The Beast

The Beast - Part 25

Gabriel had the choice to do whatever he wanted for the first time since waking up. He could go to Zu, she was definitely missing him. He could try to get sentimental with Pin, because he doubted their paths would ever meet again. But Gabriel chose to talk to Taro first because he came up with new demands.

He enjoyed the pattern of lights and doors, as he walked through the Spike until he reached the airlock to the Big boy, where he remembered that the ship was full of space purists and he just killed dozens of beings without batting an eye or getting injured. Luckily he was already awaited by the last person he would have expected, Verona. She was in a surprisingly formal uniform, no the uniform wasn't surprising. It was the fact that this was the first time he saw her fully dressed and not next or on Taro. They made eye contact but she was just there waiting for him to approach and Gabriel was not yet sure how to deal with the situation, making everything even more awkward.

He finally chose to break the weirdness with an open question and walked up to her: "So you're waiting here for me, aren't you?"

"I am." No follow up, nothing for Gabriel to continue the conversation, so he had to ask another blatant question.

"How does this work, will you be a supervisor of kinds or did Taro send you to 'entertain' me?" Gabriel couldn't yet expect anything from Taro yet, he barely knew the man he was supposed to protect.

"Would you like that?" Was her only response. Gabriel's inability to read the emotions of her cat-like face was irritating. Was that a practical joke? Was she making fun of him like Chip or did he just hear a serious offer?

"You have to be clearer, I have no clue what you meant by any of that. How am I supposed to talk to you, for this to work?"

"How would you like to talk to me?" Verona's body didn't move and her tone didn't fluctuate leaving him not a bit more smarter than before.

"Like a normal person, I guess?"

"Understood, I am here to make moving around the ship easier for you. There are a few crew members that haven't accepted you as the General's pet yet and he feared you might kill them in a conflict."

"I am no one's pet."

"Indeed, but he thought a white lie would be easier than culling the ship a second time in one week."

Gabriel had become suspicious by the way she answered: "Did he send you here because he thinks I am a danger and are you confirming all my opinions because you're scared?"

"I am here to make moving around the ship easier for you because that's my duty. Where do you wish to go?"

"Taro said, I can ask him if I have more demands. I do." He had given up on getting opinion's from her as she was clearly not willing to tell him more than he needed to know, for now at least.

"Very well, follow me. You are encouraged to remember the way because I won't be by your side in the future." She went into the ship and he always followed her one step behind.

And she proved to be right, the curious eyes from his last few visits turned into clear hate for him despite them not knowing a thing about him but none were brave enough to comment something, bringing up the questions if it was because of him or Verona.

"Are they holding back because of you or me?"

"I was told to make sure you don't antagonize the crew. Choose whatever feels better for you." That didn't help at all but he concluded that forcing more out of her would backfire.

They reached the all too familiar red door with the guards and entered. Taro was inside speaking with some other nians, Verona not wanting to interrupt their meeting guided Gabriel to the couch. He had waited for an appointment before, leaned back and rested his eyes expecting a long wait. He hadn't slept since his breakdown and killing took up a lot of energy. He thought about how great it would be once he finally got to go to bed and wake up knowing he wasn't on the same ship as Aina anymore. He could play games with Zu all day and Taro would surely give him a few days to get used to his situation.

He was ripped out of his dreamy thoughts by feeling movement on the couch. He opened his eyes to see Verona sitting down on his lap, her face close to his. That's when he realized that leaning back on the couch was probably a cue for her.

Deciding that words would only worsen his position, he picked her up and placed her on the couch next to him and continued his rest uninterrupted.