Chapter Text
The deep, soundless territories of space was home to many systems with then housed their own planets. And within those planets were innumerable quantities of possible sentients. All with varying technologies and resources.
It should be no surprise that as species advanced and broke through their systems and visited others, that soon an overarching system would be placed. A way to regulate and prevent mass extinction that was caused by some others.
Aiizwa was a part of this system. However, he was individually contracted through another, one that granted him freedom from the HPSC laws and such.
U.A. also known as United Alliance, a specialized wing of HEROES trained by UA alumni. Separated from HPSC and instead licensed separately. Only a couple were accepted into the ranks every few spatial turns, a small amount, considering the number of requests received, at least.
Aiizwa was given his roster, and the next rotation, he was greeted by the traveling freighter. No doubt holding his prospective students. All twenty of them. Under his care for the next eighteen leaps.
As his students exited the frigate, and entered their home, Aiizwa felt the thick fur on his neck slowly begin to raise. Something was brewing, and for some unknown reason, his students seemed to be at the center of it all. Somehow, they were caught within the middle of whatever may or may not be occurring.
Aiizwa didn’t like it.
He turned his attention back to his students. With twenty varied species, all from backgrounds and lands that Aiizwa doesn’t bother to comprehend, his class was easily made up of purse chaos. The 1-A Wing was always made up of the more volatile species, younglings that his other companions were unable or unwilling to host properly. Leaving it to him.
It was only when all were off the freighter that he began to speak. “Listen up!” He growled past the cacophony, “I expect you all to exhibit some sort of restraint and attempt to work with your peers.” He focused his vermillion tinted glare on a few possible students that could cause trouble.
He’d not gotten such a volatile species in a while. It was a clear challenge from Nezu.
Ka’tzuki B’aakūgou. A Trinitrox. A sentient that was born for wars. Only two before him were ever known to be on the side of the heroes. The rest preferred to stay upon their own planet and battle for pride and glory. He was aggressive and brash, but he exuded power and confidence from such an unknown sector. He would grow to be a phenomenal specimen, a true sign of what one could be. The only problem? His attitude. Ka’tzuki had adjusted the required suit, without clear approval and was currently sneering at another student, who, thankfully, seemed not to care.
“You do not need to become best friends, but I expect you all to respect one another and learn to work together when required.” He added.
Twenty students to keep watch on. Aiizwa sighed as he led his students to their hangars and the connected dorm rooms.
“However, as HEROES under UA, you will all be expected to work as a unit when the situation calls for it. I will be splitting you all into your own squadrons within the next cycles. I will be observing your training before assigning you all to the best matches for your trainings.
They followed behind him like younglings as he slowly toured throughout the base and where they would be staying. The many amenities. From their own dorms, to a fully stocked canteen that connected into a blank slate of an all purpose room. They had full autonomy of their living situation, and it wouldn’t be long before the class realized it.
For the time being, though, Aiizwa took them down beneath the living quarters to the attached hangar. “These are extensions of yourself.” he said as he stalked forward to press a series of buttons. He stood passively, the slight displace of pressure and the thickening of air was the only sign that he did anything. Until the lights flickered on, showcasing what it was that Aiizwa had done. Twenty small spheres rested upon a series of pedestals. “These,” he gestured to the spheres, “are synthetic eggs. We no longer have access to the previous ship-faring organisms- but these are the next best plan. They will grow to fit your needs and adjust to whomever imprints on the egg.” Twenty of them, one for each student.
After millennia of wars and planetary genocides, most species that could connect to their crafts were killed or enslaved. Leaving very few still alive and on the side of the HEROES, and those that were, were unable to be wiped for a new pilot, and instead they waited and refused every attempt at wiping.
Aiizwa continued, “You will all care for your synthetics, they may not be fully sentient, but they still have a sense of self.” With that said, he gestured for each student to come forward and claim a synthetic egg as their own. Once every student had one in their palms, Aiizwa closed the entryway to the incubating chambers where the eggs once were. “You will, however, be using the training crafts while your synthetic ship grows and adjusts.”
The groans and mumbled complaints were expected, they happened every time he had to break the news that the student couldn’t just take the newly hatched ship out for a spin.
“Damn, I wanted to take this dude out for a swing.” One student sighed, amongst the snickers of the others around them.
Aiizwa ignored them and watched them interact with the eggs. Some students held the egg like it would shatter at the slightest pressure, whilst others decided to test the strength of the shell. Aiizwa understood their fears, his own ship was an incomplete synthetic, one of the first purposefully manufactured synthetics, and it was to be scrapped. However, he would forever deny it, Aiizwa felt something for the inanimate craft and decided to claim it as his own. He watched as his students slowly bonded with their unhatched synth-crafts. A slight smile pulling at his lips.
No matter what may occur, he would not let this squad down.
Just like how Errsr H’dd had been a pillar of strength, he would do the same for his students.
—
Ka’tzuki was considered royalty. His scale pattern was intricate, and his horns and spines were sprawling. Not like his playmates who only had pathetic nubs on their brows, his were fully sprouted and curled thrice over. The blood of the chieftain ran through him.
He did not get the lust for battle though. Ka’tzuki was more content to watch the fights that would break out. Bulls posturing for their does as they fought anything they could.
With a sickening crack, and a soft squeal, Ka’tzuki watched his most recent playmate get their spine snapped by a posturing bull. Trying to impress the others. His friend was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Ka’tzuki had been passing by, one clawed hand held in his dam’s, they saw the entire ordeal.
“Why did they kill him?” Ka’tzuki stared at the still warm corpse of his friend. He’d prodded it with a stick before his dam snatched it from his claws with a snarl on her lips.
“Don’t do that.” She’d hissed at him, her own hand tightening around his own.
“Was he evil?” Ka’tzuki mourned the loss of his poking stick, instead he could only question the motives.
“No. No, he was just a hatchling.” His mother sighed in response and loosened her bone crushing grip.
He grimaced. “So, why’d they kill him?”
“He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.” Was her only response. Any attempt made by him to get more answers were swiftly deflected or twisted into something else entirely. Eventually Ka’tzuki let it go.
He would never forget the sound of the spine breaking.
—
Aiizwa was right, his instincts were going haywire the entire time, and he finally figured out why.
For whatever reason, villains had taken an interest in his squadron and after an attack that left him and a fellow captain injured, he could only hope that they would not be keen on trying again.
Of course, he was wrong, for whatever being out there was not pleased with him. Aiizwa grit his teeth.
He had lost a student, one of his top students no less.
This was a stain, one he’d never be rid of unless he got Ka’tzuki back.
—
One moment Ka’tzuki was piloting his training ship, a standard exercise to grow more comfortable with the movements of the craft. Something all new recruits go through, what they don’t go through is high stakes battles happening out of almost nowhere. It happened almost instantaneously, with a fleet of unknown crafts warping in around his own, separating him from possible assistance and pulling his own training craft into a sort of whirlpool from the sheer speeds he was pushed around at.
Somehow, in that instance, Ka’tzuki was captured. He had awoken to the rough removal of his weapons and spitting globs of venom at his capturers did almost nothing, except when he got it in the eye of one of the idiots. That was satisfying. His satisfaction didn’t last long, however.
They threw him in a wide cage. It was cold, the chill causing his scales to darken, any attempt yo keep some sort of heat within his body. It was damp and sucked any possible heat from his body. It didn’t help that when he’d been captured, his temperature-regulating uniform was replaced with what could be considered mere rags.
Ka’tzuki gnashed his teeth in agitation. This whole situation was shitty. He was locked up without any of his peers or even his teacher to help him. For the first time since his indoctrination into Squadron 1A, Ka’tzuki was alone.
It scared him more than he would like to admit.
He curled himself up as tightly as he could, and he would never admit it, but in his mind, he keened and cried for his dam.
—
Somewhere in the deep recesses of celestial space, a territory unexplored, a drifting creature flutters its atom-thin wings. Across the galaxies it is felt in a different way.
No one would suspect a simple space butterfly to cause such damage. If one were to say it were the actual cause of this damage.
The destruction of the largest known war fleet possessed by every know sentient was broadcasted across all galaxies. The species of sentients that were like parasites. They needed a host to even function, and for millennia they’ve been conquering and embedding themselves into other species. Slowly tearing their minds apart until it was only the parasitic sentient controlling the body.
Nothing could stand in the way of their terroristic reign. With nearly a fourth of known galactic superclusters under their command, The Meticularies were the true rulers of the universe. For so long they’d been undefeated. Until they came across what the rudimentary sentients called Earth.
Earth was a recently discovered planet in an unmapped solar system. It was no surprise though that no one had yet to make contact. It was unknown how the earth sentients would react, if there were sentients, so instead earth was placed on a watchlist. It was constantly supervised and studied closely. Only when the commission deemed it safe, would there be any attempts at contact between the possible sentients and the HEROES - the Hyperspectral Environmental Research Opportunities through Exemplary Sentients team- that would be deployed to act as the first contacts.
So, when the meticularies (the parasitic, warmongering species) turned their eyes on earth, it was assumed that all those sentients would be killed. The HPSC even went so far as to remove earth from the list of planets with possible untouched sentients. It had happened before, there was no way to stop the meticularies conquest once they set their sights on something.
There was complete silence from Earth. An oddity considering the meticulary form of bragging. The emperor would return within the flesh of the newly destroyed sentients. It was hierarchical, in that the upper brass was allowed to get the cream of the crop. Those closest to the emperor were given the opportunity to take over the newly imprisoned species. Then they would broadcast it, slowly closing the gap between the HPSC’s own territory.
However, the gloating transmission was never sent out. The earthen sentients survived. Somehow the sentients that inhabited earth defeated the fleet of a possible hundreds of millions tethered meticularies and many more untethered meticularies. A feat that hadn’t been accomplished. In fact, only one ship had escaped the failed attempt.
The emperor of his species. He’d only been able to implant himself before his forces and kin were overrun. After that, he vanished. No one could find him if anyone were to attempt to look that is.
Following that event, the sentients that inhabited Earth were feared and for good reason. After that event, named Destruction of Meta-475, Earth was condemned. Deemed hostile, no one wanted to fight whatever species that could take down the former militaristic sentients that ruled over any sentients they come across.
The entire galaxy was deemed a dead zone, no patrols would enter, and any ship seen exiting the dead borders would be shot on sight. It was the only hope that the earth sentients would not leave their home planet.
-
The hall was a cacophony of noises, day in and day out, howls and wails echoed throughout the chambers. The misery of the occupants was clear for all to hear, many knew that they would die within this ship. Away from their kin and loved ones, so all they could do was mourn.
Rare sentients and species from multiple galaxies were housed within this hall. From the heavily plated xesaik who could harden the skin on their bodies and tear apart anything with near absolute ease. To the smaller and meeker foste, small skittish creatures that house special glands within their throats that are often used for decorative skins or components for more important objects.
Never before had this hallway housed a sentient from D-Meta-475’s known solar system...
D-M. poaching was an offense punishable by death. Very few sentients took part in the D-M. trade, as it had very little pay off and if caught the punishments were worse than the possible rewards. The dead zone was monitored constantly and there were always HEROES ships nearby to enforce the HPSCs will. Despite all of that, the few D-M.’s that had been poached and were within the stars were highly sought after and often caused bargaining wars that could end up in the winner shelling out millions of credits. All for one specific creature.
It was no surprise how the illegal trade wanted D-M. sentients. Very little was known about their mannerisms, but it was determined that they were a pack species of sentients. There was an attempt to capture D-M. spawnlings and force them to imprint on their master and work as a sort of savage pet. Those plans never came to fruition. All captured D-M. spawn died within days, some lasted a few weeks, but none lasted long enough to adulthood.
D-M. sentients were rare and desired by those willing to get their hands muddied in the process but the process it took to procure one was almost impossible. Leaving them few and far between. The only way to get a fresh one was to take it from the source.
Within the frigate were the guards- many composed of the scruvi race; a more insectoid sort of species with four arms, two primary larger arms and two secondary smaller, weaker arms- were tasked with caring for all the prisoners within the cargo bay. This extra dexterity made them perfect in this sort of situation. They were the keepers of this hallway of despair; and now, they were able to witness the first D-M. sentient this side of the stars.
“It’s so thin.” One of the guards poked the squishy flesh with a thin claw, its head tilting in fascination.
“Stop pokin’ it!” The other guard slapped the hand away from the sedated sentient. “It could infect you with some sort of poison.” They shivered and glared at the D-M. sentient as though it would do anything.
“Y’think it would remember us when the big boss trains it?” the first guard questioned their companion.
“No clue. Those things never the same after Overhaul’s conditioning.” They shook their secondary arms, “Now let’s get this over with. Its givin me the heebies.”
Currently the unknown sentient was under heavy sedatives that would give them enough time to find a suitable cell and get out before it even got close to awakening. It had been given the highest dosage of estrazal possible. There was no known record of how the medication would react within a D-M.
No one aboard the ship wanted to risk it awakening prematurely.
“There’s no empty cells that we can spare for it.” One of the others clacked their mandibles irritably, “we’ll have to put it with others and hope it doesn’t kill them before boss can examine the goods.”
“All of em are prey species, this beast will kill ‘em the moment it wakes!” One rumbled.
“Fine then,” with a click of mandibles the guard pushing the table moved on, away from the cage they’d been contemplating moments before. “I’ve got the perfect cage for this one.”
They ultimately placed the D-M. sentient in the largest cell. The one which currently housed an odd: a trinitrox and a pulvis.
“What if it damages the pulvis!” The combative guard threw their four limbs into the air, “we’d be killed, and he’d wear our chitin as a cape.” They spat a glob of acid and glared at their companion.
“The pardus is attached to the pulvis. No way it would let this thing,” they shoved the sedated sentient, “attack the little thing. Not to mention the trinitrox. No doubt it would kill the thing first!” They pushed open the cell and snapped their mandibles in a rhythmic pattern.
The sound of a lock was heard, and the group of guards shoved their way into the cell. They were uncertain with how long the Meta-sentient would be knocked out and they didn’t want it to awaken while they were still placing it in a cell. It was best to get it in the cage as quickly as possible.
No one on board knew the mistake they had just made.
—
Ka’tzuki had lost count of the time he was imprisoned on this forsaken ship. His cell lacked any sign of time changes, and the air inside was clearly filtered, offering no sense of direction. He couldn’t taste the freshness, instead it held a sterilized, yet stale, taste to it. With those conditions it was no surprise that time began to blend together. He would sleep more often than not, leaving him disoriented and lethargic.
His schedule was thrown off, however when his cell door began to open. Useless, he was useless. Ka’tzuki could only glare at those entering his cell. With the cuffs and inhibitors pushing through his scales, he was almost completely useless. And both he, and his captors were aware of it.
Perhaps that is why they felt so comfortable walking into his cell when any other time they might’ve been more wary.
“It’s big enough of a cell. The trinitrox is half dead anyways, it wouldn’t hurt the cargo.”
“I still don’t trust it.”
“Here, look.”
Ka’tzuki gnashed his teeth at the sentient that began to advance on him, but he did nothing else. The segment of metal he was on had heated only slightly thanks to painful usages of his inner sparks, and he was not keen on moving and causing the heat to dissipate.
“See!” The creature backed off and turned to its companions. “Completely harmless. It hasn’t moved from that spot unless it can’t reach the food or has to expel waste. It won’t do anything to the boss’ prized possession.”
“If this goes wrong, you’re the one answering to the boss.” The other clacked their mandibles irritably.
“Deal.”
And with that, the two backed out of his cage, leaving Ka’tzuki alone once more. This time however he was wary, for some reason they’d walked in, had some back and forth, then just left.
His questions were answered during the next mealtime when his cage was once again reopened. This time the two sentients from before were dragging along another. A thin pulvis. They were dragging it by the frail horn that protruded from its brow, and the sight of that made Ka’tzuki’s own blood boil.
“Here ya go! New home!” The one dragging her tossed her in none too gently and slammed the cage behind her.
That left Ka’tzuki face to face with the shivering pulvis.
Her body was small and thin, no doubt from whatever she had been through whilst imprisoned. She was skittish, with a muffled whimper she scurried to the corner furthest from him. Ka’tzuki couldn’t blame her, on any other occasion he would rather die than let another close to him.
But now he was in a situation where he could possibly die, and that is the only time his pride will fold.
Ka’tzuki was awoken once more by the sound of is cell opening. He didn’t bother raising his head from where it was pillowed on his arms. Whatever it was wouldn’t be worth the lost heat.
“Ka’tzuki!” the voice was familiar, yet faint.
“What have you bastards done to him?!” there was a heavy thump and not long after Ka’tzuki felt something around him. If he were more aware, he might’ve fought against it, but as it was, he was too weak and whatever it was was so warm that he leaned into it. He was just so cold…
After the capture of his student Aiizwa refused to return back to the hangar. He went far enough for Yammda to take over the escort duty then immediately turned and began to track the waves of space. His original plan was to free his temperamental student. Not get captured as well.
Aiizwa was furious when he was finally escorted to the cell his student has been kept in. It had been nearly fourteen full cycles since Ka’tzuki had gone missing, four since Aiizwa was captured himself. The chill of the cell was Ka’tzuki’s weakness wasn’t a surprise, the cell was at temperatures that made Aiizwa’s fur prickle, but Ka’tzuki? He was a reptilian race and although he secreted flammable substances, Ka’tzuki was unable to produce his own warmth. One of his biggest weaknesses, however it was easy to circumvent with the regulated uniforms. If he had the uniform at least.
Aiizwa felt the softest sob against his ruff, and it took everything within him not to try to kill the patrolling guards.
“I’m here, Ka’tzuki.” He murmured into the scales of his student.
Aiizwa turned his attention to the other occupant of their cell. A young pulvis was shivering in the corner, and Aiizwa didn’t think before he began to reach towards her with his unoccupied paw. He only stopped when she flinched and shuffled away.
“I’m not gonna hurt you.” He murmured and began to reach just a bit further before stopping. He left his paw pads facing upwards so it was her choice whether or not to come closer. “My name is Aiizwa,” he began, “I came here to rescue my student, and I’m still going to.” He looked at her, and he felt a purr behind to bubble in his throat. “We won’t leave without you.”
That seemed to be all she needed to hear, once the words passed his lips, she all but threw herself at him, a broken sob coming from her throat.
“Shh, you are safe now.” He ran his paws over her thin hair, minding the frail horn. “You’re safe with us.” He felt her grip tighten and moved her to sit on his lap in response.
They stayed like that for an indeterminate amount of time. It was only broken when Ka’tzuki’s eyes slowly opened. “Aiizwa?” He slurred, as his brow furrowed. “What’re you doin here?”
“I came to get you.” He snorted. “Didn’t expect to get captured myself.”
Ka’tzuki huffed a breath. “Yeah,” his voice was soft, almost a whisper. “Thank you for coming for me.”
Aiizwa took the role of a sort of guardian for the young pulvis, which he soon learned was named Eri. His mouth was filled with iron was he choked down the synthetic meal they were provided with. Eri didn’t seem to care about the taste as she shoveled the food into her mouth, barely pausing to swallow each mouthful before adding another.
Ka’tzuki was just finishing his own portion before he grimaced and began to drink from the cylinders they were provided. Within it was a thick fluid that tasted and reeked of dokk[KW1] , whatever was in it made Aiizwa’s body lethargic and heavy. Clearly drugged, but they were not in a position to refuse it.
Ka’tzuki was just finishing his own portion before he grimaced and began to drink from the cylinders they were provided. Within it was a thick fluid that tasted and reeked of dökk, whatever was in it made Aiizwa’s body lethargic and heavy. Clearly drugged, but they were not in a position to refuse it.
Aiizwa was unsure of how long they had been here until a new occupant was placed with them. It had broken the routine that had been going on for at least five cycles before his own arrival as well.
The first sign was the guards milling about, they were peering into each cell available before clicking in their own language. Each subsequent cell led to more agitated voices and shouts until finally, they stopped at the cell containing the trinitrox, pardus, and pulvis.
“Just place it in here. It’s a carnivorous species, but the pulvis should be fine if it stays away. Boss won’t care much about the other two, they were accidental anyways.”
Their cell door was creaked open, and four guards stepped in. Two wielding batons that arced with dangerous electricity while another two rushed in with a type of gurney. Aiizwa couldn’t get a good enough look at whatever the creature was, but he winced at the drug on the gelatinous-bag taped to its arm. Through the dim lighting he could barely see the outline of the word: estrazal. A drug that in small doses could knock out even the hardiest of species. One small drop of it could instantly knock out Ka’tzuki if it were to enter his bloodstream, a feat in of itself.
The guards were quick in lowering the figure to the floor of the cell. Their movements were rushed and slightly panicked. Whatever it was, the guards weren’t keen on being around it for too long. Once they had collected their items and rushed out, Aiizwa made no move to investigate. He was wary but believed that whatever it was that was dumped in with them would remain as still as a corpse. They could investigate and deal with their newest cell mate later. Exhaustion was hitting him full force, and it took everything within him to remain somewhat aware.
His upper set of eyes closed whilst the secondary pair beneath remained open just enough to see any movement that may be perceived as a threat. With that, Aiizwa slowly let rest overcome him. He could still perceive movement through the lower pair, and he made sure to tuck both Eri and Ka’tzuki closer to his own form.
The silence of their cell was broken all too soon by a harsh gasp, but not one from the pulvis who dozed drearily beside him, no, it came from his trinitrox student. One who had never made that sort of noise in Aiizwa’s presence before. That knowledge had the pardus shooting up, shaking off the comforting blanket that had been rest in favor of seeking what made his student make that noise. His eyes glowed red and yellow as he searched for the possible threat. He turned his attention to Ka’tzuki however when his student tugged lightly at his mane.
“It’s a human.” Ka’tzuki’s voice was a whisper as he pointed a claw in the direction of the body the guards had dropped off an indeterminate time before, and it was then that Aiizwa noticed how his student had huddled closer. Away from the possible threat, something he could think on later. They had a bigger problem on their hands. He’d have to interrogate Ka’tzuki’s knowledge of the sentient’s species name and how the younger knew it.
Their newest cell mate was shifting. Clearly, they were beginning to shake off the effects of the drugs, which was shocking. With such a powerful medication, they should have been out for almost two more full cycles, maybe even more. Instead, they were slowly waking from only a few hours under its influence.
The changes were minute at first. The breathing slowly quickened and changed from measured even breathing to slightly uneven and more shallow breaths. However, it wasn’t long as soon enough it began to twitch and grumble, its face contorting in odd ways that had Aiizwa on edge in an instant.
It wasn’t until bright green eyes snapped open and the human shifted in an aborted lunge towards the nearest exit.
Both Aiizwa and Ka’tzuki winced as it slammed into the bars. A sharp crack resonating as the human staggered back before falling on its rump with a pained groan.
Aiizwa wasn’t sure how humans normally looked, but this one was so small. It looked nothing like the ways that books and lesson plans had depicted it. He had imagined a great hulking beast with flesh rending claws and massive jaws that could snap one in twain.
Not… this.
It looked soft and meek, not at all like the stories. Hell, it looked weaker than a foste and those were often seen as lowest of the low! The way it looked made Aiizwa want to question all regulations placed upon this supposed dangerous species. Only cycles upon cycles of conditioning made Aiizwa keep his guard up.
“Be careful,” he murmured to his two charges with an almost urgent tone. Aiizwa wasn’t sure how this human would react when it saw them, but he could only hope that it wasn’t like those monsters that they’d be led to believe. “Humans aren’t very well known or documented. I don’t know how it’ll react.” He placed a paw on the two and gently ushered them behind him.
The human noticed them soon after it stopped groaning in pain. Though it continued to rub uselessly at its face, Aiizwa was unsure for what reason though.
Meaningless chatters and burbles came from its mouth. Its eyes moved about the cell as it made those meaningless noises, however there was no attempt from it to speak basic, a language all space faring occupants are required to learn, and it seemed to wait for a response from the other occupants.
Aiizwa frowned at it, “We don’t know what you’re trying to say.” He spoke slowly in basic, hoping it might know even a lick of the registered language.
The human’s eyes snapped back to his and the two were caught in a staring contest. The fur on Aiizwa’s neck rippling with unease. The human had yet to act aggressively, but he was getting increasingly nervous the longer they stared another down. Just as he was preparing to make some sort of noise to make the human back down, it detached its gaze.
Aiizwa felt like he had lost despite the human looking away first.
Instead, it turned vivid green eyes on the other two that peeked out from behind his larger form. He growled, Ka’tzuki unconsciously mirroring the sound, when the human’s eyes stayed trained on Eri longer than a single glimpse.
Throughout this entire process, his muscles were tensed, prepared to fight if the human were to act aggressively. Except, it did no such thing. Instead, it chattered to itself some more before shuffling into a corner and curling up. Somehow compacting its form in a way that made it almost the same size as Eri.
The cell held a tense air for an indiscernible amount of time. With the three huddling together, providing a united front should anything happen.
Nothing happened until mealtime was announced by the screeching of old wheels down the hall.
The human pushed itself closer to where the latch was opened for the trays to be pushed through, alongside fluid bottles that would be rolled in after. It chattered as it pressed its face against the bars close by the latch.
“You should move.” Aiizwa wasn’t sure why he was attempting to warn the human. Maybe it was because they were trapped together and he had no desire to be near an agitated human, or perhaps a sign of goodwill that they won’t hurt it as long as it doesn’t hurt them. Of course, none of that mattered since the human simply cocked its head at him, large green eyes giving it an almost cute look, and burbled a bit before returning to squishing its face against the bars of the cell.
The food tray cart had arrived at their cell, and the guard clacked their mandibles in annoyance when it saw the human pressed against the bars. “Move!” It barked in basic.
“The human doesn’t understand basic.” Aiizwa regretted it the moment he said so, for the guard merely grinned and pulled out a high voltage stun baton.
“Well, it’s a good thing that pain is universal, huh?” And slammed the weapon against the bars of the cage.
The human yelped and threw itself back with extremely fast reflexes that even made Ka’tzuki hiss in surprise. It didn’t move fast enough, they could see that the electricity arcing off the cell door had made contact with one of its hands, but instead of being completely immobilized by the voltage, the human merely grunted and stuck its finger in its mouth. Glaring at the guard as it slowly backed away from the cell door. Meaningly burbles and snarls escaping past its lips as it continued to suck on its own finger.
Somehow the human was completely fine even after taking a hit such as that. Aiizwa felt cold creeping up his spine- to go against such a creature that was somehow immune to most of their weapons. He looked closer at it, no sort of blood or scales seemed to have been dislodged by the hit. It barely reacted, still moving oddly fluidly and crouching only a few meters away from the guard, as though it didn’t care about the weapon they had.
The guard merely played it off and waved their baton around a bit more before opening the latch and sliding through four trays and four fluid bottles. There was only one issue with this situation though.
The human was between them and their single provided meal...
Large green eyes followed the movement of the guard as he slid each tray and bottle through the hatch. It didn’t move away as the objects came flying towards it, it merely stopped them from moving any further with its uninjured hand. Throughout this, the human not once took its eyes off of the guard.
Once the food had been deposited in their cell and the guard hurriedly shuffled away, Aiizwa saw the way Eri stared longingly at the puddle of gruel. Despite the food tasting like actual waste, she needed all the nutrients possible. Ka’tzuki was in a similar predicament, with the lack of heat around him, his metabolism has started to slow, causing the trinitrox to slowly shut down. He’d need to eat a lot more now that he’s warmer and his metabolism is slowly going back to normal.
Aiizwa had to get their meals. He just wasn’t sure how to with the other sentient blocking him from seamlessly grabbing the food.
The human, in a stroke of good fortune, merely glanced down at the trays that had been pushed messily in the cell before it before snorting and snatching one of the fluid bottles. It stared at the food for a moment longer before moving to return to its corner. Except, to the shock of the three other sentients, it pushed their rations towards them with a soft chitter.
That kind move was ruined when it bared its teeth, and immediately Ka’tzuki snarled in response. Aiizwa slapped a paw over his charge’s snout, but the damaged had already been done. Green eyes reopened and the human’s lips fell back over its teeth. The human tilted its head before huffing and shuffling back to its corner where it once more compressed itself and simply watched. They slept in shifts, and each time Aiizwa was awake, he would note the way the human had yet to move. Its eyes were partially closed but it’s breathing indicated that it was still awake. Still too shallow and fast to match his knowledge of sleeping sentients.
Occasionally it was burble and gesture uselessly at something unseen. Vibrant green eyes seemingly glowing in the dark as the human seemingly got more and more agitated.
Aiizwa and his charges slept fitfully that night.
They had survived their first day with this human.
If only they knew what the second day would bring them.
The human had fallen into a rest cycle, twitching intermittently and on some occasions jerking so violently it made Aiizwa’s fur rise in alarm. Though it never once acted aggressively. It simply stayed in its corner, only breaking away from the wall to snatch one of their dirtied plastic trays and one of the empty thick glass fluid bottles.
Ka’tzuki snorted but didn’t say anything regarding the human. if this were a normal situation, Aiizwa had no doubt that Kat’zuki would be posturing and attempting to establish his place above the human, but that was if they were at the hub. Instead they were trapped within a cell that put the trinitrox at a distinct disadvantage. Kat’zuki instead chose to remain silent, not bothering with attempting to shout the human down. For all Kat’zuki seemed to care, the human could keep its odd prizes, if it wasn’t aggressive, it could do as it pleased.
It was perhaps three cycles since the human had been deposited within their cell that their routine changed. The four of them reached some sort of quiet peace. They didn’t bother the human and the human didn’t bother them. The calm of their prison was shattered when four guards pushed their way into the cell, with the largest one looming over them menacingly.
“Step away from the pulvis.” Its basic was grating and sharp, accented by the intermittent shocks of its baton held in one of its smaller, secondary arms. “Do not resist or we will use force.”
Aiizwa growled warningly and adjusted himself to stand in front of Eri. Ka’tzuki joining his side seconds later, a fierce snarl upon his lips.
“Move aside!” The largest guard swung their baton towards the trio, clacking its mandibles angrily. Aiizwa could feel Eri whimper and grip at his fur tighter, her small form shivering. Neither he nor Kat’zuki moved from their protective stances.
They were at an impasse, and from the corner of his eyes, Aiizwa saw the human shifting around. Its large eyes watching the interaction. There was no movement from either side until the captain swung his baton again, this time plasma jumping between sharpened prongs, no doubt a warning. Aiizwa shifted and prepared to attack, Ka’tzuki tensing beside him.
“You asked for it.” They clicked before swinging the baton in a wide arc. Aiizwa was hit first, and he couldn’t stop the squeal that passed his lips at the force of the hit. Followed by a weak hiss as hundreds of volts were discharged into his body. Ka’tzuki suffering the same fate moments later. “We don’t like your kind. Always trying to act superior just because you saved something one time.” They kicked at Aiizwa’s downed form and snatched Eri.
The moment the guard placed its claws around her arm though, everyone flinched at the sound of scuffling followed by a roar as the forgotten and previously placid human made its presence known, lunged towards the guard that had grabbed Eri and had been dragging her towards the other three guards and out of their shared cell. The human’s face was downturned in a vicious snarl, showing off blunt teeth- teeth that often belong to prey species with how dull they looked, almost as though it wouldn’t be able to break through most hide–
As Aiizwa thought that the human snapped its jaws down onto the arm of the guard, almost instantly severing it. He takes it back, blunt teeth or no; that human is a fucking monster. It had its blunt, herbivorous-esque teeth clamped on the arm and only seemed to keep exerting pressure despite the flailing and screams of the guard.
All present watched in horror as the arm was snapped with an audible scrrrack. The grotesque sound made even Ka’tzuki cringe.
The human wasn’t done though; after spitting the severed arm, it detached itself and lunged at the next closest guard. Its oddly shaped hands flexing as though they were clawed as the human snatched the baton from the belt of the unfortunate sentient and pressed the button on the side to activate it.
Aiizwa shuffled Eri and Ka’tzuki behind him. The scene was brutal, most sentients would stop their attacks once the other gives up. Yet, no number of shouted pleas was able to rip the human from its current victim. The others had quickly backed out of the cell, too afraid of what might happen if they were to attempt to remove the human from their companion.
It felt like eons before the human finally backed away. Its victims bloodied and injured with their weapons and gear stripped from them and shoved towards the stunned trio. Aiizwa was barely able to catch the tossed contraband, which he hastily shoved behind him.
The other two guards didn’t notice that they were too busy attempting to remove their comrades.
The human had retreated to its corner where it folded in on itself and closed its eyes slightly. Though still vigilant, Aiizwa could see just how much that whole encounter had taken out of the other. Before, its eyes were bright and vigilant, but now? The human looked as though it were running on fumes. Its body was hunched over, and it was huffing heavily, not aggressively, just heavily. It made his fur prickle.
Aiizwa didn’t notice Eri detaching herself from his side until it was too late. The small pulvis shot towards the human and grabbed its leg.
“Eri!” Aiizwa made an aborted step forward, but he was too late. He could only watch in fear, afraid of what the human might do.
“Thank you! Thank you!” She squeezed its limb, her eyes watery as she sobbed against it.
The human didn’t act aggressively, instead it lowered itself and scooped Eri into its arms. Cooing gently the entire time and making unintelligible babble. Running its hands over her hair in a soothing motion as it rocked her back and forth. It was such a change from its disposition just moments before that Aiizwa and Ka’tzuki took a moment to rationalize what they were seeing.
“Eri, step away from it.” His breath was shaky.
“No, it’s okay! See!” She poked its face, and all it did was burble at her, baring its teeth. Except Eri didn’t shy away, she attempted to do the same odd expression. “Its face looks different!”
She was right, the way its lips curved slightly, and its brow was smooth with no aggressive furrows. In fact, it looked happy when it would do that odd motion. No hint of aggression layer in the act of baring its teeth, especially compared to before when it had actually bared its teeth.
“Still.” Aiizwa grit out, he was nervous, and rightly so. All humans were seen as immediate threats, and after what they just witnessed, he didn’t want Eri sitting right on top of it. No matter how placid it was acting.
—
Izuku huffed in amusement at what he could only presume was a lecture coming from the black furred feline creature–
{̶̛͔̼͉̤̙̩͍͕͉̜̮̞̦͈̒̅̈́͂̉̓͊̂p̴̟̖̪̗̝̻̜̝͕̦̙͇͓̳̥̬̰͗͆̄͆͊̄̓̄̊̌̓͆͋̍̋̈̊̐͑̂̉̄͛̈́̉̂͜͝͝a̶̞̞̝̱͛̿͋͆̾̎̽̍͊͒͌̆̍͌̓̾̈́̾͆̋͑͐̈́͑̎̄͘͝r̷͓̬͚̲̻͌̓̈̒͗̓͆̋̓̏̇d̵̨̡̧̺̣̖̘͕̗̱̩̳̯̳̞̫͙͚̹͕̟̣̬͕͖̦͉͖̀u̷̡̢̧̨̯͇͍̺̲͖̻̖̮͉͕͉̘̞̤͈̣̙̤͑́͗͐̐̏̄̔̃̊̄̂́̂͋̚͝ͅs̴̡̥͎̭̺̝̱͇̥̈́͒̍͐̽̐̀̈̃̚-̴̯̩̩͇̾͊̅̊ ̸̧̢̡̧̢̢̛̛̛̛̻̣̘̘͍̬͕͈̗̮̯͈̝̣̯͈̹͔̳̪͙̹̯̈͆̅͛̏̀̇̓̐̑̅̽̈̔́̀̏̄̚͘͜͝n̶͖̬͔̍̇͊̆̋̈́̐̿̕ư̷̛̺̳̤̜̻̩̪͍̤̹̺̺͓͓̙̱̰̲̖̎̆̎̓̉̇̆͑̈̇̈̈́̚̕͜͜͜͝l̸̢͖̼̟͕̩̭̓ḷ̴̨̢̜̬̩̈́̉́̍̔̓̆͋͑̍͠i̴̧̧̭̗̬̣̗̩̪̜̿͌̓̿̉̈́͐̂̈́̑͝͠͝ͅf̴̧̮̫̣̠̖̊̇̎͗̿̌̿̾̓̀͐̆̚͘͝͠ŷ̷̢̛̠͕͙̦͉͙̥̳͉̝̺̝̞̺̭̫̳͙̂͊͗̿͌͛̀̒̽̿̉͝į̴̨̛͔͔͇͖̘̝̤̺̮͈̟̭̗̞̺̹̥̖̬̻̩̳̥͍̜̃͂͋̿̄̑̎̆̑̍̎͂̄́̂̋̕͘͜͜͜͝͝͝n̴̢̘̼̠͙̟̝̳̫̈́̆̓͌́̓̍̈́͠g̶̨̧̛̛̘̫̭͉̙̝͊͌̐̓̉̀̈́̒,̶̛̯͚͎͈̖͙̠̮͗̀͆̌̾͛͗̓͒̒̈́̂͌͛̍̃̉̆͂̅͛̌̅̚͜͜͠͝ͅ ̸̧̻̗͕̬̗̲̭̅̄̀̈́͑̔͒̉̒̔̾̋̅̀̒̐͛̋̚͜͜s̶͇͋̂́̂̔̓̽͛o̴̡̨̡͙͙͙̳̖̝͍̬͇͚̹̦̖͚̼̻̗̼̬̱̤̞͙͈͗̏̽̆̍̏̈̑̋͌̊̒͝ͅu̸̧̨̧͍̫͙̦̝͙̰̭̗̝͓̫͖̱͔͎̍̈́́͂g̴̨̧̥̝͖͉̟̘͕̦̰̣̪̫͕͉̃̄̆͜͝h̴̥͓͎͍̙̹͔̞̒́̾̅͐͛ţ̷̢͓̜̮̳̼͍̠̤̠̫̖͇̭̻̦̰̖̙̥̜͓͕̫͔͉̉͛̅̾̓͜ͅͅ ̴̢̜͎̗͎͓̭͓̫͈̼͙͕̬͆̍̇̋̀̉͌͠ͅą̸̧̢̥̬̮̩̳̣̣͎̰̬̫͒̊̃̇̏̂̎̈̔̋̈́͒̇͘̕͘͜f̴̧̨̠̘͍̦̞̜̦̟̏t̸̢͈̬͈͉̰̙͍̯̻̙͙̺̮̓̈́̀̔͐̾̐̀̓͋̇̄ę̴͇̫̘͖̯̪̟̜̰̹̟͚̺̖̘̜̣͚̰̗̉̈̌̎͑̄̀̓̽̋͑͐͊͗́̑̐̎̿̆̄̀͘͜͜͝͝ͅr̴̡̡̜̞̜̬̳̫̳̫̠͙̳̱̹͚̦̭̹̳̱̙̹͔̪͂̽͋̃̎͗̉̾̿̾͊͜͜͠,̵̢̺͑͒͋̎͝ ̸̢̡̧̺̣̟̖̥̬͓̺͖̬̈t̶̢̧̖̣̗͉̺̩͛͛̋̽̍̐̋̅̀͆͛̏͌̎̈̐̌͆̿̈̂̍̿̕̚͝͠ͅh̸̛͎̺̙͖̻̼̭̮̝̤͍̭̟͆̀̎͑̈́̌̈́̉̂̋͆̋͆̇̆̓̆̉̕̕̕̕͝r̷̡̧̡͍̭͚̦̬͍̗̠̺̤͙̫͚̥̤̬̤͖̺̠̥͙̺̳͍̤͗̉̽̎̉̽̎̓̐̅̏͑̈́̇̿̈́͋͗̉͑͋͌̒͂̕̚͘̚͝ȅ̴̝̖̖̻͙̼̞̲̟̥̣̮̖̥̖́͛̏̔͆̈́̓͌́͝ą̵̥͔͍̻̗͐͑̎͑̒̎̍̈̆̋̂̈͆̎́͋̕̚ţ̴̨̧̛̬̫̘͕̘̰͇̪̻̥̻̱̭̪͚̯͚̖͍̲͙̫̟͂͌͒̄̅̾̃̇̾́͆̊͛͑̓̐̍̓̆̆͘̚̚ ̴̨̢̢̙͍̣̹̣̮̯̭̟̹̹͈̙̺̪̫͚̄́͒̇̓̐̈́̀͗̑̐͛͛̈͌̓̔͐̈́̒̑̾̀̓̕͝͝͝͝͝t̷̡̡̧̨̞̟̰͎͈̘̰͓͖͍̰̱̖̺̫͇̜͔̘͒̾́̍̈́̈́̀̐̈́̓̇̿͑̈́͗̾̅̈́̾͊͋̄̕͘͜͠͠ơ̵̢̧̨̺̣̟̙̦̝͚̙͈̜͒̒͗̿̀̿̂̂͗́̓̌͂̑̋̚͜͝͝ ̷̨̡̺̖̙͈̻̞̥̝͔̫̫̼͉̀͊̉̃̋͗̈́̐́̀́͆̀̉́̅̽̎͋̕͘͜͝ͅh̵̢̧̨̺̤̲̺̞̝̯̩̤͎͖̝̫͕̫͊̇͊͂́̀̃̈́̂͂̐̎̓̑͑̃͊̒̾̃̋̚͘̕̕͜͝o̶̧̡̤̞̰͇̗̘̘̩̜̓̈́́̏̐̎̈́̈́̈́̑̂̂̔̒͑̾͘͘͜͠ͅs̶̢̨̢͍̮̹̬̳̱̲͍͇̞̲̫̟̈́̎̀͐̈́͑̎͐͛̂̇̆̓͊̒͌͂̎̓̋̄̈́̒̔̒͘̕͜͝͠ͅt̶̡̢̛̗̺̗̲̺̖͔̲͎͈̩̬̰̗̭̮̐̇̆͊̓́̍̋̿͗͆̈́̐͆̈́͐͌̕͜͜͝͝ͅ ̶̨̝̙̯̩̥̺͖͇͖͙͖̫͈̦̥͎͖̭͂̂B̴̢̡̡͍̟̰̭͕̬͍͖͉̥͓͕̬̫͋͗̌̓̃͑̏̎͌͐̌͘͝͝ͅ-̸̡̬͔̮̘͍͖͔̯̻͖̤̱͈͉͎̇̎̀̇͒̄̒̈̒́̈́̋̀̀̈́͐̓̌̈́̾̌͐̆̊͂ŗ̸̨̖͙̭̯̟͙̭̦͈͙͖̞͓̺̲͕̱̎͊̐̽̔̔̔̿̂͑̒͗͛̿̍̌̒͘͝͠͝͠͝ą̷̢̛̛̛̤̰͙̹̮̤̣͕͉̫͎͍͔͕̝͇͚̺̙̏̋̇̂̂͑͊̐̔̽̓̓̈́̏̌͑̾̐̏̿̈̕̚͜͜n̴̨̧̲̼͕̯̰̺̫̻̭̲͇̭̭̰͙̦͎̳̱̫͐͂̀̀̑̽̀̽͜͝͝ͅk̸̡̰̜̰͚͔̱͇̞̭̺̭̖̽̍̾͌̓̈́́}̸̫̠̹̻͕̤̗̟̯̣̲͇̥̻͚̪̱͇͖̦̊͊͝
–Izuku’s mind supplied for him, and he nodded in understanding, filing that information away for a later date.
He gently nudged the other alien {pulvis- coloring unique, horn not matured, strong, possible threat to host E rank} towards the other two that were standing, tense and nervous. Even though he meant them no harm, but he had no way of communicating that.
{̵̧̞̞̒̎̍c̴̨̭̹̘̀͠ŏ̶͎̟ṃ̶̰̱̠̣̓̈͑̽̄m̴̨̟͔̫̰̈͂ų̴͕̭̝̾ǹ̵̝͇̜͈͖̓̅͆̃e̵̡̘̗̼͒͊̋͠͝?̴̬̪̻̹̉}̶̭̈́̈́
[can I speak with them?] Izuku was aware he was probably staring off into space, but that didn’t matter. He was busy focused on the feeling of the sentience that shared his body.
Its purr was the only affirmation he received and moments later he could feel a thread pull from him to the leader of the alien group.
—
Aiizwa jolted in surprise nearly hours after the mess earlier. He’d hoped to get some rest while Ka’tzuki fiddled with the contraband behind him and Eri watched the human. Even though it was simply staring off into space, its face changing and contorting in odd manners. He wasn’t sure how to feel about it. On one paw the human had saved Eri, but on the other paw he wasn’t sure how to act around it without possibly setting it off. It didn’t speak basic, and he didn’t speak the odd garbled language of humans. They were at an impasse.
{̸̨̣̞̐̂̈́c̸͓͊a̴̭͎͌͠n̵͚̗̑̊̅ ̷̤͇̍̍͝y̶̜̒̉̑ͅǫ̵͛͂̍ͅů̴̯̝̣̓̏ ̸̯͑h̶͓̀̏͂ͅë̷̪́a̶̜̓r̶͖̬̳̾ ̷̜̣̓͗ḿ̷͚̥ẽ̸͖̱̝͘?̷̩̀̏͆}̷̯̭͗
Aiizwa shot up, his eyes glowing red as he glared around for the possible threat. He hadn’t recognized that voice, and it scared him more than he’d like to admit.
“Wha-“
{̵o̷v̸e̸r̷ ̶h̵e̸r̸e̴}̷
Out of the corner of his eyes Aiizwa saw the human shuffle. It was staring at him unnervingly, a knowing glint in its eyes.
“Was that you?” He felt stupid talking to it since it didn’t understand him, but that was the only other sentient in their prison. But as far as he had known humans were unable to speak telepathically.
{̸̙̦͓̔y̶̨̩͉͌è̶̦͝s̴͕̾͜͝}̴̲̆͂
“You can speak‽”
The human tilted its head, its eyes squinted in thought before it hesitantly nodded.
{̵̧̢͕̈̄̿͘Ỉ̷̱̺̼̹̙͕̭̊̐̀͘͘͝͠ ̶̼̻͖̬̻̅̏̔c̸͙̊̑̋a̶̙̠̹̞͑̈́̄̂n̶̲̉̃̉̾͌̅̐ń̶̳̩̙̩̑ͅơ̷̠̫̹͐̓̀t̸̘͖̣̦̽͝ ̶̡̺̺̱̼̖̐̿̒̐s̶̤͎̯̩͓̖̰̹̒̀͌͋̾p̸͈͚̼͉̥͒́̉̈͌̆ͅȩ̸̩̹̗̝̜̥̱̈́̀̀͐́͘a̵̛̪͍͍̮͔͂́͠͠ķ̷̠̝̿͋̂͑̈́̽̄̐̑ ̷̘̇ÿ̸̧̦̠̭͈́͑̅̍̕o̷̼̰̹͈̝̺̾u̶̧̧̞͎̞̖͙̺̐̉ͅṟ̴͎̦́̏̂̎͘͜͠ ̷̡̤͎͈͚̟͌̑̿̃͗̕͜l̵͕̩̖̃̔͛̒̑̉̋a̴̛̪̜̞͂͋͑̌̈́n̶͇̿̅͆̈́͗̉g̶̢͖͈̔̆̀͠ȕ̶̺̟̰̱̌̎̂͗́͝͝ͅa̶̧̛̝̗̝̪̓̾̌͌͋̓̕͝g̸̰̋̓̿ë̷̯̦̺̬͚̖̥̭̎̓̐̀̒ ̴̢̗̤͈͙̘̅̇̒͐̈b̷̧͇̻̪͙̒͋͊͆̏̈́̚͝ụ̸̭̮͙̗͉̤͛͗̈́̽̎̎̕͠t̵͖̖̹̳̼̅̿̆̚͜͝ ̶̺̀̃̋İ̴̡̬͍̫̼̗̾ ̴̣͇̏c̵̡̙̗̼̿̈́a̵̡͉͚͍̟̼̪͑n̷̡̹̰͋̇̽̈͊͑̍̚ ̴͕̪͚̟͔̤̪͂̈́̀̽͗̓͜͠͝ͅủ̵̡̙͕̖̟͔̩̥̖͗̍n̵̯̦̹̂̄̈́̊͘͠d̷͔̞͙̾͒̀͗͘é̵͕̲̰͙̦̜̥̅̉͂̋̇͆̀ͅr̷̢̼̟̞͕̩͆͐̂̀̍́͘͝s̵̮̗̈́̐͜t̴͍͔̑̏͛̿̿͝a̷̟̱̙̩̰̐̒̈́̀͛͊͐̕̚ͅň̵̬̍d̶̛̮̜͍̞͔̲͙̰̰̑̓ ̴̡̦͓͉̺͎̝̦̀͐͋̓ȳ̷͓͈̯̩̤̪̠̣̓̀̃̀̋̀̒ͅo̴͕̖͔̱̿̈́̆̕ů̵̢͇̖̱͙ ̴͍͔̲̘͉̞͚̐́̾̈́͆̑͝ļ̸̪̲̞̩͚̪̓͊̌͆͒̑͒͠͝ī̵̜͕̝̳̅̋̊̚ķ̶͎̦͈̻̱͉̈́̈̆̽͊͂ę̶̨̠̪̥̒̃͊ ̴͔͆̉̾̈́́͜t̵͙̞̮͖͑̊͆̾͛̽̑͜h̷͍͔̽͂̑̓̿͛͝ỉ̴͕̜̆ś̶̢̹̺͉̻̜̭̘̄̉͑͂͠͝͠}̵̜͚̽
Its expressions matched the words that he heard. So somehow this human could communicate with him. But only him, the other two sentients were staring at him as though he were crazy.
“Can you-“
The door to their cell slammed open and their meal for the day was hastily shoved in before the section of that gate was immediately shut. The guard was rushed and didn’t notice the contraband in the cage, even if it had, it probably wouldn’t have done anything. News of the human attack had spread throughout the frigate, and no one wanted to go near the cage that housed it.
The human only grabbed a fluid bottle before shuffling back to its corner. Curling up and drinking the thick liquid with a what could only be described as a melancholy stare.
As he could step forward to grab their rations, Eri tugged at his tail, gently, and pointed at the human. A worried frown creasing her brow. “Doesn’t it need to eat too?” She murmured, almost quietly.
Aiizwa shifted on his feet. The human hadn’t eaten at all since it had arrived. Only partaking in the fluid bottles. It no longer seemed interested in their group, and any attempts that Aiizwa made to reconnect their minds was brushed aside.
The human coiled itself up and turned its back to them. A clear sign of it being done with whatever sort of communing was being done earlier.