I was not taking no for an answer. I asked Star 01 and 02. The also declined politely. I moved on to the Beer series. They also declined. It was done more tersely than it was with Clan Star. I moved on to the Pump series. Pump 01 declined quickly. I looked at Pump 02. Blue and Yellow were on either side of him. When I asked him for the cannon, Yellow gently pushed him towards me. "Okay, Brianne. I will give you my plasma cannon." He pressed his hands on his stomach and strained. Pump 02 had to disconnect and expel the upgrade his body worked hard to make while he was sitting in the chair. I did not rush him. Everyone else was silent. When he was finished, he held it out for me. I took it gently and said "Thank you so much, Pump 02. I will remember this kindness. And your clan." Pump only grimaced. "You are... welcome." he grit out. There was still some residual pain. I asked if he would like to sit down on one of the chairs. He took the offer. I looked at Pump 03 who was beside both Green and Pink. "Can I have one of the guns on your back?" I asked him. Pink sent him forward.
Pump 03 said "I will give you one gun, Brianne. I have 4 of them." He did not look pleased. He reached behind him and grabbed his left butt cheek. The young AEP unit pulled it out slowly. It no doubt hurt from the way he let out a grunt and winced. When it was out, I said the same thing I said to Pump 02. He nodded and leaned against the wall. He was not going to be able to sit for a bit, it seemed. I gave the plasma cannon to Champion. He looked at it and placed it against his chest. He tried his best to keep standing, but it seemed it was too much for him. It was only halfway inside him before he collapsed to his knees. He was coughing up blood and leaking white from everywhere. It was not a pretty sight. The cannon tumbled to the ground. Brett and I healed him. When he got over his fit, I handed him the gun and the magazine. I just hoped that a lower tier upgrade would be something he could take in his body. Champion looked unsure but reached for it anyway. He was able to integrate it, but his ass began leaking nanites again. That was something Champion could manage on his own.
When Pass 03 came up to us we were not expecting anything. "Letting you pilot with Pass 01 and the others is a disgrace to everyone else. You are only barely able to maintain a humanoid form! I myself can replace you." he declared. It was an open challenge. I did not want to look like I was putting fingers on the scale. Champion scowled and said "I am riding with Fighter. He was made to be my partner! It does not concern you." Pass 03 pointed to the floor. There was a giant pool of white nanites on the floor. "You are falling apart as we speak! This is disgusting. The only reason you can continue as you are, is because you are the offspring of your clan engineer. It is clear to everyone. Brianne must have found some technology to sustain you, but they will not be there during the mission." Pump 03 argued. That was true. Champion would be dead if not for my magic. His body was dangerously unstable, and his humanity was the only thing allowing me to keep him together long enough to allow his nanites to congeal and respond. Champion looked scared as Pass 03 stepped up closer.
This was clearly not going to go well. The plasma cannon in Pass 03's throat roared to life. "Yield your position to me, or I will blast you." he said. Champion looked from him to me. I shook my head. "It's up to you. Do you want to fight Pass 03, or do you want to let him ride with Fighter?" Seeing I would not help him, he looked at Pass 03, who had only gotten closer. There was a loud rumble from his throat, and we could see a deep red glow from the mouth. "I can only hold back for so long." Pass 03 warned. Champion held still as the roar grew louder. The glow brightened and turned orange, yellow and green before he squealed and gave in. He began crying white nanites. I sighed and rubbed his back. "That is that. You can ride with Fighter. Champion will have to ride by himself in another XX-frame." Pass 03 did not look pleased by that, but he knew better than to speak up now. We had infinite resources and money over here. We could make more. It would be a bit inconvenient to cram another hangar in the space that we had, but it could be done. With that, we ended the Pilot Party.
