Honeymoon in Hong Kong

[imthepilot]

Bodhi takes the card Jay give them and opens the door. It opens into large five star hotel suite - champagne chilling in a bucket and roses by the bed. In the corner of the living room are several large crates labelled climbing equipment. There's a welcome pack with maps and travel guides, ferry tickets and the number a car service.

Comments

[galen_erso]

"I think every pilot needs that kind of criminal record on their books before any pilot academy accepts them," Galen laughs. "How old were you?"

[imthepilot]

"I was ten." He shrugs sheepishly. "I got another record at thirteen. Unlawful wagering on sporting events."

[galen_erso]

Galen laughs. "Stars, what did you do? Run a pod-racing betting ring?"

[imthepilot]

"No, nothing like that. I knew people involved in dune camel races. I'd heard a race was going fixed so I thought I'd get in on it. Make a little extra money to help my grandmother. Sadly I was too young and stupid to know who to place the bet with."

[galen_erso]

"An informant?" Galen says. "Who put your name on the wrong list and kept the money?"

[imthepilot]

"Nothing that sinister. Just an idiot who hadn't paid up his protection bribes with the head of the local garrison." Bodhi shrugs. "I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I got off with a slapping and a mark on my official record."

[galen_erso]

"Main thing is, it didn't keep you from being a pilot and flying," Galen says.

[imthepilot]

"No. And like you said, stuff like that gives you cred with the other pilots. Even if you have to talk the story up."

They reach their hotel and the concierge offers to have their things taken up for them.

Bodhi's not use to this level of service and respect and really isn't sure how to react to it. He's more of a street stall person.

[galen_erso]

Galen thanks the concierge and hands over their bags; it's odd to have actual people doing droid jobs, but then, he'd had been on planets where that was usual, too.

[imthepilot]

"What do you want to do now?" Bodhi asks, feeling light now their bags are gone up.

Concierge politely clears his throat. "May I recommend a boat tour around the harbour and islands, sirs? I understand you are here on a climbing trip? It might be beneficial to familiarise yourself with the various popular climbing spots. I can arrange a guide."

[galen_erso]

"That is an excellent idea," Galen says. "In about two hours? By then, I should have the drone we bought ready so we can look at some routes from closer up, and decide which ones we want to take."

[imthepilot]

"Oh no!" Bodhi protests, giving Galen a gentle shove. "The drone is mine. You get to built the radiation sensor you wanted."

[galen_erso]

"Okay," Galen says. "I should have that one ready, too. It's not exactly kyber science."

Pause.

He can't ask how many hours the day has on this planet, can he? It would probably sound weird to these people.

"How long until sunset?" he asks instead.

[imthepilot]

"Three hours, sir." The concierge answers very readily. "I can order the guide for an hour before sunset, if you wish. For the best view of the islands."

Bodhi grins. "Race you." He takes off towards their room, laughing.

[galen_erso]

Galen follows, laughing as well. "Whoever gets his machine in working order first, wins!"

[imthepilot]

Bodhi grabs the bags as soon as he's inside, sitting cross-legged on the floor to unpack all the things they bought. He ignores Galen, starting to read the instructions on the box.

He sings to himself as he does, focused as he opens things up.

[galen_erso]

Galen sets up his materials on the desk by the window and starts putting all the disparate parts together, taking some of the things apart in the process. There are night sight goggles, thermometers and the aforementioned cable tester and then some, and they all go into his rather spikey machine.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi sings his favourite Twi'lek slam poetry, almost absently. Like a kid singing to himself. He sings around their day and how happy he is exploring with Galen.

A moment later he has the drone in the air, buzzing around their head. "Yuck. These controls are awful. I've got to be able to improve on this."

[galen_erso]

"Does it send you pictures yet?" Galen asks, still at work with his strange mechanical screwdriver.

[imthepilot]

Bodhi toys with the controls, landing it on the floor next to him. "Yes but they're not great. The refresh rate is not good enough. I can do better than this. A holo recorder would be better."

[galen_erso]

"I'd need to make you one from spit and engine tape, as they don't have them here yet," Galen says. "But I should have parts to do so."

[imthepilot]

"Next time. We probably shouldn't bring outside tech here." He shoots Galen a cute grin. "Besides, this is fun. I haven't had a challenge like this for ages."

[galen_erso]

"We'll get to find a 3D climbing route using 2D images," Galen says. "Almost like using a flat paper map."

He looks at the window.

"This doesn't open, and I guess they'd get angry if I just unscrewed the locks," he says. "We should perhaps take these to the roof terrace to test them. Roof terraces are invented here?"

[imthepilot]

"Flying isn't the issue. I have confidence it will fly just fine. I just want to clean up the controls and improve the camera interface."

He has the back of the control panel open and is examining the microchips. "Interesting. How's yours going?"

[galen_erso]

"Ready to be tested," Galen says. "But not without some real light. The wavelengths here inside are remarkably uneventful, even by the window. The glass filters most, except the visible light."