The Geiger counter within Maller's shielded suit never seemed to stop screeching, which was beginning to quickly wear down on his nerves. Moving around the suspicious contraband with as much haste as his power loader would allow him, he failed to forget how the gauge which read out the time remaining on his filters had decided to cease it's functions. "Ya know.... part of me really wants to know why the hell anybody would need fissile materials for anythin'. At the same time, part of me really doesn't want to know." A metallic clang sounded as he unloaded the crate. "I mean, how many races really still use nuclear weapons, right? .....right?" Gabe queried somewhat nervously. "It is probably for medical purposes" his insectoid compatriot hissed, not really soothing his worry in the least. "Yeah, yeah.... for uhh, cancer.... and... shit... This is kinda a Lot for cancer treatments, ain't it? I mean, twelve crates per container, four containers...." "It could be the supply for a whole sector" Rss'Kan hissed again, before lowering the crate he started to lift and turning to Gabe. "Why? Do you wish us to quit?" There was no sarcasm or hint of humor in his tone, though at times such things aren't registered by his translator bands. Still, it was an honest question, and that finally did relieve Maller a bit.
He chuckled a bit in his suit, "Nah, you're probably right. ...Hey don't you need some kinda shieldin'?" With the amount of confidence Rss'Kan had simply waltzing right in to a contaminated deck, it never dawned on Maller to address such a thing. "I am fine" the large bug plainly said, if not a bit snappish. "You sure? Lotta rads in here...." 'I have been in higher." "Alright, but ain't you gonna be glowin' like a lightning bug afterwards? I mean, if you say you're fine, fine, but that don't mean you ain't gonna be contaminated." Finally Rss'Kan stopped what he was doing, giving Maller his undivided attention. "Tarr'n, my world, has naturally high amounts of radiation, both from it's sun and it's radioactive minerals which are turned up by it's volcanic activity. Before setting out from Tarr'n, I had to be decontaminated. After this work order is complete, I will also be decontaminated. May we please finish this now? "Alright, hold on..." Maller replied, dropping his current activity as well. "You gonna tell me what's up with you?" The inquisitive nature of the question was a bit alarming, causing Rss'Kan's tail quills to bristle. "I do not know what you mean, I wish to continue and finish this order." It wasn't often Rss'Kan got defensive like this, and that raised Gabe's concerns. "Look, big, tall, and gloomy, you been all grim and shit ever since we ended up on this rock. Yeah, bein' stranded on this alien shit-hole sucks, but you've been even more mopey than anyone else. I mean, come on. We fixed the Gemini's life support, we kicked Dead One ass, we even managed to Land here as opposed to Crashing here. That makes us pals, don't it? So, I'd like to know what's wrong with my friend."
Maller stood stoically, feeling rather proud of his little speech. Still, Rss'Kan felt disinclined. "Your air filters. How much time is left?" he asked, and by his 'pal's' expression, Rss'kan knew he'd caught him off guard. "Uhhh....." was all Maller could utter, realizing that he in fact did manage to forget about that. "I... don't know." "How much time would you guess is left, then?" Rss'Kan chittered, drawing out a troubled silence from Maller. "Do you wish to have this conversation here, or outsi-" "Outside." Gabe finished for him, suddenly becoming increasingly swift in returning to work. Rss'Kan trilled, his version of chuckling, before doing the same. "Hey, we ain't droppin' this here, alright? After this, I want to know." Sealing one of the filled containers, Rss'Kan groaned.
"....Very well."