone at a disadvantage and win. You all are not that special.” My voice comes from everywhere and nowhere as the sisters bring their weapons to bear as they glance around forming a tight circle around one another.

“Show yourself, Corvo. Let us end this fight here and now.” Says the one I have given the title of leader of these women. I can only shake my head and smile at this one. 

“Very well then.” My voice comes from above them as they look up as a shadow looms over them. 

They quickly step back as my form falls to the ground blade held in both hands lashing out narrowly missing the leader's throat before she and her sisters spear me with their weapons.

Before any of them get a chance to process just what they are looking at as their weapons phase right through like it was a hologram I am upon two of them with the pilfered sword spearing one from behind where her heart was as she falls and a shotgun blast impacts several of them one even getting half her face impacted from the buckshot.

Many of them are sent flying to the ground as the one who is now missing an eye grimaces in pain but rises before like all the others leaps away as several grenades are tossed in their direction. Fading back into the foliage they now chase after where they last saw me. Rushing into the plants as the one with half her face destroyed moves about glancing around much more weary now after seeing my illusion. 

Automatic blaster fire tears through the plants as they hit the deck and whirl about as I manage to hit two more, sending them falling to the ground in cries of pain before the others swiftly give chase. 

Cackling as they fire arrows at me forcing them behind trees and the others who are not being focused by me try to get closer before disengaging as I target them instead tossing the occasional grenade to force them back. 

Some try to use the trees to rain arrows but drawing out my grenade launcher sends them running to other trees if they don’t want to get blown up or fall from that height. Moving further into the clearing noting that some of them are no longer with the rest of the group. They weren’t capable of making little noise moving through the plants before so where did they go?

A feeling of being watched has me ducking under a vibrosword that came from behind that would have taken my head. The sword slashes through several plants not slowed in the slightest before the lady who wields it glares at me. She rushes me down aiming at any vital points on my body as I narrowly avoid her strikes.

Moving to the side avoiding one strike before another sword appeared out of nowhere cutting my arm slightly. Had I been a second slower she would have taken my arm off. Glancing down seeing it bleeding as blood drips on the ground. The two women approached me from either side with swords at the ready. A chuckle escapes me seeing them surprising me thinking they wouldn’t be able to turn the tables.

Blaster fire goes off in the distance as one keeps her eyes on me but the other quickly glances in the direction it came from. Quickly drawing my DL-44 her attention is split but the other one comes to her rescue knocking her out of the way of the shots before I focus fire on the one standing as she charges me weaving around the crimson bolts. The rest can be seen rushing to us.

As she nears me I backpedal holding my hand out. She seems to know what I am about to do leaping back into the foliage out of sight as a small ice storm forms out of my hand encasing the plants in frost and some parts of ice on them chilling the air. 

Not wanting to let them regroup and come for me again I turn and run further into the jungle making my way to the evac point as the sounds of our hunters can be heard all around. 

I have had my fun and not wanting to take any further risks seeing them do something I hadn’t expected. It would be best to leave now while I can.

Every now and then they would attempt to surround me but the occasional grenade would force them back. Didn’t stop them from trying to hit me with a throwing knife or arrows of all things but they were not half bad. One arrow nearly took out my left eye. Using bullet time and moving my head to the side saved me from that.

Almost there just a little further-

“Hurghk.” Is all that comes out of me as I am hoisted into the air feeling something around my throat tightening as I grasp at it. Burning from what feels like a wire or something cutting off my throat from getting air in. Several of the ladies come out of the foliage a sway in their steps as they look up at me in contempt with smug smiles as I try to get the wire or whatever is hanging me.

A sword slashes out when my hand goes for a weapon, cutting my harness with several weapons and my grenades fall to the ground. My hope to be free of the wire is becoming more difficult. 

The leader stalks up smugly smiling at me enjoying my suffering. “I will be the first to admit that I had my doubts that you were as capable as our younger sisters had said. We have now seen that they were not lying. Now our family can rest easy knowing the stain on our honor has been wiped away.” The leader says as the others watch her walk up to me a swift cut along my face sends blood leaking down that quickly stops to the woman's surprise. 

The pain made me want to lash out but getting hung is a good way to stop that in its tracks. The group watches fascinated at the cut knitting itself back together before looking like it never happened.

“Interesting. Well, it doesn’t matter since you can heal quickly will simply mean we get to show you the same courtesy you have shown my sisters and me. We will get to know each other rather well in these next few moments. That is if you don’t die from hanging.” She purrs out stabbing me in the gut as the sword pierces through my armor and goes out the other side of my body.

As she stabs and slices along my body as the wounds quickly heal I glance up seeing one of them further up on a tree branch holding the wire while looking at me with a vicious bloodthirsty smile that makes me grimace since it’s the one who got half her face destroyed by boomstick. Seeing the look on my face of disgust at her face being so badly damaged her smile turns into an angry snarl as she grits her teeth. 

Snarling back at her both hands rise before several of their weapons pierce into my arms at varying positions nearly halting them as they know about my powers. Slowly with great pain, I force my arms further up with the wounds healing to only be reopened as the girls grit their teeth trying to stop me as their weapons cut further into my limbs but I am forced to push on. One hand stops as a white orb forms in it. 

One of them readies to cut my head off but before she does I close my eyes and a flash of light blinds all in the area as they cover their eyes and grunt in annoyance but those that are holding my arms in place keep ahold of their weapons. Painfully I force my hands further up finally grabbing the wire above my head as she has her one eye closed but holds firmly not letting go.

On one hand, electricity erupts from it going up the line. The one holding onto it screams out as her form changes to black and blue sending flashes of light across the jungle as she begins twitching and spasming while below my other hand has a golden light coming it preventing the electricity from going further down the line. The flow of electricity finally ends with the one above smoking and standing still having fallen silent before falling back off the branch still holding the wire.

“No stop him!” One of them yells finally able to see as I rise further up and away from the group. My poor throat feels raw at the quick ascension up into the air. Quickly grabbing the tree branch and held on as the wire went slack to my relief with the sister hanging me on the ground with smoke coming off of her body.

Yanking the wire off heaving in lungfuls of air before hiding behind the branch with several thunks coming from the other side. Glancing over to see many knives on the branch before leaping to another branch and fleeing the group after several of them had quickly climbed up the trees looking like something you would see out of a circus.

With a quick burst of frost, the surrounding branches become slick as snot. As soon as any of the ladies land on one they are slipping and falling back down. Some grab another branch or vine and others are not so fortunate.

Knowing what I am doing they all glare at me. Under and over or around all the tree limbs and branches managing to stay just ahead of them doing my best to slow them down as they catch up to me. Nearing the area hearing the hum of thrusters I leap from the tree and roll before turning around holding my arms above my head and my hands cupped together.

At first, a small ember is there before it quickly grows in size reaching the size of a car. Throwing my arms forward as the overcharged fireball flies forth impacting one of the trees before it's entirely toppled then turned to ash and cinders before hitting the ground with many more trees following it with fire igniting that section of the jungle. To my annoyance, no screams are heard which just tells me they avoided it.

Rushing back to the ship and seeing Aurra there with her rifle aimed to give me cover. She gives me a questioning look before glancing at the roaring inferno that would not look out of place in hell before looking back at me. 

Ignoring it before walking up the ramp as the ship starts to take off. Looking out the window of the cockpit seeing our attackers stare at us from a safe distance and I stare back before the ship takes off leaving the planet behind. This is far from over.

…

Squig and his group of fellow slaves work the carts as they always have for who knows how long. He was sold into slavery as soon as he could walk by his mother and he wouldn’t be surprised if the rest of his fellow slaves had similar stories. Whether they are humans or Twi’lek hell even some Trandoshans all in the end are slaves in this place.

Life is not as horrible as other sentients make it sound. Being a slave isn’t great but it’s also not as bad as other places could be. Here they are not abused so long as they meet quota and even then they are given some leeway if they are sick or have other issues preventing them from properly getting their jobs done.

Of course, there are limits to how far they are willing to give a slave some slack before they become a liability. But compared to other places using slave labor this may as well be a breath of fresh air. 

Glancing around Squig sees the others moving the spice in carts like himself as they quickly reach the surface of the cave tunnel with the lights illuminating the tunnel they reach the incline slowly as the still air of the cave changes to warmer air as the light of the systems sun is now seen as he blinks his eyes several times adjusting to the light.

One of the workers employed by the Hutts waved him along as he brought his cart overfilled with spice. The encampment with the walls surrounding it from the local wildlife has several buildings in rough shape, the older ones being for the slaves and the more intact for the employees and guards. 

Unfair but it’s better than what he has seen before getting shipped here after he was purchased alongside several more slaves. Unfairness goes hand in hand with being a slave, merely be thankful for the situation to not get worse for yourself and keep your mouth shut with any complaints and everything will be just fine.

Movement gets his attention as Squig turns around seeing guards running about as if something is attacking. Then someone cries out pointing up as several massive brown ships come out of the sky landing away from the compound the guards look uneasy as if they know what is happening and whose ships those are.

One of the higher-ranked guards says quietly to another guard but Squig hears them. “The Trade Federation has gotten the Republic to help them. We can’t run. If we do, Juugra will want our heads. We have to fight.”

The other guard speaks back aggressively not liking the order. “Are you kidding me?! We can run right now! Just get one of the ships loaded with spices and we can run away and have some credits to our names.”

“They have the planet in their grasp. They took out the few ships we had in the system and if we got off the planet they would shoot us down. We have better odds fighting on the ground here against their forces and holding out.”

“Kriff that I am not-” 

The blaster shot echoes out across the camp as both slave and guard alike watched the guard who fell silent fall to the ground sporting a smoking chest as he lay on the ground unmoving. 

“All slaves are to go back to the caves and in the main mining chamber. You will not be told twice and hurry!” The guard who killed his coworker shouts firing his blaster in the air for added motivation.

Squig and several slaves quickly run back to the cave as the guards along the walls see something and open fire with the turrets placed along them they open fire before numerous red bolts come back killing some of them as they fall off the wall dead.

Squig now had all the motivation as did his fellow slaves as they ran back to the cave the slaves coming up with other carts looked at us confused before they heard the blaster fire and stopped what they were doing and quickly joined the rest of them as they all ran.

Before long almost all the slaves had gotten back to the main chamber as they all talked amongst themselves with the few guards in the chamber no word had come from the surface everyone worried about what was happening. Then over the constant muttering and talking happening, something could be faintly heard over it all.

The sound of metal on stone. Taps. At first, no one heard it then the sound grew and grew eventually equally and then surpassing the noise in the chamber as the caverns leading to the surface and the different camps had an army of skeletal droids march into the cavern before halting as they stared at all of them.

Squig gulped as the guards looked torn, not knowing what to do as they kept their blasters raised ready to fight to the bitter end. 

One of the droids at the front pulled out a disc-shaped device before a figure in a blue hologram was projected out of it saying something to the metal skeleton. They talk back and forth, no one able to hear them before the figure disappears as the droids all gaze soullessly at them before the leader of the droids speaks.

“Gunray has ordered us to take over this mine. Dispose of the workers they are not needed.” The words sent shivers down all of their spines as they stared wide-eyed in horror as their blasters were raised but didn't open fire as time went on before several figures emerged from the shadows behind the droids.

The light revealed some of the guards from the camp on the surface. One of the guards is just under the overseer as one of his higher-ranked men turns to the droid. “Alright, that won’t be a problem.”

He and the other guards showed that there were far more of them than Squig had initially thought had survived as they quickly came out holding blasters moving further into the cavern past the droids who just watched.

Squig and his fellow slaves along with the few guards who looked shocked seeing their fellow guards raised their blasters but before they could open fire their former coworkers beat them to gunning them down before turning their weapons on all of them as some tried to flee but there was nowhere to run to as they get mowed down with the cavern flashing red as each shot downed someone as screams echo out into the cave until it all turns to black after a red blur is seen heading for Squig followed by pain and then nothing.

Events like this play out all across the outer rim as many of the Hutt's areas of production or businesses are attacked with many assets like the slaves slaughtered. 

Stepping into the flower shop as the bell rings signaling my arrival as I hear shuffling up stairs. Walking closer to the counter as I look over the plants seeing a good half of them have been changed with yet more either being rare or endangered with a rainbow of colors being both exotic and beautiful.

“Pam?” I say out loud as I suppress a smile hearing the feet stomping around upstairs increase in pace. 

“Just a moment Daniel!” I hear her voice despite it being distorted both from the distance and the floor and walls in between us as easily as I would have if she was right next to me.

Rapid steps are coming down from above showing how nervous she is as I see her form rushing down the steps. She is in jeans that do marvelous things to her curves and an orange and yellow shirt with her hair done up but still poofy a nice balance of the two. 

Softer steps come down behind her as an older woman looking to be in her late sixties with her Snow White hair and wrinkles across her face. She leans over slightly with a hunch and has some weight to her but not enough to be unhealthy as she has her hand on a rail guide as she slowly comes down the stairs.

She looks at Pamela with a happy smile that goes down a little when she looks at me. Her eyes appear warm and welcoming behind her glasses despite not being as happy looking at me. She must be the boss and owner Pamela told me about when I first met her, May Fleur.

“Glad you could make it Daniel!” Pam said quickly walking up to me, not as fidgety as she normally is. 

“Glad to come and hang out with you.” I say back with an easy-going smile.

Her own smile becomes a bit strained as she quickly glances back at the older woman who is coming down from the stairs as she smiles gently at our interaction. 

“Apologies to the both of you, I know Pam wanted to go out somewhere and hang out as you kids like to call it these days but I needed a little help in this shop since I don’t get around like I used to. My name is May Fleur, you must be her friend and coworker Daniel she has talked so much about.” 

Pam winces at the reveal but she seems surprised seeing me being unbothered by the revelation. “I am. It’s nice to meet you ma’am.” I say coming up and holding my hand out she doesn’t hesitate to grab and shake it gently. “I don’t mind helping at all, what do you need help with?”

“Oh my such a sweet young man, some of the plants upstairs need to be rotated with the ones down here. You don’t need to help…”

Waving her off as I step up and start picking up one of the plants she had indicated needed to be rotated as Pamela is getting ready to take one of the plants before May places a hand on her shoulder as she tenses up and gives a look to May who merely gently smiles back.

“I need to discuss some details about the plants with Pamela for upcoming sales. You don't mind, do you, Daniel?” She says as Pamela is now staring holes into the side of the older woman’s head who is sweetly smiling at me.

If it wasn’t for me trying to not laugh I would be interested in what’s going on but I have a small suspicion so I leave it be. 

Shrugging to the ladies, “Sure.” After that I walk up the stairs and Pamela with May walk to a far corner of the store past numerous plants with May showing that her coming down the stairs was just an act with how agile she is moving through the horde of leaves with ease and far faster than most at her age would be capable of.

Pamela on the other hand wasn’t as good, but she managed to get past them without much issue simply because of her experience at having to navigate the store. 

Both of them reach the corner with Pamela pointing an accusatory finger at May, “You promised you wouldn’t try and do something like this.”

May raised her hands in surrender as she smiled gently at Pamela, “Pam, what are you talking about?”

Sighing, Pamela felt so exasperated at her bosses antics, “You know da-” She catches herself from cursing as May giver her a knowing look but lets it slide, “-darn well what I am talking about. You said you wouldn’t do what you are doing right now.”

“Pamela the last couple of times anyone showed any interest in you they were up to no good. Trying to use you. Just look at how your professor is treating you.” May said back using air quotes at the mention of Jason.

Pamela would normally appreciate her doing this as she has always looked out for her after she had been working for her and they had grown close. It helped that she had shown she wasn’t like most of Gotham where she tried to take advantage of others and had a genuine love for plants like May did.

A love that she had inherited from her mother that brings both pleasant and warm memories but also pain and loss. 

Letting go of that line of thought Pamela continued, “Daniel is not like them. He is helping Kirk Langstrom and has helped him greatly by teaching his classes for him.”

“May I appreciate everything you have done. You are like the grandmother I never had and I will always be thankful for you trying to look out for me,” Mays's smile lost a bit of its edge, the one she normally has when she knows she is right, as the woman had acted like a surrogate grandmother giving her guidance and advice not just with plants but with life, “But Daniel is fine and you derailing my plans to go out to the park with him is not fine.”

“Pamela, just as you view me as family I view you as the granddaughter I never got the chance to know. I have gone through much, survived the worst the rainforests of South America could throw at me along with a not-so-insubstantial amount of men who thought I was beneath them besides the few genuine good ones.” She said the last part with a far-off look in her eyes before it was wiped away.

Pamela always loved hearing the stories of her time spent down in the rainforests, the awe in her eyes at witnessing the various species of plants whether they were common or incredibly rare. She was especially in awe when the few stories she talked about dealing with dangerous Cartels or wildlife within the jungle. 

Despite how nervous and afraid Pamela could be, May knew that deep down she was eerily similar to her with that sense of adventure and passion for life that she had in her younger years. But unlike her, Pamela never fully let those desires or urges out and let them lead her to do what she did in her younger years. 

She was both grateful and sad she didn’t fully get to enjoy herself like she did, but there was still time. She just hoped she didn’t make the mistakes she had made.

“I am only doing this to see if he is on the up and up. If he passes then you can go and enjoy yourselves.”

“You don’t just get to do that May. I had plans and Daniel is genuine, he isn’t fake. For fucks-”

“Language.” She admonished her.

“-sake he helped me hide in the classroom closet from Jason on my day off. You are making me look bad now because he is probably thinking I asked him to hang out to help with my job. I am not like those snooty girls who use their looks to get what they want.”

May merely smirked as she tilted her head, “I seem to remember helping you look nicer when you went to go see him on your day off… Pamela I know it seems I am getting in the middle of your life especially with someone you are interested in, but if you are not liking me testing him then think of it as your way of paying me back.”

Pamela’s mouth fell open not believing what she just heard from her. “You cannot be serious.” She says more quietly hearing Daniel coming closer and around the corner.

“Plants are taken upstairs Ms. Fleur, what’s next?” He says with a small smile as some dirt is smudged onto his arms and shirt. Pamela had to keep herself from ogling him as she enjoyed the sight of a working men.

May gave her a knowing look as Pam glared at her. The look said enough, not one word.

“Oh thank you Daniel, and sorry for me and Pamela not helping just yet I was discussing all that needed to be done on our end with her. The more colorful plants are in the far left corner near the front of the store. They have-”

“You mean the Black Bat and Chocolate Cosmos amongst the group?” He says innocently as May opens and closes her mouth, registering what he just said and catching her off guard that he knew what those plants were when most people don’t even know what a Tulip is or that it is different from something like a Daisy.

“Yes those ones. Please be gentle with them since you know the names of them then you know how precious they are.” She says smiling at him as Pam gives her a smug smile with a knowing look that Daniel doesn’t notice.

 He takes the plants and with a surprising level of gentleness and maneuvering moves around the various plants taking them upstairs as well. 

“Alright he knows about some botany, but that is not what I am testing him on.” She says with a far too serious look.

Pamela has a lone brow raised as she crosses her arms, “I am well aware and want to simply prove why I like him and don’t want you ruining this.”

“Well Pamela, my sweet little daisy,” As much as it annoys Pamela that nickname she has for her she doesn’t have the heart to be mean when the woman means nothing bad by it and is the closest thing she has to family now, “You can enjoy yourself with your friend just for now. He passes, you can go after all this.”

“We can always go now.” She said looking like she had a point.

“And break my old heart while you're at it, and then when he does something you will come to me.” She says but the unspoken parts are loud and clear to Pamela.

“… fine. I will let you test him and when -- not if -- he passes you will not do something like this again.” 

May stared at her long and hard before nodding and acquiescing to her demands. “Well best get to it. Wonder if he took the bait for any of the money left out?” She muttered to herself but it was loud enough for Pamela to hear as she did a double take.

“You did what?!” She says looking scandalized at May willing to do something like that.

“Oh calm down it’s nothing the shop won’t hurt over if he takes it.” May says it like she isn’t setting someone up with an expression of can you believe this girl?

Pamela could only shake her head as she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. At this rate, she will die single and alone. A noise draws her out of her thoughts making her realize that Daniel is currently doing everything on his own… and she is ever so slightly curious if he did take the money. 

Quickly hurrying seeing that Daniel had been busy taking a vast majority of the plants May needed taken up with her grabbing the few smaller ones he had left since he had prioritized the bigger ones she and May would have struggled with.

A warmth in her chest takes form at how courteous and sweet he was to do that. She gave May a look who shrugged, noticing the same thing she had. May walked over to the register as Pamela moved past her seeing that most of the money was still in the till.

Or at least it looked like it, May didn’t look like she was proven right about Daniel. Reaching the top of the stairs Daniel stepped over to her reaching for the plants.

“Thank you Daniel but I got these. I don’t expect you to do all the work.” She said feeling guilty for going along with what May wished to do. 

“All good don’t mind giving a helping hand. Plus it’s nice to do something physical instead of standing behind a desk all day.” He said going back down the stairs with her following behind him.

She didn’t fail to notice the dollar bills left on some tables upstairs by May and from what she had seen none of them had been touched if the lack of dirt on the oddly clean tables was anything to go by. 

Internally smirking, May is proven wrong about Daniel as she follows him down the stairs trying to grab some of the bigger plants that May directed them towards.

Just as she is about to grab the bigger blood orange tree Daniel is already lifting it and holding it as she goes to help him but he stops her with a shake of his head. 

“Appreciate you trying to help but I got the bigger ones. Don’t want you or May hurting yourselves.” He says going to the stairs before she firmly grabs the other side of the potted plant stopping him despite Pamela knowing full well if he wanted to he could move her aside. 

Another reason why she likes him is because of things like this, he could throw his weight around like so many of the jocks and muscle heads she has seen in Gotham abusing their strength but he doesn’t.

“I get what you are saying but I do this a lot more than you would think, I am helping you Daniel.” She says in a rare moment of her being firm that she has no idea where it came from.

Maybe at the idea of sitting back and letting Daniel do all the heavy lifting. It also could be that despite her enjoying him treating her not just as a person but as a woman she still had some pride in what she does in her life. 

Daniel gives her a small smile pulling his arms back as she grabs the other side of the massive pot with Daniel going up the stairs first.

She follows behind keeping the pot level but she doesn’t fail to notice that Daniel despite letting her help is still keeping most of the weight of the pot held up by himself which Pam could only be surprised by not realizing Daniel was that strong. 

But then again he did usually wear clothes that covered up his body besides the rare occasion which those days she didn’t have the chance to see him. She had heard the girls outside of class gossiping about it… 

A look of concentration comes over her face as it scrunches up and she puts more muscle into it as she lifts her end of the pot more so than before to get a brow in response from Daniel who simply smiles at her and her cheeks start to burn in embarrassment.

Feeling the familiar burn in her arms but enjoying the feeling of pride of bringing one of the bigger plants up the stairs as they both set it down as a grunt leaves her and looking over seeing May checking over the plants that Daniel had brought up getting them set up in different positions as she side eyes the money. 

Pamela could only shake her head following Daniel downstairs as he made small talk with her.

“So you think your classes are ready for the upcoming tests?” He says juggling two medium pots with plants in them swaying.

Crouching down as she used her legs to lift a heavier plant but nothing that she needed help with. “Doubt it. Maybe a handful but I don’t think most of them are going to pass…” She says silent for a beat before opening up to him and being honest with herself, “But it’s not their fault. I am just strapped for time and before you helped me I struggled to organize a lecture of the class let alone setting up a proper rubric.” 

She shakes her head at that while walking up the stairs with me. As we reach the top, May adds her two cents, “I keep telling you to tell that man you work for that he needs to start teaching his class. Daniel, I hear you work as one of his colleagues' assistants similar to Pamela?”

“Yeah, for Kirk Langstrom. Mostly because he is trying to keep whatever funding he has left since Woodrat had gotten it in his head that he deserves that money more than Kirk.” May fails to hide a snort at Daniel making fun of the man May had grown to strongly dislike, “So he is practically a walking talking zombie who has the weight of the world on his shoulders. In his case, I get why he needed me to teach the class.”

May gives me a sympathetic nod, “I take it you are being honest about this Langstrom?”

Pamela gives her a stink eye when Daniel's back is facing her but he goes on unaware, “Yeah, if it wasn’t for him being as stressed as he is and being one of the rare few decent people in this city I would have told him to kick rocks. Woodrat on the other hand is just ridiculous, I keep telling you Pam you need to set him straight on the fact that unlike Kirk he has time to teach his class.” He says turning around as she quickly wipes the look away on her face and smiles lightly at him.

May gives him an approving smile before turning to Pamela, “See Pamela I am not the only one. That man needs to learn to carry his own weight.” She says wagging a finger at her as Pam looks like she bit into a lemon.

“It’s not that easy. As things stand I can’t just walk away since I doubt Jason or the Director would let me and I need that degree since that was the deal.”

Daniel looks like he wants to chuckle but he hides it and lets it go to both Pam's relief and chagrin before setting down the plant where May gestures she wants it at brushing the dirt off my hands. “Sunken ship fallacy Pam.”

Pamela groans, “Not you too…”

May just chuckles, shaking her head as she seems to warm up to Daniel to Pamela’s relief after seemingly pleased the money she had left around is accounted for. 

It helps that Daniel is saying the same things that May had when she finally got Pamela to tell her what has been stressing her out for so long.

May could only huff at how stubborn she was in keeping things to herself regardless of how much it bothered her. Reminded of her past, simply trying to carry the weight of all the trouble life can give a person on her own and refusing to budge on any form of help or even talking to someone.

Pamela may as well have been her granddaughter in all but blood with how she acts so much like herself.

“So how are things with Dr. Langstrom's project?” Pam says changing the subject but she sounds concerned about this other professor thought May. 

“It’s going well at least for science standards. The school and Director however wanted results yesterday and every day going forwards.” He says not happy when mentioning the leeches that May had grown to strongly dislike throughout her life. 

“Right… sorry to bring it up.” Pamela hiding a wince at touching a landmine like that. May hid it well but even she would have winced at that topic that Pamela just brought up, but she was proud to see her opening up more. 

She was worried that Pamela was possibly going to fall for that rat that thought he was gods gift to everyone. She had seen his kind before, no talent or very little if any and always stealing from others that he could never hope to accomplish on his own. 

He would try to cajole and manipulate Pamela while taking advantage of her as he uses her feelings to his advantage. May let out a huff at how the players may change but the game remains the same as it always has. The only thing changing besides the players is the prize on occasion.

It’s something that May and Pamela were both thankful for after that one gentleman who showed up one evening and bought many plants and showed a knowledge your average Gothamite would never have on plants. 

Then Pamela had decided she wanted to try and be more sociable and learn to at least not stand out in a crowd, something that May was both happy for her and felt embarrassed by. 

Pamela had struggled but at least had managed to not be as socially awkward as she once was even if she still didn’t have any friends but she was far better now than she was when she had first started.

Daniel waved it off heading back down the stairs with her following behind him, “No need to be. Kirk is a genius and quite frankly what he has managed to accomplish is already a massive thing for the science community. The problem is people being greedy and trying to rush things.”

A snort could be heard up the stairs and they both knew it was May. Pamela knew some of her history as she told her plenty of stories since she warmed up to her after a couple of months working at her flower shop. 

Her stories of going to the Amazon rainforest and exploring so much of South America were still Pam’s favorites.

Her days at university when she was much younger and the good and bad that came from it. She never talked much of the university besides her days with the friends she had made there and mentioned briefly her butting heads with several of her professors. 

But mostly just the good times that she would have a fond look while looking off into the distance.

Pamela got rather curious since Daniel never brought up the topic of what he and Kirk were doing, “Is it that big?”

Daniele glanced at her as he lifted a rather large pot with a quiet grunt as Pamela tried to not ogle the muscles in his arms or his lower back with the shirt lifting up.

“Yeah, it is. It could change a lot of things in the world for the better.”

Pamela mind raced at the implications as she knew that Kirk talked a lot about his interest in genetics especially involving animals. 

“Can I ask what it is exactly?” She says lifting several smaller pots as he glances back at her before looking down at the floor mulling it over.

Looking at her fully for what felt like a small eternity before glancing at May as he came to a decision, “Alright I will tell you,” She smiled lightly at that as he continued, “But you can’t tell anyone! Especially not Woodrat since who knows what he would do knowing that Kirk is making progress.”

Her smile dims as she nods to him thankful he was willing to confide in her despite knowing she is Jason’s assistant. It was a big thing to ask. 

It showed that the time they spent together was enough for them to form a bond of some kind. Pamela would like to think they were even friends even if she wished for more but as socially awkward as she was even she knew not to push for something like that as things stand.

“I promise not to tell anyone, especially Jason.” She said with a rather surprising amount of resolve. 

She may try to defend Jason’s actions despite how he can be she still in her own way cared for the man who did teach her some things and had taken her under his wing just as May had. 

But she had grown to care more for Daniel with how much he has helped her and unlike others didn’t push her away because of her appearance or how odd she is compared to others.

“And you have nothing to worry about from little old me Daniel.” May says looking interested in what Kirk has been working on in his lab as she leans against a wall, her arms crossed over her chest.

Glancing between the two as he appears to think before nodding his head and as he grabs a few more plants begins to explain, “Kirk is in the process of creating interspecies hybrids with species that otherwise would be incompatable through a compound that can change a subject within a few seconds.” 

Both of the women stopped what they were doing. Pamela was bent over grabbing a few flowers before she jerkily came to a stop mouth gaping while May froze on the spot before her head slowly craned to look at me blinking a few times as she seemed to be trying to figure out if she heard me correctly. 

“I’m sorry Daniel, I think I misheard you. I thought you just said he has managed to create hybridized animals with species that they could not mix with.” She said with a small smile and chuckle like she is thinking she is going crazy.

“You did not.” He says back not insulted in the slightest at the looks of disbelief they give him.

As he goes for the stairs the two women share a glance with one another before both move to follow him asking all kinds of questions.

“How did this compound do this?”

“I can’t answer that.”

“And the college wants more from the man?” May asks in utter exasperation.

Setting the plant down upstairs as he turned to the two of them and was going to go back before May waved him off as she leans against the table. 

Daniel pinches the bridge of his nose letting out a sigh before May cuts him off, “Daniel I promise you that neither I nor Pamela will breathe a word of this to another soul.” At May's serious tone and look of surprising resolve he seems taken aback and even Pam is not having seen her this serious before.

He slowly nodded accepting her promise and Pam knew that if she did break this promise May would let her have it. “The Director with help and the poisonous words of Peckerhead,” A snort and laugh escapes May, and even Pam had to fight not to laugh, “Wants results more than what he has already given. Like how to make money off of it despite it being a huge step in genetics and science in general.”

May could only shake her as she clenched her hands as they balled into fists so much so that her knuckles popped and her nails dug into her hands almost drawing blood as memories she had long since left in the past came to the surface. “Of course, those no good greedy bottom feeders would see it like that. What issues have you run into in your experiments?” 

“The subjects don’t survive all too long after conversion of the new genetic material and they show physical changes to the species integrated into them for more than a couple of seconds, if we are lucky at least thirty seconds before they expire.” 

May shakes her head smiling with a manic sort of grin yet there is an edge to it that Pamela can see having learned to pick up on the rare times she ever showed it with her present usually associated with bitterness. “Daniel, I hope and pray that your mentor manages to get beyond the college and all the vultures. What he and you have accomplished could help so many.”

Daniel looked taken aback as Pamela watched all of this silently, her questions falling to the wayside. May seems to be changing her tune on him.

May speaks before anyone else as she stands taller, a look of respect in her eyes towards Daniel even if she still does not fully trust him.

“Thank you both for your help. Especially you Daniel, you saved me a lot of time and pain to move these plants. If you don’t mind, can you wait a little longer as I help you and Pamela clean up before you go out?”

“All good May, and sure I don’t mind waiting a little longer. Definitely wouldn’t mind hearing about some of your stories Pam said were amazing while we wait.” 

May simply smiled as she began to recount one of her many stories as she helped get Pamela cleaned up and neither of them noticed Daniel grimacing when they both had their backs turned to him like he had just gotten a punch to the head.

 There's robust engineering, and then there's modularity. Pick one. Except for you - you seem to have the gift of designing methods that allow for seamless mixing and matching of modular technology that lack none of the parts incompatibility and fragility you'd except from such a design paradigm. While this seems focused on Kerbin technology in specific, a little work should have you applying such a paradigm to all sorts of technologies...

 Your capability of mentally designing items is vastly boosted. It's almost as if you have a mental idea space in the fashion of a construction bay with a lists of parts you have on hand that gives you an idea of what you can build at that moment... actually, that's pretty much what you have. As a bonus, you can mix and match parts in a manner roughly akin to legos, and giving you an idea of what would work and what wouldn't (and how much resources it would take to build). Mind, this doesn't mean that your mental creation will perform successfully, but it will function. As a final bonus, you can mentally hand-off the resultant creation to your Kerbals to build, and they'll do so without a mistake or screwup - meaning any snafu that results will be on your own head.