>>6010080Clearly, the collar is only a temporary fix. Even Silas can't hold out forever against Tim if you don't start speaking normally again soon. You are caught in a bind here. If you don't talk, that's something to worry about. If you talk, you will just be reloading Tim's mags.
Something slaps the side of your head, “<span class="mu-i">Concentrate. This important.</span>” The teacher is tapping each vowel on the blackboard while her mouth sounds it out, “A, a, a. E, e, e.” Both you and Pahan laboriously copy what comes so naturally to everyone else. Thankfully you have already bolted two more locks onto the door. Imagine if Silas, or God forbids, Tim walks in while you are- oww, fucking hell. Does he have to be so rough?
After a few more bumps on your head, the words slowly settle on your tongue again. Technically, the Mir tongue spans a more impressive spectrum, stretching well into ultra- and infrasonic frequencies. But humans have learned to exploit their limited range with inimitable precision. You did not consider it seriously back then because your familiarity with Shanghaian is rather limited, but it must have been obvious to Tim that even Yamir-Hysret frequently mixed up his tones.
One day, as you are sitting down to read Silas' daily report, Pahan-Hys breaks into your room “Si-via Thon-ton. Do you ha-vuh time?” You patiently explain to him the necessity of knocking on the door before going in. “I see, will not do that a-gain.” He turns round and bangs on the open door with both claws. “Good now?” Well, at least he tried.
“What duh you wan-th to talk about?” No, not there yet. You still sound too much like you ride the shorter bus. “I can tal-k English speech now. Can work for you, be uzeful. Where do you thin-k is bezt?”
<span class="mu-s">Why haven't you thought of it before? Your crew is clearly still afraid of this strange warrior who just a few weeks ago were still their enemy. By putting him to work, you can at least start to fix that reputation somewhat.</span>
>Goldsmith. His department is always short-staffed, and he could clearly use Pahan's inhuman strength.>Dornholm. Pahan used to command a courier, his experience with engines and flight computer would be appreciated.>Ludlow. What better use for a soldier can there be? Not to mention their fiery personality can work well together.>Johnson. His sister spent most of her life studying the Mir. Hopefully some of that curiosity and tolerance has rubbed off on him.>You. You could really use a personal aide. Silas is too stingy to waste credits on one, he can't complain about free.>A name just came to mind, now you just have to contort your tongue the right way... (write-in)<span class="mu-s">While thinking, you take an idle glance at the tablet. A chance to vent the malicitite is coming up, and Silas wants your authorisation</span>
>Yes. Better to get rid of the evidence as soon as you can.>No. Captain Liu desperately wants it. You can make use of that. (Silas strongly advises against this.) 