Garren’s eyes widen in shock at the grown man he sees before him.

GARREN: “Holy SHIT, kid!”

Garren immediately runs and embraces Vlex in a tight hug, much like a father who has not seen his son in decades. This, of course, was not far from reality. Last Garren had seen the boy he had saved from a burning escape pod, he was barely at the end of his teen years.

Garren pulls back and puts his hands on Vlex’s shoulders to get a clearer look at his face.

GARREN: “I’ll be damned...you really grew up didn’t you?”

Vlex smiles.

VLEX: “Well, an odd thirty years’ll do that.”

Garren crosses his arms, looking Vlex’s combat suit up and down.

GARREN: “Looks like you kept to the merc’ work, eh?”

VLEX: “Yes sir, solo jobs only- just to get by. Those old loose ends don’t scare me.”

Garren laughs, satisfied with the answer.

GARREN: “Ha! That’s my boy. Don’t call me sir, though, kid- don’t forget who raised you.”

Garren pats the merc’s shoulder and scans their surroundings for a moment.

GARREN: “So, all unloaded? I guess we should-”

Before he can finish, Garren is interrupted by the familiar, smooth, metallic voice of Rowe.

ROWE: “It would appear you have forgotten someone.”

Garren looks to the final figure emerging from behind the Hark. He stares in disbelief for a moment, not even able to respond. Out of everyone aboard the Hark, Rowe had by far changed the most.

Rowe is entirely robotic- built with a thin frame meant for enhanced agility. The metal making up his body is a dark bronze color, with small jets emerging from his elbows and ankles intended for massive bursts of speed. His face is minimal, to say the least- a single glowing yellow eye.

Last Garren had seen Rowe, he was a small metal shoebox with wheels. After apt time to process what he was seeing, Garren returned to the present.

GARREN: “When the hell did you get a body, Rowe?”

Golt pipes up while lighting his electronic cigar with the flick of his wrist.

GOLT: “Good couple years ago,”

He takes a puff of his e-cigar.

GOLT: “Reformatted an old guard bot that I...bought.”

Golt smiles to himself at the absurdity of such a lawful exchange.