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Chapter Text

  "Did you hear-? They found where the human may live." 

  The words from the inebriated Q'fig male hung heavily in the air of the tavern; the usual hub-bub of the establishment growing dead upon the haunting sentence. All eyes turned to the large hooded figure sitting silently in the corner with morbid curiosity. 

  The being sat quietly for a moment, his hand resting on the table beside his glass as his finger tapped slightly on the tabletop,

  "Where did you hear that from? I heard he died after he attacked that asshole Priestess." David asked, his voice practically ripping through the other patrons as he sat forwards.

  The small alien paused for a moment in offended silence.

  "Don't get shy now- you've been yappin' all night. Shouldn't make a difference now." The human verbally pushed the now surprised Q'fig as they turned to face the mysterious robed being. 

  "I'm sorry, and who are you? My story- if you don't mind, you brute." The mantis-like alien scoffed, David keenly observing their expensive attire as he huffed a bit in annoyance; getting to his feet. The others watched on in enthralled suspense, the locals fully aware of the human's harsh demeanor when dealing with feds wandering onto planets they had no business pestering. The man was friendly- quite so- but only to people he knew meant no harm. His disagreeable nature was seldom brought forth to this extent; only saving it for government agents or pirates coming to collect David's bounty. 

  This Q'fig being no exception to the kind he detested; their clothing comprised of fine and expensive fabrics that displayed his government issued weapons and identification in a glaringly obvious manner. A (terribly) disguised undercover agent sent to do who knows what on their quiet and remote planet. 

  Not again. This was the third encounter of the month- and it was only the 8th sol cycle. 

  "Doesn't matter. Answer my question, or I'll toss your ass outside." The human stepped closer, abandoning his seat as he stalked towards the alien, the lights of the tavern illuminating the tall being in an eerie casting of shadows as he pulled his hood back.

  Revealing his face, the Q'fig took in the human's frightening appearance- a dark layer of heavy stubble covered his upper lip and mandible, his black curly hair cropped just below his ears with a graying stripe sprouting from his left temple as his cloak shrouded the rest of his tall frame from view. A pair of reading glasses were pulled back to keep the hair from his dark eyes as the agent observed the outline of the hilt of a weapon at his hip under the robe.

  He appeared older than what the Q'fig anticipated; but no less threatening. If anything- the creature appeared more frightening with the mature visage.

  It was the human. He was right infront of them, and irritated. Shit. 

  "You! Oh, by the Goddess, it's you!" The horrified squeak practically rattled from the now quivering Q'fig, pressing themselves back against the edge of the bar as the human approached. "But it was just a story! You don't ac-actually really exist-!? They said you were dead!" 

  A collective sigh sounded from the bar staff, David's expression morphing into faint amusement, "Well, it isn't just a story. . .And you'll actually be dead if you don't answer my question." His arm suddenly flung forwards as he grabbed hold of the agent's tunic, gripping the fabric before dragging the metaphorically gagged male towards the entrance of the establishment.

  "David-" Syml's cautious yet amused voice started from behind the bar before quieting as the man gave a casually dismissive wave of his free hand, 

  "Don't mind us- continue what ya'll were doing before." David's faintly disgruntled remark to the patrons drifted through the threshold as he exited with the squirming male in tow. "Speak!" The man hissed once the door to the tavern shut. 

  "I don't know! I heard it as a rumor talking to the guards at the check-in station when you arrive in this quadrant!" The male babbled, fruitlessly struggling against the overpowering grasp as David brought them to the edge of the bar's property line. 

  "Not good enough, and you know it." His gruff scoff shut the Q'fig up as David let go, pulling back to watch the agent collect their dignity as they smoothed out their wrinkled tunic with an aggravated puff of air.

  The shadows of midday surrounded the pair as David motioned for them to start towards the edge of the small town before scowling at their stubborn (non-verbal) refusal by standing their ground akin to a pouty child. 

  Revealing a blade nearly three quarters as long as the agent was tall, the human glared down at them, "Move!"

  Paling at the aggressive bark and sight of his weapon, they scrambled into action as David trailed after them silently, a deep scowl on his features as he pointed the end of the blade a few inches from their back. 

  "Are you going to kill me? You can't kill me-! I have a spouse and offspring- I-" Maybe begging the monster for their life would ease their punishment as the human remained silent behind them- his soft footfalls on the gravel being the only indication they weren't alone. 

  Shutting the gate behind him once David pushed them past the small fenced-in courtyard of the semi-vacant town square, a frustrated sigh left the human at the words, 

  "I'm not gonna kill you, chill the fuck out. I'm kicking your ass off this planet- with the promise that if I ever see one of you assholes buzzing 'round here again, I will kill you. Walk that way." David's sharp retort silenced the agent as they nervously swallowed, steering in the direction the man pointed towards. 

  "O-okay. Great. . . Thank you." Their relieved sigh only drew out a dry chuckle from the human as he continued their trek. 

  "Hah, don't thank me yet. You're gonna be the one to explain why you returned, and how you and your superiors and their worker bees aren't allowed back here again. You're gonna tell them that if I see a single new soul here that isn't for agricultural or trade purposes- I'll rip ya'll apart limb from limb, got it?" David's jovial tone undermined the minacious threat as he pat a hand on the Q'fig's shoulder like a condescending parent. 

  "Yes." Their timid response satisfied the human as he trailed behind, quietly sheathing his blade once they neared the checkpoint at the end of town. The steep end of the borders forming the small farming town made way to showcase the stunning fields and lands comprising a majority of the vacant planet; scores of crops and other agricultural processing centers and farms spanned generations of people toiling over their bounty.

  It was a path and walk of life David found extreme comfort in- and the human would stop at near nothing to preserve his and their way of life he held dear. 

  Even if it meant becoming the town's metaphorical guard dog. 

  "Alright. This is where I drop you off. Go inside and tell them I sent you, they'll know what to do with your government property of an ass." David's abrupt comment caught the Q'fig off-guard as they stopped and turned to face the cloaked human,

  "Here? But there's nothing-" They started before David scowled darkly, his hand materializing from his cloak before forcefully shoving the smaller alien forwards over the subtle boundary etched onto the dirt beneath their feet.

  Calling it a checkpoint was more of an exaggeration; the true "checkpoint" was stationed leagues away from the planet and far closer to the solar system's sun due to the construction materials and archaic technology utilized for the station's operations. The center dually served as a weigh station for incoming freighter ships, and a navigational pit-stop for beings that spanned generations traversing the galaxy for business and sight-seeing purposes. David found it comparable to the U.S.A's own Route 66 which ran through his hometown and alongside the hundreds miles of various livestock and produce granges of the American midwest. 

 "Yes, here. Now fuck off." David's exasperated snap rang in their ears as they stumbled forwards into the empty clearing. 

  Glancing down at the pad now beneath their feet, the agent turned towards David in alarm before his figure froze as an electrical humming echoed in the field. Raising an arm to shield his eyes momentarily, the man quickly pulled his hood up as the transporter beam materialized around the paralyzed federal agent. 

  Squinting against the sun's rays and the blinding luminosity of the beam, David silently took a step back as the Q'fig promptly disappeared with the column of light. 

  Basking in the silence aside from the wildlife chatter, David quietly glanced around before turning heel and starting back towards the tavern to finish his abandoned drink.  

  "Near 15 years since I fuckin' left and these dicks just keep popping up." David grumbled to himself, hopping over a few bushes, "Obsessed freaks. . ." He repeated under his breath, eventually reaching the edge of the town. 

  Shutting the gate once he entered the square, David silently slipped past the businesses lining the perimeter of the courtyard. Glancing around to see most of the shops closed for the evening, he paused for a moment outside the entrance of the Tavern as he mentally weighed his options. Wanting to finish his drink (with four more to leave him buzzed) and perhaps chat with Syml into the long hours of the planet's nights as they serviced the bar took precedence in his mind. The man found himself comfortable in her presence during the lonely nights on Zolos- even if she was particularly friendly at times. The man was fully aware she found his exotic appearance alluring; the over decade and a half he had spent on the planet was ample enough time for the perturbing conversation of sex between their species. 

  Many lonely nights meant wanting a companion: and inevitably, you'll turn to whomever shows you attention and individualized affection. And that was precisely the case for David and Syml. 

  The female Sylirian was far from human- although the most humanoid species (in appearance) he had encountered to date- and the awkward conversation that occurred two years into his residency on Zolos regarding their mating rituals as separate species was something that deeply disturbed both parties. It was impossible, yet even denying the confused feelings, the two had became friends through their jobs and general gathering spots. 

  The gathering spots in question were only one of two within the unnamed town-  which was simply known as 977 given the jurisdictional coding of the section of the planet it inhabited. It was not much- and had a sparse population of roughly 6,500 within the identically named 977 county. 

  Names of celestial bodies or cities were seemingly unimportant the further you grew from the heart of the Confederacy and the majority of its populace, David had noted in the beginnings of his life on Zolos. 

  It was odd- but the human found it strangely familiar. The general attitude and way of life the small population within 977 held was vaguely akin to his own upbringing in an old dead town in the middle of the sticks, the small detail being more than David could have ever hoped when he first awoke all those years ago. 

   Despite the temptation of spending another night getting drunk off the inhabitants' equivalent of drain cleaner, (alcohol by human definitions was unheard of, but the fermentation process was widely used as acidic cleaning solutions.) David found himself drawn to the seductive call of sleep as the sky above darkened with the inky blanket of night. Hearing the muted conversations inside, the human decided against the former as he turned heel to head home. 

  The man greatly enjoyed night strolls on Zolos; the brilliant colors of the stars and bioluminescent flora dotted the relatively flat landscape in small bursts of various colors that perfectly lit the fields. It was the welcomed smells and sounds of living on a planet far from the hustle and bustle of the capital that provided the most relief to the man's anxieties and grief.

The simple lifestyle from which he was raised was found on other planets in separate galaxies far beyond his own- it was splendid. And he was left alone- mostly. Although, that fact was the true meaning of a double-edged sword to David. 

  The loneliness was the greatest detractor, and he scarcely favored ruminating on the haunting connotation of his lonesome. No xeno could ever replace nor fill the void of human interaction he so desperately craved. 

  Taking a shortcut through an empty lot that bordered the old growth woods where he had settled down, the man traversed through the brush as he ran his fingertips against the tops of the grass to calm his unraveling thoughts. He thought of himself a peaceful man; but not one to let his kindness outshine his ferocity when threatened- but the idea of who he truly was felt like it was slipping from his fingers month by month on the planet. 

   Stopping his motions as he paused to stand still for a moment, David lifted his head silently as he observed the twinkling stars and planets decorating the night sky. Taking a deep lungful of the cool air, his eyes slipped shut as the man reveled in the moment of unadulterated tranquility. 

   "Help me!" 

  The abrupt scream echoed from the forest as David startled at the piercing terror of the cry, looking around in bewilderment. It was unlike anything he had heard for what felt like centuries; an innate sense of dread dropping in his gut like an anvil as his body thrummed to life in anxiety. The scream was too eerie and fear inducing to feasibly be just another xeno being accosted in the woods. It was entirely too human.

 "Anyone, please! . . Help me!" And with that, David found his body reacting before his mind as he darted towards the source of the disturbing cries. Hopping over stout shrubs and the occasional slumbering animal, the distinct sounds of struggle soon caught his attention. 

  Even if it was not a human being, (a hard fact he had come to begrudgingly acknowledge will always be) the individual in question sounded in grave need of help. 

  Crossing through the game trail he often utilized as a path to his house, David's heart leapt in worry at the proximity to his (purposely secluded) property as he ran through the woods he had all but memorized. If whomever had discovered his cabin, his cover was all but blown: smugglers being a nasty nuisance to keep away once they caught one's scent. And he seldom enjoyed running into and dealing with such distasteful creeps.

  The shroud of darkness provided an advantage the human was fully aware of. His past experiences of hunting and camping in the Dakotas as an adolescent with his father and elder brother taught him the skills to go undiscovered at night, even by the most finicky of prey.

  It was decently successful in the past- but on Zolos it worked with daunting efficiency. For being prey natured beings, most species David encountered consistently had the survival instinct capabilities of parchment. The seldom chance an attacker did have the instincts of a prey animal the human was accustomed to- the alien more often than not attempted (and failed) to run away. Some species were naturally light and adept on their feet, to the point they could keep pace with the human for brief intervals, but it was simply not enough.

  A human's stamina for pursuit based activity was too great to compete against. 

  David had long since figured out that aside from the fact humans were unnaturally invincible and freakishly powerful to the xenos, mankind was a pursuit predator above all else.

  The ability to simply wear your victims down by following them until they collapsed was a distinct and utterly mortifying fact the farmer had grown to favor and exploit to his benefit. It was yet another truth about mankind that David never fathomed existed nor would be useful in the present day. 

   But this wasn't the time to execute such an often lengthy process. Whomever this was sounded in peril, and the nature and resonance of this individual's shrieks for aid had his very bones aching in sympathetic distress. 

  Following the sounds of fallen leaves crunching and indistinguishable grunts and shouts of effort, David soon ducked behind one of the trees as lights of a ship came into view. Drawing his sword, he carefully peered beyond the trunk as he observed the small clearing of forest a marauder-class vessel had perched as shadows of a scuffle danced about the surrounding line of trees and glowing flora. 

  Flinching back behind his cover at the sight of a Hukibin male getting to his feet- an anti-tank pulse rifle in their grasp pointed toward the tree line, David took a breath before a thud resonated through the clearing.  He grimaced at the sound. The gun hadn't fired- although David was exceptionally acquainted with the sound of a body dropping to know exactly that had just occurred. 

  Finding the spindly-limbed Hukibin's attention was drawn back to his victim, David glanced over his shoulder to confirm he was undiscovered from behind. Perfect. 

  Taking his chance, the male gripped his blade before darting silently to an equitably large tree only yards away from the group of traffickers assaulting their poor victim. The ship and weapons were practically screaming their unethical and immoral occupation- it was ironic, really. The individuals so often meticulously cared for their discretion when in operation- yet here this ship was, haphazardly parked with its high-beam headlights on. (To put it mirthfully.) 

  The simple notion that David could not feasibly discern whether or not the individual they had fathomably abducted and tortured was alive or not irked the human as he readied himself for a fight. 

  "Nngh, l-leave. . ." A rough, barking cough rippled through the victim's voice, "Leave m-me alone!" David winced at the obvious pain oozing from their cracking and watery cadence. Uncertainty gnawed within his gut and mind at the person's vocal pattern. It was odd, but so familiar, and nostalgic- if he were to stick a specific word to it.

  "Just kill it- it's already hard enough keeping it sedated. Kill it, Qann. We can dump its corpse-" 

  David didn't spare a moment as the hushed words faintly carried to his being; the man jumping into action as he emerged from behind the tree and lunged towards the larger of the two armed traffickers. Faster than the Hukibin's companion could realize what was currently transpiring, the predator swung his blade and effectively halved the taller of the pair without a sound. 

  The smaller failed to react in the appropriate time frame- the edge of David's blade separating their torso and legs as a gurgling scream echoed through the dark forest. If the suns of the planet had begun to rise during the human's ambush, his discreet approach would have been rendered obsolete and therefore further jeopardized the life of the injured party. A small yet crucial detail the human abided by to the letter when confronting unknowns. 

  Crouching as he wiped the putrid green blood off the blade with the deceased Hukibin's garments, David let out a quiet huff of disgust through his nose at the stench permeating the vicinity.

  Shit.

  Quickly standing to his full height, the man briefly scanned the edge of the secluded clearing to confirm the vacancy of any other sophont beings which may have stumbled upon the grisly scene. Finding no one, the man readjusted his hood to cover his face once more. Grimacing at the overwhelming odor of the xenos' bodily fluids emanating from the stains on his front and sleeves, David swiftly pulled his hood back down in an attempt to subdue the malodor with a repulsed noise. 

  Great, now his hands reeked of sulfur as did his cloak- a scowl gracing his features at the realization as he homed his sword at his waist. The blade in question was closer to a long dagger with a broadsword's hilt than a true brand, but he hardly minded semantics; and a two foot long "knife" was perfectly sufficient for defending himself and others. 

  The added bonus it was not a commonly used weapon amongst the CoP's populace, and (almost) always elicited a reaction of timorous disbelief from his opponent(s) never hindered his spirits or usage of said weapon. 

   Composing himself and wrangling in his smug thoughts at the sound of a distressed whimper, David's attention snapped towards the creature laying near his feet. Taking a moment, he dropped to sit on his haunches to deduce their race and severity of injuries. 

  Tensing in momentary alarm as the lights of the ship shut off due to a timer mechanism, David huffed a peeved breath at the loss of near-total illumination; watching the gentle blue glow of the flora return to the forest floor.

  Atleast it would reduce their likelihood of being spotted, he mentally surmised.

  Taking a moment to let his eyes adjust to the sharp contrast of darkness, David blinked down at the incapacitated creature before their figure came into focus.

  Two clothed legs sectioned at hinged knee joints were drawn in close to the victim's torso, their hairless and flesh covered arms were wrapped around their chest cavity in an embracing gesture as shallow, tense breathing sounded from the disheveled organism. David's eyes widened as his gaze shifted over distinctly shaped shoulders and a mess of tangled dark hair awry in the grass below. Following the brown strands up to the being's hairline, the man felt his heart pound with unease as he dared to observe their facial structure. 

  It was a human being. 

 "You're. . ." The distinct and revolting sense of nausea crept into the male's stomach as he shuddered in place; his body frozen in shock as he gawked at the person  below.

  This was a prank- an elaborate and successful ruse to get him either killed or captured once again.

  David suddenly jerked away, a rushed sound of terror escaping his throat involuntarily as he fell back onto the grass, "No." 

  Not again. The last time he had seen a human face, they were sent to bring about his utter destruction at the command of the Priestess. Despite winning his life back and pulling off the risky (yet victorious) plot to humiliate the conniving female all those years ago, a deep sense of anxiety concerning his safety had rooted in his mind regarding any future encounter with his species off-planet. And that precise fear was creeping like a poisonous vine up his limbs.

This was just another plot to catch him off-guard- it had to be. It was a woman, no less. Atleast they're getting smarter at their techniques, David bitterly thought. 

  Panic gripped the edges of David's mind as he stared towards the beaten female, keenly observing her subtle movements as she let out another pained groan. Even if she were a vessel sent to ultimately kill him, the adult was in no shape to psychically defend herself, let alone go on the offense as David moved to scoop her limp body up and hold her securely. 

  Uncomfortably glancing down to make sure she was unconscious for the present, the man noticed trails of dried and fresh blood oozing from her nose and mouth that starkly shone in the blue glow. Blinking at the unmistakable red-hue of the blood, David winced in sympathy before carefully making his way out of the clearing and towards his originally intended destination. 

  Quickly bringing the woman inside once the automated lock of the frontdoor recognized his bio-metrics, David moved to lay her on the couch for the time being. 

  Kicking a stool out of the way, he gingerly rested the unknown adult on the cushions before quickly walking to the washroom to retrieve his medical kit and shed his soiled cloak. She could stay the night, he figured, reaching over to turn on the hall light as he kicked off his boots.

  Quickly opening the door and running a hand through his hair anxiously, the man stripped off his outer layer and tossed the bundle of fabric aside with a grunt. Opening the medicine cabinet over the sink as he grabbed the small bag of supplies, he unzipped the clutch before sighing in relief at the sight of bandages and disinfectant. The man held a sense of pride he was never one to find empty handed in times of emergency, and it paid off beautifully each time.

  Her wounds appeared superficial; and therefore easily mendable in the slim margin he could patch her up without disruption. So commonly was he surrounded by frail organisms; the man felt eternally grateful to the resilience of the adult human body as he tucked the pouch under his arm and against his side. 

  Washing his hands in the sink, David glanced towards the living room as the faint sounds of fabric rustling caught his ear. His own appearance could be taken into account for later, his present sole focus on the strange woman as he shut the cabinet door without a glance in the mirror.

  Quietly walking back down the short hallway to the living room, the man startled at the sight before him. The female had managed sit up on the couch against the arm rest, a terrified expression on her features.

 She appeared to be caught in a daze; her eyes drawn to the flickering fireplace in a lethargic manner. He knew the look all too well; a delirious and disorienting high caused by a potent sedative meant to torment a victim into submission. David knew only one capable of affecting a human so intensely within the Confederacy- the fact it was still in use aggravated the man internally. Having experienced firsthand what kind suffering the downright evil mixture of drugs afflicted onto its prey, the male felt obligated to help ease her distress in any way he could. It was the very least he could do if his newfound suspicion was correct. 

  Whoever this was, she was not sent to kill him- his mind intrinsically sensing the same panic and fear he encountered 17 years prior. (And still grappled with more than he cared to outwardly admit.)

  Observing her motionless form for a brief tick, David quietly cleared his throat, her gaze shooting up to meet his as a fraught and alarmed gasp rattled from her chest.  

  Wide and petrified brown eyes stared at his figure as the faint sounds of woods crackling in the hearth drowned out the tense silence from both parties. Carefully grabbing the bag under his arm, David slowly held out his hand in a peaceful gesture, inwardly sure his own body language and facial expression mirrored her own as he nervously swallowed.

  "I'm not gonna hurt you." Finding his voice finally- and humiliated his confidence in the situation had practically jumped out the window- David lowered his hand as a frightened yet attentive sound arose from the woman at the verbal prompt. "This-" He held up the clutch-sized pouch for a moment, "Is just a first aid kit, I can toss it to you if it helps- you, uh, you got some cuts on your forehead 'n face, but I haven't checked for anything else besides your head." 

 She remained silent, listening to his unsure rambling as the man eventually went quiet, a peculiarly skittish aura to his figure.

  The stranger's body language and tone of voice offset her initial worry he was another (this time camouflaged) alien out to attack and kidnap her again. The man's cadence was too human to feign, and she could subtly detect the vowel pronunciation of a fellow midwesterner, but what was he doing here? Was she back on Earth-? Had this stranger found her in the street and brought her inside out of the rough winter elements? 

  "Where am I?" She broke the silence after a long pause, her eyes moving to scan about the living room of the cabin he evidently resided in; finding no much manner of overtly alien or futuristic technology within the space as her hopes of being on Earth soared. What she could initially see only provided evidence it was a rocky-mountain style cabin in the forests of perhaps Colorado or Montana. 

  Except, the miserable truth of their shared circumstance would hit her harder than anything she had faced to date. 

 "You're in the family room, on the outside of a small agricultural town called 977 on a planet called Zolos minor 2977. . ." The man gave a sympathetic grimace as her face fell visibly, "I know what you're thinking. . . And no, this isn't a prank, or a crazy acid trip. . . And yes, everything you think is a dream really did happen." The fraught look in her eyes sent sickening pangs of guilt and empathetic sorrow flooding through his system as David downcast his eyes, unable to meet her crushing gaze. 

  "I'm sorry." He knew it wasn't enough: it was never enough. But it was all anyone could possibly say when presented with such a hopeless situation. 

  And it was only beginning. 

Chapter Text

Every thrilling and scary alien abduction story, frightening tales of monsters, and urban legends of inexplicable encounters a person grows up hearing, and therefore repeats to their children, friends, or relatives never truly prepares one for the sensations of pure terror and negative emotions one experiences throughout the tumultuous process of capture. What a story from another's point of view fails to drive home for their listeners is the unadulterated sense of hopeless fear and the overwhelming and primal drive to survive and escape. 

  "You've made y-your point! Lemme go! Please-! I won't say anything, shit, I won't even remember this, probably. " Her frantic plea was stifled by the loud and grating alerts of the ship ringing in her ears, the woman backed into a corner as the menacing mantis-like grey being jabbed a spark-stick towards her trembling figure. "I'm sorry I killed it, okay!? I didn't mean to- Agh!" 

  Flinching backwards at the ball of electricity scarcely missing her ribs, the brunette keenly noticed the sensation of metal warping behind her once her back collided with the back hatch. "Stop it! I said I was sorry!" 

  The shriek from the human painfully echoed in the vessel's aft as the smaller male hissed in annoyance,

  "Quiet down, beast. You weren't supposed to wake up until we got you to Xbidu-- back up!" His sharp retort shut the human up; her eyes widening at the garbled croaking sounds erupting from the strange creature before her. The mouth of the grey being didn't appear capable of human language- their detached mandibles clicking together alongside the grunting sounds in a disturbing fashion that had the woman's head spin and guts flip.

  She opened her mouth to scream, realizing it was speaking at her before an abrupt and rough jostling shook the innards of the ship. Losing her balance and landing uncomfortably against her ribs on the paneling of a nearby bench, she grit out a pained wheeze. Looking up as bright colors flashed from the overhead consoles- alerting the ship's occupants of depressurization- her attention whipped to her captor as the smuggler cursed out a miffed, 

  Stupid goddamn novice. 

  Pressing a small switch on the radio clipped to their breast pocket, the Hukibin kept the staff aimed at the rattled giant as he spoke into the small device, 

  "We land yet? C'mon, ensign- we gotta refuel, or we'll be stranded in this fuckin' backwater waste of a quadrant. And you'll wish the heavens forsook you instead."

  Silence sounded from the other side before a squeaking voice began an unintelligible response to the human's ears, her heart pounding in her ribcage as she desperately looked about the space for any means of escape. The brief conversation ended between the pair as the female nervously looked back at the insectoid now glaring at her form- her breath catching in her throat. 

  It was going to kill her- surely she was going to meet her end at the hands of a terrifying four foot tall alien holding a tazer-staff at her throat. She could hardly recall any specific detail about her life or the person she was for the present; her mind a hazy and muddled cocktail of adrenaline fueled fear and every thing she held to believe about extraterrestrial life flying out the proverbial window. 

  Bracing herself for the inevitable fiery pain of electrocution, the human recoiled as the hatch to their left unsealed with a hiss of compressed air.

  Escape! 

  The atmosphere within the ship hadn't collapsed and she wasn't immediately dead via the vacuum of space- there was air. And therefore land. 

  The promise of freedom and prospect of seeking aid in some capacity presented itself on a silver platter to the woman's perspective. She fathomed if the first alien that had attempted to sedate her (once she awoke in a frenzy on the ship) had died by a simple punch- a fight with other lifeforms of comparable composition would be feasibly winnable. 

  Hopefully. 

  Quickly glancing back at the encroaching male, the human gambled her options for another moment before scrambling to her feet. Using far too much force, she found herself slamming against the ceiling as she promptly crashed back to the floor. 

  "What the fuck!?" The two both murmured; the smuggler too stunned to move, and the female likewise unsure of what she just accomplished. 

  Snapping back to reality as an alarm chirped on a panel nearby, the taller lifeform tried again as she swiftly (but carefully) rose to stand. Finding purchase in the floor once again, the woman hastily turned and pushed against the hatch to force it open. 

  Watching in horror as the giant shoved the near foot thick hunk of metal outwards against its hinges, the Hukibin moved to frantically recharge their staff. Tinny shrieks of the door breaking free of its confines startled the Yytiv copilot into action as they ran to the aft of the ship with an anti-tank rifle in their arms. 

  "Opyæ, here!" They shouted over the blaring containment breach alert, tossing the large gun to their companion. Silently praying they were too occupied to observe the human make her escape through the back of the marauder- the female hopped to the ground before losing her footing with a snap of her ankle. 

  Holding in a scream of torture at the searing pain gripping her lower leg and foot, the woman frantically scanned the wooded clearing that was painfully lit up by headlights that burned her dilated pupils sharply. An estimated sixty foot perimeter around the craft was flat and grassy; a daunting ring of eerily glowing blue trees founded the harsh border between the glen and shadowed forest. Taking in a shaky breath at the marvelous sights before her, the woman suppressed the wondrous sensations tickling her mind as the harsh reality of her situation seeped through her astonished thoughts like the damp permeating her jacket sleeves.

  Knowing she had no viable option to escape on foot at the moment, the twenty six year old dropped to the ground before making a mad dash underneath the newly formed ramp comprised of the ship's back hatch. 

   "It's gone! Outside- now! Shoot on sight-!" The Hukibin practically snarled in vexation, shoving past the frazzled Yytiv as they followed after the female. Holding in a frightened gasp as the rapid steps of the aliens sounded above, she silently crept further back into the shadows. 

  Despite the haziness of her mind, the woman swore she saw movement beyond the trees as she silently waited for the metaphorical ball to drop. 

  Rushing out and aiming the rifle high in preparation, the Hukibin whirled about before another infuriated snarl sounded from the male; his grey skin mottled blue with anger as they turned to the now quivering Yytiv. 

  "This is the wrong-- Augh! You moron! Where the fuck are we? This isn't the goddamn checkpoint! Oh, you stup-. . ." Obyæ's shriek echoed through the forest, shuddering in place with vexation before pausing as the sound of brush rustling beneath the ship. 

  Scowling darkly towards the young pirate, Obyæ silently motioned the human was underneath- the Hukibin lowering their arm before rapidly firing into the shadows of the night. The beast was too heavy to psychically drag out- but blindly shooting at it ought to draw it into their sights in some regard. 

  A pained scream from the woman alerted her presence to her abductors as she struggled to crawl out of her hiding place, one of the glowing rounds narrowly missing her face. The smell of scorched earth and soil greeted her nostrils as she dug her nails into the dirt; seeing the taller of the aliens' legs mere inches from her face just outside the boundary of the marauder's under-shadow. Controlling the frantic pace of her breathing, the brunette swiftly bit back a scream as the pain blooming in her left ankle became too gruesome to ignore- the simple movement of pulling her leg closer for leverage sent rippling shards of agony shooting up her leg. 

  Watching as the grey being paced the vicinity with a garbled string of language she now realized she despised hearing, the human saw her chance to flee once the coast was clear. Listening to the angry one's footfalls sound behind her, she bolted forwards and out from under the belly of the craft . The pain could wait- her life mattered more than momentary agony. 

  "There it is!! Obyæ!!" The Yytiv shrieked in alarm from the threshold of the hatch, having a sense the giant may have evaded their grasp through simple means of misdirection. Their intuition served correct- the female getting to her feet with a suppressed grunt and starting to get away. 

 The realization of their weapon's purpose at last dawned on the skittish ensign as they jerked into action, quickly probing the staff to recharge- their eyes failing to leave the stumbling female illuminated by the bright bulbs of the old craft. It was injured; the creature avoiding the usage of their left foot with increasing difficulty as the potent cocktail of narcotics worked against the abomination's equilibrium to cast them off balance and leave it effectively inebriated. 

  Managing to fire off a condensed ball of static electricity into the large predator's back, the Yytiv hesitantly stood in-place as the human crumbled to the ground with a stifled whimper. 

  It hadn't died on impact!? 

  Scrambling over to their commander's side once he appeared in their peripheral, the small furry alien gulped nervously as the female laid on the grass- her chest facing up to the stars as it heaved with stressed effort. 

 The shot hadn't killed the predator- but it had seemingly deterred the creature from getting back to its feet. Whether from the pain or its intelligence, the pair could not fathom which. . . 

  Perhaps both. 

  Raising the rifle steadily, Obyæ narrowed their eyes in suspicion upon seeing the pred's breathing quicken at their approach. Having read David Winter's case-files and studied the way the human had managed to evaded capture and outsmart the government at every turn, the middle aged Hukibin knew better than to simply underestimate the large alien's abilities. Crouching down, he hastily fired a round close to the female's hip. Observing the ensuing flinch from the human, the male swiftly brought down the butt of his gun against the giant's temple. 

  "Oh- don't kill it like that!" The ensign's disgusted remark was left ignored as Obyæ tittered in delight upon seeing the human loose consciousness. Turning to sneer at the small Yytiv, the elder glared in annoyance as he sighed pointedly, getting to his feet. 

 "It won't, you moron. I just need her fucking incapacitated if we are to figure out where in the Goddess'' name you landed us." His venomous retort struck the Yytiv to their core, the brown being looking away in shame. 

  "My apologies." Came the subdued whine from the ensign as a small Pyyt bug caught their eye, marveling at the iridescent glow of the organism up close. The species of bioluminescent insect was entirely theorized to have gone extinct during the last Keolven rebellion- an unfortunate sideffect of the rough race's regime to eliminate the outer planets in an effort to subdue the Hukibin faith. But here it was; alive and well mere inches from the young Yytiv's muzzle. 

  Turning to inform their companion of the impressive and rare find, the Yytiv found only a body in the Hukibin's place. Gasping out in horrified shock at the grisly sight below, the sound of a branch snapping caught their attention before a large shadow suddenly lept into view. 

  The scream hardly had time to rattle from their vocal chords before the Yytiv's world went black; slumping apart as their body split in half with a wet squelch. 

-

  The distinct sensation of couch cushions against her aching body awoke the female as her frame settled nicely into the furniture. Heaving uneasy breaths, the sound of heavy boots receding alerted her that whomever had saved her was leaving for the present; an unexpected worry she was being left for dead gnawing at her mind. Opening her eyes once a door shut in her near vicinity, the woman shuddered in place as she slowly propped herself up against the armrest of the brown sofa. 

  Taking extra caution not to disturb her ankle, the brunette slowly looked around the living room of the unmistakably human house she had been carried to.

  Dim lighting manifested from the four corners of the space; furnishings she could plainly tack as a cabin style aesthetic decorated the appropriately sized room. A large fireplace comprised of stone tied the look all together in a cozy yet organized manner, the other areas of the semi-open floorplan dark and imperceptible to her still blurry vision. 

  The flames dancing within the hearth drew her attention like an addict as the peaceful sound of the wood crackling entranced the woman into a brief stupor. 

  Looking up in alarm at the jarring sound of a person clearing their throat, she froze at the sight of a man standing in the short hallway to her far left. 

 Panic gripped her chest, her eyes darting over the man as she took in his appearance. Estimating he was edging the boundary of his early forties, her eyes raked over his face- his dark eyes and hair contrasting against his lightly tanned skin in the dim lighting. His own expression was that of subtle surprise, if not worry, which caught the woman off guard. A grey and black flannel overtop an equitably dark undershirt covered his torso, a small pouch tucked under his right arm and clutched above the long blade fastened to his lower waist. 

  "I'm not going to hurt you. . ." His gentle and cautious tone was the first thing that curbed her fret of him being another psycho; his deep voice as uncertain as her own body language as he carefully held up the strange bag. 

  Choosing to remain silent as the strange man explained the contents of the bag, the woman perked up in alarm at his statements regarding her injuries. Inner relief hastily replaced the worry upon his reassuring words of leaving her privacy intact, though the look on his worn features betrayed any hopes of still being on Earth she was harboring. 

  "Where am I?" 

  The question seemed to have a grieved effect on the stranger as he grimaced to himself, carefully stepping a pace closer before immediately halting at her defensive glare. He appeared kind enough- yet she scarcely trusted someone she had just met- let alone after the horrid drug-induced nightmare she was chalking up to a bad batch of Xanax and cheap liquor. Everything after leaving the house party was a particularly painful swamp of memories she was not aware she possessed. Although, the uncomfortable tingling from her shoulder-blade contradicted the feigned explanations.

   ". . .And yes, everything you think happened-- did."

  Fuck.

   She felt like her insides were clawing up her throat as a means of escape; anguish and grief boiling over as a guttural sound of despondence rattled from her chest. There was no way this was happening- no possible way. His murmured apology fell on deaf ears as the woman's breathing quickened to hyperventilating as she held her head, shifting her legs to the floor before groaning at the torment radiating from her ankle. 

  She hadn't realized she was crying until the stranger swiftly approached in worry, crouching as few feet from her as he held his hands up in a yielding gesture,

  "I promise I mean you no harm. . .What's your name, hmm?" His gentle query startled the woman as she flinched away at his proximity. Looking at him and ready to bark a retort, she sighed quietly in defeat before she hung her head with a watery sniff. Keenly aware of the tears dripping onto the hardwood below, she wiped her face before warily eyeing the man; the male patiently waiting for her answer. 

  "Sunny Cruz." Her curt response elicited a nod from the other as she carefully watched his movements,

  "And yours? I should at least know your name if what you say is true." The accusatory undertone in her sharp question proved the elder unprepared as he looked at her for a beat in stupefied silence. Being able to observe his countenance up close, the keen and sharp features the man possessed looked eerily familiar as the beginnings of a beard smothered his jaw, fine strands of grey forming at the corners of his upperlip. The black curly hair framing his face was held up by a pair of thin framed eye-glasses that cleverly disguised the subtle strands of gray at his temples, gentle lines around his eyes tightening as his gaze moved with hers.

  The man's distinctive eye shape, expressive eyebrows, and captivating gaze held qualities reminiscent of pictures she had seen across the internet and social media of a (then) young man who inexplicably disappeared only a state or two away from her own almost twenty years back. It dawned on her slower than she cared to admit as an exasperated sound echoed from Sunny, David leaning back slightly on his haunches at the unforeseen reaction from the young woman as his eyebrows raised. 

 "Oh my fucking god, you're David Winter- aren't you?" Sunny mumbled in disbelief as the man's face twisted in astonished puzzlement, 

  "What? H-how do you know who I am? Who are you?" It was his turn to grow uneasy as he quickly got to his feet; David's demeanor changing to one of defensive indifference as he appeared to size her up with thinly veiled trepidation. "The feds send you-?" His voice had formed a callous edge, the lingering fear she was sent to kill him slammed into the forefront of his mind as she shook her head in bewilderment, 

  "Huh-? N-no, you're like a known missing 411 case! You've been gone for like almost my entire life. . I-I remember seeing it all over the local news outlets 'n shit." Sunny hastily explained, the sudden discernment that he could only assume she was there for nefarious purposes hitting her over the head like a lead weight. Hell- she would assume that was the case as well, if she could begin to fathom what he had experienced through the years. 

  A skeptical expression briefly flashed across his features at the words before she continued,

  "You, uh, you went missing outside of Neodesha back in 2015, right? You lived on your parents' farm with your sister, right? You were twenty six when you went missing an-and your nephew had just died, so everyone thought she did it, and they found evidence of a struggle in the back lot after you vanished. . . I mean- this was almost twenty years ago, I was nine, so I barely remember the headlines. . .But no one thought it was aliens! I mean, some did, but-" 

  "Stop!" David's overwhelmed shout successfully halted the woman's rambling as he looked at her in slight panic, "What do you mean they thought Alice did it? And how do you possibly know about Henry!? 2015- almost twenty years!? What year was it last you remember. .?" His inflection had shifted to irked and panicked disbelief as Sunny shrunk back at the volume; a painful pounding in her head accompanying his outburst. 

  "Well she was the default suspect given the nature surrounding your disappearance- I meant nothing by it! You know how those 411 stories go. And anyone who's heard of you knows about him- they all thought he was the main catalyst for your disappearance. " She nervously replied, David scowling at her for a moment before sighing quietly to himself as he set his glasses on the nearby coffee table. "And it's 2032. . . What does that mean. David? That I last remember?" She swallowed, the elder moving to kneel before her once again as she frowned at the melancholic look in his eyes. 

  "It's been at least fifty years since then. . ." He mumbled quietly, his eyes downcasting for a moment as he intensely looked at the floor in an effort to avoid looking at her devastated expression. 

  "What?" She mumbled, looking at him in abject disgust as he sucked his teeth for a brief tick, 

  "It takes fifty years to travel from earth to here. . . And I don't know how long you've truly been here- but." He took a breath as he locked eyes with the anguished female, his expression serious. "Sunny. . ." He started, watching in empathetic grief as denial plastered on her face plainly at his words, "You and I will forever be the only other humans we will see ever again." His voice had reduced to whisper as she let out a choked and watery sob, 

  "You're lying! You have to be. . . This is all-all a bad dream and I'm gonna wake up fucked up somewhere in someone's field-" She wheezed a bit, David biting his inner cheek as he shook his head in dismay. The exact emotions she was grappling with paralleled his own to an eerie manner as his heart ached to see another undergo the same sensations of intense grief and denial. 

  "It is true. . . I am so sorry." He whispered softly, "Hey, but what we aren't going to do right now is let that consume everything you know- that is crucial to keeping yourself level headed." David spoke again, ignoring her watery scoff as he glanced down at her ankle, 

  "You break or sprain it?" His change of topic was welcomed as the brunette woman shrugged with a sniff, composing herself out of embarrassment infront of the stranger- although he appeared to be less than bothered. 

  Of course he wouldn't- he's been through this all before. I highly doubt he's forgotten how it feels. Her own thoughts chastised her as she eventually moved to pull off her sneakers, David's query bringing her back to the present as she gave a haphazard shrug upon inspecting the damage. "No, not broken, just a nasty sprain and it hurts like a mofo." She mumbled, grabbing the small first aid kit he had settled beside her as she rummaged through its contents. 

  He remained silent, a pensive atmosphere to his being as the man got to his feet after a moment. "Alright. I'll help ya to the bathroom so you can fix yourself up. I'll be out here if you need any assistance after that-" David paused for a moment, lightly toying with an onyx colored ring on his pinky before looking up at her,

  "I assume you already know what to do. . Given the fact you're weirdly calm about your ankle being out of commission." He added, Sunny staring at him for a moment in puzzlement; his speech pattern odd and literal in a sense that caught her ear as offbeat as she unzipped her tattered sweatshirt. 

  "Why do you talk like that? Like you're in an old book?" The woman failed to refrain the impulsive question, pulling the garment off and setting it on her lap. David blinked in response, his eyebrows knitting together for a moment, 

  ". . . What?" His chuckle sounded a tad too forced to her liking as she frowned at bit in apology. His shoulders lifted in a half shrug, "I don't know- you pick up a few things here n' there, I guess. It's how most talk in the Confederacy. And I'm not exactly at ease right now- so that could be a factor."

  It was a bit rude, and a simple deduction would confirm that it was indeed a trait he had picked up during the years socializing and living in alien worlds where English or human language simply did not exist. His cadence, pattern of speech, and vocabulary were just uncanny enough to set off a radar within her mind that he truly was telling the truth. Looking over his attire for a moment, she blinked down at herself before looking back up at him with a suspicious glance.

  "Wait, wait. . . How do I understand you- but I couldn't understand the assholes that abducted and tormented me?" Her rapid and abrupt question left the elder speechless as he looked at her in thinly veiled shock, 

  "Well, um, that is because me 'n you are talking in English right now. But they weren't- they were speaking the common tongue of the Confederacy. You obviously don't have an implant yet, so. . . " David trailed off at her annoyed expression, the woman quickly realizing the stupidity of her words. Watching the subtle degree of mirth flash across his dimly lit face, Sunny eventually held out her hand towards the man as she scooted to the edge of the sofa cushions. 

  "That was a dumb question, I'm sorry. Just help me up and I'll be outta your hair for a while, okay?" Sunny's sheepish mumble elicited a quiet sound of amusement from the man before he took her hand and hesitantly grabbed the other before hoisting the female to her feet. Gripping onto his wrists, she stood with a grunt as she balanced on her good ankle, wobbling in his grip. 

  She smelt good- familiar. Unlike every environment and object he had encountered since he awoke all those years ago in The Station. It was nostalgic to a sickening degree; David refrained from commenting on the taboo subject of one's scent as he guided the injured female to the bathroom. It was incredibly strange being able to use a normal amount of strength regarding the handling of another; David having found that he significantly missed the durability of a human.

  It would be hard to verbally admit, let alone to the lady- but he severely underestimated her weight upon initially picking her up from the forest floor, almost dropping her out of ill preparedness. It was not the fact she was heavy- it was simply the incorrect assumption of his muscle-memory caused by the normality of beings a fourth of her mass. (Which was roughly 90% of the known populace within the CoP.) 

  "Everything's normal in here-" David swiftly reached over to flick on the bathroom light as Sunny hobbled to sit on the edge of the tub, grunting in discomfort once David unsurely released his grip. "So nothing you shouldn't recognize- I think." He commented, Sunny nodding in reply as she bit her lip, the throbbing in her ankle starting to grow unbearable with every movement of her left leg. 

  "Thank you, um- I'll call you when I'm ready." She smiled nervously, David faintly nodding before pausing at a knock on the front door. 

  Freezing at the realization she was very much technically a fugitive, her eyes widened in fright as the graying male shot her a briefly uncertain look. The look on his face didn't ease her anxiety- the man's skittish  demeanor putting her on edge alongside the current issue at hand.

Or was it her own troubles projecting onto his figure?

  A tinge of sympathy for the man settled in her gut, the notion he truly had not seen another human for almost two decades hitting her over the head. Of course he would be uncomfortable in her presence initially, his mannerisms were that of someone anticipating a defensive fight. 

  What had he experienced? Had there been another person when he first arrived? Did David truly believe she had malicious intentions?

  Only- they both subconsciously knew they meant each other no harm, even if David and Sunny had ample reason to suspect ill-intent. 

  "Right, just, um- stay here." He mumbled, seemingly to himself, before he left and gently shut the door.

  Listening to his footsteps recede to the left of the lavatory, Sunny swiftly reached over to lock the handle as she stared at the dark wood of the door. Her body shook with anticipation as the sound of hurried knocking pounded faintly at the front of the cabin, her eyes scanning about the room before grabbing a pair of scissors on the nearby counter. 

  Grumbling softly to himself about the hour of the visit, David swung the door open with an unhappy sigh, 

  "D'you any idea what time it is?" His sharp comment caught the Silyrian by surprise as she stammered a bit, looking up at the annoyed creature. Whatever was bothering the human evidently wasn't her own fault as the predator's shoulders sagged a bit upon realizing whom the individual on his doorstep was, running a hand through his messy hair.

 "Sorry- I thought you were someone else." His dejected apology elicited a mirthful titter from Syml, her spindly hands grasping a bottle of what David could discern was booze in the light bleeding out from the hall and around his silhouette. 

  "Well, I suppose you do need this." She commented with a merry tone, accepting his apology as David patiently stood in the doorway; the Silyrian sensing his unease as she frowned,

  "What I truly came here for-" She held up the sealed pitcher of alcohol (of which the town's Tavern distilled specially for the human's threshold for noxious chemicals) as David gratefully took it with a slight bow of his head. 

  "-Was if you had seen any activity within the forest. One of the townsfolk heard shouting and discovered a marauder not far from here. . ." She chose to ignore the way the male's throat bobbed in his nervous habit at the words, "And I came over to see if you had heard or encountered anything since you left earlier. . . And to bring you that." Syml gestured to the bottle in his hand, observing the way he smoothly shook his head as he glanced about the forest for a moment.

  Listening to the conversation had Sunny's insides churning uncomfortably, the woman pressed against the door once she had managed to silently sit infront of it to eavesdrop on what could feasibly be her recapture. Whomever David was speaking to- he apparently was acquainted with; given the fact his reaction was scarcely detectable within her proverbial bubble. Though the speech and discordant squeaks and animalic whistles from the visitor was no less horrifying to listen to given the unknown situation beyond the confines of the washroom.

  How David could listen to the shrieks of the beings around them and not be scared shirtless? Let alone hold entire chats and sound civil? She mentally noted to bring up the matter when she had the next chance. 

  If there is a next chance, her inner voice chided.

  Reaching up to brush away the messy hair stuck to her face via sweat, the woman refrained a squeak of alarm as her elbow slammed against the neighboring sink's cabinet with an audible thunk. 

 "Nah, I didn't see anything. I sent the fed back to the checkpoint then came here, chilled for a while and then you knocked." David spoke reassuringly, "And Sym, you know I can handle myself." He offered a closed smile, fighting the urge to look back at the faint sounds emanating from the bathroom as the smaller being glanced into the house. 

  "What was that?" She asked, David taking a quick breath before giving a subtly forced chuckle as he glanced over his shoulder, 

  "Nothing, 'prolly left something too close to the edge of the counter or something." The human shrugged, moving to block the Silyrian's line of sight into the dwelling as she suspiciously eyed the finicky predator. 

  Never one to underestimate a human being's capacity for abnormal behavior during the long autumnal nights on Zolos, the female bowed her head upon sensing his want for her to leave. David, by her own experiences and lasting friendship, was never an individual to shy away from letting one know what he was feeling or thinking. A trait not entirely uncommom within the CoP, yet scarce enough to stand out as a tell-tale sign of a human being's erratic temperament. And she had been around the strange being long enough to understand when he wanted to be left to his own devices. 

  For being such a social species, the human appeared to quite enjoy his solitude particularly within the last [thirteen months.] The sudden decline in his presence when not on the job was noticed- though only brought to his attention by the female Silyrian bartender. She greatly worried for David's mental well-being after Mierv's passing roughly two years prior, the man becoming far more reclusive and shut off during the following months. He wasn't violent towards the locals, not at all, but his murderous vengeance and occupational dealings had grown more savage and brutal- a fact that greatly displeased Syml. Knowing he was a naturally peaceful man that had been driven to unforgivable violence via grief and antagonization pained the female more than she cared to admit. Even if they were only friends, the constant anxiety regarding David's sanity never ceased to leave the Silyrian's mind. 

  "Well, I'll take my leave. You have a good rest of your evening- and enjoy that bottle." She gave a jovial wave as David nodded gratefully before shutting the door with a soft click of the lock. Watching the door for a moment once he keenly heard her footsteps recede off the porch, the man sighed quietly to himself in relief as he glanced at the liquor in hand before his gaze wafted to the washroom. 

  "Hey, Sunny. Got something for us. . ." He called, approaching the door before giving a gentle rap of his knuckles against the wood, "Might, uh- ease things a bit. . . For the both of us." David added after a moment of silence, the barely perceptible sounds of shuffling being the only indication she hadn't bailed whilst he was distracted. Patiently waiting for her answer, the man backed a few paces as the distinct click of the handle unlocking sounded, the woman quietly peering out as her gaze darted about and around his figure for a brief moment. 

  "Who was that? Was it them? They're gone, right?" The brunette's near panicked ramble caught the elder by surprise as he made a slight face, Sunny quieting down once her eyes landed upon the large handle of alcohol in his right hand, 

  "What's that?" Her wary voice sounded as she dared to open the door wider, her arms braced against the threshold as David cleared his throat after a tick,  

  "Basically their version of whiskey." 

  Faltering at the bizarrely familiar statement, Sunny met his steady gaze with a frown. Praying it was the right decision to trust the strange man who had saved her life, she silently set the pair of scissors down as she moved to hobble out of the bathroom. Immediately the man offered his arm, holding out the flannel covered appendage as Sunny hesitated- debating whether or not to take it. Glancing up and only finding the calm and empathetic gaze of the Kansan looking down at her with tenuous worry, the woman grabbed onto his forearm and bicep as he assisted her limping figure to the kitchen. 

  "You better have something to chase it with- because you are gonna explain everything to me right now, or I'm gonna lose my goddamn mind." Her comment seemed to amuse David; a subtle chuckle responding her relatable remark, 

  "Deal." 

Chapter Text

  "So-" David found the courage to begin, grabbing two stout glasses from a cupboard and setting them between the woman and himself. "Questions?" He posed, glancing up at her as Sunny heaved a stressed breath, watching his hands for a brief tick. It was utterly bizarre- but she fathomed that this was better than simply wallowing or whinging about her unfixable circumstance for hours on end. 

  "Uh. . . Where do I begin?" The brunette woman laughed uncomfortably, her eyes following his hands as David poured them both a tall shot. 

  "Anywhere." 

  Glancing up upon the lack of response, David's eyebrows raised slightly at her expression; unable to decipher her current emotion as he set the bottle down.

  Getting from his seat and heading over to the AFP located in the wall beside the refrigerator, Sunny keenly noticing the anomalous appearance of the appliances and furnishings of the kitchen the longer her gaze lingered on such objects. It was deceptively human- but not quite. Although- it hardly bothered the woman, her attention returning to David's turned figure as he retrieved two glass decanters full of a red liquid she failed to discern. 

  "Okay- first one, what's that in the bottles? I'm not drinking some nasty alien goo." Sunny spoke after a moment, sitting at the dividing bar-top that separated the living room from the small kitchen and dually served as lower level storage and cabinet space. Leaning her elbows against the counter to sit forwards, her nose wrinkled as David held the said objects up for her to examine, 

  "It's not. It's almost like those Kool-Aid pouches you'd get for school as a kid. Trust me, I hate shit like that too. I've managed to recreate a crap ton of regular food n' stuff by their technology and processing units." He spoke, Sunny's eyebrows raising in a silently intrigued response. 

  "What flavor is it?" She eventually spoke, waving him over at the description. If he could stomach it- then she could as well. Probably. 

  "Strawberry adjacent." He said with a shake of his hand in a 'so-so' gesture once he set the beverages down. 

  The exponentially growing need for any liquid in her system was overriding any semblance of hesitation she had, taking the glass and taking a rushed sip. Watching her for a moment as she failed to react with negativity, David lent his side against the intersecting counter as he uncomfortably looked towards the floor. It felt off looking at another human, the familiarity so foreign and striking to observe his own kind after so long. 

  "You okay-? You look like you just got back from war-" Sunny offered with a slight smile before trailing off at the stricken look in David's downcast gaze; an uncertain and downright skittish energy surrounding the man suddenly as Sunny frowned. "David?" 

  The curly haired man snapped to attention, blinking up at her before straightening his posture,

  "Hmm?" Came his hum, almost meekly grabbing the shot glass from the counter and downing it with a swift gulp. "Just tired- and overwhelmed." He added the latter under a cough as he set the small cup down, Sunny grimacing at bit before taking her own shot with a grunt. 

  "What happened to you? . .Why do you seem. . . Scared of me?" She posed, gently nudging the glass closer to the man as David's mouth pulled into a tight line, watching her hand before pouring another for the both of them. 

  "Where do you want me to begin?" He asked quietly, Sunny failing to pick up the somber tone as David hurriedly downed his second shot to prepare himself. 

  "Well, I dunno- the beginning, I guess. . .Up to you." Sunny replied, the creeping weight of self-consciousness in the awkward and tense silence sagging her posture, observing his unreadable yet angst ridden expression. Looking at her for a moment to gauge her intentions, the man found no ill intent as he stared blankly in her general direction. 

  Sensing nothing but genuine curiosity and the want of an explanation for their circumstances, David shrugged a bit as Sunny looked away after a moment.

  "Sorry, I. . .I shouldn't have asked about that- duh." Her apologetic mumble caught his attention, the woman sheepishly shifting her gaze to meet his. 

  Finding himself observing the woman's face, David took in her appearance truly, tanned smooth skin and bright brown eyes bored holes into his own tired gaze. Her lips appeared soft and supple, her curly hair still awry yet framing her face in a fashion that had the male's mind start to wander into daydream central. This strange woman was no doubt beautiful; David's mind unable to quell the brimming (innocent, do not get nasty - D) images flooding his psyche about scenarios in which they had met back on Earth under normal conditions.

  If only. 

  "No- uh." David wrangled in his derailing thoughts as he rubbed his face momentarily,

  "There's so much to it, I dunno. A lot I've forgotten and a lot more is personal. No offense, hon, but I hardly know you and I'd rather drink myself stupid than talk about my really deep traumas and feelings with a newfound stranger and apparent roommate." His curt response caught the woman by surprise as she lent back with a slight wince, 

  "Sorry. . . Touchy subject, obviously." Sunny mumbled in embarrassment, David sighing faintly to himself as he shook his head seemingly to himself. 

  The man was indeed strange- although he only proved to be helpful up to the present. He covered for her during the alien's visit and killed her attackers, he lent his bathroom for her to patch up- and gave her the courtesy to assist her to the barstools and subsequently share an equally awkward drink over a trauma bond. With the enigmatic and disappeared David Winter, of all bloody people. A minor celebrity in the midwestern region of true crime reports and cases. Jesus H. Christ. 

  Sunny's night hadn't exactly gone to plan, she very much hated to admit. And who was she to judge this poor man if he was not in the best of spirits? 

  "No- you deserve to know some truth, even if I'm just jaded about shit." He rumbled, Sunny carefully observing his defensive body language as she distinctly recognized herself within his demeanor. 

  "You got attacked, didn't you?" The query came before she realized as David scowled at her briefly, his gaze flicking over her torso in an obvious display of suspicious cautiousness. 

  "Why don't I just show you." David abruptly commented, pushing himself off the counter and quietly strolling to a door on the far left of the living room, 

  "Just wait a sec, 'kay?" He turned heel to address her before vanishing into the mysterious room to retrieve something that utterly evaded any of Sunny's deepest ideas. Watching the threshold for a moment in bewildered silence, she nodded to herself before silently pouring another drink. 

  Perhaps if she drank enough- she'd pass out sooner than later, and thus would have the pleasure of procrastinating the conversations she was simply dreading. And by the look and feel of it- David appeared to empathize given the fact he proposed the idea to begin with. Downing the over-poured shot she messily served herself, (a lingering gift from the sedatives no doubt) Sunny grunted a bit as she finished off her bottle of not-strawberry-Kool-Aid. 

  No later than she had set the empty glasses down, Sunny glanced over her shoulder upon the sound of David's approaching footsteps. Glancing at the small black rectangular box clutched in his hand, she frowned in puzzlement as the middle aged man settled the device in the middle of the counter. 

 "What's that?" She dared not touch it. 

  "Basically a hologram TV." He replied, pressing a scarcely detectable button on the center. 

  Impressed by the way the technology intrinsically appeared to know what David desired, a glowing flat projection of a screen materialized from a minuscule light beside the button on the device. Unable to hide the faint smile at her unabashed awe of the (now) seemingly ordinary piece of equipment, David cleared his throat to garner her attention. Opening a tab and keeping it minimized to only display the title, he suppressed the uncomfortable memories associated with the recordings, lab reports, and other documents he was about to show her in hopes he would not be required to further explain. 

  "So- it's basically a phone in the way it operates. Everything on here is about me." David explained after a lengthy pause, the man understandably disturbed regarding the contents. Sunny's eyes met his through the translucent projection as she tilted her head in empathetic melancholy, almost feeling bad she ever asked. She could practically feel his hesitance to view the subject matter- and she hardly favored the notion of making him sit through obviously painful memories. Although, what was contained within the device was more information than she would know what to do with. (To her later discovery.) 

  Solitude would be nice right about now. The shared thought appeared to jolt the pair as Sunny twitched at the fraught atmosphere; David seeming to have a similar bodily jerk as he quickly averted his gaze,

  "I'm gonna go to bed- I have enough faith that you'll stay put, won't root through my shit, or kill me in my sleep. . . Goodnight, hopefully tomorrow will be a better day." And with that, David slightly bowed his head in a genteel gesture before moving to grab his glasses from the nearby end table. 

  "Goodnight. And thank you, again. So, so much." Sunny replied, turning towards him as he paused to look at her earnest expression with an equitably sincere gaze. Blushing to herself at the intensity of his dark eyes, Sunny glanced away and mustered an awkward cough-  "Night." 

  Swiftly turning to avoid any more stupid remarks or actions, the woman's cheeks burned at the faint sound of David's subtly raspy chuckle from behind,

  "Night." He echoed once more before his footsteps receded from ear-shot and the clicking of a door's lock left her in silence. 

  Heaving a sharp breath through her nose at the faint sounds of the man moving about his room gently emanating from beyond the wooden door, Sunny anxiously chewed at a section of her inner cheek as she hesitantly maximized the small tab in English labeled 'Case Files D.W - 17 solar human years - data collected by Dr. Mierv Allbīgbyī'.

   Locating a blank icon dated as the oldest within the organized arrangement of data, Sunny hesitated to open it as she glanced towards where David had (relatabley) fucked off to. Sitting up straighter, the brunette woman grunted softly as she grabbed the remote-sized box off the counter and gingerly got to her feet.

  Balancing on her good leg and grabbing the bottle of aptly called alien whiskey, she hopped the few paces over to the couch. Using the light of the hearth shining directly onto the area of the couch she had awoken, Sunny managed to carefully place the bottle on the end table and sit down without disturbing her ankle too severely. Shuddering to herself at the sudden adrenaline coursing through her veins at the realization she was about to learn of the David Winter's past, (and his trauma, unbeknownst to her fathomings) the woman settled herself into the comfortable furniture as she placed the box on the small coffee table infront of her. 

  Pressing on the article she initially spotted, the woman felt her mouth go dry as a news report from the events following his trial for the massacre on Fa'im's planet popped up clearly into view. Photographs of the gnarly murders of the Keolven officers attached to the documents had her stomach churning, the grisly details of his arrest and ensuing escape were perfectly translated into English. How bizarre- hadn't he said there was no English and she had no implant? So why could she read the transcriptions without fault? 

  Scowling to herself, she reached over to take a much needed swig of liquor once a video file presented as security footage popped onto the screen. 

  "Let's see what the fuck happened. . ." She murmured to herself with a sigh as she nestled into the corner of the back and arm rest cushions to prepare for the lengthy explanation. 

Chapter Text

What am I doing!? 

  The question swam about David's mind as he warily eyed the door to the living room. The past hour and a half was utterly impossible; another human- a fucking woman, no less- practically dumped on his doorstep and giving him the scare of his life. This was madness- this wasn't reality. 

  I'm dreaming. . . No other possibility. 

 Scowling to himself at the recorded sounds of the High Hukibin Priestess wafting from beyond the wooden paneling, David got from his position of sitting on the side of the bed as he entered the small en-suite bathroom. Shutting the door behind him, David slid down the wood to sit with his back against the paneling as he heaved a stressed puff. Silently opening the cabinet door beside his leg, he reached in before quickly groping around and finding the stashed bottle of liquor he had made with a distilling technique his elder brother Luke had taught him as a teen. 

  The alcohol brewed by Syml and the Tavern was closer to a strong beer than true spirits- but the thought was appreciated- especially when his liver refused anymore hard booze. Although nothing beat the comfort of hard liquor after a horrible day. 

  Unscrewing the cap of the semi full flagon and taking a long, burning -but much needed- mouthful, David leant his head against the hard surface. 

 "Fuck me. . . This has to be the worst and most vivid dream ever." He mumbled to himself, staring up at the ceiling in fraught exasperation. An awful and far too corporeal nightmare that had the poor man questioning his sanity. Why now? 

  Shutting his eyes with a sigh, the man quietly listened for any audible reactions from the woman. David surely heard the videos playing, and the somewhat muffled quality only projected a haunted quality to the otherwise deafening silence. 

  HE felt haunted. Or a haunting itself. 

 Vivid memories flashed within his mind's eye that corresponded to the data Sunny was rifling through, David scowling to himself as he opened his eyes.

  Fuck it.

-

 "Where am I?" David's voice emanated from the screen as Sunny observed the security footage with baited breath. The location of the strange room he had been placed was in a string of foreign runes at the bottom corner of the projection; though provided little context to his whereabouts as Sunny acknowledged the medical equipment scattered atop the tables lining the bright room. 

  It appeared closer to an doctor's office than a cell. 

  The realization sent an eerie chill up the woman's spine- shuddering in place as David's digitized figure paced near the door of the white room. "Hello!?" His voice echoed. It sounded younger- and certainly terrified. If not slightly irked. 

  It would be amusing if she had not narrowly avoided the same fate by his aid. 

  Taking a swig of the bitter and herbaceous liquor, Sunny focused back on the screen before choking slightly at the new cut of the footage displayed on screen. A strange elongated creature stood- or rather perched- at the side of the table David's body had been laid upon, their back clothed in stark white coveralls that extended to the end of their extremities. David himself appeared to be unconscious, his frame partially obstructed by the visitor as Sunny glanced towards the door where he had disappeared behind in the present. 

  Swallowing nervously, she looked back towards the monitor before almost jumping off the couch as the creature had turned to face the camera. 

  Dear fuck, it was a literal monster. 

  The face of this creature appeared more closely related to an insect than any other animal as Sunny tensed in horrified disgust. Two large round pearlescent eye sockets stared momentarily towards the camera within the room, appearing to give an affirming nod to whomever originally was behind the monitor as Sunny swiftly clicked off with a quick breath. 

  "Fucked, ain't it?" 

  David's abrupt voice and comment elicited a shriek of alarm from the younger as she spun around to face the man miraculously a few feet behind her, 

  "Jesus- What the fuck!?" Gathering herself with a hand on her chest, (whether it was for dramatic affect or genuine shock, she couldn't surmise) Sunny set the small device down as he shrugged in a flat manner. How had he moved so silently in only a few seconds? 

  "Sorry. I'm going out for a smoke. . ." David apologized after a moment, glancing towards the bright screen and back at the calmed woman. "D'ya smoke?" The male offered, Sunny finally glancing down to his hands and observing his hands quietly working on rolling a cigarette. 

  Puzzled by the sudden (and unintentional- she acknowledged) scare and dizzying reality of their situation, Sunny dumbly met David's gaze with a dazed expression. "Yeah- yes, please, oh my god-?" Sunny nearly burst out; the mention of curing the itch starting to gnaw at the back of her mind sounding better than heaven. 

  Watching him for a moment as David quietly sealed the seams of the thin wrap, Sunny propped herself up on the armrest before wincing. "David-?" 

  The man appeared to move by instinct, swiftly standing by her side as he tucked the two cigarettes in the corner of his mouth. Grabbing purchase of her arms, the elder hoisted the woman up and onto her feet as she limped in tandem with his gait. "How long have you been here? . . . As in on this planet?" 

  He shrugged, opening the back door before handing her off to lean against the supporting beam of the small patio. "'Bout fifteen years-ish." He replied, shutting the door quietly and offering the smaller the second tube of paper. "It isn't bad when you get used to it, y'know. . . You're just isolated here. Which I like." David explained, his voice calming. 

 Sunny gave an earnest nod, examining the small roll between her fingers. Shifting her gaze towards the woods surrounding the cabin, the brunette drank in her picturesque view of the location; beautiful hues of blue and the gentle glowing illumination of before meeting her at every angle as the darkened upper layers of the canopy broke apart in sections to reveal the brilliant night sky. 

  It was almost too much at once. 

  How could someone not drop to their knees at the very spectacle before them? 

 "They have smokes here?" The woman coughed out the forced question, overstimulation creeping up her like vines as she averted her line of sight back to the small roll between her fingers. 

  "It's more or less tobacco. Same effects and it doesn't smell nearly as bad as normal cigs." He murmured, swiftly lighting the stick before handing the small device to the woman. 

  "Oh." 

  Observing the unsuspecting metal box the size of a contact lens case, she pressed the small indent on the side. Raising her eyebrows in subtle surprise as a small flame clicked to life, she quickly brought the cigarette to her lips and lit the end with a deep inhale.  

   "The ship never arrived, ma'am. Last transmission was received yesterday." 

  A blasé sigh replied shortly after, "And which ship was this?" 

  "The one carrying the confidential cargo destined for Xibidu. . ." The subordinate's nearly choked reply came from across the room as the head officer lept to their feet in disturbed alarm.

  Of course, ships losing their connection through the infinite void of space wasn't uncommon in itself- some were older than others. Thus, the technology also suffered through the distances occasionally. A brand new marauder carrying a highly volatile consignment en route to the capital abruptly vanishing despite being equipped with near state of the art locator systems? That was unusual and frankly frightening. She positively could not have another incident on her already scarred record. 

 "What? Where were its coordinates last logged?" The middle aged Keolven female hissed, storming over to the monitor array as she scowled deeply towards the Tusv'i operating the controls. "Show me- now." 

  Her scowl deepened the moment the colonel laid eyes on the sector of space the craft had vanished; distinctly familiar with whom lived within the immediate star-system of its last known whereabouts. No further information was useful in the moment, the Tusv'i struggling with the computer to finish receiving the marauder's distress signal. 

  "When exactly was their last signal sent?" She demanded, Loch standing over the smaller as the Keolven adjusted the front of her uniform in an uncomfortable manner. David surely knew about this. There was no other planet the ship could have feasibly made an emergency stop on besides Zolos Minor 2977. 

  The very planet she secretly knew he had escaped to with the help of that strange old biologist. His gratitude and failure to murder her as a young adult that fateful day so long ago when he trapped himself in the mess hall by mistake alongside Loch and her then colleagues had permanently marked a secretive but beneficial relationship between her and the human. And now the last human that had been abducted under the (now former) High Priestess' regime had finally arrived and apparently on Zolos.  

  Shit.

  If Loch had grown to be knowledgeable of David's mentality and somewhat familiar with his thought processes over their long business-like relationship, then she could only presume he would be positively livid. The C.o.P had successfully continued their programs, albeit far more lucrative and sparse than before- but David was utterly unaware despite his slow acceptance and entrance into the rural society and served under Loch's hand as a bounty hunter for criminal fugitives. 

  If he were to discover their operation, everything could fall into absolute pandemonium. David was more than capable of doing so by himself- Goddess forbid another adult human joined his efforts. And a particularly snappy one at that. 

  "Precisely before we lost contact. T-The date and time of each coincide perfectly- it seems to be that of electrical failure. . . if my assumptions are correct, ma'am." The subordinate rattled off confidently, nervousness dripping from the feigned boldness. 

  "I doubt it." Her short response cut like a knife as they winced, looking back towards the screen,

  "What should we do?" The even further subdued query floated up into the air like a fragile balloon begging to be brutally popped. 

  "Nothing of your concern." Colonel Loch replied bitterly, turning heel through the dimly lit bridge of the large Confederation-class vessel. "Get me my father on line one in my quarters." Her orders rang clearly through the now tensely silent crew as she swiftly exited the room and exited down the corridor. 

  "Who's Mierv?" Sunny's voice settled about the air of the porch as she moved to sit on a nearby set of chairs nestled in the corner. Managing a few steps was easier than attempting full mobility as the woman plopped into the brown cushions with a puff. Such a name had caught her attention sorting through the records, "A friend?" She posed once more, staring down at the smoldering cigarette between her fingers. 

  Prying questions were never a thing Sunny found herself the master of inhibiting. Seeing a particular name in repetition had to have meant something. Right?

  "Mm." His gutteral response tore her from her musing as her head jerked towards his figure which stood leaning against the wooden guardrails of the porch. "Why do you want to know?" Turning to face the woman with a pointed glance, the man gently sat on the edge of the banister- though his expression twisted something within Sunny's chest. Though subtle, the look in his eyes and the barely perceptable scowl gracing his features told her more than she cared to admit. 

  "They were a friend, weren't they. ?" Her voice wavered towards the end with a tangible melancholy as David took a rather deep and starved lungful to expunge the metaphorical lump in his throat.

  Over a year and the very recollection of the endearing insectoid still stung like a fresh wound. 

  "Yeah." He started, looking away as his eyes settled on a distant spot in the surrounding woods with a harsh frown, "I don't care for this right now- we can talk about them later. Just. . ." His voice was sharp; cutting any want Sunny had for any further queries as she averted her gaze with a faint wince. 

  Internally kicking herself, Sunny stared at her lap- she hardly knew this man. Of course she knew who he was, but in reality- he was a complete stranger with the utmost bonkers of a tale to tell. The fact was painfully obvious as Sunny took an abashed drag of smoke with a shake of her head. 

  Thank God for darkness, this is humiliating. She bitterly thought. 

  Letting the sentence hang in the air unfinished, David shot her a side-long glance before sighing faintly, "I'm sorry. I'm just not used to other people anymore- odd as it sounds." It was David's turn to muster a nonplussed chuckle, awkwardly stepping to sit in the neighboring chair beside the woman. 

 "Totally fair." She whispered, the distinct sensation of a blush burned her cheeks as she dared not look at him. 

 Whether it was intimidation, attraction, or humiliation was unclear. But ever so present a question whenever she see much as looked at him. He was handsome after all. Even if he was almost twice her age. 

  "So what now? . . . What's going to happen tomorrow?" Now it was the painful questions that bubbled to the surface. 

  She couldn't help herself, truthfully. It was totally reasonable and fair inquiry, although an unpleasant one to ruminate upon. 

 "Dunno. We'll see when it's tomorrow." His distant reply came, seemingly occupied with another thought.

  "You really aren't one for conversation, are you?" 

Chapter Text

10 years ago. 

  ​​​​"So you're telling me-" David grinned, setting his cup down on the bar-top as the bartender tittered quietly in amusement, "You heard tha-that humans had claws? And camouflaged skin?" 

  "It's rumor. You're a phantom creature. A myth- even." Syml chuckled, pouring the human another glass of industrial strength cleaner. "You could not believe some of the words I've heard thrown around regarding you, David." Corking the bottle, the humanoid moved to place it alongside the man's glass. He could serve himself- if anything she would hardly be phased if the giant drank straight from the bottle. His hands were certainly large enough to grip it with ease. 

  "Like what-?" Came the human's mirthful chuckle, admittedly inebriated. "Can't be worse than five eyes. . ." He mumbled against the rim of the glass, downing the shot with a quick huff,

  "No offense." David added after a moment, observing the side-long glare shot towards his direction by the neighboring Meesun male. A species that consistently, despite being one of the oldest races, refused to take anything less than a fight as an apology. A bitter trait that possessed the elder prey races akin to a frightened animal scaring off predators. A quite fitting description given the current circumstances. 

  "Where's Mierv?" Syml's attempt at drawing David's attention appeared to fail somewhat; the human's attention immediately drawn back to the agitated Meesun once they cleared their throat. 

  "Offense taken, you large oaf." 

   Now it was David's turn to look surprised as he made a face, his mouth pulling downwards as his eyebrows scrunched in a scrutinized gesture. "The fuck?" His voice had raised an octave, his jovial demeanor quickly transformed to that of irritation and confusion. 

  "What's wrong with five eyes, you overgrown buffoon?!" The creature's voice had raised to a shout, gathering the attention of the few other stragglers hanging around the tavern at such late hours. 

  "Hey, man- I'm sorry, alright? I didn't mean anything by it." David spoke with an even tone, turning his body to face the alien as the smaller creature bristled at the perceived threat. It was odd, really- how insulted these creatures became at the slightest of jokes at their expense (or sometimes simply being in their company). It was annoying, if David were choose a particular word for their personalities. 

 "You think you can get away with whatever you want just because you're a pred- don't you?!" The creature seethed, David finding himself at a loss for words; stunned into silence with a perplexed and mildly disgusted expression. "You overgrown waste of potential." They concluded with a particularly venomous bark.

  "Why does everyone keep calling me tha-" David's exasperated rebuttal was cut short, the pale Sylirian rolling her white eyes as she slammed the crate of glasses down onto the counter behind the bar-top. (A bit forcefully to garner both of their attentions, albeit.) 

  "Do not butt into conversations that aren't your own, Sands. It was a private matter that you inserted yourself into. There are at least five species I can name right now that have more than six eyes- and it's frankly weird." Syml interjected with a vaguely bored huff, sending a glare towards the bristling Meesun,

  "Now you can either calm down- or-  pay your tab and leave." She spoke sharply, David's eyebrows raising at the foreign use of aggression from the Sylirian as he glanced between the two. 

  Only a handful of Meesun the man had encountered during his tenure on the planet even acknowledged his presence, let alone picked a fight. It was rather thrilling if David were to push aside the perturbing thought of decimating the poor soul in such a brawl. The human's weight alone compared to the small, rat like creature was pitiful and downright cruel when pitted against each other. (Even if one party was all too eager to get wiped across the floor.) 

  "No! I'm going to fight this asshole- and give him a lesson on how us prey folk are just as tough!" They practically shrieked towards the astounded Earthling. It was nearly amusing, if he were perfectly honest. 

 "Enough!" Syml all but shouted in annoyance, glaring towards the pudgy rat, "Out! Now!" 

 - 

  "No, Colonel . . ." David's muffled voice from within his quarters was the first thing Sunny awoke to- the woman opting to remain motionless as she strained to eavesdrop on the man's conversation. 

  Glancing around at the surrounding living room gently illuminated by the warm light of mid-morning, the tan woman's attention was swiftly drawn back to its original place as pacing steps almost imperceptibly disturbed the wood comprising the floor. 

  "-I haven't seen anyone else out here beside the odd missionary. . . " David's voice trailed off- although in an interrupted manner, rather than simply ending the sentence. Which, Sunny could surmise was a product of this enigmatic Colonel speaking during the brief silent intervals, 

  "Yes, I'm telling the truth-! . . . Jesus. H. Christ, you're annoying, you know that, Loch?" His displeased tone of voice was unsettling to her fatigued mind- her intuition and logical problem solving only concluding one theory: that he was being questioned about her abrupt arrival. 

 "No-" Another miffed sigh. "-You don't need to send anyone out. . . You don't fuckin' fathom I'd alert to you any substantial revelations regarding my own species? Especially after all you've done for me-? You really have morphed into the stereotypical Keolven blockhead!" David clapped back at the mysterious person on the other end of the line, his tone both annoyed and worn despite the sharp intensity. 

  Sunny devised he had rather aggressively hung up the communication- as the distinct sound of an object being flung against the dividing wall between the living and bedroom echoed alongside a quiet groan of frustration.

  Did they have cell phones in space? What in the utter hell was the Kansan getting on about? And who was he talking to in such a familiar and irritated manner? The thoughts circled Sunny's sleep riddled mind as she yawned to herself and slowly got into a sitting position on the sofa. 

  Whomever it was, David obviously didn't care to speak to them. . . At least in a pleasant manner. 

 "You okay?" She called slightly, looking over the back of the couch as she curiously watched the door. "Who was that-?" She very well knew it was technically none of her business- oh wait. It precisely was given the fact the subject matter was unequivocally about her presence. 

  Faint creaks of the man advancing towards the door alerted her senses as she expectantly observed the slab of wood separating the two rooms. 

  "Yes." David's bored response wafted towards the couch as the door opened to reveal his figure, "And I was talking to no one of your worrisome." He chided sharply, stepping into the living room before reaching around and quietly shutting the door to his bedroom. The man, Sunny observed, was dressed in a deep brown sweatshirt alongside equitably murky colored pants with black boots that emulated a pair of Doc Martin's. He was evidently awake far earlier than she was on account of the faint smell of what she could only pray was coffee gently emanating from his quarters. 

  But that thought could wait a moment- 

  "Liar." She deadpanned, adjusting herself to sit up straighter as David eyed her for a moment before giving a relenting expulsion of breath, 

 "'Kay,  fine. That was one of the military higher ups within the CoP asking me about your little scuffle with the smugglers . . Not that it's your fault in the first place." He murmured the latter half under his breath as Sunny's expression grew to that of concern, David meeting her gaze with a steady look that simmered with a deep emotion she failed to discern. 

  "What're we going to do. . ?" She croaked, the elder taking notice that her voiced had lowered a decibel as she stiffened at his previous statement regarding the government. 

  Staying silent for a moment, the dark haired male looked her over briefly; his eyes darting about her face and down to her ankle as he shoved his hands in the front pockets of his thin jacket. "You're gonna stay here." 

  David's near command caught the woman by surprise as she scoffed, taken aback as David raised his eyebrows in a pointed manner,

  "Your busted ankle isn't going to help us- ya' can't run, and more importantly can't be seen until I figure this out-" He paused a moment, mentally mulling over their options as he chewed at the inside of his cheek, "- I can call in a favor with one of Mierv's old friends, but. . ." He trailed off again with a sharp huff, Sunny remaining silent as she scowled down at the top of the couch cushion in thought. 

  She couldn't blame his energy at all: she hardly favored being put under pressure- and the woman was scarcely stupid- she could recognize when her presence completely shook up the mix. 

  "I don't know, I don't know." He mumbled after a moment, giving a defeated and irked shrug,

  "Just stay here, 'kay? I'll be back in a few zo- . . hours." David concluded with a faint stutter of the measurement of time, overwhelmed and dangerously uncomfortable with a random human being in his house.

  Shooting her a weary glance as he ran a hand through his curly hair, the man turned heel to retrieve his cloak from the hook located near the front door.

  "B-but-!?" It was Sunny's turn to rightfully panic as she clamored to get off the couch, "You can't just leave me here! What if someone comes? What am I gonna do, David?!" The surge of desperate anxiety had the woman shuddering in place as David's expression softened to that of an empathetic grimace. 

  Faltering in place as moment, he made a slight noise of uncertainty; his inner voice at war with itself as he gazed at her sharply. "I'm sorry. . ." He began, "As soon as I can get the shit necessary to fix your leg- I'll bring you along with me." 

   "I-" Sunny opened her mouth to stutter a rebuttal before David cut her off with a shake of his head, 

  "-Trust me, please. I need to talk to a few people, and then I'll be back with a medical tissue regenerator." He urged,  slinging his cloak around his shoulders as he adjusted the loose fabric. His body language was practically oozing discomfort as David quietly gazed at her a moment longer, his mouth slight agape as if to say something further. The obviously torn expression upon his features didn't aid his case as Sunny groaned in protest, the agonizing throbbing in her ankle gradually growing unbearable the more she moved. 

  "Just hurry- fuck." She relented, mustering a weak glower as David gave a furtive nod, mumbling a faint 'back in a few hours' before unlocking the door and exiting with a gentle click of it locking behind him. 

  "Christ, what is it with me and bad luck?" I grumbled aloud, carefully trekking through the woods back towards town as I hopped over a fallen tree trunk. 

  The gentle and cool hued light of early morning shone in scattered rays through the tree branches high above, creating a juxtaposition as my breath billowed in translucent clouds before me, quietly following the subtle path worn into the dirt towards the village. It was particularly chilly this morning; a sign of the impending autumn season hitting the northern hemisphere of the planet as I kept my steady pace. 

  The woman was an enigmatic problem I greatly minded- despite encountering nearly the same circumstances at her age by the same means. My own sympathies and traumatic memories vastly affected my usual indifference towards abnormal scenarios; Sunny's terror and existential panic mirrored my own (that I still struggle to deal with more than I care to admit) in ways that made my chest ache and guts twist. 

  Dodging a low hanging branch suspended over the trail, my thoughts frantically swirled and built up to dreadful ruminations on what had occurred to the poor girl- my own fears shadowing everything as I found myself clutching the edge of my cloak. 

  To shield from the cold or facing your trauma? 

  The bitter mental voice returned to chide me- even my own conscience had grown more bleak. Was I losing myself faster than I anticipated? Fuck. 

 Huffing out another cloud of steam in the cold air, I eventually made it to the edge of the village. I could faintly hear the conversations of the local early-birds beyond the buildings as I hopped over the small fence encircling the town. I couldn't acutely recall the exact time, but judging by the lack of people out, I figured it would yet be early enough to get it all done before midday. 

  Heart's beatin' a tad fast there, pal.

  Walking past the small market that was yet to open for business, I pulled my hood off as I neared the tavern. I had once made the unpleasant discovery that many people still greatly felt uncomfortable in my presence if I were to shield my face. I never particularly understood the reasoning- but who was I to argue? I felt safe here (most of the time), and therefore truly had no need to cover my countenance unless feds were present. (Which was even more rare nowadays.) 

  Briefly exchanging a passing wave to one of the agricultural executives as I strolled through the town square towards the tavern, my gaze shifted upwards. The rings of the nearby gas-giant shone vaguely through the smattering of clouds covering the sky as I paused a moment to try and calm my frazzled nervous system. The scenery of this planet never ceased to make me so heavily appreciate my current circumstances and what I had fought through to get here. 

  Even if some avoided my being, I hardly minded to be offended by sentiments of uneasiness. At this point in time- unlike previously mentioned which was years ago- only non-locals ever truly gave me trouble for existing. But with Sunny now in the situation- I could never fathomably predict what would occur if I spilled the beans to anyone aside from Syml.

  Starting my pace back to a walk, I frowned faintly as an overwhelming and random sense of dread hit me like a freight train. 

  Loch would definitely lose her shit. My inner voice seemed to grumble from the back of my mind as I unlocked the gate leading to the tavern at the end of the town's main center. 

  My mind felt like soup; my thoughts muddled and snapping in directions I hadn't ruminated upon for what felt like eternities. I couldn't get the woman out of my mind. 

  That isn't to be construed as lewd images or anything of the like- infact, all I could envision when I saw her and heard her rambled recounting of events leading her to landing on Zolos was myself.

  Hell, I was also twenty six when this whole shitstorm began!

  Sickening memories and sensations plagued my conscious and unconscious brain; flashes and glimpses to torturous experiments and distressing encounters were the sole things I witnessed the moment my eyes shut. Sleep was a stranger to me the last two nights- my memories of the traumatic experiments resurfacing in fashions that would have Stephen King's blood run cold. 

  I was so grateful she never knew what pain they could inflict- but FUCK was I jealous. It was a petty thing, truly. 

  Is it, though? 

  It felt like hell was opening once more to swallow my soul and I had extremely scarce means to prevent it.

  Again. 

 I couldn't breathe suddenly; my chest tightening with an indescribable and positively strangling emotion as I slammed a fist (rather aggressively) against the door to the joint to gain Syml's attention to let me inside. My entire body abruptly began to tingle with the unpleasant sensation of my will to keep myself upright growing arduous. 

 Great- I felt about t-minus two minutes to passing the hell out. And I couldn't fucking control it. 

   They all know. It's only a matter of time before they take us again. The haunting voice of the inner monologue I unfortunately possessed was overpowering my rational mind as my anxiety increased. 

  Where the hell is she!? 

 "My God-" My vision felt hazed, "-Sym! Open up, shit." I resorted to leaning against the frame of the threshold to support my weight better. My knees felt like they were gelatin, and my hands were currently numb. 

  The door swung open before I could 'knock' again as the pale bartender shot me a glare before faltering at the obviously presyncope condition of my being, 

  "Wha-?" The Silirian gasped before I gently pushed past her and into the still closed tavern.

  She swiftly got out of my path as I meandered my way to the closest chair I could find, Syml stunned into a befuddled and worried silence as she hastily shadowed after my figure. 

  I would have collapsed onto the dining chair if the sliver of my rational mind hadn't prevented me on account of my relative obese-ness in their society. (I surely would have crushed the blasted thing.) 

  Sitting gently, I let out a pent up groan as I struggled to contain the panic ridden energy overtaking my mind and body like a spontaneous plague. My leg bounced wildly in place as I put my elbows on my knees and folded my arms infront on me. I hardly minded that my arms were being jostled to hell by my frantic attempt to soothe the anxiety attack, my sole focus on the present not being a hysterical mess at roughly 7:45 in the morning. 

 "What is wrong? Did someone say something-? Hey-" Syml's voice sounded far more distant than she truly was as I failed to make myself meet her gaze. 

  She's seen us like this before. The chick knows how to he- 

. SHUT. UP. 

  "-David, look at me, just focus on my voice. You're okay, you are safe here." Her voice was shaking. Was it from worry or fear of my erratic state? 

  I can't. 

 "I'm sorry. . .I can-- I can't breathe in here." My head felt like a vibrating mess as my vision unfocused; the edges darkening as I grimaced. 

  "It's another one of your attacks-" I could faintly hear the pale alien speaking to me once more as I groaned an incoherent reply. 

  All of this over a woman. 

  I haven't been this bad since Mierv's death. At least I could talk my way through an episode with Syml- but not now. My tongue felt trapped in my mouth; a monumental effort needed to grit out a simple sentence. 

  I need space. 

  I need Sunny's help. 

  I need another human's familiarity. 

 I need to go home. 

 But where is home now? 

  Thank God the chair was directly against the front wall so I wouldn't hurt myself falling onto the floor when I inevitably go slack.

  "I'm losing it. . I. ." Was the last thing I managed to stammer out to the poor girl before me as my entire world fizzled out into unconsciousness. 

Chapter Text

Four months after arrival on Zolos Minor 2977 

 "Mierv!! Help me!"

  David's scream echoed through the forest as he sprinted over the foliage and unsuspecting wildlife,

  "What the fuck is this thing!? Mierv!" Terror gripped the tone of his voice, the man frantically running away from a drone that had unfortunately spotted the predator in a neighboring field. 

  The High Hukibin Priestess was still on a war path to locate and detain the pred at any means necessary. It was his fault- but Mierv had reassured his worries he would be particularly good in terms of camouflage if he stuck to the densely forested areas of the surrounding land and avoided venturing out for a good while. 

  And of course, the rash human had not headed their warnings. 

  Swiftly dodging past a tree and diving into a shallow pond shrouded by dense flora and an algae-like substance spanning the top layer, David swam underneath an elevated bank. He had seen the small body of water beforehand when he had explored the woods, and was more delighted it served as a makeshift hiding place on account of the edge of the soil and edge of the water created a makeshift grotto shielded by the dense plants around the perimeter. Zolos itself was similar to Xbidu in that half the planet was split- but instead of a massive city spanning half the planet- it was farmland and agricultural centers that produced a myriad of products akin to natural resources. (At least to David's understanding.) 

 Although the sparse population and abhorrently bland history of no scandals or war, David's presence brought forth a sense of contempt for the initial period before proving himself a man of similar interests and morals. 

  The human hated the government as much as the residents on Zolos did. If not worse. 

  "Over here!" A voice called from beyond David's position as he cautiously watched the area in front of his hiding spot. He knew the voice to be a planted recording device Mierv had assisted David in distributing around their property to distract federal drones in case of circumstances like these. 

  The tell-tale electronic whir of the evil little thing shot towards the direction of the recording as David panted shallowly, trapped for the present as he brushed his sopping hair from his face. It was small- claustrophobic even- but the little nook was a perfect means of temporary camouflage. 

  "You cannot hide forever, Mr. Winter." It was her voice. . . That damn holy woman's.  

  HOW IS SHE HERE!? David internally panicked, feeling faint as he lowered himself into the water down to his chin in another feeble attempt to disguise himself further. 

 "David?" Syml sounded so far away. Why is she so far away? "Dee, come on, please wake up." 

  The disquieted nature of her tone shook me from my listless haze as I slowly came to attention. My head felt like it had split- and my ribs ached something brutal- but I could finally get a grip on myself as I let out a rattled noise that seemed to relieve a bit of Syml's anxiety. 

  I couldn't fathom how long my little spell had lasted, my heart still pounding and the unending sense of dread making itself evident the more I regained my wits. (Slightly.) 

  "They're coming-" I managed to huff out- Syml going still at the words as an apprehensive scowl briefly flashed across her features. 

  She mad or worried? 

 "I'm serious. U-um, Loch is sending some feds out here . . . Despite my refusal, Sym- they're going to take her! A-and me!" David's voice had grown frantic once more as he lurched forwards and grabbed hold of the bartender's shoulders with a haunted expression.

 "I don't know what to do-" He took a shaky breath, his trembling subtly shaking her upper torso. "-Ya'gotta help me, Sym. Please! She scares me, but I can't not help her- I don't want Sunny hurt! And I can't- I can't go back!" His voice had reduced to a whimper before bellowing out in a frenzied rant as Syml failed to get a word in, absolutely perplexed about what the human was stammering out. 

  "Who-? What are you talking about? Dee- you're hurting me, ease up on the grip." She eventually found her words, uncomfortably held within his paws and wincing at the sensation of his fingers digging into her flesh. (Although, she could recognize he was not doing it intentionally.) 

  "I'm sorry." The human flinched backwards at her soft plea as he wrapped his arms around himself. 

  "Who's Sunny? Are they a fugitive?" Concern was a vice-grip on the female's mind as she helplessly observed the human work himself up into a hysterical state regarding a being she hadn't known existed. 

 "Yes." He had grown quiet, David's eyes focused on the floor as the anguished emotion behind his gaze intensified, "She's a human." If throwing up was an option at the present, David surely would have taken up the opportunity to release the anxiety building. But nothing came. 

  "What?" Came the bartender's shaken inflection, her face slackening in shock. 

  "She's a human!" David burst out with an agitated tone, the atmosphere within the tavern shifting as the human's energy darkened greatly,

  "Why is there another one!?" He snarled, mainly towards the ceiling as he slammed a fist against the table top. Flinching at the crackling sound of the wood splintering under the force, Syml anxiously glanced towards the front door.  

  The last thing they needed was some nosy pest barging their way inside at the whiff of gossip and spreading rumors. 

 It was rage that was the next phase to the human's breakdown; Syml greatly unprepared to deescalate such a powerful and sometimes downright terrifying being at such an early hour of the morning. Despite all that, she feared his heightened volume of noise would draw unwanted attention- especially if what he warned was to unfold. 

  Another human. . . A female too? 

  "Keep your voice down- someone's going to hear you!" The Silyrian hissed quietly, glancing about the tavern for a moment before stepping towards the fraught man and setting her own hands on his shoulders in a calming gesture she knew positively affected the alien. 

  "I will help you figure this out- but you must calm yourself. Getting worked up over this is not going to aid a soul- especially yours." She paused, letting the words hang in the air as David shut his eyes and took a quivering breath. 

  "Just breathe- focus on where you are and who is in your company." The pale being spoke, her spindly fingers squeezing his shoulders for a brief moment as she observed the human's tense facial muscles gradually relax. 

  It was a technique that evidently spanned species as a harbinger for a somewhat meditation- the predator's mind functioned at a far faster rate than most beings within the Confederacy- yet the result was nearly the same for all intelligent races. Regardless of capacity for ultra high cognitive functions commonly found in older creeds.

  David's coping mechanisms and psychological quirks weren't unheard of; most races did evolve the capability to develop Post Traumatic Stress behaviors, but a human being's brain focused so highly on emotional recall- Syml could not fathom what occurred within the man's mind in circumstances such as this. 

  The human mind was resilient, but for how long?

  "Where is this Sunny person? Are they back at your house?" She lowered her arms after a moment as the predator rolled his shoulders in an unsettling gesture. 

  "Yes. She's terrified of you." His short response caught her by surprise as she tilted her head, 

 "How? Silyrian are rare in these parts." 

  "I don't know- I don't know. . ." David sighed a bit, opening his eyes to muster a subtle scowl, "I need a tissue repair kit. She pulled her ankle tryna' run from that marauder." He scoffed, Syml backing up as the man got to his feet, ". . . Please." He added after a pause. 

  "I can get you one, that's fine, do not fret over this. I'll leave it upon your front threshold out of the other human's field of view." She reassured, anxiously watching his erratic body language as the younger adult struggled to contain her weakening composure. 

  Another human!! The simple phrase was cutting within her mind sharp as a blade. 

  "Dee-" She began cautiously, sensing a flood of scared pheromones ooze from the male, "You just stay here while I get it." Syml quickly interjected once the gloomy look burning within his dark eyes concentrated at her previous suggestion, "Have a drink to calm your nerves, my friend. On the house." 

  The biological status of predator never ceased to impress the Silyrian; David's demeanor and personality far more intricate and (lack for a better word) confusing than what she could have possibly fathomed upon meeting the alien so many years ago. Surprises ascertaining to his intensely felt emotions amd how the human body and mind communicated with such fervent expression never failed to offput her primal instincts to avoid such an unpredictable entity. 

  The coaxing words elicited a faint glimmer of speculation as he warily eyed the four foot biped, a deep scowl rooted within his features. "I can't leave her that long-" Another shaky breath came, "-Fuck, I dunno what to do. I can't deal with this shit-" 

  "WHERE IS THE HUMAN?!" A roar and the deafening clatter of the front doors to the tavern bursting open caused the duo to jump- David's face going white as he turned heel and dove behind the beverage well of the bar. 

  "Excuse me- who the hell are you!?" Syml went on the defense, regaining her composure as the female laid eyes on the trio of irked military personnel. "He isn't here, what's your business with him?" Her tone had grown cold, rooted to her spot beside the table the aforementioned being had previously occupied. "I expect you to mend that door, or reimburse me." She scoffed, keenly aware of the faint sounds of David hiding himself against the row of bottles. 

  "He has obligations to meet with Colonel Loch regarding a security breach." The tallest of the bunch grumbled, the three all being Keolven males with their rifles aimed squarely towards the Silyrian. 

  "So you bust down my door without a federal grant and just expect me to trust your orders-?" A bitter and condescending laugh bubbled from the bar tender. "Okay! Wow, that's- ... That's rough, even for you guys!" She continued, giggling to herself as the apparent leader of the group scowled heavily at the mockery. 

  "I can smell him- it's in here somewhere." The veiled order left the largest of the Keolven as he glanced about the vacant tavern, "Find him." The male concluded, the two at his side flanking off as they went to investigate. 

  "Hey-!" Syml began, marching over towards the main officer in an effort to stall further. 

  David tensed, hearing the footfalls of a soldier nearing his position as Syml's voice disrupted his train of thought. Glancing up and about to try and find another way to escape, David felt his blood run cold as the sound of a rifle charging up echoed within the room. 

 The man wasted not a moment- absolutely terrified of watching one of his friends die for the third time- as he jumped to his feet and held his arms up in peaceful surrender.

   "Right here!" He said in an even tone, glaring between the three lizards, silently daring them to make a foolish move.

  Turning his attention to the scene before him across the counter- both relief and anger flooded his system upon gazing at the unharmed (albeit frightened) female staring nervously down the barrel of a kinetic rifle. "Put your guns away and I'll come without so much as a peep. . Just. Leave. Her. Be."

  The human's voice had lowered to a threatening growl as Syml slowly stepped backwards towards the predator.

  "What are you hiding?" The tallest of the bunch nearly spat in my direction as I keenly noticed Sym's movements in my direction. 

  "Your fucking mother- okay!? You guys are fuckin' pricks and you know it!" I all but relented, walking out from behind the bar-well and out into the main floor. 

  I swiftly pulled the Silyrian behind my figure as the largest of the group advanced towards my frame with a newly ignited irritation. Whether it was from the situation or my inability to hold my tongue whilst in a mood- I could not decipher, and frankly didn't have time to as my body tensed for a brawl. 

  "You have orders from Colonel Loch- I expect you to comply and accompany us to her current locale." Ugly spoke- apparently trying to square up to my stature as I remained motionless. A good eleven inches was the height difference between myself and the lizard- although I suspected he was keenly aware of the fact as well by the disgusted expression oh-so plainly plastered on his scaly features. 

 "Fine. . ." I began, sensing Syml practically bristling behind me,

 "Just leave her-" I gestured to the woman at my rear, "-alone." I concluded with a firm frown towards the officer. . . Or lieutenant, upon closer inspection of his name and rank tag pinned to his beige tunic. 

  "I could charge her for perjury!" The smallest of the three closest to the front door practically hissed, glaring daggers at us both. 

   (It was at that moment that my will to hold my tongue was tested to its maximum, dear whomever finds this.) 

  Giving a long and pointed sigh of annoyed obedience, I shot a glance at Syml before begrudgingly stepping forwards and accompanying the three soldiers. "I'll be fine- just make sure to close my curtains. Y'know how those squirrels love to get inside if they're open."

  The code I uttered seemed to flip a switch inside the Silyrian's mind as she nodded with a knowing bow of her head. The phrase meant to watch over my property and prevent any and everyone from entering the dwelling under no circumstance until my arrival back on Zolos- one Mierv and I had used time and again that was fool-proof when knowledgeable regarding the connotation. 

  The barrel of the rifle abruptly jabbed my back as I started towards the front door, swiftly unbuttoning my cloak and tossing it on a bench near the entrance. 

  Better to leave it in Sym's possession incase Sunny needed it. 

 - 

  The barely perceptible sound of a door opening behind me perked my interest subconsciously, hoping it was Loch.

  I currently found myself waiting patiently for the Keolven Colonel's return from a meeting elsewhere on the ship in her office- settling myself comfortably on the bench built under the large rectangular picture window to just zone-out at the beautiful view of the pillared nebula just beyond the reaches of the Zolos planetary cluster. 

  The sense of eyes watching my being from behind in the silent room had my body tingle, now keenly aware of the aforementioned female's company. 

 "You are positive she isn't within your care, David?"

  Loch's abrupt and loaded query brought me back from my absent stare-off with the starry abyss beyond the large window as I shifted my gaze to focus on her figure in the reflection of the glass.

 Sighing a bit at the disruption of my fleeting moment of serenity, I turned and scowled in her direction, 

 "Yes." I almost scoffed, turning my body completely as I sat up properly to face the military officer. Leaning slightly forward in my seat as the Keolven approached, I noticed the fact her bored expression betrayed the clear distrust in her reptilian eyes as I frowned subtly. 

  She evidently was in a crappy mood. 

  You and me both, sister.

  The internal monologue never failed. 

  "Can't you trust me when I say I don't have them, or have even seen another human being in over a decade?" I lamented impatiently, Loch giving a relenting puff of air as she retired to behind her desk within the large office.

  "I've helped you plenty to garner that, haven't I? Y'know- trust??" I finished with an earnest tone as I shifted to irritably fold my arms over my chest.  

  The glimmer of remorse that briefly flashed across her features alluded to the fact the officer did recognize that tidbit. Bitch. 

  She always did this type of crap- making me feel bad for something I had nothing to do with that somehow involved my being by mere mention. 

  Well, this time I actually did have a role in this debacle, so I supposed it was possible Loch was in the right. . .

  For once. 

  Sometimes I truly longed for a reason to lose my shit- but judging by the intensity behind the Colonel 's demeanor, and the fact I had practically abandoned the girl at my house was all the reason not to throw a fit. (Even though it was justified on my behalf.) 

 I started again, "I just got done tracking an undercover intelligence personnel over the course of the last two weeks- I will help you recover the body-" I looked at her pointedly, shoving my hands in the pockets of my jacket, "-but you gotta give me at least a day to myself." The reasoning was a bit shaky- but practically throwing out excuses to get the hell off this ship in high-orbit around Zolos was my present ploy. 

  A tense silence settled over the two as the military officer mulled over her options; the female greatly leaning towards gently forcing the human to comply with her orders rather than let him leave. Glaring at the desk below her, the Keolven heaved a defeated sigh as she shot a displeased glance at her obligatory ally as she scanned his features for any signs of deceit. 

 Except-

   The damn creature had a point- dealing with an exhausted and subsequently temperamental predator was a sure fire way for the recovery of the female human to backfire in Loch's face. And David could quite feasibly use that to his advantage to sabotage the mission at hand. 

 Nothing appeared to slip past the man's keen observations and intellect, unfortunately for her. 

  "Fine. . . I expect you to report back to me by tomorrow evening. We will go from there." David's eyebrow twitched subtly at the good news as he gave a faint nod. Before he could feel total relief, Loch held up her hand in a motion to stop as the man's eyes narrowed at the unavoidable stipulations that came with dealing with governments, 

  "But-" She continued, "-You will not be able to leave this planet until I have my answer. You will be thrown in prison if you so much as breach the atmosphere- do you understand me? No bullshit, as you would say. " She concluded with a stern and downright threatening connotation as the taller being gave an affirming sound, 

 "Of course. You will have my services by sundown tomorrow." The man's ridged reply hung in the air of the sterile and spacious office as he uncomfortably rose to his feet and gave a brief bow.  Straightening his posture, David shot a brisk glance about the room before exiting and shutting the door behind him without a further word uttered. 

-

  Entering the hallway that spanned the length of the ship and served as a main corridor that branched off into the surrounding areas of the vessel, David glanced about over the heads of the varying beings intentionally (and fearfully) ignoring his presence. Many creatures utilized the main passage as a means to quickly and efficiently traverse the large military craft, much to David's faint chagrin. The uncertainty large crowds and bustling aliens brought forth regarding his safety never appealed to the human unless it was the only available option; his previously existing (Earthly) social insecurities only hindering his weakening confidence in confined crowds. 

  His size never aided his more discreet missions and efforts- most outside of Zolos and a majority of the military personnel practiced extreme caution to the point of frustration. As if the consensus regarding the human male was to act as if he were a breath away from aggravated homicide. (Which was obviously not the case 99.97 percent of the time.) 

  Pushing himself away from the door of the female's office, David weaved into the moving traffic as he began the moderately long walk to the aft of the ship. The back almost always housed the transport jets and interplanetary travel beams the crew and civilians employed as a means of temporary relocation or day visits, which were in divided sections timed throughout the day as a means to cut down overcrowding. Only temporary visitors, such as David, were granted access to the transport beams at all times. 

  Whether it was simply custom or an implemented law- David did not know or care. Who was he to argue with a system that worked in his favor? 

 "Mr. Winter, wait!" The nearby shout of his formal title caught the man's attention as he turned heel with a hesitant expression, his eyes settling on an adult Yytiv making their way towards his being. 

 "Yes?" He answered, moving towards the wall of the hallway as to provide more room for the figurative highway of aliens as the Yytiv stopped an arm's length from the human with an urgent sense to her mannerisms.  

  Gathering herself for a moment, the young Yytiv shuddered a bit as David uncertainly glanced around, "What is the problem. ? I'm sorry, Miss-. . ." The human began in a softer voice as the brown and white spotted alien stared up at him with an unreadable expression, David reading her name tag before trailing off as his eyes shot back up to bore into the Yytiv's with a newly ignited skepticism. 

  ". . .Olong." The name appeared to pain the man; gritting out the familial name as the aforementioned female's observed his expression harden to that of a deep and cautious glower. 

 "Yes- that is what I am trying to convey-" The woman started before a scoff echoed (a bit loudly) off the walls as the human's dark eyes raked over the female's medical uniform with a deepening scowl. 

 The man's eyed rolled in irritation as he shook his head dismissively- a displeased and exasperated chuckle bubbling from his chest as he turned heel to walk away,

  "Okay-" He turned back for a tick, leaning down slightly to face her better as the Yytiv flinched backwards a few inches, "-We aren't doing this right now. I'm not playing into some sick prank, you are not Ni'orti, nor are you Wells, and no-" David's arm shot out to gently jab the alien's shoulder like a scolding sibling. "- You are not coming with me." 

  Observing the being's facial features tense at his proximity, the man noted her body language and (very realistic) doctor's uniform before standing back up.

  "Good day, and leave me alone." It was a warning- and an obvious one at that. 

  Satisfied with the younger's lack of verbal response despite her forming frown, the human turned to leave as he resumed making his way to the back of the ship. He did feel a tinge of barely perceptible guilt seemingly shutting the creature down without hearing them out- but at the present moment, all David could find himself worrying over was Sunny's safety on the planet below. 

  "I never claimed that! If you'd just listen-!" The Yytiv's voice cut through the dull roar of the hallway occupants as David silently groaned to himself, ignoring the female's protest. 

 The young alien was starting to draw attention to the two of them, and it was starting to greatly perturb the human male as he felt the eyes of passerbys on his figure. 

 "I am her daughter! Please, Mr. Winter, just listen to me! I can help!" 

  It's like a damn curse, David's inner voice grumbled as he chose to ignore the statements emanating from the tailing creature. Encounters with individuals claiming to be who they were indeed not was not an uncommon occurrence if David was perfectly frank, and the little Yytiv did not appear to appreciate the fair warning he had given. 

 "David! I was there, okay!? I was in that court room as well- I was but a pup but-" A paw found purchase on the sleeve of the human's jacket as the man startled a bit, jerking away briefly as he silently glared towards the creature fastened to his arm. 

  "Shut up, will 'ya." His voice was a tense and harsh whisper as a strong hand suddenly grabbed onto her shoulder and clamped down with borderline painful strength,

  "What sick fantasy are you roleplaying right now? She never mentioned having any children in all the time I knew her." His fingers tightened in annoyance as the female grimaced, biting back an insult as she mustered an equitable scowl. Of course she would not have mentioned them- it was for quite literally everyone's safety. 

  "Follow me. Please- and I will explain everything. I know about the girl." She spoke in a pinched tone, frantically looking about before facing the human with a deadly serious stare, "We aren't safe here, sir." 

  It was like everything else but David's immediate lime of sight fell away as his eyes bugged for a moment,

 "What-?" The dark haired male hissed, grimacing faintly at the scoff from a passing Tfy- David muttering an apology before swiftly dragging the Yytiv female into the nearest open labeled TalkRoom to their immediate right in the hall.

  "'Kay, fine. Just-" He sighed, pulling the female into the tight but maneuverable room as he shut the thin opaque sliding door.

  The room itself was meant primarily for a temporary spot to dine, sleep, relax, or converse with a companion or two for up to three rics- the first being free of charge. Thus, the perfect little space to sort out momentary drama. 

 "I can show you my credentials, just please hear me out." She repeated once more in a soft voice before activating the sound dampening field for their privacy. Moving to sit down on the plush sofa lining the far wall of the triangular room, David's expression and demeanor bled trepidation as he settled into the cushions with a hard stare towards her figure. 

 "I don't have much time, so make it quick. And if this is a setup- I swear to god I will make you hate life." The man nearly snarled with impatience, mumbling something under his breath relating to his ribs hurting. "And what girl?" 

  "The human girl, the one who is the age you were when the Tfy abducted you under the Priestess' commission." That seemed to silence the pred for a moment as his expression darkened subtly, intently listening to her rapid and convenient explanation. 

 "-She is the very last human from your planet to be taken under her rule." The female continued as David's curls bounced with a disapproving jerk of his head, 

 "Okay, no- I gotta go." His abrupt and commanding tone matched with his quick upright movement startled the nurse- hastily plastered herself against the furthest wall from the creature with a gasp.

  Frightened breathing echoed in the now silent chamber as David's nostrils flared subtly with a sharp exhale in a strange and barely perceptible motion that sent chills down the Yytiv's spine. The man seemed to notice as he relaxed his posture and leant back against the cushions, his mouth formed into a tight line as his muscular arms folded over his chest once more. 

  The human's body composition appeared to favor that particular position; the Yytiv now witnessing the increasingly familiar motion on more occasions in the last half ric than she had ever in her life previously. 

  "I'm sorry to frighten you, but-" David's rumbling voice began as the nurse regained her composure, "- I really have to go. I have a meeting back on Zolos and I cannot miss it." He urged, hastily standing as he moved towards the door. 

  The door only taunted Sunny's curiosity the longer David was gone; the woman's thoughts consumed with retrieving the strange USB-TV drive from somewhere in his room. 

God- it was practically torture knowing it was just out of reach. 

  She had no true guess of how long she had been asleep for- opting to rest as much as she could before the strange man returned with whatever he went to retrieve elsewhere. There were no clocks in her immediate line of sight; the woman scanning the room in hopes of the time as she groaned in protest upon finding none.

   The sun had grown a more orange hue-  Sunny only fathoming an hour or two had passed as she sat up and managed to stand on her good leg, holding onto the back of the couch with uncertainty. 

  Spraining an ankle was no new thing for the woman- having broken her share of bones as a child- but without the aid of a crutch or separate pair of hands, the short stroll over to David's bedroom seemed monumental in the present. Scowling to herself as she forced the sensation of pain past the forefront of her focus, the brunette swiftly hopped towards the door. 

  Bracing herself against the dark wood once she reached the threshold, Sunny winced as she gingerly set her bad foot down to stabilize herself whilst she tried the doorknob. Reaching down and silently sighing in relief once it turned with a click, the woman pushed the door ajar as she took in her surroundings. 

  Observing the small yet cozy room, her gaze drifted over the unkempt bed and rumpled brown sheets with a green quilt haphazardly tossed over the mattress nestled into the corner. Beside the mattress stood a side table that matched the wood of the bedframe as the woman slowly shuffled into the room, using a dresser located to the left of the door as a makeshift crutch. The smell was what struck Sunny once she fully entered the enigmatic space- the faint smell of coffee wafted from the far corner of the room that mingled with the subtle smell of dirt and smoke that permeated the house. 

  It was rather comforting, if she were to be precise. The scent was far from a malodor; the woman half expecting it to reek of bachelor and poor decisions. Instead, the lingering scent harbored an air of nostalgia that greatly emulated her grandparents' farm in the backcountry of Ohio. A clean yet worn smell. 

  At least the man is clean- infact, he smells good. The thought ringing in her mind had the woman blushing as she looked around once more in shame. Privacy be damned, apparently. Her mental voice chided not a second after as her eyes shifted between the two windows located on the outside facing walls. 

  Light delicately streamed through the partially opened drapes, illuminating the space in a gentle haze as the floorboards creaked with each step she took deeper into the room. 

  "Alright. . .  USB thing, USB . . Thing. . ." The faint murmur spilled from her lips as she began to search for the device, making sure to not touch anything that would give her efforts away once he returned as she grew frantic, 

  "Shit- where is it!?" She grumbled, hopping on her good foot to his nightstand before the distinct sounds of footsteps on the back porch just beyond the exterior wall broke her focus as she froze in terror. The steps were far too light and staggered to be another person- the fact sending a wave of adrenaline through her body as she trembled in place. 

  "I'm so fucked . ." She whispered aloud to herself, swiftly crouching behind the bed as the creaking of the wood continued.