IV: MARS

memento mori.

Clink.

Malakai could do this all day. Just sit at his workbench and reload shot gun shells.

Clink.

Doing the same action over and over again was mind numbing, which is exactly what he needed after overthinking. It was his lunch break, and he'd normally eat in his room or his office, but he didn't want to risk having anyone stop to try and chat him up. He just wanted to be alone.

Clink.

Alone didn't include everyone. Rover was allowed to stay. He was tucked neatly under his charging port, the light on his collar blinking. Rover didn't talk, so he got a pass.

Clink.

Talking. He wish he wasn't reminded. Dakota had not said a word to him since he moved in yesterday. They're not exactly roommates, more like kitchen mates. Malakai lived on base in a one bedroom two bath suite. The room right next to his had a door that led into his kitchen. At the time, he didn't need that much space at the time so he left the extra room empty. But now Dakota has moved in, and he has all the same rooms except for a kitchen. Venus' master plan was to have them share the kitchen, because that would somehow help them. Why couldn't Dakota just get a micro fridge and call it a day? What did she think would happen; they'd sit down and eat together and talk about their day? Knowing Venus, that's probably exactly what she thought would happen. But no, they haven't had a real conversation yet. He left the door open and told him he could use the kitchen at anytime, but he hasn't yet. He must be eating his meals at the canteen like all the other new recruits. They'll get bored of the menu eventually. It's better to just learn how to make your own food.

***
"Good thing they give us three meals a day here, or I'd starve to death," Wenn said.
"Wait, you can die from that?" Dakota thought out loud. Fuck. This is what Dr. Panoma meant by him not being to properly filter himself. Wenn looked at him weirdly. He then grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the food line and then out of the canteen. He looked around to make sure the coast was clear.
"Can I ask you something weird?"
Dakota knew that was a rhetorical question, but he said yes anyways.
"What are you?" He said in almost a whisper.
Dakota didn't know what he was supposed to respond with. He didn't know what he was either.
"Wenn, I'm a guy, we've been over this."
"No, I know that now! I mean what ARE you? You're like...not human."
"Well neither are you." Dakota pointed out.
Wenn crossed his arms.
"Well you already know I'm half-demon. If you were normal, I should've beat you yesterday and you know it!"
Is he really going on again about losing to me? Competitive.
"I'm a bit different. But don't worry, I'm told by lots of people that I'm harmless." He assured him. Wenn didn't look convinced and looked him up and down looking for a clue.
"You're pale...you've got perfect skin...are more agile than me...yet you eat less...but you don't tire out quickly...Oh I know!"
Dakota waited in anticipation. Can half-demons read minds? What if he knew all along and was just playing with him? He's seen stuff like that happen in movies, but no one would actually be that mean...but Wenn IS half demon.
"You're a Vampire!"
"A what?"
"You know, the creature of the night. Sucks blood. Is immortal. Really pale." Wenn explained.
Dakota didn't know whether to laugh or scream. He really should've never opened his mouth.
"I'm a few of those things, but no, I'm not a vampire. I have blood."
"Yeah, in your refrigerator I bet!" Wenn accused.
Dakota didn't know if he was serious or not, so he just stared at him with confusion plastered on his face.
"Am I at least close?" He asked with open arms.
"If I say yes, will you stop so we can get back in line?"
"Yes."
"Then yes."
"Good enough for me!" He announced throwing his hands in the air. Dakota couldn't help but laugh. But the conversation had stirred something deep inside of him, something he had never been afraid of before: death.