He watched her eyes follow the trail of smoke as it danced upward, only to disappear into the night sky. The ghost of a cynical smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, flattening a fading white scar across his jaw. Lips parting, he took hold of the cigarette, ash falling from its tip, and held it out to her - fully expecting her to reject the offer in disgust; the princess dare not corrupt her precious purity with such human vices, he imagined. But at the same time, it would be quite the sight, to watch her splutter through her first drag, smoke spilling from between pink lips and effectively ruining whatever picture of perfection sheâd projected upon herself.Â
In reality, none of them were perfect. Thane saw it.Â
âWell, goodie for you,â he snarked, lips curling upward another half-twitch; he felt as if he were talking to a well-made mask, a walking facade who heâd never understand. But it was worth it, to stand so dirty and tarnished beside a porcelain statue, if only for the novelty of it all; though heâd not yet formed a significant opinion about Seneca - though in another life he might have written her off at first glance - he was determined to do so. As of yet, the opinion itself was colored vaguely negative - but throw her into the city, and it might change.Â
He considered her question, tapping at the top of his cigarette with his finger and absently littering a few flakes of ash onto his boot. âA drink, first and foremost,â he began, methodical, but considerate all the same, âand then trouble - the cityâs good for nothing but that. Chaos. Adventure, if you want to look at it that way.â Thane gave her a dark smile, a challenge; he was certainly not the escort into the city she needed, the lens through which she should look, but he was all she had at the moment. He ducked his head, by just a slight incline, to meet her eye. âThat sound like something you can handle?â he wondered, a challenging question, but a genuine one. Heâd never had the luxury of not knowing the cityâs darker parts - hers was an interesting view through which to look.Â
âThe cityâs not all fancy shops and pretty gardens - but thatâs what makes it fun. But youâve gotta leave the ship first, to actually see it - canât hide up here all night.â
     At Thaneâs offer, Seneca paused, the blues of her eyes widening a fraction, the corners of her mouth pulling down slightly around the edges. She wasn't completely naive --- a cigarette was just a cigarette, after all. And yet, accepting it seemed a little like opening the gateway into something a little more dangerous. Still, heâd offered it, and if Seneca was anything it was polite, so her fingers stretched out and accepted it from him with an uncomfortable smile.
     âIâm not sureâŚâ she said, trailing off, letting the cigarette dangle a little gingerly from her fingertips. It seemed wrong to try it, but it seemed wrong not too as well. She glanced at Thane, picturing what he would say if she declined it. (Surely nothing worse than what the crew already considered her.) Then, carefully, she lifted it up to her lips and inhaled --- only to resurface spluttering, eyes burning as an acrid taste spread across her tongue. She held the cigarette at a safe distance away from her, swallowing sharply as she used her thumb to dab at her lips. âI'm not sure I did it right,â she muttered, and offered it back to him quite decisively.
     She attempted to cough the lingering smoke away as he spoke, peering up at him through a curtain of blonde hair, eyes brows knotted thoughtfully. She was a little wary, now, but she'd wanted a guide and couldn't afford to be picky. âSounds like an awful lot of trouble,â she admitted dubiously, staring out at the city. But still, there was wistfulness somewhere back there. Orion wouldn't hesitate.
     After a moment, she gave a short nod and a wry smile. âI think it's due time for my first adventure.â She paused for a split second. âBut it won't be dangerous, will it? We won't do anything incriminating?â
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me.⧠I hope I intimidate you.⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you.⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me.⧠I hope I intimidate you.⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you.⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me.⧠I hope I intimidate you.⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you. ⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠ Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you. ⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠ Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you. ⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠ Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you. ⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠ Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
I would kill you. ⧠I would physically hurt you. ⧠I would attack you unprovoked. ⧠I would manipulate you. ⧠I dislike you. ⧠You annoy me. ⧠You scare me. ⧠You intimidate me. ⧠I hope I intimidate you. ⧠I pity you. ⧠You disgust me. ⧠I hate you. ⧠Iâm indifferent toward you. ⧠Iâd like to get to know you better. ⧠ Iâd like to spend more time with you. ⧠Iâd like to be friends with you. ⧠ Iâm unsure what to think of you. ⧠Iâm unsure how I feel about you. ⧠You are my friend. ⧠You are my best friend. ⧠You are my mentor. ⧠I look up to you. ⧠I respect you. ⧠You are my hero. ⧠You inspire me. ⧠You are my enemy. ⧠You make me happy. ⧠I want to protect you. ⧠I would fight by your side. ⧠I consider you an equal. ⧠I think you are beneath me. ⧠I think you are above me. ⧠I would lie for you. ⧠I would lie to you. ⧠I would sleep with you. ⧠I would sleep by your side. ⧠I would hug you. ⧠I would kiss you. ⧠You are family to me. ⧠I would die for you. ⧠I would kill for you. ⧠I would trust you with my life. ⧠I would trust you with my most precious belonging. ⧠I would trust you with a secret. ⧠I would trust you with my biggest / darkest secret. ⧠I love you (platonically). ⧠I love you (romantically).
Voix. Even her name was like poison to him, and Pyre hated it. When the Benefactor special instructions for him had come through, the prospect of serving an important purpose for his new employer had been exciting, but upon finding out that purpose was information on Seneca Voix, his opinion had turned sour quickly. Pyre didnât enjoy blaming her for it allâif one were to judge him by the sins of his father, heâd deserve all the hate that came his way. Yet, still, when he saw her face, all he could think about was his father, and all the terrible things that happened right after the Voix corporation had let him go.
But, it was still his job to keep an eye on her, and he wasnât going to not complete it because of his personal feelings. In her home world, where she could easily slip away to her world before, Pyre was sure the Benefactor would want to know of her every mood.Â
âThatâs up to you,â Pyre shrugged, walking up to stand beside her, struggling to keep an easy smile on his face. He bit his tongue, wanting to pour out bitter words of her world, of how she mustâve never even seen the Crest. You donât even know her, he thought, looking to the ground. You donât even really have a reason to dislike her. Sometimes, it wasnât as easy for him to forgive and forget as he liked to pretend.Â
     There was an inkling of suspicion about Pyre, Seneca thought. He seemed well-meaning enough (unless that was her good friend naivety striking back again), but his smile seemed a little plastic at times, and he was less forthright towards her than the rest of the crew, which set off a dozen tiny alarm bells. Maybe, perhaps, probably she was just looking too deep into it. Over-analysing, as she often did. But it takes one to know one, and Seneca thought she knew faking it quite well.
     âYou're not very helpful, are you?â she said wryly, sparing a small smile and a faint tilt of her lips just for the sake of letting him know there was no hostility there. It was strange, finally being back home and yet seeing the land more foreign than ever. It struck her that maybe sheâd never really had a home, not really. A house, perhaps. Or a foundation built on lies. But she'd always felt made of plastic, roped along on puppet strings. Even now, the Benefactor was controlling where she went and what she did.
     In the end, maybe that was what made up her mind. She swept her hair back, posture subconsciously slipping into something prim and refined, no doubt out of place in anywhere except Harbor. Still, she paused for a moment.
     âYou really don't have any opinion at all?â
Hello, SENECA. Letâs start with something easy, just to find our balance. Please state your name, age, height and place of birth for the record.
     Thereâs a sort of steel to the fear in Senecaâs eyes; a contrary courage in the way her hands tap unsteadily on the table. Princesses aren't built for interrogation, after all. Nevertheless, she licks her lips, and hoists her head up a little. âMy name is Seneca Voix. I'm twenty-eight years old, and I was born here, on Wrotham, in Harbor.â She pauses. âAll of which Iâm sure you know. I believe I'm 5â5â, but after my modifications, itâs hard to keep track.â
Is that your true name and age?
     Seneca blinks at this question, considering it for half a beat. Her pale features and golden hair stick out like a sore thumb in the room, and as the computer beeps consistently, she tries to tamp down the irrational fear that sheâll be caught out in a lie she wasn't even aware she was telling.
     âI believe that it would be very difficult for a Voix heir to pretend like they were anything otherwise,â she says carefully, ever the linguist. Sheâs meticulous in shaping each word, making sure sheâs chosen the right one, the one she thinks the Benefactor wants to hear. âAs for my ageâŚâ She runs a finger along her palm experimentally. âMy skin might not wrinkle, but I swear that it's true. You can check the records, if you'd like.â The machine beeps, a little perilously, and in a smaller voice Seneca adds, âOr you can just ask Orion.â
After six months on a mission, do you regret accepting being part of this crew?
     This question is a little harder to grasp, simply because she isn't sure. She's never been very good at making decisions, or being impulsive, after all.
     âI think that if I had stayed with my parents in Harbor, something awful might have happened,â she says slowly, eyes evasive. âLike nothing happening at all. I don't regret taking the chance.â She hesitates here, though, gaze flickering from the lie detector to the hands resting neatly on her lap. Does she regret it? It's a tricky question, layered with complexities sheâs not ready to explore quite yet. Sometimes, though, her efforts seem futile, and a little fruitless.Â
     A beat, and then - âHowever, I may regret the ways I chose to try and fix my mistakes. I should have explored my options, instead of grabbing the first ticket out.â
Do you believe in what this mission is trying to accomplish or are you here for different reasons? If so, what are they?
     âYes,â says Seneca quickly, the word feeling oddly shaped in her mouth. Predictably, the machine beeps a little more viciously, and she pauses for a second to savour her thoughts. âIâm not sure why Iâm here. Maybe itâs just because I didnât want to be there. Or because itâs precisely the sort of things that my parents warn me not to do.â
     Her heart thumps loudly in the silence, but the lie detector still sits ominously in front of her. Sheâs not sure why she keeps speaking, but something compels her to squeeze her eyes shut.Â
     âI think that sometimes... I canât help but do whatever Iâm asked to. The Benefactor asked me. I answered.â
Do you have any friends on board? Any enemies?
     Her eyes flicker downwards momentarily, mouth twisting into a shy little. âI'm not very good at making friends. Only child syndrome, I suppose.â Although you arenât an only child, a voice reminds sharply. âAs for enemies... I suspect my surname is making quick work of that.â
 Are you loyal to this crew?
      âDepends on your definition of loyal,â Seneca considers. âTo an extent, yes. Some more than others, maybe.â The machine teeters precariously, and she hesitates. âBut I think Iâll always have ties to other things.â
Interesting. Very interesting. Now, if you donât mind, letâs skip ahead to some more personal questions. Do you think the corporation system is fair?
     Seneca bites her tongue sharply. So theyâre skipping to the hard-hitting topics with no mercy. Thatâs fine. Seneca has been brought up to talk her way out of things.Â
     âI---â she stutters, and immediately regrets feeding the fire. âI believe that itâs hard to find a perfect system to suit everyone. Sometimes---â this said several tones quieter, â---I think that both sides of the situation are blinded by the things they do and donât have. In the end, everyoneâs only out for themselves, no matter how much they preach for the greater good.â A deep inhale, fingers skittering across the table anxiously. âBut obviously, Iâve found flaws in the system. Everything I thought I knew about our galaxy has turned out to be untrue. Whatâs to say both sides arenât lying? Iâm here to uncover the truth for myself.â
Have you ever changed something you liked about yourself to satisfy someone else?
     Unconsciously, her fingers reach up to tangle in her golden hair. Her breathing suddenly sounds mechanical and plastic, despite how impossible it is.Â
     âIâve changed a lot of things about myself to satisfy others,â she murmurs, very quietly. âSome of them Iâve even regretted. I lost my humanity to my family, and my bravery to my sibling. Sometimes I donât think thereâs a single part of me that hasnât been adjusted for others.â She smiles, a little wryly. âIâm being used now too, arenât I? For this mission, for my linguist skills. Not everybody is as immune to it as they seem. Weâre all using each other for some thing or another.â
Do you think the future is hopeful? Why?
     âNo. Yes! I... I donât know,â she admits, a little shakily. âI think that we have the capacity, as humans, to change the way we work. Our ancestors did it. Surely our generation hasnât evolved past the point of salvation. I think...â Thereâs a long pause, and finally, she nods jerkily, as if the optimism has been drawn out of her. âI think thereâs hope. I donât know if it lies in me, but I believe that itâs there.â
Finally, do you believe your surname has hindered you?
     She thinks of the decadence sheâd been treated to as a child; the pretty things and the shiny lies and a plethora of other unspoken things. She compares herself to the rest of the crew, to Orion, who has found a sense of purpose that Seneca never has.
     âYes,â she says, and finds that she means it.
DATA watched the woman - synthetic by a preference she could claim as her own rather than by the decisions of a creator - as she stared out into the depth of the compact city sprawled before her. Following her gaze, DATA wondered what she saw in the towering skyscrapers that loomed above them. He would have assumed joy or some form of happiness would have consumed Senecaâs being. Instead, hesitation seemed to halt any movement from spurring her still frame into action, analyzing the various options laid before her upon the crewâs arrival to the familiar home planet.
Her words, shy beneath the gravity of her consideration, did not incite any emotion despite the saddened confusion that invaded each inflection. Instead of offering her comfort (an action DATA had yet to master despite his continued attempts), DATA offered her ability. âThe worth of the considered actions is subjective in nature, and so I am afraid to say that I will likely be of little help in determining your course of action. I can, however, run various simulations to show you the most optimal outcome dependent on the result you wish to prioritize. Safety as a priority, for example, would seem to favor the latter choice of going back inside as it reduces the risk potential by 13.8 percent when compared to the closest going out option.â
     Seneca blinked, lips parting slightly in an odd mix of surprise and amusement. Despite the amount of time she'd spent travelling on the SSV Concord by now, sometimes she was still a little bewildered by DATAâs likeness to life. She'd met various AI before, of course, her father had owned several back when she used to live within the luxurious confines of the Voix residence. Still, there was something fascinating and new about DATA. At any rate, he seemed to be one of the few aboard who didn't openly turn their nose up at her last name - a fact that which she was certainly grateful for.Â
     She considered his words for half a beat, shoulders lifting into a light-hearted shrug. âI suppose safety isn't a very big factor anymore,â she relented, âconsidering the type of personnel this ship seems to favour.â Criminals, was what she meant - although she didn't say it. She figured she wasn't exactly saintly herself. At least the crew was honest about it. âOkay, other factors - culture, maybe? Experience? Happiness? Truth seeking?âÂ
     She glanced at the other for half a beat. âWhy, what would you do?â
Nyena hissed at the idiot who had just asked her a third question within a five minute period. He was holding a large drill while approaching the lower hull of her baby and she had fucking had it. Apparently, someone had decided to hire a gaggle of idiots to examine and provide âroutine maintenanceâ to her ship, without so much as mentioning it to her. She was already not in the mood when she returned to the hangar and found three strangers hacking away at the Concord, and their incompetence was only proven by the incessant questions that made her want to smash one of their faces into to unforgiving metal.Â
After they landed Nyena immediately took the train out to Crest. She and her father had only a handful of video calls over the past six months, each one short and to the point. At each disconnect the the Shastris knew that the each other were still alive, still at odds, and still not acknowledging it. Nyena knew nothing more would come from seeing him in person, yet still he was the first person she wanted to see when they returned. Ten years have passed and he still hadnât forgiven her for not doing her duty, and she hadnât really forgiven him for his disappointment.Â
Thus after a short forty minute visit she found herself irritated and walking out the door. The door of a home that she now owned and the old bastard lived rent free, a fact that she had to bite her tongue to prevent rubbing it in his face. Â Her frustration was only slightly mollified after visit to her old shop, having spent the afternoon with Lucius. She had almost missed the old man more than she missed her father.Â
Now it was much later in the evening. She had gained a nearly full bottle of Dire Sling and was almost enjoying herself as she berated the lackeys that were sent to do her job when she wasnât looking. Criticizing them was in fact greatly improving her mood. âSeriously, get the fuck out,â she sighed, giving them a cutting stare until they realized she was not kidding and stormed away, one of them whining to the others as they left. Another heavy sigh escaped her  as strolled over to look at the damage they had done.  Her hands skimmed the hull as the word âidiots,â was released under her breath like a curse.  Sensing someone behind her, she glanced over her shoulder, recognizing the form.Â
âWhat?â She asked shortly. Â
     Seneca had, admittedly, spent much of the day doing nothing in particular. Nothing in particular, of course, was just a very convoluted code for âstaring out the window all day, wishing she was brave enough to venture out into the cityâ. But that was that, she supposed.
     She'd watched members of the crew come and go at varying times of the day, all with different purposes and different strides. It was a little odd, but Seneca liked to people-watch. It reminded her that despite the fact that she was half titanium and steel, she could still hold the capacity to feel alive, too. Or at least, witness othersâ liveliness.
     She'd stumbled upon Nyena and her fluctuating anger accidentally, of course, barely managing to sidestep out of the way as several workers shoved past muttering obscenities under her breath. Seneca had followed the trail of complaints, naturally, and upon spotting Nyena up close and personal with the Concord, she could admit that she was not in the slightest bit surprised.
     She was, however, a little alarmed when Nyena addressed her directly, eyes widening a fraction. It's rude to stare, Seneca, reminded a voice suspiciously similar to an old tutor of hers. She shoved it down and blinked apologetically, shoulders lifting. âSorry, it's just⌠you're very angry sometimes.â She grimaced a little. âAnd you're very protective of the ship. I don't suppose anybodyâs ever mentioned that to you before?â
Date: Day 1 Mission.
Location: Hallway,  SSV concord
Status: Closed @senecavoix Â
The first time Orion could ever remember loving something was the day their sister was born, her hair already golden, just as her temperament would prove to be. Come in and meet your little sister, their parents encouraged, cooing over the gem that would become their princess. For Orion was always the heir, to be chiseled and controlled, cold and sharp. But Seneca was their treasure, to be handled gently, protected and cherished. You have to look after her - do you know what that means? Still a child themselves, Orion had nodded, fingers outstretched to brush her skin gently. I have to protect her, they had replied, earnest - meaning every word.
Years later, they broke that promise, stealing away into the night to join a rebellion that would come to define them. That day, they decided that forging a better tomorrow - for the common good - was more important than Seneca and the possibility of saving her soul. Perhaps they had thought it had already been lost, stolen away by corporate greed. Perhaps they didnât want the confirmation - or to be cursed to watch their beloved sister join the wrong side, to become the most beautiful monster who had ever existed.
The greater betrayal lay in the years ahead - when Orion scarcely remembered they had once had a sister at all. When Voix had become Thayer, they scrubbed the past away all together - the memories too. They no longer recalled blissful childhood days, pulling their sister alongside them as longer legs stretched out. Donât leave me behind Orion! And no matter place or time or circumstance, they would always slow - and wait for her to catch up.
When the pair met again, as adults, that was all Orion remembered - the sound of her childlike voice echoing through their head.
No matter how many seasons came and went, Orion would have always recognised her - the long streams of golden tresses that defined their family (theirs had long been dyed, cut-off and then re-grown), the stilted porcelain way they moved, as if she was a living, breathing doll. No. She could have chosen to run - she could have chosen the rebellion too. The validity of those words didnât matter - because Orion chose to believe them, steeling their heart and remaining stoic, choosing not to give anything away in front of their chosen family and strangers alike. Instead, they waited until Seneca had slipped out of the room - clearly uncomfortable, noticeably an outsider among the crowd - before following, both excited and afraid about what would happen next.
Alone, for the first time in years, the weight of the situation pressed against Orionâs chest, momentarily choking them. What did you even say? To a sister who had been lost? Did you go with surprise - that they had somehow found their way to dwell among rebels and criminals and the underclass of society? Anger? That she had never come searching? Sorrow? That things had become this strained? Or happiness? That after so many years, the pair had found each other again? No, Orion thought, that was the Benefactor. They did this. They knew. And they hadnât said anything. Probably afraid I would say no. But Orion had long learnt to swallow their fear and embody iron. And thus, tiptoeing besides their sister, they spoke.
âSeneca.â The word felt unfamiliar on their tongue. Giving her a moment to turn around - and another to recognise the person before them - they swallowed uncomfortably. âYou look a little out of place.â
     When Seneca was a little girl, she'd always admired her sibling. Sheâd always liked the feeling of having somebody to look up to; of having the sturdy reassurance that somebody would always have her back, no matter what she'd done or who she'd become. Orion had fit the mould perfectly, until one day they didn't anymore. Until one day, they were gone.
     Her memories of them were a little blurry, now. Rose-tinted at the edges, scribbled lines where there were supposed to be straight. Sometimes Seneca was half convinced that she'd made up half of their memories together. Other times she found herself lingering with the family photos that her parents tried so hard to delete from their armlets. Orion looked the same in every single one; chin lifted, a little self-righteous, like they knew something that the rest of the world didn't. For a period of time, Seneca had studied those pictures carefully --- at the funeral, at her next birthday when she'd blown her only wish on wanting them to come back, and years afterward, when Orionâs name would accidentally come up and Seneca was the only member of her family who didn't shift uncomfortably and change the subject.
     It was that same self-righteous look on Orionâs face that let Seneca know. It was them, in the flesh. (An ironic saying now, considering that her skin was made of steel.) Their hair was starkly different, their features older and a little more hardened, but that look was still exactly the same.
     Seneca had been brought up to be poised, to recollect all her emotions in a tiny little bottle and never let it crack, so on that fateful first day, she bit her tongue hard and paid all her dues. She said nothing incriminating, was perfectly careful, and yet she the tension in the air was obviously palpable. She was different from this motley crew. Why had she even been chosen? Did the Benefactor need money? Perhaps, just some Synthetic doll to toy around with for entertainment?
     Her mind was swirling, but she'd slipped away in a rare moment, unnoticed, finding some solace in the quite. She was used to being by herself, after all. She should have known Orion would find her. Theyâd always been in the habit of waiting for her to catch up. Still, now that she could see them up close, Seneca couldn't quite ramp down the conflicting war of emotions threatening to flash across her face. Surprise, delight, apprehension. A hint of betrayal, a flash of horror. She pressed her lips together and glanced down at her lap, surprised to find her hands were trembling.
     âI suspect that I don't entirely belong here,â she managed after a moment. Shakily, she glanced up. âBut I suppose you do.â There were a lot of hidden meanings there, but the only important one? Is it really you?
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