Avia Quarantine Cells

Plus Conference Room 1, haha

--- Day 5 on Avia - Evening ---

Matt couldn't help but look up at the sky outside warily. Full moon tomorrow, he was anxious, he couldn't even begin to imagine how antsy Kay was.

Kay had been increasingly antisocial the past few days. He was moody, temperamental and didn't trust himself not to smack someone if they annoyed him. Part of it was the natural effect of the moon, part of it was stress. Either way, he'd made excuses about being "sick and busy" and tried to avoid having to deal with people. He'd thrown himself into his usual distraction technique, work.

Matt knew full well where he'd be, he also knew they had to discuss this.

He made his way to the medical bay and peered in.

"Kay?"

Kay didn't look up from his screen, he just waved a hand dismissively.

"We need to talk."

Vestia tuned her audio sensors to the conversation, but stayed quiet. Kay had been very moody lately, and she wanted Matt to handle that.

"Kay, seriously, you can't just sit here working till the last minute. We need a plan." He glanced to Vestia's cameras. "Is there somewhere she can't hear us?" He asked in a hushed tone.

Kay finally looked up from his screen, then to Vestia's camera. She already knows.

Matt raised both hands, Kay was projecting a lot of anger psychically.
"o.. okay... " He looked to Vestia, then back to Kay. "Listen, we have 24 hours and then you have to go to these... cells?"

Kay nodded.

"How are we going to explain that to the rest of the people on board? I mean they'll notice we're gone. I don't think I can come up with an adequate excuse Thalia will accept and man.. he can read my mind anyway. He'll know i'm lying."

Kay tensed. You don't have to come with me.

"Yes I DO Kay, i'm not letting you wander off to some unknown facility with unknown motives. "

I have done this sort of thing on my own for years Mattias, I don't need you holding my hand.

Matt frowned. "I'm NOT letting you go alone Kay."

Kay looked annoyed.

"If not me, at least let Asher go with you."

Kay shook his head. I can't do that to him. I don't want him to see me like that. He looked suddenly extremely scared.

"Kay... think about it. If you two go out for the night, everyone on board will just think you're off on a date. I mean they already think you guys are an item, nobody will question it. If I go, we have to come up with a whole host of excuses... or tell Thalia and i'm pretty sure you'd sooner less people knew."

Kay frowned, Matt was right.. damn him. He chewed his lip and fiddled with a longer strand of hair.

"Kay... "

Kay nodded slowly, he looked pained.

"He won't let them hurt you." Matt looked worried too though.

He will try not to let them hurt me. Whether he'll be at all effective in that is another matter.

Matt shook his head. "Don't you trust him?"

of course I trust him. I'm just well aware that should these Avian have some sinister plans against me, neither of you could do a thing to help me. But I expect had they wanted me hurt, they'd have done so when they first boarded this ship.

Matt nodded. "You're probably right. Still... " He looked around. "Where IS Asher anyway? "

"He was checking one of my cameras for damage," Vestia said (Don't you dare disable it, she had told him earlier), "I'll tell him to come over here."

Matt nodded. "thanks Vestia."
He turned back to his brother.

"Are you okay?" Dumb question, but Kay really did look about ready to smack someone.

Kay rubbed his temples. Not really no.

"You know... there are sparring rooms if you need to hit something."

Kay shook his head. I just want this over and done with.

Asher arrived a few minutes later, looking ever so slightly wary. Kay's recent moodiness might be expected, but it still made him a bit nervous. "You needed me for something?" he asked.

Matt smiled as Asher came in, but it was clearly a forced smile of politeness rather than genuine joy.
"Yeah, we were talking about tomorrow night."

[He refuses to let me go on my own.] Kay wrote, glaring at his brother.

"Kay's being difficult and stubborn. "

"It seems like a good idea for someone to go with you," Asher told Kay carefully. "We don't know how these Avians treat the people they take into custody."

Kay flinched. [if they wanted to kill me they'd have done so already.]

"There's worse things they could do... " Matt warned.

Kay scowled.

Matt ignored him. "We, well.. I was thinking, figuring out an excuse for Kay and someone else to leave here for the night, it'll be easier if the two of you go. "

Kay lowered his head, he looked irritated and upset. He really didn't want Asher to see him like that, but he knew Matt was right. What was worse? Everyone knowing, or Asher witnessing the truly awful truth of his condition?

Asher wasn't sure what Matt meant at first, but after a bit, he figured it out. "They'd just assume..." he trailed off, not really wanting or needing to finish the thought. He nodded. "That does seem like the best way to avoid questions."

Matt nodded. "Yeah... " He glanced to Kay

Kay shrugged, he looked irritated as he wrote [Wouldn't be the first time. Seems i'm destined to always use the same excuse.]

Matt smiled softly. "It'll be okay. " He smiled sadly at Asher "Thank you."

"We could try to find a different excuse," Asher said. He didn't much like the idea of Kay being the subject of yet more unwanted gossip.

Kay shook his head. [Matt's right, it would lead to significantly less questions. Much as I hate it, unless you're willing to let me go do this on my own, it's the best option. As long as you don't mind the gossip.] He looked resigned.

Matt looked sympathetic. "I know it sucks.. "

[Sucks doesn't begin to describe it. But it's fine, I should be used to such a reputation by now.]

Asher smiled wryly. "I can handle it. I'm sure I've heard worse than what this ship's gossips can think up."

Kay looked thankful at Asher.

"I'm still going to spend the night fretting and worrying about you." Matt sighed. "Listen, Asher, try to keep me updated okay? If you can. "

[I'll be fine Matt, how many years has it been?]

"I still worry, each and every time okay? You're my little brother and I love you."

Kay rolled his eyes.

"Hey, I know you hate all this sappy emotional crap, but no amount of glaring at me and huffing is going to change the fact that i'll ALWAYS worry about you and always want to be sure you're okay. Deal with it."

[It's only one night.]

"Yeah, just one night.. " Matt looked anxious.

[If the Avian try anything, I know you all have my back. It will be fine. Vestia already promised to look after me as well.] Kay smiled, he felt guilty though, putting everyone through all this.

"I'll keep my tablet nearby and charged," Asher said reassuringly. "It isn't great with long distance data transfers, but I should be able to send you a message if anything happens."

Matt nodded. "thank you, really, thank you." He glanced back at Key who gestured for him to go away.
Matt chuckled. "He gets so moody, don't take it personally. " He told Asher in hushed tones. "just.. watch out, he throws things. You get good at ducking."

Kay glared.

Matt made a hasty retreat to the exit before he could throw anything.

Asher laughed softly, and looked back at Kay. He knew not to take his moods personally.
"So," he said more seriously, "Since it seems I'll be going with you, is there anything I should know ahead of time?"

Kay frowned and looked awkward. [It's going to hurt, it's going to be awful and I will not be me any more. You need to be prepared for that, none of me is in that... thing. You wil lnot be able to speak to me, reason with me, control me. Make sure I stay contained. If necessary, sedate me... heavily. In fact, it's probably best to skip the unpleasantness and just sedate me regardless. ] He hesitated, this was not pleasant to explain. [I will not be in a good way come morning, i'll need most of the day to sleep it off. ] He closed his eyes, no matter how many times he went through this, it never got any easier. You just couldn't ever get used to it.

Asher nodded. "it's a good thing I'm not bound by the First Law anymore. I'll be able to avoid doing anything stupid, since it's gone," he said. "It seems like the Avians know what they're doing, but I'll be sure to remind them if they forget to tranquilize you."
He added gently, "This is going to be difficult for both of us, but I'll do everything I can to be there for you."

There was a noise of tiny footsteps as someone neared the door. Little Rey watched on. Even if the girl was young, she wasn't ignorant. She had noticed the ever-growing tension around the silent man. Perhaps that was why she had been so drawn to her, with the both of them unable to speak. She held something behind her back, watching on shyly as she fidgeted, swaying side to side.

Kay smiled sadly and nodded. [I know you will. I wish you didn't have to witness this though. ]

He looked up at the sudden sound of footsteps and wiped the tablet screen of text.

Rey hesitated, before slowly inching forward. She watched the two, before tilting her head questioning manner. What were they doing? She wondered. Kay seemed tired and upset. She didn't like that he was that way, so she had decided to give him something she had planned on giving him a long time ago as a thank you. She had one for Asher, too, of course, but she never brought up the courage to give them to the two medics.

First, she approached Kay. Sheepishly she brought forth one hand. In it was a small...

... Doll. A plush doll, simply made with thick stitches and button eyes. It was a little rough, but fairly good coming from a child. The doll itself looked like Kay. She had chosen out yarn to match his hair color and specific buttons to as close to his eye color as possible. The doll had a doctor's lab coat on it, and dark stitches across its face was in a wide smile. Rey smiled shyly and held it up to Kay. Yours.

Kay stared from doll to child, and hesitantly took the thing. He wasn't entirely sure how to react, he was bad with kids.
But the gesture was touching, and the professional part of him was relieved to see the child was channeling some of her miriad issues into something constructive and creative. An outlet like this would be good for her. He smiled softly and nodded a silent thank you.