At first, TO was worried that there seemed to be no preparations made for their landing on Scraprock, or at least none which had been communicated to them. When they finally asked DH about it, their mate’s projection gave them an amused ear flick.
“You mean you haven’t researched the place at all?” They asked. “Look it up later. It’ll give you something to do if you’re still awake once I’m asleep.”
They had done just that, and when Scraprock came into view as they began their approach, TO felt even more foolish for their concerns than they did when they first did their deeper research. Scraprock wasn’t a planet. It wasn’t even a moon, not like the mining facility that Avery went to when they started their placement. Scraprock was a collection of asteroids hooked together with chains and scrap. Old, broken down ships had been used to build shelters that spanned over the asteroids and even further out, creating a rough doughnut which spun in space. Their own ship pulled up alongside the structure, connecting with a small section that jutted out into space and allowed them to dock as they would with another ship. Flit volunteered to stay behind on the ship for now, as they would have to manually tether the ship to Scraprock and use the smaller emergency ship to disembark before landing on the makeshift landing platform set up on what TO would later understand was considered the “Right” side of the ship. Apparently, this was because of the way the people of Scraprock had simulated gravity.
“Centrifugal gravity simulation?” TO asked as DH held them, preparing to shift from their ship’s own artificial gravity to that of Scraprock.
“Well, I imagine they can’t get the tech or power supply needed for electromagnetic field manipulation.” DH said with a grunt as they brought TO to the door. There was a moment of Disorientation where at one moment they were more or less upright, and as the two went through the door and left the artificial gravity field of their ship, back suddenly become down and they rolled onto the floor in an attempt to steady themselves. Sensation fought with perception, and it took a moment for TO to convince themself that they were in fact laying on the floor and not being pushed forcefully against the wall. It took several minutes for DH and TO to orient themselves properly and get TO back in the chair, but once that was all done, the world suddenly seemed right again, and gravity seemed to be pulled them down.
They had arrived at Scraprock.
======
The flurry of activity that followed after their arrival on Scraprock quickly took over any concerns TO might have had about most anything else. They weren’t entirely sure how many people the small refuge could handle at once, but there was apparently a protocol for processing people once they arrived. Surprisingly, this didn’t involve any formal government identification. Instead, a small group of people rushed in and began talking to others, seemingly at random. At one point someone came over to TO, put a large tablet in their hand, and gave instructions on creating a fake identification file for each person. Despite several moments of initial confusion, TO quickly began working at the task given to them while DH rushed off to help with medical issues. Hours passed as they worked, food was brought to them, which they thoughtlessly ate as they continued to compile pictures, making up names or reconfiguring names as they worked through people. In the cramped, cluttered room allotted for this job, TO worked for hours until the dull pain in their knee became obvious, and the line began to thin. It wasn’t much longer until someone who TO didn’t recognize came up to them, with DH following behind.
“I didn’t even realize how long it’s been!” DH said, their ears flicking back in worry as they approached, “Your knee must be killing you!”
“It’s not so bad,” TO said even as they rubbed their knee, trying to add pressure in just the right place so that they didn’t hurt themself. “I was distracted. I didn’t notice the time passing either.”
“I think most of us have been the same.” The other person said. They were a strange species with skin of interwoven crystals. “We got word that you were coming here, and we had to scramble to make sure everything was prepared for you all.” There was a strange clicking that came from their voice, but it was different from the clicking that came from deep within the throats of themself and DH: this sounding more like stones hitting off one another inside their mouth. Was the inside of their mouth also formed of strange crystals?
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“It’s been a busy day.” DH said, and for a moment they allowed their exhaustion to show in drooping ears and blue-ringed eyes. “If you have a mat or a blanket, we can rest on somewhere-“
“Rooms.” They said, “Probably not as fancy as you’re used to from your time as synths...” there was a sudden strange flex of the crystals over his body, but TO couldn’t tell if that was a sign of anger or nervousness. “But it’s something. It’s quiet, clean, and comfortable."
DH nodded, forcing their lips into a smile despite the nervous tilt to their ears, “Thank you.” They said, “I’m-“
“Dhana.” The Civilian said, “That’s the name on your new identification. Best to get used to it.” They paused, and their skin tightened again, “Though, I suppose for you that won’t be-“
“They prefer to go by DH,” TO said, “And I go by TO. Though, my ‘new ID‘ says I’m Tihona.”
“You remember that?” DH asked as they looked down at TO. In response, TO could only give DH a steady look with their ears parallel to the ground. “Right. Of course you remember. You probably remember every name you’ve changed today.”
“I do, actually.” TO said, their ears perking up and twitching in amusement. They turned to the crystal skinned civilian, “And you are-"
“Azizi.” They said, and as they spoke, a small collection of crystals on their forehead brightened slightly. “It/Its.”
While people used different pronouns all across the galaxy, it was still odd to see someone with the pronoun of ‘it’. Maybe who would possess such a pronoun from their culture would abandon it in favor of the neutral they/them, since It/its was viewed by so much of the galaxy as an insult.
“My people are sentient rocks, and possess no sense of gender.” The cluster of crystals on their forehead darkened. “Historically, we have considered ourselves with the pronouns ‘it’ and while many of my kin are happy to bend to the preferences of the wider galactic society-“
“I’m happy to use ‘it’” TO said, a hand up, “I was just-“
Surprised, and uncertain.” Azizi said, quickly and correctly finishing TO’s sentence. “But I see now that you are bothered by upsetting me, and so I accept your wordless apology.”
“Ok.” DH said, pinching the bridge of their snout. “Are you able to read minds or something?”
The crystal on Azizi’s forehead seemed to flicker, and it shook its head. “No, blissfully, I lack that specific skill. However, my partner is a NuChilac, so I am exceedingly familiar with the way your ears flick in communication.”
“NuChilac?” TO asked, their ears flicking. They knew they had never heard that name before.
“Apologies.” It said, the crystals once more flickering with light. “NuChilac. New Chilacians. It’s what we call synths who, well, aren’t synths anymore.” it tilted its head. “You’ve not heard that before? You’d be one, wouldn’t you be?”
TO’s only response was silence. NuChilac. They hadn’t heard that before. Had FIit or Snout? or GiDi? “Someone like us?” TO asked again, leaning forward in their chair as they spoke, “You mean, someone who went through all the synth training and-“
“Yes.” Azizi said, its crystals darkening. “They did undergo all the... procedures that synths do.”
“But their minds are like ours?”
Azizi was silent for a few moments, its head tilted, the crystals embedded in its forehead flickering strangely and in a way that almost felt like a pattern, which one which TO couldn’t quite place. “Well, somewhat. I don’t know how much of your mind has been damaged by the procedures-“
“Damaged?”
“-but I imagine that there’s enough left intact which allows you some level of free will at least.” their crystal darkened again, “And I will not apologize if my choice of words has offended you. What was done to them, and to you for that matter, was intentional brain damage. If you still have devotion to Decon, then I will be keeping my mate away from -“
“We don’t.” DH said as their ears flicked down, “I promise we don’t. It’s just...”
TO looked up at DH, who only looked back in confusion. What was it? Hearing the phrase felt odd to TO, as though they were talking about a synth dying. Synths didn’t die: they were repurposed. Brain damage was something that could happen to a synth, but it wasn’t something that happened in the tank. Brain damage felt like something unintentional, which would keep them from functioning as they should. What happened to them in the tank was all to ensure they functioned as expected.
“It’s been a very long day.” DH said, putting their hand on TO’s shoulder. They locked eyes again, and TO could see DH’s ears flicker with worry and affection. Without thinking, TO reached up and put their own hand over DH’s. “And there’s been a lot of new information for us as of late.”
“Ah, I see,” Azizi said, its crystals once more lightening up as they watched DH and TO. “Ah, I see.” They said, “Yes.. forgive me. We have had a couple of NuChilacs come though here who still held great devotion to Decon, and each time it left my mate... well, unwell, to say the least.” It gave a brief nod. “But I imagine it has been a long trip. And, of course, I do apologize for doubting you.” it looked at DH as their crystals lit up, and an awkward smile forced its way onto Azizi’s crystalline lips. “I should have recognized you from the news broadcast. I didn’t at first but-“ It’s eyes flickered to DH’s scars, “But I recognize those scars now. You are the one who revealed themself to the galaxy as a synth.” they dipped their head again, “Dangerous, and you absolutely invoked Decon’s ire in doing that. You also saved many lives.”
“It was TO’s idea.” They muttered, looking away as their ears dipped and flushed. “I just did what they said to do.” They fell silent, their ears twitching awkwardly as DH tried to think of something to say.
“My apologies again,” they said, and once more, the crystals over their skin seemed to tighten. “You need rest, and I am keeping you from that. Let me bring you to your rooms.”