A/N: Sorry about the delay. Got bogged down with life stuff. Thankfully I managed to finally finish off this story. Hopefully I can move on to some other stuff now. Enjoy!

The steel door to the workshop clanged open. CJ looked briefly up from his inventory work to see Sarah, with a large bunch of healroot in her arms. She took a moment to throw him a glare, then threw the roots in her arms onto the pile next to her and walked out. CJ just shook his head, crossing out a number written on the papers in front of him and writing a slightly bigger one in its place.

It was now the middle of summer. The sun was out high in the sky, casting bright rays down on the earth. The colony's meagre air conditioning (really just wooden boxes full of water) was getting a work-out. A perfect time to go out and harvest healroot as it ripened, CJ thought at the time, two or so weeks ago.

That was, of course, ignoring the fact that wild healroot was harder to find than a friendly mechanoid around these parts. Usually, they were found on their own, or next to another one if you were lucky. Anything more than three healroots in one spot was mostly the realm of fever dreams. That didn't stop CJ, though, who had more or less press-ganged the colony into his scheme of finding enough healroot to appease Hawke's request. The food, at least, was easy enough to get; the potato patch had been expanded, and the sleeper in charge of it was confident that it would produce enough to satisfy Hawke, and then some.

That left the healroot. The wild variety could not be domesticated in any reasonable amount of time, and the sleepers did not pack any pre-domesticated healroot seeds. That left finding it out in the wild. An easy task, CJ had assumed, if it weren't for two factors – its rarity, and the fact that it was the middle of summer, and thus damned hot out there.

So CJ had elected to stay inside and take stock of the supplies that people were taking in and out. It was vital work, he had argued, because nobody wanted to be out there for longer than necessary. Besides, the stocks hadn't been updated for a long time – the amounts on the sheets did not match up with the actual stockpile until CJ had updated them. Most of the colony did not quite seem to agree with his line of thinking, though. Something about shirking the really hard work.

CJ turned his attention back to the stocks. The food stock was nearly ready, as the sleeper had predicted. The healroot was… less so. CJ had estimated the value of their collection so far at roughly one thousand and three hundred dollars, just over two-thirds of the required total. CJ was confident that they could find enough before Septober rolled around, though. It was getting closer and closer.

A knock on the door interrupted CJ's thoughts. He looked back to see the door opening, revealing the mechanoid. He greeted the man with a wave of his cannon, a gesture which CJ returned.

"Hey there," he said, getting up from his seat. "What's up?"

"Hello," the mech replied. "I've found something that may interest you." The door remained open. CJ could feel the heat entering the room from the opposite side of the room. He paid it no mind.

"What's going on?" CJ said, concerned.

The mech waved him over and turned around, expecting him to follow. He did. "You remember how you found me in that bunker in the mountain?" They were now outside, the door closing shut behind them. The mech began moving away from the colony. CJ followed him.

"Yeah? What about it?" CJ wasn't sure what to make of the conversation so far.

"I've managed to find another one. It's a little ways from here, buried in a hill two kilometres from here. The mechanoids inside reactivated a short while ago."

"...And?" CJ asked, puzzled. "What, are you gonna tell me they're like you? Friendly?"

"I doubt it." The mech stopped at the outskirts of a patch of trees, and turned around to face him. "Not to you humans, at least. They'll see you as, well… outsiders."

"Hmm," CJ hummed. He could see where the mech was going with this. "I'm guessing you might fare better?"

"Yes," the mech agreed. "With your permission, I could try to contact them. Maybe see if they'd be amenable to a trade, of some sorts. Who knows." The mech tried to shrug, human style, but to CJ it was just another wiggle of its arm cannon. "Maybe they have some advanced tech they're willing to share."

"Now that does sound tempting," CJ said. He didn't mention the thought of asking them for help with the planned assault on the pirate base. "Go ahead."

"Very well," the mech said. CJ turned to leave, eager to return to the coolness of the warehouse, before he was halted by the mech speaking once more. "Done."

CJ turned, surprised. "Already?"

"Yes," answered the mech. "You know, I'm more than just heavy artillery on legs."

CJ smirked. "So it would seem. So what did they say?"

"They have proposed a trade. I transmitted details of our… situation, and as it happens they have some advanced medicine stocked in there. Among other things, of course." CJ nodded along. "In return for their medicine, they want a second centipede model."

"Huh?" CJ was shocked. Not to mention their incredible luck… "How the hell are we…" Understanding dawned on his face. "So they want to swap bodies with you? Give them your body for a less useful one?"

The mech paused, sounding genuinely surprised. "You know, I didn't even think of that. I was thinking a slightly more permanent-"

"No," CJ said immediately. "You are a part of this colony. We're not just going to… throw you away, like garbage."

A pause.

The mech gave the sound of clearing their throat. "They indicate that they would be willing to exchange a Scyther model for my current frame."

"Excellent," CJ exhaled, relieved. "That'll work."

"Of course," the mech said. Pausing for a second, it continued. "I appreciate you accepting me in your community."

"Yeah," CJ said, somewhat sheepishly. "Don't mention it."

Clearing his throat and letting the moment pass, he said, "So. Shall we get on with it?"

It was the first of Septober. The day of the assault had arrived. Most of the colony had gone with CJ and the mech, who was now in a shiny scyther frame, along to the point where they'd be meeting the outlander forces. True to his word, CJ had brought the supplies Hawke had asked, and gave them to the outlanders. They had then begun to draw up an assault on the pirate stronghold.

It had taken them most of the day to do so. Just tallying up the supplies CJ had given them set them back to early afternoon, and by the time the plans had been drawn up and finalised, and everything (and everyone) was ready to go, it was close to midnight.

Finally, at the end of it all, CJ stood leaning against a makeshift table in a tent, near the pirate settlement, staring intently at the papers in front of him. A woman in a battered flak coat and a crooked metal helmet was doing much the same on the opposite end. CJ didn't care to catch her name, but it was immediately made obvious she was the commander of the outlander forces. Some quick introductions were made, some lengthier than others, and then the two groups joined together to prepare for battle.

"So, a diversionary attack first across the river from the south-east, then a second assault from the south-west, and then you come in from the north. Is that it?" The commander tore her eyes from the table to CJ, who nodded.

"Yes. It'll fall on you to keep as much of their attention on you as possible. After we recover our target, we will fire our flare. That'll be your signal to crush these idiots. We'll do as much damage to them from behind as we can."

The woman nodded as well. "We'll do our best." She offered a hand to CJ, and the two shook hands. "Good luck."

"Likewise," CJ replied, already moving out of the tent.

The mech was waiting for him outside. "What's the plan?"

CJ paused for a second. He still wasn't used to its new body. The sleek white points and curves of the scyther were much more unsettling than a centipede's bumbling size. Shaking his head to snap out of it, he said, "The outlanders will move first, across the river and then to the side. Once the pirates start defending against them, we'll go in from behind and get her body. Then we give the signal and charge in to their main lines. We'll surround them, and kill 'em all." He nodded to himself. "It'll have to be timed just right. We don't have any way to communicate with each other other than the flare, and getting close enough to talk."

The scyther hummed. "I suppose it's as good a plan as any."

"Good." CJ smirked. "They'll never know what hit them. Let's move."

Forty minutes later, CJ, along with the scyther and a couple of the sleepers, were moving towards the settlement. Nobody was there to stop them, as planned. He could make out the sounds of gunfire from a distance, punctuated every now and then by screams and shouts from panicked pirates.

"Here's the plan," CJ quietly said. He assumed everyone was listening; it was too dark to make his men out. "Since we don't know which building she's in, we'll have to search them all. We'll split up in pairs. I'll be with the mech, searching the biggest one. The rest of you, divide yourselves up how you like, and search the rest. Try not to alert anyone that we're here." The group nodded collectively, pairs already forming within. "Get to it."

The scyther moved to CJ's side, and turned to look at him. "After you."

Moving up to the door, CJ counted down from three with his fingers. At one, he quickly opened the door, stepping aside to let the scyther in first. Satisfied with the lack of gunfire inside, he stepped in himself.

The scyther was looking at him when he came inside. "Nothing."

True enough, the room was empty, save for a pair of beds against the wall to their left, and an electric lamp still lighting the room up. Another door stood at the opposite end of the room. "Move up," CJ said. Again, the pair stacked up against the door. The scyther again entered first, with CJ following shortly.

"Hello," a man at the other end of the room said. CJ quickly took aim at him, faster than even he thought, with a brand new bolt-action rifle loaned to him by the outlanders. Before he could shoot, he was interrupted. "Ah ah ah, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

CJ took one look at him, and his face split into a terrible scowl. He had dark, short hair obscured underneath a worn cowboy hat and dim hazel eyes. CJ recognised him immediately; he was the one at the other end of the comms console. "And why would that be?" he replied, with barely restrained rage.

The man only smiled. Pressing a button on his waist, the door behind him suddenly opened, bringing with it several more pirates who quickly formed up, guns at the ready. Along with them came…

"Erie?!" CJ exclaimed.

The pirate lord lowered his head slightly, still smiling. He gestured to the person restraining her, who pushed her towards him. "That's right. Aren't you glad I saved her for this exact moment?" Pulling out a small auto-pistol, he continued. "Now then. Since I doubt you want what I'm threatening to do to happen, here's what you are going to do." Slowly, taking his time, he took aim at Erie, pressing the barrel against the back of her head, forcing her to her knees in the process. Blindfolded and with her arms restrained by a thick length of rope, all she could do was shake in fear.

"Let her go!" CJ shouted. Looking down the sights of the rifle, he knew how easy it would be to exert the small amount of pressure needed to pull the trigger. Before he had the chance to try, the scyther forcibly lowered the gun in his hands with the blade on its hand.

The pirate lord just smiled at him. "What you'll do is go outside, with all of my friends here-" he gestured with his free hand at the thugs to his sides, "-and you will call the attack off. Then, you will leave and never dare harm us again. In exchange, I won't execute her in front of you, or vice versa. Both of you will get to live. Quite a bargain, huh?"

CJ could only scowl at him. The scyther turned to him, speaking in hushed tones. "CJ, we both know you won't be able to free her now. They'd turn you into Swiss cheese if you tried!" CJ did not acknowledge him at all.

"I'm not going to ask you again. Let. Her. Go."

The pirate shook his head in mock disappointment. "Persistent, eh. But I'm afraid I can't do that."

CJ raised his rifle again. At the same time, the pirate's bodyguards did the same. Each stared the other down. The pirate lord tsked. "I suppose that's a no, then? What a shame."

The door behind the pirate suddenly burst open again, to reveal a pair of CJ's sleepers. They took one look at the situation, then, before the pirates could readjust their focus, opened fire.

For a few seconds, there was complete pandemonium in the room. Intense gunfire filled the room, the bangs, flashes, and smoke pouring from ill-maintained weapons frustrating any attempt to make logical sense of the situation.

Soon, the gunfire slowed, then stopped altogether. CJ scanned the room for any more muzzle flashes quickly. Finding none, he then focused inwards, checking for any wounds received that the battle might have obscured. Quickly flexing his limbs, he found that he wasn't hit anywhere at all. No bullet wounds, no slashes or bruises, nothing.

He found himself kneeling, still pointing his rifle forwards. Using it as a crutch, he shakily got to his feet, just in time for the rest of the sleepers burst in through the door at the back of the room behind him.

"CJ?" One sleeper asked in disbelief, hurrying over to him. He waved him off.

"I'm… urgh, I'm fine." Shaking his head to clear his sudden onset of fatigue, he gestured to the bodies. "Get anything useful they might have." The sleeper nodded, and together with his fellows got to work scavenging the guns and other items the fallen pirates had on them.

CJ suddenly remembered what he was doing. He quickly scanned the room for Erie, finding her in the same place she still was. He quickly ran over to her.

"Erie?" Not being able to see, she still looked up to try to place the voice. "Is it… is it really you?"

She let out a very shaky breath. "...CJ?"

CJ gasped for breath, trying to undo the ropes restraining her. "Oh God, it's really you! You're alive!" Finished with untying the rope, CJ threw it to the ground, moving back in front of her and taking off her blindfold.

Erie looked back at him, unable to speak.

CJ offered his arm to her, which she gratefully took. "My God, I thought you were dead..." The two embraced. In the middle of a pile of bodies, in a room of a building that was in a pirate stronghold, two lovers were once again united.

"Come on," CJ whispered in her ear, feeling the heat radiating off her body like a star. "Let's get you home."

"I'd like that," Erie whispered back.

"Good work," CJ said to the outlander commander, shaking hands. The sun was now just peeking above the horizon, casting long shadows across the plains they were in. "There was barely anyone there. Made our work a lot easier."

The commander nodded, smiling slightly. "I'm glad to know this place won't be a thorn in our side any longer." Her smile fell, to be replaced by a grim expression. "Did… did you get what you were looking for?"

CJ grinned at her. "Damn straight. Turned out better than I hoped, too. She's alive and well."

That took the outlander by surprise. "Really? We all thought she was killed." CJ nodded, to which she shook her head. "Well, I'll be damned."

CJ chuckled. "Sounds about right."

"So everyone made it out alive?" The outlander asked, now in higher spirits. The question, however, made CJ deflate considerably, and she immediately regretted asking.

He sighed and looked down to the floor. "Not quite. The centi- um, scyther, it…" CJ blinked. Once, then twice. "He charged forward at the pirate boss, in the room where Erie was. He was killed in the process." His eyes raised to meet the outlander's. "Took out quite a few himself, though. He probably saved my life doing so."

"I see," she replied simply. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," said CJ.

There was a moment's silence between them, before the outlander cleared her throat. CJ saw a rather large crack on her helmet. Evidently, she preferred to lead from the front.

"Well, I'm prepared to call this mission a success." She nodded towards him. "Thanks to you, our caravans will be a little safer in the future. If there's anything you need in the future, my people and I will be glad to help you."

"Thank you," CJ said, grateful.

"Don't mention it." The two shook hands again, and the outlander departed. CJ stood still for a few moments, gathering his thoughts, before turning and making his way back to the group of colonists waiting for him.