There was a section of the outer ring where an old shipping dock had fallen into disrepair. The politicians had planned to turn it into a new water purification center for the outer ring, but nobody had ever done more than simply talk about the idea. Still, the old building still had a use. Though far disused from its original purposes the area around the sprawling dock had found new life almost like a new ecosystem within the Outer Ring. Some people had stolen some parts of the building to secure other makeshift homes, while most of the old wiring had been long since stripped away and either used for repairs or sold. What remained, the metal frame and recycled plastic foundation, now functioned as scaffolding for the makeshift homes of the citizens of the Outer Ring.
As TO looked around, waiting for the others to finish with the cocopod traps, they thought maybe people living out here would have preferred a place with a little more skylight. The sun was too bright for TO most times, but as far as they knew most civilians liked the sun. Why then did so many smaller shelters seem to cluster around the old covered areas where a thin metal sheet of a roof still hung overhead? Why hadn’t anyone removed those very useful metal sheets for some other purpose?
“You’re deep in thought.” Tham said as they approached with a writhing sack. TO instantly turned around and shuddered as they stepped away from the wagon they brought with them. The wagon had been an absolute pain to TO so far, since the only path that could accommodate the makeshift old thing was the longest one that wound around and around beneath a section of the Outer Ring before finally coming out by the shore. Still, the wagon had a covered cage in it, which Tham was using to keep the cocopods locked up safe.
Well, at least TO didn’t have to touch them, and the tarp covering the cave meant they didn’t have to look at them. DH had no such issues and ran forward to help open the cage.
“Just thinking.” TO said as they looked around the dim, cavernous old building, “Why wouldn’t people make their homes outside the building? There are plenty of structures outside which would provide enough stability for a house, and even during the rainy season here, the weather is never particularly extreme.”
“True,” Tham said. TO could hear the flick of the tarp covering the cage as DH pulled it back, the sudden clank of the cage, and the sound of more cocopods falling into the pile. “But it’s not just elements we need to hide from. There are security ships that make regular rounds out here.” He shrugged, “They used to come out once a week, maybe? It’s more now. Anyway, they make people uneasy, and if they’re in here, then they can ignore the security ships and continue on with their day.”
“I thought nobody really cared if people lived here.” DH said, “I mean, it’s an open secret that people live out here.”
“Today nobody cares.” Tham said, “Maybe tomorrow, they care. Maybe next week some politician wants to make a good name for themselves and get rid of squatters in the outer ring. Maybe there’s just too much activity in one place, and it’s deemed suspicious and cleared out just in case.” He shrugged, “It’s best to keep quiet and be unseen when possible.”
Though they still refused to turn around, TO could hear the careful footsteps of Kei and Avery coming up behind Tham so their sudden presence didn’t startle them. “We got more.” Avery said, “Most of the last few in the trap were dead, but we found two still alive.You told us to leave the dead ones, right?”
“In the event that nutrition has to be scavenged away from one's ship, and away from known food sources, it’s wise to avoid animals that have already died.” Kei’s voice was still so cold and had the same tone of recitation that TO’s sometimes had. TO glanced over, and though they couldn’t see Kei’s ears, they noted the subtle way that their eyes narrowed. “The unknown time the animal has been dead, the growth of bacteria, and the potential for alien parasites to feed on the body creates a far more dangerous risk than that of simply starving.”
“They are right.” Tham said, “It’s a risk just taking the bugs from among the dead ones, but it’s a risk I’m comfortable with.”
The last of the bugs went into the crate, the lid closed with a clank, and finally the tarp went back up to hide the awful appearance of the writhing insects. It was only then that TO turned back to face them. DH was tying the straps back down, Avery was wiping their hands off on the outside of the sack they were using, and Kei simply stood there, watching. Their eyes seemed to land on everything and drank in every unfamiliar sight, trying to hear as much as they could with their hearing ears covered the cap. Well, it was better than having their ears overloaded with the constant deluge of sounds from all around them. Even with their caps over their ears, TO was still happy to have their little translators back, since they also worked to filter some of the sound out. It wasn't as effective as their helmets of course, but it was better than nothing.
A hand on their arm pulled them from their thoughts, and DH’s warm, gentle hand rested just below TO’s shoulder. “You’re doing ok around the bugs?” They asked, their voice low and quiet.
“I’m fine.” TO said, trying not to glance at Kei. “I can handle this.”
“How did your last trade go?” Tham asked as grabbed the rope at the front of the wagon and wrapped it around their waist, “Get what you needed?”
“Vik said to trade the large battery for some ‘Ocean Sediment.’” They frowned and grabbed a small jar from the bag on the wagon. “This stuff.” They said as they shook what looked like wet, greenish sand.
“Ah, that shit.” Tham said, wrinkling his nose. “Yeah, if you just eat that on its own it’s awful; believe me, I know. Apparently if you add a bit into most other foods, it hides a lot of nasty flavors.” They shrugged, “Cooking is like magic to me sometimes, I swear, with the stuff Lake can do.”
“What's it made of?” Avery asked, watching the bottle as TO put it back.
“You don't want to know.” Tham said. “But it’ll let people stomach foods they might not otherwise.”
“Food is a fundamental right in King Decon’s kingdom.” Kei said with only a glance at the bottle, “If they did things right, then there would be no need for such disgusting alternatives to proper food.”
“Well, things aren’t done right.” Tham muttered, “If they did things right, people wouldn’t be living in the Outer Ring, but most of them have no choice.”
Kei had no response to that, but they oddly didn't seem confused. Though TO couldn’t see their ears because of the cap, they caught the way their eyes narrowed again, giving them a somewhat pointed look. Of course, maybe that was just because their head already seemed so narrow without their ears poking out.
“Next stop is out by the old intake dock.” Tham said. “There’s a bunch of semi-aquatic people living there, and some traps. We can do more trades and hit up the traps there.” He pulled the wagon forward, “Come on. Let’s go.”
Though they were all ready to leave, Kei stopped and looked out among the ruined building, their eyes taking in everything with a sharp focus. It was then that TO realized that that focus wasn’t there before. Sure, Kei had always focused on their tasks before, but this was different. It was like there was a fire, a light behind those dark eyes now.
“Come on, Kei.” Avery said as they approached the other synth. They put a hand on Kei’s shoulders, but the other shrugged it off immediately, their eyes narrowing and their lips curling for a brief second before they calmed themself. Wordless, they brushed past Avery and fell in line behind Tham.
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“I still don’t like this.” TO whispered to DH once enough space was between them that none of the others would hear them talking. “I mean, they’re helping, but…”
“They’re helping, and they’re being nasty to Avery.” DH said with a sigh, “Still, they are helping. We’d be moving a lot slower if Tham had to use his bad arm, or if Avery was just working on their own.” They gave a shrug, “Maybe it is just the isolation. Maybe they’re happy enough to trade their labor just to be outside.”
“Maybe.” TO muttered. Still, watching how Avery followed them with such a slow pace and a lowered head made TO’s chest hurt.
“I hope they don’t hurt Avery.” DH said, slipping their hand into TO’s. “Just in case Avery feels something for them, you know? I think if you had ever treated me like that, I’d just want to curl up in a ball.”
Under their cap, TO felt their ears strain to move against the firm fabric. “We don’t have to worry about that.” TO whispered, secretly making plans to burn the cap when they got back, “I spoke to them about all that.”
“You did?” DH asked, their eyes widening slightly, They lowered their voice to the softest of whispers, “When? What did they-”
“When we went to go get the supplies.” TO said. “I just didn’t; have time to tell you.”
“Well, tell me now.” DH said as they quickly glanced at the others, “We’re far enough away, and if we keep our voices low…”
TO sighed. They were planning to tell DH everything when they got back, but there was really no problem with telling them now.
“Alright.” TO said, planning to focus entirely and only on what Avery said about themself so they didn’t get too flustered with all the other details. “Apparently, Avery is something called an Ankyra…”
======
Nako, the Anguillian man that TO was talking with regarding their next potential trade, was looking over the piece of equipment TO pulled from the canvas bag on the wagon. It was an old translator that no longer worked properly. TO wasn’t sure what was wrong with it, but if the way Nako picked at certain parts of the device was any clue, then he knew what was wrong and how to fix it.
Well, TO wasn’t paying attention to that; they were looking at the too-long tail that languidly floated in the water below him. TO had gotten somewhat used to the fish like Piscijin, but their tails were much shorter and fuller. Nako had no fins on the end of his tail, and his slate gray skin had none of the scales they had gotten used to seeing. There was also no separation between the skin on the tail and the skin on the torso. He was entirely hairless, had gigantic eyes, long, dexterous claws, and no visible nostrils or gills.
Nako raised a hand to their throat where they wore a thick black choker. They pressed a button, and the distorted, static-y words came out from a hidden speaker on the choker.
“You know it’s rude to stare at our tails like that, right?”
TO stumbled backwards, horrified by their own rudeness as they looked anywhere but at Nako. “I’m so sorry.” They said, “I didn’t mean-I mean, I didn’t know it was-”
Nako gave a laugh that sounded like no sounds TO could try to pronounce before he waved his hand and shook his head. His fingers went back to the choker. “It’s fine; I’m just having a bit of fun. Though, I suppose if you went to any parties you would need to be careful that you're staring at someone's face, and not their ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-” They stopped talking, but the band continued to sing its monosyllabic song of ‘ta-ta-ta’. Nako finally removed the collar, frowning, and gave it a good smack against their palm. The sound stopped, but even so Nako continued the conversation with Galactic sign language.
“As you can see, I need the device,” he signed, “So, I won’t bother with my usual dickering. What does Small-tech-mouse want for this?” The phrase ‘Small tech mouse,’ simply combined words and morphed them into a simple gesture that on its own made no sense.
“You mean Vik?” TO asked. Nako rolled their eyes and nodded, doing the small-tech-mouse sign again. “Let me check.” TO said as they pulled up their communicator to check their notes.
- Nako: Trade (1) Broken translator (spare parts) for at least (5) seaweed bars.
“...Six seaweed bars.” TO said, feeling their stomach twist several ways. They reminded themself that there were children in the underground who would need food during the trip, and there were few things as horrible as starving on a ship in space. Still, they didn’t like taking food from someone who clearly had little of it to spare.
Nako set the translator down and slipped from the edge and into the water, disappearing into the darkness below. TO didn’t know how they seemed to just disappear like that, and had no idea where they had gone. They worried perhaps they had performed some strange, unknown taboo that drove the other off, but several minutes later they came back with six clumsily made but still firm bars which had been crudely vacuum-sealed in discarded plastic.
“Pleasure doing business with you.” Nako signed as they lifted a black bag from the water. They pulled out a small container with an air-tight lid and slipped the translator inside before putting the whole thing back into the bag before strapping it to their back. They signed a quick goodbye before slipping once more into the water and disappearing.
“Well, that was easy.” DH said as they picked up the blocks, “Oh, these are much lighter than I expected!”
TO frowned and picked one up; the brick looked like it would have some weight behind it, looked like it might hurt if thrown, but DH was right: It was deceptively light. They were fairly certain that if they set it in the water it would float.
“No idea what it is.” TO said as they carried half of the bricks back to the wagon, “But we’ve gotten all kinds of stuff so far, mostly unidentifiable goo and powders. Why shouldn’t a brick be any different?”
“Seaweed Brick.” Tham said, overhearing part of their conversation as he too approached the wagon, “It’s red seaweed from the deeper parts of the Arkanian ocean. It has an awful texture, and it tastes awful, but it’s apparently got a lot of stuff in it that we need to not get sick.” He reached into the wagon and pulled out a small bottle of water. “Lake will open these up a little at a time and put it in whatever he’s making.”
“Will it make much of a difference?” DH asked, “I mean, there’s only six bars, and there's a lot of people coming with us-”
“That’ll go a lot further than you think.” Tham said, gasping after chugging half their water. “Pearla says it’s essential, and Lake says it’s the best thing for cooking.” He capped his water bottle and threw it back into the wagon. “DH, come help us. The trap over here broke, and it’s an absolute shit-show trying to get the cocopods out.”
“Alright.” DH said as they threw their bricks into the wagon as well.
“I’ll come with you.” TO said, but Tham held out a hand to stop them.
“You stay with the wagon.” he said, “The last thing we need is someone coming and stealing everything we got so far. Protect it with your very life. Got it?”
TO wasn’t entirely sure if Tham really needed the wagon guarded, or if he were just giving them someone seemingly important to do so that they didn’t feel bad about not helping with the bugs.
“Understood.” TO said. No matter what Tham’s intent was they were just glad they had a reason not to get involved with those awful insects.