TO nearly walked right into DH as they approached the little room that they shared. DH was up, dressed, and was about to bolt out the door just as TO was placing their hand against the chip reader.
“What? What’ s wrong?” TO asked as they looked over DH. DH’s ears were pinned back, and twitched with panic and worry; their eyes were wide and seemed like they were trying to take in everything at once. “Did something happen?”
After looking at TO for just a moment, DH relaxed and gave an irritated sigh, “I woke up, and you weren’t here.” they grumbled, “I was worried something had happened to you.”
“They seem like they were worried about you.” Avery said, amused, “You should have told them where you were.”
TO felt their ears warm up as they mumbled an apology, “I honestly though I’d be back before you woke up.” they said, “I only went to take a shower.”
“You could have woken me.” DH said with a hint of sadness as their ears flicked down.
“You were asleep!’ TO said as they ushered DH back into the room, “I didn’t want to wake you up unnecessarily.” Technically true; when they woke up earlier they didn’t want to wake up DH for anything less than the nuclear implosion of the entire training center.
Even then, they’d probably have hesitated a little.
“Yes… Well, I panicked. I worried that maybe they decided to separate us before we actually got sent off.” DH muttered, their ears flushing slightly, “I was worried.”
“...Should I leave?” Avery ventured, edging towards the door, “You two-“
“No, it’s fine!” TO said as they gently took Avery by the arm and led them to the unused bed, “It’s perfectly fine.”
“Yeah, it’s fine.” DH repeated, though their ears were still pinned back just slightly. They shook their head, and took a long, deep breath, “Sorry. I was worried… Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.” TO said.
“Same.” Avery said, “I wanted to shower first.”
TO glanced from Avery to TO, then turned away, “Right.” They muttered, “Well, let’s see if we can get this dispenser working.”
After fiddling with the dispenser for just a moment, TO discovered all they had to do was place their chips against a chip reader set in the wall, and the food dispenser would give them what they needed. It even worked for Avery, even though they weren’t assigned to the same room.
“I was worried it wouldn’t work!” TO said as Avery got their food.
“We’re going to be here for less than a day.” DH said, “So it doesn’t make sense to program in the new synths to each one; it’s easier to just let the scanners work for any active call number. There’s a chance that it works even for trainees.” they gave a little, satisfied smile, “In fact, a lot of non-essential locks do just that; any synth in the system can open the locks up to a certain point.”
“How do you know that?” Avery asked.
“I learned it when I had my first vocational placement down in programming.” DH said, “I preferred working in the medical bay, and I was better at that, but programming just clicked for me after a little and I kept up with it. It’s almost like a hobby now.
Avery smiled, “I’m glad you enjoyed some of your placements.” they said, “I didn't. I just wanted to finish them and get back to my reading.” They sat down awkwardly across from DH, who was now sitting on the unmade bed that they and TO had slept in.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now, I think.” TO said as they sat down next to DH, “You’re done, and you got your placement.”
“And I think I did well enough that I won’t end up on the fron-” They cleared their voice, and held up their hand to gesture at the chip, “I won’t end up… squandering my potential for King Decon.”
The front lines. Well, C12 had been a retiree, but had ended up on the front lines, hadn’t they? Still, it would be much safer to avoid that, to avoid being placed on the ground on some strange planet or even placed in space combat.
“You’re still highly competent.” TO said carefully, “I think you’ll have no problem finding a way to serve King Decon for a long time to come!”
DH frowned, then leaned forward, gesturing for TO and Avery to lean in as well, There wasn’t much room between the beds so they ended up with their heads all quite close together.
“Weren’t we told that we wouldn’t be observed as much when we finished our training?” DH asked, “Why are we worried-”
“I’d rather wait until we’re out of the center to relax a little on that.” TO whispered back, “Just in case.”
Avery gave TO a hard look, “I suppose that makes essential conversation impossible for the time. I hope that you don’t worry about such things once you’re gone from the training center.”
“What?” DH asked, clearly confused at the sharp intake of breath that came from TO.
“I’m Just thinking that it’ll be nice when you two can enjoy real conversations again.” Avery whispered before they pulled away, “Still, this isn’t so bad. We’re left alone while we wait, and we don’t have any training to do. We really just have to wait before we’re sent off.”
“Speaking of being sent off!” TO said, happy to pull the conversation far away from whatever was on Avery’s mind, “guess who Avery got assigned with!”
DH paled, their ears flicking back, “Someone… good, I hope?”
Avery gave a sigh, “It’s really not a big deal.” they muttered.
“55H75.” TO said as their ears flicked back. “They’re assigned with 55H75.”
DH’s ears dipped down, their eyes widening with horror as they turned to Avery, “Are you going to be ok? What are you going to do?!”
Avery gave a deep, irritated sigh as they dropped their food back on their plate, “I’m going to perform my task!” they said, “I’m going to go on assignment, I’m going to work, I’m going to do my best to fix things, and I’m going to read my books when I’m done with that. I don’t think I’ll even speak to 55-” they stopped themself, sighed, and rested their head in a hand, “Hru-13. I don’t think I’ll even speak to Hru-13.”
“... That’s their new assignment?”
“Yes, Heramu is the planet we’re being sent to. It’s just a farming colony close to Arkane!” they gave DH and TO very hard looks, “I will be fine! I’ll work, I’ll read, and I’ll stay in contact with both of you!”
“But... if you get lonely-” DH started, but Avery cut them off.
“Then I’ll be a little sad for a while. That can’t be helped. I’ll be less sad knowing I have friends out in the galaxy.”
TO stopped, their worry for Avery fading as they leaned forward, grinning as their ears twitched happily.
“What?” Avery asked, confused. TO didn’t answer right away, they just looked at Avery with that smile. “What is it”? Avery demanded
“I know what it is.” DH said, a grin creeping over their own face, “That’s the first time you actually called us your friends.”
Avery’s ears flattened in irritation as their eyes narrowed, “Obviously we’re friends.” Avery snapped.
“Yes, but that’s the first time you actually called us friends.” DH said as they started to grin.
“I hugged you!” Avery said, “Less than an hour ago. I speak to you both at least once a day. I figured it was obvious-”
“Still nice to hear it!” TO said, “that’s all.”
Avery sighed and shook their head, “More and more, I understand how you two got GiDi so irritated at times.” they muttered. Still, there was no malice to the statement, “You’re both morons that need things spelled out for them.
“Anyway!” DH said quickly as they learned forward, “Tell us what you’re going to have to do on Haruma!”
“Yes! Tell me more!” TO insisted. THe way Avery spoke, it felt like they were trying to make DH suspicious. Maybe they were, and TO was glad for another change of topic.
======
It wasn’t long after they had finished eating that Avery got called away to prepare to leave the training center. There wasn’t time to a prolonged goodbye, just quick hugs.
“Alright, It’s fine!” Avery said as DH started to sniffle. “I said I’m going to be just fine! I’ll be in touch, and I’ll be fine! I’m more worried about the two of you.”
“Yes, but… It’s sad.” DH muttered, “We might never see each other again.”
“Maybe not… and…” Avery’s ears dipped down, “That is sad, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sad… but I’ve been prepared for this. I’m ready for this.” They pulled away and gave DH a hard look, “The two of you are going to a dangerous place for an undetermined period of time; you should be more worried about yourselves!”
DH shook their head, “We’re assigned together; we’ll be fine!”
Avery gave DH a long look, then shook their head. “That’s all you need?” they asked, “So long as you two are together?”
“Of course!... right?” They looked over to TO, “So long as we’re together, we’re fine, right?”
“Right!” TO responded without hesitation
Avery shook their head and let DH give them one more hug before they let go. “Well, work hard.” They said as they went up to TO. “I guess I already gave you a -”
Before Avery could say anything rlse, TO pulled them into a tight hug. “Be careful. Be safe. Don’t let 55H75-”
“Hru-13”
“-say anything to upset you.”
“They won’t. I don’t care what they say, so they can’t really hurt me.” They gave TO a quick squeeze, “As for the two of you… Be careful. Dont’ be reckless. TALK to one another.” They looked back at DH, “Both of you…. That’s what GiDi told you to do before they were taken away, right?”
“But... we do talk to one another.” DH said.
Avery shook their head as they pulled away from TO, “Talk more.” they said. They gave TO a pointned look, and went to the door, “And don’t forget to let me know how you’re doing, and how it ALL goes, alright?”
“We won’t!” TO said quickly, feeling their ears start to warm up; Avery was being far too obvious to TO’s liking, and they were directing too many of these warnings to them.
Still, if DH didn’t know by now, either they were incredibly dense or they were purposefully ignoring all the hints that Avery was dropping, and all the clues that TO hadn’t been able to hide.
“Promise?” Avery said, staring at TO.
“Promise.” TO said.
“Yeah, I promise.” DH muttered.
“Good.” Avery said. The door opened, and they stepped through, “And who knows… maybe we will see each other again.” They gave a small smile, “Well, until then.”
The door closed.
Avery was gone.
