TO was to report to one of the offices in the upper level of the training center for their vocational training. This meant that while DH and GiDi had to rush off to get where they needed to go, TO had more time to sit and keep C12 company before they had to leave.

 

The door had scarcely slid shut before C12 spoke.

 

“I want you to keep a closer eye on GiDi,'' they said in a deadly serious tone. TO turned back to face them and saw that their ears were flicked back with concern.

 

“Keep an eye on them?” TO asked, “They’re doing fine though, aren’t they?” TO’s ears flicked out with confusion, “They’ve been doing well in training, right?”

 

“There’s more to your training than tests and placements.” C12 said, “You know that, don’t you?”

 

“I do?”

 

C12 frowned,“That one that hurt DH’s eye; 01Q10. What test did they fail?”

 

TO’s stomach dropped, “They didn’t fail anything.” they said quietly. They hadn’t seen Q10 since that day in the Medical Bay. “They attacked DH though. You’re not supposed to attack other synths.”

 

C12 leaned forward with their elbows on the little table. “There’s a lot you’re told not to do. There’s a lot you’re expected to do, or not do, without being told. It’s best to say that your performance isn’t just based on test results and performance.” they gestured to their hand, “There’s a reason the chips can record everything, and a reason why trainees are watched so carefully.” They tilted their head, “You’re smart enough… How many synths have you seen corrected for doing poorly in training assignments?”

 

In truth, none. “You mean you’re worried that GiDi might be corrected?”

 

C12 frowned, their lips pressing together, “I am worried about their obsessive behaviour.” they said carefully, “It won’t help them. Do what you can to distract them. Get them away from their theories and the news for a little.”

 

TO’s wings tightened around them as their ears fell back, twitching, “You are worried they’re going to get corrected.”

“I’m worried that their behaviour might affect their chances.” C12 said. “Just give them more attention. Spend time with them.” they looked at TO seriously, “I know you’ve been spending more time with DH. You’ve been sleeping with them almost every day.”

 

“I’m not doing anything!” TO said quickly as their ears flicked back in panic, “I’m not! They wouldn’t! I’m just-”

 

“I’m not implying anything.” C12 said quickly, “I am well aware it’s been mostly because of your wings. That’s well noted.”

 

“Right.” TO said quickly.

 

“And… I also think that it wouldn’t be surprising for such a thing to become a habit; You were injured, and DH was helping you with their medical training, so now you’re used to their company. Still, try to spend more time with GiDi. Try not to let them be alone too much, alright?” They gave a little grin, “Even if it does mean you spend a little less time with DH.”

 

“Of course!” TO said, “GiDi is very important to me! Even if it’s not in the same way that-” Their ears flushed blue, “That DH might be.”

 

A smirk came over C12’s face, but they made no comment. Though TO still didn’t intend to act on their feelings, it was good to have someone know, someone they could mention it to. After their conversation with C12 a couple periods ago, there was little point in trying to hide it from them. At least there was someone who could understand how they were feeling.

 

“Well, I know that.” C12 said, “And I’m sure GiDi knows that; that’s not in question. I just want you to make sure GiDi isn’t alone too much.” They leaned forward, “No matchmaking though.”

 

Their ears flicked down and burned blue again, but for entirely different reasons, “It was one try!” TO insisted, “And I thought for sure that GiDi and Avery-”

 

“And you were wrong.” C12 said, grinning, “I understand you wanted to help GiDi, but now is not the time. Just keep them distracted. I’ll be less worried when the exams are over.” they frowned, “Just… you or DH stay with them, alright? Keep them occupied.”

 

“We will.” TO said, “I promise.”

 

======

 

As TO was heading to the office where they were to do their vocational training, they passed by the spot where they had stumbled upon C12 and Snout so long ago. They couldn't help but think of that moment that started all this, that put the idea in their head that synths could be attracted to one another; could be romantic towards one another.

 

A normal synth would have been disgusted. TO had been embarrassed by intruding, but they hadn’t been disgusted. Now, as they passed by they couldn’t help but imagine that situation again, but with them and DH instead of C12 and Snout. They let it play out as they made their way to the office.

 

What if they were wrong about DH? It was a thought that had been lingering with them since their conversation with C12 about Snout. C12 was so certain that DH was like they were, that they wouldn’t be disgusted by such a thing. What if C12 was right?

 

TO didn’t see any evidence. Besides that, even if C12 was right, even if DH could feel romantically inclined towards other synths, what was the proof that they’d feel that way about them! They didn’t want to risk it.

 

Even if they did want to risk it, C12 warned them that it’d be best to wait until they were away from the training center for their placement; that was only 30 days away. A lot could happen in 30 days. Maybe DH would take note of how they were acting, and realize how they felt. Maybe their ears would twitch oddly – like C12 and Snout’s ears had that day in the hallway– and DH would see that and just know.

 

Maybe DH wouldn’t even notice, even if TO’s ears did twitch like that.

 

They shook their head. No, that was nothing to worry about right now. Right now, they had to worry about GiDi. They had to focus on their friend, and see them through their training.

 

======

 

The numbers on the door read 5-564; that was the office that TO was supposed to report to. They scanned in and the door slid open to reveal a plain looking room with several synths all sat at different consoles. They had earpieces hooked into their ears and were going over what looked like reports. There was one synth sitting up at the other end of the room- their desk was larger and they had several screens hanging in the air before them. When TO entered, they were the only one to look up from their work. As soon as they set eyes on TO, they closed up all their screens and got up.

 

“You must be 09T07.” they said as they looked over TO. “It’s not often I get someone here for vocational training”

 

“It’s not?” TO asked as they took a step back. This officer, dressed in a black uniform with white stripes on the shoulders, looked at TO in such a way that it felt like like they were being examined.

 

“In fact.” they said as though TO hadn’t said anything, “I have personally never had a trainee with me before. But, I’ve looked through your records, and I believe you’ll work well enough.” They gestured to a door in the back and beckoned for TO to follow them. Inside was the same kind of office that TO had seen everywhere else. The officer sat down first, and TO sat across from them.

 

“You must be recognized for something.” The officer said, “Well, there’s plenty for you to be recognized for, isn’t there.” They started pulling up new files, “Exceptional performance in preliminary training, a good comprehension of other synths, quick thinking.” they flicked their eyes up at TO, “You do realize that if you’re here with me for vocational training, then they have you in mind for an officer position when you’re done your placement, yes?”

 

“I… I didn’t.” TO said as their ears flicked back and burned blue. Just today, C12 was saying they’d be a good trainer, or an Overseer. Now they were being told they were on a track to be an officer?

 

“Have you not considered where you might be placed when your training is done?”

 

“Not until very recently.” TO admitted, “And even then I’ve only been told what I’d be good at.”

 

“I see.” The officer said. They closed their windows, “Tell me; what do you want to do?”

 

“ I will gladly work where I am placed.” TO recited.

 

“Correct.” The officer said, “But where do you -want- to work. What do you want to do?”

 

TO felt their ears flick back and out in worry and confusion. Want? They weren’t supposed to want to do anything but- “... I want to serve King Decon?” They offered.

 

“Obviously.” The officer said, “But that’s not what I’m asking; What. Do. You. Want. To. Do.”

 

Panic raced through TO. They glanced around, their eyes lingering on the white lines of the Officers uniform, on the circle over their heart that bore the assignment E45.

 

“...I don’t know.” They finally admitted, “I like to fly. I’m good at puzzles. I’m apparently a good trainer.” they glanced up to E45’s face. These weren’t questions that TO was used to being asked. At first they wondered if this officer was strange, but if they were it wasn’t in a way TO was familiar with; they had a keen but cold expression, and their ears hardly moved. TO looked away quickly, “I’m mostly just focused on doing well right now.” They felt their wings tighten around them, “I didn’t know it was something I should think on, or that I would have a choice.

 

“Well, you won’t.” E45 said, “You’ll be assigned where you’ll be most useful. However, I have found that a personal preference to certain jobs improves efficiency. That’s my job here. I improve the overall efficiency of this training center; I’m head of Operational Efficiency. ” they frowned, “It’s more important than many people think. This is a training center, but it’s also a food production center, a weapons production center, a hatchery, a vocational training center, and a defensive military outpost. Should we end up isolated from the rest of King Decon’s army, we would need to survive on our own. If we were attacked, we’d need to defend ourselves. This center is basically a tiny planet freely floating in the void of space, and it must be able to sustain itself. If it’s not efficient, then it won’t survive. Do you understand?”

 

“I.. yes, I do.” TO said.

 

“Do you really?”:

 

Panic flooded through TO; had they said something wrong? “I… We need to make sure things run properly so that we can keep surviving?”

 

E45 pressed their lips together in contemplation, “Close enough.” they said, “No matter.” They opened a file and after a moment of them fiddling with it, TO heard an alert on their chip.

 

“There.” They said, “I’ve decided you need your own project while you’re here. I’ll be assisting of course.” They brought up another screen and turned it towards TO. The screen had a lot of numbers on it, all colored in red green.

 

“Our goal is constant advancement.” E45 said, “Constant growth, to assist King Decon. We have an idea of how much each different section of the center is supposed to grow. When a certain section falls behind, we investigate.” They scrolled through the numbers and landed on one where all the different numbers were highlighted in bright red. “Right now, Repair and Recovery is lagging far behind the rest of the sections.”

 

TO looked at the numbers before them, trying to make sense of the percentages that they were presented with. There were numbers spanning through periods, spans, and whole cycles.

 

“Why is it red?” TO asked, “These numbers are going up, they’re higher than the previous numbers; Everything is in the positive.”

 

“They’re not improving as much as we expect them to.” E45 said. “The projected growth is the bare minimum that we expect. They are not making that. They are failing.” They tilted their head at TO, “And that ‘s going to be your project. I”ll be taking you through the investigations, and showing you how we deal with such a situation. I want to see how you deal with this, and how you see that this group Improves.” They leaned forward and gave TO that look again; that look that made TO feel like they were being analyzed, “I’m very interested in your process.”

 

Was this an assignment, or a hidden test, like C12 had been alluding to. TO didn’t know, but they knew they had to do very well in their assignment for this period.