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Been here for a week. Sitting on floor. Bored.
New Ones have no intent to kill me. Am captive— glass of cell, too strong to break. Why not dead, unsure. They scared to approach. When feeding time, or check-up time, scientists have guards. Always work quickly, as far from me as possible. More cowardly ones all but sprint to get away when done.
Debating if trying to get free a good idea. Wanted away from Elders anyway. New Ones, safer? Kinder? One in charge, bravest. Still jumps when I hit glass. Always taking notes. Trying to learn what?
(We new to planet. Learn about us? Sure. But what looking for exactly? Why keep me alive? Can’t ask— Viper Infiltrator in another cell, won’t speak for me. Tells me they trying to learn Elders’ secrets. Think she scared I tell them if she tells me what they want to know. Kracsad, I call her. She appalled by disloyalty.)
If they against Elders, then, like them better. But need to protect self. Need to know they not going to kill, if I spend too long unable to speak. Not that they much threat— they small with weak guns. If they had Gift, they would’ve used already. Their tech not impressive, but useful to them. New Ones, clearly scrappy and clever… but where is their strength?
Somewhat understanding New Ones’ feelings when they speak by now, even if not know their language. They not know ours, either. Don’t know how write, but, scraping claw on glass to see if it leave marks. Glass self-repairs. Good for doodling and not much else.
Soldier bursts in through doors. Recognize her— soldier tried to zap me in combat. Didn’t work first time. Broke their arms before second. Arms now in casts, slung over shoulders. Her tone as she starts chatting immediately is one I haven’t heard from New Ones yet. High energy. Out of breath. She looks around all over until she sees me.
Eyes widen. Teeth half-bared but closed. She comes to my cell.
Starts talking to me, very quickly, practically sparkling. She kneels down and puts her hand on glass. She leans close as she gazes up at me, as if I never hurt her.
Tilt my head. What is she doing?
Let out huff at her. Other New Ones startle, but she perks up. Asking questions? What is she asking?
<Oh, I’m sure you’ve met Diane,> Infiltrator says from her cell. <She’s the operative who caught the rest of us as well. She’s quite friendly and quite curious about you.>
Diane quiets when Infiltrator explains, mouth closing and calming. When I not say anything, she asks Infiltrator instead. Infiltrator replies, but I know her tone. After initial answer, she gets condescending. Probably insulting my intellect.
I warn her: <Don’t piss me off. I will break you.>
<From your cell? I’m sure you will.> Her tone not changed.
<Arrogant.> I growl and smack fist against wall.
Diane speaks up. Whatever she says surprises Infiltrator. Then, she keeps going, and Infiltrator mulls over words.
Infiltrators only ones told to learn human language. Guess this one is one who does most of talking to New Ones, but, don't trust her. Vipers like to lie.
<She’s asking about your burns,> she tells me. <How you got them.>
But this, probably truth. No reason for her to give a damn, so, must be Diane's question.
<Now you behave?> I snort. She gives me look, but I give her answer. <Earlier mission on Earth. Burning white smoke released onto field.>
Infiltrator relays to Diane (at least, she better be). Diane’s face sinks a little.
<She wants to know if they hurt.>
Odd question from interrogation. Just conversation? <Of course they do,> I reply.
After getting translation, Diane turns to scientists and talks to them. Some of them grimace. Lead scientist frowns into data pad, taps at it as she responds. Sounds uncertain, but not dismissive.
<She tends to advocate for us,> Infiltrator explains to me. <Diane’s asking about giving you pain medication.>
<Pain medication?> Other Elder subjects have access, but not Mutons. Told that combat stims make it dangerous to take. That it “not do anything” for us anyway. <Why does she care?>
<Apparently she’s always been fond of us, of the concept of us. Aliens.> Hear a smirk in Infiltrator’s voice. <It’s cute, but naïve. After all, the Elders know her weakness for what it is.>
Weakness?
She not scared of me. She wants to help. Doubt Elders would even understand— the self-serving bastards. Besides, stupid Infiltrator kracsad bitch would just believe whatever Elders tell her is bad.
Hmm.
<Do her arms hurt?> I ask.
A beat passes before Infiltrator asks my question. Diane makes face similar to when she came in, without baring teeth; the way her cheek muscles move reaches her eyes. Energy returns to her posture. Is… cheerful, playful. Kind of feeling only seen away from Elders’ eyes, behind their backs.
<She insists it’s nothing to worry about. They’re healing,> Infiltrator says.
That answer means yes, arms do hurt. But why smile?
<She’s admiring how strong you are.>
If she likes aliens, then… not mind pain, for chance to learn. Right? And am only Berserker in room. Other cells have Sectoids, Viper Infiltrators, Floaters, Mutons. But am only Berserker. Am new to her. More curious than she is self-protective.
She new to me, too. Never met person like her, caring to learn, unafraid of pain, happy to talk to enemy. Happy to see enemy. Like not enemy at all.
Put my hand on glass over hers. She smiles wider. Her eyes big, curious. Pretty. Diane is pretty.
<I want to talk to her more,> I think.