Apparently, a lot of negotiations have been going on in the background between the Strain and our government.
Thats why we're being taken to a neutral planet to join in on the legislative treaty convention. Supposedly, they want to formally apologize to us rookies for their kind massacring our friends.
Most common folk use space shuttles to planet jump, but due to the importance of this meeting, we're taking a trading pad to get there. Usually these costs a illogical amount of polar due to their efficiency and high resource cost to use.
Toko ditched her group and joined ours.
Currently, she's attempting to give me a friction burn as we wait in line for transportation. "I would have rather they just give us polar and a sorry letter than go through this whole thing."
Despite being early in the morning, I'm already yawning and ready for bed. "Yeah, this whole thing is just going to be a staged apology for PR."
"So, who's this arctic skank you've been hanging around?"
"My instructor, and you shouldn't call people a skank."
"Well, you seem awfully close to her, and she's even got a nickname for you."
"I assume she did that because Coffin is such a obscure name to call someone, just like you calling me Coco."
"That's because we're siblings!" She winks with a thumbs up.
...
She's been doing this for as long as I've known her, but for some reason, this time it ticked me off.
Perhaps it's because every time she says it- it reminds me of that day.
When I had no family there, no friends...nothing.
Grabbing her shoulders, I emphasize every word. "No...we...are...not!" My eyes narrow. "Why are you so insistent on that?" My teeth grit together as my annoyance has reached a boiling point. "If I really had a sister, she would have been gutted in the same ice bath I was." deeply inhaling, I shake my head.
There's a moment of silence as Toko looks down, her eyes weaken, and I can hear her breath lose its balance.
"I'm sorry, Coco."
Did, she jus- just apologize?
Why?
What is she apologizing for?
Clicking my tongue, the annoyance has receded back to the void of my sorrows. "whatever. It's my fault for getting worked up."
This must be some kind of joke, just another one of her pranks. "In terms of Somnia, we're just friends. She is legally required to have someone accompany her drinking, and she is teaching me how to facilitate the elemental flow."
"So you're using each other?"
"Well, a harsh way to put it, but I guess all friendships are just an exchange."
Walking up to the platform, we all crowd in- like an early morning train during commute -there was no second trip.
With a bubbly warping sound, the area around us fades, my body feels light, almost nonexistent.
The feeling only lasts a moment as in the next the bright sun is gone and we stand inside a confined metal room.
Wires line the walls, yet do so in perfect order. Screens project advertisements for various Strain products.
While our anatomies are different, they still have the concept of fashion and apparel, the differences is they have no need for health products, as their body simply heals any illness, any faults, any imperfections.
From down the hallway, two Strain come marching over. Most of us flinch, preparing for an attack as they approach.
"Weapons down, they are the welcome comittee." Somnia sighs.
"Greetings huma-"
The second strain comes running up to one of my classmates with excitement in her voice.
"Oh my gosh, I didn't realize you could be so small!"
The boy with a shorter stature takes her amazement as an insult as he restrains his Napoleon complex.
The strain pets him like a dog as she ruffles his hair. "Awe."
"Penna, focus." The other strain commands.
The large female strain jolts back to attention. "Oh, apologise! Human philosophy is my major."
The two strain attempt to act excited and innocent, yet their appearance alone strikes terror into everyone as we put a good distance between ourselves and the alien line leaders.