TO couldn’t see the training center. Yesterday the training center had been a black dot against the light of the nebula, but now TO couldn’t see it at all. Colored clouds of gas and tiny lights zipping about were all that TO saw when they looked for their home.
At any rate, TO didn’t see the training center anymore. The time had come. Still, TO hadn’t figured out they’d tell DH. Every time they thought about just telling them they got nervous, and their words all seemed so awkward. They didn’t know how to be blunt, and DH wasn’t picking up on their subtle clues.
To be fair, TO wasn’t hoping that they would, they were just surprised that DH hadn’t already figured it out. They had told Avery that they were ‘surprised that DH hadn’t offered to help with the research’ hoping they would understand what TO was trying to say. They did, and Avery thought little about subtle clues. TO scanned through the messages they had sent Avery over the last two days, explaining in their clumsily coded language how things were going.
I have attempted to start the research.
There have been issues.
I am unsure how to start such a grand undertaking.
It would be nice if DH offered to help with the research; I am surprised they have not.
The responses from Avery had been short. There was no way to judge Avery’s tone, but TO couldn’t help but imagine their ears flicking in irritation, their eyes narrowed as they chided them.
Just do the research.
You promised.
Stop procrastinating
Easy enough for Avery to say. Avery didn’t understand and didn’t feel these things. Avery couldn’t understand how terrifying it was! Once they told DH, everything would change! So much had already changed, and the thought of ruining the comfortable relationship they had with DH sent ice through their veins.
They had to tell DH; hiding their feelings for the entire trip was impossible. It had only been three Arkanian days, and TO was frankly amazed that DH hadn’t pointed out their odd behavior, even if they didn’t understand what caused the behavior.
It had only been three Arkanian days. It had already been three Arkanian days.
TO sighed as they considered doing as Avery said. They could bring DH up here at any rate; it was dimmer here, so perhaps DH wouldn’t notice how flustered they were. Maybe after they finished their work for the day…
Their chip pinged. TO took out their communicator and checked the messages. They had been expecting something back from Avery, but they found a message from DH.
“There’s been a complication. I need your help.”
TO rushed back down to their main living quarters to see what was wrong, dropping all worries about their plan, their fears, and about their feelings; DH needed them.
======
One of DH’s screens showed the outside of the ship. They were looking at a vent in the ship’s side, but something was blocking it. TO didn’t know what it was, it just looked like an odd grey lump to them.
“I had weird readings with the ventilation systems.” DH said as they stood up, “I ran all the different programs to fix the issue in here, but nothing worked. When I checked the outside cameras, I saw this.” They headed towards the elevator, “I need to go outside to figure out what it is, but-”
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Outside? In space? “No.” TO said as they ran ahead of DH, “I’ll go.”
“You can stay in here and manage the systems.” DH said, their ears flicking down as they spoke, “I know you don’t enjoy being out here in space, and I can’t imagine that you’d enjoy being outside properly. “
“I’ve done it before.” TO said, “You haven’t. I’ll go, you manage these systems.” they gestured to the computers, “Wouldn’t that be better? I have experience in this, and you don’t. You’re better on the computers than I am. It makes sense.”
DH’s ears twitched with worry as they considered this. They frowned, their ears pinning back, “Are you sure you can manage it?”
“Positive.” TO said, “Why would you think I can’t?”
“Because you really weren’t well when we were leaving the training center and getting onto the transport. I was really worried about you.”
It was with some embarrassment that TO remembered how unnerved they had been when they left the training center. “I remember” they muttered as their ears drooped and flushed, “But, I can go outside and manage this. I’ve done it before.”
DH frowned, then nodded. “Fine,” they said as they headed back to their seat. “You go out, and I’ll manage the systems. However, I’m pulling you back instantly if there're any issues. Also; tell me if you get uncomfortable, ok?” They gave TO a hard look as they turned back to them, “Promise?”
“I promise. “
DH gave a deep sigh as they dropped into their seat. “Activate space mode on your suit.” they said as they started bringing up a collection of different files on their computer. “Test it before you go out there.”
TO touched the bracelet to activate the chip. When the armor was on, they activated the armor’s space mode. There was a weird sound as the suit seemed to suck itself together; as though it was taking a deep breath. The weird metal film expanded up their back and covered their wings in the thin, black metal membrane. There was a hissing sound as the ventilator in the helmet turned off and the internal oxygen supply activated, filling up from the surrounding air. They watched as DH looked through some data, then nodded.
“Alright,” They said, “I’ll be watching your vitals while you’re out there. If your heart rate gets too high, I’m pulling you back in regardless of what you say.”
“Understood.”
“Fine.” DH said, though their ears still pinned back. “Let’s get this over with.”
======
TO went to the lower levels of the ship. Across from the doorway to the emergency transport was another door that led to an airlock. They had to wait inside the airlock as it depressurized. As they waited, the ship came to a sudden stop. The change in momentum might have thrown TO to the floor had they not pressed themselves against the wall for support.
“What happened?” TO said into the communicator.
“Nothing; I reduced acceleration on the ship. It’s better if we just drift while you’re out there. “
“You’re not wrong.” TO muttered. The door opened and TO entered the airlock where they found almost the same supplies that they had seen in Shipping and Receiving. They hooked the long wire to their suit and found a mini-thruster, which they tied to their waist as they waited for the door to open. A sudden hissing noise echoed all around them, and the artificial gravity released TO allowing them to float for a moment before the door opened and they drifted into space.
‘Why couldn’t it be this easy back in Shipping and Receiving?’ TO wondered. Well, no matter. At least it was easier.
TO used the mini thruster to push themself out from the airlock, then grabbed onto the edge of the ship. The ship was still moving, but it was only drifting placidly through space.
“Which vent is it?” TO said into their helmet.
“The rear vent, port side.” DH said.
They held onto the side of the ship as they alternated between using the thruster and pulling themself to where they needed to be. As they approached the vent, they saw the thing that DH had found on their video. TO didn’t know what it was; it was papery, grey, and seemed to shiver slightly.
“Can you get any readings on it before you approach?” DH asked, “The last thing I want is for you to get a blast of radiation from some weird space junk.”
TO took out their multi-gun and set it to scan. They pointed at the thing in the vent and took the readings. They were looking for radiation warnings, or signs that it might be toxic. All the readings said it was safe, but there was another issue that TO hadn’t expected.
“DH.” TO said, keeping their voice low even though they knew the creature couldn’t hear them, “I think it’s alive.”
“Alive?” DH’s voice was deadpan over the readings, their universal common sounding so plain compared to the almost musical lilt of their own language, accompanied by the constant twitching of their ears. “Be careful as you approach. I almost recommend taking a preemptive shot at it before you get too close.”
TO turned their gun to stun and took careful aim. They were about to pull the trigger, but stopped.
“... I’ll approach first.” they said as they lowered their gun.
“What? Why?”
“We don’t know that it’s dangerous, and it’s done nothing to us yet. I’d feel bad if I shot at it without good reason.”
“What if it’s like the Edacaeli?” DH said back, “What if it’s dangerous?”
“None of my readings show that it’s dangerous. I’ll have my gun ready in case it attacks, anyway.”
“... I want to go on record as saying that this is a bad idea.” DH said, “It could be anything.”
They were right, of course. The smart thing to do would be to open fire and send it flying off into space, stunned. Still, TO couldn’t bring themself to do it; just because it was the most effective way to do things didn’t make it the best way.
“Understood.” they said back, “I’ll be very careful; I promise.”
“You better be.”
TO held their multi-gun carefully, wishing they had better aim than they did. With excessive slowness, they edged their way to the papery mound that was blocking more than half the vent.
Whatever it was, they really hoped it wasn’t dangerous.