Carpathia IV: Episode 174 - Ears
Cytosia
The cytos didn't take long to decide where they wanted their new communication station. After the elder left, they had a brief council meeting and selected a place only a bit more than five kilometers from where they were standing. Hana explained that the entire area was a popular gathering point because of the pleasing climate and mild weather and the precise spot they selected was the flattest. After a quick visit to the site and thorough scans, all agreed to the suitability.
Much to the delight of the cytos, the site was soon swarming with Shadowdancer crew, this time not chipping away at gravesites. Despite not being surrounded by piles of dead cytos, Aire made sure that Kit asked them before disturbing anything, lest they end up in yet another gluey showdown.
With runabouts and shuttles bringing down prefabricated parts at a steady pace, construction proceeded quickly, even if the cytos poked around in anything they could, running Kit a bit ragged trying to make sure to point out all the different ways they could hurt themselves. Once he implored Aire to make sure the Shadowdancer crew did a better job of minding their dangerous tools, things proceeded a little better.
Yet another shuttle landed with parts and the first to step out was Sylvar, cradling a part of the console in his arms.
Sylvar: Chief, we have some of the parts for the transmitter in here. Where do you want them?
Minnie: Right over here, Sylvar. We're just about ready to use those.
Sylvar: On it, Chief!
Sylvar gave a little wave to the shuttle crew and they followed him in a line, some carrying parts and some pushing larger components on antigravity dollies. Sylvar set his load down at the spot Minnie indicated and was about to turn back for more when he felt a poke at his butt.
Sylvar: Ramei, not now! Wait until we're back on the...
Sylvar turned as he spoke and discovered, not Ramei, but a royal blue cyto wobbling behind him.
Sylvar: Oh, hello there! I thought you were someone else.
The cyto wobbled a little more and then suddenly popped a pair of elf ears out of its sides. Of course Sylvar already knew what his ears are like, but upon seeing this, he reached up and absentmindedly fondled his own.
Sylvar: Ah, yes, my ears. Similar to Captain Valro's.
He didn't think the cyto understood but, nevertheless, the cyto's left ear disappeared, leaving only the right, which Sylvar now noticed was a perfect replica of his own, complete with the fancy technology attached to it.
Sylvar: I suppose my right ear is a bit different.
Kit: Is everything okay?
Sylvar turned with a start. It was Kit, with his tablet, peeking over Sylvar's shoulder at the blue cyto, ear still in place.
Sylvar: This one seems to be interested in my ears.
Kit: Let's find out what she's thinking about.
Kit stepped between Sylvar and the cyto, though Sylvar was curious about one more thing.
Sylvar: How can you tell their sex?
Kit: It's tricky. From what I can tell, they have at least three sexes. Male, female, and another one we shall have to make up a name for. This one is female.
Sylvar thought of asking how Kit could tell the blue cyto was female, but he thought it better to just let that thought go.
Kit: Are you interested in Sylvar's ear?
The cyto, ear still intact, wobbled and bounced her way to a response.
Kit: She would like to know why one of your ears looks different.
Sylvar: I guessed that. I can't hear anything with this ear without my device, so that's why I have it.
Kit started typing on his tablet. At first, Sylvar thought he was a translation of what he said, but it certainly seemed to take a long time.
Kit: The concept of hearing is a bit tricky. The cytos pick up vibrations and convert them into meaning in their brains with their entire bodies instead of with ears. I have a simple explanation that seems to work. It just takes a minute.
It was right around that, if one went by a watch, but it felt like it took longer. The cyto rocked impatiently as she awaited the reply and looked on with great interest when Kit finally presented the tablet. After that, she wibbled and wobbled an intricate dance of response.
Kit: She's asking if you got hurt.
Sylvar: It's a bit of a story. I don't mind telling it and I can keep it short if she wants to hear it.
While Sylvar spoke, Kit worked on putting his words into the tablet for translation. Not long after he finished, Kit showed the cyto. In response, she stretched herself tall and then smooshed herself on the ground like a pudding.
Kit: She's gotten herself comfy, so she's ready to hear it. The simpler you keep your words and sentences, the easier this will be.
Sylvar glanced at Kit and then at the cyto, still squashed on the ground and, looking rather impatient if he read her expression correctly. Rather than plan the story, he figured it would be best to wing it. Kit was already in position with the tablet to translate whatever he said.
Sylvar: There are other people who look like me... with these ears. They fly in black, pointy ships. They were not nice to me. A woman was my owner. She hit me every day.
Sylvar pointed at his ear with the device and then rolled up his sleeve to show some of his scars.
Sylvar: Like here, and here. It took me a long time, but I could run away. I found some new friends and we decided to go far from that place. It wasn't easy. Those bad people chased us for many months.
Kit raised his hand, not quite to Sylvar's face, but close enough for him to notice that he needed to pause.
Kit: One second. I have to adjust the translation for some of those words.
Kit tapped at his tablet and, fortunately, the cyto did not seem to notice Sylvar's silence, engrossed as she was in the image and sounds of the tablet. Kit looked up and gave a nod to Sylvar to indicate that he could continue.
Sylvar: We ran for a long time and they almost killed us many times. We ran and ran until we found these good people.
Sylvar held out his arm, sweeping past all the people working on the communication station.
Sylvar: They adopted me. They gave me a job. They gave me a purpose. I can live a happy life now.
The cyto was no longer smooshed on the ground but sticking up straight and wobbling fast, almost like a back massager.
Sylvar: Are you okay?
Kit examined his tablet intensely while scratching his head.
Kit: I'm not sure. I've never seen this kind of behavior before.
Sylvar took a step back when the cyto started aggressively scooting closer to him. In a flash, faster than he thought her capable of moving, she wrapped herself around his legs, enveloping them, really. Then she slipped out, sitting in front of him once again. This time, leaving a stunned Sylvar behind, she turned her focus to Kit and shot out a hand toward him. Kit accepted the offering and shook.
Kit: We'll have to study that one, but I think we're good.
Sylvar felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked behind to find Minnie.
Minnie: Sylvar, have you... Oh, you have a friend.
Sylvar: Sorry, chief. I'll get back to work.
Minnie: Captain wants us to socialize with the locals, so you're fine.
The cyto took two hops and extended another hand to Minnie, who accepted with a smile and shook. After that, more cyto dancing and squirting ensued.
Kit: She wants to know if you rescued Sylvar.
Minnie: Not by myself. We all helped.
The cyto responded, leaving Sylvar and Minnie eager for Kit's translation.
Kit: She says thanks for the story and she's going to go now. I'd better go too. I see some more who might need help.
Sylvar: It was nice meeting you!
The cyto bounded away and, instead of returning to work. Sylvar stood still where he was, his mind racing with thoughts, so much that he hardly noticed the tear running down his cheek.
Minnie: Are you alright, Sylvar?
Sylvar snapped from his brooding and wiped his face.
Sylvar: I'm fine! I'm fine!
His breathing slowed, gradually, as he waited until he felt calmer to speak again.
Sylvar: Never thought I'd have a life like this, you know? I wish I could enjoy it more... not waking up from nightmares all the time. Shadowdancer's counselling services have helped a lot. I'm not sure if I'd be able to function at all without that.
Minnie: You're doing just fine, Sylvar. I've used quite a lot of counselling services myself. It takes time, but, one day, you'll wonder how you were that person you used to be.
Sylvar: Looking forward to that day, Chief.
Minnie: Let's get back to it, shall we? We got another shuttle coming down in five and this one isn't unloaded yet.
Sylvar: On it, Chief!
With a smile and a bounce, Sylvar raced back to the shuttle and grab more gear.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Less_End
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
Falke2009
