Dr Elune sat down in the study with an oof, smiling softly as Alex lowered gently into the chair opposite, "It has been a while since I have seen you work so hard, doctor."

Chuckling, they nodded, "Indeed. Jolana and Laura really hit it off, once we called her up... That new hull will increase the shuttle's durability greatly. Help us fly through the Belt, when the time comes."

Alex nodded, thoughtful as they looked around the room, "I suppose so. Especially if we are ever to visit Mars... Are you nervous about that?"

Dr Elune shrugged, "More nervous about the people there. Whatever Ren has to show us, he knows it will be years before we get there... Mainly due to the trail of inquisitive eyes in the way." Glancing at Alex, the doctor chuckled, "What, haven't read them all yet?"

Alex blushed faintly, "Hadn't started yet. I... Don't know if any of this is personal. Some of them look lke journals." Pointing out one such volume, Alex tried to sit a bit more still.

Peering from their chair, the doctor nodded slowly, "It kinda does, yeah... An old one. Probably an ancestor. You should just ask. Speaking of, did you read through all of the station's...?"

Alex hesitated, "I... Scanned every book. Literally. Akasha wanted a backup, for safekeeping. I didn't... Proccess all of the texts though, and most of it was simply archived. I hardly count that as reading."

Nodding idly, the doctor jumped as Greg stumbled into the room, groaning, "About time I got home. Those rooms in the spire... Just not my taste."

Waving over the top of the chair, Dr Elune giggled, "Why hello, Greg. Should we leave...?"

Greg blinked in surprise, laughing weakly as he made gis wat for an open seat, "Not at all. As long as I can sit back down, I am fine. Say, I passed a very excited Jolana on my way in... You showed her the footage of the test fire, didn't you?"

"Well, yed and no. I showed her the footage... And went so far as to ask her to help us use the technology."

Grinning, Greg eased himself back into the armchair with a contented sigh, "Careful now... Say such seductive things to my daughter, and I might get worried."

Laughing softly, Dr Elune waved it off, and glanced at Alex, motioning subtly. Alex, of course, willfully ignored the cue, making the doctor roll their eyes.

Greg glanced up after a few minutes of contemplation, and noticed Alex's eyes once again wondering to the worn volumes along the shelves, "Curious there, Alex?"

Blinking, Alex nodded with a blush, "Ah, yes. I like to learn as much as I can... I did not mean to pry, though."

Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

Greg grinned, "Think nothing of it. These shelves are littered with a few fables here and there... But, they are mostly true accounts. My family's, history books... And odd finds, here and there. Why, there are accounts from the Mars War here, and those are hard to find..."

Nodding, the doctor glanced at Alex again, "I think that would be quite worth a read, considering. Might want to check them by Ren, though... Also, I was worried we might stumble on some mebarrasing stories from your past. Or worse, photos!"

Laughing raucously, Greg shook his head, "Oh no, those are stored in another room. I only bring those out for special occaisions... Jolana's birthday's for example." Humming as he looked back and forth between the two, Greg's smile softened, "Say... You are almost a parent to Alex, right? From what I know of their upbringing, shall we put it."

Dr Elune blinked in surprise, "Oh, well... Maybe? It would be weird to think of Alex that way. The consious part of them just... Happened. Laura helped build the phyisical parts, maybe she should be your mommy!" Laughing, the doctor smirked as Alex fidgeted, sighing at the comments.

Chuckling quietly to himself, Greg looked back to the doctor, "I guess it might be peculiar. I was just thinking... My kids are my pride and joy. And, in a different yet same way... Alex is yours. Have you ever considered a family of your own?"

Dr Elune grimaced slightly, turning to look through a window, "Honestly? Alex was... Well, that started out as a proof of concept. Nothing more. I... Never thought about family, after the Wars."

Blinking, Greg went quiet, murmuring, "My appologies. I had heard that you stayed in this outer reach while the wars raged... I... Did you lose someone?"

Sighing, the doctor shook their head, "No... Just... An opportunity. One I will never get back." Smiling softly, Dr Elune pried themself out of the chair, "We should both sleep. See you around, Greg."

Nodding, Greg simply waved from his chair as Alex followed the doctor out, "Sleep well... And sorry again. For prying."

Smiling it off, the doctor waved good night as they closed the door behind them, making for their room slowly. Alex fell in beside them, face curious. "... Out with it."

"... Why did you not simply tell him? About-"

"Because that wasn't why," the doctor snapped, grimacing further as they quickly looked away, "... Sorry. It's just... I have never been good with people. That accident... Didn't help."

Nodding silently, Alex followed after the doctor... And watched over them.