[ TT ] `` Best bounty hunter in the universe ? Well , then you want them , '' said the man , pointing down the bar to where a little girl and her robot were playing chess .

`` Them?'' I asked as the grizzled barkeep pointed to a table in the corner. I was impressed with one of the two I saw; a Mark X109 Type Assault Unit. Fully customized too. That was a deadly piece of hardware. The X109's were an older unit, but still widely used across the galaxy by mercenaries, bounty hunters or pirates and bandits alike due to their impressive functionality. I remember a friend of mine comparing it to the archaic AK-47 of the pre-space faring age. This one in particular had some advanced armor plating and cognitive equipment. I was always weirded out by how the X1's always tried to make human looking models. While this one eyed machine was clearly made of steel and not skin, the attention to detail in the body, especially the detailed muscular design of the machine was a feat of artistic engineering. 
 
 Who I presumed its owner or wielder would be sat across from the machine. She seemed focused on the small game of chess set up on her table. She could not have been more than ten years old. And unlike her killing machine partner, she looked nothing like the part of a bounty hunter. Her long blond hair was tied neatly into two pig tails - a style I honestly hated - and she wore what looked like an archaic style sundress. As if responding to the doubts in my mind, she popped one of the sweets bowled in her lap and smiled in glee. 
 
 `` You're kidding me,'' I said to the barkeep. He shrugged and kept on polishing the line of mugs in front of him. I sighed; the mission I was on was too important. I brushed my shirt off and tightened my tie as I approached the two. 
 
 `` Contact approaching,'' the X109 said in its deep, monotone voice as I walked close. 
 
 `` It's okay Jasper, he's a nice man,'' the girl said as she moved a knight forward on the board. I glanced at their game for a moment and was impressed. Even as a military unit, the X1 series was adaptive and intelligent. A human would be hard pressed to win against one of these machines, but this girl had the machine on the ropes. 
 
 `` Uh, yea,'' I said. This was so out of my element. I was too used to dealing with high ranking officials in both politics and organized military. But here I was, about to ask a little girl to help me in the most dangerous mission of my career. 
 
 `` Detecting small arm; Sabre 32 caliber laser pistol. Please place weapon on the table before continuing,'' the machine said. That was weird. Even advanced cognitive systems would not be able to pick up something that specific. I did as it asked. 
 
 `` We good now?'' I asked as the weapon sat on their counter. The machine and girl did not respond, and nothing happened for a moment. Then, the machine pushed a rook forward; threatening both the girl's knight and queen. 
 
 `` I guess so mister,'' the girl said. Not once had her eyes met mine since I came to the table. She pursed her lips at the chess board and in a move that surprised me decided to sacrifice her queen and send her knight deeper into the machine's lines. I heard a deep mechanical *hum* after her decision, almost as if the machine was seriously thinking. 
 
 `` So,'' I began to say. This was seriously awkward. Could I ask to hire a little girl? I felt horrid. `` I've come on the behalf of-'' 
 
 `` The Free Human Trade Union, or FHTU. Some bad pirates have been picking on your friends. They took something really, really important and you need someone who can get it back,'' the girl said, playing with her fingers as she waited her turn. My mouth dropped. How did she know? The machine took the girl's queen. 
 
 `` Aw Jasper, you know that if there's something too good to be true, you should n't go for it,'' the girl said with a smile. She moved her knight, taking an out of position bishop and placing the machine's king in check. I read the board. The machine could move its king away, losing its queen to the knight in the next turn. Its rook was too out of position to do anything useful, and I could tell that this game was going to go very poorly for the machine very soon. 
 
 `` So mister, how much are you going to offer Lyn and Jasper?'' she finally turned to me to ask. Her eyes startled me. Crystal blue pools without white or pupil. 
 
 `` We're offering twenty five million-'' 
 
 `` But your boss said you had a hundred million to spend,'' she countered. I blanched. 
 
 `` How do you know?'' I asked her. I was slightly afraid now. The machine, looking at the board the entire time finally moved. He tipped his king over gently, signalling defeat. 
 
 `` I know everything silly,'' the girl known as Lyn said smiling. `` And when I know something, so does Jasper. No one can beat Jasper in a fight, and me and Jasper make the best team. So when do we leave mister? I wan na be home by night time. Madam Izzabeth is making apple pie and I do n't wan na miss it,'' she pushed off her stool and stood to her feet. 
 
 `` What planet did the pirates go to?'' I asked her. Even though I felt terrified by this little girl, I had to confirm it. 
 
 `` They did n't go to a planet silly, they ran off on their spaceship towards one of those big floating meteorites. We better hurry though, I think the boss pirate is having his friends come over to move your special thing. And I do n't think you'll be able to find it on that scary fire planet,'' she said every word without a moment to think. I dropped my head in defeat. 
 
 `` You two are hired, full price. My name is Kodiak, it'll be a pleasure working with you miss Lyn,'' 
 
 She smiled at me, `` Nice to meet you Major Kodiak Grisworth. I think this is gon na be fun! Do n't you Jasper?'' 
 
 `` Affirmative,'' replied the machine as it powered up its combat systems to show off. The blue glow revealed it to be running on Mithril; the pinnacle of military technology. This machine could probably solo a small country's entire armed force. 
 
 Suddenly this mission did n't seem so bad.
