Dog of War

The next few hours passed without much incident. They would look up from the pad occasionally. Oftentimes Miss Verdun was hovering somewhere nearby, but sometimes she was nowhere to be seen. Occasionally, she would ask if they needed anything and they would assure her they were fine.

"The Pad" was a rather interesting device. No battery life; its power was seemingly infinite. No indication for signal strength, everything loaded instantly without delay. Furthermore, it seemed capable of providing access to any information, any media they could think of. Free of charge, of course. In fact, it had no DRM, no upcharge, no microtransactions or any transactions at all. They knew the Affini didn't have a market and thus wouldn't have such things but it made the device feel truly alien.

 

The utter freedom of information had them borderline salivating. Information on the ship? They could look at the schematics, events, when the next shipments were due and of what. Information on the Affini? Everything from lessons on the language to their life cycle was at hand. Quite a lot of the information was geared to florets and... finding an owner. 

That made them want to wretch. But they couldn't give any indication of ill feeling towards such a thing. The intelligence said that was a sure fire way to wind up in the Affini's crosshairs.

No flinching. No matter what, we can't show weakness.

 

They had saved some of the lessons on Affini language for later, it looked rather straightforward. Apparently the Compact had engineered a dialect specifically for Terrans, and had gone out of their way to make it easy to learn. They had quite a number of languages under their belt already, picking up one built ground up for ease of learning should be a cinch.

Hours passed and eventually Miss Verdun informed them it was lunchtime. The interview would be soon. They were far from hungry of course, having eaten just six hours ago. She called it a Caesar Salad. They had heard of salad before, but never imagined food could be so green. Unfortunately, like the other meals, it was wasted on them; it likely tasted divine but they could only appreciate its texture. Still, they gave thanks both upon receiving and finishing the dish. 

 

"So are you ready for your interview? I can give you some Class-E if you are feeling nervous." Miss Verdun's voice was drenched with melody, and as beautiful as her form. Class-E, that was anti-anxiety drugs. They had the unacceptable side effect of loss of coordination. 

 

She's fake. Everything from her appearance to her kindness isn't real. Remember that.

 

"Yes," They said, keeping their voice level, "and thank you for the offer, but I'll be fine." The saving grace of this whole ordeal was that Miss Verdun seemed reluctant to cross their boundaries, as long as they were polite. They hopped out of the chair and walked into the common area, stopping to put on their boots.

 

They looked up to briefly catch Miss Verdun's gaze before shifting to staring at her chin as she smiled down at them. "Are you ready, little one?"

The eyes are dangerous. We have to avoid them.

They stood up, adjusting their footing inside the boots. "Lead the way." 

 

Miss Verdun opened the door to outside, and they had to stop themselves from gawking at the massive area that sprawled before them. The diagrams indicated its behemoth nature, but to actually see it was something else. There were all sorts of plants, habs, parks, murals, sculptures and what seemed like storefronts as far as the eye could see. Above them was an artificial sky, a false sun hanging near the zenith. The amount of wasted space could make even the richest quintillionaire green with envy.

Miss Verdun's voice broke the spell. "It's not very far and we can take a nearby tram most of the way."

They stuck near her, following at her side. The two of them  were far from the only pair out today. They spotted no shortage of Terrans and other strange creatures being carried or led around on leashes. Thankfully, any nearby Affini seemed content to dote on the individuals on hand rather than turn attention to them. Presumably either too busy attending to their own pets, or assuming they belonged to Miss Verdun.

As they boarded the tram, Miss Verdun turned her attention to them again. "Would you like some help onto the seat, little one?"

 

The seat in question was about chin level. A simple matter. "No thank you," they said as they placed a hand onto the surface, pulling them onto it as they hopped up. 

 

"I- very well." Miss Verdun sounded just slightly disappointed as she sat next to them. Maybe they should let her help? Just a little. From time to time.

 

No. That's how they get you.  

 

They had to make sure Miss Verdun understood that they were capable. The slip up yesterday about the way their scars ached was already bad enough. 

 

Miss Verdun spoke again after a few short moments, "We're here! the Captain's Office is just a couple meters away." 

 

Already? A comment would be expected here, right? "Quite the transit system you have." 

 

"Yes, we take great pride in our infrastructure," Miss Verdun beamed as she led them out. She hadn't been lying, the Captain's Office was nearby, they could see the massive door and sign from the platform. They gave themselves a once over, making sure their clothing was presentable. "You know, that offer for a Class-E still stands," said the affini.

They were fine. They had stared down rampaging beasts, whole raider clans, berserk Liquidators, and other abominations of flesh and metal. This was nothing, merely an interview that could see them immediately collared. "I'm quite fine, Miss Verdun, but I'll keep it in mind, thank you," they said as they tugged on the open sides of their unzipped jacket, straightening it out. "Do I seem nervous?"

"Well, no, but honestly the Captain makes me a bit nervous, and I don't even have to defend my status as an independent." Miss Verdun said. "But if you say you are fine then I won't press you," she smiled as she pressed a button near the door.

It opened, revealing a large, far more alien Affini.  Miss Verdun had two eyes, distinct arms and legs, corded vines in the shape of muscle; she even modeled eyebrows, indents to give the impression of fingernails, individual toes, and loose wavy hair that fell around her shoulders. She wore a dress consisting of large leaves, flowers decorating it and herself- predominantly pinks, whites and oranges. Alien, yes, but an alien that was distinctly Terran shaped. 

 

The Affini on the other side of the door could hardly be more different. Six eyes burned into them from beneath a mouthless mask. It had four arms with three fingers, emerging from a vaguely humanoid torso that rested on a tangle of vines. The vines looked more like roots than actual vines, gnarled and brown. It dwarfed Miss Verdun, a good one third taller and almost double her mass. Then, it spoke, it's voice echoing as it did so, "Ah, Beckett, we finally meet face to face. I'm Wy Flint, 17th bloom, Xe/Xer and Captain of this vessel. It is a pleasure to meet you," xe said, extending a vine down to them.

They grabbed hold of the vine without hesitation, giving it a solid handshake. "Charmed. Miss Verdun said you wanted to interview me?"

The Captain laughed, a deep, resonating sound, "My, my, every bit as fearless as your records indicate! Please, come inside." Xe moved back into the room, Miss Verdun motioned to them to follow.

They stepped into another wonderland. Lush alien jungle on either side of a natural stone path, leading up a desk with a branching path off to the side. They could hear the sound of rushing water coming from somewhere. A tall chair was set out in front of the desk, near it a mossy indent. Miss Verdun followed them in, walking behind them as the door closed. They took a breath to steady themselves. This was it. They were either going to convince the Affini that they had what it took to adapt and be awarded independence, or fail. It had all been for this one chance.

 

They mounted the chair, wondering at the fact that such a combat focused skill seemed so necessary here. Miss Verdun sat next to them in the mossy indent, legs untwisting into vines. 

 

"Well, I was going to ask if you needed help up, but it seems you are quite capable," the Captain hummed, "Is there anything I can get you? A drink perhaps?"

They considered the offer for a moment. Accepting might be viewed as dependent behavior. Refusing could be seen as rude or too fiercely independent. They already proved they could get into a chair by themselves. "Just a glass of water. I presume we have a lot to discuss."

  

"That we do... one moment." The Captain moved away from the desk, disappearing down the side path. They had seen that look before, heard that tone. Every inch of them was about to be judged, and harshly. They took another breath to steady themselves. The Captain returned, setting a glass of water in front of them with one hand, a pad in another. "Now we'll start this off easy, but I do have to ask some questions that may be stressful. Feel free to ask either myself or Camila for a dose of Class E. If you lie, you will be given a dose of Class D. This is not, however, an interrogation. We simply wish to know the truth. Do I make myself clear, Beckett?"

 

They nodded, "Of course." The Captain could claim this wasn't an interrogation all day long, but that didn't mean it was true. 

The Captain hummed happily, "Okay, so we have a few easy ones we need to get out of the way- Please state your full name." 

 

Ah, xe was establishing a baseline to test against. "Joshua Graham Beckett, but as you know I go by Beckett."

"Mhm." The Captain typed on his pad, "Gender?"

Why were the Affini so obsessed with something so irrelevant? "Male, I suppose." 

The Captain gave them a curious look, "You suppose?"

 

They could only shrug in response, "Gender doesn't exactly matter in my opinion."

 

"I see..." The Captain continued to tap away, "I'll put down 'Male' for now." The Captain was well practiced. Xe hid xer thoughts just as well as they did. "Age?" 

 

They took a sip of water to stall for a moment. How old was Beckett again? He was born in early 2524, so that would be... "I'm thirty-two." 

Another indecipherable hum. "Your occupation?" It didn't seem like the Captain had caught on at least.

"Mercenary," they stated, "but I've done other jobs that don't fall cleanly under that title, like assassinations and bounty hunting."

 

"And how long did you work in these fields?" Xe asked. 

 

They feigned as though they were pondering for a moment before responding, to help sell the earlier stall, "About sixteen years. The first four were with an unnamed mercenary company that did a lot of work covering up failed AIs and augmented super soldiers. After it dissolved, I spent the next twelve as a freelancer." Not exactly a lie. They had been with the company for four years and they'd been Beckett for twelve.

The Captain didn't seem to even look up from xer pad. "Ah yes, Camila mentioned that story to me, as well as your issue with the AI. Do you mind if I ask why it dissolved?"

Ah. Now that was a trickier one. Perhaps a bit of the truth would do here. "Well you need soldiers to form a company, and they didn't know I survived the massacre for some time. When they did find out, they were willing to look the other way. Insurance paid more for a total loss, and I was the only one that made it anyways." They did their best to keep the actual truth of that day out of mind. The last thing they needed was to be haunted by old ghosts.

Now that made The Captain and Miss Verdun exchange a worried glance. Perhaps... That was not the right play. It might come off as 'broken' or something. "I... I see. I think we can leave that subject matter alone for now. Let's talk about your time on The Valiant . How did you end up there, and for how long were you aboard?"

Ah, now that was pretty straightforward. "Simple enough story, I got an offer for a very lucrative one year contract with extension bonuses to fight in some war, and I said yes. Was signed onto the Valiant for six months, only for the Captain to turn tail and run at the battle for Cassius. We spent the next two years in hiding."

Now that certainly got The Captain's attention. "Oh? I do recall a few Terran vessels escaping when we took the planet, it's unfortunate that we missed you at the time."

They shrugged, "Maybe, but I don't think I would've come quietly then. Not better for all the people that got spaced for Affini sympathies. Although seeing that I very much value my own freedom, it is at least better for me."

 

The two Affini exchanged another glance before The Captain spoke again, "Yes I was going to ask, you started with a company of about seven hundred. You arrived with just under two hundred and fifty. Were they all... Executed for sympathies?" There was something in xer voice. Sorrow perhaps? 

 

"Almost all. Sickness and injury for a couple dozen. A few suicides. One guy refused to eat even one more synthcube until he wasted away. I'd say something like four-fifths of the losses were to the airlock and The Captain's paranoia, though." This was much easier when xe was asking about simple facts.

Miss Verdun broke her silence, "By the Everbloom..."

 

"That's... Exactly what the records we were able to put together state. I'm very sorry little one, I can't imagine what that was like." The Captain's vines twisted over each other.

Why is xe sorry? Soldiers die all the time. 

Yes, it's a fact of life. There were many times it was nearly their number that was pulled.

They decided it was best for Beckett to show some sorrow himself, looking down and putting a bit of sadness into their tone, "Well I made it through alright, and by my own means. So it's fine in the end."

"Well you're here now, and you'll never have to worry about that again." Miss Verdun smiled as she looked down at them. 

 

The Captain chimed in, speaking in a warm tone "Yes, after this if you wish to completely forget the ordeal, we will be more than happy to help you." Xe went on, "For now I just have a few more questions. You said you decided to come in of your own accord after receiving intelligence about the Compact. Do you mind sharing how you received this information, and what exactly it detailed?"

 

Ah, there it is. We've been expecting that one.

 

They recited their well practiced answer, "Well I spent a number of years growing a decently sized network of individuals that were or felt indebted to me, as a personal spy network. Most of these went dark just a few months after I signed onto the Valiant . Most of those never returned, but a few did, many months later. They spoke of the compact, the endless resources, the massive vessels, the florets and most of all the endless font of kindness each Affini seemed to embody. There were other things of course, such as how fighting against them is a sure way to get collared."

They paused as they took a drink of water, holding up one finger to indicate they weren't done. "At first I couldn't bring myself to believe such outlandish reports. But as more of them came back into the network, I had to accept it. They are scattered all across the Accord, they do not know who else is in the network, and they have no way to contact each other. I could believe three or four had become compromised, but over a dozen? And all giving different viewpoints on the same facts? That was a lot harder to ignore."

The Captain made another entry on the pad, seemingly satisfied. "Well, I'm glad you did end up believing them. Though I must ask, if you had contact with people in the Compact, why did you not try to contact the Affini?" 

 

The expected follow up. The truth would suffice here. "It was one way. The signals were encoded to look like slight surges in cosmic radiation. On the Valiant , all outgoing signals were very closely monitored. The one time I did attempt to send a message, I ended up having to pin it on the lead engineer, and she got spaced." They took another sip of the water as they gauged the reactions of the Affini.

"I- goodness little one. I'm not going to hold your actions in the wild against you but that's very bleak," the Captain said, ceasing xer typing. Miss Verdun's vines were kneading together.

"It was what I needed to do to protect myself. That's all." They said.

 

"I understand." The Captain sighed. "Let's move on. I'm going to ask you a few questions about the other day, and remember Miss Verdun and I are capable of giving you a Class E if you feel overwhelmed."

"This isn't my first after action report, Captain. Please continue." They made a small flourish with their wrist, signaling xem to carry on.

"... Very well." The Captain straightened up, almost looming over them. They felt something crawl up their spine that they hadn't actually felt in a while- dread? "I want you to run me through the events of yesterday and what led up to it. Why did you choose that day to seize the ship and what happened from your point of view?"

Breathe.

 

They steadied themself. They had expected this question as well, but where to start? 

 

The beginning, of course.

 

Right. Start with why. "After I had made up my mind to seize the ship, my plan initially was to wait until the Captain, first mate and I had a meeting. We used to discuss tactics. I was going to bind and gag them before seizing the bridge during the night shift when only two bridge crew were present. Three months went by and we hadn't had a meeting." They paused for a moment. 

"Obviously," they continued, "this initial plan didn't come to pass. I suspect they may have had some suspicions about me from the aforementioned incident involving the lead engineer. I also had been trying to goad them into a confrontation with the Affini, which would have ended up having the desired effect. I retrieved a listening device I had planted inside the Captain's office and discovered their plan. Any day now they were going to be in position to jump, aiming for Terra herself. Destroying it to keep it out of your vines." What a foolish, childish notion. To not just kill everyone on board but destroy what they were supposedly fighting to protect? 

 

"By the Everbloom, of all the insane Feralist plots..." The Captain mumbled, "Do you still have this recording?" Xe asked, speaking clearly.

 

"Yes,” they nodded, “you should be able to find it in my quarters. This accelerated my timeline. I needed a plan I could act on. Fast. I needed to eliminate both the Captain and the First Mate, as they had the codes to override any launch. The best opportunity was when the first mate gave the Captain the evening report. It happens precisely at 1600 hours every day."  They took a sip of water to quench the growing dryness in their throat. These answers were getting a bit lengthy. 

 

"So if you only needed to kill the two, why did you kill the rest of the bridge crew as well?" The Captain asked.

Was it not obvious? They shifted uncomfortably for the optics, "They were loyal men. They weren't going to just lie down after I gunned down the Captain and First Mate."

The Captain nodded, taking note. It seemed he did understand that much at least. "Okay, last question about yesterday before we move on." Did xe have even more to ask? What else could xe possibly want to know? "Just give me a brief rundown of how you seized the ship."

 

At least this one was easy, but the prospect of unknown questions was worrying. "I walked onto the bridge and drew my revolver. I slapped a micro-EMP onto the door control panel, frying the electronics. As the door slid shut and all present turned to face me, I fired five shots. The Captain, First Mate and the three officers nearest to me were dead before the door even finished closing." They folded their hands, placing them in their lap, "I advanced towards the last two, both of them frozen for a while. After I took about five paces, one of them went for the alarm panel, volunteering for the last bullet. As soon as I pulled the trigger I lept forward, grabbing the other by his head, and slamming it into the nearby control panel as hard as I could." His head had popped like a rotten melon, they could almost still feel it between their fingers.

Miss Verdun swore in her native tongue. Looking out the corner of their eye, they could see her vines practically lashing.

The concern on The Captain's face voice was palpable. "Stars... That is... Little one, are you okay?"

They blinked. Were they okay? Had the Captain's eyes ceased to function? They were sitting in front of them without a single wound. "Of course. The plan, as rushed as it was, had gone off without a hitch. I sustained no injuries." 

 

"That's... Yes I can see that." The Captain furrowed his brow. "But you killed seven sophonts, one with your bare hands, to save yourself, the crew and your home planet. How does that make you feel?"

Ah. Right. This was... Perhaps a bit of a tricky spot. Emotions were far from a strong suit. How could they explain this? Then it dawned on them, "Captain are you, perhaps, familiar with Sun Tzu?"

 

Xe blinked, "The author of 'The Art of War'?" Xe asked. 

 

They offered a slight smile. "Yes, he speaks a lot about how victory often requires sacrifice, avoiding protracted wars, and a lot of concepts far ahead of his time. It's been studied for millennia by the highest ranking generals to the lowest soldiers. One of the most intriguing ideas he puts forward, however, is 'Supreme Excellence.' It comes not from winning a battle, not even from winning a thousand battles, but from winning without a battle at all."

The Captain let out a long, low hum before speaking again. "I see. You feel like these sacrifices were necessary, but wish you could have secured your 'victory' without fighting at all? A very curious notion, for a mercenary."

They stared at the remaining water in their cup, giving it a swirl. "I never had much choice about becoming a mercenary, you know. Then it was just what paid the bills. A lot of people in my line of work take pleasure in killing, or causing suffering."

 

"But not you?" The Captain asked. 

"No." They took a drink of water, only maybe two sips left now. "I always tried to make the kills clean, or at least fast. There was enough suffering in the Accord."

 

"Do you see these killings as a mercy?" The Captain asked. 

 

There it was again. That chill. It took all their strength not to shiver. "Killing is killing. If you forget that you become a monster. I just don't see any reason to drag it out, is all."

We are fucked.

"I see." The Captain seemed to be contemplating for a few long moments, rubbing the chin of his mask with a vine as he made a long notation into the pad. "We got a bit sidetracked earlier, I would like you to finish describing the events of yesterday, picking up from where we left off."

 

"Of course." They were quite glad to be out of that part of the conversation. "After securing the bridge, I spent about fifteen minutes breaking into the control console. Once I did so, I put the ship into high alert and ordered every deck to procedurally vent except for the cargo bay."

"And why did you force everyone into the cargo bay?" Xe prompted. 

 

"Well the ship alerts its crew to brace when we are about to jump. An unscheduled jump would tip them off that something is wrong. If they had access to the bridge's door, they could certainly have cut through it." It was rather simple. "Having them in the opposite corner of the ship with a lot of vacuum between us was simply the safest way forward."

The Captain made more notes. What they would give to see those notes right now. Doing this much with little to no feedback was agonizing. "And after everyone was secured in the cargo bay, then what?"

 

"Well, that's when I jumped to Cassius." They straightened up a bit. "I figured there would still be some sort of Affini presence here so it seemed like a safe bet to guarantee an encounter. I managed to hail your vessel, and you know the rest." They displayed both palms open, a signal that their story was over. 

 

Xe made a few notes before setting the pad down. "Well, what you told us seems to match what our forensics team was able to find. I have just a few, final questions for you, then I'll need to have a talk with Camila, then we can discuss your future in the compact." The Captain seemed to smile with xer eyes. 

 

That xe didn't domesticate them then and there had to be a good sign. "Ask away." 

 

"First off," the Captain raised one gnarled 'finger'.  "What do you want out of life in the compact?"

That made them pause. What did they want? Saying they simply wished to relax could be seen as an invitation to have an Affini step in and make sure they never did anything of worth ever again. Similarly, if they come off as aimless or a workaholic could also be taken as an invitation for domestication. This was possibly- no, definitely- the most dangerous question yet. They had to choose their next words very carefully.

 

"I suppose," they started, stalling for a bit longer, "I wish to live in comfort, with only the worries before me being the goals and challenges I set for myself." That was... Not bad? Hopefully good enough?

The Captain gave no feedback of course, only nodding as xe held up a second digit. "What do you think of domestication?"

 

Was this it then? Had it all been-

No. Stay calm. Breathe.

Yes. The Captain only asked for our opinion. "I don't know much about it honestly, the reports varied on that subject the most. However, I think I've been treated like property enough for one life." That elicited a curious look from both Affini present. Perhaps they tilted their hand a bit much. They took another breath before adding, "I'd much rather bend than break. I think you'll find I'm quite capable of adapting. All I want is a chance to prove myself."

"Well," The Captain stood up, "that is certainly admirable. Miss Verdun, if you and I could talk in the other room for a moment. We'll be just a short while, little one." Xe smiled down at them, before heading to the side room.

"Oh! Of course, Captain." Miss Verdun snapped her legs back into shape, following after xem. 

 

Well. Nothing to do but remain calm and... wait.

-_-_-_-

Camila followed Captain Flint into the meeting room. Built with the comfort of over two dozen Affini in mind, this was where all the ship's decisions that were made directly by the Captain or its AI were made. The door closed behind them, Captain Flint spoke soon after, mixing some nutrient water for both of them. "Beckett is quite the interesting little sophont." 

 

An understatement if anything. "Yes, did you hear his biorhythm? It's... So strange." She continued to fuss with her vines, ruminating over the things he had said. 

 

Flint nodded, "I've seen it before, but only twice. He's almost completely disconnected from his emotions. It makes the biorhythm almost impossible to read. You have him scheduled for the vet tomorrow, yes? You should schedule him for some therapy as well. About three days afterwards, to let the Xenodrugs get properly into his system and do some work. I suspect correcting his neurochemistry would fix a lot, but he'll need a lot of help processing likely a lifetime of emotions. I would also advise against giving him any Xenodrugs outside of an emergency until the Vet can look at him. They can have unpredictable results with such sophonts." Flint offered her a modest glass of mineral water that she graciously accepted, setting it down and placing a vine inside.

Camila nodded, mulling over the advice. Wait, her schedule it? No no no, "About that, I think Beckett needs someone with more experience, maybe even an expert. I'm... I don't think I'm the best Affini to domesticate him." 

 

"Oh that's fine." Flint said as xe dipped into xer own water, "Beckett isn't being domesticated." What? "Not yet at least." What?!

 

"Surely you don't intend to give Beckett a Wardship!" She exclaimed.

"I do." Flint replied bluntly, "The little one has been nothing but cooperative, and he asked for a chance." 

 

This was outrageous! "Surely you don't think Beckett is actually going to wind up independent. He's almost a textbook domestication case!" Honestly, what was the Captain thinking?!

"Of course not." Xe huffed, "I suspect it's unlikely Beckett even makes it to the trial proper. However, he asked for a chance, and he's been quite cooperative. Letting him have his chance will help him come to terms with being a floret when the time comes." The Captain's reasoning did have a certain logic. Xe was one of the oldest and wisest Affini on board, after all. "Furthermore, I think you are uniquely suited for his domestication. He doesn't seem to regard you as a pressing threat. As a result, he is much more open to you than he would be with an expert in Terran psychology. I suspect Beckett is the kind that responds best to a gentle vine. If he feels like you respect him, he's more likely to accept your help. It seems he's already accepted you cooking for him and setting his schedule."

Still, Camila couldn't help but worry. "But what if he doesn't? What if he makes it to trial?"

"Beckett is far from the first to get a 'wardship,’ dear." Flint chuckled, "All we have to do is speak in favor of his domestication. As his guardian your word will sway most, as the Captain of this ship, mine will sway the rest." Xe said, touching xer chest. "We are merely giving him a long enough leash for him to realize that's not what he needs. Nothing more."

 

"I-" Stars, it was hard to argue with the Captain. Especially when she was already starting to come around to the idea of being his owner. The words of encouragement from her mentor only fueled that fire. Camila bowed her head, "I'll do my best with Beckett, Captain." 

 

"I'm sure you will, Camila." Xe smiled, intertwining a few of xer vines with her own, "Just remember I will always be willing to give you advice, should you need it. Now I think we should go inform Beckett that he is getting his 'chance'." Flint disentangled xer vines and motioned for Camila to take the lead.

She walked back into the room to find Beckett doing his breathing exercises. The little one was probably quite stressed, poor thing. "Do you wish to tell him or shall I?" Camila asked.

 

"By all means Miss Verdun." Flint deferred.

"We've decided the best path forward is a provisional Wardship." Camila announced. Beckett perked up, it was fairly cute to see him get a bit excited. "In four to six weeks you will be reassessed by a council and we will decide at that point if you need a longer wardship, domestication, or if you are able to live as an independent."

"Well!" Beckett exclaimed, clapping his hands together before hopping down off of his seat. "I'm very glad to receive this opportunity. Thank you for giving me a chance," He smiled, making Camila feel just a tinge guilty. It was, after all, a shot they fully expected him to fail. On the other vine, it was pretty cute to see him happy. 

 

"Of course, little one. I'm sure you'll do quite well." The Captain said, a mischievous twinkle in xer eyes. "However, I think I've kept you both long enough however, and I do believe you have some arrangements for this evening. You both deserve a relaxing afternoon." 

 

Beckett straightened out his jacket, "I'm ready to leave when you are Miss Verdun."

She smiled down at him. "Okay cutie, let's go home." 

 

Beckett followed after her as they made their way to the tram. There was another Affini riding this time watching curiously as he hopped up onto a seat by himself. "You know if you want," Camila said, sitting next to him, "I could help you up."

 

Beckett scooted a little away, putting a small bit of distance between them. "Thank you, but it's fine."

 

Recalling The Captain's advice, a thought occurred to her:  Beckett wanted to prove himself, and he didn't view her as actively attempting to manipulate him. This could be used to her advantage, "You know, being able to accept help is one of things we will be looking for at your trial for independence."

Beckett immediately perked up. That definitely got his attention. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you. Anything else I should work on?" 

 

Ohhh this was definitely the 'in' she had been looking for. Camila rubbed her chin for a moment, pretending to think, "There's a few things that come to mind, but we can discuss those later at home, okay cutie?" She could probably get Beckett to do anything she would be able to convince him was expected of an independent sophont. The Affini in the other corner of the tram smiled in a mercurial manner, clearly entertained by the scene.

"I see..." Beckett hummed, "Yes, we'll discuss it later." Perhaps it was a little cruel to dangle something in front of him she never intended to actually let him get. But the little one did need to do a lot of work to even have a chance at real trial, and helping him would let him realize how much better it would be to be owned.

 

The tram arrived at their stop shortly after. "Would you like help down, Beckett?" Camila asked, expectantly.

 

"I-" He began to protest, before changing his tune. "Yes, thank you Miss Verdun." 

 

Gently, she scooped him up out of the seat and lowered him to the floor, making sure his feet were firmly under him before setting him down. It felt good to handle the little Terran again. "Much easier on your knees than jumping down, yes?" 

 

"I suppose," Beckett said as they stepped off the tram. 

Camila took out her pad and shot a quick message to Cordelia, letting her know they would be at the Hab soon. The rest of the short walk passed quickly. Beckett's hurried pace was another thing to work on, Camila figured. She opened the door and the pair stepped inside.

 

Beckett kneeled down near the entryway, untying his boots, "Seems I'll be staying with you a while longer, Miss Verdun."

 

Possibly the rest of his natural life. "Yes, If you need anything to be comfortable here please let me know okay?" Camila received a reply from Cordelia; she was on her way.  

 

Beckett removed his boots, standing up, "Well if I'm staying here for a few weeks, a proper bed would be nice to start."

Well, that was simple enough. Besides, It would be hard to sell the pet bed as something Independents used. "Of course, I'll have one delivered while we are at the Vet tomorrow." She smiled. It was good that he felt comfortable enough to ask her for something. "Anything else?"

Beckett took off his hat, setting it atop his boots and running a hand through his hair. "A haircut might be nice, it's starting to get a little shaggy." It was unfair that he'd do that in front of her and not let her pet him! Maybe she could figure out a way to frame it as an independent thing?

 

Before that train of thought could progress further Jess chimed. "Miss Dawnbloom is here!" Ah, already? Well at least she could dote on Daisy.

 

"I'll see about getting you a haircut soon," Camila said, heading towards the door, "for now I would like you to meet my friend and her floret."