Chapter Text
A dusty, sickly sun casts hesitant rays through a skylight whose panes of milky crystal have cobweb cracks in places. Plants of unknown origin wind their way towards the light along colonnades and half-broken, ancient balconies. Their leaves and thorns rustle softly. A smell of mulch and medicine fills the air of the improvised arboretum. Every now and then, a plant's mouth idly snaps at an insect or a lizard.
In a clearing surrounded by the peaceful gurgling of hydroponic plant pots, a vox array is set up on one of the lab tables.
In front of it are two men in lab coats and one in the flowing, dark red robes of the Word Bearers.
Fabius clears his throat, begins in a condescending tone: "Welcome Galaxy- ."
Arrian snorts. "Are you really going to start like this?"
Saqqara chimes in: "Better question - do you really want to do this?"
"Silence be damned! I didn't ask for your opinion or your presence!"
"This is my arboretum!" Arrian sounds slightly offended.
"Then why is he here?" Fabius points an accusing finger like a divine ray of banishment towards Saqqara, who tries to look innocent and fails.
"I wanted to do yoga. The demons like the plants", the Word Bearer retorts in a defensive-aggressive tone.
Fabius grits his teeth and snarls: "Neither of which is reason enough for you to be here spouting unsolicited criticism. But since it's my duty to educate you … here you go. Doing a podcast is something every Caucasian man in mid-life crisis did in the old days before Unification. I'm just following a cultural tradition."
"Midlife crisis? Every one of us has no idea how old we are! This is the Eye of Terror!"
"Arrian, you're exhausting. And one of the reasons I feel like I'm having a midlife crisis. Now for the sake of science, leave me alone already!"
"…"
"…"
"Good. Thank you. So … Welcome Galaxy to Doctor Fabius' thoughts on happenings!"
"Oh gods, what a hideous title!"
"I have to agree with Saqqara on that one. Not good!"
"I don't believe it! One more sound and I'll sew both your mouths shut!"
"…"
"…"
"Thoughts on happenings. Today I want to talk about ...-," he pauses, blinks irritatedly "…. Damn. You've thrown me off my game."
With more force than necessary, the vox array is switched off and an enraged Fabius leaves the arboretum. The clicking and clattering of the Chirurgeon can still be heard for some time, trying to calm its owner.
Finally Saqqara reaches out to the vox caster. Whispers "Hello Galaxy …"