Editing Ork-Chan (section)

== Chapter Three ==




The wind snakes through the tips of the jagged spires lazily, strangely tame for such an altitude. The Razorjacks have nested in shady hollows in an attempt to wait out the hottest stretch of the day, but still droop their heads slightly. This is better for you and your fellow weapon manufacturer.
"Spanna." Ork-Chan orders, holding out her hand from underneath the kit missile. You hand her the shifting spanner and take one last look around for the instructions. As tame as it is, you had let the sheet get away from you two hours ago and it is probably halfway home by now. 
"You sure you know what you're doing?" you ask her, hearing an audible crunch. 
"Yeh, I kno wat I's doin." she says dully between breaths before swinging out from underneath the red and black shaft and admiring her work. 
The sun is sweltering at this time of day, and patches of sweat have soaked through her green shirt and the rag she has around her forehead. You aren't immune either, and your dirt-stained white singlet is little help. 
But sweating it out in the sun is completely worth it.

Before you stands a black and red missile with a leering face, pieced together from a kit you purchased at the store yesterday. According to the now blown away leaflet, it will fly two kilometers before exploding. A good morning's work with a solid payoff.

Earlier you set up a target down the ridge: a pile of scrap metal representing a tank of some sort. Retreating to the 'command center' (a barricade of stones and the missile's packaging), you give the launch button to Ork-Chan and give her the electrogoggles.

"Systems check." You announce, pulling your range-finder up to your eyes and looking the piece of ordinance up and down. 
"Da light on dis button is green, so everyfing is good ta go." she announces happily, licking her lips as she waits for the command. But as she is about to press it you notice that one of the fins is loose.
"Hold on, hold on... the third fin is loose. Don't fire." you tell her, lowering the range-finder and looking down at her.


----


Ork-Chan looks at you through the electrogoggles for a second, then at the launch button. She is an Ork with a very short attention span and little grasp of consequences, who has just spent all morning building a massive rocket which will obliterate anything near where it detonates, and is holding the launch button.

There was no way she wasn't going to press it.

With an electronic beep of the pressed button the thruster engages, the roar deafening as it takes to the skies. 
Ork-Chan cheers as it streaks towards its target, until the loose fin snaps off. Swirling chaotically, it spirals away from the target and back towards town. Quickly you pull the range finder up long enough to see the top floor of the tavern explode in a gargantuan plume of fire and smoke. 

Ork-Chan stares at the explosion in town in shock, the sound reaching you both two seconds later. Immediately she drops the control panel and looks at you.
"Dis is bad..."
"Yeah... REAL bad..." you answer, lowering the range-finder.

Silence for a long moment, filled by the air and echoes of the explosion. 
"LET'S GIT DA ZOG OUT OF ERE!" Ork-Chan screams, running for the buggy. You pick her up as you run, hoisting her into the gunner's seat and jumping in before flooring it away from the ridge.


----


About ten at night, both of you sneak a look out the window of your house. You have been hiding in the living room since, and haven't turned on any lights.
"Yoo fink dey iz still lookin' fer us?" Ork-Chan asks timidly. 
"Not sure sweetie... let's wait till tomorrow to go outside."