“Avery!”

Once the conversation was done, Avery excused themself and left the room before anyone could stop them. Despite DH’s protests–which were far milder than they had been when TO wanted to get up and get to work before eating–TO threw on some clothes and took off after Avery, catching up to them before they got too far.

Avery stopped at the corner once they heard TO call out to them, but they didn’t turn around.

“Avery… I-” TO paused, not entirely sure what to say. Should they apologize? A part of them felt apologizing was the proper thing to do in this case, but they didn't feel like they should! They were right, weren’t they? Everyone else agreed with the idea that Kei was too dangerous to let loose on the ship. Even Avery agreed with them once Flit laid out the situation in such dramatic words.

“... Flit was too harsh.” they finally said. “I’m sorry.”

“They were right though, weren't they?” Avery said, still not turning around to face TO. Despite that, TO could see how low Avery’s ears were.

“Right or not, Flit didn’t have to be that harsh.” TO whispered.

Avery shook their head and looked down. “I want to be angry, you know.” They whispered. “I was-”

“I know.” TO said.

“... but you were right, weren’t you?” They said, “You and Flit.” They shook their head again, “No… I don’t need to ask that. I know you’re right.” Their wings tightened around them as they hugged themself. “If we brought Kei on the ship, and they escaped…” They rubbed the side of their head where a dark blue bruise was still healing from the other day when Kei swung that pipe at them. Despite their lack of medical training, TO knew what that strike could have done. In most species, synths included, the side of the head was a delicate place and their instructors had taught them to exploit that back in training. If the hit had been harder, if Avery hadn’t moved when they did, if Kei had gotten their hands on something other than a PVC pipe…

“Kei could have killed you.” TO said. “I’m not exaggerating, they really could have.”

“I know…” Avery’s voice was too soft for TO’s liking.

“And you deserve better than them.” TO said.

“It’s really not their fault, you know.” Avery said, “It could have been you in their position. You could have been the one with the altered brain, and they could have been the ‘strange’ synth. They could have been the one making friends and falling in love.” They shook their head.
When we were on the ship I could tell they were scared, you know?”

“Scared?” TO frowned, unsure if Kei had ever been truly scared in their life.

“Kei didn’t have anyone giving them orders. They were supposed to give me orders, but they couldn’t and didn’t know how to think for themself. They could only follow orders and didn’t know why it was so hard. When they saw you take charge back at the portal, they looked just so ashamed of themself, and they didn’t know why they were like that…” They sighed. “I… I just wanted to help them, but they wouldn’t accept my help. I thought once they had the procedure done…” 

They hoped I’d be like you.” Kei’s words echoed in TO’s head, “And for that hope, they pressed me to submit to a procedure to mutilate my mind so it would be more like yours.” In this moment, it was hard to deny what Kei said.

“You… you tried.” TO said, “You did your best.”

“... I feel like they could get better.” they whispered, “But… we’re leaving tomorrow.” They leaned against the wall, “Maybe if I had spent more time with them when they were recovering. Or, maybe if I had tried harder before they had the procedure-” 

“That wouldn’t have done anything.” TO said, “Right? I mean… they couldn’t feel anything before the procedure, and you spent as much time with them as you could afterwards. 

“Not as much as I could.” Avery admitted as their ears dipped in guilt. “Sometimes, I left to eat by myself, or went somewhere quiet to read.”

TO heard the door open behind them and heard DH’s soft footsteps approaching. Avery turned away, “I should…” They stopped, and shook their head, “I don’t know what I should do. Should I get back to work with Lake, or should I go talk to Kei?” 

“Don’t talk to Kei.” TO said quickly. The last thing they wanted was for Kei to say just how they felt to Avery. “They Might try to hurt you. And you remember what Flit said, right? We don’t know how dangerous they could be.” 

Kei could be very dangerous to Avery right now, and TO knew that. The wrong words might hurt Avery worse than they could imagine. 

DH came up behind them, their ears dipped down slightly. “Avery…” They said quietly, “We’ll do what we can to bring Kei with us.” They said. “It won’t be pleasant on the way, but once we get to Apoikia with the other Chilacians…” 

“I Know…” Avery said. They closed their eyes and took a deep breath. “You have to make sure that there’s medication for Kei, and enough intravenous food to keep them alive… And I can’t help with any of that.” 

TO put a hand on Avery’s shoulder, turning them around, “Look.” They said quietly, their ears dipping as they saw Avery’s blue-rimmed eyes, “You just… if you make sure we have enough food for the trip, if you make sure all that prep is done, then I’ll have more time to see that we have the medical supplies we need for Kei.”

Avery shook their head, “You don’t even like Kei.” They said, “And if you had to choose, you’d leave them here.” 

TO sighed. There was really no point in lying about that. “You’re right.” They said “I don’t like Kei. They’ve hurt too many people that I care about, and caused too many problems for me.” they paused, their hand tightening gently on Avery’s shoulder. “But, you’re my Ankrya, right?” They gave a sad smile, “Family. We can’t just let them loose with us on the ship, that’s dangerous, but I will make sure they’re on that ship for you, Avery.” 

“You would?” Avery and DH both asked that question at the same time, both with very different movements of their ears. 

“Yes.” TO said, but then they looked at Avery seriously, “Just… do me a favor, and don’t go to talk to them. Just leave them alone until we get to Apoikia, ok?” 

“But they’ll be all alone down there.” Avery said, their ears dipping once more. “The only person checking on them is Goretta, and Mira brings them food-”

“Wait… they’re eating now?” TO asked.

“Well, yes.” Avery said, “They’ve been eating since the procedure.” They frowned, “That’s good, isn’t it?”

“I think so.” TO said. Maybe Flit was right, maybe they had developed more of a survival instinct, some reason to live beyond service to King Decon. “We can worry about that once we’re safe.” TO shook their head, “look, in less than a day, they’re going to be put under and put on the ship. They can handle a day.”

DH nodded, “And when they’re put under, it’ll be just like…” they hesitated, their ears flicking down, “well, like when we got knocked out… It will be just like a flick of a switch, and all the time they’re under will pass in a second.” Despite DH’s words, Avery didn’t seem too pleased with the reassurance. “What I mean,” DH said, picking up on Avery’s lack of enthusiasm, “is that they won’t feel the time pass, you know? They won’t be lonely.

“Look, like I said,” TO said, taking a step towards Avery, “For you, I’ll do everything I can to get them on that ship. Once we’re safe, once there’s no threat to everyone else…” They took a deep breath, frowning as their ears pinned back just slightly. “... If you want, I’ll give them a chance.”

Avery’s ears perked up, and they were suddenly so relieved and so focused on TO that they didn’t see the way DH’s ears flicked forward in utter shock. “You will?” they asked, “You’ll give them a chance?”

TO sighed, and nodded, “For you.” They said.

Avery gave a relieved sigh, their ears relaxing. “Thank you.” They said, “I know they’re hard to be around, but it’s not their fault. And… and I know we have to consider everyone else, but I really think they can change!” 

“I hope you’re right, Avery.” TO said. 

Avery nodded, “Me too.” They said, “But.. Well, I guess to have a chance for that, I should let you get to work, right?” they turned to leave, “I’ll go to the kitchens, and-”

TO stopped them, holding their arm gently as they pulled their friend back and into a quick embrace.

“I’m still sorry about Flit.” TO said, “They were too harsh on you.” 

Avery hugged TO back, “It’s fine.” They said, “They’re a Retiree for a reason, right? They survived a lot. I guess it’s because they’re like that, that they can just look at the bottom line of a situation.” They shook their head, “If you’re willing to give them a chance when this is all over, then it’ll be worth it.”

They squeezed TO once more, then let go and rushed down the hallway to get to the kitchens. TO and DH waited in silence until they couldn’t hear Avery’s footsteps anymore, at which point DH turned to TO, incredulous.

“You’re going to give Kei a chance?” DH asked.

“... You think I shouldn’t?”

“It’s not that, but you hate Kei-”

“For an excellent reason!” TO said, their ears flicking back, “They hurt you, they hurt GiDi, they hurt Avery-”

“I’m not saying it’s not for a good reason!” DH protested, “I’m just saying I’m surprised!” 

TO sighed, “Well, I didn’t say I’d just outright accept them; I said I’d give them a chance.” They shrugged, “If they can change, if Avery is right, and they just need more time, then eventually the Kei we know won’t exist, right? They’ll be someone else. But… if this is just who they are, then that should be apparent enough, and soon… Avery will have to see that.” They shook their head. “But… At any rate, if we can keep things calm for Avery until we get to Apoikia, then at least there we should have someone who can treat the shatter sickness thing.”

“So you are planning to go there.” DH said. “... Even if GiDi doesn’t? Even if GiDi comes back here, or continue elsewhere?”

“I’ll go wherever you are.” TO said with a light flush of their ears, “but Apoikia is safe, and they’ll have someone who can help Avery. Regardless of what I do afterwards… I need to make sure that Avery is ok.”

“And… speaking of being safe and getting off the planet…” DH said, “I was hoping to bring Avery back. Flit and Snout want to talk to us.” They lowered their voice, “About… the stuff we were talking about before in their rooms.” They glanced down where Avery had gone, “But I don’t think Avery is up for that right now.”

Confusion contorted TO’s ears for a moment, but then they realized DH was talking about the plan to keep King Decon from destroying all life on the planet.

“Right.” TO said, “And I’m guessing we should meet them in their room, since we know it’s safe there?”

“That’s what they said.” DH said, “Goretta already left, and I’m going to catch up with her soon.” 

TO nodded, “Alright, let’s go talk to Flit and Snout.” They said, “Let’s see if they have a plan.”