Carpathia IV: Episode 63 - Reconciliation
Space, NCCS Shadowdancer
Kit: Rock.
A fair distance away, close enough to be in earshot but far enough to not be a distraction to Kit, Teek recorded while Amenaru took notes, as ordered. That Teek was placed in charge of doing the recording was ultimately fortuitous because holding a camera pointed at Kit and the blobby was about all he could manage. He was only dimly aware of how he was recording while he stared, slack-jawed, while watching Kit build a rapport with the creature, something he expected to be impossible.
Glancing to his side, Teek saw that Amenaru was close. While keeping his camera trained on Kit and the blobby, Teek slid slowly toward Amenaru. For his part, Amenaru's note-taking already slowed to a crawl, a sharp contrast from the furious scribbling from before. As Kit settled into a groove, learning the words of various items, there wasn't much left to do but repeat the same observations over and over.
Amenaru acknowledged Teek's approach with a quick side glance and continued working.
Teek: I have been such an idiot.
Teek's voice was hushed so that Kit could not hear and Amenaru wasn't sure, at first, if he'd heard anything at all. Finally, Amenaru stopped writing and glanced to his side at Teek again.
Amenaru: Mm?
It was all Amenaru could manage as a response, as he knew that any other noise he might utter would be sarcasm. Not because he disliked Teek, but simply because his brain was wired that way. The sincerity of Teek's voice was clear and sarcasm would only derail the moment.
Teek: I always believed... I guess I was always told that the only way to get ahead was to suck up and make friends in high places.
Amenaru: Well, you're not wrong. There's more to it than that, though.
Teek nodded, keeping his head low.
Teek: I know. I used to hate Kit because I thought he got ahead with no effort at all. I was stupid to think that. I mean, look at him go. He's a genius. I should have known he had to be good to get on a ship like this.
Amenaru: That's true. We may be weirdos, but Commodore Amaranth didn't pick losers for his crew.
Teek: That's the thing, though! I wasn't picked. I was assigned here.
Amenaru now stopped writing entirely and his ears twitched on his head. It was well-known that Commodore Amaranth hand-picked more of his crew than most and Amenaru thought that he picked the entire bridge crew.
Amenaru: Really? I didn't know that.
Teek: I used to think he doesn't belong here. Now, I think I'm the one who doesn't belong here.
Not long ago, Amenaru might have agreed, but not now.
Amenaru: I don't think that's true. Even if you weren't selected by Commodore Amaranth, I think someone in Command thought this is the best place for you to be.
Teek looked up at Amenaru for the first time since their conversation began.
Teek: I don't know about that.
Amenaru: Nobody gets it right the first time here. Not you. Not Kit. Not me. When you finally realize you have made it, it's a great feeling. I'm glad Captain Valro is continuing the tradition. I'm sure he picked Commander Joust as First Officer not just because he's a good choice, but to send a message too.
Amenaru paused to watch Kit holding up an orange tulip for the blobby to examine.
Kit: Flower.
Amenaru wrote that Kit was now introducing flowers to the creature.
Amenaru: I just hope Kit can find his way. I don't know what happened to him before he came here, but it must have been awful. It's great to see him come out of his shell, even for a little while.
Teek: You like him, don't you?
Amenaru sighed as he looked up at Kit, still working out the word "flower" with the blobby.
Amenaru: I do. I don't know if he'll ever like me back, though. It's like he's afraid to get close to anyone. Still... he's smart. He's cute. He's surprisingly strong. And I like the way his tail goes all wibbly right before he farts.
Teek held his hand up to his snout and giggled while Amenaru looked for any change in Kit's rapport with the blobby. Kit held the tulip to his nose and sniffed.
Kit: Smell.
Amenaru: Oh, he's moving on to more abstract concepts now.
Amenaru scribbled this new development into his tablet while Teek looked on.
Teek: Unbelievable that he's gotten this far this quickly. They'll be having a real conversation before long.
Each continued their work in silence for a time, with Amenaru continuing his journal and Teek keeping his camera pointed at Kit and the blobby.
Teek: How did your family react when you joined the Academy?
Amenaru stopped, needing to ponder the question for a short time.
Amenaru: Mom took it fine. Dad wasn't keen at first. I did my first and only music tour with a new band when I was 16 and it was a disaster in every way it could have been a disaster. Even after that, he still wanted me to go on tours and be a professional musician.
Amenaru put his hands on his waist and swivelled his hips comically while affecting a grumpy, middle-aged man voice.
Amenaru: "No son of mine is going to join the military! You're going to be a musician like your father!"
Teek giggled again while Amenaru continued.
Amenaru: He warmed up to it eventually. Since I joined, experiencing the thrill of space, my music has gotten better and now he's an enthusiastic supporter. I love music and that's why I don't want it to be my job.
Teek nodded.
Teek: I understand that. I like games, but I would never want to be a professional gamer. It would suck the fun out of it.
Once again, each returned to silence as they focused on their tasks. The next time Teek spoke, it was in a low, meek voice.
Teek: I owe you an apology... and an even bigger one to Kit. I've been such a pest.
Amenaru's writing slowed to a crawl as he processed Teek's words.
Amenaru: I'm sorry too. I let myself get carried away. I should know better. You're really good at what you do, you know. I'm glad you're here.
Teek lowered his head and managed a small smile.
Teek: Thanks. You know, I hear that the senior officers have started a game night together. Maybe we should do that. You, me, Kit, and Phobos.
Amenaru: I heard they play Adventure Time. I don't know that game, though.
Teek: I have a box of Stellar Sorcery cards. We could play that.
Amenaru: I'm in! I have a box too. If the others don't, I'll bet the two of us have enough to share.
Teek: Let's arrange that. I need to apologize to Kit anyway, so I'll ask him.
Amenaru: I'll take Phobos.
Both returned to their duties in silence for some time with Teek adjusting his camera and Amenaru taking notes on his impressions of the moment. Kit continued to make rapid progress, moving next to colors, for which Amenaru wondered in his notes if the blobbies could see colors in the same way that humans or nekomi would. A risky move but could spark a leap in progression, he thought and wrote.
Once again, it was Teek who broke the silence, this time with a smirk.
Teek: You're still a flouncy idiot.
Amenaru smirked and glanced at Teek from the sides of his eyes.
Amenaru: And you're still an insecure dinosaur.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
