My arms still ache a little when I move them, but they're...better.

Better is the best word I can use to describe my body in general.

Because 'well' and 'normal' definitely don't fit.

My arms feel better - and I don't even know why they hurt in the first place, not especially so, anyway. I would have expected an all over kind of pain from the electrocution, and that is what I got. Just...that first time my arms hurt more.

First is the operative word.

I sigh as I lean against one of the walls of the holding room they keep us in at night. My head is throbbing.

Have I even managed to say one correct word...?

No, I haven't.

I can't.

No matter how much they zap me, I can't make inhuman sounds.

I groan and rub my forehead.

Mia squeezes my shoulder with a small smile. Eric sits somewhere nearby, looking like he's on the verge of passing out himself.

"Once they figure out that we can't speak their language I guess...we'll move on to something else." Eric murmurs. He tilts his head back to stare at the ceiling. "...Let's just hope it's not something as painful."

I have a difficult time believing that.

Maybe that's the electrocution-based cynicism talking.

That can't possibly be healthy, but that's not like I can do anything to make it go away.

Mia stretches out her arms and legs as she stands up.

It's her third stretch like that since I got back today. I know this because at least I haven't passed out today.

That throbbing in my head is probably a direct protest to the lack of unconsciousness.

I'm still counting my conscious return to this place a victory, though.

Small acts of defiance.

They're not exactly getting keys to escape this place and run off somewhere with sympathy for the slaves or prisoners or whatever we are here, but it's.

Something.

I need something.

I look up as Mia stands, stretching her neck by turning her head from one side to the other.

"I wish we could see the stars..." Mia sighs.

Eric blinks over at her. "Stars? You know, the stars on this planet probably aren't recognizable to Earth's."

"It doesn't have to be Earth's, I just want to see stars." Mia huffs at him. "I bet they're beautiful, all over the sky...no lights to dull them."

She looks over at me and grins. "And they'll be unnamed. We can make our own constellations and create myths to explain them."

Eric shakes his head and waves his hand dismissively.

Mia rolls her eyes and sticks out her tongue at him, then winks at me.

I have to smile.

I'm sure I must look awful.

But Mia never fails to look encouraging and energetic.

It's infectious.

I sigh and lean my head back against the wall again, staring up at the ceiling. "At some point we'll be allowed outside at night. I wonder why we're locked in here now."

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Eric hums and shakes his head. "I don't know. I'm curious, but I don't think I want to find out. The longer I'm here without running into anything dangerous, the better."

I tilt my head, though I don't know if he notices.

He has a point.

A very good one, even.

It could be we're locked inside because something about the night is dangerous.

I never hear anything weird outside, though.

No screeching or roaring.

Nor any screams.

But that's not actually conclusive evidence for either case, I guess. Just that we probably won't ever be working at night.

Maybe it's just really cold.

I let the subject drop.

"I have to pee." Eric states it very matter of factly, like it's an observation and not an inconvenience.

I raise my eyebrows as I look over at him, but he doesn't pay attention to my expression, so he doesn't see me.

Mia blinks. "Why are you sharing that with the class?"

He tosses her a withering look. "Because I don't see an outhouse here. Do you?"

There's one outside, but now that I think about it, I've never tried to relieve myself at night.

It's possible it's only there for daytime use.

I look at Mia, and she has that look on her face that I'm sure I have.

Not one of disgust, or like she wants to mock him.

One of contemplation.

Mia sits down, sighing and folding her arms on her lap. "Well...there must be something. Even prisoners in their cells get a toilet."

Eric looks back up at the ceiling and sighs. "Well if it has a place somewhere in here it's not obvious."

That other man who spoke to us before, when I first woke up from the first training day, walks over with his arms crossed. "There's a place for it, but you won't much like it. I recommend you wait until morning."

The girl next to me - the one with the knotted hair and desperate eyes - whimpers, drawing all of our attention.

I still don't know her name, she barely talks.

But I feel...

Really protective of her still.

I gesture for her to come closer. Often she needs hugs or comfort. It seems this is a problem for her, too, so it's good for her to have someone to comfort her in the middle of the night.

She inches her way toward me, keeping her arms folded on her chest, her shoulders hunched up like she expects a blow at any moment.

She eventually slides over and lays down, resting her head on my shoulder.

"...I can't hold it all night." Eric mutters, frowning at the door.

The older guy who joined our conversation gestures with his hand toward the wall. "Just over there, then. There's a button. Like I said, it'd be better if you wait."

I idly pet this girl's hair.

I'm not that old but I wonder if this is what it's like to feel motherly.

...I'm not sure if I like it.

But at the same time, I feel...

Better.

If this is motherliness, then maybe it's not as bad a thing as I always assumed it would be.

"A button?" Eric squints with visible distrust.

"You're right to distrust it. But it'll do what you need it to."

He still doesn't look convinced.

I don't blame him.

Eric is the kind of guy who does everything in his power to be cautious. It's gotta be some of the worst luck to be that cautious and still end up abducted by aliens, of all things.

The girl on my shoulder shifts slightly, tucking her face against my chest.

She's falling asleep.

...I don't know what upset her a moment ago, but if she's resting that's for the best.

Sleep, our dreams, they're the best part of living here.

If I were smarter I'd sleep more, but there's this weird...

Defiant part of me that tells me to stay awake as long as possible, to drag my feet and extend the time I have away from that damn training as long as I can every night.

Eric groans and pushes up to his feet, looking at the wall with the discreet button. "Fine, I'll just do it."

The older man nods. "Fine. I'm not stopping you, it's your choice."

"I know that." Eric snorts derisively. "That's why I'm going."

I don't know why I'm tense.

I'm not the one who needs to go, after all. But all this build up has me tense anyway.

Eric makes a face. "Well don't just all stare at me."

It's kind of a useless statement because I don't have anything better to do but I'm willing to pretend I do, so I focus my attention on the girl in my arms.

I hear a sharp, surprised gasp from Eric.

I turn to look back at him out of reflex, and his eyes are wide, his face pale, staring at the wall.

The older guy smirks and chuckles. "Told you. It's quite the unpleasant experience until you're used to it."

I blink rapidly.

Mia speaks before me. "Huh-? Nothing happened-?"

"Something. Happened." Eric grits out as he walks stiffly back to sit.

The man shakes his head. "The outhouses in the day are set up for humans. That one is more...cutting edge." He gestures toward the wall with a nod. "You press the button and it just de-mats your waste from inside you. Far more efficient. Not comfortable."

"Don't want to talk about it." Eric says.

I shrug.

Why would we?

Honestly, I'd prefer not to hear about it at all, and I'm glad I didn't have to watch it.

That doesn't sound pleasant at all.

The girl seems to sense how uncomfortable all of us are now. I feel her body tensing.

"Hey." I stroke her shoulder gently. "Don't worry. We're all okay."

She sighs and relaxes after a long moment, her head going limp again on my shoulder.

Mia smiles softly. "She's a good kid."

Eric huffs. "She's stuck here with the rest of us."

"Well." Mia purses her lips. "All the more motivation to get out of here."

Eric shakes his head, closing his eyes. "The shock treatment's all the motivation I need."

I can't help a small smile at that.

Which is weird, I guess.

But it's true.

"...So you're on board with escaping too, after all?" I ask, finally.

He snorts.