Night owls and ravens

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Echo wondered whether the ease with which Emori assimilated had anything to do with John, or whether her lack of association between advanced technology and the Maunon was what gave her an advantage. The incessant whirr of machinery reminded the Azgedan spy of the ventilation shafts beneath the mountain, and the metal wall she stared at each sleep cycle was an inescapable reminder that this ship, though her salvation, was in a way a prison.

Whatever skills she had acquired on the ground as both warrior and spy, she saw little use for them on this ship. Her physical strength and height served their purpose, and she put them to use as directed. However, strategy, her forte, was wasted on this ship, her ignorance towards technology disabling. Without anything to occupy her mind between assigned tasks, and with the bulk of ‘furniture’ moving done, Echo grew restless.

Turning onto her back, she let out a heavy sigh. If she lay there long enough she would eventually fall asleep, if only for an hour or two. With fewer physically gruelling tasks to do, sheer exhaustion no longer could be counted upon to knock her out for a good six or eight hours. No, she felt wired, on edge, and the longer she stared at the metal panels overhead, the worse it got. Letting out another sigh, Echo turned her head to watch her roommate. It’d been an unlikely pairing given their lack of familiarity with one another, but it turned out that was for the best.

It was easy to follow Raven round, carrying the heavy stuff, and listen to her talk. There was a ‘no fucks given’ attitude about her that relaxed Echo. She keenly felt the others walking on eggshells around her, as if never quite sure whether the pacing animal would leap at them or yield. The passage of time facilitated things, but while awkward conversation after awkward conversation would eventually give way to less awkwardness, there was a world of difference between herself and the others. Literally. It was why she wondered whether it was John’s presence that facilitated things for Emori, or whether the other’s personality was simply better disposed towards socialising.

Raven was the easiest to talk to. She was blunt, but not negatively disposed. Out all the people on the ship, Echo was most comfortable around her. Still, watching her sleep was beginning to feel weird, and had no effect on her restlessness whatsoever. If anything, the Azgedan spy felt jealous. If only she could find something that would knock her out as effectively as physical exhaustion had done. If only she could sleep as soundly as Raven—

--except the other didn’t sleep that soundly.
Reaching for her pillow, Echo chucked it at the mechanic.

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