Introductions, drunkards, cats and kin?
12 Dec 2020Teafox
So, Zachariah Nemo is one of those types of person that you grow to hate on every surface level possible. He as nasty a drunkard as you can imagine, has no respect for women, or anything really, has had far more success than any kind of just universe should allow for the amount of effort he put in and coasts through life on being incredibly talented at doing one thing. Worst of all, he has the kind of personality and sense of humor that grows on you after a while. Everything he doesn't consider work, he tends to treat as a game. In this case, the game was "lets see how long we can keep them waiting."Thankfully, we had an ally in the form of his hangover today and he stumbled out angrily onto the gantry, wearing only his boxers, a toweling bathrobe and a single bunny slipper, either having lost the other one, not noticed it was missing or given up looking for it.
"Nope." He said, squinting and turning on his heel. "That's a pulse laser, I don't do those... Poof's gun, that is." He turned on his heel and whimpered as his elbow slammed into the safety rail. "Come back when you've got..."
"An unusual biomorph for you to look at?" I interrupt.
He wheeled around to face us again, this time shattering the beer stein in his other hand against the same railing. "For me?" He managed, after considerable effort.
"You can't keep him, but I need your help working out if he's the real deal."
Zach did his best to pretend he wasn't interested, but whilst weapon modifications where his talent. His passion was in exotic pets. He was well known to have an impressive menagerie of artificial animals, several of which were some very impressive renditions of fictional creatures.
"It had better be something... unusual if I don't get to keep it." He mumbled, lying completely. Even if it was the most boring house cat possible, he'd at least take a look so he could pet it.
He slammed his fist on the control panel by the security door, looking a little impressed that he had hit it first time, and the hangar closed behind us and started to pressurize. He met us at the bottom of the gang plank, looking at us expectantly.
"Well?" He asked, pointedly, reeling slightly.
"Are you still drunk?" I countered, not sure if perhaps I shouldn't insist he sobered up first.
He nodded, almost apologetically. "Tried some new stuff last night. Drunk... and hungover at the same time. It's an interesting sensation." I could feel the kid tuck himself behind me, squeezing one of my hands defensively. Zach looked from me to him and then back again. "Well, where's this puppy you bought yourself?"
He looked back at the kid again, eyes focusing a little. "Oh... Oh, wait a minute." He grinned triumphantly, "You're saying he's a Xihe toy? That's the most... very... not allowed. I approve. Strange choice for a pet, but I'm not one to judge."
The kid clearly wanted to know what "xihe toy" meant. I whispered that he'd see in a few minutes.
"I think he might be. That's what I need you to look at."
"I.. think I'd better take a..." he blinked and his featured contorted with the effort of thought. "Thingy..." Giving up, he sagged and headed back up towards the door for waving us to come with him. "A not drunk thingy."
The kid took a little convincing to follow. Especially when he saw and smelled the interior of the 'Nemo cyber party base' in the aftermath of a party. Several housekeeping droids were doing their best to disguise a large, apparently fresh tear in an expensive looking couch, whilst another broke from the crowd and started plucking litter out from in front of us.
A friendly computerized voice informed us that 'the master' has instructed that we should wait in the inner residence as he would need a few minutes to 'freshen up'.
The kid didn't look too comfortable at the thought of going further into the establishment until the doorway to a much cleaner area slid open. Whilst Zach loved to party, he did prefer to keep some areas of his home to himself.
Dozens of pairs of eyes swiveled to our direction. Some in movement, attached to large, predatory looking frames, others were smaller, but still mildly threatening in that way that felines are when they are unsure.
"This is the master's cat room. Do make yourselves at home." the voice explained. I was curious how the kid would react. "Ever seen a cat before?" I prompted. He shook his head, nervously.
"The young gentleman seems quite unsure of himself. Perhaps an introduction would be in order?" The butler-esque voice prompted, giving a complicated musical trill afterwards.
As one, all of the creatures in the room reacted. The largest specimens simply left the area with such quiet grace that if you weren't paying attention it would seem that they had just vanished. The medium sized ones settled down, lethargically cleaning themselves or apparently relaxing and napping, whilst the smallest examples made energetic and playful displays of themselves, carefully crafted AI routines to make them appealing to guests and space-men who might never have met a cat before. The smallest, fluffiest member of the group trotted up to the kid, sat down, looked up and gave the faintest "Meow". It would take a hard heart to not immediately be disarmed by such a small little cloud of black with emerald green eyes.
"This is Nuke." the butler spoke smoothly, somehow managing to make the name sound refined. "He is a two month old kitten design, Xihe Biomorphic companion, model 4773G-FEL. One of the master's favorites."
Over the course of the next half hour, the kid allowed the robot to slowly move him around the room, introducing him to each and every one of the artificial creatures. It was a little sad to consider, if my hunch was correct, it might be true to say they are more like he is than I am.