Revisiting
A field of bright stars loomed above their heads, swirly clouds of blue and purple smeared across a black and glittering canvas; a grand scene of the cosmos and beyond.
Roger stared at the view port with his mouth hanging open. He had never recalled seeing space before, so to him this was the first time. He couldn’t wrap his mind around how vast it really was.
Jacquemont whirled around in circles, spinning in mid air and rolling from side to side making excited bleeps. His antenna stood straight up in the air blinking as he flapped his little wings.
"It’s so BIG, WALKER! WALKER LOOK AT THE STARS!!" Roger hopped around excitedly, reaching for the botanist’s sleeve and yanking him back.
Walker grumbled and plucked Roger’s hand off his coat. “I know, Roger, I know. C’mon now, don’t get lost. This place is really large and I don’t want to lose sight of you.” He pulled his assistant closer towards him before moving him in front. They kept walking.
The Gambler’s Ruin was high above Nexus’ atmosphere, hovering over the planet, though this month it had come down lower. Many of the scientists from the academy were to regroup and have this massive meeting on stars knew what. Progress and future projects perhaps.Â
Walker had been invited on behalf of representing his dying (or dead) research group, the Azure Branch, but as far as he knew, he and Roger would be the only ones there from that sector. Many of the other botanists had been moved to other research groups and facilities long ago. Maybe they’d finally place them with another team.
The Grismaran bit his lip as he thought to himself. He hadn’t been back to the ark ship in almost a year. Nothing about it had changed very much. The ship remained as enormous as it had always been, constantly in a state of disrepair. There were always mechanics and soldiers, scientists, civilians, people from all walks of life moving down its corridors. Even if a majority of them had left to the planet’s surface, many still remained up here keeping the Gambler’s Ruin in working order, as much as they could anyway.
"Are we gonna see more scientists?" Roger asked, reaching for Walker’s arm and almost beginning to skip as they continued towards their destination. "Will Mara be there?? What about Acorn? And other scanbots??? What about other people who plant flowers and take care of gardens-"
"YES, yes, Roger. We’re going to see many of the scientists in the academy. Mara will most likely be there as well." Walker cringed as he gently removed Roger’s hands from his arm once again. Mara would be there, and so would Neil. "I need to concentrate… so try to not talk so much when the meeting begins, alright? Jacquemont will entertain you if you get bored." Never would he make Roger wait outside alone. As far as he was concerned, he was going to bring him inside and have him sit right next to him the entire time.
Roger looked back at the little yellow scanbot and yanked him out of the air, still hopping around like a jabbit. “I’ll be quiet. I promise.”
Walker nodded in return. That much was taken care of at the very least, or so he hoped.
"What’s it gonna look like Walker?"
"Well, we’ll be going into an auditorium of sorts. Or… rather it’s more like a theater… there’s a stage in front, and many rows of seats, each row is higher than the one in front of it so everyone can see. Usually the really important scientists and doctors talk to everyone like that." He remembered Neil’s father Liam standing on that platform so many times before, sharing his research and his opinions and theories as well as his projects. After he had passed on, Walker hadn’t set foot in there once.Â
This time he was required to attend because of their landing on Nexus (that and Neil made SURE to invite him. He remembered receiving THAT email.) It was going to be an extremely long meeting. In the back of his mind he worried constantly over Roger growing bored and throwing a fit, as well as being able to rush out of there should the place burst into flames for any reason.
As they came near the theater, they saw more and more people hanging around in groups, talking or finishing last minute entries on datacrons.
Roger moved closer towards the botanist and became quiet, hugging Jacquemont tighter. Walker was accustomed to this; Roger would always get very nervous and shy around people he didn’t know.
They weren’t letting anyone inside yet it seemed. They’d have to wait. “Here… over here,” He shuffled over towards an empty corner, positioning Roger between himself and the wall. “We have to wait now. It shouldn’t be long.”
While they stood around, the Mordesh glanced over at the others. Every so often they would look back at him, raising brows or completely indifferent, but no one approached him. He didn’t want them to anyway.
Who would want to stand next to someone who nearly got himself locked away in prison for attempting to murder Lazarin? At least HE was far too busy to show up to the ship.
"Walker!! Roger!" A high pitched voice startled him out of his trance. He looked down and saw a pair of purple ears and a curly-haired ponytail bouncing their way. It was Mara.
"I’m so happy I found you!" She jumped up a few times, messenger bag bumping against her hip and tail swishing back and forth quickly. Behind her hovered the dull green and brown scanbot, Acorn.
Roger peeked out from behind Walker and gave a little wave with a nervous smile. Jacquemont whistled as his antenna blinked rapidly.
"Hi Roger! Hi Jacquemont!"
"Hello Mara," Walker’s ear twitched, "Do you know how long until-" He watched Acorn cautiously fly closer, scanning them with a bright blue light. "Do you know how long it will be until this meeting is underway?" The sooner it was over, the sooner they could go home. He wasn’t allowed to bring his gun with him, but he had hidden it away in his coat anyway just incase.
"Maybe ten minutes. I’ve been out here a while… We should all sit together!"
The Mordesh thought about it. She’d be able to keep Roger quiet easily. And she could sit next to him and take up the seat rather than someone he didn’t know.
Roger perked up at the suggestion. “Can we Walker? Please?” In his mind, this was going to be exciting and possibly fun. It would be even more so with friends.
"Alright… I don’t think they’re using those tickets anymore anyway…"
"Not anymore at least. A few of the older doctors told me they USED to do it like that to keep everyone organized, but now that a bunch of people are on Nexus, there should be plenty of room."
Before Walker could respond, he glanced up, catching sight of Neil not so far away. Immediately he froze, feeling his face do quite the opposite. It burned, and so did his gut. He swallowed his anger however and forced himself to look away shortly afterwards.
Mara held her breath and stood still, noticing the sudden change in demeanor. She knew what that look meant. Once Walker relaxed faintly, so did she. “… You knew he’d be here…”
"I know. It was inevitable. He invited me." To spite him no doubt.
Roger eyed them both cluelessly before turning to face the same direction Walker had looked in. What had he been staring at? What was this place?? “Walker? What’re we doing here?”
Before the botanist could answer him, the doors opened and people began to move into the theater. “Come on,” He took the man’s hand and led him to the entrance, followed by Mara.
After a bit of searching they found three seats near the back edge of the room. No one would bother them up there.
Roger sat in between them with Jacquemont and Acorn in his lap. It was almost dark, the entire room being only dimly lit. Maybe they were going to watch a movie.Â
Walker shifted in his seat uncomfortably, waiting as everyone found their chairs and settled down. He scanned the place but he couldn’t see Neil anywhere, and it worried him. He looked behind himself; there was no one worthy of note. That snake would show up sooner or later.
While they waited he marked the exits and vents, as well as how many people he’d have to shove out of the way in case of an emergency.
Mara swung her feet back and forth before leaning over to whisper something to Roger. He nodded a few times as she pointed towards the stage below and the giant monitor on the wall.
Walker glanced down at Jacquemont. The yellow bot looked up at him and wiggled his wings like he wanted to be held, so he took him into his arms.
Finally the lights dimmed and the screen above the stage came on.