It took a while, but eventually Vik agreed to stay put while they all figured out what was really happening , rather than simply run off. Of course, it was less that they agreed to listen and more that Tham convinced him that a meeting would give Vik a chance to tell DH exactly what they thought about the situation. That was troubling, because TO could already see Vik riling themself up for a verbal attack.
Of course, none of them expected to see both Avery and GiDi in the room when they arrived. There was a brief moment where TO was certain that Vik was going to flee and judging by the way the tiny hacker stiffened, it seemed like he was planning that as well. Thankfully, he instead jumped up onto the table and then onto the back of one of the chairs where he perched, looking around at the others. With his ears pinned back and his tail flicking behind him, he seemed every bit like an on-guard animal, waiting for a bigger predator to make the first strike.
Perhaps that’s why he deflated once DH leaned forward on the table with his ears down, and looked up at him to say, “Vik, I’m so _sorry_”
“What?” Vik asked in a quiet voice.
“TO told me was what going on before you got here!” DH said. “I’m sorry, I just assumed you were coming with us, and I never said that I wanted you to come with us, and I should have, and when you stopped spending time with me, then I thought you got sick me and didn’t want to come anyway and I didn’t want to pressure you-“
“Slow down, DH.” Avery said, amusement in their ears as they put a hand on DH’s shoulder, “I think you’re overwhelming him.”
As TO watched Vik, they weren’t sure if he was so much ‘overwhelmed’ as he was confused.
“Vik.” Avery said as DH fell into an embarrassed silence, “I’ve come to learn a very hard lesson in my short life, and it’s this: everyone I love is an idiot.”
“Hey!” TO said, as their ears flicked down, “I’m not-“
“So,” Avery continued, ignoring TO’s protest, “To avoid the pitfalls that normally come about with this kind of situation, I’m going to ask you outright if you want to come with us to-“
“Yes!” Vik said, their ears instantly pressing against their head after their too quick, overly enthusiastic response. “I mean, well, yes, I do, but I thought only people in your pod-“
Avery sighed and sat down heavily on the edge of the sleeping pod, “It’s a dumb construct.” They said, “If you want someone to be in our little family-pod thing, and it’s someone we all get along with, then they’re in. If DH wants you in the Pod, then I have no issue with that.” Their ears pinned back for a moment, lowering in a slight flicker of sadness before they looked up again, “And anyway, even if that weren’t the case, we can’t control who goes where. Goretta is going to Apoikia too.”
“... So I can go with you?”
“Of course you’re coming with us!” DH said, “I mean, if you want to-“
“He does.” Tham said before looking at Vik and adding “I mean, unless you got somewhere better to go.”
Vik shook his little head frantically, “No no, I don’t!” they said, then jolted, “And even if I did, I wouldn’t! I’d go with you guys, anyway!”
As DH and Vik started to talk, first about Apoikia and then quickly going into the work they’ve been doing over the last few weeks, TO and Avery exchanged a glance and an amused flick of their ears. TO shook their head, and Avery gave them a look with their ears parallel to the ground. With their hand just high enough for TO to see, Avery signed something that made TO’s ears warm up.
*Don’t get too cocky - You and DH are so much worse!
======
Once Vik and DH started talking about their experiments and discussing advancements for Flit’s new prosthetic, TO, GiDi, and Avery wandered off on their own. GiDi, of course, wanted to get back to Pearla, and Avery wanted to go check on Lake. Though TO wanted to go check on Constance, she was with Lendulin in the swimming tank and would likely be there for the rest of the day.
She’d be happy on Apoikia long as she had a place to swim, right? Apoikia had to have bodies of water big enough for her. Would there be other children there as well? Small Chilacian kids with flicking ears and big eyes which looked so much like hers? Would she get along with them?
They considered this as they walked, and didn’t realize they had walked towards the flight room. Today, a few NuChilacians that they hadn’t met before were flying around with a kind of grace and agility that they themself no longer possessed. They watched, leaning against the wall, their eyes taking their technique and form. They clearly practiced, yes, but from where TO watched, they could see where improvements could be made to make their turns sharper and their more delicate maneuvers more accurate. It made their wings itch to watch them like this because TO wanted to be out there, flying with them! They wanted to have that dexterity back, but it was coming back so slowly...
“Going for a fly?”
TO jolted, realizing that they had been so focused on the others flying that they allowed someone to sneak up on them. They turned, the movement more fluid than they expected with their new prosthetic, and reached for their multi-gun, which, of course, they didn’t have. It was perhaps a good thing that they didn’t have their multi-gun on them because even now they thought they would at least stun the person who startled them, and the NuChilacian that approached them was unarmed, and certainty seemed friendly judging by their ears.
“Ah,” they said, their ears flicking out a little as they forced a smile across their lips. “One of the new ones?” They said, “Er, New to Scraprock, I mean.”
“Not very new.” TO said as their ears pinned back. The other NuChilacian put their hands up before then.
“I only ask because it’s normally the new ones who get startled like that.” They gave a low chuckle, “I mean, we all still get startled, but at the six-month mark, most of us stop reaching for our weapon.”
TO’s ears dropped, warming slightly, “Ah, I see.” They said, “Well... I’ve not been here for six months.”
“TO, right?” they asked, “Got here a few weeks ago?”
“Yes.” TO said as they took a half step back, their ears flicking back as they looked around to take in the environment and the potentials for defending themself. “How did you know that?”
“Your wing.” They said with a gesture to the large scar on TO’s wing. “I know there’s a few of us with scarred wings here, but you’re the only one that’s come within the last six months. Also, I remembered your name because you came here with Dhana, who was the one who broadcast themselves across the galaxy.” Their ears perked up. “Dangerous, but admirable. I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting them yet, but I understand that they are your mate, yes?”
“How did you know that!” TO said as their ears flicked down in panic, flushing anew.
“I guessed!” They said as their ears twitched with amusement, “I knew that you were sharing a room with them, but not with anyone else. I made a guess, and you confirmed it.” They smiled and approached the nearby observation wall of the flight room. “My partner is already in there flying.” They said, “The one in the red and black shirt.”
TO frowned as they turned around and watched this NuChilacian’s partner fly overhead. The one in the red and black shirt was good, but TO could see ways they could be better. Still, that wasn’t the main concern right now.
“How did you know who I’m in a room with?” They demanded as their ears pinned back.
“I check over all the new personnel.” They said, “Though, pardon me, I suppose you’re not technically personnel.” Their ears perked up, “Right. Sorry. Runala is my name.” They said, “Captain.”
“Captain of..?”
“Well, of Scraprock!” They said with a chuckle, “I know it looks like a small planet or something, but it started as a ship once, and we’ve always considered it more like a ship than anything else.” Their mate in the flight room looked down as they were practicing a dive and saw Runala. Stopping mid-dive, they suddenly grasped a nearby pipe and hung upside-down as they waved and beckoned Runala in.
“Come on.” They said, “Let’s go for a bit of a fly, hmm? I’d like to get to know you a bit better, and there’s no better way than flying together, in my opinion.
TO beamed, their ears perking up, but a second later they seemed to deflate entirely. “I’d love to.” They said, “But...” They pulled up the leg of their pants to show the twisted metal of the prosthetic.
“Ah.” Runala said, “Sorry that happened to you.”
“I’ll be able to fly.” They said, “But, I was so long where I couldn’t, and I couldn’t exercise my wings, so now I need to build up those muscles more.” They let the pant leg drop. “And my mate would really rather if I didn’t fly on my own until I’m at least mediocre.”
Runala’s ears twitched in amusement. “Well, you’ll be flying with three other NuChilacians, one of which specializes in physiotherapy, and one of which who was a flight trainer back in the day.” They tilted their head at TO, “I was watching you as you observed their flying, by the way. You could see the opportunities too, couldn’t you?”
“I wasn’t judging them!” TO said quickly, “I just-“
“Can’t help it, right?” Runala said, “I’m still the same way.” They forced another smile, one that lifted their ears, “Come on, with the two of us, we might help. And our friend, Mirian, well... They just like stunt flying. You might get along.” They turned and headed towards the door. “Of course, no pressure. I understand if you’d rather wait for your mate.”
TO paused for only a moment before they hurried after Runala. They were right, DH only worried about them flying on their own, so with three other NuChilacians with them, TO was certain it would be fine.
