doggone

[repeatedprayer]

[In the time following his departure from Tabito and Manabu's company, the alias "Grey" has wound up sticking.

Not that everyone calls him that, he's used a few other aliases since then, but it's what he's wound up thinking of himself as. If Grey had taken the time to think about it a bit more he might have picked something with a little less connection to Rezo's name, but it's still leagues better than thinking of himself as "Rez- wait, no, just a copy." And maybe that's why he's felt significantly calmer since he left Sairaag.

By his own standards, Grey has been laudably well-behaved; sure, he's been mostly doing under-the-table psychic work, often on behalf of criminals, but! He's been trying to keep a low profile so it's usually things like clairvoyant spying rather than anything violent, and he's been making a point of not doing anything that directly impacts the galaxy railways.

It would be extremely awkward if Manabu Yuuki had to try and arrest him, after all.

He's found himself frequently thinking about Manabu, much to his annoyance. He has no serious expectations of ever seeing Manabu again, so it's simply a waste of mental bandwidth to find himself wondering what Manabu is doing right now or where he is, or to reminisince over their incredibly brief acquaintanceship. Grey can only suppose that because Manabu was the first reasonably normal person he got to know after leaving Sairaag that Manabu is going to stick out in his mind for a while.

And it's probably because of the real estate that Manabu is hogging in Grey's mind that he's been very aware of every mention of the SDF that crosses his path. He hasn't exactly been tracking the SDF's activities deliberately, but he does pay attention to the news and the SDF frequently winds up in there, even if Manabu's name in particular isn't normally dropped.

Until the day it does.

SDF Officer Taken Hostage By Pirates]

* * *

[It's taken several weeks of investigating, but Grey has been able to track down The Huntress's client, a Dr. Parish and associates. It must be a small galaxy, because Dr. Parish is someone Grey knows. Sort of.

Rather, Dr. Parish was a colleague of Rezo's who collaborated with the man on chimera research (and other unsavory things) in the past. Not only that, the man was an ardent admirer of Rezo's superior psychic prowess, and desperate to improve his own meager abilities.

He'd had quite a shock when Grey approached him in town, but after the initial surprise it had been sickeningly easy to convince Dr. Parish that he was the real Rezo. Grey can only surmise that the man wants to believe too badly to let himself be properly suspicious. It had only taken a day for Grey to be invited to tour Parish's laboratory.

The lab's located on the grounds of a former Marquess's estate, a ways out of town and secluded by trees, a high wall, and a long drive. Grey's done a little recon before, but actually being here is different, especially since he has to navigate by cane at the moment. Grey is doing his best to politely nod and smile as Parish guides him from room to room, explaining their work and occasionally handing him things to examine himself.

But evidently Parish realizes that "Rezo" isn't entirely interested, because he stops partway through an explanation of some stem cell experiments he and a few others have been working on to say "Of course, the really interesting specimens are kept in the basement floor."

Grey already knows this. He hopes his expression seems the right sort of eager.]

Interesting?

["Something along the lines of what we did in the past. Would you like to see them?"]

Nothing would please me more.

[Grey can practically hear Parish's delighted grin. To soothe the surge of irritation, Grey reminds himself that he's going to kill this man before the end of the day and allows Parish to guide him out into the hall and to the basement entrance at the back of the building.]

Comments

[siriusly]

[Manabu runs his hand through his hair, halted short when fingers bump against an ear. it gives him a fresh, nauseous wave and prompts his hand to fall away into his lap.]

...Yeah. I know. I'll try.

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey nods, accepting that as good enough. He might not have the trauma that Manabu has, but it's not exactly going to be easy for him either... How much of his investigation will he be able to write down without leaving enough information to put Grey himself at risk of being found after he runs away?

They'll both just have to try their best.

He waits for a few moments, watching a spot on the far wall visible above Manabu's head. Once he feels that Manabu's had a moment to rest, he asks:]

How are you feeling now? Do you think you can stand up?

[siriusly]

Mn.

[even if he wasn't feeling up to it, he means to try anyway. it's a matter of pride, you know? he hates feeling useless and feeble.

so: up again, but more cautiously. Manabu pushes himself up off the bed with a grunt, wavering again but planting his feet, eyes squeezed shut to cut out one of the sources of the dizziness.]

Nnuh...hh... [he cracks an eye open.] It's...not as bad now...? But...but moving...

[repeatedprayer]

Hm.

[Throughout the entire process Grey keeps a careful eye on Manabu, paying close attention to every little motion and noise he makes. Are those the symptoms of someone still on drugs?]

Can you try walking towards me?

[Grey takes a step towards Manabu, so that he's in range if Manabu starts falling over again.]

[siriusly]

[it's an embarrassing request for someone who very much wants to be capable of something so simple, but...

but he has to swallow on his pride and go with it for Grey's sake.

he advances, but hesitates, closing his eyes again.]

Auh...my head...spins each time I try to move forward...why is that...?! [his ears flatten with the displeasure.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Watching as he does, Grey doesn't fail to notice the way Manabu's ears change position either. It helps him put together some pieces that have been in the back of his mind, though he doesn't say anything quite yet.]

Keep going. What else do you feel?

[siriusly]

N-nauseous... [but was that just the quality of the first solid meal after a while? he doesn't know.

even so, he powers through it, stepping forward again and then planting himself in place to brace against the spin. again, his ears move.]

Uaa...Each step is like that! Why...?

[repeatedprayer]

[Part of Grey feels like he should be trying to gather more data... And another part of him doesn't want to force Manabu to puke up food he definitely needs. In the end, pity partly wins out...]

Alright, you can stop now. Try standing in place for a few moments.

[...Since Manabu's put emphasis on moving being the issue, maybe this will be easier on him?]

[siriusly]

Gyueh... [he gulps, planting his feet and shifting his posture, regretting it but going with it anyway.

he inhales, holds it, then exhales, tail lifting and drooping with the act.]

...I guess...I have to keep my goals smaller for now, huh... [to just stand there and not barf, for one thing.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey hums, doing his best to keep the sound neutral.

This... Really isn't good. Getting to Destiny is going to be much more complicated if Manabu can't walk or stand without wanting to throw up. Grey will goddamn do it if he needs to! But it will be much easier on them both if that situation improves.]

How is standing compared to walking?

[siriusly]

N...not as bad after a while... If I just stand here... [he smiles queasily.] Man, this is so lame...if just standing makes me feel so crummy. Four months, right?

Four... [four months, turning him into this thing.]

[repeatedprayer]

Alright, I'm going to move towards you now and hold onto you.

[Forewarning because he doesn't want to startle Manabu when he does it! Hopefully Manabu will not try to take advantage of that to dodge Grey's attempt to link arms with him.

Grey has a pretty good idea of what the issue might be now, but he wants Manabu to be in a better position for it than "standing around feeling nauseous and off-balance."]

I think we should go back to sitting on the bed now. Or would the bathroom be a better idea?

[i.e. hey manabu how likely do you think it is that you'll puke]

[siriusly]

Eh-?!

[hhh, hold onto him?! he flushes, tail sticking up with the alarm. he can't interject before Grey explains himself and keep Manabu from flailing.]

O-oh. Uh. I-I'm okay! I'll just sit! [the idea of having to be walked to the toilet is too embarrassing for him to stand while standing.]

[repeatedprayer]

[Holding onto Manabu is at least less flustering with Grey since he isn't being surprised by the contact this time. He's business-like about it, trying to act as more of a crutch than outright dragging Manabu to the bed. Albeit with mixed results, since being bossy comes naturally to him.

Once they're seated Grey lets go of Manabu and gives him a minute to catch his breath before explaining the situation.]

I believe the problem is your ears. While I can't rule out the possibility that drugs or the time you spent sedentary are also affecting things, the main issue is most likely that they've modified the structure of your inner ear, including the vestibular system, in order to reposition them. This is why your sense of balance is off.

[siriusly]

[though his face is still red, Manabu sits and listens seriously.

so the ears...messed up all of his balance?

he rubs at his forehead.]

So they messed with more than...just what's on the outside... [yikes. what else did they do?!]

[repeatedprayer]

[Grey nods.]

I doubt it was extensive. But the inner ear is still a delicate system- I should have realized earlier that there would be problems.

[He should really examine Manabu properly, now that he thinks of it.]

They were intending to replace your eyes next, before I interrupted things.

[siriusly]

Ehhh... [that makes him blanch, a creepy chill running up his spine, tail fluffing.] That, that's so messed up...! Auh... [he smushes both of his hands against his face.] Th-thanks for...getting there before that-!

[repeatedprayer]

[Maybe he should have kept that tidbit to himself? It feels bizarre to be thanked when Manabu is sitting there- sitting, because just standing or walking makes him sick- with a prominent tail and dog ears.]

If I'd gotten there earlier we'd be much better off. Instead, I wasted too much time investigating dead ends, and- [Wasting time hesitating, because going after Manabu meant putting himself at risk. It wasn't until a few days after he'd read the news that he'd really done more than think about it.]

-I could have started earlier.

[siriusly]

[Manabu's head tilts as he squints up at Grey, hands dropping to his lap.]

What do you mean? You have a whole life of your own to live! Having to drop everything for my sake...that you did that at all is way more than enough, you know?

[and without SDF resources, too...]

I can't even imagine how you got this far, just on a connection you knew ahead of time...

[repeatedprayer]

It wasn't like that.

[Grey looks down at his own hands, turning them palm side up.]

Manabu, most of what I've been doing since we parted ways was illicit psychic work. Sometimes it was harmless things, back alley medicine, escorting unauthorized immigrant ships, things that only the stiffest of sticklers for the book would take offence to. But I've been rubbing elbows with pirates, drug dealers, and all manner of reprobates.

[With a grimace, Grey looks up.]

That was how I was able to track you down. It was easy for me to find people who had worked with Captain Spear in the past- or other members of the pirate crew who abducted you- and get them to talk, one way or another. I didn't know that Dr. Parish was involved in this incident. I had no idea what he'd been up to for the past decade or so. His name merely came up eventually as a potential buyer for the people that the Huntress traffics in.

[siriusly]

...

[pirates, drug dealers...]

That's...the kind of stuff you went and did? Why? [he doesn't understand.] Does...does someone have something on you?

[repeatedprayer]

It was the simplest option for me, and I don't mind getting my hands dirty. I'd already known how to find people like that, and, well...

[He's a copy! He's not a person, he can't live the life of a normal person! But how does he explain that without explaining it?]

Do you know why I was using a fake ID? Because I have no way of getting a legitimate one. There are no records of my birth- [Creation.] -or where I've lived or worked or my medical history. I'm not a legal citizen of any country or planet, I don't have a fixed address. Even if I sought to change that, with my- personal history, I'd probably wind up imprisoned for my trouble.

[There's a flash of defiance in his eyes.] And my freedom is the one thing I refuse to compromise on.

[Not for anything or anyone, even Manabu.]

[siriusly]

...

[no records...none? no home...? how does that happen?

well, thinking on it, galactic orphans aren't just imaginary things - conflicts happen, records get destroyed, especially on more independent-leaning planets and colonies, but even so...]

Still, that...that can't be the only way to live free... [he has to believe that - it's part of what he does his job for!!]

[repeatedprayer]

It's the only way for me.

[But maybe that makes it another prison, just a more spacious one than he was used to.

Grey shifts, offering Manabu a tentative look.]

...It has its benefits, you know. I had connections that the SDF doesn't. I think that's why I was able to find you first.

[siriusly]

[it's the only way.

Manabu's stubbornness kicks in at that, and he immediately disbelieves. there's always a better way. better might not be sensible, but better will always...be better for people...

the black markets and shady pirate dealings are a cage in of themselves...no wonder he wanted to see so many different skies! there's not a lot of freedom without being able to move through society properly, maybe more than how restrictive society itself can be with all of its red tape. the trick is the balance between.

Grey's...not so much walking that tightrope as he is finding his balance and just standing in place, isn't he?]

You're...really content with just that?