Day 3 of filming.

Another day of cloudy, with small gaps of twin suns in between. Though the sky was much darker than yesterday, maybe it would rain soon.

Amethyst and Frank were returning to the Pango Grove once again.

Pioneer had messaged Frank for them to show up much sooner than was typical; he needed to discuss something.

Wondering what exactly it could be, they arrive to see him.

“Good Morning, or maybe midday? Anyway, the time of this planet isn’t relevant.”

“What is it… Pioneer?” Amethyst asks.

“Do you recall? I wasn’t sure how many episodes we’d be filming when we first met. Well, now it’s been set.

There will be one more episode.” Pioneer says, unusually serious.

“So… just one more broadcast? How come it’s decided now?” Frank squints his eyes.

“Oh, well, it’s not a secret. There are rumors of a new sapient species applicant soon submitting their official paperwork.

I’ve got to get good and ready, maintain equipment, give my staff some vacation time… you know, can’t just slave away my personnel.

It ain’t easy running an operation like this, nor is moving it from one planet to another.”

“You are a hard worker, after all,” Amethyst says suddenly and grins.

“Ah, I’ve let my true colors show; how shameful of me,” He says melodramatically, covering his face.

“But don’t let all that get you down; that’s my responsibility. It’s the road I’ve chosen.”

A small moment of quiet and Pioneer’s solemn tone changes back to normal.

“Oh, but I must correct you, Frank, it’s technically two more broadcasts. I won’t go back on my word of us having the final celebration.

Our viewers or I wouldn't miss your dancing and singing for the galaxy!”

“Oh! That’s great news!”

Amethyst’s excitement is flattened slightly by Frank’s sour demeanor.

Pioneer leans in closer to the two of them.

“As for… perhaps a bit of a secret, the higher-ups have asked me to hurry up, too.

This behavior usually suggests they’ve already made up their minds! The court has been watching you each and every day, you know.”

He pauses for dramatic effect and looks at the both of them from over his sunglasses.

“Minds made up, to which side now, for, or against? Who knows? So, I suggest you give it your all to make your last appeal! We’re halfway done, after all!”

Frank and Amethyst look at each other surprised.

“But we’ll still be able to plead our case in court, right?” Frank asks.

“Yes, of course, but they are all just human – and well – non-human. Bias, prejudice; none are truly free of the power of first impressions.”

“Hmm, I’m not sure what those are… but I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Amethyst smiles, unwinding the tense atmosphere in an instant.

“Right, let’s begin.”

They start the day by keeping up the renovation of Frank’s soon-to-be house.

As Pioneer predicted, it has devolved into an event of little interest, but he keeps it serviceable with his talented commentary skills.

Amethyst squats in the low home, working away, carving the room and scorching the floor as she goes.

They decide to finish for today when Amethyst completes carving the approximate size of Frank’s dwelling.

It’s barely halfway into the tree, but it'll do for now. So that they can move on to shaping its interior, furnishing, and the more exciting stuff while they still have episodes to work with.

Although Amethyst had already done some interior decorating, she refused to elaborate on it for now.

She wanted to save it for tomorrow, for the first time, Frank would see it in this ‘ready’ state.

Pioneer starts up an ad break, and Amethyst goes to find Frank; it doesn’t take long for her to home in on the lively chatter.

“So, do I have it correct, Flibmas and Churlens are actually from the same solar system?” Frank asks the two aliens he finally had the chance to talk to.

“Frank, we’re done for now.” Amethyst tries to get her message across, but the Flibma talks over her just as she starts.

“No, no! It's not the same; we just happen to be neighbors. See, ours is named Gchkladna.”

The slimy blob creature’s voice emanated from somewhere within, sounding wet and robotic, a speaker embedded into its body most likely.

Its body changed color slowly, going through all the colors in the visible spectrum and then some.

“It’s pronounced Gee-chc-ach-laad-n.”

“While the Churlian system is pronounced Gii-chc-ch-lad-na,”

The dark red Churlen explains, its face tentacles flapping around in the tune of his deep and raspy voice.

More humanoid than his rival, with a natural armor resembling the Tyrchid’s, though his infinitely longer arms and legs looked disproportionate to the rest of the body.

“Oh… silly me, how didn’t I hear the difference?”

Frank looks away, and his hand rides down the back of his head.

“It’s pretty interesting how you named yours so similarly. Was it before your species met?”

“What do you mean similarly? Those are totally different?”

“They aren’t even written the same way in your common tongue!”

The barely a meter-tall Flibma locked eyes with the taller-than-Amethyst Churlen—the small, black, beady eyes versus the near-sinister orbs of flame.

“For the record, it’s your system that copied ours.” The Flibma says, its perpetually unsure W-shaped smile turning into a disgruntled M.

“Copied you? Why would we copy anything from Ghraldian beast toe-lint piles like you!” The Churlen’s anger manifests in its floppy squid-like head pulsing, its surface rippling.

And with a loud slam of its large foot – like skewered at the end of its ridiculously thin leg – it lands right next to the Flibma.

The slime quakes and shakes from the shockwave. Not retreating before this massive size difference, instead turning bright red.

“Rrgh! At least we don’t look -and act- like one, you feral pile of sticks!”

“Frank!” Amethyst says louder, catching nobody’s attention.

“H-hey now!”

Frank tries to calm them down and notices Amethyst by chance.

“Oh, hey, did you just finish? Amethyst, meet Gploot and Ghcraltult.”

“Hey, Amethyst!” They both greet her before they continue berating each other, mincing no words.

“Yeah, we’re done… I… do you think our, uh, students will return for the class?”

Before Frank can answer, his attention is stolen by the arguing aliens freezing, looking past them.

Following their gaze, Frank notices Pioneer tapping his golden ring with an impatient finger.

“Best we… get back to work, too. Right, Gploot?”

The Churlen says and apologetically lifts a cup holder that fell from the force of his stomp and carefully attaches it back to Gploot’s body, sticking it on once more.

“That’d be for the best, Ghcraltult. Do you need me to hold you some equipment, a camera stand perhaps?”

Gploot’s slime body returns back to normal colors, shifting from one shade to the next, seemingly randomly.

“That’d be very helpful… if you don’t mind…”

The two rivals walk and slide away together in confusingly sudden peace and cooperation.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Frank turns to look at Amethyst again and remembers.

“Oh, right, I’m not sure, but I really hope our students will answer our call. But, there’s only one way to find out.”

Pioneer’s crew is ready to end the commercial break; Amethyst and Frank have gathered in front of Queen’s classroom.

Amethyst shouts each of their names: “Imilald, Zigon, Siflin, Sfipoz, Gnox, Ghoxh!”

“Class time!” Frank continues, and they both look around for effect.

Surprisingly, just calling their names worked. One after the other, they appear.

The sisters land from the sky, Imilald appearing from behind a tree again like she was lying in wait.

Zigon arrives from the forest's edge, and Gnox and Ghoxh saunter through the village painfully slow, taking their time with it.

But one could hardly blame them; Ghoxh's injury was still healing.

They showed up quickly and so… easily.

Had they truly taken a liking to their names?

Did they truly understand what it meant, what it stood for?

These thoughts ran through their teachers’ heads as they seated the students and gave them the first berries to keep them in place.

Frank clears his throat and speaks from behind their rickety table in front of the class. “Today, we will teach you the Tyrchidian Alphabet and how the words you know look in writing.”

Saying this feels so stupid when I don’t know if any of the students themselves can understand me…

But gotta let the livestream people know. I still can’t believe I didn’t realize it sooner...

“Okay, Teacher Amethyst, what’s our first word?”

Amethyst waits proudly near the blackboard she carved, its black side to the students, leaning against the wall.

“Our first word is, 'home,' or 'Flufvz.' Uhh, how do I write that… Frank, how would you write it?”

“You’re the Tyrchidian expert; just write how you think it would be. If anyone should create the written word for your language, it would be you.”

Amethyst thinks hard about each letter; she knows how they look, so how hard could writing them be?

“Okay… F…“ Amethyst carves a crude F on the blackboard with her bladed hand, its top lines looking like they want to fly off the letter.

“l…” An L, a simple one stroke of a blade even for Amethyst.

“u…” Looks more like a “v”.

“f” the smaller f; it looks as sharp as the capital one, though.

“v,” a perfect, extremely sharp v; Amethyst was an expert in this shape.

“z” The sharpest z ever seen, like lightning.

“Okay, class, this is how you write Flufvz – Home”

The Tyrchids look at Amethyst when she speaks, but after that, their gazes wander all over the place.

Siflin and Sfipoz, the sisters, seem to have a conversation of their own, short bursts of sounds, possibly words, accompanied by antennae movements and blade gestures.

Gnox keeps a sharp eye on Ghoxh, who shyly looks at him at times, quickly looking away like a high school couple.

Ghoxh tries, or pretends, to concentrate but is distracted by his behavior.

Imilald somehow sits in an unintentionally funny-looking position, her green-tinted elbow blades to the floor; she leans forward.

Her eyes are completely still… is she sleeping with her eyes open?

The only one paying complete attention is Zigon. His orange eyes unblinking, and red-furred antennae unflinching, despite the racket in class.

A real model student.

Frank gets everyone’s attention back by showing a berry, after which the teachers give a demonstration while everyone is still attentive.

Amethyst takes a free seat in class and raises her hand.

Frank points at her, and she puts her hand down. Frank then gestures to the board and says the word written on it, “Flufvz,” as best as he could.

The whole class goes quiet and pays close attention.

A sound like “Flh” escapes Imilald’s lips; who has woken up, it seems.

Then the whole class erupts in this strange, contagious sound: “Flh flh flh flh!”

“Amethyst?” Frank asks during this deafening chorus.

“Yeah?”

“Are they laughing at me?”

“Yes.”

Frank takes the information well and calmly waits; he hasn't forgotten who was laughing the last time.

Once the class’s laughter dies down, Amethyst repeats “Flufvz,” and Frank feeds Amethyst a berry.

The Class’s attention is back again as the berries appear once more.

Zigon’s hand rises up.

“Zigon,” Amethyst says, pointing at him and then at the board.

“Flufvz,” Zigon says, and Frank delivers a berry to him; he eats it happily.

“Flufvz! Flufvz!” The sisters shout, Imilald joining in.

They say it a few times and then give up, as Frank doesn’t give them anything.

Gnox and Ghoxh both look lost.

Hmm… I hope teaching them to answer by raising their hands like in school isn’t too difficult…

It won’t look good if they fail...

Amethyst moves on to the next word.

She writes a “Fxh” on the board and pronounces it.

Imilald and the sisters repeated the word like it was a shouting competition.

Zigon’s hand is raised, patiently waiting.

“Zigon,” Amethyst says, and he again gives the correct answer by repeating the word.

Frank gives the berry to him, and the class glares at Zigon and Frank as he returns.

“What does Fxh mean?” Frank asks her quietly.

“It means ‘okay.’ “

“Ah, can you write the English words on the right side so I also remember what they mean? I think Pioneer would like to have that up as well.”

Amethyst agrees and proceeds to write the sharpest K, A, and Y known in the galaxy, as well as the squarest O.

Moving on to the next word: 'Friend - Shuzs Bfhusz,' she writes and says the very familiar word aloud.

The dunces in the front row keep repeating it again, some frustration audible in their voice and demeanor as they can't figure out why they are ignored.

Meanwhile, Zigon is waiting to answer, with his blade raised serenely.

Unexpectedly, Ghoxh lifts her hand up.

“Ghoxh,” Amethyst says, and Ghoxh's blade falls as quickly as it was raised; she looks like she was caught off guard, her attention was turned to Gnox.

Did she raise her hand on accident?

Amethyst points at the Tyrchidian Friend-word on the blackboard, giving her a chance to answer.

The whole class falls silent and turns to look at her.

Ghoxh looks like the spitting image of a student not following the lesson as she looks around confused before peering at the blackboard.

With a quiet and unsure tone, she utters: “Shuzs... Bfhusz?”

“Very, um... good, Ghoxh!” Amethyst's uncertainty shines through her encouragement.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

We don’t even have a word for good… do we?

No words for even a single compliment…

What is the purpose of the Tyrchidian language even?

Frank leaves their table to reward her; Gnox’s eyes track him intently and pierce into him as he approaches.

He keeps Gnox in his peripheral vision when giving the prize to Ghoxh, who happily eats the berry.

As he turns to leave without giving him anything, a familiar “Blizh” escorts him.

Next, Amethyst writes up Shfluz – Food.

Before she can even say the word, Imilald, and Siflin shout and start repeating the word.

Amethyst and Frank look at each other; did they recognize it just from writing?

Before they can ponder it further, Sfipoz joins the choir of food, and Gnox starts to boom along with them.

It’s a chaotic shouting party, with none of them waiting for their turn to answer; only Ghoxh and Zigon seem to have gotten the gist of it.

Gnox stands up as the wooden hall echoes, “Shfluz! Shfluz! Shfluz!” It is like a chant, a rallying cry of a revolution. The three stand up and join him.

“Can you tell them to calm down?” Frank shouts over the rioting.

“There’s no word for ‘calm’ in Tyrchidian!” Amethyst answers over the noise.

As she looks back at the class, even Ghoxh and Zigon have now been swept into the revolt and repeat after their classmates.

“A real pickled storm is brewing! What am I even saying...? I can’t even hear my own thoughts!”

Pioneer shouts at the camera while plugging his ears; the buzzing and loud screeching cries for sustenance are deafening.

“How will our valiant heroes of knowledge survive this uprising?

Will this be the end of this blossoming student-and-teacher relationship? Will it wilt and decay like purple shards in the rain allegedly do?

The final destination for our six newbies on the path of learning?

Amethyst shouts, “Shfluz!” louder than the crowd, causing a momentary quiet.

“Frank, if you would.”

He doesn’t need to be told what to do; this situation requires appeasing.

Frank starts from Imilald and gives her three berries, moving on through all of the students.

Each seem to pacify a little as they get to munch on some treats regardless of their learning performance.

As Frank has made his rounds and joins Amethyst at the front of the class, Imilald and the sisters are suspiciously eyeing him again.

Imilald starts chanting, “Shfluz!” Again, with intensifying frequency and noise. The sisters join in immediately.

“Hey, hey! Come on!”

Frank’s shouting is orchestrated with desperate hand motions, which fall defeated as his pleas go to deaf antennae.

The treat-hungry crowd proceeds to stand up again and take up their chant with intensifying fervor, like a manic mantra.

“We can’t keep this up; if we give them any more berries, they know it works! It’s like encouraging a child's bad behavior!"

“I- I totally get what you mean...! But what do we do then?” Amethyst answers the shouting Frank, unsure of what he actually said.

“Let’s just ignore them, continue on to the next word!”

“Okay, which one should I cover, though?!”

“I dunno! Just pick something they are familiar with!”

Amethyst proceeds to write on the blackboard; her blade cuts through the ash as she carves with quick and broad strikes.

The chanting is not dying down at all; on the contrary, every one of their pupils is up in arms once more.

As she finishes, Amethyst points at the board and shouts, loudest of them all:

“Floohsh!”

The whole class goes dead silent and seats themselves back down.

They look down at the ground, on the walls, or at each other. Not even Zigon is raising his hand to answer.

The atmosphere has taken a massive plunge from the incredible noise to grave silence.

Their Tyrchid students look… miserable… heartbroken... loopy antennae, nervously grating mandibles...

In fact… it’s like it was a funeral, a national day of sorrow.

Frank checks what Amethyst wrote.

“Floohsh – Queen.”

The gloomy mood seems to have gotten to Amethyst, too. She keeps her hand pointed at the word but stares at the bare, crude wooden floor instead.

“My dear Explorers. Our Teachers have done it, peace has returned, but at what cost?

I-It’s just like I was back there, at my grandma’s funeral service at the Grand Hall of Metropolis.”

Pioneer whispers and sniffles. A hand off-screen gives him a napkin, which he grabs and proceeds to blow his nose loudly.

“It was such a tragic event… you know she…”

Pioneer gathers himself, clarity returning to his eyes.

“Never mind about me now; as Amethyst told us earlier, they had recently lost their Queen. It really must have meant a lot to them, as is now evident.

The sadness in this room is palpable; sailing my hand through it feels like it’s wading through deep waters.

As if the weepy atmosphere’s moisture could condense on my skin at any moment.”

Amethyst looks up from the floor at the class.

Their sad eyes, grimacing faces, quivering antennae, braving it, holding it all back.

It feels unreal, so... comforting.

Even with this great sadness welling inside, she is gratified.

Her brethren mourned her mother - their mother - just like she had.

Still did…

It was clearly important and meant something significant to them, too.

Maybe they weren’t so different after all?

Even if she could not remember them, or even herself, back when she was… not sentient.

Or at least… not sentient like she was now.

If they were capable of such emotion and attachment, then surely, by extension, she had been like them, too.

With this realization, the relief and sadness is squashed by fear.

If her kin were really sentient, intelligent...

What had she lost when Grent had implanted this human consciousness into her by force?

Had she already been… aware…?

Her own person…?

With unique likes and dislikes?

Did she have a personality?

Was she happy?

Content?

...

Who was she now?

Could it be... she didn’t remember her memories accurately… because they were not hers… as she was not the same person anymore?

She had been overwritten, melded, combined, and assimilated.

She wasn’t Amande.

Nor was she the Tyrchid she had been back then.

Who was left?

Amethyst.

The name given by the one who messed up her head, the one who stole her life.

But…

who is Amethyst?

“Amethyst, Amethyst!”

She comes back from the edge, back to reality.

“Are you alright?”

Am I...

alright…?

As the genuine look of concern shines brightly on Frank’s expression and voice, she feels it is all going to work out, somehow.

She didn’t know who she was… but maybe…

“Say something!”

“Frank… Why are you so worried?”

How is he so tall all of a sudden?

“Do you not know? You… collapsed, held your head… like in pain.

Like… back then,” Frank says to the prone Amethyst, sitting on top of her feet.

“Oh…” Amethyst takes support with her blades and rises to her feet.

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing; I’m fine.”

Frank looks at her long and hard before speaking: “Amethyst… are you lying?”

She couldn't believe she was being asked that it was obvious… she wouldn’t… lie...

But...

“I… I really don’t know.

I don’t know how I feel...”

Amethyst looked away but soon met Frank’s concerned face with hesitation.

“But… I think… I’ll be fine.”

Somehow...

“Great, we can talk about it later if you want to…” Frank continues whispering.

“But we are kind of in live television right now.”

Amethyst looked at the classroom.

All of her students surrounded them, in various stages of concern or relief at her recovery.

The film crew, Pioneer, had also come way closer to them.

“Oh, how fortunate, Amethyst is okay, everyone!” Pioneer turns around and announces his hands wide in the sky.

“So turn your frowns upside down and cheer up Explorers! I- I didn’t doubt it for a moment!

Everyone back home, grab the person next to you, and give them a big hug.

It’s essential to deal with your grief the correct way. Talk about it, mourn it, give it time.

Or you might not realize it, and you’ll collapse into a crying mess of a heap in the most inopportune times!

Just a… Just something to remember back home!” Pioneer cracks his sunglasses and swipes his own eyes covertly.

“Oh… yeah, I-I’m fine,” he turns down another napkin offer, then triumphantly declares: “On with the show!”

The class got the hang of raising a bladed hand to get their turn to answer; they went over the words “Help” and “Danger” smoothly.

The Sabertiger-word was dominated by Gnox, who even raised a hand to get his turn to answer.

“So, with eight words on board, we are still missing three more, right?”

Frank looks at the assortment of simple but necessary words, trying to guess what the remaining words could be.

“Yeah, 11 in total. Our next word is 'M – O – S – F,' Amethyst pronounces as she writes, her – literal – handwriting getting better.

So far, every single other word had either started with an S, F, or B…

Is this word somehow special?

Frank thinks moments before it is answered by Amethyst writing “- Love” on the other side.

Oh…

Tyrchids have a concept of love in their culture?

Amethyst says the word and points at the board. Gnox raises his black blade, a rarity, so she picks him with some reservations.

Gnox’s gaze meets with Ghoxh, and he says a low and long “Mosf.”

In response, she blushes and giggles like an insectoid schoolgirl. “Flh flh flh flh,” she laughs with her blades of deep crimson in front of her mouth.

Frank goes to feed Gnox his reward. He quickly grabs it with his mandibles, catching Frank unawares. But instead of eating it, he turns to Ghoxh.

Gnox reaches towards his beloved, who responds to the gesture. Their mandibles embrace, and the berry exchanges ownership.

Ghoxh eats it and turns away as shyly and cutely as a two-meter humanoid insect creature could.

“My goodness! I can’t believe my eyes!" Pioneer declares with a way over-the-top reaction.

Explorers, is it getting hot in here under the twin suns, or is it just me?

Did we witness a kiss of two Tyrchids, the species' first physical show of affection so far recorded in all of history?

Remember, you saw it here first, live on our show! In fact, where were you when Gnox and Ghoxh pseudo-kissed?

Let me know in my socials via a picture and a timestamp, tag it with… ‘Gnox_x_Ghoxh’ to @Pioneer_the_show.

I look forward to seeing just where you witnessed this historic event!”

As soon as Gnox is finished, he rudely demands:

“Blizh, Flufvz!”

Oh my god… Here we go again…

Fine…

Frank gives Gnox a new berry, which he eats himself this time.

Frank returns with mixed feelings, but his teacher-brain has another thought in mind.

If this word was Love… and if Amethyst is actually teaching these in order…

“Amethyst… what’s the next word going to be? In English.”

“It’s going to be the word ‘Happy’.”

“Oh, good-”

“It also means… I think it also serves as a mating call.”

“-then I had nothing to worry- What!?”

“What?”

“I think we better skip that one for now.”

“What? Why?” Amethyst tilts her head and asks back.

Frank glances at Gnox and Ghoxh, who are still keeping up their cutesy school romance of a shy and dainty damsel with a rough and jacked jock.

“Let’s just skip it… for everyone’s sake... we’ll go to the final word next.”

“Well, if you say so...” What’s gotten into Frank?”

“I saved this word last on purpose; I think we should do something special.”

Amethyst quickly explains his idea to Frank and then writes the word: ‘Ghs - Go’ on the blackboard.

She points at the board and says, “Ghs.” Everyone’s blades rise up; fortunately, none of them leave.

“Imilald,” Frank says and goes to her; she responds correctly and gets rewarded with three berries.

As she’s finished munching on them, Frank continues:

“Imilald, Ghs,” and points an open hand at the doorway of their school.

Imilald looks back at the entrance and then back at Frank.

“Imilald, Ghs,” Amethyst says. The quizzical look disappears, and Imilald stands up and starts walking away.

But my pronunciation was spot on! It’s just a three-letter word; it had to have been…

Frank proceeds to the next in the seating order, Siflin and Sfipoz.

Even before he gets to them, they both are repeating “Ghs” at him, their hands still held up high.

“Siflin, Ghs”

Even though it is still Siflin’s turn, Sfipoz keeps on repeating it through her sister’s response. Siflin answers correctly and gets rewarded.

“Siflin, Ghs!”

The first sister is sent on its way, and Sfipoz looks between her sister’s retreating back and Frank. Seemingly torn if to stay or go after her.

“Sfipoz.” As Frank offers her the three berries, the choice is clear—food before family.

“Sfipoz, Ghs.” She gallops through the room and reunites with her sister in record time.

Next up, Zigon sits with his back straight, unmoving, and proud, one hand on his lap and the other directly upwards.

He definitely already knows how it works but still wants to do it the right way.

“Zigon.”

He opens his eyes; the bright orange irises flare to life.

“Ghs,” with Zigon's pronunciation, it almost sounds like a completely different word than what the others had said.

It was said with such pomp and clarity, or maybe it was a different accent?

After his reward, he looks expectantly at Frank, awaiting the command.

“Zigon, Ghs”

He stands up and leaves without a word.

With Zigon’s approval of his pronunciation, he feels confident it was Imilald and not him who was the problem.

As Frank approaches Ghoxh, he erases all traces of smug from his face, best to keep a neutral expression with those two.

Since Gnox always gives me the stink eye whenever I interact with Ghoxh...

In a brilliant, spur-of-the-moment strategic move, Frank thinks to skip her and go straight for Gnox first.

Maybe this order would be acceptable for him; get Gnox out of the way quicker.

Frank walks past her and in front of Gnox, saying his name.

Gnox responds by repeating “Blizh, blizh!” at him, shaking his head and gesturing Frank towards Ghoxh, “Ghs, Ghs!”

He said the word… but… I think he was insulted for me skipping Ghoxh…

I just can’t win...

Frank backtracks.

“Ghoxh,” she repeats the word after him and is rewarded.

“Ghoxh, Ghs.”

She leaves her seat but waits at the back of the class.

“Gnox.”

The uncooperative Tyrchid sits with his elbow blades stabbed to the classroom floor, his dagger hands underneath his chin.

Intimidating and menacing, a recent ex-boss of his came to Frank’s mind.

Frank takes out the three berries onto his palm, holding them before him.

The black eyes survey and evaluate them and him.

“Well, it’s your loss.” Frank starts to move his hand away.

“Ghs! Ghs…” Gnox’s immovable front crumbles with his repeating words.

Without further comment, Frank hands the berries for him to eat, hiding all the pride and satisfaction deep within.

“Gnox, Ghs.”

Frank brushes his brow and trundles over to Amethyst, unable to hide the drain and frustration of this whole ordeal.

“It wasn’t that bad, was it?”

“Ehh... they sure can be difficult-”

“Oh, mister and missus teacher, how does it feel?

You finished a lesson with honors, teaching all of Tyrchid’s vocabulary in writing to your humble, knowledge-hungry students.”

Pioneer stops talking for a small while, indicating that they are required to answer.

However, as Frank is about to speak-

“Oh, I know exactly how it must feel, such happiness and joy!

The delightful feeling of great accomplishment and the vast strides this meager lesson, in comparison, has provided are invaluable for both parties involved!

Most admirable of you to spend your own precious time with these fledgling youths.”

Pioneer’s expression changes as he stops talking, as if he had been inebriated by his words, just sobering up now.

“Anything to add?”

“No…”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself!

Anyway, my admirable Explorers, don’t go anywhere quite yet; we will soon continue with the exclusive one-on-one interview with Frank.

So stay tuned; we will catch you in our studio after these messages!”

“Excuse me? An interview? This is the first time I've heard of this!”

Frank points a finger of blame at the brazen Documentarist.

“I know, but it’s always best when the interviewee doesn’t know of it beforehand, makes it extra authentic, you know?”

“Ugh…”

“It’ll go fine, Frank, I’m sure.” Amethyst smiles and pats him on the shoulder – extra carefully – with the side of her blade.

“Well, you’ve got ten minutes to mentally prepare if you’d like, then we are off to the studio!”

Before Pioneer can skedaddle away, Frank speaks up:

“Uhh, you see, I- I really should walk Amethyst back home…”

Pioneer turns around and looks at him sternly.

“If I didn’t know better… I’d say you are making excuses!”

“You know, she collapsed and everything today, so can’t be too careful...”

“Oh, that wasn’t anything serious, I’m sure." Pioneer elegantly handwaves the issue away.

"But… hmm...”

Come on, please!

“One of my staff can walk her back,” Pioneer turns around and almost collides with Luna, like materialized out of thin air behind him, standing way too close.

“Luna, personal space? But good of you to show up; you will walk Amethyst back to her premises, won’t you?”

“Yey! Sure thing!” She jumps up in excitement and, in an instant, has already grabbed Amethyst by the arm, pulling her like a kid tugging their parent along.

“Wait!” Frank shouts after them, but Luna doesn't acknowledge his fret, and Amethyst is swept away, helpless in this strange, sudden situation.

As they disappear into the forest, Pioneer leads Frank to the set.

“Alright, let’s get started, Frank; please take a seat here; we’ll get the Tyrchid villa as a nice backdrop.”

The studio Pioneer talked about is just two chairs in a good spot before the Tyrchid’s residences.

“Okay...”

They are seated down and begin.

“Frank, I’m sure many of our female, or so inclined, members have been thinking a lot about your marital status; what’s the situation?”

“I- I’m uhh, I guess I’m... single?”

“Guess I’m single? There you have it, the most sure man in the universe of his status. Go nuts, everyone; he’s most certainly and definitely free.”

What sort of interview is this…?

“But I've got to ask, what is your relationship with Amethyst then? You are building a house together... you seem close... with some obvious history to boot. How would you describe your situation?”

“We are just good friends, that’s all,” Frank answers quickly.

“So he says, Frank is on the market, everyone! Act fast before Amethyst solidifies the claim on her man!”

Pioneer announces with exaggerated glee.

“And as an extension, this means that Amethyst is single too, doesn’t it?”

“Uhh, what?”

“I’m sure that pleases the ears of all our male and other species interested in this exotic new specimen.”

The Pioneer glances at his screen and then asks.

“Our, um- viewers are desperate to know, have you done the deed with Amethyst?”

“WHAT?”

“We did establish that you aren’t in a relationship, but those two are not mutually exclusive; you did say you are good friends, after all.”

“Hold on-” Frank waves his hands frantically to stop this absurd interrogation.

“Just how good of a friend are you with Amethyst, Frank?”

“What kind of questions are these!? I-I won’t answer that!”

“Really now? I bet our viewers, -a singular one in particular-” Pioneer said, the last part barely audible under his breath.

”-would have loved to hear just how it would work; you may still have time to-”

“Not another word, if that’s all you’ve got to ask, we are done here.”

“Okay, okay, fine, I won’t push the envelope.

As for our next question, can you tell us a bit about your history? Where were you born…?"

Frank sits back down disgruntled, firmly locking his hands in a cross.

“If you must know, I’m from Metropolis, like most people. I grew up there and pursued a career as a Veterinarian, eventually leading me to Amethyst and here.”

“I see, I see, the connection between you and Amethyst is growing much clearer now.

So, you ran into her in this new job of yours; you hit it off and decided to pursue an official place for Amethyst and her Tyrchid species in the galaxy?”

“Yes, something like that...”

“I must ask, what was up with the picture of your ISSA application? You know, the one with Amethyst in a cage?”

“Oh, that… haha... well my uhh... last employer mistakenly captured her as a creature requiring... preservation.”

“Oh, is that so? Sounds like quite the misunderstanding.” Pioneer looks at him from over his sunglasses, emphasizing his surprise.

“Yeah, the pictures were taken due to that, too. But the issue was quickly corrected as I became aware of it.”

“That’s good to hear. But certainly, you would have had time to take at least a little more admiring picture of her.

I would imagine she was upset over her being presented on galactic TV for billions of viewers in an unflattering light like that.

I know I would be.”

“Ehehe...” Frank straightens his hair with an awkward fake laugh.

“Were you truly in such a hurry so that was the best you could do?”

“Well, there were some... extenuating circumstances, but that’s what ended up happening.”

“Hmm, I see; I’m sorry, Explorers, this seems to be the extent of information we will get out of him about this topic.”

Phew...

“However, I must say it’s very unusual to have a human or a representative of another species involved in the proceedings of establishing a new sapient species.

Amethyst is lucky to have such an earnest and capable man on her side at this great turning point in her life.”

“Yes, I- I suppose...”

“Next, the viewers back home would like to know...

----------------------------------------

In the forest, Luna holds on to Amethyst’s arm, as close to her as possible, somewhat obstructing their walking, as the Tyrchid's wide legs have less room to work with.

Luna puts away her communicator and focuses on her entirely.

“Amethyst, do you actually live alone with a man...?”

She asks suddenly and with palpable disgust.

“Uh, no, two men, actually.”

“Oh! How terrible! Are they preventing you from making any girlfriends?”

“No, they’re-”

“Just know that your good friend Luna is always here to listen to your grievances; you can tell me anything and everything.

Even if they mistreat you behind those closed walls...”

“I-, um, thanks?”

“Okay, honestly, what do you think of Frank?” Luna caresses Amethyst’s armored arm in between hers and pushes it against her body.

“What I think of… Frank?” Amethyst smiles.

“He’s such a nice person. We’ve gone through a lot, and he’s always there to help me out... well, we help each other.”

“But doesn’t he always cling to you so much, like he just pities you and doesn’t think you can do anything on your own. He didn’t even trust you to walk on home without him!”

Luna scoffs while clinging to Amethyst firmly.

“Talk about controlling!”

“Uh…” Amethyst can’t get a word in or a solid thought in her head before Luna interrupts her.

“You should reconsider what kind of company you keep, you get me? We vulnerable and exquisite women could be in real danger from any sinister figures...

Plus, need I remind you, Frank is a man, rough, rugged, almost painful to look at, don’t you agree?

You can never know what devious plans they are really plotting underneath...”

“No, he-!”

“Men act all friendly and romantic and lie through their teeth, telling you whatever you want to hear.

As long as it suits them, they'll keep spinning you around their little finger...

But beware of the day; once they’ve had enough of you, they’ll finally show their true colors!

What they are all about, revealing the long-hidden truth behind their lies!”

Amethyst's head in a spin; after such a passionate tirade, she tries to defend Frank, argue against it... But a thought occurs to her:

He does lie a lot...

“While us women are elegant, beautiful, and dainty, so much more alluring and capable. We are open and always tell the truth; we girls gotta stick together.”

“I-I don’t agree,” Amethyst manages to say finally.

Luna grips her hand harder, clinging to it like she’d soon try to climb it up like a vine.

“WHAT? Are you not on my side? How can you say something like that? Oh, how it saddens me to see you so misguided.”

“N-no! T-that’s not what I meant!” Amethyst is run rings around with words, helpless to resist.

“Tell you what, you can remedy this situation, prove your friendship to me.”

“How…?”

“Don’t worry, it’s nothing hard. You will do as much for my wounded heart, won’t you?”

They stop walking as Luna purses up her lips in exaggerated sadness and lays both hands on Amethyst's chest.

Her light-red eyes are big and pleading while she covertly feels up the largest gemstone in her body – the chest gem.

“Y-yeah?”

“Let’s exchange locks of hair; we’ll always have a small part of each other with us.”

Luna throws back her long black hair, shaded in deep crimson behind her neck.

“When things get rough, we can find the support of one another in these mementos.”

“I- uhh... I guess?”

What’s the harm?

“Wonderful! You are the best, Amethyst!” She beams and jumps up and down, her hands still against Amethyst’s chest armor.

A smile crosses Amethyst’s lips.

Luna reaches back and takes a short switchblade from her pocket. She slowly raises it into plain view.

Amethyst goes visibly pale, and uncertainty stains her face as the blade pops up from the handle with a distinct metallic sound.

“Uhh… with that… knife?”

“Don’t worry, baby girl,” Luna whispers softly. “It’ll only take a second... I’ll even cut it from a spot that’s not visible from the outside so it won’t disturb your wonderful hairdo.”

She’s right onto Amethyst now; Luna's soft body collides with her frontal armor and presses against her, chest to chest.

Luna reaches for her hair, standing on her toes.

The knife approaches Amethyst’s face.

Instinctively, Amethyst closes her eyes under this tense atmosphere.

Shrinck!

Opening her eyes, she sees Luna with a small patch of her hair, about two centimeters long.

“Now, we will never be apart! Thank you so much, Amethyst!”

Luna retreats a little further away, the tuft of purple hair between her thumb and two fingers. She brings them up to her nostrils and takes a deep breath in.

“Ahh, you smell so good.” She smirks.

“H-hey, it’s not okay to smell others without their permission!”

“Did Frank tell you that? Don’t worry, as girls, we can smell each other all we want…”

Luna says, like the most normal thing in the world.

“Speaking of us grown women, I’m really burning to know… how do you Tyrchids… do... it?”

“Do… what?”

“How do you… reproduce?”

Luna leans onto Amethyst's body and walks up her chest with two fingers.

“There doesn’t seem to be any little kid Tyrchids running around the village, and your Queen is gone.

Is your population in danger...? How does it work?”

As Amethyst hesitates, Luna assures her: “It’s okay to tell me. I’m a woman too.”

“Umm...” Amethyst looks down at Luna, who looks back at her alluringly, getting very familiar with the intricacies of her carapace in the meantime.

Why is it so… hard to talk about it?

“I just want to know, is that so wrong?”

“I- uhh”

I… why do I feel so embarrassed about the subject?

There’s nothing strange about it… it’s the most natural thing in the world.

“Could you become a new Queen? Is that how it works? A Queen whose harem is the whole colony; only she allowed to reproduce?”

“N-no, I… oh, looks like w-we’re here.”

They had been standing in front of the clinic for a while already, but Amethyst had not noticed over the oppressive atmosphere and her confusion.

“So it seems...” Luna responds uncharacteristically dryly.

“I- I better go inside.”

“Very well, I’ll see you later, best friend!” Luna waves to her cheerfully before running off.

“Bye.”

Amethyst walks to her handmade door; suddenly, she stops before it.

“Luna!” she turns around; she’s already gone.

But she didn't give me her hair in exchange...