Day 47: Greenhouse [4th Shift]

[mitase]

Entering the greenhouse was almost like coming home, and Hanatarou had been looking forward to this shift for that reason. Everywhere else in the building was strange and confusing (and often dangerous) but in here was the familiar scent of soil and sun-warmed plants with the musty sort of enclosed-space smell overlaying it. His expression turned

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[wantsyourzex]

So much for his pleasant lunch. That hadn't ended at all like he'd thought it would. He'd never had a human throw food at him before, and that human had certainly bolted like a champion (from something that wasn't even a threat!). To say ZEX was less than pleased with the outcome of the meal would be an understatement. He'd have to make a note not to pursue that Sho human again. He clearly had something wrong with him; that had been the very definition of overreacting.

ZEX was still picking food off of his clothes when he made it to the greenhouse and wasn't in a very good mood. That was two humans he'd been less than successful at wooing right after the other... it'd be unnatural for his pride not to be a little wounded afterwards. What had he done wrong? He was sure he'd behaved appropriately... after all, he'd succeeded before using the same techniques. He hoped it wasn't a result of his physical damage... It wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. Then again, both their species did tend to focus on the superficial at times

[cmdr_exposition]

Hayes shook his head. Being allies certainly should have led to understanding, but with the Arilou, that just wasn't the way it worked. "They never talked about themselves. We were a bit too busy at the time to press the point, but they absolutely match the descriptions of strange beings who used to briefly abduct and alter humans at certain points in our history."

Now, ZEX's talk of a Captain hadn't really caught Hayes' attention before. The possessive references had rather given him the impression that it was an old VUX subordinate, possibly his flag-captain or something. But this big Precursor ship thing was just too much of a coincidence. "Hold on, is this the same Captain you were talking about before?"

[wantsyourzex]

"Really? Hmm." Odd, he'd always imagined their relationship as more symbiotic than that, but then again he'd just been an observer. He'd suppose that a human would know more about this sort of thing than he would, although he probably would never know anything for sure without speaking to an Arilou himself, and somehow that seemed unlikely.

ZEX blinked curiously at him. His human Captain was so solidly fixed in his mind that it hadn't occurred to him that someone might not know who he was talking about. "Yes, of course. My dear human Captain." With great fondness that quickly enough turned sad. "It's a shame he isn't here any more."

If only he had done something differently...

[cmdr_exposition]

Hayes went cold at that. They'd said they'd lost people, and he hadn't inquired further, figuring that two people he didn't know would probably know someone else he didn't know. And out of all the people Hayes knew, the Captain would be the last person he would have imagined in a place like this. It just didn't fit the context. He was free.

He should probably say something- if only to confirm what the Admiral seemed to be saying- but nothing was coming. This wasn't just sad- everything about it was wrong.

[wantsyourzex]

ZEX didn't want to recount what had happened to him; he rarely wanted to think about it all, not that that stopped intrusive memories of his Captain's death regardless. Human minds dealt with trauma in strange ways.

The images of it flashed through his memory, still painfully clear, and ZEX sighed again. He missed that human... his most prized possession and he was taken from him so unfairly.

It looked as though their time this shift was running out either way. He stood up, feeling a lot older than he had a few minutes ago. "There's no use in dwelling on things that won't change, I suppose. I'll see you tonight then, correct?"

He had to keep looking forward.