"I'm not upset!" TO reached out and squeezed DH's shoulder as they reassured their partner for the third time, "I'm just worried about you!"

"You should be upset, though!" DH hardly noticed TO's touch as they were so busy pacing the room, "I don't even know why I was like that! I just saw them, and I thought about how upset you had been yesterday-"

It was concerning, TO had to admit that. As they said to Runala, DH had never been like that before, and now that even DH didn't know why, they acted in such a way worried them.

"Runala didn't take it badly." They said, though they couldn't forget how disappointed Runala had seemed at DH's anger. "They even said they'd probably act the same."

Despite TO's words, DH still paced around with their ears flicked down, "They're basically in charge of this place, though!" They said. "What if they kick us out?"

"I don't think they'll kick us out. Besides, 'in charge' seems to be an exaggeration, anyway." While training with the three, TO had come to realize that Runala was more like a coordinator than anything else. Of course, they only saw Runala for a short period every day and they weren't privy to every little thing that happened but occasionally a message would come in for them and from what TO overheard, it seemed less like they were giving orders and more that they were just working to get everyone to agree.

"You're sure?" DH asked, still looking far more anxious over the situation than necessary. While TO was worried, they were more worried about DH. It had never crossed their mind that they'd be kicked out for their rudeness, and even now it didn't seem likely.

"I'm sure." TO said, seizing the pacing DH in their arms and holding them tight, their wings wrapping around them. "What I'm not sure about is you. Are you ok?"

DH's ears flicked from their low state to the quirked pose of confusion. "Why are you worried about me in this!?"

"You don't normally act like this! In fact, I'm normally the one acting like this!"

There was a moment of silence, followed by the dissonant chuckles from both of them. "You're right." DH said, "I'm absolutely pulling a - well, a you!"

"Gee, thanks." TO said, pulling DH in and kissing their forehead. It was nice to hold them like this. It reminded them of being back in training when a chance to hold them like this was a little spark of happiness in the turmoil. While that time wasn't necessarily a good time, it also reminded them of a time when they were competent at least; A time when they knew what they were doing.

"... I should apologize though, right?"

"You should." TO admitted.

"They still shouldn't have said anything!"

"I know that, and they know that, and Runala apologized on (name)'s behalf."

"... And I guess it's too late to run after them?" DH looked at TO, ears low.

"It is." TO agreed as they pressed their forehead against DH's. "Why don't we get Constance, get some food, and then see if we can find them?"

DH signed and leaned into TO's chest. "Ok." They said, "I really hope I've not suddenly become like you."

A flick of TO's ears down gave away their dismay at that comment. "Why not?"

"Because I'm hungry, and when you're upset, you never eat right!"

======

After a quick breakfast where TO, DH, and Constance ate just fine, they dropped Constance off with the teacher at the learning centre and then went on to look for Runala.

"Maybe I shouldn't go, though." DH said, "I mean, if they're mad-"

"They're not mad," TO said as they pulled up a map on their commutator. They had sent off a brief message asking Runala where they were, saying that they wanted to talk before they met up for flight training. The message back warned that they were really busy today, but provided a location nevertheless. "I know you'll feel better after you've apologized."

DH clearly didn't seem so sure judging by the angle of their ears, but they let TO lead them down the hallways to a part of Scraprock that they'd not visited before. Finding unknown places they've not seen before had become exceedingly common as Scraprock seemed to be a maze of hallways and rooms built as need dictated, and not according to any kind of plan. What was unusual was that the further they went, the fewer people they saw and the less the surrounding walls looked like the normal makeshift walls of Scraprock and more of a cohesive structure that was built back when the resources and time were easily available. Back when things could be maintained on a schedule and not in immediate and panicked response to some kind of failure.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Eventually, they came to a door and TO understood why this looked so familiar to them.

"It's a synth ship." DH said as they scanned the wall panels near the door. "The panels are last generation, so I didn't realize at first, but this is an old synth ship."

"Think it still flies?"

"No idea."

They approached the door, which immediately opened up for them, much to their surprise. TO stopped, one hand out to keep DH back, the other reaching for their multi-gun, which they of course didn't carry with them anymore. Their ears immediately flushed when a different synth looked out the door, their ears twitching in amusement.

"Dee and Tio." They said, speaking a slightly clipped version of synth speak, "Runala said you were coming. I was watching for you. Come in. Runala is busy."

TO tried too late to act like they were fixing the hem of their shirt as they approached the door, glimpsing the camera in the upper corner of the hall. They walked inside and realized that the door they entered would have been the elevator door on their own ship, but was now just an entrance to what was once the ship's living quarters. Inside, there was the computer console, exactly as it would have been in their own ship, but that was where the similarities ended. Someone had gutted the rest of the 'living quarters' of the ship, which now expanded into a larger, circular room, dominated primarily by a rectangular table over which hovered several projections, each showing different star maps and calculated ship paths. Eight NuChilaicans occupied the area around the table - some standing, some sitting- but almost all of them were talking.

"There's movement in several locations, so I doubt this is targeted at us."

"We don't know, though. I just say we change course. As it stands, they seem to have knowledge of our location-"

"Their path follows a major trade route, so it's likely just a merchant chip. It would be a waste of fuel-"

"Even if we just use a little to slow our approach, we'd miss possible intersection."

The only one who wasn't talking was Runala, who sat in a chair, leaning forward and resting their chin on the back of their entwined fingers as they looked intently at the projections before them. They glanced at TO and DH when they saw the two enter, nodded, and then focused once more on the projections.

"We should continue our path and move if we decide beyond any doubt that the ship is coming for us."

"And we'll have to use far more fuel than to escape, and it's going to be tight as it is to reach a place to refuel!"

"We wait." Runala finally said, "If we plan it right, we'll be able to defend ourselves from the attack and ensure we have the supplies we need for the foreseeable future. Changing our path now could rob us of the chance for supplies."

When Runala spoke, all the others went silent. Eventually, one of them shook their head, their ears low, "I don't think that will be necessary. The risks -"

"We've taken far greater risks before, and we've survived. This will provide us with materials for repairs, food, fuel, and additional water supplies. "

"That might be best," said a NuChilacian who sat next to the one who objected, "With the recent influx of people, we need more supplies, and we could stand to expand on food production and increase water reserves. We've been wanting to do that for ages anyway, but we're always rushing to do repairs."

"Then does that sound like the best option?" Runala asked, "We continue on our current path. If the ship in question is not looking for us in particular, then it'll change path before it leaves the Ataskian gravity field. If it doesn't, then we'll prepare accordingly."

There were nods of ascent, though nobody seemed excited about the situation. TO could relate, though. If it was them, they'd want to to take action now, not wait to see what happened. Even now, though they weren't involved in this, they felt a sense of dread waft over them. Was there a ship coming towards them? Was it a Synth Ship? Was it Kei again? Had they, in fact, made the wrong decision in coming here? At the time TO want to make any decision on it, but had even that been the wrong decision?

As others slowly left the room, Runala caught the anxious way TO's low ears twitched. "It's nothing to worry about." They insisted. "We like to keep an eye on any ships that we find which seem like they might intersect with our path. Most of the time, it's nothing to worry about." They gestured to the largest hologram, which was dated for several weeks back. "We're a little more concerned because the ship coming to us is part of a group of ships that went out to several locations recently. Still, I don't think it's an issue."

"But... What if it is?" TO said, lowering their voice as the others finished filing out, leaving TO and DH alone with Runala. "What if it's someone coming to destroy Scraprock?"

"They won't." Runala said.

"It could be!" TO insisted, "I.. I don't know if anyone told you." Their ears dipped, "But we think that an unfriendly synth-"

"All Synths are unfriendly." Runala's ears pinned back as they spoke. "All synths are loyal to Decon. NuChilacians are not."

TO froze, their ears dipping for a moment as they took in the angle of Runala's ears, and the way their words snapped out of their mouth. Next to them, TO heard DH taking a long breath.

"Right, sorry." TO said, "But.. What I meant to say is that a synth may have your coordinates! When we left Arkane-"

"GiDi told me about that." Runala said, their ears relaxing once more as they flicked in amusement. "And don't worry. That's not the first time it's happened, nor the last." They looked at the projection once more. "And if it is, well, so long as it's not an entire fleet, I think we'll be fine. Such an encounter might even be good for us." They shook their head, "At any rate, don't worry about this, and don't worry about that Synth you dealt with knowing our coordinates. If that ship is unfriendly, then no matter what it is, I promise we can take care of it." They gestured, and the projections flicked off. "That aside. What did you need?"

DH huffed and looked aside, their arms crossed. Runala's comment seemed to have diminished their desire to apologize.

"DH wanted to talk to you," TO said as they gave DH a careful nudge. "And I came with them."

DH stayed silent for a moment as their ears twitched, then finally they sighed and nodded. "Yes." They finally said, "I do want to talk."

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.