UPON VESTIA: CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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Kay looked amused at that remark. [You're probably right. And bottom bunk, because I wasn't willing to argue the point. There were about 12 of us in one room, it was fairly cramped.] Not that he'd spent many evenings IN his bunk considering. Nope, his evenings had been spent locked in an old bunker hoping like heck he wouldn't get out and nobody would find him.

---

Ivor shrugged. "I do.. don't know..." He came out into the hall and closed the door carefully behind himself. "You have animals on a ship?"

----

"If they have no choice, then they are still slaves." Armin bowed his head.

Skye was glad to see him comfortable here. "You can come here whenever you want, usually it's just me or Dawn, though the others come at times."

"Dawn... the woman who was shot?" Ivor asked, he was trying to put names to faces and thoughts.

----

Kay shook his head. [Don't get arrested.]

Skye nodded again "Yes, that's Dawn" She said agreeably.

James nodded. "She's nice. She won't mind if you come here to hang out sometimes."

~~
Asher smiled. "All right, I'll resist the temptation, I guess."

"Quieter here." ivor explained. "Animals have quiet thoughts..."

---

Kay smiled softly.

Skye nodded and looked to the goats again. "She wouldn't mind you coming, even when she can come again. Animals are calming, even when you can't hear their thoughts."

"They must think about eating a lot," James said thoughtfully, "the animals that is, not the people who come in here."

Ivor nodded. "it's... n.. not easy to decipher... but it... seems to be mostly about food, company, warmth." He shook his head, not taking his eyes off the goats. "Simple... quiet." More so than people at least, their thoughts always felt like they were screaming in his face.

Skye nodded and smiled, going over to a bench that had been put in at some point to sit there.

"That sounds nice and relaxing," James said, smiling. "It's good not everyone thinks so chaotically."

Ivor nodded, hugging himself as he sat. "You... you are silent... it... it's strange... like.. like being deaf. I look at you and... you should make noise but you don't. But... but the animals think how they should... " which was a comfort at least.

"Yeah, that has to be weird. I guess it's sorta like Kay and Silence, they don't talk out loud, and it takes some getting used to," James said. "We're telepathically silent instead of physically silent, but the effect is similar." He laughed, "I tell you, communicating with everyone on this ship is pretty crazy sometimes."

Skye smiled at them and nodded "Yeah, it's gotta be strange, but it's just the way we are." She said with a shrug.

Ivor lowered his head. "I'm sorry..." He mumbled, assuming he'd offended Skye. He was way too used to relying on surface thoughts, and being treated like crap by those around him regardless.

Skye looked to him again and tilted her head a little "Sorry for what?" She asked curiously "You didn't say or do anything wrong."

Ivor looked awkward. "alright..." He replied weakly.

James nodded. "You're okay man. It's weird here, but she doesn't get offended that easily. Let's just watch the goats for a while, it's gone be okay."

(You guys about ready to skip to the next day?)

(Yup, I wanna play Amari lol)

(yep)

(go for it)

MAY 31 2790

The androids had spent the rest of the day discussing Levi's new code, and painting the non denominational place of worship. They'd all camped out in Levi's room to recharge, and had decided to plug Levi into a computer so they could take turns keeping an eye on him while he went into power saving mode. They were worried about him, he was a nice guy.
Thankfully when morning came, he did wake up correctly, smiling his fake looking smile at the others. He was alive at least, hurrah.

Moriah cheered. She liked her sort-of grandpa, and she was glad he seemed okay.

~~
Ethan didn't go into power saving mode at all. He just kept thinking again and again about the other universe, and Kaylr, and his own moral compass, which he didn't really trust. The bad memories kept trying to take over his thoughts, much more persistently than usual because of what was on his mind, and eventually he headed to one of the training rooms to beat up punching bags until morning. It made his hands hurt, but it gave him something to focus on, which kept the awful memories at bay.

~~
Asher had spent that time off with Kay, and had enjoyed it immensely. He did need a break sometimes, and he was all too good at putting his breaks off indefinitely. But with the new day came the return of his responsibilities. He had to start showing Amari around today, get him introduced to some of the crew. And figure out how to let him move semi-normally, because using his tail to crawl looked kind of awkward. Hmm.

~~
Ellie had enjoyed spending some time with Matt again, and seeing him act somewhat like himself. She sooo owed Esk for this. She was going to collect all the junk food on Vestia and give it to him!
So she got to work raiding cupboards.

~~
James was just enjoying being back on Vestia. He'd spent some time with Ivor and Skye, then gone to recharge for the night. He felt pretty darn awesome.

Matt had actually enjoyed his time with Ellie, it was nice to just hang out and pretend things were normal and fine. But then he had to go back to an empty bed and try to sleep. Eugh. That was when it was the hardest, Thalia's absence was the most felt.
He rose early after not getting much sleep and went to find breakfast, feeling a little sombre.

---

Mourn had fallen asleep in a box again. He was snoring lightly.

---

Kay had needed the break too, but morning meant work again. He reluctantly disentangled himself from bedclothes and Asher and went to shower and get changed into clean clothes.
He was wary of this plan to show Amari around honestly, but doing his very best to believe Asher when he said the kid wasn't a threat.

---

Esk stayed up reading over the books he'd taken from Dawn, or trying to. he kept coming across words he didn't know and had to go look them up, which made this slow arduous going. There HAD to be a better way. He just couldn't think of one.
He'd given up eventually and gone to bed.
Now he was sleeping in.

---

Ivor was fairly wary of well, just about everything. Though clearly terrified, he was also painfully polite and obedient. When bed time came he returned to his room, curled up on his bed and tried to rest. This place was so strange and unfamiliar, and the walls talked, which was disconcerting.

Silence too had trouble sleeping, eventually knocking on Ivor's door. The two of them pulled bedding onto the floor and curled up together in a mess of blankets, pillows and feathers.

---

Luka slept well and rose early to go for her usual jog, quite happy to have room to do so again. Much as she loved the Silver Devil, it did get pretty cramped long term so it was nice to have a base as it were, somewhere she could still keep her fitness up.

---

Armin remained with Starr as long as she requested it, leaving her only when she expressed a desire to be left alone.
He was concerned for her. Though he wouldn't tell her this, he knew she wouldn't want to know. Still, he had faith that she was strong enough to get through this. But just in case he prayed quietly to his goddess to lend the Queen strength and peace in this time of turmoil.

---

The Professor would, eventually wander down to the library to harass Ethan. He expected the android to be there as he always was.

----

Swarm settled into the warm parts of the ship where nobody else could get to. They worried for their number still with Tala and Shane, the further apart they drifted, the harder it was to maintain telepathic contact. What they got was snippets, and though generally positive, they were aware some of their number had not made it off Avalore Hold.

They spent the morning observing the others quietly and thinking on their deal with the Shifter on Defiant and what he'd told them.

Asher got up and went through his own morning routine, thinking more about Amari than anything else. "Would you be okay with me bringing Amari to meet you this morning?" Asher asked Kay carefully as he finished stuffing all his usual supplies into his pockets. He knew how uncomfortable Kay was around people with strong instincts, he really didn't want to take Kay by surprise and make this more unpleasant than it had to be.

~~
Vestia watched as Hewitt headed to the library. She was pretty sure she knew what he was planning, the guy seemed to love getting a rise out of Ethan, after all. She didn't comment to tell him Ethan was elsewhere. Hey, of he wanted to know, he could ask. Heh.

Starr had stayed up with Armin longer than usual, but had eventually gone to bed to rest for the night. In the morning, she got up and headed for the cafeteria to get some breakfast.

~~~
Skye had stayed at the ranch a while, she rather liked being around Ivor, and wanted him to become comfortable with them here. She had curled up in the nest that was a permanent feature of her room by now. When morning came, she grabbed a meal she could carry and went up to the top deck to watch the stars pass by.
~~~
Jewel was having fun in her room, had barely left it since coming on board, but she decided she should mingle, so she headed out to see how everyone was doing.
~~~
Dawn did her best to stay in bed, even when she wanted to get up and wander. she was actually glad the pain meds helped her sleep since that took time out of the day.

Kay hesitated, pulling on his vest before picking up his tablet to answer. He couldn't really say no could he? [Just be careful not to panic him. I'll try to be... calm.] He hoped Asher was right and the kid was coherent and able to be reasoned with. He was nervous.

---

Hewitt looked around the empty library. Hmm, no android? He smirked and couldn't resist the temptation to move some of the things on the desk. It was petty and childish, but damnit he was old and had to get his amusement somehow.
He looked up at the Camera. "Where'd the librarian get to?" He asked in a tone of indifference.

----

Armin and Matt were eating breakfast.
At least Matt was. Armin had dropped past to pick up his insect smoothie and paused to make sure Matt was okay.

"How are you my friend?" He asked.

Matt shrugged. "tired." He chewed his steak dully.

Armin nodded. "We shall arrive at Terra soon, and then on to the Imperium. I admit, i know little of your home worlds. " He was trying gently to distract Matt from his thoughts.

Matt shook his head. "You should count yourself lucky then. The Imperium does NOT like aliens. I dunno if you'd be better off because you're so un-like them or worse... Suppose it depends on the perspective of the asshole."

"You are uncharacteristically bitter this morning my friend. Is there nothing about seeing your home world that appeals to you?" Armin asked politely.

"Thalia... and the kids." Matt replied.

Armin bowed his head. "Of course." He brightened "Perhaps it may cheer you to speak to them? through Miss Starr? It is not quite the same as talking face to face or even mind to mind I am certain but some contact is better than no contact yes?"

Matt hesitated, looking at his food. "I dunno... "

"I am certain Miss Starr would not mind."

"it's not that.. 'm not sure Thalia will even want to talk to me. She's probably still mad."

Armin reached out and put a hand on Matt's shoulder. "My friend, your mate is a passionate and hot headed individual, but she is, at least from my understanding, not without rationale. You did what you did for a good reason, your heart was in the right place. You protected your mate and your child, she will see that."

Matt looked up at Armin and smiled weakly. "You don't know how good she is at holding a grudge."

Armin chuckled. "Ever fear the wrath of a female."

"Damn right, women are fucking terrifying." Matt agreed.

James got ready for the day, went to get some med supplies and go to check on Dawn. It was his job, after all.

~~
Asher nodded. "I know this won't be easy for you, or for him, and I'm sorry about that. I'm going to do my best to make this as comfortable for both of you as possible." He looked apologetic. He really hated putting Kay through something so uncertain. "And I'll have Vestia warn you before I bring him over."

~~
Vestia watched Hewitt's rearranging of Ethan's desk, amused. What? Her passengers' antics amused her. "Ethan's in one of the training rooms on this floor. Do you want directions to find him, or do you want me to ask him to come over here?"