Delw Night's Story

"Remember to do everything the doctor says because I can tell you that having health complications while stuck on a ship will not be fun" Eddie warned her.

Saein agreed, but jokingly pointed out “It’s even worse to disobey the cook, dieing of hunger is one of the worst ways to go. Of course nobody is going to be mean to Minn, this kitchen smells like we could start a new religion.” Thinking about her own joke, she added “Actually, we’re all trusting each other with our lives in some way or another.”

Because of the sound of everyone talking to each other, she didn’t quite catch what Eddie whispered to Minn, something about the doctor. A glance at Alex told her it was probably about him looking at Minn and blushing. Right there was someone else whose job she wouldn’t have wanted back in her wild days. But perhaps he had different ethics, and as long as he didn’t try to apply those to her or someone else who wasn’t interested, that was fine.

Thinking about the doctor reminded her of something. She had to make sure he got her complete files. RMEE, the company she had worked for for the longest time, took great care to keep medical information from going anywhere automatically. The rest of the world didn’t need to know the management told employees to ignore health and safety laws when their own judgment told them to. Saein remembered a few situations in which she or someone else could have died if she had strictly obeyed the law. An outsider might say the risks that led to those situations should never have been taken, but she disagreed. Maybe the few friends who had left RMEE in boxes would agree now, except they couldn’t.

Minn brought Saein’s thoughts back to something much happier: "Sure," she said with a sweet smile. "I'll room with you. Never had my own room before anyway. Would probably get lonely." Saein’s heart jumped. “Great!” she exclaimed.

Eddie blushed while talking about the two women sharing a room. Saein had a good idea what he might be thinking about, but before she thought of a way to tease him with that, he praised her for sharing her room. She chuckled and told him “It’s not as selfless as you might think.”

He joked about kicking the doctor in his sleep. “Funny you should mention that, I have thought about what might happen if I got kicked in my sleep. I’ve dreamed my pillow was a person and didn’t wake up freaking out because of it, so I think I can be touched when I’m not awake.”

Eddie offered the use of his room if there would ever be an argument. “That’s very kind of you, but if anything happens I’ll let Minn and you have rooms. It doesn’t matter if it’s because of me being wrong about what I just told you, or because of me being wrong because Minn says so” she joked.

Dlew interrupted all conversations at once by falling over. Saein hoped he wasn’t broken, just in need of food, and that that food would be ready when he recovered. Although she wasn’t starving like Dlew, she could hardly wait to eat. If the food tasted as good as it smelled (and she had no doubt it would), she would also have a lot of fun praising Minn. She felt so very happy about how everything was turning out, about all the people around her, and about the food (soon!), however being a bit worried about Dlew she wasn’t sure her big smile was appropriate.

Dlew looked over his sholder when he heard the food was ready, he put away his notebook and returned to normal and went to get his food. When Dlew got there he just looked at the food and it took him a while to find what to eat (mostly because he would be fine with anything) and went to sit back down were he originlly was next to Regina. He looked at his food and insted of just eating it like he was a starved person, Dlew was eating slowly and politely. Dlew thought the taste of the food might be good, but this was the first time in a while that he had eaten something decent and didn't know how to react so he just sat there not saying a word and keeping his emotionless face on.

“It’s even worse to disobey the cook, dieing of hunger is one of the worst ways to go. Of course nobody is going to be mean to Minn, this kitchen smells like we could start a new religion.”

Eddie nodded seriously and then, with a smile, spoke. "You're right there." he said. "On both occasions too," he went to say something but Saein cut him off before he could do so.

"Actually, we're all trusting each other with our lives in some way or another,"

He smiled at the statement before sitting back in his chair and speaking. "Yeah... Well, you shouldn't have to worry about me. I promised not to get us all killed," he said. "I would be kinda sad if I killed everyone on this ship... especially if it was something dumb like running into a star or something," he said. He let out a small laugh.

“Funny you should mention that, I have thought about what might happen if I got kicked in my sleep. I’ve dreamed my pillow was a person and didn’t wake up freaking out because of it, so I think I can be touched when I’m not awake.”

Eddie went to open his mouth to speak, but ended up being unable to do so. The statement more or less caught him offguard. Eventually, he pushed the confusion out of the way of his mouth and mustered a few words. "That's.... interesting to know...." he said unsurely. "I wasn't aware that you wanted to be touched in your sleep...."

He listened to Saein decline his offer for his room had they ever been in an argument. While right now he didn't say anything, he would heavily insist on one of them stealing his room until they cooled down if nothing but to help it blow over and not be a big problem. So, he simply shrugged until he heard some commotion from their android buddy, who seemed to be nearing Death's door by the second. Almost made it look like the robot was as eager as he was for the food. He wasn't.

When Minn got up and delivered his plate to him, his eyes nearly teared up at the beautiful meal before him. He almost cried at the sight, but wasted no time picking up his utensils and digging into the food with a passion. He was overjoyed that the meal turned out to taste even better than it had smelled, and his face reflected this as his impaled pieces of the feast on the fork and promptly guided it to his mouth before chewing and grinding it with his teeth. He finished the food in his mouth before answering Minn, who was obviously eager to see his opinion on her food.

He smiled. "I was wrong when I said your food would be good....." he began. "...It isn't good.... it's great....."

Dlew looked up from his plate to see a Metamorphite walk into the room and turn into a human. THis made Dlew wonder if he could transform into a series 500 android but it is unlikely since Dlew is made of metal but it made him wonder about the 600 and 700 series (since they are made of artifical flesh and blood.) He noticed the Metamorphite take a seat next to Regina and felt like he was ment to be here, but felt like something was missing.

Dlew froze with a look of fear when it stopped at the Villy system because that is were those raiders (that attacked the Nights Blade) useully ambush ships. But he clamed down thinking maybe that the raiders had moved on and started plundering other systems. Then felt curiosity when the map stopped at their destionation a planet called Earth? Dlew thinks he heard of it somewhere but can't remember. Dlew still feels uneasy when he thinks of THAT systems name. (villy system)

Dlew responded with "I will join but I don't know what I can do to help." He joined the crew because he had knowhere to go and because he found the subject intresting. Dlew still didn't like the idea of travling through that system though, but guessed it was a low chance that they would meet up with the raiders that attacked him.

Wow,Earth the lost home of Humanity.Now that was something Cassiopeia could tell the (presently non-existent)grandkids,"Dad told me about Earth,said that it was once a green land filled with oceans,lakes and deserts and all types of animals." Her dad had never been to Earth,but rumors and legends could fly like birds. She was glad that everyone else was staying because she was too,"Sounds like the adventure I signed up for."

After the captain told everyone to report to their stations Dlew went to look for the bridge. After getting lost for about half an hour Dlew manages to find the way to the bridge and when he gets there Dlew sits down in the navigators chair. Dlew looks at the monitors and turns one on to start polting the Nightwings course. Dlew contacts the engineer and asks "How far do you think we can go in The Nightwing before refuling?" When the engineer gave Dlew the answer Dlew said "Thank's" and resumed ploting the ships current course.

Dlew looked at the four people who ran into the Bridge and then looked at the captain who looked about ready to explode with anticipation. Dlew reported to the captain "Our current course has been plotted."

Dlew then sat back an waited for the ship to take off and when it did Dlew felt amazed at how the stars were zooming past the ship. Dlew forgot how amazing it was to watch the stars and apperantly so did the others.

When the ship calmed down and they could walk around the ship again Dlew just decided to stay at his post and draw the stars and how they looked from were he was.

Reggie watched how Minn reacted to the take off. It wasn't for everybody, and the first one was always the worst. After a while, she would get used to it. If she didn't run off when they docked at their first stop. Which would no doubt take Saein away as well, Reggie recalled back to when the mechanic had said all she wanted was a good chef.

Sighing and shaking her head, Reggie let the slowing pressure wash over her, the feeling so comfortable and normal. She pushed off her chair, walking towards the cockpit. "Dlew, make a change in the planned route. We're stopping at the IDA first. Coordinates should be in the system already."

She spun and took a look at the crew members on the bridge with her. "MAK, what is Minn's location?"

"Just outside the bridge." MAK responded. "Dr. Lassion is with her."

"Good, maybe Cassandra can calm her down." Reggie said tapping her finger on her chin. She was tired, her knee was throbbing. She had been moving too much, too much action. It was time to take a rest.

"Colin, you're in charge. I'm retiring to my quarters for a while." Reggie explained looking to Colin. "Please, don't break my ship."

She smiled to Bond and Saein, waved goodbye to Eddie and Dlew and made her way to her quarters. Her room was on it's own floor, just above the bridge. It was large and spacious, although Reggie never knew what to fill it with. The room was a dark blue color, that immediately calmed the captain down. Her bed sat in the middle of the room on it's own platform. Reggie flopped onto it, immediately removing her tight pants.

Her knee was yellow and discolored, the replacement piece has shifted and knocked out of place. Usually, it left Reggie unable to even walk, but with the amount adrenaline that had been coursing through her most of yesterday and today, it was understandable why she would force her way through the pain.

Reggie contemplated heading down to the infirmary and having the good doctor fix her knee, but she decided against it. There was a good chance she wouldn't even make it that far before collapsing.

Grabbing her pants from the floor, she bunched it up and stuck a thick piece in her mouth, immediately clenching down on it as hard as she could. Placing her fingers in the appropriate locations, she applied pressure to the edges and pushed the cap back into place. Of course it never just snapped back into place. Often times it would get stuck, the metal piece not meant to be moved.

And the pain. The pain was greater than anything Reggie had ever felt. The pain of slipping the metal piece back into place was far greater than when Reggie originally got the injury. She screamed into the cloth as she forced herself to push the piece back into place.

Finally, she felt the cap shift and the pain cease. The captain collapsed, her jaw slacking and the pants falling into her lap. She took in deep breaths and fell back into her sheets.

"MAK!" She called. "I need a drink."

[Ignore Cassiopeia's Tag]

When Regina said for Dlew to change the ships course Dlew responded with "roger." When Dlew finished the change to the course he told Colin.

Dlew then left the bridge to walk around the ship. Dlew stopped by the hanger and sat down by the door and started to draw it. Dlew felt like he could take another nap, but thought he should ask if there were any rooms left. It was too late Dlew had fallen a sleep against the wall.

Dlew woke as the ship came into the docks, and listened to the Captain who said anyone who wanted could tag along if they so wished. Thinking why not, Dlew decided accept the offer and followed her into academy. Stepping into the large building, Dlew took in the scenery, and at once brought out his notebook and pencil, then began to draw.Settling for rough outlines for now, Dlew decided he’d finish later and continued on further into the maze of halls and endless corridors. Along his way, he continuously stopped to draw what he saw, so much that he had lost track of time, as well as direction. Glancing around, he located an IDA officer who kindly pointed him back towards the docking bay, and awaiting ship.

Boarding the ship once more, Dlew made for the bridge, intending to start preparations for the next takeoff by pre-plotting the course. On his way, he just happened to catch a glimpse into the medical bay, and heard the commotion within. Quickly, he located Alex, and found that Saein was unconscious.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” he asked, a hint of emotion escaping through his dull tone.

Dlew looked to Minn who was watching Saein with a very worried look, and decided he should stay as well. He wondered what would be appropriate to say, what could possibly comfort or relieve Minn, but couldn’t come up with anything. So there he sat, waiting patiently until the doctor would need his services.

One by one, the grey spots returned on Saein’s skin. She frowned, and groaned “Verdul limmeh”. No translation was needed, these words were obviously obscene. She opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Alexander. “Did someone hit me on the head?” she asked. No, that wasn’t it, the sore spot on her head didn’t hurt quite enough for having been knocked out, and her shoulder also felt like she had bumped into something. Then it came back to her. “Never mind, I’m an idiot.”

Saein tried to sit up to look around, noticed the facts that she was on a stretcher and that her head didn’t just hurt on the outside, then decided to stay down. From where she was, she couldn’t see much, she hoped the people around her weren’t the whole crew. Where was she anyway? The infirmary, probably.

“Doc, now I’m here anyway, you may want to copy my complete medical file from my datapad. Pretty sure the least healthy ten years are missing from the one you have.” As if that was important. Burns, broken bones and radiation poisoning had nothing to do with what had happened before she passed out, and all had been fixed long ago. “No hurry. I never abused my nerves before.” Her file wasn’t important. What was important?

Minn appeared next to her. Ah yes, that was important. The girl looked so worried... “Sorry I scared you, hon.” She reached for Minn’s face, but the girl moved away from her hand. “Don’t. I’ll be fine” Saein said, and stroked Minn’s cheek. A surprised smile appeared on Saein’s face. “Hey, that’s neat...”

Thank goodness thought Dlew as he watched Saein wake up finally, he looked at the scene with a blank stare, watching Minn lean over her, hugging her again and holding her hand when Eddie came in, somewhat baffled by the events he seemed to have missed. Dlew, satisfied everything was okay finally decided to continue to the bridge, and said a few goodbyes to everyone in his usual dull tone.

He made his way to the bridge successfully, and took his place in one of the chairs before opening up the charts, and beginning to tap the screen, inputting coordinates for their next course and destination. When he finally finished, as usual he produced his little note book and pen, and flipped through the pages, opening up to where he had left off on the sketch of the academy. A few thoughts ran through his mind as he drew finished up the picture, the most prominent being a curiosity of who is to come aboard the ship.

Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted as his pen failed him, refusing to continue any longer as it ran out on ink.

“MAK,” said Dlew, “where can I get another pen?”

“Most likely in one of the offices,” responded MAK.

Dlew contemplated this and finally decided to talk another walk in an effort to find a new pen. After a few moments of walking, he came across Cassandra’s office. He doubted she’d mind if he intruded to snatch a pen, so he entered. Looking around he found the room covered in books strewn across the floor, along with the desk drawers still open. Dlew ignored the mess and made his way to the desk, then found himself looking through some of the books atop it. After a few moments of reading and finding nothing of interest, so he returned to his search, locating a pen quickly and taking it before returning to the bridge.

Alexander

Alex was busy prepping for a few of the tests. Nothing to extreme. Just a blood sample, a few checks of blood pressure. Although the machines could tell Alex everything he needed to know, he preferred to get the results himself.

He jolted, however, when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder. He looked down to see Minn smiling up at her. She was thanking him for being so calm, and he smiled back. She was very sweet.

"It's important to remain calm." Alex explained. "If a patient sees the doctor freaking out, well...you can only imagine. By panicking, I can get confused and discombobulated. I could mess up, and cause even more problems."

"I don't have the option of panicking." He added. He smiled down at her, hoping to lighten the glum mood he put the conversation in. She smiled back, and Alex couldn't help but blush. She looked just like his old girlfriend, except for the pink skin.

She thanked him once again, waved at him, and walked back to the mechanic. Alex let out a breath, his shoulders sagging. He continued prepping his paperwork and the instruments he needed. He could hear Minn and Saein talking behind him, Eddie chiming in every now and then.

Regina

Reggie was back on her ship and it didn't take her long to find Dlew back up on the bridge. Everything was rather quiet, she hadn't bumped into anyone on her way up. They were probably off doing their own things. She limped her way over to Dlew and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Sorry about the delay," She said with a smile. "Let's get you downstairs to fix that gear." She helped him out of his chair and they walked together to the elevator. "Meet me in the infirmary. I have to get my tools and the gears. It'll take me a few minutes."

Dlew jumped slightly, startled as Regina’s hand came down on his shoulder. He nodded at her as she told him she would now get back to fixing his broken parts, and he allowed himself to be helped from the chair. Quietly he followed her to the elevator.

"Meet me in the infirmary. I have to get my tools and the gears. It'll take me a few minutes.” She said. Dlew gave a simple “Okay” in response as he stepped into the elevator.

He watched the lights on the wall slowly tick by as it traveled down, waiting patiently until it finally stopped and the door slid open, and then made his way towards the infirmary. Upon his arrival he noticed everyone seeming to be in a happier mood, the people present now exchanging jokes amongst each other. He gave a simple wave of acknowledgement to them as he took a seat at one of the other beds and waited for Regina to return.

“Sure I’m fine, it’s the the-doctor-gave-me-some-goooood-stuff kind of fuzzy. Maybe he wanted to make sure I don’t get up and start working before I’m supposed to” Saein giggled. Minn was adorable when she was worried, but there was no need for her to worry. Everything was okay now. Everything was so very okay.

Minn asked where they were off to next, Eddie explained he didn’t know the specifics but that there were sights to be seen in the area they were heading to. “Sounds good to me, sightseeing is one of the things that will make this job such fun” Saein commented. Her mind went back to the past. “I wish I could show you some of the things I’ve seen.” She imagined herself and Minn in one of those places, a beach between an ocean and a colourful jungle, in front of a double sunset, the pretty girl competing with the pretty view, and winning. With a dreamy expression on her face, she lost herself in real-world-Minn’s eyes. “But of course the best view of all is already on the sh-” Saein stopped herself. “Damnit, I’m high, aren’t I?” She bit her hand to stifle a giggle fit. Once she had herself back under control, she stared at the ceiling to avoid looking at Eddie and Minn. If Saein and Eddie had been in a blushing competition, she might be winning now. “Ooh boy. What was the way humans put it? In vino veritas?” She wasn’t sure why, but that phrase from a long-dead language was funny. A few deep breaths prevented the giggles from starting again.

Saein waved back at Dlew when he entered the infirmary. She guessed Reggie would be making repairs to him here, and she was curious about those. Too bad that in her current state she might not be able to follow what was going on.

Alexander

Alex turned when Saein called for him. The drugs were definitely in affect. Minn was already concerned, her green eyes locking onto his. "Relax Minn," He said kindly, a small laugh in his words. "Everything is fine. It's just a side effect."

He stepped over to Saein's bed and immediately checked her pulse. Everything was working fine, her body was still functioning properly. He jotted a few things down on his clipboard as he continued checking through vital signs. He took a vial full of blood and set it down in a machine to be processed. He pressed his stethoscope to her stomach, her back, and her chest, to get clear sounds of her heart.

Again, he jotted down his findings. Alex listened to Minn and Saein talk; always a silent doctor. Preferring to do his tests, and let the patient remain comfortable. Speaking with friends always calmed patients, and helped to get more accurate tests. The effects of the drugs he had given Saein were definitely working.

"But of course the best view of all is already on the sh-"

Alex felt his pen slip from his hand as he looked from Saein to Minn. Saein's face was turning redder than he had ever seen and, looking over at Eddie, Alex noticed the pilot had caught on to what Saein was saying earlier. Finally, his eyes locked on Minn, whose expression was still completely oblivious to what Saein had just said. Missing the implications in her words.

Alex coughed to get everyone's focus off of Saein's words, but she was already covering up. "Damnit, I'm high, aren't I? Ooh boy. What was the way humans put it? In vino veritas?"

Alex laughed outwardly. Surprised to hear an alien race use such a dead language. A human one at that. "In wine there is truth." Alex said translating the Latin phrase.

"Round, round with the glass, boys as fast as you can,
Since he who don't drink cannot be a true man.
For if truth is in wine, then 'tis all but a whim
To think a man's true when the wine's not in him.
Drink, drink then, and hold it a maxim divine
That there's virtue in truth, and there's truth in good wine."

Alex spoke casually as he continued to take the last few tests on Saein. When he was finished he checked off the last thing and smiled down at the mechanic as he finished the last line in the poem. "Funny that a Firni would know a Latin phrase." He chuckled again. "Everything is fine. Once I get the blood test results back, I'll know for sure that there's nothing internal wrong. Once the drugs wear off, you'll be free to go."

He smiled again and hooked his clipboard to Saein's bed. He was startled to find the android, Dlew, had joined them in the infirmary. He waved hello and then plopped down at his desk waiting for the results.

Regina

Reggie grabbed her tool kit from the hangar and spent a good five minutes digging through the spare part closet trying to find the right piece. Sure enough, it happened to buries underneath every other piece of spare part that she had gathered over the years.

Sighing with victory, the captain made her way to the infirmary. Hopefully, Dlew hadn't collapsed and broken by now. He should be fine. The gear was still working inside his body, Dlew would just never be properly fixed until they fixed it. And the longer they put it off, the more complications could occur. That damn gear could completely destroy the others gears if it dislodged itself anymore.

When Reggie arrived in the infirmary, she was surprised to find several people already there. Minn and Eddie were sitting next to Saein in one of the beds. "What happened?" Reggie asked stepping up to the bed.

"Saein just over estimated," Alex responded from behind her. She spun to see him looking over a few papers by his desk. "She'll be back up and running in an hour tops. No worries."

Reggie shook her head with a smile. "I can't leave you guys alone for five minutes without someone ending up in the infirmary." She stepped away from the bed to find Dlew sitting on one of the beds in the corner.

"How are you feeling?" She asked. "Do you feel any discomfort?"

She was already digging through her tool kit to find the item she needed. When she found it, she pulled it out. A small square object that would be inserted into a slot behind Dlew's ear. It was basically a system override. It shut down any android's functions and put them into a sort of anesthetic sleep. Reggie nodded as she listened to Dlew's reply to her questions immediately checked to make sure he had the proper docking that she needed. He did.

"Alright Dlew, this won't take long at all." She said to him with a smile. "No worries."

She slowly inserted the override and immediately Dlew shut down. His body slumped forward and Reggie easily caught him. She pushed him back onto the bed and rolled him over so she could get a clear view of his back. She pulled open the door like she did when she was giving him a check up and immediately dug her way through to the dislodged gear.

She carefully removed it, her hands already covered in grease and sticky materials, and chucked into a small bin that was meant for bodily organs. Technically that gear was an organ, just not the usual slimy, slippery ones.

It took Reggie maybe ten minutes to get the new gear properly placed in Dlew's back. It kept getting stuck on other gears and parts. But, finally, she managed to screw it in properly and close the backing. She moved to wipe her hands on her pants, but decided against it.

Although the black substance wouldn't show up on her black pants, she figured a proper washing would be a better idea. She wiped them clean, as best she could, before rolling Dlew back over and removing the override chip.

She chucked it back into her tool kit and stepped over to the sink to clean her hands. It would be a while before Dlew woke up, a good five minutes or so depending on how long it took his systems to reboot.

[Ignore Dr. Weiss's tag]

Dlew suddenly woke as his systems finished rebooting. He looked around, having to take a moment to correct his vision that seems to always take the longest to reset, everything seeming very much out of focus. He shook his head, the reboot requiring now for him to sift through his memory banks in order to remember what happened, what’s going on and where in the world he was. He blinked a few times, finally recollecting on past events, and looked up, noting that Saein, Minn and Eddie were still here.

“You do both own weapons, right?” Saein was talking now, and Dlew adjusted his gaze onto her. “In theory nothing nasty should ever manage to board the ship, but in practice… it sometimes happens.”

Dlew took a moment to recall Rina’s teachings. He thought about it, how she had showed him to wield a sidearm, and knew that no matter what she did, not even after his fail safe was removed from his programming, he couldn’t pull the trigger. Her words rang through his ears still, how she had told him it must have something to do with a part of his past that got locked away in the deepest, darkest crevices of his gears. “It must’ve been traumatic,” she had said.

His thinking was interrupted now as he realized no one had taken notice to his awakening. He spoke finally in his usual dull tone. “I know how to handle a gun, aim it, but I just can’t seem the pull the trigger… No matter what I point at” He sighed, “I wish I knew why I couldn’t pull the trigger.” The android trailed off for a moment, speaking it seemed more to himself than anything. “She told me it was something traumatic with my past, something so terrible that I had locked it away. She said she couldn’t hack through those memories…”

Suddenly Dlew looked up, for once emotion sprawled clearly across his face, a look of pure anger that could stop someone dead in their tracks. “I looked up to her! She was the best hacker, sniper, inventor and she was my friend! She could be dead for all I know!” he continued, his voice rising more and more to the point of almost screaming. He voiced faltered for a moment, “The worst part is…”

He stopped suddenly, his voice failing him as he looked like he was on the verge of tears. He realized now he may have taken it too far and saw the looks of concern in Minn, Eddie and Saein’s faces. Dlew shook his head and looked to them apologetically, and began thinking, could I be going through rampancy? How old am I? How long can an AI last before going rampant?

The android wouldn’t blame the others for wanting him off the ship as questions poured through his head, but if he could get through all the stages, he could be considered human. Dlew continued on in deep thought, and knew that even when considered human, this could be deadly for the other crew members. Maybe they could lock him away as he went through the anger stage? After that they should be somewhat safe… He looked up now, continuing in his meager voice. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen. I am so sorry.”

Before anyone could respond the android suddenly ran for the door, making way for the barracks, for someplace to be alone. After making it a good distance from the medical bay, he spoke aloud to MAK.

“MAK! Where are the barracks?”

"Get out your tablet, I shall upload it there,” replied the AI.

Dlew reached to his side and it suddenly dawned on him he had left his satchel in the medical bay. He let out a cry of frustration, cursing himself mentally. “Great, just great!” he yelled. Suddenly those his eyes widened, he had done it again. He had let anger take hold of him. “MAK! I’m staying in this hall. Please, don’t tell anyone where I am…” MAK’s reply wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but he sighed in compliance.

“I can do that, but if the Captain asks, I will have to tell her.”

“Well if she asks, tell her at least that I want to be alone…”

“I will inform the Captain when she asks.”

“Something small and simple sounds right to me” Saein nodded. “Try to get something that feels nice to your hand, you’ll probably be nervous if you ever need it and then anything that makes you shake less is good.” She pulled her own gun from her pocket, holding it by the business end, and handed it to Minn. “Or, if we have any, I could teach you how to use one of these. Small but not simple. Shoots, welds, lights, flashes, burns, cleans dishes...” Saein tried to help Minn hold the weapon correctly, but the girl avoided her touch.

Minn had stopped wanting to touch her. In a way, that was a relief, but on the other hand Saein didn’t want her to stop. She had stopped because of a fantasy in which Saein was protecting Minn. How ironic. Saein wished she could explain. Maybe if she left out almost all of the details? “Minn, a moment ago I said I eat things that eat root vegetables. That set off my imagination to someone else calling you food. I wasn’t going to let them. Please don’t be afraid of me because of that.” She was begging, sad face and puppy eyes and all. Imagining what her own begging looked like, she felt embarrassed yet again.

Dlew interrupted her thoughts and everything else by going into some kind of angry rage and running off. “They’re not supposed to do that, are they?” she asked.