I shuffled as quickly as I could to keep pace with Dr. Joric, but it was clear he had no interest in slowing down for me. Rylan held my hand to give me a bit more stability, which was a small comfort. I hadn't had a seizure in a week, which was a new record, but it had left me with a lingering sense of dread that settled deep in my bones. Every twitch of my muscle, every flicker of a light, every sudden noise, made me jump. I was a bundle of nerves, ready to unravel at the slightest provocation.

"They're just a bunch of stuffy old suits." Rylan reassured me. "They probably just want to ask you a few questions."

"I'd prefer they just look at the graphs." I said. "I'm not a fan of being in person."

"It's a necessary evil." Dr. Joric said, not even bothering to look back at me. "The Board needs to see the progress we've made with their own eyes. They're not convinced that the data is an accurate representation of your condition."

"And what is my condition?"

"A unique and fascinating case study." Dr. Joric said. "One that could change the course of neurological science as we know it. And one that's costing the Board a fortune. They want to see a return on their investment."

We reached a rather open waiting area. The tram... I think. I guess we are waiting for one to take us further into the facility. There were two other people already standing by the entrance. A woman and a man.

The woman was tall and slender, with long, silver hair that was tied back in a loose ponytail. She had piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. She was wearing a white coat, but it was a different style than Dr. Joric's. It was more... stylish.

The man was shorter and a bit stockier. He was wearing a simple blue jumpsuit, and he had a datapad tucked under his arm. His was green. Odd. I've only ever seen them in black. He had a kind face, with a few wrinkles around his eyes and a gentle smile. He looked like someone's grandfather. He was also a Taijekan, a bear-like individual with fur the color of rich soil.

"Good morning Dr. Elias." Dr. Joric said, giving them a small wave. "Any idea what time the tram will be here?"

"Not too long, Doctor." The woman said. "I was informed by a coworker earlier it's running on a slightly delayed schedule. Some maintenance on the track earlier this morning."

Dr. Joric grunted in response.

I looked over at the bear. He smiled at me, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. I didn't like that. I didn't like it at all.

"Who are they?" I asked Rylan, my voice a low whisper.

"They're a part of a different team, I think." Rylan whispered back. "Dr. Elias is the head of the Cognitive Health division. Dr. Yancy is a biomechanical engineer. He specializes in prosthesis and synthetic organs."

"Freaky."

"Its cool."

"Its freaky"

I looked over at Dr. Yancy again, but he was already looking away. He was pretending to be interested in a poster on the wall. He wasn't fooling anyone. He was watching me. They both were.

The tram arrived a few minutes later. It was a sleek, silver capsule that slid silently into the station. The doors opened with a soft whoosh, and we all piled in.

Dr. Joric and Dr. Elias sat down across from each other. Rylan helped me sit down and I grasped at one of the metal poles for a bit more stability. He then sat next to me. Dr. Yancy chose to stand.

The tram started moving, and the world outside came into view. The sky was dark, and a blizzard was raging outside of the dome. Inside however was the same peaceful serenity that I see anytime I go to the visitors wing. Lush greenery and a few patients outside basking in the artificial heat-lamps. It was... nice. It was a nice change of pace from the ugly white walls of the facility.

Dr. Elias and Dr. Joric were talking, but I couldn't hear what they were saying over the sound of the tram. I didn't really care. I was just trying to enjoy the ride. I was trying to enjoy the moment. I was trying to pretend that I was just a normal person, on a normal tram, on a normal day.

I peered over to Rylan and he was on his phone, hammering out some chess puzzles. I chuckled softly under my breath.

"I'm surprised." I said.

"About what?" He said, not looking up from his phone.

"That you're still into chess." I said. "Figured that was a one time thing." I didn't know why I said that. I guess I just felt like talking.

He finally looked up from his phone. "I'm not the king of chess for nothing. Plus I'm bored."

I looked back out the window. "So what opening are you learning?"

"The King's Scuban Defense. It's a bit tricky."

"Surely that's not the first one you're learning."

"So what if it is? Gotta start somewhere." He went back to his phone. "I beat Dr. Joric, by the way. In a game of speed chess."

"No way."

"Way."

"What did he say?" I ask.

"He just said this is why I opted to be a scientist instead of a professional chess player. I'd be broke."

I couldn't help but laugh. It was a real laugh, not a forced one. It felt good. It felt...

The other two, Dr. Elias and Dr. Yancy, both looked over at me. I could feel their eyes on me, and the good feeling I had a moment ago was gone, replaced by a knot of dread in my stomach.

The ride was over far too quickly. The tram slid to a stop, and the doors opened. We were in a different part of the facility now. The walls were a bit more of a cozier cream color, and the floor was some kind of rough, carpet material. A few people milled about, but they certainly were no commons assistants.

Dr. Joric waved Dr. Elias and Dr. Yancy off as they continued on their way. He then turned to us. "Alright." He said. "Let's get a move on."

"What is this place?" I asked. "I've never been up here."

"Its the research wing." Dr. Joric says. "Technically the primary wing of the ICCU, its where all of the good doctors are. Plush offices and huge laboratories." He says with a hint of disdain. "People like Dr. Lira, Elias, and Yancy. Who are quite higher up on the food chain than me." He continues walking. "It's also where the doctor and research assistant dorms are, which is why it looks fancy 'schmancy."

"So you both sleep here?"

"Rylan does. Me?" He scoffs, "I practically live in my Office in the commons. I'm too much of a 'lowly commoner' for this place."

"I'm even lower than you, and I have a bigger bed than you." Rylan added.

"I hate you." Dr. Joric said flatly. "Let's get going, I don't want to be late."

We walked down a long hallway full of paintings and whatever furniture I could see. It was relatively empty, but I guess it was just because everyone was hard at work... or something. I tried to not pay too much attention.

We passed by a couple of amenities on the way. A cafe with a sign that said 'The Percolator' in fancy, cursive letters. A small gym with a glass wall, where I could see a few people working out. And a library, its doors wide open, revealing shelves upon shelves of datapads and actual, physical books. It was surreal just how much was here. I'd gotten so used to the dull, white walls of the Commons wing that I'd forgotten that the rest of the facility was... well, a facility. A place for people to live and work. A place for people to have lives.

Eventually, we reached an elevator hall where a couple of elevator doors were closed. Dr. Joric walked up to one of the doors and placed a keycard on a small panel next to it. The door opened, and we all stepped inside.

It was a lot bigger than the elevators in the Commons. They were usually just a small metal box that barely fit two people, let alone three. This one was spacious, with a soft, orange light illuminating the interior. A small screen on the side where the buttons were informed me of what floor we were on. L. The Lobby.

Dr. Joric pressed a button with a number on it. 8. The elevator started moving, and I watched the numbers on the screen change. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. The door opened with a soft ding, revealing a hallway that was just like the last. Cream-colored walls, rough carpet, and a few doors with plaques on them. Conference rooms galore.

This was it. The lion's den.

"Okay." Dr. Joric said. "Before we go in, I need you to be on your best behavior. Don't talk unless you're spoken to. And when you do, keep it brief. They don't need to know your whole life story."

"I'm not a child."

"Just be polite. And try not to explode. Unless they ask you to, then try really hard to do that."

"I can do that?"

"You better hope you can. Are you ready?"

"No."

"Fantastic. Let's go." He said, and walked down the hallway, Rylan and I following close behind. He stopped in front of a door with a plaque that read 'Conference Room 8E'. He took a deep breath, and then he knocked on the door. Moments later, it swung open from the inside as an assistant in a black uniform, much like Rylan's, waved us in. The room itself was massive. A long, polished table made of some dark, gleaming wood sat in the center, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs. A large window took up most of the far wall, offering a panoramic view of the blizzard outside. The snow was coming down hard, and the wind was probably howling, but in here, it was dead silent. All I could hear was the hum of the ventilation and the whirring on my back.

I began to move in, but Dr. Joric put a hand out to stop me. "I want you to wait here until you are called in. I need to... preface this."

"The what?" I ask.

"He's going to schmooze a bit." Rylan whispered to me.

"Don't call it schmoozing." Dr. Joric retorted. "Lets go." He said to Rylan, leaving me by the door.

I watched them walk to the table. I could hear Dr. Joric clear his throat.

"Members of the board, esteemed colleagues, thank you for your time." Dr. Joric said, his voice was smooth and professional. "I have brought Subject Six-Eight-Two, as requested. Before we begin, I must stress the unique and delicate nature of his condition. The data you have reviewed, while comprehensive, cannot fully capture the..." He paused, searching for the right word. "...the existential reality of the subject's situation. The subject, as you know, is a Mënskan consciousness housed within a deceased Taijekan vessel. The integration has been... challenging, to say the least."

A deep, rumbling voice responded, a sound like shifting bedrock. "And where is the sub-... patient, Doctor? We were told we would be able to observe them."

"He is just outside, Director Harken. I felt it prudent to brief you on the current state of affairs before introducing him. The last seizure, while minor, has left him in a rather... fragile state. His anxiety is palpable, and I believe it would be counterproductive to exacerbate it."

The Director spoke again. "I understand your concern, Doctor, but our purpose here is to observe, not to coddle. We need to see the raw data in its natural habitat. Please, bring him in."

Dr. Joric hesitated for a fraction of a second. "As you wish." He turned and gave me a slight nod. Rylan rushed from his side to guide me into the room.

My hooves made a soft, clopping sound on the carpet. Every pair of eyes was on me, and I could feel their collective gaze like a physical weight. I kept my head down, my eyes fixed on the floor, as Rylan led me to Dr. Joric. We were all now standing at the edge of the table, and the assistant shut the door behind us, locking it with a click. The room was unnervingly quiet.

I looked up to meet their gaze. The Director, I presumed, was a massive, horned Taijekan, the likes of which I had never seen. He looked like a cross between a bull and a bison, with a thick, shaggy coat of dark brown fur and a pair of large, curved horns that swept back from his head. His face was a mess of scars, one of which ran through his left eye, leaving it a milky white. He was old, I could tell by the grey hairs that had started to appear in his fur, but he still looked strong.

The others were a mix of Mënskan and Taijekan species I couldn't quite place, all dressed in impeccable business attire. They were all looking at me, some jotting notes down into datapads or physical notebooks. Some had the expression of morbid curiosity, others looked horrified.

"Honored Director, members of the board," Dr. Joric said, gesturing to me. "This is Subject Six-Eight-Two, who has taken to the name 'Lynette'."

The Director, Harken, nodded slowly. His gaze was intense, and I felt like he was staring right through me, into the very core of my being. It was unnerving. He wasn't looking at Lynette. He was looking at me. The Mënskan. The problem.

"Welcome, Six-Eight-Two." Harken said. "Do you prefer that, or... what was it? Lynette?"

"L-lynette is fine." I said.

"Lynette." Harken repeated. "A lovely name. Did you choose it yourself?"

"N-no. It... it was her name. The body's. I just... I kept it."

"I see." Harken said. He leaned back in his chair, the leather groaning under his weight. "Dr. Joric, your reports have been... enlightening, to say the least. But they've also been, shall we say, inconsistent. You assure us the integration is progressing, yet we have reports of seizures, cognitive dissonance, and emotional instability."

"The seizures are a rather recent issue, Director." Dr. Joric said. "The subject recently suffered from head trauma and, what I presume was minor damage to the receiver implanted on the side of his head. This has led to the... inconsistencies you've mentioned. We're monitoring the situation closely."

Harken grunted. He looked from Dr. Joric to me. "And the subject's cognitive dissonance? Elaborate." He pointed a thick finger at Rylan. "Your assistant, here, has made notes in the logs that the subject has experienced episodes of... what was the phrasing? 'Memory overlap' and 'Identity confusion'."

"They are... dreams." I said. I looked at Dr. Joric, and he gave me a subtle nod, urging me to continue. "Sometimes... I dream of her life. Of her family. Her friends. I see their faces, but I don't know them. Not really."

"And these dreams, they are distressing?" Harken asked.

"They are confusing." I corrected. "I wake up, and for a moment, I'm not me. I'm her. And then I remember. And it's... it's a lot to process."

Another from the board spoke up. A Mënskan woman with glasses perched on the end of her nose. Her hair was pulled back into a bun. "Do you feel that these dreams are interfering with your rehabilitation?"

"Interfering? I... I don't think so. Sometimes I have a memory, of something I did as Lynette. And it feels more real than my own memories. I'll go to grab a cup of water, and I'll remember her hands doing it. I'll remember the feel of the glass in her hands. And for a second, it's like... it's like I'm not even there. It's like I'm just watching." I looked down at my own hands, at the dark fur and the delicate fingers. "It's like these aren't my hands."

"But they are, aren't they?" The woman pressed.

"They are now."

There was a long silence. The board members looked at each other, their expressions I couldn't quite make out.

Dr. Joric cleared his throat again. "As you can see, despite the... hiccups, the subject is progressing. The brain integrity is at an astounding forty-eight percent, which is far beyond our initial projections. The physical therapy has been successful, and the subject is now capable of independent movement and basic self-care."

"Forty-eight percent." Another spoke up, stroking his chin. "And what of the other fifty-two percent, Doctor? What happens when that is filled? What happens when the integration is complete?"

"Right. To be brief about it, the Brain Integrity represents the subject's cognitive function relative to the baseline established by the NAME and the original occupant's brain patterns. As this number increases, the subject is more capable of performing said functions without direct contact to the NAME itself."

"Which means?"

"The higher the number, the further away the target body can be from the host without hindering the connection. Right now, if the subject were to leave the facility grounds, the connection would sever."

"Then he will die." Director Harken stated.

"The subject would lose all motor function and consciousness. The body would return to its catatonic state, and the receiver would attempt to emit a recall signal back to the host to restore consciousness on that front. But given the distance, the current state of the brain integrity, and the location of the host body, the subject would likely not survive the transfer." Dr. Joric explained.

There was a quiet murmur among the board members. One of them, a Taijekan with the sleek, dark features of a weasel, raised a datapad. "And what of the memories, Doctor? How do you plan to account for this? Are you working on a solution to remove them entirely?"

Dr. Joric's posture was rigid, but his voice remained even. "The memory bleeding is nothing more than residual electrical impulses, like how a fresh cut of meat jitters and twitches from the leftover energy still within it. The subject's mind is experiencing these signals and attempting to interpret them. It's noise. That's all."

"And how do we know that this 'noise' will eventually subside? What if it doesn't? What if they persist for the duration of the link between the host and target? Do we simply allow this amalgamation to continue until there's nothing left of the original subject?" The woman with the glasses pressed.

"While it may seem like an unwanted side effect, there is far more than what meets the eye in terms of the potential usage of these findings." Dr. Joric responded. "The NAME was designed to be a tool. Its primary function is to help those who cannot help themselves. However, it could also give insight to those who have deceased by accessing their memories directly by a third party. Imagine, a witness testifying from beyond the grave, or being able to find out what happened to a missing person. The possibilities are endless."

"That is... quite the claim, Doctor." Director Harken said. "But we are not here to discuss hypotheticals. We are here to discuss the subject. Your subject."

He turned his attention back to me. "Lynette, do you feel that you are losing yourself? Do you feel that these 'dreams' are changing you?" He asked, his tone gentle.

"I... I don't know." I stammered. "I don't think so. They just... come and go." I looked at Rylan for reassurance, but he was just as nervous as I was.

"So you are not scared?" He continued.

"I am." I said. "I am very scared. But not because of that. I'm scared because... because I don't know what's going to happen to me. I keep having seizures and head injuries, and nobody knows why. And I'm scared of what will happen when the link is severed."

A murmur went through the room. The board members looked at each other, their expressions a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Seizures." The woman with the glasses repeated, her voice sharp. "There have been multiple. Your logs mention at least five within the last two months, two of which were classified as 'major'." She looked at Dr. Joric. "And you have no explanation for this?"

"We have theories." Dr. Joric said, his voice still even. "The trauma to the receiver is the most likely culprit. We believe the residual electrical impulses I mentioned earlier are causing a kind of—"

"So you have no concrete explanation, I ask again?" She pressed.

"I do not." Dr. Joric admitted. "Not yet. But we are working on it."

She looked down at her datapad and began jotting something down. The look on her face was... like she was disappointed in his answer.

"I am most curious about the subjects biological functions." Another speaks up, a tall and lanky Mënskan. "The target body is deceased, yes? Yet it is functioning. It is breathing. Its heart is beating."

"Its heart is not beating, Board member." Dr. Joric corrected. "The subject is outfitted with a variation of the A.R.D Auto-pump Mk.II, per the efforts of Dr. Lira and her team in the Biomedical Division. Per my earliest reports, I fully believed that the re-introduction of electrical impulses to the brain, the body would resume its natural, biological functions. It did not. The body remained in a state of cellular decay until we replaced the heart with the auto-pump, and supplemented its circulatory system with a synthetic blood substitute, which has now been replaced with real blood. Without the auto-pump, the body will go into cardiac arrest."

"And will the body ever return to a state of relative life?"

"It is a possibility, but we've seen no indications that the heart will resume. There have been attempts to restart the heart, including defibrillation, but all have failed. The autonomic nervous system is not responding to the subject's will. So for the foreseeable future, they will be reliant on the pump."

"Do you have any plans for long term support of the body? Surely an auto-pump is not meant for indefinite use."

"We are exploring options." Dr. Joric said. "Dr. Lira wanted to migrate the subject to the Mk.III internal version, but that is still far from ready just yet. Its also a possibility to get a synthetic copy of the original heart, or if worse comes to it, a donor organ from a Taijekan subject."

"I'd also like to point out," He continued. "That these efforts at a long term solution are, really not on my high list of priorities due to the timeframe I was given. With just a year to reach complete migration and returning the mind back to its original body, a pump is all we really need."

"The 'year'." Director Harken rumbled. "Was a bit of an estimation on the Board's current budget for your project. This timeframe of course, can be increased if its deemed that this is a worthwhile venture. But it can also be decreased if we feel our investment is not being used to its full potential."

"I must ask your current thoughts, then." Dr. Joric said, leaning forward slightly. "Am I to continue my work as planned? Or should I be preparing for other options?"

The Director steepled his fingers. His single good eye was fixed on Dr. Joric. The room was so quiet, that I could hear the howling wind outside of the window.

"The Board thinks that your 'one-man-army' approach, while... impressive, is no longer sufficient for the complexities of this case." He gestured a dismissive hand at Rylan. "No offense to your assistant, of course."

"None taken." Rylan mumbled, looking at the floor.

"We want a more specialized approach." Harken continued. "To that end, we have decided to assign you additional support. Two individuals, to be precise. One to oversee and assist with the subject's cognitive health, as that seems to be a... volatile aspect of the proceedings. And the other, an old colleague of yours, I believe. Dr. Terris."

I saw Dr. Joric's jaw tighten.

"She will be assisting with the technical aspects of the NAME and the migratory process." Harken said. "After all, her Synaptic Resonator was the basis for your project. She, better than anyone, understands the potential. And the pitfalls."

Dr. Joric's face was stone cold, but it was obvious he wasn't happy. "An interesting choice Director, but I must extend my complaints to working with Dr. Terris."

"Oh?" Harken raised a heavy eyebrow. "And why is that?"

"We have... had previous altercations regarding the NAME and her own department's technology. I believe that she would not be interested in the well-being of my subject in the same manner I am. She's a numbers person, not a people person."

"I'm aware." Harken said. "But we are all numbers here, Doctor. The subject is a number. You are a number. This entire facility is a number. And right now, the numbers are not in your favor." He leaned forward, putting his massive hands on the table. "This decision was extensively reviewed by other members of the Board prior to this meeting. We believe that bringing in Dr. Terris is the best course of action."

Dr. Joric was silent. I could see the muscles in his jaw working.

"And the cognitive specialist?" Rylan asked. The board members all turned to him. He shrunk back a little. "Sorry. I was just curious."

"That will be decided by the end of the week. I want to make sure that we are not picking anyone that will overshadow Dr. Joric and the commendable work he has done so far. But it is worth noting that Dr. Joric is still a junior doctor in a world of seniors. He will need help to get to the end of this road." The Director's gaze drifted to me, then back to Dr. Joric. "We are not here to punish you, Doctor. We are here to ensure the success of this project. The potential applications of the NAME are too great to let it fall by the wayside due to... unforeseen complications."

"I understand my position, Director." Dr. Joric said. "I merely express concern for the integrity of the project. Dr. Terris's methodology is... immoral."

"So is yours." Harken shot back. "You put a living mind into a corpse. Do not lecture me on morality."

A heavy silence descended upon the room. The board members shifted in their seats, their gazes darting between the Director and Dr. Joric.

"And what of the subject's... wishes?" Rylan asked. "They haven't been asked what they want."

"The subject's wishes? The subject's 'wishes' are secondary to the success of the project, assistant." Harken said. "If the project is a success, the subject will have all the wishes they could ever desire. How about we work towards that, yes? The Board will reconvene in one month to review the progress of the new team. In the meantime, Doctor, you will familiarize yourself with your new colleagues and prepare for their arrival."

"I look forward to it." Dr. Joric said.

Rylan and I headed to the commons mess hall for dinner that night. The tram ride back was silent, devoid of Dr. Joric's presence. He said he needed to prepare. For what, he didn't say.

Today the mess hall was serving a vegetable pie for the green trays and mashed potatoes. It smelled heavenly, considering I haven't eaten anything beyond some vegetable broth this morning with my medications. The mess hall was full as usual. Nowhere for us to sit without trampling over someone else's group. Though there were a few tables with hardly anyone there.

I glanced around to find a table that would be... less intrusive, and my eye caught a familiar orange ball of fuzz sitting alone at one of them, quietly enjoying their meal. Adi.

"Come with me," I say to Rylan as I start to walk.

We approached the table and Adi stopped eating to get a look at us. His one good eye softened as soon as it registered in his brain who I was.

"Lynette?" He said.

"Hi, Adi," I said back. "Mind if we sit here? No other seats."

Adi shook his head. He gestured to the empty chairs. "I haven't seen you in a while."

I slid into the chair, and Rylan took the one across from me.

"I could say the same to you." I said.

Adi shrugged. "I've been in my room a lot."

"Have you seen Gertrude?"

"Nope. I haven't. Don't know where she's gone." Adi said, before shoving a slice of pork into his mouth.

My pie had a flaky crust, and the steam that rose from it smelled of herbs and roasted vegetables. I took a bite, and the warm, savory filling hit me almost instantly.

"So where have you been?" Adi asked.

"Here and there." I said. "I've been unwell."

"That makes two of us." He said. "My eye socket got infected again."

Rylan winced. "Ouch."

"It wasn't that bad." Adi said. "I got some really good painkillers, though. Might have tried overdosing on them." He chuckled.

"You should not joke about that."

"I'm not joking." Adi said. "It didn't work out. So I got put on suicide watch for the umpteenth time until they decided I just HAD to socialize again." He pointed a thumb at himself. "That's why I'm here."

"Thats..." Rylan began.

"Awful?" Adi offered.

"I was going to say 'unfortunate'." Rylan responded.

"You and your fancy words." Adi said. "I just call it like I see it. Figuratively speaking." He pointed to his eye-patch.

"Right." Rylan said, looking down at his food.

"I'm sorry to hear that." I said to Adi. "About your eye, and about... the other thing."

Adi shrugged. "It is what it is." He said. "I was just sad. I got to call my mom a while back and... Ah she wasn't exactly chipper to hear how costly my adventures are gonna be for her. Not looking forward to being released. I might try and drown myself in the toilet so I can stay a little longer. You know, if they let me."

"I would rather you didn't." Rylan said. "Its not my place to decide anything for you, but I also can't just... you know... let you say things like that."

Adi took another bite of his food. "I'm not gonna do anything. The rest of my options are too scary or too 'closed casket'."

I couldn't help but feel a pang of... Sympathy? Empathy? One of the two. All I knew was that I didn't want him to die. I didn't want anyone to die. But I didn't know what to say. So I just ate my pie in silence, and for a while, the three of us sat there in silence, lost in our own thoughts. Eventually, Rylan broke the silence.

"So, Adi." He said. "What have you been up to? Besides... you know."

Adi snorted. "The same as everyone else. Though I have picked up drawing again. Been making some pretty neat little doodles."

"You're an artist?"

"Used to be." Adi said. "I was an animator for a little indie studio back home. They liked to do hand drawn stuff rather than the industry standard of whatever this new CG stuff is. I was pretty good at it."

"What sorts of things did you make?" Curiosity was getting the best of me.

"Mostly short films. Though near the end we pitched in all of the money we had to make a game. It was about this little fox guy who had to collect all these little shiny things to get the stars back in the sky. It was cute."

"Did it sell well?" Rylan asked.

Adi's smile faltered. "No not at all. We went under before we finished it. So I picked up a drinking problem, and then a couple of other problems, and then..."

"How old are you, might I ask?" Rylan inquired.

"Seventeen."

"You're seventeen!?"

"Yeah. Why, do I look old? The meds they have me on are making my fur fall out in some spots." Adi said.

"No. I just... I thought you were older."

"I get that a lot." Adi said. "I might be the youngest person here. I don't know. I don't really talk to anyone else."

A heavy silence settled over our table. The sounds of the mess hall, the clinking of trays, the murmur of conversations, seemed to fade away, replaced by the pounding in my own ears. Seventeen. He was just a kid. A kid with a hole in his head and a death wish. Great stones. He shouldn't have to deal with that. He should have been drawing his little fox guy, trying to get the stars back in the sky.

"I'd like to see some of the stuff you've made." I heard myself say.

Adi looked at me and waved his hand. "Ah well... It's nothing impressive. They're just doodles. And they'd probably make me put my drawings away. They're... morbid."

"I still want to see."

Adi looked at me for a long moment. He seemed to be considering it. "I'd have to ask... I don't think they'd allow anyone in my room." He said.

"I probably could give the green light myself." Rylan said between bites of food. "After all, I am a bit higher on the 'ranks' than a Commons assistant."

"They have ranks for the Commons?" Adi asked.

Rylan chuckled a bit. "No they don't. But as long as I argue my intent is for the well-being of Lynette, generally anything that falls under Commons stuff I can get for Hi— her. So it's all good."

"What? That doesn't make any sense."

"I can do whatever I want basically." Rylan said, leaning back in his chair.

"Can you get me a gun?"

Rylan's smile faltered. "That's not funny."

"I'm not joking." Adi said.

"Alright!" I clasped my hands together. "Well I think it would be a really... fun idea to see what kinds of things you like to do as a hobby."

"Alright." Adi said with a sigh. "I'll show you them later when my assistant comes to drag me away."

"Considering your demeanor, I'd have expected one to be glued to you." Rylan said.

"Oh she's around." Adi said. "Probably fucking her crush in a janitors closet or something."

"Language." Rylan said.

"Oh whatever. She's probably just gossiping with her friends rather than doing her job, thankfully. Usually when she's around, she's all like, 'Adi, don't do that! You'll hurt yourself!' or 'Adi, you shouldn't be thinking about that!' all the damn time." Adi said, putting on a high pitched, whiny voice for the impression.

"Well she's keeping you safe." Rylan said. "Its her job."

"I'm almost an adult. I can handle myself."

"Right."

The rest of the evening went on in a similar fashion. Rylan and Adi bickered back and forth while I sat in silence. I couldn't tell if Rylan was annoyed by him or genuinely concerned, but he wasn't being very nice about it, and neither was Adi. I didn't really care. I was too busy thinking about what I'd do when I saw Adi's drawings. It was a strange feeling, a kind of... excitement? Or maybe it was just a distraction from the constant, buzzing hum of fear in the back of my mind. It didn't matter. It was something. And something was better than nothing.

...

After a while, an assistant in purple scrubs came to get Adi. "Ready to go?" She asked him, and all he did was nod. She undid a set of keys from her belt and bent down to where Adi was sitting, and...

Unlocked a pair of handcuffs from the table...

That were latched to his leg.

...

I didn't even notice them until now.

He raised his hands up, and those same cuffs were placed on them. But before the assistant pulled him away, Rylan jumped up to speak a few words with her. Probably to plead my case to see his room. Or to tell her about all of his... fun language. She nodded and gave a quick glance towards me. Then we were following closely behind. The walk to his room was the same as mine, but he was on the second floor, while I was on the third. The second floor was far... far more grim looking than what I was holed up in. The walls were a dull grey, and the floor was a scuffed linoleum. There were no windows, and all of the doors were thick, leading into tiny, padded up rooms. Adi's assistant said this was the Ward. A place for those who were at high risk of harming themselves or others. I was glad I didn't have to stay here. I don't think I would have lasted a day.

We made it to Adi's room, and the assistant unlocked the door with a deadbolt key, rather than a traditional keycard. The door was heavy like the rest of them here, and it swung open with a deep groan.

Adi's room was even smaller than mine, and it looked...

The padding was all clawed up, shredded in some places, with the foam core showing through. But the walls themselves were plastered with drawings. Dozens of them. They were all tacked up with what looked like bits of food and tape. They were mostly of the fox character he had described.

When it came to furniture, there was nothing but a mattress. No table, no chairs, no blanket, no toilet. I guess it made sense considering the nature of people who were to be in here... but holy shit.

Rylan didn't seem too bugged by the sight as I was. I guess he's seen it in here a few times. But this was the first time I'd ever seen... something like this since the correctional facility. I couldn't imagine being in here.

Adi sat down on the mattress as the assistant undid his handcuffs. She then handed him a small tablet with a bright orange rubber case on it. "You know the drill." She said, and with that, she shut the heavy door behind her. I was expecting a loud click of the deadbolts, but they didn't come.

Adi sighed. "Make yourself at home you guys." He said. "Bathroom is through the magic door over there." He pointed to the door. "And the entertainment center is here." He tapped the tablet. "And my art gallery is... everywhere else."

"It is certainly... an interesting aesthetic." Rylan said.

"It's called the I've-been-stuck-in-a-padded-room-for-three-months aesthetic." Adi said as he started to swipe through the tablet. "Most of my animations on this thing aren't nearly as good as what I was doing before, but I'm not allowed to have a stylus." He held up one of his hands, and I saw that the nails were trimmed down to the nubs. "So I've been doing them all with my finger."

"You... I..." I tried to find the words, but I was...

"Jealous?" Adi asked. "I get to have a tablet... sometimes. I bet you don't even get to have a book in your room. Makes me lucky." He gave a weak smile.

"Lucky?" I stammered.

"Sure. I get to draw. What do you get to do? Stare at the ceiling?"

I flinched.

"I was just kidding." He said. "I was in a room like yours a while ago. Back when we first met. But I misbehaved, and so I got a downgrade." He gestured to the room around him. "But this has its perks. More privacy."

"I'm..." I started.

"Don't be sorry. I'm fine." Adi said. He swiped to a file titled 'little_fox_dude.avi' and played it.

The animation was simple, just a few looping frames of the little fox character running across a blank, white background. But it was so full of life. The way the fox's legs pumped, the way its tail bobbed, the way its ears perked up at some unseen sound.

It was beautiful.

It was sad.

I watched, mesmerized, as the little fox ran. And ran. And ran.

Adi paused it and pulled the tablet back. "I'm still working on that one. I don't get any more than an hour to work on it a day, and that's if I'm behaving."

"It's... good." I managed to say. "It's very good."

"You think so?" Adi asked. "I think the tail is a little wonky."

"No, it's not." I said, a little too quickly. "It's perfect."

Adi looked at me, there was a glimmer of gratitude in his face. "Thanks."

I felt my own face flush with embarrassment. I wasn't used to... this. To feeling... something good for someone else. A strange, warm sensation flooded in my chest. Was it... pride? For him? No, that couldn't be it. I didn't feel pride for anyone. Especially not for a... a...

My breath hitched.

"Are you okay?" Adi asked.

I nodded. "Do you have any others?" I asked.

"Yeah," Adi said. He swiped through the tablet again, and pulled up another file, this one titled 'fox_and_tree.avi'. He played it.

The fox was standing at the base of a large, gnarled tree. It looked up, and then it started to climb. The animation was rougher than the first one, the movements were stiffer, but there was still a sense of life to it. A sense of wonder.

I watched, as the tree gave way to a sky. The fox's hands danced around, placing what looked to be stones onto the inky black of the background. Each stone glowed, like a little star. The fox placed them one by one, until it had formed a small constellation. It stood back, and it looked at its work, and then it let out a little yip of joy.

The animation ended, and the screen went black.

"I liked that one." Adi said. "It was the first one I made in here. The first thing I've made in a while."

It was... beautiful.

"You're really obsessed with your fox guy." Rylan said, leaning against the wall.

"He's my son." Adi said, as he stroked the screen. "Metaphorically speaking."

"A bit of a sad story, is he not?" Rylan asked. "All alone, trying to fix the sky."

"I didn't say it was a sad story." Adi said. "It's a story about hope. He's my magnum opus. I wish the game got finished so I could see him more alive than he is on this tiny screen."

"Will you ever get to?" I asked.

"What, finish the game?" Adi asked. "No. So I just draw him over and over and over. I give him life in a way I couldn't do before. I guess I'm coping? I dont know."

The room fell silent.

"I have another one." Adi said, breaking the silence. "But it's not finished."

He swiped to a file titled 'fox_and_???.avi'. He played it.

The fox was sitting on a hill, looking up at the night sky. The stars were dim, few and far between. The fox looked sad.

"It's not finished." Adi said. "I don't know how to end it. I want him to find a friend, but I don't know what kind of friend he'd have. A bird? A rabbit? A... I don't know."

"Otter?"

Adi looked at him. "An otter?" He asked. "Why an otter?"

"No reason. I like otters." Rylan said.

Adi looked back at the tablet. "An otter..." He mused. "I'd need to get someone to print me out a couple pictures of one so I can have a reference. Maybe I can ask the nice doctor for some. What do you think Lynette?"

I thought for a moment. What kind of friend would a little fox who puts stars back in the sky have? It should be something... something that was as different from the fox as possible. Something that could help him in a way that he couldn't help himself.

"A moth." I said.

"A moth?" Adi asked.

"Yeah." I said. "A big one. With big, fuzzy antennae. And it could glow. Like a little moon."

Adi's eye widened. "A glowing moth..." He whispered. "That... that's... that's brilliant!" He swapped to a note app and jotted down a couple of things. "A glowing moth! He could ride on its back! Maybe even guide him to the star bits to put back into the sky like a little beacon!"

I was surprised at how much my small idea had excited him. It was a strange, but it made me happy. I looked at the smile on his face, and I felt a... a warmth spread through my chest.

He showed us a couple more animations. Some of them were super detailed... or as detailed you can get with nothing but a finger. Others were really rough and messy. Maybe he made those ones when he was... sad. But I couldn't be sure.

I saw a few drawings on the wall that were a little different from the fox. Some were of a little, round, fuzzy creature with big eyes. One of them was a sketch of a Taijekan with antlers like mine, but it was unfinished. Just a few lines to make up the shape of the face and the shoulders.

I didn't ask about them.

I saw others as he scrolled through the tablet, and they looked rather grim. There was one of a noose hanging from a tree, and another of a pair of hands reaching up from a pool of water. These, too, were in the same style as the others, but they were so much darker. The lines were harsh, and the shading was heavy. They made me feel... uneasy. I saw one that was just scribbles, one that looked like someone's head exploding, and a few that were so abstract that I couldn't tell what they were supposed to be. They were all just... shapes. Angry shapes.

Adi didn't look at those for very long. He just swiped past them, as if they were nothing.

I didn't ask about them either.

"I guess that's about it." Adi said, turning the tablet off. "There's not a whole lot to do in here."

I nodded. I didn't know what to say. It did seem boring in here.

"Well." Rylan said, pushing himself off the wall. "I guess it's about that time."

"I guess." Adi said, with a sigh. He laid back on the mattress. "Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for having us." I said back. "You're pretty cool."

Adi smiled. "Maybe next time I get to hear about you." He said. "If there's anything to hear."

...What could I tell him? That I was a hateful man who got what he deserved? That I was now living in the body of a dead woman, and that I was slowly losing my mind? That I was scared, all the time?

No. I couldn't tell him that. I couldn't tell anyone that.

"I'll look for something." I said.

"I'll hold you to it." Adi said. He closed his eyes. "I'm tired now."

"Okay." I said. I watched him for a moment, and then I turned and followed Rylan out of the room. The assistant was waiting for us outside. She nodded at us, and then she went back into the room. She came back out with the tablet in hand, and I saw the lights dim as the deadbolts locked into place.

Get some sleep, Adi.