THE MOMENT
A bright reflection flashed in Carson's peripheral vision. He was crossing the outskirts into an overgrown town and stopped walking as soon as the light hit. The city was conquered by green and dust. It wasn't his first time there. The last time he came through, there wasn't anything that shiny, he would have taken it. He turned, then immediately dropped to his stomach to try and hide in ankle-high foliage. A towering five-story orange and black steel mecha glistened in the sunlight. Several smaller drones flew around it while working.
"Huh?" Carson took several seconds to process the situation. The drones seemed to circle the mecha blasting it with water. It wasn't until he noticed a person on a platform at the robot's knee that he realized it was being cleaned. He tried not to expose himself too much but he fished out binoculars from his pack and lifted his head slightly to get a better view. He was stunned by the unexpected beauty. A gorgeous woman with flaming red hair, a bikini top and denim shorts was detailing the mecha. She was attractive enough for him to sit up more for a better view. He moved, and watched as she turned toward him suddenly, as if something attracted her attention. Then, Carson blinked.
"Whatcha peeping at?" The woman was gone from sight but a voice spoke up behind him. He was startled enough to jump to his feet and turn around. And, there she was right in front of him instead of dozens of meters away.
"I'm sorry," he raised his hands with a shrug. "I was just trying to figure out what I was looking at; there wasn't a giant robot last time I came through here...," he answered. The woman tilted her head at him and smirked playfully.
"What's your favorite number?" she asked. Carson shrugged again.
"Don't have one, I'm a Zero," he answered. He didn't have to volunteer that information; but, he wanted her to know he was familiar with Unique Souls. She studied him up and down for a moment, then winked at him.
"Lucky you," she said. Then, she stepped forward and offered him a handshake. "My name's Amber," she said.
"Carson...," he nodded and accepted her greeting.
"So...," she began her question while they were still hand to hand, and Carson blinked. He was still surrounded by green; but, now he felt the faint cool mist of water from above. "... wanna help me wash my mech?" she asked.
"You're.. a Muerte?" he asked. Amber nodded at him. Carson turned and looked up at the imposing figure, then back down at her. "Can't you like.... do it instantly?" Amber giggled and shook her head.
"It's still me doing it, even if time is stopped," she shrugged. "And, I won't be cleaning it like this every time; but, this is going to be the first time I take her out. I want everything to be squeaky clean perfect," she replied.
"Ohh brand new...?" Carson was interested. If he could get his hands on one, it would make for a noteworthy payday. "Did you find it on this old world?" Amber shook her head.
"It's military-assigned, everyone in my Squad got one. It sat in storage for a while; but, I finally got curious enough to try mine out. The rest of the team seemed to really love theirs," she said. Carson chuckled.
"I'll bet...," he nodded. "I'd love to help." He finally decided and dropped his supply pack on the ground. He was supposed to be scavenging; but, the whole thing was a search for adventure. He'd definitely found an adventure of some sort and he couldn't deny the appeal of working alone in the sunlight with a beautiful woman. She seemed friendly at least.
"Great!" she answered. Carson blinked and opened his eyes in time to see a wet rag land on his face. He took it in stride with a chuckle as he pulled it off.
"It's kind of a shame I'm not a Muerte too," he said. "I'd help you get it done 'instantly' with frozen time."
"Nah, it's better this way," she giggled as she gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder, then walked away to make her way back up to the mecha's knee. But, she finished the thought as she left him there. "If you were a Muerte, I wouldn't have asked for your help."