"Well, I only kept the pistol for protection." Lance began as he shifted his gaze towards the door.
"I figured that since I was fast on my feet, I wouldn't get into a situation where I had to use it."
Lia remained silent, her gaze slowly shifting from Lance to the drone on her table.
Lance gulped audibly. He knew he had to choose his next words carefully if he wanted to eat tonight.
"I didn't hide from the drones because, well, people have been shooting them down so much that I figured I wouldn't need to hide from them, they weren't even in the sky long enough to find me."
Lance paused and looked up at Lia, she was slowly tapping the top of the drone.
Lance began to panic, he fumbled with his pained shoulder, looking at everything in the room except Lia.
I guess I'll keep talking and hope for the best, Lance thought.
"I just took advantage of my current situation, it didn't make sense to prepare for something that might not happen, especially when I had more immediate problems."
Lance explained in a soft tone, keeping his gaze focused on the floor, as his grip tightened around his wounded shoulder.
"Ok." Lia said as she stepped away from the drone, "I'd understand it if you were my age and you had that kind of reasoning, but here's the problem." Lia crossed her arms and sighed.
"You're the poster child for what the empire has been looking for, homeless kids with no family, no connections, and no one to miss them, an easy target to just fade away."
Lia then moved away from the table and began to walk away it.
Lance remained silent.
He knew that he had no allies, no family, no friends.
And he didn't have the time to go out and get such things, how could he make friends when he didn't even know when his next meal was?
How could he find his family when he didn't even know his parents?
"How long do you think your luck is gonna last?" Lia asked as she walked past him.
Lance shrugged, he didn't even know he had luck, it didn't feel like he had any.
"I don't know."
Lance said as he turned around to watch Lia.
"Do you think the empire is just going to look over you?"
She asked in a stern tone.
"I don't know," Lance replied softly.
Lia sighed heavily as she stopped before a tall silver cabinet that held four drawers.
She opened the middle one a pulled out a large white package.
The sound of the package was a loud, like the sound of paper being crushed and crumpled.
"The answer is no Lance," Lia said as she tossed the package toward him.
He outstretched his hands and caught it.
He began to examine the package.
It was heavy and had a sort of paper texture, which was the hallmark of a standard ration packet for Marines.
A brief smile formed on Lance's face as he pulled the package closer toward his chest, he'd finally get to eat something tonight.
Unfortunately, the moment was cut short by Lia snapping her fingers in Lance's direction.
Lance quickly looked up toward Lia, who was glaring at him with narrowed eyes, "See that's your problem, you only see what's right in front of you, you only worry about the now, that's what's gonna get you fucked up out here, your brother ain't here to protect you anymore."
She sighed, "You sold your gun, and you can't scavenge worth a damn. And when you do find good shit, you go to Jumbo and get ripped off."
Lia shook her head with a huff, "And every time you hit rock bottom you come running to me."
Lia's tone was stern, and her voice was rising slightly, her left eye twitched, and she began to point her finger towards Lance.
Lance felt a pang of regret and sadness.
He didn't want to bother Lia as much as he did, but she was his best option.
And quite frankly she was his only "friend".
"Are you even listening to me, Lance?" Lia said in a snappy tone.
With a heavy sigh, Lance looked back down at the ration packet.
He then held it out back to her.
"I'm sorry Lia." Lance said in a soft tone, "You can have it back, I'll try to find something on my own."
Lia paused, her expression slowly grew contempt as she shifted her gaze toward the ceiling of her shack.
"I… I'm sorry Lance, I sometimes forget you're only a child you know?"
She looked down at Lance, "I just, I need you to make better decisions kid, I'd hate to see you get snatched up."
Lia paused shifting her gaze towards her living room.
"Do you, do you need somewhere to crash?" She asked, her voice softening as she glanced back at Lance.
Lance still held the ration packet like a lifeline, his eyes darting between it and Lia.
"I don't wanna be a burden," Lance answered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lia's expression softened further, her shoulders slumping as she rubbed a hand over her face.
A streak of grease crossed her cheek.
"You're not a burden, kid," she muttered, "you're just lost."
She stepped forward, pushing the package back into his hands. "All of us are."
Lance blinked, then squeezed the ration package. "Thank you, Lia."
Lia smirked, her greasy fingers pinching his cheek.
"Being adorable will only get you so far, out here it's survival of the fittest not cutest."
Lance chuckled, rubbing his cheek absentmindedly.
"Okay." He replied, before tearing into the ration packet with his teeth.
Inside was the usual marine fare: a dense nutrient putty, two berry-flavored stim-bars, and synthetic jerky.
It wasn't gourmet, but to Lance it might as well have been a feast.
Lia watched him for a moment.
Lance took one of the stim-bars, a piece of putty, and a slab of jerky.
He pressed the three ingredients into a sandwich, before chomping down with an excited glint in his eyes.
Lia averted her gaze with a faint blush.
"Slow down." She sighed, whipping her calloused hands on her shirt.
"And eat in the living room, have some decency."
Lance responded with a grunt, his mouth full.
He wandered to the living room, where he plopped on a worn-out couch.
The living room was a cluttered mess of clothes, tech, and furniture.
Wires dangled from shelves and a faint hum escaped a flickering holoscreen.
Lance wasn't too bothered though, more focused on inhaling his makeshift sandwich.
Lia chuckled to herself, before returning to her workstation. "That kid's going to be the death of me."